51: Fifth Heaven of Gathering Yuan Realm

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

One after another, the star fruits turned into surging star power in his palm, pouring into his body like a galactic river. This power caused the condensation speed of the red spirit crystals to skyrocket! The 17th red spirit crystal formed at his Dantian, emitting a blazing red light; the 18th, the 19th... the Formation of every single spirit crystal caused a miniature energy storm. By the time the 30th crystal formed, the acupoints throughout his body began to resonate, letting out melodious clear chimes; at the 40th, the Qi and blood in his body surged like the Yangtze River; finally, the 50th red spirit crystal fell into place!

"Crack—"

The sound of breaking shackles echoed from within his body, as if some kind of constraint had been completely shattered. Lin Yuan's aura suddenly surged, and the acupoints across his body burst with blinding red light. His entire being was like a rising red sun, illuminating the entire Void Realm. Mysterious red patterns surfaced on his skin, each line containing staggering energy.

[Realm Breakthrough: Gathering Origin Realm Fifth Heaven Perfection!]

[Base Combat Power: 5 Million Stars (50 Red Crystals)]

[Current Strongest Combat Power: 26.24 Million Stars!]

At the moment of Lin Yuan's Breakthrough, the supreme star fruit at the top of the ancient star tree suddenly burst with unprecedented brilliant light, as if responding to his Breakthrough! The nine fruits trembled simultaneously, emitting heart-palpitating energy fluctuations that caused the surrounding Void Realm to distort.

As for Lin Yuan, he slowly stood up, his gaze like lightning as he looked toward the top of the ancient star tree: "Now, it's time to take what belongs to me." His voice was light, yet carried an unquestionable resolve.

After Lin Yuan arrived at the scene unhurriedly, he found that 100 figures had already surrounded the ancient star tree. Each of these figures radiated a powerful aura, with the weakest having a combat power of 3 million stars. Noticing Lin Yuan's arrival, the gazes of all the Prodigies focused on him—there was wariness, greed, and even more so, killing intent. The air was thick with tension, as if a single spark could ignite the entire scene.

Seven-colored auroras poured down from the top of the ancient star tree like a tide. Nine crystal-clear star fruits rotated slowly among the branches and leaves, each containing enough star Origin to make even Myriad Laws Realm experts green with envy. Mysterious patterns flowed on the fruits' surfaces, and their interiors looked as if galaxies were moving within. The Spiritual Qi concentration in the Void Realm instantly skyrocketed a thousandfold; even breathing allowed one to feel their cultivation slowly growing.

"supreme star fruit!" Flame Without Limit's pupils constricted violently, and the heaven burning wheel in his palm vibrated intensely, letting out a piercing hum. "A single one can condense at least 10 or even dozens of golden crystals!" His voice trembled slightly with excitement.

Ye Lingxiao's seven Flying Swords simultaneously let out clear sword chimes, weaving into a Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation in the air. "Everyone, how about we clear the field before distributing?" His gaze pointed directly at Lin Yuan, his eyes flashing with cold killing intent.

The air instantly froze. Nearly a hundred Prodigies tacitly spread out their Formation, surrounding Lin Yuan in the center. Even the three from the Spirit Martial Grand Hall, including Xiao Xuan, quietly retreated outside the encirclement, clearly intending to stay out of it. Liu Qingli even cast a gloating look toward Lin Yuan.

"Lower Realm Cultivators have no right to touch the Supreme fruit." Yue Qingshuang's Cold Moon Wheel bloomed with brilliance once more, nine cold moons rotating slowly behind her. Her tone was icy, "Final warning: crush your token and leave." Her voice carried a high-and-mighty arrogance, as if she were granting a final mercy.

Lin Yuan chuckled lightly, twirling the chaos heaven-grade sword into a beautiful sword flower. Wherever the blade passed, faint traces were left in space. "If you want to fight, then fight. You talk too much."

Jun Wuye suddenly raised his hand. This movement acted as a signal, and the three Prodigies of the Nine Nether Imperial Dynasty immediately formed a Formation and attacked Lin Yuan alongside him! Each of the three held a Nether Flag depicted with hideous ghost faces. As the flags waved, countless vengeful ghosts surged out from them, letting out shrill howls. Simultaneously, Flame Without Limit also attacked. Nine fire Phoenix halos merged into a hundred-zhang Golden Crow, and the heaven burning wheel transformed into a third claw, pouncing toward Lin Yuan with the momentum to burn the heavens and boil the seas. Wherever the Golden Crow passed, the Void Realm was scorched into a distorted shape.

"Great Sun Heaven Burning Art · Golden Crow Descent!"

Ye Lingxiao's seven Flying Swords merged into one, transforming into a colossal sword that reached the heavens. The patterns of the Twenty-Eight Mansions appeared on the blade, and starlight gathered into an incomparably sharp Sword Qi. This was the Heaven Sword Villa's Supreme sect technique, the 'Constellation Dao-Slaying Sword'. Yue Qingshuang's Cold Moon Wheel split into nine, forming a Lunar Killing Array. Extreme cold Qi froze the space, even turning starlight into ice crystals as it enveloped Lin Yuan.

The three top Prodigies attacked simultaneously! The energy fluctuation that erupted in this instant was enough to make ordinary Myriad Laws Realm experts keep a respectful distance.

The light in Lin Yuan's eyes surged as he unleashed his full 11.96 million star combat power: "Chaos · Nine Cycles Samsara Slash!"

The chaos heaven-grade sword burst with a blinding grey glow. 40% of the Law of Thunder combined with 25% of the Law of Sword distorted the spatial rules within a hundred-zhang radius. This strike seemed simple, yet it contained the ultimate truths of the Chaos Great Dao. Wherever the blade passed, all laws retreated. The Golden Crow disintegrated the moment it touched the grey glow, turning into a sky full of sparks; the Constellation Great Sword shattered inch by inch, its fragments flying everywhere; the Lunar Cold Array was directly swallowed whole, leaving not even a trace of cold Qi behind.

"Puff!" Flame Without Limit spat blood and flew backward, spider-web-like cracks appearing on the heaven burning wheel as he was thrown hundreds of zhang like a ragdoll. Ye Lingxiao's Seven Stars Sword Casket exploded with a "crack," his life-bound Flying Swords completely destroyed. He knelt on the ground clutching his chest, his eyes full of disbelief. Yue Qingshuang fared the worst; the nine cold moons were shattered by the chaos heaven-grade sword, causing a backlash. Her black hair instantly turned grey, and her features aged at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"How is this possible?!" Xiao Xuan cried out in shock, his voice changing pitch. Three top Prodigies joined forces and were actually defeated by a single strike? This Lower Realm Cultivator's strength had completely exceeded their range of cognition.

Lin Yuan did not let up, his body transforming into a streak of purple lightning as he charged: "Thunder Flash · Thousand Shadows!"

The 40% Law of Thunder allowed his speed to break past the limit. Over a thousand afterimages appeared in the air simultaneously, each lifelike and hard to distinguish from the real one. Each afterimage struck with a sword, and the protective Magic Treasures of twenty-five Prodigies shattered one after another, blood falling like rain.

"Form the Formation! Form the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Grand Array!" an array-path Prodigy roared, his voice filled with terror. The Formation Plate in his hand spun rapidly, shooting out countless golden threads.

The remaining seventy-odd people quickly changed their Formation, golden array runes weaving into a celestial net in the Void Realm. This was a top-tier combined attack Formation circulating in the Central Continent, capable of killing enemies of a higher Realm; it had once trapped and killed a true Myriad Laws Realm expert. The moment the Formation formed, solemn immortal music echoed in the Void Realm, as if Heavenly Gods were chanting.

"Paltry tricks." Lin Yuan sneered, his forehead suddenly radiating bright light as the soul pearl in his Sea of Consciousness spun rapidly: "Soul Storm · Extinguish!"

160,000 stars of Mental Energy transformed into a monstrous wave, sweeping out in all directions with him as the center. The weaker Prodigies fainted on the spot, falling from the sky like dumplings; the slightly stronger ones felt splitting headaches and clutched their heads in agony. The perfect Formation instantly developed a gap, and the golden array runes began to disintegrate. Lin Yuan seized the opportunity, condensing the Law of Destruction (10%) at his sword tip and cleaving through the Formation eye. Wherever the blade passed, the array runes were easily torn apart like a fragile spider web.

"Boom!"

Amidst the deafening explosion, the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Grand Array collapsed. The Prodigies maintaining the Formation spat blood and were sent flying, the scene falling into complete Chaos. Lin Yuan stood with his sword, his robes fluttering in the energy storm, looking like an invincible god of war.