359: Chapter 359 Deep within the Origin Altar, the Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing appears!

"The Heavenly Dao?"

Lin Ran's gaze narrowed slightly, his face showing no trace of emotion.

Although it was the Heavenly Dao of the White Jade Capital, he had never respected heaven and earth, nor honored ghosts and gods; he only respected himself.

Moreover, the Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing had once struck him with a Divine Punishment, and that Blood Seal was still branded deep within his Divine Soul.

He and the Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing shared a deep-seated hatred; it was a life-and-death situation between them!

"Blockhead Master, we had better be careful. When you were fighting Nangong Wentian just now, this old fellow never showed himself."

"He must be plotting something inside!"

"Perhaps there is a Heavens Net waiting for us inside!"

Gu Qinglian reminded him.

With a thought, Lin Ran unleashed the Chaos Divine Thunder Heaven and Earth around him. Terrifying chaos divine thunder rumbled within it, crackling with a series of hair-raising killing intents.

Lin Ran remained at the center of the Chaos Divine Thunder Heaven and Earth. As he walked forward, the Chaos Divine Thunder Heaven and Earth moved with him.

Even if the Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing had laid a Heavens Net inside, it would first have to contend with the defense of the Chaos Divine Thunder Heaven and Earth.

As they ventured deeper into the Source Altar, Lin Ran and Gu Qinglian saw a grand and magnificent altar ahead, forged from the bones of countless Prodigies.

At the center of the altar, a divine crown emitting a hazy white light and containing infinite power was suspended in mid-air, glowing radiantly.

"The imperial dao divine crown?!"

Lin Ran was slightly startled.

He had heard Jiang Yunxian say that the ultimate Opportunity of the Emperor Road was this imperial dao divine crown.

Countless Walkers of the World had lost their lives here competing for this imperial dao divine crown.

Now that the imperial dao divine crown was floating before him, it would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted!

He flew toward the imperial dao divine crown, but just as he was about to step onto the altar, an invisible resistance blocked him. No matter how he tried, he couldn't move forward a single inch.

"Blockhead Master, oh Blockhead Master, your head really is a blockhead!"

"Look at all these holes around the altar. What do you think is supposed to go in them?"

Gu Qinglian poked Lin Ran's head in frustration and said speechlessly.

Lin Ran suddenly realized. He looked at the holes around the altar and was struck with understanding.

He took out all seventeen heavenly mandate steles he had collected; they were just enough to fill these holes.

However, after he filled seventeen holes with the seventeen heavenly mandate steles in his hand, he found that one hole still remained empty.

"Eh? Why is there still one missing? Could it be that these holes aren't for the heavenly mandate steles?"

Gu Qinglian scratched her head in confusion and muttered adorably.

"No, these holes are indeed meant for the heavenly mandate steles."

Lin Ran shook his head and said with certainty.

There was no mistake that these holes were for the heavenly mandate steles. As for why one hole remained unfilled, it was because that hole was for placing the main destiny tablet!

Don't forget, he had a fragment of the main destiny tablet in his hand!

However, he didn't want to put the main destiny tablet into the hole right now.

If he did that, wouldn't he be playing right into the hands of the person in the shadows?

He wouldn't be stupid for no reason!

"Blockhead Master, how can you be so sure?"

Gu Qinglian turned to Lin Ran and asked curiously.

"What else could these holes be for besides the heavenly mandate steles?"

Lin Ran couldn't help but roll his eyes at her.

"However, as for why there's one hole left, I'm not quite sure either."

He began to play dumb, clearly acting for the benefit of the person in the shadows.

"What's the difference between saying that and saying nothing at all?"

"Fine, since there's one hole left, let's just take all the heavenly mandate steles away."

"It won't be too late to come back once we find a solution."

Gu Qinglian said.

Lin Ran nodded with a smile. "Your master was thinking the same thing."

He made a move to take back all seventeen heavenly mandate steles. Seeing this, the person in the shadows finally grew anxious.

"These were all young Prodigies who once sought to seize the mandate of heaven."

"Unfortunately, they didn't have the fate for it. They fell here, and even their own mandates of heaven were left behind."

"Lin Ran, do you think you... can seize the final mandate of heaven?"

The Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing finally appeared, eyes devoid of emotion as he gazed indifferently at Lin Ran.

"Heavenly Dao, you've finally shown yourself. Tell me, why didn't you appear to help Nangong Wentian when I was fighting him just now?"

Lin Ran stood with his hands behind his back, an inscrutable smile playing on his lips.

The Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing shook his head slightly. "First, because I was no match for you when you had just obtained the power of an immortal god."

"Second, because Nangong Wentian and I were merely temporary allies for mutual benefit. If he died, he died; there was no need to save him."

"With or without him, the outcome will not change!"

Hearing this, Lin Ran smiled. "Heavenly Dao, you seem quite confident."

"Lin Ran, to be honest, it truly surprises me that you were able to make it this far today."

"But since you dare to appear before me without Jiang Yunxian by your side, you are destined to meet your end today!"

The Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing's gaze was indifferent, his Aura overwhelming. He was at the sixth level of the Heavenly Palace Realm!

"You're the Heavenly Dao of the White Jade Capital, yet your cultivation is only at the sixth level of the Heavenly Palace Realm?"

Lin Ran couldn't help but mock him.

"Lin Ran, you should know that the Emperor Road is also a part of the White Jade Capital."

"And I, as the Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing, can naturally suppress others with my authority!"

"You... will never be a match for this deity!"

The Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing said with full confidence.

"Fine. Before we start, I'd like to ask you a question. I wonder if you, as a Senior, could answer it?"

Lin Ran said with a half-smile.

The Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing was clearly in a good mood. He actually listened to Lin Ran and nodded. "Fine, ask away."

"Are these holes the place where the heavenly mandate steles are meant to be placed?"

Lin Ran asked.

The Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing nodded. "Yes."

"Then why is there an extra hole? Is there another heavenly mandate stele in this world?"

Lin Ran continued to press.

"There is indeed one more heavenly mandate stele left outside. And that one is the main destiny tablet, while these seventeen are merely auxiliary heavenly mandate steles."

The Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing answered calmly.

"main destiny tablet? auxiliary heavenly mandate steles? Is there a connection between them?"

Lin Ran asked.

The Heavenly Dao of Baiyujing also grew somewhat interested. He reclined in mid-air, propping his head with one hand, and said nonchalantly:

"The main destiny tablet is the most important; it can absorb the power of destiny and feed it back to its owner."

"And the auxiliary heavenly mandate steles condense the power of destiny for the main destiny tablet!"