47: Chapter 47 The Gate of Return to the Ruins

The "Gate of Guixu" in the northeast is located above a terrifying sea area shrouded by endless grey-black storms.

Here, the "Guixu Mist" is at its thinnest, but the power of the storm is enough to tear through the protective spiritual light of a Golden Core Cultivator; the waves rise up to a hundred zhang, mixed with spatial turbulence and fragmented Law fragments, forming a forbidden zone of death.

When Lin Wan rode the starlight, crossed the last patch of storm turbulence, and arrived at the edge of this sea area, the scene before him still left him feeling shocked.

In that boundless storm and grey mist, three huge "gate" phantoms, up to a thousand zhang tall and seemingly connecting heaven and earth, flickered in and out of sight.

These three "gates" were not solid entities, but were woven and twisted from chaotic spatial power and five-colored Guixu spiritual light; their shapes constantly changed, sometimes arched, sometimes like cracks, and sometimes turning into rotating vortices.

They stood quietly between the violent sea and sky, emitting a vast, desolate, terrifying aura that seemed capable of devouring everything while also gestating infinite possibilities.

This was the "Gate of Guixu"! The only passage to the interior of the Guixu Sea!

And right now, the sea and sky for hundreds of miles around these three huge gates were overcrowded with "people."

No, perhaps "overcrowded with powers" would be more accurate.

In the sky, hundreds of cloud boats, warships, flying pavilions, and even huge Spirit Beast mounts of various sizes were suspended.

Some of these flying vehicles were as ornate as palaces, some as ferocious as war fortresses, and others as ancient and weathered as if they came from the primordial era.

They flew different flags, representing countless powers from the five great domains and even the Central Plains.

Lin Wan saw the "qingming boat" fleet of the Qingyun Sect at a glance, about ten of them, suspended in the area to the left of the northeast gate.

They had formed a loose Alliance with several other large Sects of the Southern Domain, such as the "Xuantian Sword Sect", "Hundred Flowers Valley", and "Beast Taming Mountain", confronting the powers of other domains.

Opposite the Qingyun Sect fleet were the crimson flame giant boats of the Eastern Wasteland's "Skyfire Sect", where raging flames burned, evaporating the surrounding seawater into white mist.

The golden Buddha boats of the Western Desert's "Vajra Temple" resounded with Buddhist chants, with Buddha light shining everywhere.

The black ice warships of the Northern Plains' "Ice Soul Palace" were chilling, lined up alongside the "Underworld Bone Boat" of the "Xuanming Sect", which was filled with ghostly aura.

The "Heavenly Dao Patrol Ship" of the Central Plains' "Heavenly Dao Sect" was the most eye-catching, with magnificent aura and flowing Dao rhymes.

In addition, there were countless cloud boats of small and medium-sized powers and Loose Cultivators, either attached to large powers or occupying an area alone, guarding against each other with a heavy atmosphere.

On the surface of the sea, there were even more countless Cultivators, either riding Magic Treasures or sitting on small spirit boats, densely packed like an ant colony, all waiting for the moment when the Gate of Guixu would completely stabilize and open.

At a rough glance, there were probably no fewer than ten thousand Golden Core Cultivators gathered here! Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators were countless.

The aura of Nascent Soul True Monarchs could also be faintly sensed, no less than ten of them, scattered in various core cloud boats, like pillars of the sea, and also like volcanoes about to erupt.

This was a true grand event that gathered most of the essence of the Tiannan continent's cultivation world, and it was also a bloody and cruel feast about to arrive.

Lin Wan did not fly directly to the Qingyun Sect fleet.

He hid his figure in the high clouds, using the power of the Void Dao Seed to cover himself, his eyes sweeping across the audience, looking for familiar figures, and observing the layout and movements of all parties.

He saw Han Lingtian, Xu Feng, and others standing at the bow of the qingming boat, looking solemn, discussing something with several unfamiliar Qingyun Sect Elders.

Peak Master Yue Lingyun's aura was deep within the largest qingming boat in the center, steady as a mountain.

Liu Ruyan, Chu Qingyao, and Lin Jingyun did not accompany him; they should have been properly settled in the Qingyun Courtyard of the Tiannan Ruins, safe and sound under the protection of Peak Master Yue Lingyun's Clone or powerful Restrictions.

He also saw "acquaintances".

Yan Potian of the Eastern Wasteland's Skyfire Sect had a more explosive aura, seemingly having broken through to the Late Stage of the Golden Core.

Liao Chen of the Western Desert's Vajra Temple had a solemn appearance and a thick aura.

On the side of the Northern Plains' Ice Soul Palace, the death of Elder Hanyue obviously caused them significant losses.

The person leading the team was an old man with a sinister face and an aura reaching the Great Perfection of the Golden Core, who was scanning the direction of the Qingyun Sect from time to time with venomous eyes.

On the side of the Xuanming Sect, there was a Cultivator shrouded in a black robe with a strange and flickering aura, who seemed to have sensed Lin Wan's gaze and actually looked up at the clouds where he was hiding, making Lin Wan's heart tremble.

In addition, there were some figures with obscure auras that even made Lin Wan feel a trace of danger, hidden among the Loose Cultivators or small powers, obviously all tough characters who were hiding their strength.

"It seems that wanting to enter the Gate of Guixu is not an easy task." Lin Wan thought to himself.

These three gates looked huge, but the "effective passage" that could truly be passed stably and safely was probably not very wide.

By then, in order to fight for priority entry, to eliminate potential opponents, and to snatch the "keys" or "tokens" in the hands of others, a tragic slaughter would be inevitable.

As he was observing, suddenly, the phantom of the "gate" in the northeast direction shook violently, and the five-colored spiritual light and spatial turbulence on it suddenly became brighter and more violent!

A clearer and stronger spatial fluctuation, accompanied by the ancient and desolate Guixu aura, swept out from within the gate, sweeping across the entire sea area!

"The Gate of Guixu is about to stabilize!"

"Prepare to charge!"

"Stop them! Let our Sect enter first!"

In an instant, the scene, which had been relatively restrained, exploded like a pot of oil with a spark thrown into it!

"Charge! Enter the Guixu Sea!"

"The Legacy of the Five Elements Hall is mine!"

"Kill! Those who block me die!"

Countless escape lights, like a swarm of locusts crossing the border, madly rushed towards the three vibrating gates!

Shouts of killing, angry roars, the sound of Magic Treasures colliding, and the roaring of Spells instantly resounded through the world!

The smell of blood began to permeate the sea breeze.

The great battle had broken out!

The first to take action were not the Loose Cultivators and small powers who were eager to charge, but the giant cloud boats hanging the flags of the top powers!

They seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding, or had received orders from the Nascent Soul beings behind them, and almost simultaneously launched fierce attacks on the nearest threatening opponents!

"Skyfire Meteor!"

"Vajra Subduing Demons!"

"Black Ice Storm!"

"Ten Thousand Ghosts Devouring Souls!"

The terrifying attacks, like a world-destroying tide, collided and exploded in the sky!

The gorgeous light of Spells, the ear-piercing explosions, and the violent energy shockwaves instantly turned the originally orderly sky into a Shura field!

Countless Loose Cultivators and small-power Cultivators rushing in front were like fallen leaves swept up by a strong wind, screaming and turning into flying ash, or falling with serious injuries in the terrifying aftermath.

This was the real cleansing by the major powers!

They wanted to clear the field, to ensure their own people had the best chance to enter, and to prune potential competitors.

On the side of the Qingyun Sect, they also joined forces with neighboring allies in the Southern Domain, such as the Xuantian Sword Sect and Hundred Flowers Valley, to resist attacks from powers like the Skyfire Sect, Ice Soul Palace, and Xuanming Sect.

The Formations on the qingming boat were fully activated, and sword light, Spells, and Spirit Beasts fought with the enemy.

Han Lingtian held a heavy sword, like a god of slaughter, and wherever the sword light passed, enemy Cultivators fell.

Xu Feng controlled the Formation, giving orders with ease.

Lin Wan watched from high in the sky, not immediately joining the battle.

He was waiting, waiting for the best timing to cut in, and observing the changes in the three "Gates of Guixu".

As the battle continued and casualties increased, the vibration of the three gates became more and more violent, the five-colored spiritual light on the surface gradually converged, and the spatial turbulence inside began to stabilize, faintly revealing the scene of the passage behind it, which was deep, dark, and yet seemed to contain endless starlight.

The real "gate" was about to open completely!

Just at this moment, a mutation occurred again!

"Roar——!!!"

A terrifying roar that seemed to come from the ancient prehistoric times, full of endless majesty, violence, and Chaos, suddenly erupted from the depths of the gate in the northeast direction!

The roar contained the Guixu aura that made the Soul tremble, and... a trace of evil, chaotic will that was vaguely homologous to the black Qi from the previous Northern Underworld Ice Flood Dragon wound and the remnant thought of the Star Derivation Palace!

Immediately afterwards, in the horrified eyes of everyone, a terrifying monster phantom with a huge body that was indescribable, its whole body covered in grey-black bone armor, with nine ferocious heads, each head burning with different colored flames, and dragging a giant tail covered in barbs, suddenly poked half of its body out from the gate passage that was about to stabilize!

Once the monster phantom appeared, the terrifying pressure suppressed everyone like the collapse of the firmament!

Even those Golden Core Cultivators who were fighting fiercely felt their spiritual power movement become sluggish and their minds shake violently.

Some Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators with weaker cultivation directly spat blood, fainted, and fell into the sea.

"It's the 'Guixu Demon Spirit'! The ancient fierce beast guarding the Gate of Guixu! It is actually still alive?!" An old Cultivator with extensive knowledge let out a terrified scream.

Guixu Demon Spirit!

And, looking at its aura, although it seemed to be just a product of some residual will combined with the power of Guixu, not a complete body, its power had reached the Middle Stage of the Nascent Soul, or even higher!

Especially the chaotic and evil will emitted from its body seemed to be homologous to the "Guixu" true meaning of the Five Elements Sect, but it had gone to the opposite extreme of destruction.

This Demon Spirit's nine heads, with eighteen eyes, simultaneously erupted with violent red light, sweeping across the chaotic crowd below, and let out an excited and greedy roar.

Immediately, its huge body squeezed out a part from the gate again, and nine giant mouths opened simultaneously, spitting out nine energy torrents of different colors, but all containing terrifying destructive power, indiscriminately bombarding the areas where the Cultivators were most dense below!

"Not good! Dodge quickly!"

"Join forces to block it!"

Faced with this sudden, far-exceeding-expectation terrifying threat, the major powers who were fighting in confusion could no longer care about attacking each other, and one after another turned their spears, either joining forces to defend or scattering to dodge.

The nine energy torrents fell like divine punishment.

Even with Nascent Soul True Monarchs intercepting, many cloud boats and Cultivators were still affected by the destructive power, instantly turning into flying ash, not even able to let out a scream.

Several huge, bottomless whirlpools were blasted out on the sea surface, unable to close for a long time.

The Chaos reached its peak.

However, right in this extreme Chaos and terror, a sharp light flashed in Lin Wan's eyes.

Opportunity!

The appearance of the Guixu Demon Spirit, while bringing immense danger, also disrupted the situation, attracting the attention and firepower of all factions. More importantly, this demon spirit seemed to have some kind of craving for the power of "Guixu," or perhaps... a resonance of the same origin? The Void Dao Seed at his brow, and the void five elements token in his hand, at this moment, actually produced a faint yet clear resonance with the chaotic power of Guixu radiating from the demon spirit!

Was it hostility? Or... some deeper connection?

Lin Wan had no time to think. He only knew that this moment was the best Opportunity to pass through the Chaos and enter the Gate of Guixu!

"Void Dao Seed, conceal!"

"guixu sword, cut open the path ahead!"

He hesitated no longer, pushing the concealment power of the Void Dao Seed to the limit, his whole person transforming into an almost non-existent phantom. At the same time, the guixu sword was unsheathed; its chaotic dark silver blade, amidst the dense power of Guixu and chaotic energy here, seemed to be awakened, emitting a faint, restrained sharpness.

His figure moved like a fish merging into space, shooting down from the high clouds, not rushing towards any faction, but straight towards the northeast, towards the massive gate blocked by half the body of the Guixu Demon Spirit, which was spewing destructive energy!

This action, in everyone's eyes, was no different from suicide! The Guixu Demon Spirit was going mad, and the torrent of energy it was spewing was enough to kill a Nascent Soul; for a mere Golden Core, getting close meant death!

"Who is that person? Is he crazy?"

"Seeking death! Don't worry about him!"

Even Han Lingtian and the others from the Qingyun Sect only saw a blurry phantom shooting towards the demon spirit, unable to see clearly who it was, and their hearts tightened.

However, the scene that followed left everyone dumbfounded, even horrified.

Just as the phantom transformed from Lin Wan was about to rush into a torrent of crimson energy spewed by the demon spirit, the guixu sword in his hand slashed lightly at the torrent.

"Guixu — same origin."

At the tip of the sword, the gray Return-to-Ruins Sword Intent flowed quietly, not clashing head-on, but at a strange frequency, producing a kind of "resonance" with the violent and chaotic power of Guixu contained in the crimson energy torrent!

Yes, resonance! Two types of "Guixu" power, originating from the same source but heading towards different extremes, at this moment, actually merged like water and milk. The violent torrent of crimson energy, the moment it touched the Return-to-Ruins Sword Intent, actually separated automatically, as if guided by an invisible force, sliding past both sides of Lin Wan without harming him in the slightest!

Not only that, the Guixu Demon Spirit seemed to have sensed something too. Its nine heads turned towards Lin Wan's direction simultaneously. In its eighteen burning eyes, the violent color paused slightly, revealing a trace of bewilderment, confusion, and even... a trace of imperceptible craving and fear? Its action of spewing the energy torrent also experienced a momentary stagnation.

It was this momentary stagnation!

Lin Wan's figure, like a ghost, passed through the gap between the two energy torrents, instantly swept past the edge of the demon spirit's massive body, and under the stunned gaze of everyone, plunged into the "Gate of Guixu" passage in the northeast, which had just stabilized and was filled with deep darkness, disappearing!

Went in?!

That Golden Core Cultivator actually remained unscathed under the attack of the Guixu Demon Spirit, and even... seemed to have triggered an abnormal reaction from the demon spirit, and then... just like that, went in?!

After a brief dead silence, there was even more frenzied clamor and impact!

"He went in! Quick! Take this chance, rush in!"

"That demon spirit seems to be stunned! Opportunity!"

"Charge!"

Everyone's eyes turned red; they could no longer care about the danger and rushed desperately towards the three gates. The Guixu Demon Spirit seemed to have become even more enraged and chaotic because of Lin Wan's intrusion, and its attacks became even more frenzied and unorganized, which actually allowed some powerful Cultivators with good luck to seize the Opportunity and follow Lin Wan into the gate.

The melee escalated again. But everyone's target had become the world inside that gate.

And at this moment, Lin Wan, the first to enter the "Gate of Guixu," was experiencing an unprecedented space travel.

There was no intense tearing or dizziness like when passing through the Secret Realm exit before; instead, it was a strange warmth and peace, as if merging into a mother's womb. Inside the passage, it was not dark, but flowing with countless colorful ribbons of light containing the Dao rhyme of Guixu, like a river of time and space. He could feel that the void five elements token in his hand and the Void Dao Seed at his brow were resonating strongly with these light ribbons, guiding his direction and also resisting the hidden killing intent in the passage that might be aimed at non-Five Elements Sect descendants.

He even "saw" that within the light ribbons, broken and blurry images flashed from time to time: giants standing tall and swinging axes to open the heavens, divine birds and strange beasts fighting in the starry sky, palaces and pavilions floating in Chaos, ancestors offering sacrifices to the stars... all were scattered memory fragments of the ancient primordial era, the peak period of the Five Elements Sect.

"This place... is not just a passage, but a... corridor of history left behind by the Five Elements Sect?" Lin Wan realized in his heart, while steadying his mind, resisting the impact of the vast flow of information, and following the guidance of the void five elements token, he sped towards the depths of the passage.

He did not know how long had passed, perhaps just an instant, or perhaps it was extremely long.

Ahead, a point of light appeared and expanded rapidly.

Immediately after, a vast, desolate, ancient, yet strange aura full of vitality and endless mystery rushed towards him.

Lin Wan felt his body lighten, as if breaking through some invisible film, and suddenly his eyes opened wide.

He had come out.

The ground beneath his feet was not seawater, nor land, but a kind of... strange "ground" that could not be described in words. Under his feet were misty five-colored clouds, soft yet solid, as if walking on the clouds, and as if stepping on the substance of Law. Looking up, the sky was not blue, but a deep, brilliant, slowly rotating "canopy" composed of countless stars and nebulae. The light of those stars was not distant and cold, but carried a gentle spirituality, casting a soft radiance containing the power of the stars.

In the air, there was a rich, inseparable, perfectly blended Five Elements Spiritual Qi, as well as higher-level, mysterious power of Guixu and the power of the stars. Taking a breath, he felt his pores relax, and his cultivation even felt as if it had slightly improved.

In the distance, amidst the misty clouds, the outlines of towering mountains were vaguely visible. There were waterfalls falling from the Nine Heavens, auspicious clouds and cranes dancing, and even more flying eaves and arched beams of pavilions and palace ruins, looming in the clouds and starlight, like a fairyland, yet carrying a kind of eternal, lonely vicissitude.

This place was the interior of the Guixu Sea!

The location of the true mountain gate of the ancient Five Elements Sect, or rather, its core cave world, which shattered and drifted during the catastrophe, and finally combined with the power of Guixu to form this mysterious, vast, and dangerous—yet full of Opportunity—Guixu Sea!

Lin Wan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and excitement in his heart. He took out the void five elements token. At this moment, the token shone brightly, resonating strongly with this world. The map on it had become extremely clear, and even evolved on its own, marking his current location—the edge of the "Nebula Plain" on the outskirts of the Guixu Sea.

And the point of light representing the fifth, and final, fragment of the void five elements token pointed directly to the deepest part of this world, an area covered by even denser Guixu mist and brilliant nebulae, where a towering, ancient, and massive palace phantom that seemed to support the heavens and earth was vaguely visible.

Five Elements Hall!

Finally, he had arrived.

Lin Wan identified the direction and was about to set off when suddenly, not far behind him, at the exit of the Gate of Guixu passage, space fluctuated again, and several battered yet powerful figures stumbled out one after another, landing on this five-colored cloud ground.

It was the first batch of Cultivators who had rushed in right after him! Among them were Han Lingtian and Xu Feng from the Qingyun Sect, Yan Potian from the Skyfire Sect, Liao Chen from the Vajra Temple, the Golden Core Great Perfection Elder from the Ice Soul Palace, as well as the black-robed person from the Xuanming Sect, and several other unfamiliar Golden Core Late Stage and Great Perfection Cultivators with strong auras, totaling more than ten people.

As soon as these people landed, they quickly steadied themselves, each on guard, scanning this strange world with vigilant eyes, and finally, all of them fell, without exception, on Lin Wan, who had entered first and was now standing not far away, holding a glowing token.

Surprise, doubt, greed, killing intent... all sorts of complex emotions flashed through the eyes of these Cultivators who had just escaped danger after experiencing fierce fighting.

To be the first to break through the Guixu Demon Spirit and enter this place, and the token in his hand was clearly related to this place... This person was definitely not simple! Moreover, looking at his face, he seemed somewhat familiar...

"You are... Lin Wan?" Han Lingtian was the first to recognize Lin Wan, surprise appearing in his eyes, but it was immediately replaced by gravity. Xu Feng also widened his eyes.

"Lin Wan? That five elements sword core who disappeared from the Qingyun Sect?" Yan Potian's gaze focused, and flames faintly rose on his body.

"Amitabha, benefactor has a predestined relationship with my Buddha." Liao Chen clasped his hands together, but his gaze was as sharp as a knife.

The Ice Soul Palace Elder's eyes flashed with killing intent: "It's you! The murderer who killed Elder Hanyue! Pay with your life!"

The Xuanming Sect's black-robed person let out a hoarse, strange laugh: "The remnants of the Five Elements Sect... the holder of the void five elements token... hehe, truly, it takes no effort to find what one is looking for..."

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Having just escaped the melee outside, a new round of crisis and contention seemed to be about to unfold immediately within this Guixu Sea.

And this time, what Lin Wan faced was no longer the chaotic battlefield and terrifying demon spirit outside, but these powerful, diversely minded peers—prodigies, and even veteran Golden Cores—who were eyeing him (or rather, the void five elements token in his hand and the possible Legacy) covetously.

Lin Wan slowly turned around, facing these ten-plus powerful Cultivators with unkind expressions. His expression was calm, only the guixu sword in his hand was quietly gripped, its chaotic dark silver blade flowing with restrained and deadly brilliance under the unique starlight of the Guixu Sea.

"Everyone, this place is the former site of the Five Elements Sect, fraught with crises, yet also full of countless Opportunities. I do not wish to be enemies with anyone, but if anyone wants to make a move..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, and deep within his silver-gray eyes, that point of sword-shaped starlight slowly lit up.

"...You might as well try."

The calm words carried an invisible, chilling Sword Intent and confidence that seemed capable of suppressing this world.