42: God-killing Sword Codex, Battle at the Imperial Tomb!

Within the Long Family's Forbidden Ground, that mysterious space perpetually shrouded in Chaos Qi, seemingly independent of time and space.

Lin Tian stood calmly before the Third Ancestor's illusionary figure, which was more solidified than ever, accepting the scrutiny of this stabilizing force of the Family.

"Not bad, very good."

The Third Ancestor's eyes, which seemed to penetrate through eons, were filled with undisguised admiration and relief.

"Facing the Divine Might of a demigod, not only did you not retreat, but you also, in front of this old man, slew that junior and seized his treasure. This decisiveness in killing, this domineering nature, truly embodies the Legacy of my Long Family! You have not disappointed this old man."

Lin Tian's expression was calm, neither humble nor arrogant, as he said, "If others don't offend me, I won't offend them. If others offend me, I will cut the grass and eliminate the roots."

"What a 'cut the grass and eliminate the roots'!" The Third Ancestor, hearing this, let out a hearty laugh, "Well said! My Long Family descendants should possess such spirit!"

After the laughter, the Third Ancestor's expression slowly turned solemn.

"Now, your Foundation is established, and your strength is sufficient for self-preservation. It is time to impart to you the true, generations-old, supreme secret technique of my Long Family, capable of suppressing all enemies."

He extended a finger, wreathed in Chaos currents, and slowly pointed it towards Lin Tian's glabella.

"Watch closely, Tian'er."

"This is the SSS-grade Forbidden Sword Canon — which our Long Family's ancestor, in the Primordial Era, personally observed the ancient God-Devil War and spent a full ten thousand years of effort to comprehend from the world-destroying Law collisions —"

"The God Slaying Sword Canon!"

Boom!!!

A torrent of information, far more vast, grand, and filled with endless killing and destructive aura than any previous Cultivation Technique, instantly surged into Lin Tian's mind through a spiritual imprint!

Lin Tian only felt as if his Divine Soul had been pulled into a blood-red Primordial battlefield! He saw Heavenly Gods, towering to the heavens, cleaving galaxies with their swords; he saw colossal Devil Gods, devouring suns and moons with their roars! And that God Slaying Sword Canon was the ultimate Law that controlled all this destructive power!

"This Sword Canon does not Cultivate the body, nor does it Cultivate Law; it only Cultivates... a wisp of supreme Sword Intent capable of severing Karma and slaying Gods and Devils!"

"Once mastered, within the same rank, one sword can instantly kill!"

"Challenging higher ranks is as easy as drinking water or eating food!"

The Third Ancestor's majestic voice rumbled within Lin Tian's Divine Soul, like the sound of the Great Dao.

After a long while, the spiritual imprint slowly concluded.

Lin Tian slowly opened his eyes, and within their profound depths, countless sword lights seemed to be born and extinguished, sharp enough to pierce the sky!

After the impartation of the Law, the Third Ancestor's illusionary figure also seemed to have expended a great deal, becoming somewhat ethereal. He looked at the junior before him, who had now received the Family's strongest Legacy, and his expression became unprecedentedly solemn.

He slowly spoke, making a pact with Lin Tian concerning the Family's destiny.

"Tian'er, some things are still too early to tell you now. Your strength is not yet sufficient to bear the heavy Karma that could crush even Heavenly Gods."

"Wait until you... turn eighteen."

"When you truly come of age, and your strength is sufficient for self-preservation, then come back here to find me."

"At that time, I will tell you the 'ultimate secret' that my Long Family has silently guarded with blood and bones, generation after generation, since the Primordial Era."

"At the same time, I will also reveal the complete truth about what truly happened to your long-missing parents, and why they both fell into the Kunlun Restricted Zone!"

The ultimate secret!

The truth of his parents' disappearance!

These two bombshells, like thunderclaps, stirred up monstrous waves even in Lin Tian's usually calm heart!

He knew that this was the most core and powerful emotional driving force for his future martial Dao path!

"Alright." Lin Tian suppressed the turmoil in his heart and nodded heavily, "I promise you."

"Go." The Third Ancestor nodded in satisfaction, his illusionary figure slowly dissipating, "Next, go into secluded Cultivation and properly comprehend this God Slaying Sword Canon."

He paused, then, with a tone full of 'veteran' experience and a hint of pride, he gave his final admonition:

"However, remember, do not be too hasty. This Sword Canon is incredibly profound and extremely difficult to Cultivate. Back then, this old man, with his extraordinary talent, unparalleled in an era, still took a full year to barely grasp the threshold of entry. You, take your time, no rush."

...Three months later.

Inside the exclusive secluded Cultivation chamber deep within the Long Family's Forbidden Ground.

Lin Tian slowly opened his eyes.

The moment he opened his eyes, within the entire secret chamber, countless invisible Sword Qi seemed to materialize out of thin air and then instantly vanish! They carved deep, mirror-smooth, terrifying scratches into the surrounding indestructible walls made of special alloy!

He slowly raised his right hand, his index and middle fingers joined, forming a sword-finger.

Then, he lightly drew a line in the Void Realm before him.

The first form of the God Slaying Sword Canon — Star Cleave!

Chirp!

There was no earth-shattering sound, no dazzling, magnificent special effects.

Only a subtle, pure pitch-black spatial rift, as if it could swallow even light and sound, quietly appeared where his fingertip passed, then slowly closed.

It's done!

Lin Tian retracted his sword-finger, yet there was no joy on his face. Instead, he frowned slightly, and with a tone full of 'distress' and 'disappointment', he sighed to himself:

"Alas... Third Ancestor was right, this God Slaying Sword Canon is indeed incredibly profound and very difficult to learn."

"Just to get started, to master this first form, it actually took me... a full three months."

"It's really hard to learn."

The moment his words fell, the Third Ancestor's illusionary figure, which had been acting as his Protector to prevent any mishaps during his Cultivation, suddenly shook violently, almost collapsing on the spot!

The corners of the Third Ancestor's usually calm old face twitched uncontrollably!

What did he hear?!

Three months... and he still thinks it's slow?!

And he even said... it's really hard to learn?!

Did this old man's entire year of Cultivation back then go to the dogs?!

An unprecedented emotion, named 'mental imbalance', instantly swept through the heart of this old monster who had lived for nearly ten thousand years!

He suddenly waved his hand and, with a tone full of 'disgust' and 'jealousy', ungraciously shouted at Lin Tian:

"Scram, scram, scram! If you've learned it, then quickly scram! Don't be an eyesore to this old man here!"

"I... I need to be alone!"

...Lin Tian was 'inexplicably' 'chased out' of the Forbidden Ground by the Third Ancestor.

He returned to his Dragon Perch Residence, and before he even had time to drink some tea, his grandfather, Long Zhanye, came to visit, his face solemn.

"Tian'er, it's good that you've come out of seclusion." Long Zhanye went straight to the point, dropping a startling piece of news that even made Lin Tian raise an eyebrow.

"Recently, while perusing one of the Family's oldest secret scrolls, I discovered a shocking secret about the Pangu Body!"

"What secret?" Lin Tian immediately became interested.

"According to the secret scroll, the Pangu Body as we currently know it seems... not to be its ultimate, complete form! It seems to still possess immense potential that has not yet been activated!"

"And the key to activation is very likely related to the War Emperor, the first and only supreme ruler of our Human Race who unified the entire planet in the Ancient Era!"

"The secret scroll briefly mentioned that the War Emperor also seemed to possess a supreme Physique very similar to, and originating from the same source as, the Pangu Body! And the ruins of the Pangu Imperial Dynasty he established back then, which is also his mausoleum — the War Emperor's Mausoleum — according to my many years of speculation, is very likely hidden in..."

He paused, then uttered the name filled with taboo and danger.

"— The deepest part of the Kunlun Restricted Zone!"

The moment Long Zhanye's voice fell —

In Lin Tian's long-silent mind, the cold, yet melodious System prompt suddenly rang out!

"Ding! Detecting special key location information..."

"New Sign-in Mission has been refreshed!"

"Mission Objective: Please proceed to the Kunlun Restricted Zone, the core area of the War Emperor's Mausoleum, to complete the Sign-in!"

The NPC's plot clues and the System's core driving force perfectly converged at this moment!

A brand new chapter of ruin exploration, full of unknowns, dangers, and supreme Opportunities, was about to officially begin, to everyone's anticipation!