117: Chapter 117 The Realm Trembles, Dark Agents Emerge

The "void-breaking god boat" dragged its battered hull, laboring through the chaotic Void channels as it headed back toward Samsara Immortal City. Inside the vessel, the atmosphere was heavy. Wounded soldiers lay everywhere, and groans of pain and sighs of despair echoed constantly. Although this expedition had severely wounded the "King of Shadows" and eliminated a large number of "the end" forces, the Alliance had also paid a heavy price. At least several hundred Cultivators had fallen, over a thousand were injured, and the god boat itself was severely damaged—not to mention that their main objective, destroying the "Void Rift," had not been achieved.

Inside the command cabin, the atmosphere was even more oppressive. Fairy Yaoxi, Elder Tianji, Lin Wan, along with Zhan Qiong, Tian Shu Zi, and Wen Yuan, whose injuries had slightly eased, sat around a starlight round table, all with heavy expressions.

"I didn't expect the 'King of Calamity' to descend in his true form, and his strength... has probably touched the threshold above Void Refining." Tian Shu Zi's voice was low, carrying a trace of lingering fear. He had witnessed the horror of that sky-blotting giant claw with his own eyes. If Elder Tianji had not used "Star-Shifting" to forcibly warp space, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"It wasn't just the 'King of Calamity'." After adjusting his breathing, Elder Tianji's face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp. "Deep within that rift, after the 'King of Calamity' descended, there was another, even more obscure, ancient, and heart-palpitating aura attempting to cross over. If the spatial tremors caused by the 'King of Calamity's' descent hadn't been too violent and seemingly interfered with its arrival, we would probably be facing more than just two 'King'-class entities."

Hearing this, everyone's hearts tightened. Two "King"-class entities had already nearly wiped them out. If there was an even more terrifying existence... the danger of this rift had already far exceeded their initial estimates.

"It seems the 'Holy Lord' values this rift far more than we imagined. He not only sent the 'King of Shadows' to guard it, but also had the 'King of Calamity' descend in his true form at the critical moment, and might even have prepared a backup plan." Fairy Yaoxi tapped her slender fingers on the table, a cold light flickering in her clear eyes. "We must immediately report the details of this situation to Your Majesty and the Council of Elders. This rift is no longer something our single expeditionary army can handle. We need the Alliance, and perhaps even... to contact allies in other realms to plan carefully and gather a stronger force to completely resolve this."

"Other realms?" Zhan Qiong raised his thick brows. "Does Fairy mean... those realms that have treaties with our 'Samsara Immortal Alliance' and also face the threat of 'the end'?"

"Exactly," Fairy Yaoxi nodded. "The erosion of 'the end' is not just a disaster for our Tiannan Realm alone. According to the Alliance's ancient records, the claws of the 'Void Church' span across the heavens. The descent of the 'King of Calamity' this time, and that aura deep within the rift, is highly likely to have come from some terrifying realm that has been even more thoroughly eroded by 'the end,' perhaps even transformed into 'the end's' territory. Relying solely on the strength of our Tiannan Realm, it will be difficult to resist. We must unite all forces that can be united to face this great catastrophe together."

"This is a matter of great importance and requires Your Majesty to make the final decision personally," Elder Tianji said. "Our immediate priority is to return to the Immortal City as quickly as possible, repair the god boat, treat the wounded, and submit the intelligence."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Little Friend Lin Wan has made a great contribution this time, especially your power of 'Purification,' which has such a strong restraining effect on 'the end.' It is truly our good fortune," Wen Yuan looked at Lin Wan with approval in his eyes. "After this battle, your position in the Alliance will surely become even more secure. However, it will probably be difficult to completely hide the existence of the 'Purification' shard any longer. 'the end's' side suffered a major loss, so they will definitely pay closer 'attention' to you, and may even resort to more insidious methods. You must be extra careful."

"This Junior understands. Thank you for the reminder, Senior," Lin Wan cupped his hands. He had long anticipated that exposing his power of "Purification" would inevitably draw even more frantic targeting from "the end." But forced by the circumstances at the time, he had no choice but to use it. Now, he could only take things as they came and adapt to whatever situation arose.

"By the way, Lin Wan," Fairy Yaoxi seemed to remember something, looking at Lin Wan with a slightly solemn tone. "When you sealed 'the end's' mark in the earth's core, did you ultimately notice an extremely obscure, more ancient wave of consciousness deep within the mark, one that was different from the 'Holy Lord's' will?"

Lin Wan's heart stirred; he hadn't expected Fairy Yaoxi to suddenly ask about this. After a brief hesitation, he briefly explained the warning from the "samsara mirror's" true spirit imprint at the time, as well as the faint, older, and colder wave of consciousness he had felt just before leaving. However, he left out the specific details of the "samsara mirror's" true spirit imprint, merely describing it as a vague sensation.

"As expected..." Fairy Yaoxi and Elder Tianji exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

"Fairy Senior, Senior Tianji, do you know something?" Lin Wan asked.

Fairy Yaoxi remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "This matter should not have been revealed to you so early. However, now that you have touched upon this level and are connected to both the 'samsara mirror' shards and 'the end's' mark, there is no harm in telling you."

"According to the Alliance's oldest, fragmented records from ancient times, 'the end' is not a monolithic entity. Within it, there also seem to be factions, ideologies, and even struggles for authority. Although the 'Holy Lord' is powerful and styles himself as the messenger and Incarnation of 'the end,' he does not seem to be... one of the original, oldest 'source' existences of 'the end'."

"There is a hypothesis that during the long years of 'the end's' erosion of the heavens, some even more ancient, unspeakable horrors—closer to the Origin of 'the end' and perhaps existing since its very birth—fell into a state of 'slumber' or 'dormancy.' The 'Holy Lord,' on the other hand, rose later and attempted to integrate and control the forces of 'the end.' Between the two, there may be differences or even competition."

"The ancient wave of consciousness you sensed is highly likely to be the partial will or mark of some dormant, ancient 'the end' existence, attached to that Origin mark of 'the end.' The 'Holy Lord' sealing it in the earth's core might not have been solely to erode the Tiannan Realm, but also to utilize the earth's core fire veins to nourish and awaken that ancient being. However, it was sealed by the Flame Emperor using the 'Nirvana Sealing Grand Array' along with the 'samsara mirror' shard, interrupting his plan."

"Now, you have taken the 'samsara mirror' shard, disrupting the balance of the Seal, and merely suppressed it with a temporary Seal... The consciousness of that ancient being may have already awakened, or at least, its connection with 'the end's' mark has become much tighter. In the future, unexpected changes may occur."

Fairy Yaoxi's words were like a massive boulder thrown into Lin Wan's heart, stirring up a thousand waves. So even the internal workings of "the end" were this complex! What was hidden in that earth core mark was not simply the power of "the end," but likely the "tentacle" of an even more ancient and terrifying existence!

"What kind of impact will that ancient wave of consciousness have on the Tiannan Realm?" Lin Wan asked in a deep voice.

"It is difficult to predict," Elder Tianji shook his head. "But what is certain is that it is by no means benevolent. Once it fully awakens or is utilized by the 'Holy Lord,' its threat to the Tiannan Realm will likely surpass even that of the 'King of Calamity.' Fortunately, it currently seems to be in a restricted or sleeping state, and is temporarily suppressed by the Seal of Fellow Daoist Dan Dingzi and the others. However, we must quicken our pace to find a way to completely resolve that 'the end' mark as soon as possible, or at least prevent its connection with the outside world, especially with the 'Holy Lord'."

Lin Wan fell silent. He felt the burden on his shoulders grow heavier once more. Not only did he have to resist the invasion of the "Void Church," search for other "samsara mirror" shards, and raise his strength to protect his family, but now he also had to guard against that potentially hidden, even more ancient and terrifying existence of "the end" deep within the earth's core...

"Soldiers to block, water to cover. For now, let's deal with the matters at hand first." Seeing Lin Wan's expression, Fairy Yaoxi offered words of comfort. "You have already done well enough. The rest is for the Alliance and us old fogies to worry about. Your immediate priority is to recover as quickly as possible and raise your strength. You must make full use of the resources and privileges of the 'Dao Child.' In the future, in the fight against 'the end,' you might be the true key."

"This Junior understands," Lin Wan nodded, suppressing the stray thoughts in his mind. A road must be walked step by step, and a meal must be eaten bite by bite. Thinking too much was useless; only strength was the fundamental way to deal with everything.

A few days later, the scarred "void-breaking god boat" returned to Samsara Immortal City, slowly landing at the "Void Port" outside the Ziwei Enclosure. Alchemists, Formation Masters, and craftsmen from the Alliance had already been waiting, and they immediately began inspecting and repairing the god boat while treating the injured.

Lin Wan, Fairy Yaoxi, Elder Tianji, and the others did not linger, heading straight to Emperor Yan's traveling palace to report.

Inside the Ziwei Hall, the atmosphere was even more solemn than before. Emperor Yan sat high upon his cloud bed. On either side, in addition to the core members of the Alliance such as Venerable Dan, Jian Wuya, and Elder Xingshu, there were several other Peak Void Refining powerhouses whose auras were equally vast but whom Lin Wan had never seen before. Obviously, they were all old monsters of the Alliance who lived in seclusion, and had been alarmed this time.

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Fairy Yaoxi, as the commander of the expeditionary army, provided a detailed report on the progress, results, and losses of this operation, as well as her various discoveries and speculations regarding the "King of Shadows," the "King of Calamity," the obscure aura deep within the Void Rift, and the ancient conscious fluctuations from the "the end" mark at the earth's core.

The hall was silent. Even Emperor Yan frowned slightly upon hearing that the "King of Calamity" had descended in its true form, that its strength was suspected to have touched upon the level above Void Refining, and that there might be even more terrifying existences deep within the Void Rift. Furthermore, the news about the ancient "the end" consciousness within the earth's core mark made several reclusive old monsters show grave expressions.

"In that case, this 'Void Rift' has become a major threat to our Tiannan Realm. What it connects to behind it is likely no longer an ordinary eroded realm, but an important stronghold of 'the end,' or perhaps even a place of 'slumber' or 'experimentation' for some ancient 'the end' existence." An old man wearing hemp clothes, holding a bamboo staff, and possessing an aura as weathered as an ancient tree spoke slowly. This person was "Old Ancestor Qingmu," who held a very high seniority in the Alliance and was proficient in the Dao of life and nature.

"Relying solely on the power of our Tiannan Realm, it is difficult to cope alone. We need to contact powerful realms such as the 'Xuanhuang Great World,' 'Nine Heavens Immortal Dynasty,' and 'Ten Thousand Buddha Pure Land,' which have Alliances with our realm and are also facing the threat of 'the end,' to discuss countermeasures, and even... form a coalition army to have a glimmer of hope." Another middle-aged man wearing a star-patterned dharma robe with a dignified expression said in a deep voice. He was the Hall Master of the "Star God Hall," and also a Peak Void Refining expert.

"Contacting other realms takes a long time, and the entanglement of interests makes coordination difficult. Distant water cannot quench near thirst," Venerable Dan said, stroking his beard. "The most urgent task is to strengthen our own realm's defense, especially the monitoring and suppression of those four 'Void Rifts.' Although the expeditionary armies in the Western Desert, Southern Region, and Northern Plains have encountered strong enemies, no 'King'-level existence has descended in its true form, so the situation is slightly better. The Central Plains and Eastern Wasteland area has become the most dangerous frontline and needs reinforcements. At the very least, we must be able to block another invasion by the 'King of Calamity' and buy time for the Alliance."

"Venerable Dan is quite right." Emperor Yan finally spoke, his voice calm and carrying unquestionable majesty. "Convey my decree: from this moment on, the Alliance shall enter a 'Grade A' combat readiness state. The 'Skycraft Department,' 'Formation Department,' 'Artifact Department,' and 'Medicinal Pill Department' are to operate at full capacity to refine war equipment, set up major formations, and rush to produce Medicinal Pills. The 'War Department' and 'Dharma Department' are to contract their defense lines and focus on defending the directions of the four Rifts. The 'Dark Department' is to increase its strength and strictly monitor all anomalies inside and outside the realm, especially movements related to the 'Void Church' and 'the end.'"

"The three routes of the Western Desert, Southern Region, and Northern Plains will continue to be garrisoned by Liaoyin, Daoxuan, Great Elder Danchenzi, and others, with reinforcements provided as appropriate. The Central Plains and Eastern Wasteland Rift will continue to be commanded by Fairy Yaoxi. I will dispatch three more Peak Void Refining experts and the entire elite force of the 'Demon-Slaying General Corps' to reinforce it. You must build a solid defense line and absolutely not allow the 'King of Calamity' to cross the border again!"

"As for contacting other realms, Elder Xingshu, Old Ancestor Qingmu, and the Star God Hall Master will be responsible. Immediately activate the cross-realm communication formation and attempt to establish contact with realms like 'Xuanhuang,' 'Nine Heavens,' and 'Ten Thousand Buddha,' report the situation, and seek an Alliance."

"As for that 'the end' mark at the earth's core..." Emperor Yan's gaze swept over everyone and finally landed on Lin Wan. "Lin Wan, since you have an affinity with that mark and the 'samsara mirror' fragments, I will entrust this matter to you, Dan Dingzi, and the Earth Vein Venerable to handle together. You must quickly research a method to completely purify or permanently Seal that mark. The Alliance will fully support you with the necessary resources and authority."

"We (This Junior) obey the decree!" everyone responded in unison.

"You are all dismissed. Attend to your respective duties." Emperor Yan waved his hand.

Everyone bowed and retreated. Lin Wan was also preparing to leave, but was called back by Emperor Yan.

"Lin Wan, stay behind."

Lin Wan stopped, turned around, and stood respectfully.

"I am very satisfied with your performance this time." Emperor Yan looked at Lin Wan with a calm gaze. "The 'Purification' fragment has played its due role in your hands. It seems that I and the Alliance did not misjudge you."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. This was merely this Junior's duty," Lin Wan said.

"Your duty?" Emperor Yan smiled slightly, a smile that carried a profound depth of insight. "Do you know that what you carry on your shoulders is far more than just 'your duty'? The 'samsara mirror' fragment chose you, your 'Reincarnation' Dao fruit, your connection with that ancient 'the end' consciousness... all of this indicates that you have already been drawn into this chess game that affects the heavens, concerning 'the end' and 'transcendence.'"

Lin Wan's heart trembled slightly; Emperor Yan seemed to know more than he had imagined.

"Do not be nervous." Emperor Yan seemed to see through his thoughts. "I have no malice towards you. On the contrary, I hope you can grow up quickly and become the true hope for our Tiannan Realm, and even the heavens and myriad worlds, to resist 'the end.' The position of 'Dao Child' and the allocation of resources are all for this purpose."

"I kept you today to remind you of two things."

"First, be careful within the Alliance." Emperor Yan's voice suddenly became deep and murderous. "The erosion of 'the end' is pervasive. The Alliance has been established for thousands of years and seems solid as a rock, but there is no guarantee that there are no 'dark agents' already corrupted by 'the end' lurking in the upper echelons. You are currently in the limelight, carrying precious treasures, and have repeatedly made great contributions; you will inevitably attract jealousy and become a thorn in the side of certain 'dark agents.' Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. In the future, you must be more cautious and keep a guard up against everyone."

Lin Wan felt a chill in his heart and said solemnly: "This Junior will keep it in mind."

"Second," Emperor Yan paused, his gaze seeming to penetrate the palace and look towards the endless Void Realm. "Regarding the 'samsara mirror' fragments, your 'Reincarnation' Dao fruit, and that possibly existing ancient 'the end' consciousness... I suggest you take a trip to the 'Reincarnation Forbidden Ground.'"

"Reincarnation Forbidden Ground?" Lin Wan was stunned; he had never heard of this place.

"That is the true core Forbidden Ground of our 'Samsara Immortal Alliance,' and also the original Origin of the name 'Samsara.'" Emperor Yan said slowly. "Buried within the Forbidden Ground is the Origin of the Alliance, and it also Seals some taboo secrets about ancient times, about the 'War of the end,' and about the 'samsara mirror.' Only a 'Dao Child,' or those who have made special and significant contributions to the Alliance, can enter once, with the joint approval of myself and the Council of Elders. I have already discussed with the Council of Elders and approved your entry into the 'Reincarnation Forbidden Ground' to meditate once. Perhaps there, you can find some clues about yourself, about the 'samsara mirror,' and about how to deal with that ancient 'the end' consciousness."

"Reincarnation Forbidden Ground..." Lin Wan's heart was shaken. The Alliance actually had such a secret place! Moreover, Emperor Yan actually allowed him to enter! This was undoubtedly the greatest trust and expectation placed in him.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty! This Junior will definitely do his best to explore and will not fail your expectations!" Lin Wan bowed deeply.

"Hmm, go. Once your injuries have recovered and you are well-prepared, I will have someone take you there." Emperor Yan waved his hand.

Lin Wan saluted again and retreated from Ziwei Hall.

Walking out of the hall, sunlight spilled down, but Lin Wan felt a heavy weight in his heart. Emperor Yan's reminders, the warning about the "dark agents" within the Alliance, and the Opportunity of the "Reincarnation Forbidden Ground" all made him realize that the road ahead would be more complex and critical.

"There are actually 'dark agents' of 'the end' within the Alliance..." Lin Wan's gaze swept over the magnificent Emperor Yan's palace and the distant continuous immortal city buildings, and a chill rose in his heart. If this were true, it would be truly impossible to guard against.

"I must improve my strength as soon as possible, and at the same time, I must be more careful in my actions."

He did not linger, turned into a stream of light, and returned to "Samsara Residence." He needed to heal his injuries as soon as possible, and then prepare for entering the "Reincarnation Forbidden Ground."

However, what Lin Wan did not know was that shortly after he returned to "Samsara Residence" and began his closed-door meditation to heal, in an extremely secret corner of Samsara Immortal City, inside a secret chamber shrouded in heavy Restrictions.

A figure shrouded in gray mist, whose face could not be seen, was whispering a report to a pitch-black mirror surface that was constantly twisting and seemingly composed of countless painful faces:

"...'King of Shadows' is seriously injured, 'King of Calamity' descent was obstructed. The target, Lin Wan, possesses the 'Purification' fragment, which has a very strong restraint on our Lord's power and has already posed a threat to the plan. He has been permitted by Emperor Yan to enter the 'Reincarnation Forbidden Ground'..."

From within the mirror, a cold, indifferent, and seemingly containing the will of the end of the heavens fluctuated out:

"Understood. The 'dark agent' plan can be activated. Before or after he enters the 'Reincarnation Forbidden Ground,' find an Opportunity to eliminate him. The 'Purification' fragment must be retrieved. As for the 'Reincarnation Forbidden Ground'... the things inside might be able to be used by us..."

"Yes, I strictly obey the Holy Lord's decree." The gray-mist figure replied respectfully, a trace of cold murderous intent flashing in its eyes.

The fluctuations of the mirror slowly subsided, and the secret chamber fell back into dead silence.

A dark undercurrent of conspiracy against Lin Wan, originating from within the Alliance, had already begun to surge.