282: Tao, Mind, Tribulation

Following His words, three massive stone stele phantoms appeared in the Void Realm. Each stele was carved with a primitive, bold character, corresponding respectively to: Dao, Heart, and Tribulation.

"First question: What is your Dao?"

As the voice fell, the stele with the character "Dao" shone brilliantly, transforming into a sea of stars that enveloped Lin Yuan and Xuanyuan Wuji. Within the sea of stars, countless phantom paths appeared, each representing the ultimate of a Great Dao—some with Sword Qi soaring to the heavens, some with vast Imperial might, some with the cycle of life and death, and some with intertwined space and time...

Xuanyuan Wuji's Imperial Dao Dragon Qi boiled uncontrollably, condensing into a phantom five-clawed golden dragon above his head. This was his Dao—the ultimate Imperial Dao, ruling over all directions!

Lin Yuan's Chaos Domain unfolded autonomously. Within the dark golden light, a swaying chaos green lotus emerged, with a miniature universe slowly rotating upon its lotus pedestal. This was his Dao—Chaos Boundless, encompassing all laws!

The gaze of the Grandmist figure drifted between the two, finally resting on Lin Yuan: "Chaos... Interesting. You may enter."

"Second question: Is your heart firm?"

The "Heart" stele immediately lit up, and countless illusions surged like a tide. Power, beauty, immortality, invincibility... all manner of temptations and trials followed one after another, striking directly at the deepest part of the inner heart.

Before Xuanyuan Wuji appeared a scene of the ancient Imperial Court—he sat upon a nine-dragon throne, with Azure Heaven Emperor, Mr. Yuan Mie Xu, and a host of other Prodigies kneeling at his feet. Even Lin Yuan was bound in chains, submissive to imperial power. This was the ambition of his life!

What Lin Yuan faced was simpler and purer—a boundless Chaos Void. As long as he was willing to abandon all attachments, he could immediately merge into it, becoming the eternal and immortal Chaos itself. This was the most lethal temptation!

"Hypocrisy!" Xuanyuan Wuji suddenly roared, his Imperial Dao Dragon Qi transforming into a sharp sword that shattered the illusion. "The submission I desire must be taken by force, not by fantasy!"

Lin Yuan quietly watched that Chaos Void, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips: "Chaos is not the end, but the beginning. My Dao is to be the Dominator of Chaos, not to be assimilated by it!" As the words fell, the chaos green lotus shone brilliantly, and the illusion shattered with a boom.

The Grandmist figure nodded slightly: "Your resolve is acceptable. You may enter."

"Third question: Do you dare to face the Tribulation?"

The final "Tribulation" stele shone intensely, transforming into a blood-colored prophetic scene—Lin Yuan and Xuanyuan Wuji saw the terrifying tribulations they would face after stepping into the Origin Realm: the true body of the Lord of Guixu descending, the Grandmist storms inside the Origin Realm, and the unknown existence sleeping in the deepest depths...

Even more terrifyingly, the prophecy indicated that only one of them could leave alive!

Xuanyuan Wuji's expression was uncertain. The pride of the Ancient Clans made him unwilling to retreat, but the prophesied tribulation indeed far exceeded expectations.

Lin Yuan, however, suddenly laughed: "Tribulation? In this life, have I ever avoided a tribulation?" He turned to look at Xuanyuan Wuji, calmly stating, "It seems one of us is going to die."

Xuanyuan Wuji was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed as well: "Not necessarily. Prophecies can be changed." He raised the broken time-light compass, "The Dao of Time is best at variables."

The Grandmist figure seemed very satisfied with the two's reactions: "Tribulations are impermanent; the brave move forward. You may enter."

The three steles shattered simultaneously, turning into streams of light that merged into their bodies. Lin Yuan felt his chaos origin seed gain a hint of spirituality, while the time-wound on Xuanyuan Wuji's chest healed by more than half.

"Remember," the Grandmist figure began to dissipate, "sleeping in the depths of the Origin Realm is the 'primordial dao embryo'. Obtaining it allows one to wield a portion of the authority of Creation. But the price to awaken it is..."

Before the words could finish, the space around the entire Origin Realm suddenly shook violently! The distant Void Realm was forcibly torn apart, and a complete, sky-covering giant claw covered in dark purple crystals reached out, followed immediately by a second one... The two giant claws gripped the edges of the spatial rift and tore with force—

Boom!

The rift expanded to ten thousand zhang, and a giant head of indescribable terror slowly emerged. It resembled a dragon's head, but it had nine eyes, each flowing with destruction flames of different colors. Seven curved sharp horns on its head formed a bizarre crown, and each horn was strung with the wreckage of countless worlds!

"Lord of Guixu... true body!" Xuanyuan Wuji's voice was dry. This was definitely a Saint-Grade existence!

Even more terrifying, at the center of the Lord of Guixu's brow, a small white crack was slowly opening—that was the main body of the "eye of guixu", a terrifying organ rumored to be able to annihilate a world!

The entrance to the Hongmeng Origin World began to flicker unsteadily, and the nine-colored rays of light fluctuated violently. The Grandmist figure had mostly dissipated, leaving only a final warning: "It has actually descended in its true body regardless of the cost... The Origin Realm is about to close, decide quickly!"

A life-and-death choice was placed before them again. Venture into the Origin Realm and face the unknown tribulations and the primordial dao embryo inside? Or stay outside and fight the Lord of Guixu to the death?

Lin Yuan and Xuanyuan Wuji exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes.

"It seems the cooperation must continue." Lin Yuan's lips curled slightly.

"Temporarily." Xuanyuan Wuji added coldly.

The two did not hesitate any longer, turning into two streams of light and rushing toward the closing entrance of the Origin Realm. Behind them, the Lord of Guixu let out a roar that shattered the galaxy, its nine eyes locking onto their backs simultaneously, and the white crack at its brow slowly opened... The instant the nine-colored light engulfed them, Lin Yuan felt his body being broken down into the most basic particles.

It was not the holistic movement of spatial teleportation, but rather every cell and every wisp of Divine Soul being dismantled, then reassembled along a dimension beyond comprehension. This process should have been extremely painful, but the miraculous power of the Primordial Purple Qi made everything as warm and peaceful as returning to the womb.

The moment the reassembly was complete, the expected scene of a Secret Realm did not appear. Lin Yuan found himself floating in an absolute void—there was no light, no matter, and not even the concepts of space and time. There was only a wisp of drifting Primordial Purple Qi, like a living ribbon, outlining a vague silhouette in the void.

"Is this... inside the Origin Realm?" Lin Yuan tried to circulate his Chaos Domain, only to find that even the most basic Dao did not exist here. 80% of the Chaos Great Dao seemed to be sealed here, and even the dark golden light of the Great Accomplishment Chaos Body could not shine outside his body.

A muffled groan came from beside him. Xuanyuan Wuji's figure solidified from a phantom state. The fragment of the time-light compass in his hand emitted a faint silver light, becoming the only light source in this void. This God-Son of the first Ancient Clan was pale as paper, the time-wound on his chest had worsened again, and the translucent area had spread to his neck.

"Anti-entropy point..." Xuanyuan Wuji spat out the three words with difficulty, "Need to find... the anti-entropy point..."

Before the words fell, a faint light suddenly lit up in the depths of the void. The light was initially like a bean, but in an instant, it expanded into a nebula-like vortex.

At the center of the vortex, a scene that completely defied physical common sense slowly unfolded—a "waterfall" flowing in reverse cascaded down from the void, the water defying gravity and surging upwards; on both sides of the waterfall grew trees with branches pointing downwards, and fallen leaves were not falling but flying back to the branches; further away, on several inverted mountain peaks, the ruins of buildings were self-repairing from their shattered state...