120: Master of the Heavenly Mirror

Nine Heavens, Star City · Sky Observation Pavilion

When the golden light, ten thousand zhang high, carrying the phantom of the ranking list inscribed with the new king's name, rose resplendently from the "Sky Observation Mirror" and shone upon the bustling "Hundred Boats Contending" Prodigy Banquet—

"Snap!"

On the main seat, the Old Man Xuanji, who was stroking his beard and smiling while hosting the banquet, saw the Cold Jade Night-Shining Cup he had nurtured for ten thousand years shatter in his hand! The crystal-clear shards mixed with the fine nectar, dripping down his snowy white beard and staining his luxurious Daoist robe, yet he remained completely unaware!

"Eastern Extreme... Heaven Ruin Province?!" The old man's withered fingers gripped the edge of the agarwood table so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his voice trembling with disbelief, "How... how is this possible?! Isn't this... the desolate land of the Eastern Region beyond the Heavenly Moat Barrier, almost forgotten by the Prodigies of the Divine Continent?!"

"Boom—!"

The entire hall was in an uproar! The Prodigies from various major forces, who had been well-dressed and conversing elegantly, instantly lost their composure! They looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock, confusion, and absurdity—Eastern Extreme Heaven Ruin Province? This place name was as unfamiliar to them as a lost kingdom from ancient myths!

"Investigate! At all costs!" Princess Yu Mingyue of the Great Yu Dynasty rose abruptly! Her luxurious and intricate Nine Phoenix Soaring Cloud Robe knocked over the glass table in front of her. The priceless immortal brew spilled out, staining the golden phoenix embroidered on her skirt, but she didn't even look! Her sharp, cold-star-like eyes were fixed on the name on the Sky Observation Mirror. Each word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth, carrying a shock as great as a raging sea: "Spirit Martial Hall... Lin Yuan..."

Almost at the same moment!

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh—!

Countless colorful transmission Talismans, branded with the emblems of different forces, tore through the skies over the major Divine Domains of the Taichu Divine Continent like a bursting meteor shower! The target—pointed directly at that distant, forgotten Eastern Region! The elite personnel responsible for recruiting talent for major forces, and even some old monsters who had been in seclusion for years, were stirred by this earth-shattering news and immediately put everything aside, frantically gathering toward the Eastern Region!

Star Sanctuary · Misty Heaven Realm · Star-Plucking Platform

Star Dust Master, the Realm Revered Master who was using the stars of the heavens as chess pieces to deduce the mysteries of the era's Luck, suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes!

"Crack!"

The Primordial Star Disk in his hand, inherited from the Sanctuary's Ancestral Master and refined from a star core, cracked with a subtle but piercing fissure!

He looked up abruptly toward the eastern sky! He saw a dazzling new star, resplendent as the great sun, its light even outshining the Ziwei Emperor Star, rising defiantly in the direction of the Eastern Region, which was regarded as the "Dao Desert"!

"Hiss—!" Star Dust Master gasped, his white eyebrows trembling violently, "Eastern Extreme Heaven Ruin Province... at the end of the era... to actually nurture such a... Heaven-Defying talent?!"

"Revered Master?!" The Personal Disciple standing by had never seen his Revered Master so flustered, as if he had seen the world collapse.

Star Dust Master's gaze swept over an arcane Jade Slip that had just lit up at his waist—it was an urgent transmission from the Realm Revered Master of the Heavenly Star Profound Realm, the content containing only a single sentence: "This child, the Sanctuary must spare no effort to recruit, and must not become enemies!"

An unprecedented sense of urgency surged in his heart!

"Pass the order!" Star Dust Master said with unquestionable majesty, "Prepare the 'Star Radiance Universe Jade Chariot' immediately! I... will personally head to the Eastern Region!" His figure instantly became illusory, "I will go ahead and meet this child in the Virtual World! You all prepare generous gifts quickly, do not make any mistakes!"

Heavenly Sword Sanctuary · Sword Tomb Heaven Realm · Land of Ten Thousand Swords Returning to Ruin

"Clang—!!!"

A clear, impassioned sword cry that seemed to pierce through eternity suddenly exploded from the deepest part of the Heaven Realm! An ancient giant sword, silent for three thousand seven hundred years and covered in thick stone rust, suddenly had the two long-dimmed ancient Seal characters for "Tunxiao" on its blade erupt with a biting cold light that pierced the Void Realm! The blade hummed and vibrated, causing billions of broken swords in the entire Sword Tomb to resonate in unison!

Sword Without Limits, the Realm Revered Master who was in the core of the Sword Tomb tempering himself with Supreme Sword Intent, opened his eyes abruptly!

"Boom!"

The Sword Qi condensed to the extreme around his body exploded uncontrollably, carving countless deep marks into the closed-door stone wall forged from ten-thousand-year black iron!

His figure flashed, and he appeared before the unceasingly vibrating "Tunxiao" ancient sword. His rough palm slowly stroked the cold sword spine, feeling that unprecedented longing and resonance pointing toward the east!

"Interesting..." Sharp divine light erupted in Sword Without Limits' eyes, piercing through the Void Realm, "The 'Tunxiao' that has been silent for eternity is actually resonating for this child... Could it be... this child's 'Dao' is of the same Origin as that legendary Devouring Sword Dao...?!"

Without hesitation, he sent a brief sword transmission to the Sanctuary Realm Revered Master, then shouted in a deep voice: "Fetch the 'Nine Calamities Sword Case', prepare the 'Ten Thousand Sword Flying Boat', and follow me... on a trip to the Eastern Region!"

Great Yu Dynasty · Deep Palace Forbidden Garden

Yu Mingyue looked at the top-secret intelligence in her hand, delivered by the most elite secret guards at the cost of their lives across countless Divine Domains. Her red lips parted slightly, and her phoenix eyes widened:

"Only... sixteen?!"

"This... how is this possible?!" Even with her knowledge and Heart-Nature, she was shaken by this number! A sixteen-year-old at the Peak of the Myriad Laws Realm?! A sixteen-year-old topping the Prodigy Ranking?! This simply overturned the understanding of the cultivation system of the Taichu Divine Continent!

She turned abruptly, facing the commander of the black-clad guards kneeling silently in the shadows, her voice carrying unquestionable decisiveness and a trace of urgency she herself hadn't noticed:

"Prepare the 'Nine Phoenix Burning Heaven Imperial Carriage' immediately! Take my Palace Phoenix Token and open the national treasury secret vault! Fetch that sealed 'Nirvana Origin Dharma Sword'!"

She took a deep breath, her gaze seeming to penetrate the layers of palaces, falling toward the distant east:

"This Palace... wants to personally go and meet this... young Supreme!"

Virtual Network · Lin Yuan's Personal Space

Lin Yuan was closing his eyes and focusing, sorting through his insights from the battle to reach the top, and planning how to utilize the massive rewards for topping the ranking.

"Revered Master! Urgent alert!" xiao kun's urgent voice sounded, its light wings vibrating at high frequency, "Detected over thirty-seven core communication ports of top-tier forces, attempting to establish direct contact with you with the highest authority! Energy fluctuation levels... all exceed the Dharma Domain Realm!"

Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes, his pupils deep as an abyss: "Specific list."

"Including but not limited to: Heavenly Sword Sanctuary (Sword Tomb Heaven Realm), Star Sanctuary (Misty Heaven Realm), Great Yu Dynasty (Princess's Mansion), Tianyuan Dynasty (Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion), Eternal Temple (Order Hall), Temple of Life (Sacred Healing Palace), Destruction Divine Domain (War Demon Hall)..." xiao kun's report was suddenly forcibly interrupted by a will that was gentle yet vast as a sea of stars!

Hum!

The space in front of Lin Yuan, like a calm lake surface into which a star had been thrown, rippled with layers of magnificent and dreamy starlight! A figure stepped slowly out from the center of those ripples.

The person had white hair and a beard, a kind face, and wore a seemingly simple Star Daoist robe that flowed with the trajectories of billions of stars. Just by standing there, the entire personal space seemed to be placed under an boundless sea of stars, and a pressure that encompassed all things yet was Supreme silently permeated the area.

"Little Friend Lin Yuan, this old man is Star Dust Master, Realm Revered Master of the Misty Heaven Realm. I apologize for the abrupt intrusion, please forgive me." His voice was gentle, yet carried the vicissitudes and power of one who sees through the affairs of the world.

Lin Yuan's pupils contracted imperceptibly—Realm Revered Master of the Star Sanctuary! An invincible existence in the Hunyuan Realm! But his spine remained straight, and he cupped his hands in salute, neither humble nor arrogant: "Senior Star Dust Master has graced me with his presence, this Junior is honored. May I ask what advice you have for me, Senior?"

Star Dust Master saw through the wariness beneath Lin Yuan's calm exterior at a glance, stroked his beard and smiled: "Little Friend, do not worry. I have come here for two reasons: first, to congratulate you on reaching the Peak and being crowned king at a young age! Second..."

He flicked his sleeve, and a fist-sized star crystal, crystal clear throughout and seemingly sealing an entire brilliant galaxy within, slowly floated out! The moment the crystal appeared, the entire space was instantly filled with pure, vast, and soul-nourishing Star power!

"On behalf of the Star Sanctuary, I sincerely invite you to visit our Sanctuary. This 'Ten Thousand Year Star Marrow' is the condensed essence of the Star Origin, just a small meeting gift." Star Dust Master's tone was indifferent, as if he were giving away something ordinary.

Lin Yuan's heart shook violently! Ten Thousand Year Star Marrow! A Supreme treasure that legends say only the core Saint of a Sanctuary is qualified to use a sliver of when attempting to break through to the Saint Realm! This old guy... what a grand gesture!

However, before Lin Yuan could respond—

"Hum—!"

A terrifying Sword Intent, sharp and unparalleled, as if it could sever Karma and Reincarnation, suddenly tore through the space filled with starlight!

The sword light receded, transforming into a middle-aged man with fluttering green robes, eyebrows like swords, and an aura of severing heaven and earth radiating from his whole body! As soon as he appeared, the vast sea of stars intent created by Star Dust Master was forcibly cut and suppressed!

"Old Man Star Dust! Your methods of snatching people are a bit too impatient!" The newcomer laughed and scolded loudly. When his gaze turned to Lin Yuan, it instantly became extremely solemn. He cupped his hands in salute with a crisp and neat motion, carrying the straightforwardness of a Sword Cultivator: "Heavenly Sword Sanctuary · Sword Tomb Heaven Realm Revered Master · Sword Without Limits, greets Little Friend Lin!"

As his voice fell, he pointed his finger and made a cutting motion!

A small sword, only three inches long, completely transparent like glaze, with seemingly billions of sword shadows flickering and reincarnating endlessly within its blade, hovered before Lin Yuan!

"This is the 'Indestructible Sword Soul'! Holding it, you may enter the core Secret Realm of my Holy Land, the 'Sword Tomb Heavenly Realm', to meditate for three days!" Sword Without Limits' voice was resolute.

This time, Lin Yuan was truly stunned!

The Sword Tomb Heavenly Realm!

That was the Supreme Sword Dao Holy Land where the Heavenly Sword Sanctuary had buried hundreds of epochs and billions of peerless famous swords!

Every broken sword contained the ultimate insights into the Sword Dao of its Revered Master during their lifetime!

Three days of meditation? The value of this... was immeasurable!

It was as if a chain reaction had been triggered!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

Lin Yuan's personal space seemed to have transformed into a reception hall for top-tier powers, with spatial fluctuations occurring one after another!

Yu Mingyue of the Great Yu Dynasty arrived with a boom, riding a vermilion-gold phoenix carriage surrounded by nine phoenix phantoms!

She gently held up a pitch-black longsword in her jade hand, its blade flowing with Nirvana dao patterns, its mere aura causing space to wail: "Little Brother Lin Yuan, this 'Nirvana Origin Dharma Sword' is a secret treasure of the Imperial Dynasty, gifted to you for your amusement."

Yan Weiming of the Taiyan Dynasty sent three drops of golden liquid, containing dragon shapes and radiating majestic life essence and Imperial Dao Dragon Qi: "This 'True Dragon Tribulation Liquid' is for Body Tempering and Spirit Refining; I hope the little friend will accept it with a smile."

The Saintess of the Temple of Life held a jade bottle, dripping with emerald green, brimming with vitality.

Inside the bottle was a drop of liquid that jumped like a living creature, emitting a life Origin aura so rich it could not be dissolved: "This 'Life Origin Liquid' can regrow flesh and bones and revive the dead; it is a gift for the little friend."

Less than half an hour!

The "meeting gifts" floating before Lin Yuan had piled up into a mountain of treasures that would make even Saint King Realm experts envious and heart-pounding!

What was even more dizzying was that these Domain Lords and Saintesses, who were usually high above and looking down on all living beings, were now looking at Lin Yuan with heartfelt admiration and eagerness!

Their words were filled with extreme courtesy, without a hint of arrogance!

"Seniors..." Even with Lin Yuan's firm resolve, he felt his scalp tingle in the face of this formation.

He took a deep breath, about to politely decline.

Rumble—!!!

A sudden change occurred!

The entire virtual world... trembled violently and crazily!

As if it could not bear the arrival of some existence!

A Supreme pressure, far exceeding the sum of all the Domain Lords present, as if originating from the beginning of Chaos and carrying the aura of devouring the heavens and myriad worlds, descended with a boom, like the collapse of a Universe!

"Crack—!"

Lin Yuan's personal space, like a fragile glazed mirror, was instantly covered with crisscrossing pitch-black cracks!

The next moment—

The space... completely shattered!

A figure stepped out slowly from the depths of the shattered Void Realm turbulence!

The person wore a simple black robe, their face shrouded in a layer of ever-changing mist that seemed to devour light, making it impossible to see clearly.

But just by standing there, they were like the center of the Universe, the end of all things!

That invisible pressure made all the Domain Lords and Saintesses present feel their Divine Souls tremble and their spiritual power stagnate!

"Domain... Domain Lord?!" A Domain Lord of the Devouring Divine Hall exclaimed, their voice filled with uncontrollable awe and fear!

A Domain Lord of the Profound Realm!

This was an existence truly standing at the very pinnacle of the power and strength pyramid of the Taichu Divine Continent!

Each one was a Peak Saint King Realm expert who had fought their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood through the changing of epochs!

They possessed the Supreme authority to open up a Profound Realm and control the fate of billions of living beings!

"No need for formalities." The black-robed Domain Lord, known as Lu Tian, waved his hand casually, his voice indifferent, yet carrying the coldness of one who rules over everything.

His eyes, which seemed to contain endless black holes, were locked firmly on Lin Yuan from beginning to end.

"Little friend, my name is Lu Tian." He spoke, his voice resounding directly in the depths of Lin Yuan's Divine Soul, "Representing the Devouring Divine Hall, I sincerely invite you to join us with the position of 'First Dharma Child'."

"First Dharma Child?!"

The whole place was dead silent!

You could hear a pin drop!

Shock, beyond belief, erupted in the eyes of all the Domain Lords and Saintesses!

The "First Dharma Child" of the Devouring Divine Hall, what a revered status that was!

That was the Supreme among Disciples of the Myriad Laws Realm!

Possessing the Supreme authority to mobilize the core resources of the Divine Hall, reach the Domain Lord directly, and even meet the Lord of the Divine Hall!

Their status was even higher than many ordinary Elders!

Faced with this ultimate olive branch that would make anyone go crazy, Lin Yuan's eyes, after the initial shock, quickly returned to the calmness of an icy lake.

He looked around at these giants who represented the top forces of the Taichu Divine Continent, cupped his hands, and said in a clear and firm voice:

"Thank you for the kindness of all Seniors and Domain Lords, Lin Yuan... is flattered!"

"However, this Junior comes from the Spirit Martial Hall in the Eastern Region, and my learning and Foundation are rooted there.

Such a major matter concerning my future Dao path... I must discuss it with my teachers before making a decision!"

As soon as these words were spoken!

The corners of Lu Tian's mouth, shrouded in mist, seemed to curve into a faint trace of appreciation.

The admiration in the eyes of Star Dust Master, Sword Without Limits, Yu Mingyue, and others became even more intense!

Neither arrogant nor rash, knowing gratitude and propriety—this kind of Heart-Nature was even better than his Heaven-Defying talent!

"It should be so." Domain Lord Lu Tian nodded slightly, and a golden Talisman imprinted with an arcane devouring vortex floated towards Lin Yuan, "This is my communication mark in the virtual world.

If you have any difficulties, little friend, you can contact me at any time.

The Eastern Region is far, and it is difficult for my true body to arrive, but my Devouring Divine Hall will send people to contact you.

If you choose to settle in a major force in the future..." He swept his gaze over the crowd, with a hint of unquestionable meaning, "I hope you will prioritize considering our Devouring Divine Hall."

Star Dust Master stroked his beard and laughed: "Haha, little friend Lin Yuan, we will... be able to meet in reality very soon! I will take my leave first!"

Light and shadow flickered, and the figures representing Supreme authority dissipated one after another, leaving behind the lingering energy ripples in the room and the mountain of treasures.

Lin Yuan let out a long breath, waved his hand to store the "meeting gifts" that could cause a bloody storm into his storage ring, and then chose to log off.

Reality World · East Extreme Heaven Ruin Province · Spirit Martial Hall

Li Xuan was holding his wine gourd, which never left his side, taking sips of inferior spirit wine, dozing off while leaning against the door frame of the dilapidated hall.

Suddenly—

"Hum—!!!"

An unprecedented, terrifying pressure that seemed to want to crush the entire Spirit Martial Mountain Range into the ground descended from the Nine Heavens!

"Pfft—!" Li Xuan spat out a mouthful of wine, choking and coughing, and looked up with blurry, drunken eyes—

He saw in the sky:

The Star Sanctuary's "Star Brilliance Universe Jade Carriage" was like a moving galaxy, cutting through the sky, leaving starlight like rain wherever it passed, with Dao laws appearing!

The Heavenly Sword Sanctuary's "Ten Thousand Swords Piercing the Sky Flying Ship" had Sword Qi soaring to the heavens, surrounded by billions of sword shadows, cutting through the clouds, its edge sharp and exposed!

The Great Yu Dynasty's "Nine Phoenix Burning Heaven Imperial Carriage" had a thousand auspicious signs, nine divine phoenix phantoms stretching their necks and crying, the majesty of the Imperial Dao spreading across the earth!

The Cangqiong Imperial Dynasty's "Nine Dragons Shaking the World Golden Carriage" had dragon might shaking the world, nine five-clawed golden dragon phantoms entwining the carriage, emitting sky-shaking dragon roars!

Further away, the Temple of Life's "ancient tree of life Flying Ship" had vast vitality; the Eternal Temple's "Wheel of Time" circulated through the long river of time; the Tianyuan Dynasty's "Chaos Origin Magnetic Chariot" stirred the Yin and Yang Qi...

Dozens of vehicles representing the top forces of the Taichu Divine Continent, like ancient Vicious Beasts that had smelled blood, gathered above the pitiful protective formation of Spirit Martial Mountain!

The divine lights of various colors intertwined and collided, and the terrifying pressure they emitted caused the already crumbling protective formation to emit unbearable, ear-piercing buzzing sounds as it neared collapse!

On the light screen, spiderweb-like cracks were spreading crazily!

"Oh my goodness..." Li Xuan hurriedly pinched a spell to withdraw the formation, lest this old antique explode directly.

He took a big gulp of wine, not even caring that the wine was dripping down his beard, and muttered to himself: "Lin Yuan, you brat... you only entered that Taichu virtual network for half a day..."

He looked at the group of vehicles that covered the sky and emitted an aura that made even an old guy like him feel his scalp tingle, and shook his head with a bitter smile:

"...You've poked the 'hornet's nest' of all the top forces in the Taichu Divine Continent and brought it right to our doorstep, haven't you?!"

At this moment.

Lin Yuan's figure appeared quietly at the top of the Enlightenment Cliff, the highest point of the Spirit Martial Hall.

The mountain wind blew, fluttering his slightly thin robes.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as straight as a pine.

His deep gaze calmly swept over the scene above the sky, which looked like the arrival of a divine kingdom, with ten thousand rays of light and world-shaking pressure.

The corners of his mouth slowly curved into a... unfathomable arc, filled with endless ambition.

The center of the storm had arrived.

And this was just... the beginning.