13: Come and stay

The three Heavenly Talents, along with their Nascent Soul Dao Protectors, fled in disarray, and a brief silence fell outside the Chaos Barrier.

However, Lin Xuan's divine sense had already pierced through the void, capturing several awakened dormant auras deep within the Xuanhuang World, like giant beasts in the abyss slowly opening their eyes.

"Heh, the old ones finally couldn't hold back," Lin Xuan stood atop the Star Palace, his black robes unmoving under the circulating starlight, a cold curve on his lips carrying a hint of playful satisfaction, as if 'the fish had taken the bait'.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Almost simultaneously, three terrifying spatial rifts, like hideous scars, violently tore open in the void a thousand miles beyond the Chaos Barrier!

A pressure ten times more formidable than that of Blood Butcher and his group, like a world-ending tsunami, instantly swept across the entire Fallen God Wasteland!

Malevolent energy retreated, and the earth wailed!

From the eastern rift, an old man with fiery red hair and beard, clad in a blazing Daoist robe, stepped out.

Nine scorching fire dragons, capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, encircled him, his aura violent and intense—he was clearly a mid-stage Deity Transformation Old Ancestor!

His eyes spewed fire as he locked onto the barrier: "How dare you injure my Myriad Beast Mountain's Young Mountain Lord? Junior, get out here and face your death!"

From the western rift, Sword Intent soared to the heavens!

A stern-faced old man in green robes, carrying seven ancient swords on his back, stepped out, his expression as cold as ten thousand years of ice.

With each step, intricate ice crystal sword patterns condensed in the void beneath his feet, and his peak mid-stage Deity Transformation Sword Intent stirred the winds and clouds!

"The Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion cannot be insulted! Today, I will flatten your sect and eradicate your Dao lineage!"

From the northern rift,Howling Wind (yin feng nu hao, mournful winds howled), ghosts cried and gods wailed!

A viscous, squirming shadow slowly squeezed out, countless twisted vengeful spirits struggling and roaring on its surface, emitting a soul-freezing, late-stage Deity Transformation chill!

"How dare you devour my sect's Yellow Spring Nether Dragon? Little beast, this venerable one will extract your dragon's sinews, refine your soul, and eternally suppress you in the Nine Nethers!"

Three Deity Transformation Old Ancestors descended together, bringing with them monstrous fury!

Their terrifying pressures intertwined, causing the souls of the cultivators secretly observing a thousand miles away to feel as if they would split, while weaker cultivators directly exploded and died!

The entire Fallen God Wasteland seemed about to completely sink under this power!

"It's over... Blazing Heaven Old Ancestor, Seven Kill Sword Venerable, Netherworld Old Ghost... these are all old monsters in secluded death cultivation!"

"No matter how strong that mysterious Sect Master is, can he withstand the combined might of three Deity Transformation Old Ancestors?"

"Retreat quickly! This place is about to become a forbidden zone!"

Exclamations and desperate screams rose and fell in the distance.

Below the barrier, Yun Qingyao, Chu Xinghe, and Leng Yuechan were almost suffocated by the pressure, their faces ashen, finding it difficult even to stand.

The Earth-Rending Demonic Ape cub, terrified, cowered behind a Star Palace pillar, trembling.

Only the Lie Tian Divine Tiger and Little Candle Dragon remained; one was enveloped in blazing golden divine flames, battle intent surging, while the other's dark blue dragon eyes stared at the Netherworld Old Ghost's squirming shadow, its small mouth smacking, seemingly savoring the taste of the Yellow Spring Nether Dragon, with a 'hunger' born of a newborn calf's fearlessness.

Lin Xuan, however, smiled.

It wasn't a sneer, but a slightly satisfied smile, like one who sees excellent fertilizer delivered to their doorstep.

Facing the world-destroying pressure and targeting from the three Deity Transformation Old Ancestors, Lin Xuan didn't even bother to respond verbally.

With a slight thought, he communicated with the core building beneath his feet, a structure forged from billions of Star Divine Gold, suppressing all heavens.

A thought entered the depths of the Star Palace.

Buzz—!

The entire All Heavens Star Palace violently shook!

Above the dome, the projection of the Chaos Sword Tomb, which had been slowly rotating, suddenly erupted with unprecedented brilliant light!

Billions of Chaos Sword Qi phantoms, condensed to the extreme and exuding an aura of destroying all heavens and burying gods and demons, roared silently, like awakened primordial fierce beasts!

All Heavens Star Palace · Chaos Sword Tomb Projection — Activated!

Lin Xuan didn't even raise his hand; his profound, abyss-like eyes merely swept indifferently over the three terrifying figures tearing through the void a thousand miles away.

"Slay."

A cold word, like a divine pronouncement.

Buzz—!

The Chaos Sword Tomb projection on the dome instantly boiled!

Billions of Chaos Sword Qi phantoms, as if finding an outlet, transformed into three indescribable Chaos Sword Qi, containing the birth and destruction of stars within and the annihilation of the void without!

These three Sword Qi were not physical entities, but rather condensed from pure Chaos Sword Intent and the supreme power of the All Heavens Star Palace!

They ignored the spatial distance, disregarded the monstrous magical power and law domains protecting the Deity Transformation Old Ancestors, and the moment they appeared, they had already crossed a thousand miles, hovering with unparalleled precision above the heads of Blazing Heaven Old Ancestor, Seven Kill Sword Venerable, and Netherworld Old Ghost!

Fast! Faster than comprehension!

Ruthless! Containing the ultimate annihilation of Chaos Return to Nothingness!

The furious expression on Blazing Heaven Old Ancestor's face instantly turned into boundless horror!

The nine Blazing Heaven Fire Dragons around him let out desperate wails, attempting to block!

However, as the Sword Qi descended, the fire dragons silently annihilated like paper!

His mid-stage Deity Transformation protective divine light was like a fragile eggshell, shattering at a touch!

"No—!" He only managed to let out a short roar before his entire body, along with his violent divine soul, instantly dissolved and annihilated under that Chaos Sword Qi like ice and snow thrown into a scorching sun!

Only a fist-sized Deity Transformation Dao Fruit, burning with primordial red flames, remained in place!

Seven Kill Sword Venerable's pupils constricted!

The seven ancient swords on his back instantly unsheathed, transforming into seven peerless sword rainbows that tore through heaven and earth, forming a terrifying Seven Kill Sword Array to meet the Sword Qi!

This was the pinnacle of his lifelong Sword Dao cultivation!

However, as the Sword Qi descended, the Seven Kill Sword Array shattered with a crash like foam hitting a cosmic barrier, without even a ripple!

The seven ancient swords that had accompanied him for thousands of years wailed as they broke inch by inch!

The Sword Qi pierced through his glabella without any hindrance!

"Good... sword..." A trace of shock and bewilderment remained in his eyes as his body and primordial spirit were completely devoured by the power of Chaos Return to Nothingness, leaving only a Deity Transformation Dao Fruit, emitting a biting cold Sword Intent, suspended in the air.

Netherworld Old Ghost was the most bizarre!

The squirming shadow instantly split into thousands, merging into the void, attempting to escape with the Netherworld Escape Art!

However, the Sword Intent of the Chaos Sword Tomb projection had already locked onto his origin!

As the Sword Qi descended, it was not a slash, but a collapse of a chaotic star dome!

The myriad shadows were instantly compressed and annihilated like dust sucked into a black hole!

Netherworld Old Ghost let out a shrill, inhuman scream: "Chaos... You are..." The core of the shadow was completely erased, leaving only a Deity Transformation Dao Fruit, pulsating with viscous soul fire and emitting endless chill!

In an instant, the three Deity Transformation Old Ancestors perished, their Dao disappearing!

There was not even a trace of resistance!

The entire world fell into a terrifying silence!

Those onlookers a thousand miles away who had miraculously survived were as if frozen in place, their expressions of horror, despair, and greed all solidified, their minds blank.

Deity Transformation... that was Deity Transformation!

The top existences in the Xuanhuang World!

Just like that... gone?

Like three insects casually crushed?

"Gulp." Someone's swallow was exceptionally clear in the deadly silence.

Below the barrier.

"Mas... Master..." Yun Qingyao's cherry lips were slightly parted, her beautiful eyes wide, her mind completely crashed.

Chu Xinghe's array disk clattered to the ground, unnoticed.

Leng Yuechan's tightly clenched sword fingers trembled slightly, and the Chaos Sword Bone in her spine emitted an unprecedented excited hum!

The three Chaos Sword Qi just now, containing the true meaning of the Sword Dao, made her soul tremble!

Just in this extreme, shocking silence!

Buzz! Buzz!

Two distinctly different breakthrough auras suddenly erupted from Yun Qingyao and Chu Xinghe!

The cold moonlight around Yun Qingyao surged!

A clear, bright moon phantom slowly rose behind her, and the power of the moonlight condensed into a tangible silver light cocoon, enveloping her!

Her Moon Soul Saint Body was completely activated by the world-destroying yet supremely Dao-infused battle just now, frantically devouring the liquefied star spiritual energy within the barrier!

The bottleneck of the late Foundation Establishment stage was pierced through like thin paper!

A Golden Coreprototype (chu xing, nascent form) rapidly condensed and solidified within the light cocoon!

A cold, sacred Golden Core pressure, imbued with purifying intent, permeated the air!

Chu Xinghe, on the other hand, was enveloped by countless profound Chaos array patterns!

The ground beneath him automatically manifested miniature phantoms of the "Nine Nether Illusionary Annihilation Chaos Array" and the "All Heavens Star Palace"!

His Array Dao Enlightenment Body, after witnessing the supreme power of the Chaos Sword Tomb projection, felt as if enlightened!

Numerous confusions he had encountered while comprehending the Nine-Fold Chaos Array Solution suddenly became clear!

His hands unconsciously and rapidly formed seals, drawing upon the power of the sect's grand array foundation, and his aura steadily climbed!

A peculiar Golden Core, composed of countless Chaos runes, rapidly formed within his dantian!

An Array Dao Golden Core!

Core True Disciple Yun Qingyao successfully formed her Golden Core! Moon Soul Saint Body awakened 10%!

Ten Thousand Times Return triggered! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Primordial Lunar Wheel Innate Spirit Treasure · Ten Thousand Strands of Primordial Lunar Essence!

Elite Disciple Chu Xinghe successfully formed his Golden Core! Array Dao Enlightenment Body awakened 10%!

Ten Thousand Times Return triggered! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Primordial Star Chart Innate Spirit Treasure · One Projection! Ten Thousand Chaos Array Dao Primordial Talismans!

Boom! Boom!

Two unimaginably vast torrents of origin energy, ignoring space, directly poured into Lin Xuan's Chaos Nascent Soul!

The Primordial Lunar Wheel projection hovered above the Nascent Soul's head, casting down cold moonlight, nourishing the Nascent Soul's divine sense, and enhancing its yin resilience and deduction power!

Ten thousand strands of Primordial Lunar Essence integrated into the Nascent Soul's limbs and bones!

The projection of the Universal Star Disk was imprinted beneath the Chaos Nascent Soul, slowly rotating, drawing upon the power of the All Heavens Star Palace to augment the Chaos Nascent Soul, enhancing its control and calculation over the Universal Star Dou Great Array!

One hundred thousand Chaos Array Dao Origin Talismans merged into the Dao patterns on the Chaos Nascent Soul's body, enabling it to achieve an incredible level of insight and control over the world's array formations!

Lin Xuan's Chaos Nascent Soul suddenly vibrated, and its inch-tall body erupted with even deeper and more dazzling Chaos Star-light.

Although its aura did not skyrocket in realm, its foundation and power soared once again!

Especially its control over Star Power and Array Dao, which had reached the pinnacle!

"Roar—!"

At the same time, the Lie Tian Divine Tiger, which had been guarding him, also underwent a transformation!

It was already a divine beast, and had integrated Vermilion Bird essence blood.

Now, under its master's supreme might of consecutively slaying Deity Transformation Old Ancestors, and the sect's massive nourishment from Star, Chaos, and Grand Yin origins, it finally broke through the shackles of its infantile stage!

Blinding crimson-gold divine flames shot up into the sky!

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger's body rapidly expanded at a visible speed within the divine flames!

Ten zhang... twenty zhang... fifty zhang!

It was like a burning divine mountain!

Its snow-gold fur became even more crystalline and dazzling, with every strand flowing with crimson-gold divine patterns.

On the edge of the Chaos "King" character on its forehead, the Vermilion Bird flame pattern completely solidified, transforming into a majestic divine pattern!

An ancient divine beast's pressure, far more noble, fervent, and domineering than before, swept out like a storm!

As its amber eyes opened and closed, divine light flashed like lightning, and space around its body subtly twisted and rippled!

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger successfully advanced to its growth stage!

Awakened Talent: Great Accomplishment of Spatial Rending Divine Movement!

It can traverse thousands of miles in an instant, shuttling through the void!

Awakened Talent: Elementary Divine Flame Burning World!

It can burn away space and purify all evil!

Its bloodline purity greatly increased!

Its divine beast pressure can intimidate those of the same rank!

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger, having completed its advancement, was majestically awe-inspiring and unapproachable!

It let out a roar that pierced metal and shattered stone, shaking the star river!

The rolling sound waves cleansed away the remaining malevolent qi a thousand miles away!

Its massive body swayed slightly, and the crimson-gold divine flames receded, instantly shrinking to the size of an ordinary tiger.

It affectionately rubbed against Lin Xuan's feet, nuzzling his leg with its large head, its amber eyes filled with adoration and loyalty.

It was both a companion and a mount, ready at any time to tear through the heavens with its master!

"Well done."

Lin Xuan rarely showed a hint of a smile, reaching out to rub the Lie Tian Divine Tiger's large, furry head.

Just then, among the hundreds of fleeing streaks of light in the distance, dozens suddenly stopped.

Most of these cultivators ranged from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, including rogue cultivators, disciples of small families, and even a few survivors from annihilated small sects.

They had witnessed the demise of the three Deity Transformation Old Ancestors like chickens and dogs, witnessed the supreme power of the black-robed figure who could change heaven and earth with a flick of a finger, and even saw the immortal-like grotto-heaven within the barrier!

Thump! Thump!

Dozens of people, like dumplings falling into water, dropped from their streaks of light, and from hundreds of miles away, heavily knelt towards the Star Palace, kowtowing like pounding garlic!

Their voices, filled with extreme fervor and piety, pierced through the void:

"Senior's divine might! We swear to follow you to the death! We beg senior for mercy, to accept us into your sect! We are willing to be slaves and servants, and will not hesitate to die ten thousand times!"

"We beg Sect Master to take us in! We are willing to offer all our possessions, only to gain a small place in the immortal sect!"

"We implore Sect Master to have pity! This junior is willing to swear upon his Dao Heart to be eternally loyal to the Invincible Sect of the Heavens!"

These people were truly awed, convinced, and saw an unparalleled opportunity, sincerely wishing to join the sect!

Lin Xuan's gaze indifferently swept over the kneeling figures, his divine sense, like an invisible sieve, instantly penetrated their physical bodies, discerning the truest thoughts deep within their souls.

There were greedy ones, fearful ones, but there were indeed about a dozen people whose eyes were pure, Dao Hearts firm, carrying a kind of desperate piety.

"Qing Yao."

Lin Xuan's voice echoed in Yun Qingyao's sea of consciousness, as she had just stabilized her Golden Core and the moonlight around her had not yet completely dispersed.

"Disciple is here!" Yun Qingyao quickly bowed, her pretty face still flushed with the excitement of forming her core.

"Those kneeling outside, whose divine senses are pure and Dao Hearts acceptable, take them in."

Lin Xuan's voice was calm, as if giving instructions for a trivial matter, "You go handle it.

Enroll them into the outer sect and bestow upon them the 'Basic Star Guiding Art'.

Tell them that the sect does not support idlers; they must find work themselves in the spirit fields, medicine gardens, or asOdd jobs (miscellaneous laborers).

If they perform well, they will be rewarded; if they slack off, the soul lamp awaits them."

He paused, then added, "That young man in grey, carrying a broken iron sword, and that young girl with a flame imprint between her brows, their dispositions are acceptable; observe them closely."

"Yes, Master!" Yun Qingyao's spirits lifted, and a hint of excitement flashed in her clear eyes.

Managing disciples? This was an important task entrusted by her master!

She immediately straightened her back, moonlight circulating around her, naturally exuding the dignity of a Golden Core cultivator.

She took Chu Xinghe, who had just formed his core and was excitedly studying his array talisman Golden Core, and Leng Yuechan, who was still comprehending Sword Intent, and transformed into three streaks of light, flying out beyond the barrier.

Lin Xuan, however, did not even glance at the bustling scene of disciple recruitment outside.

With a thought, the three Deity Transformation Dao Fruits suspended in the void a thousand miles away, exuding terrifying fluctuations—the Heaven Burning Dao Fruit, the Seven Kill Sword Fruit, and the Nether Soul Fruit—were drawn by an invisible force, instantly traversing space and landing in his palm.

"System, strip the origin, integrate it into the medicine garden.

The outer shells of the Dao Fruits, embed them into the core of the barrier, transforming them into the foundation of the 'Deity Transformation Suppressing Prison Cannon'." Lin Xuan instructed.

Command received! Beginning stripping and transformation...

Heaven Burning Origin integrated into the nirvana vermilion bird grass...

Seven Kill Sword Intent Origin integrated into the Chaos Sword Tomb projection...

Nether Soul Power Origin integrated into the Nine Nether Illusion Annihilation Great Array...

Deity Transformation Suppressing Prison Cannon triple-barreled · Deity Transformation Peak foundation constructed!

Already integrated into the sect barrier core!

Buzz!

In the medicine garden, the nirvana vermilion bird grass suddenly trembled!

Crimson-gold divine patterns instantly covered all its leaves, which unfurled, and a vague yet sacred and majestic Vermilion Bird phantom flashed above the grass leaves!

Nirvana progress surged to 60%!

A pure and vast Nirvana divinity diffused with a rumble!

The Chaos Sword Tomb projection on the dome of the Star Palace had even more condensed sword qi, with an added hint of the chilling decisiveness of Seven Kill Sword Intent!

The Nine Nether Illusion Annihilation Great Array enveloping the outside of the barrier now had a freezing Nether chill deep within its array patterns, increasing its power!

At the core of the barrier, the illusory figures of three ferocious cannon barrels, entwined with different Deity Transformation auras—crimson flames, ice crystals, and ghostly souls—flashed and disappeared, exuding a heart-palpitating destructive fluctuation!

After completing all this, Lin Xuan's gaze finally turned towards the outside of the barrier.

Yun Qingyao and the other two had already landed.

Yun Qingyao, like a moonlight fairy, stood at the forefront.

Although her Golden Core pressure was not deliberately released, it naturally carried a cold dignity.

Her voice was clear and resonant, distinctly reaching the ears of every kneeling person: "By the Sect Master's decree, in consideration of your sincerity, you are permitted to enter the sect!

However, to enter the outer sect of my Invincible Sect of the Heavens, you must abide by the sect rules and cultivate diligently without ceasing!

You are bestowed the 'Basic Star Guiding Art', and you must find your own duties!

Merit will be rewarded; transgressions... the soul lamp will attend to your soul!"

With a wave of her delicate hand, dozens of jade slips imprinted with simple star patterns flew into the hands of the selected cultivators.

At the same time, a thought containing basic sect information also entered their sea of consciousness.

Lu Chen, the grey-robed youth who was called out, and Yan Ling'er, the young girl with the flame imprint, trembled with excitement and kowtowed heavily: "Thank you, Sect Master, for your great grace! Thank you, Senior Sister Yun!

This disciple will dedicate his life and fulfill his mission!"

The other selected cultivators also awoke from their dream, kowtowing in ecstasy.

Yun Qingyao nodded slightly, and with a tap of her jade finger on the barrier's light shield, a portal opened: "Follow me; I will arrange your duties."

She already had some of the capable demeanor of a senior sister.

Watching Yun Qingyao lead the dozens of new, trembling disciples into the barrier in an orderly fashion, beginning to arrange for them to tend to the spirit fields, organize the medicine gardens, and even repair the minor traces left by the previous great battle, Lin Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

"The sect's operations are finally taking shape," he murmured softly.

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger, having shrunk, lay docilely at his feet like a large cat.

Little Candle Dragon was coiled in the Lie Tian Divine Tiger's soft fur, its dark blue dragon eyes curiously watching the busy new disciples below, its slender tail tip flicking.

Leng Yuechan still stood silently to the side, her back straight, her clear eyes gazing at the vast wilderness outside the barrier, and further away, the faintly visible streaks of light, drawn by the All Heavens Token, as the Chaos Sword Bone within her hummed with a desire for battle.

Lin Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his black robe appearing even more mysterious and profound under the starlight circulating on the Star Palace's roof.

His gaze swept over the sect, which was beginning to take shape, over the busy yet hopeful new faces, and finally landed on the depths of the wilderness, that unknown area marked as "Burial God Abyss" on the "All Heavens Treasure Map," his eyes deep.