45: The domain breaks the chains, and the five elements crush the qi.

"Bang!"

Zhao Kun's Protective Aura Palm fiercely struck the True Essence Shield. The shield, as thin as a cicada's wing and gray-gold in color, instantly shattered, and the residual force exploded through Lin Yang's Dantian. Lin Yang was struck as if by a heavy hammer, flying backward and crashing into a stone pillar at the edge of the arena. With a crisp "crack," spiderweb-like cracks spread across the pillar's surface. He felt a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of fresh blood mixed with shattered True Essence sprayed out, splashing onto the spirit sealing chain wrapped around his forearm—the runes on the chain links, soaked in blood, glowed even brighter, tightly constricting his Meridians, causing his Chaos True Essence to almost cease its flow.

"Hahaha! Does it hurt now?" Zhao Kun pursued Lin Yang, raising his foot to stomp on his Dantian, the tip of his shoe gleaming with a faint golden Protective Aura. "Now I'll cripple you, let's see how you'll still swallow True Essence and pretend to be a master!"

Just as Zhao Kun's foot was about to land, a blinding gray-gold light suddenly erupted from within Lin Yang's Dantian. The light penetrated his skin and flesh, surging through his Meridians towards his forearm. The spirit sealing chain wrapped around his wrist suddenly vibrated violently, and the red glow of the runes on its links began to flicker. The trace of rune power that had been slowly refined by the chaos star core suddenly resonated with the Black Wind Stockade Protective Aura Origin deep within the star core, like a key, violently prying open the chain's suppression!

"Buzz—!"

Centered on Lin Yang, a gray-gold light screen suddenly unfolded within a ten-meter radius. The edges of the light screen rippled with distortions, forcefully blocking Zhao Kun's foot in mid-air. No matter how he urged his Protective Aura, he couldn't press it down even a fraction. Even more bizarrely, the spirit sealing chain wrapped around Lin Yang's forearm, at the moment it was enveloped by the light screen, its red rune light rapidly dimmed. With a "clack," the chain links cracked, automatically loosening and falling to the ground. On the slightly warm chain links, the previously arrogant runes had completely lost their luster.

"What the hell is this?!" Zhao Kun's face changed drastically. He tried to retract his foot but found that the Protective Aura around him suddenly became sluggish, as if wrapped in viscous mud. Every movement required several times more True Essence. He could clearly perceive that within that gray-gold light screen, there was a power that could devour everything, drilling back along his Protective Aura, and even the Burning Gold Art True Essence within his Dantian began to stir restlessly.

"Chaos Domain." Lin Yang slowly stood up from the ground, blood still on the corner of his mouth, but his eyes gleamed with excitement. The moment he was sent flying by Zhao Kun, the chaos star core finally broke through the spirit sealing chain's suppression, not only unlocking a new ability but also, using the refined rune power, successfully breaking through the barrier of the Fifth Layer of Innate Realm. At this moment, his Dantian was rapidly expanding, and his gray-gold True Essence became even more condensed, subtly exuding a sense of profound weight—a sign of the Sixth Layer of Innate Realm!

Within the ten-meter light screen, Zhao Kun's Protective Aura surged towards Lin Yang like a tide, being devoured bit by bit by the gray-gold True Essence. The frustration previously suppressed by the spirit sealing chain now transformed entirely into the power of devouring. Lin Yang could even clearly perceive the flaw in the Misty Immortal Palace aura within Zhao Kun's Protective Aura—that aura was incompatible with the Burning Gold Art True Essence, and every time it circulated to his chest, there would be a momentary pause, which was precisely where Zhao Kun's old injury lay.

"Impossible! How can your Domain break my spirit sealing chain?!" Zhao Kun roared, forming hand seals. The remaining Protective Aura around him suddenly condensed into a gigantic fiery-gold fist, with the flame runes of the Burning Gold Art carved on its surface. "Burning Gold Boundary-Shattering Fist! I refuse to believe that your pathetic Domain can withstand this move of mine!"

This punch was a killing move that Zhao Kun had spent three months cultivating after breaking through to the Gang Qi Realm. Previously, in inner sect competitions, he had used this punch to shatter the defense shield of an Eighth Layer of Innate Realm Disciple, and even the Inner Sect Elder had praised this move as "unrivaled in power." At this moment, the fist wind howled, scorching and distorting the air above the arena. The Disciples below couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, and even Su Qingyue once again tightened the Ice True Essence at her fingertips, ready to act at any moment.

A glint flashed in Lin Yang's eyes. The chaos star core operated at full speed; the gold, wood, water, fire, and earth True Essence he had previously devoured now circulated and converged in his palm. The sharpness of the gold element, the entanglement of the wood element, the freezing of the water element, the scorching heat of the fire element, and the profound weight of the earth element intertwined into a multicolored vortex. As the vortex rotated, it subtly contained the rhythm of the Five Elements mutually generating each other.

"Five Elements Rotation." Lin Yang spoke softly, his voice imbued with the power of the Chaos Domain, clearly reaching Zhao Kun's ears. He pushed the multicolored vortex forward abruptly, and the vortex instantly expanded, meeting the fiery-gold Protective Aura fist.

"Overestimating yourself!" Zhao Kun sneered, but the next second, his smile froze on his face. The moment the multicolored vortex collided with the Protective Aura fist, the gold element's sharpness was the first to tear open the fist's Protective Aura defense. The water element True Essence drilled into the crack, instantly freezing the Protective Aura's flow. The fire element True Essence then ignited the scorching energy within the fist, the Wood Element True Essence entangled the scattered Protective Aura fragments, and the earth element True Essence suppressed and guided all the chaotic forces, fully integrating them into the Chaos Domain.

"No—!"

Zhao Kun let out an unwilling roar of anger. He could clearly perceive that his proud Burning Gold Boundary-Shattering Fist was being dismantled and devoured by the power of the Five Elements bit by bit, and even the True Essence within his Dantian began to flow in reverse. He wanted to retreat, but he was firmly trapped by the Chaos Domain, only able to watch helplessly as the multicolored vortex struck his chest.

"Pfft!"

Zhao Kun spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, mixed with shattered True Essence. He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the steps below the high platform and falling unconscious. The spirit sealing chain, which had fallen to the ground, was completely shattered by the residual Protective Aura, revealing a tiny piece of silk paper hidden within its core. Written on it with Misty Immortal Palace's special ink were the words: "Use the spirit sealing chain to trap his True Essence, and the Protective Aura Palm to cripple his star core. Afterward, the Immortal Palace will bestow the complete version of the Burning Gold Art."

The arena instantly fell into dead silence, then erupted into thunderous cheers.

"Senior Brother Lin won! The Sixth Layer of Innate Realm defeated the Gang Qi Realm!"

"What kind of Domain is that? It can even break the spirit sealing chain! So powerful!"

"Who dares to say that the Ding-zi Courtyard is a chore courtyard anymore? Senior Brother Lin is the pride of our outer sect!"

Below the stage, Liu Qingluan pulled Liu Hongluan, tears streaming down her face with excitement. Chu He, holding his black iron shield, showed a frank smile and gave Lin Yang a "thumbs up" gesture. Shen Li leaned against a pillar, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes—she knew Lin Yang could break Zhao Kun's spirit sealing chain.

On the high platform, Su Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief, the Ice True Essence at her fingertips quietly dissipating, her gaze towards Lin Yang filled with gratification. Bai Wanqing nodded slightly, a hint of anticipation in her eyes—Chaos Domain plus Five Elements Rotation, Lin Yang's growth speed was even faster than she had expected.

The Sect Master slowly walked down the steps, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious Zhao Kun on the ground, then resting on the shattered spirit sealing chain and the silk paper. A faint chill flashed in his eyes, immediately replaced by admiration. He walked up to Lin Yang, his voice imbued with True Essence, echoing throughout the arena: "Lin Yang, with his Sixth Layer of Innate Realm cultivation, defeated a Gang Qi Realm expert, not only demonstrating strength but also wisdom! Effective immediately, he is exceptionally promoted to Inner Sect Disciple and specially granted the qualification to Cultivate in the Inner Sect Secret Realm 'Five Elements Spirit Pool.' Su Qingyue will guide him there in three days!"

As the crowd cheered again, Elder Wu and Ling Feihong from the Xuantian Sword Sect in the corner had faces so gloomy they could drip water. Elder Wu clenched his fists, muttering, "The Chaos Domain can break the Immortal Palace's spirit sealing chain and even evolve the power of the Five Elements... This Lin Yang cannot be allowed to live. We must act before he enters the Five Elements Spirit Pool!" Ling Feihong nodded, his fingertips pressing on his sword hilt, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes—he lost to him in the Secret Realm last time, this time he absolutely cannot let him grow stronger alive.

Lin Yang stood in the center of the arena, feeling the abundant True Essence of the Sixth Layer of Innate Realm, watching the slowly dissipating Chaos Domain around him, his heart incredibly firm. Defeating Zhao Kun and breaking the spirit sealing chain was just the first step; the upcoming Five Elements Spirit Pool was not only an opportunity to improve his cultivation but also the key to unlocking the secrets of the star core and finding clues about his mother.

And he knew that the Zhao family's revenge, the Xuantian Sword Sect's covetousness, and the Misty Immortal Palace's conspiracy were all waiting for him.

A storm is brewing; only by becoming stronger can one stand firm.