58: Chapter 58 The Gate of the Barrier

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The footsteps were as heavy as crushing mountains. Each time they landed, the metal ground, which was as hard as refined iron, let out an unbearable groan and trembled slightly. The sound was not chaotic; instead, it carried a rhythm—ancient, wild, yet harboring a certain mysterious battle Formation cadence. It was as if an ancient war beast, silent for eons, was awakening and taking slow, firm steps toward its prey.

Lin Wan and the others turned around abruptly, their gazes fixed on the direction from which the footsteps came.

From within the shadows, a figure of suffocating proportions slowly emerged.

It was not a flesh-and-blood body, nor was it the Gold-Armored War Puppet seen before. It stood over thirty zhang tall, its entire body a dull, dark gold color that seemed to have been tempered by countless wars. Its form was somewhat humanoid, yet its body was thicker and sturdier. The joints of its limbs were covered in ferocious, thorn-like metal armor. Its head was flat and square, lacking facial features, save for two deep-set eye sockets burning with ghost-blue soul fire, and a mouth like a sluice gate, its edges lined with serrated metal teeth.

Its right arm was missing, the stump jagged and covered in charred, corrosive marks. Its left arm was relatively intact; where the hand should have been, there were no fingers, but rather a massive tower shield with a diameter of over three zhang. The edges were sharp, inscribed with ancient, damaged war runes. At the center was embedded a grindstone-sized, dim, cracked, chaotic five-colored crystal. As it walked, the crystal slowly flickered, emitting a faint resonance wave that was identical to the Five Elements Barrier light curtain.

On the giant war puppet's chest, back, and shoulder armor were also embedded various chaotic five-colored crystals, large and small, equally dim and broken. Together, they formed a strange pattern resembling a "war Formation core," which remained incomplete yet still exuded a heavy, murderous, and unyielding Battle Intent.

"Is this... the 'Five Elements Guardian'?" Lin Wan's pupils constricted as he found the corresponding information from the fragments of his Legacy memories. The Five Elements Guardian was one of the ultimate defensive forces of the Five Elements Sect's Five Elements Barrier. They were typically forged using the remains of Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators or war puppet cores who had fallen for the Sect, possessed great merit, and held unyielding Battle Intent. Combined with the Five Elements Sect's highest Artifact Refining techniques and fused with Five Elements Origin crystals, they became giant war weapons possessing some of their former combat instincts and a will to protect! Their strength depended on the core and Materials used; in a complete state, they were at least at the Soul Transformation Stage, perhaps even higher!

The one before them had clearly been severely damaged in that great war. Not only was one arm missing, but most of the Five Elements Origin crystals embedded throughout its body were also broken, their light dim. Its aura fluctuated, and even basic movement seemed sluggish and stiff. However, the fierce and destructive aura it emitted still reached the Nascent Soul Great Perfection, even touching the threshold of the Soul Transformation Stage! Especially that unyielding Battle Intent, which had not been extinguished after eons; instead, catalyzed by the erosion of "the end" and long solitude, it had become somewhat paranoid, chaotic, and filled with endless hostility toward outsiders.

Its eye sockets, burning with ghost-blue soul fire, locked onto Lin Wan and the others—or more accurately, it locked onto the five elements token in Lin Wan's hand, as well as the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed at the center of his brow that was faintly resonating with it.

"Trespassers... Five Elements Forbidden Ground... Die!"

A hoarse, broken intent, like the overlapping of countless voices and filled with the sensation of metal friction, struck directly into the three's Divine Souls. At the same time, the giant war puppet suddenly raised its left arm, and the massive tower shield slammed fiercely toward where the three were standing!

"Hum—!!!"

On the tower shield, that largest, cracked chaotic five-colored crystal suddenly burst into blinding light! A terrifying gravity field, heavy and sluggish, as if it could suppress a whole world, descended instantly, completely shrouding the space within hundreds of zhang around Lin Wan and the others! At the same time, the broken war runes on the surface of the tower shield lit up with blood-red light, turning into countless fine, blood-colored energy streams containing the power of cutting, tearing, and piercing, sweeping toward the three like a raging sea!

Before the attack even arrived, the terrifying gravity field caused Han Lingtian and Liao Chen's figures to sink, their protective spiritual light fluctuating violently, as if they were carrying a mountain, making their movements slow and difficult. Those blood-colored energy streams carried an Evil Qi impact specifically targeting the souls of living beings, causing one's mind to sway.

"Careful! It's the incomplete divine abilities 'Five Elements Suppressing Domain' and 'Blood Evil Soul-Splitting'!" Lin Wan shouted in a low voice. His Chaos Infant Essence erupted, and the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed shone with silver light, forcibly opening a relatively stable Chaos Domain. He shrouded Han Lingtian and Liao Chen within it, temporarily resisting most of the gravity suppression and Evil Qi impact.

"Buddha Light—Immovable King Seal!" Liao Chen seized the Opportunity to stabilize his mind. He formed Seals with his hands, and a majestic, solemn phantom of the King of Wisdom appeared behind him. The Buddha light was vast, further stabilizing the space where the three were.

"Xuantian—Army Breaker!" Han Lingtian roared. On his heavy sword, Sword Intent as heavy as a mountain rose into the sky, turning into a condensed cyan sword qi that slashed first toward the incoming blood-colored energy streams!

"Boom—!!!"

The sword qi collided with the blood-colored energy streams, erupting with a thunderous roar. Although Han Lingtian's sword qi was strong, facing an attack from this suspected Soul Transformation Stage war puppet (even if damaged), it still fell short. The cyan sword qi was continuously worn down and torn apart. Han Lingtian let out a muffled groan and retreated several steps, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Senior Brother Han, Fellow Daoist Liao Chen, protect me for a moment! I will try to communicate with it!" Lin Wan said urgently. Fighting head-on was definitely not the best strategy. Although this "Five Elements Guardian" was severely damaged and its consciousness chaotic, its core had a connection with the Five Elements Barrier, the five elements token in his hand, and the Dao Seed at his brow. If he could use the aura of the Five Elements Sect's orthodox Legacy to try and awaken or appease its remaining will to protect, perhaps a fight to the death could be avoided.

Hearing this, Han Lingtian and Liao Chen immediately understood Lin Wan's intention. One to the left and one to the right, they stood guard in front of Lin Wan, each using their divine abilities to block and neutralize the endless stream of blood-colored energy and gravity suppression, buying time for Lin Wan.

Lin Wan took a deep breath and fully activated the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed at his brow. Suddenly, a pure, vast, yet carrying the orthodox supreme Dao rhythm of the Five Elements Sect, chaotic aura rose from his body, turning into a hazy, chaotic five-colored halo that shrouded him. At the same time, he held the five elements token high, pouring his insights into the Five Elements, Guixu, Void Realm, and stars, as well as his respect for the sages of the Five Elements Sect and his determination to fight against "the end" into the Dao Seed and the token. It transformed into a clear, peaceful intent wave, transmitted toward that "Five Elements Guardian":

"I am a Junior Disciple of the Five Elements Sect, having obtained the Legacy of the Five Elements Dao Venerable, holding the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed, and carrying the Sect's five elements token. Now, sensing the summoning of the barrier, I have come to retrieve the Sect's Legacy, inherit the will of the sages, and fight together against the enemy of 'the end'! Senior, you have guarded the barrier and fought through eons; your achievements are glorious! Please cease your thunderous wrath and distinguish friend from foe!"

Following the transmission of Lin Wan's intent, and the chaotic Dao rhythm he exuded—which was of the same source as the Five Elements Barrier but even purer and more original—the wildly attacking "Five Elements Guardian" suddenly paused.

Its eye sockets, burning with ghost-blue soul fire, jumped violently, staring fixedly at Lin Wan, at the five elements token in his hand, and at the Dao Seed mark at his brow. The light of the chaotic crystal on the tower shield also flickered, as if the chaotic will remaining inside it was undergoing intense conflict and struggle.

"Dao... Venerable... Legacy... five elements token... Guixu... Dao Seed..."

The hoarse, broken intent came intermittently, filled with confusion, pain, and a trace of extreme faintness, as if it had been asleep for too long and was about to be awakened, of familiarity and closeness.

"Is... it... true..."

"Guard... the barrier... fight... the end..."

Its attacks gradually stopped. The heavy gravity field slowly weakened, and the blood-colored energy streams dissipated into the air. Its massive body trembled slightly, and dark golden liquid, like rusted blood, slowly seeped from the stump of its broken right arm. Clearly, that previous attack was also a significant burden on this already dilapidated body.

"It is true." Lin Wan's tone was firm as he walked forward step by step. The light of the five elements token and the Dao Seed became softer and more intimate. "Senior, please look. This is the Dao Seed mark left by the Five Elements Dao Venerable, and this is the Sect's five elements token, which can sense the barrier and open the gate. My Dao is also the Five Elements Returning to Ruins, inherited from the Dao Venerable. My will is also to guard this world and kill 'the end'. Senior, your remnant soul remains, your Battle Intent persists; do you not wish to see the Sect's Legacy continue, do you not wish to personally see the unfinished war of the past through to the end?"

Lin Wan's words seemed to carry a strange magic, striking directly at the deepest, most original obsession of the guardian's remnant soul. Guard the barrier, continue the Legacy, fight against "the end".

"...Sect... Legacy... unfinished... war..."

The guardian's intent waves gradually became clearer, and the ghost-blue soul fire in its eyes was no longer purely violent and destructive, but added a trace of scrutiny, a trace of reminiscence, and a trace of... anticipation.

It slowly lowered its head, that huge, flat head, bringing it close to Lin Wan. The ghost-blue soul fire seemed to be carefully "sizing him up," sizing up the token in his hand and the mark on his brow.

A moment later, it slowly raised its only remaining left arm, which held the huge tower shield. But it was not an attack; instead, it aimed the largest, cracked chaotic five-colored crystal in the center of the tower shield at the five elements token in Lin Wan's hand.

"...Use... token... as... proof... Use... Dao... Seed... as... guide..."

"Open... the... gate... of... the... barrier..."

The hoarse intent came. At the same time, the chaotic crystal on the tower shield suddenly shot out a soft, five-colored beam of light, only as thick as an arm, which connected to the five elements token.

"Hum—!"

The five elements token shone brightly, the patterns on it seeming to come alive, combining and extending on their own. Finally, it shot out a more condensed, more original five-colored beam of light, which intersected with the beam from the guardian's tower shield at a single point. Then, together, they shot toward the distance, toward the chaotic five-colored light curtain that connected heaven and earth—the "boundary membrane" of the Five Elements Barrier!

"Click... click click..."

It was as if countless huge, ancient chains that had been sealed for endless years were turning and unlocking simultaneously.

That huge chaotic five-colored light curtain, originally as calm as a mirror, now, at the point hit by the intersecting five-colored beams, suddenly rippled with huge ripples! In the center of the ripples, the color of the light curtain rapidly faded and became transparent. Finally, like water waves, it slowly parted to the sides, revealing a huge gate—over a hundred zhang high and dozens of zhang wide, with five-colored light flowing along its edges!

Inside the gate, it was no longer a blurry scene, but a wide, straight passage paved with some kind of warm white jade, with huge Five Elements Divine Beast statues standing on both sides, extending to the end of the line of sight—glorious, solemn, yet revealing endless vicissitudes!

The gate of the Five Elements Barrier was open!

"Success!" Seeing this, Han Lingtian and Liao Chen both breathed a sigh of relief, joy appearing on their faces. They had not expected that Lin Wan would truly use his identity as a successor to persuade (or rather, awaken) this terrifying guardian and open the gate.

After opening the gate, the "Five Elements Guardian" seemed to have exhausted the last of the strength supporting its movements. Its massive body swayed slightly, and the ghost-blue soul fire in its eye sockets became extremely dim, as if it could be extinguished at any moment. It slowly turned around, facing the opened gate, and used its tower shield to prop itself up, maintaining a standing posture, like an eternal monument, continuing to fulfill its duty of guarding the gate. However, its remaining intent no longer held any hostility toward Lin Wan and the others. Instead, it transmitted a faint wave filled with entrustment and anticipation:

"...Go... in... continue... the Legacy... complete... our... unfinished... war..."

"Senior, rest assured, this Junior will certainly not betray your trust." Lin Wan bowed solemnly to this respectable guardian. Immediately, he nodded to Han Lingtian and Liao Chen.

The three did not hesitate, their figures turning into three streams of light, shooting into the opened, glorious and weathered barrier gate.

The moment their figures disappeared into the gate, the huge gate behind them began to close slowly. And after the gate was completely closed and the light curtain returned to calm, the soul fire in the eyes of the "Five Elements Guardian" was completely extinguished. Its massive body maintained the posture of standing with the shield, as if it had merged with this metal earth and this barrier light curtain, continuing its eternal, silent guardianship.

However, this time, the guardian had waited for the person it was waiting for. Inside the gate, the last bastion of the Five Elements Sect, silent for eons, would also welcome its new master and... mission.

The moment they passed through the gate and stepped onto the white jade passage, Lin Wan and the others felt a completely different aura.

Outside the gate was the Chaos, decay, deathly silence of the Heavenly Ruins, and the ever-present threat of erosion by "the end".

Inside the gate, this internal space protected by the "boundary membrane" of the Five Elements Barrier was an unimaginable, pure, peaceful, vast, yet containing supreme majesty and Battle Intent—a Cave Heaven World!

The sky was not gray or black, but a clear "firmament" displaying a faint five-colored halo, with gentle light shining down like the morning sun.

Beneath their feet lay a warm and solid white jade road, extending into the distance.

The air was filled with perfectly balanced Five Elements Spiritual Qi so dense it had almost turned into droplets, as well as a more Advanced "Ancestral Qi" that seemed to come from the very beginning of the world; with every breath, their cultivation grew faintly, and their bodies felt completely at ease.

On both sides of the passage, every hundred zhang, stood a statue of a Five Elements Divine Beast several dozen zhang high.

The Azure Dragon of the East coiled around a jade pillar, brimming with vitality; the Vermilion Bird of the South spread its wings as if to take flight, with flames faintly visible; the White Tiger of the West poised to pounce, its sharpness pressing; the Xuanwu of the North had the tortoise and snake intertwined, heavy and steady; the Qilin of the Center stepped on auspicious clouds, majestic and peaceful.

These statues were not lifeless objects; rather, they were faintly connected to the Five Elements Law of the entire Five Elements Barrier, emitting a faint pressure, serving as both decoration and part of some Formation.

Further away, through the transparent light membranes that appeared like windows on both sides of the passage, one could see the scenes inside the barrier.

There were palaces and pavilions floating in the air, with ancient designs and emitting various treasures' light; there were lakes and rivers flowing with five-colored spirit liquid; there were medicinal gardens planted with rare Spirit Medicine and spirit wood long extinct in the outside world; and there were even huge, honeycomb-like metal structures filled with dense holes, which seemed to be parking or construction platforms for some kind of large-scale War Magical Artifact.

Everything was orderly and spotless, as if time had stagnated here, or as if it were quietly waiting for the return of its master, ready to restart at any moment and erupt with earth-shattering war power.

"This... is simply like a complete Small World! No, it is even more Advanced than a Small World; it is a nearly perfect Immortal Cave dojo!" Han Lingtian muttered to himself, looking around in shock.

"As expected of the War Barrier that the ancient Five Elements Sect poured all its efforts into creating; even after being silent for ages, it still possesses such magnificent atmosphere and natural Dao rhyme." Liao Chen also sighed with emotion.

Lin Wan's heart was also surging with waves. He could clearly feel that the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed between his eyebrows and the five elements token in his hand felt like a fish in water or a bird returning to the forest in this place, creating an incredibly close and harmonious resonance with the entire Five Elements Barrier.

He could even vaguely "perceive" the location of the core hub of this Five Elements Barrier, as well as the massive amount of detailed records remaining inside regarding the Five Elements Sect's highest Legacy, war techniques, and that great battle from back then.

"The core hub of this place seems to be at the end of the passage." Guided by the Dao Seed, Lin Wan walked first toward the depths of the white jade passage.

The passage was extremely long, as if it had no end, but the three of them were filled with awe and excitement, so they did not feel it was long.

Along the way, they saw some damaged and collapsed buildings, as well as traces left by battles, but they were far less severe than the ancient battlefields outside; clearly, this core area had not been truly breached by the army of "the end".

After traveling for about half an hour, the path ahead suddenly opened up.

At the end of the passage was a huge, hemispherical dome space.

In the center of the space was not the ground, but a huge "Five Elements Wheel" floating in mid-air, over a thousand zhang in diameter, slowly rotating, and composed entirely of chaotic five-colored light!

The wheel rotated slowly, and on it, the five regions of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth were distinct, each evolving the infinite scenes of Five Elements generation and Restriction, celestial movement, Void Realm changes, and even the supreme scenes of returning to ruins and extinction, emitting a vast, desolate, and supreme Dao rhyme that seemed capable of deducing the heavens and controlling all Laws.

This wheel was the core control hub of the entire Five Elements Barrier, and it was also the manifestation of the Five Elements Sect's highest Formation, Restriction, and Legacy!

Directly below the Five Elements Wheel, on the corresponding ground, was a relatively smaller circular platform paved with crystals of five colors.

There was nothing else on the platform, only a groove in the center that perfectly matched the shape, size, and patterns of the five elements token in Lin Wan's hand.

Clearly, to truly control this Five Elements Barrier and start its core hub, one must place the five elements token into this groove.

Lin Wan, Han Lingtian, and Liao Chen flew onto the platform, looking up at the chaotic Five Elements Wheel rotating slowly above their heads, which emitted supreme majesty, and all felt their own insignificance.

"Junior Brother Lin, it seems the final step requires you to complete it." Han Lingtian looked at Lin Wan.

Liao Chen also pressed his palms together: "Amitabha, this is Fellow Daoist Lin's Opportunity, and also his responsibility."

Lin Wan nodded, took a deep breath, and calmed his surging emotions.

He took out the five elements token and walked to the groove in the center of the platform.

Without hesitation, he aligned the five elements token in his hand, which emitted a chaotic luster and was connected to his mind, with the groove and pressed it down slowly.

"Click." With a soft sound, it fit perfectly.

In an instant— "Hum—!!!" The entire Five Elements Wheel shook violently! It erupted with an unprecedented, dazzling, and almost blinding chaotic five-colored light!

Within the light, countless ancient, profound runes, patterns, and phantoms containing information about the supreme Dao poured down like a waterfall from the wheel, completely submerging the entire platform and the three of them.

A vast, pure, yet gentle will, like a mother's hand, gently brushed over Lin Wan's Divine Soul.

That was the "Boundary Spirit" of the Five Elements Barrier itself, or rather, the last, complete controlling will remaining in this core hub!

It was confirming, acknowledging, and... entrusting this last fortress, last Legacy, and last hope of the Five Elements Sect to this descendant who had inherited the Five Elements Dao Venerable Dao Seed and held the orthodox five elements token!

Massive amounts of information poured into Lin Wan's Sea of Consciousness.

Regarding the structure and functions of the Five Elements Barrier, the roles of various areas, stored resources, hidden Legacy, recorded war history, research and analysis on "the end", and... how to initially control and use part of the barrier's authority.

At the same time, the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed between Lin Wan's eyebrows also produced the deepest level of resonance and Fusion with the Five Elements Wheel.

He could feel that his understanding of the Dao of Five Elements, Returning to Ruins, Void Realm, and stars was rapidly improving and perfecting.

The pure and vast Five Elements Ancestral Qi within the barrier's Immortal Cave, as if it had found a home, frantically gathered toward his body, nourishing his Chaos Infant Essence and consolidating his cultivation.

His aura began to climb upward at an astonishing speed! The Bottleneck of the Nascent Soul Early Stage Peak was broken through instantly!

Nascent Soul Middle Stage!

Moreover, the improvement did not stop; it was still steadily advancing toward the Nascent Soul Late Stage!

This was not just an improvement in cultivation, but also the consolidation of his Dao Foundation and a further fit and control over the Origin of the Great Dao of Five Elements Returning to Ruins!

The entire Five Elements Barrier seemed to slowly "awaken" because of the "return" of its new master.

Those silent palaces lit up with a faint light; the spirit liquid lakes rippled; the Spirit Medicine in the gardens seemed even more vibrant; and from within those honeycomb-like metal structures in the distance, a low hum, as if machinery were starting up, could be heard...

When the dazzling chaotic light slowly converged and the information infusion temporarily ended, and Lin Wan reopened his eyes, his cultivation had already stabilized at—Nascent Soul Middle Stage Peak! Only one step away from the Late Stage!

Moreover, he could clearly feel that he had already developed an inseparable connection with this place. He was the new master of this Five Elements Barrier!

Although with his current cultivation, he could not yet fully unleash its entire power, he had no problem initially controlling and utilizing part of its resources.

With a slight thought, the chaotic Five Elements Wheel rotating slowly above his head gradually retracted its light, returning to that majestic and calm state.

The light around the platform also dissipated.

"Junior Brother Lin, you..." Han Lingtian and Liao Chen were both shocked and happy to sense the obviously surging and unfathomable aura on Lin Wan.

"Fortunately, I did not fail the mission; I have initially obtained the barrier's recognition." Lin Wan smiled slightly at the two, feeling the surging power within his body and the sense of control like an arm directing a finger over the thousand-mile radius of this place, his heart also filled with surging heroic spirit.

With this Five Elements Barrier as a Foundation, and with the massive resources, Legacy, and historical Materials within it, his confidence in resisting "the end" would greatly increase!

The future of the Qingyun Sect would also be brighter! Even, with this as a base, integrating the Southern Region, contacting various Righteous Path forces, and forming an Alliance to resist "the end" all had a solid backing!

"Congratulations Fellow Daoist (Junior Brother) Lin, for obtaining this supreme Opportunity and advancing further on the Dao path!" Han Lingtian and Liao Chen congratulated him sincerely.

"This is not my Opportunity alone." Lin Wan said sternly, "The Five Elements Sect left this barrier to resist 'the end' and protect this world. Since I have obtained its Legacy, I should naturally carry on its will. The resources and Legacy here, as long as they are beneficial to resisting 'the end' and protecting the common people, I will certainly not hesitate to share. Senior Brother Han, Fellow Daoist Liao Chen, you are also outstanding figures, holding the Righteous Path in your hearts; the great cause of resisting 'the end' in the future requires us to work together."

"It should be so!" Han Lingtian and Liao Chen replied solemnly.

Having initially controlled the Five Elements Barrier, Lin Wan did not immediately begin to plunder or enter seclusion.

He first used the barrier hub to review the detailed records stored here regarding that great battle from back then and "the end".

These records were far more complete, systematic, and in-depth than the fragmented information he had obtained from the outside world.

He saw the complete process of "the end" eroding this world, and saw the tragic journey of the Five Elements Sect from discovery, warning, to full-scale battle, retreating step by step, and finally activating the barrier to Seal itself.

He saw that "the end" was not a single existence, but a terrifying phenomenon similar to a "natural disaster" or "concept" that could erode, corrupt, and distort all things, whose source seemed to point to the depths of the Universe, to some indescribable, incomprehensible "Ultimate Void".

He also saw the various attempts and sacrifices made by the sages of the Five Elements Sect in desperate situations, as well as some bold but unverified conjectures and contingency plans left behind regarding how to resist, Seal, and even completely eliminate "the end".

One piece of information particularly caught Lin Wan's attention.

The records showed that before the Five Elements Sect finally sealed itself, it had sealed a portion of the Sect's most core Legacy, resources, and several unfinished refining diagrams and core Materials for "Weapons of the end" specifically designed to target the Origin of "the end" in the deepest part of the barrier, a place called "Return-to-Void Secret Treasury".

Only those who simultaneously possessed the Five Elements Dao Venerable Legacy, the five elements token, and had obtained the recognition of the barrier's core could open it.

"Return-to-Void Secret Treasury"... Lin Wan's eyes flashed. It seemed that within this barrier, there were even deeper secrets and Treasure Trove.

However, opening the "Return-to-Void Secret Treasury" seemed to require higher authority and cultivation, at least to fully control the Five Elements Wheel or reach the Soul Transformation Stage.

With his current cultivation at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage Peak and his state of initially controlling the barrier, he could not reach it yet.

"That's fine, one must eat one bite at a time. First, use the resources here to improve cultivation, completely control the barrier, and find a way to contact the outside world and the Qingyun Sect." Lin Wan set his plan.

He used the barrier hub to attempt to send an encrypted communication talisman with his unique Dao Seed mark toward the Tiannan Ruins and the Qingyun Sect direction using a special Formation.

He informed them that he was safe and had found an important Legacy of the Five Elements Sect, telling the Sect not to worry, and asking Liu Ruyan, Chu Qingyao, Lin Jingyun, as well as True Monarch Daoxuan, Peak Master Yue Lingyun, and others to wait patiently, and that he would return as soon as possible.

After doing all this, Lin Wan, Han Lingtian, and Liao Chen settled down temporarily within this safe and Spiritual Qi-rich Five Elements Barrier.

They each chose a palace or Immortal Cave to begin seclusion, digesting what they had gained from this trip and improving their cultivation.

Lin Wan entered the barrier core, a special quiet room below the Five Elements Wheel.

This was the place where the barrier's Ancestral Qi was thickest and the Dao rhyme was clearest.

He sat cross-legged, took out the last few remaining drops of the "Dao Venerable Essence Blood" crystal obtained from the Five Elements Dao Venerable Legacy (one drop was used previously to condense the Nascent Soul), and retrieved some top-grade Medicinal Pill and spirit liquid from the barrier's reserves that could assist in Nascent Soul Stage cultivation and Breakthrough, beginning his first, and also crucial, seclusion after controlling the barrier.

His goal was to use the supreme resources and Dao rhyme of the Five Elements Barrier here to break through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage in one go!

And to attempt to initially combine the information from the "Return-to-Void Secret Treasury" with his own Dao of Five Elements Returning to Ruins, deducing a further direction for cultivation.

Time passed quietly in this nearly independent Immortal Cave of the Five Elements Barrier.

Outside, the situation was changing, with undercurrents surging. And deep within this ancient war fortress, a new master who had inherited the supreme Legacy was silently accumulating strength, making the most solid preparations for the upcoming, more magnificent era.