78: Chapter 78 The Pinnacle of Nascent Soul

The "Five Elements Returning to Ruins Beheading Corpse" sword strike, like Nine Heavens thunder, shattered the days of noise and strife on Tiandu Mountain and pushed the fame of "True Monarch Guixu" Lin Wan to an unprecedented, almost mythical height.

Nascent Soul Great Perfection, beheading a peer giant with one sword, destroying three top-tier refining corpses, annihilating both body and soul, while remaining completely unscathed and with steady breath.

Such a battle record, such demeanor, had already exceeded most Cultivators' understanding of the "Nascent Soul" Realm. Even the older generation of Cultivators who had witnessed Soul Transformation True Monarchs in action felt secretly shocked, thinking that the control over "Dao" and the will of "the end" contained in Lin Wan's just-executed sword strike were, in some aspects, even purer and more terrifying than those of ordinary Soul Transformation.

"This child... can no longer be judged by Nascent Soul standards." Deep within Jade Lake Peak, Sect Master Emperor Yan put down his teacup and spoke in a deep voice, breaking the silence in the quiet room. Opposite him sat Sword Master Jian Wuming, Great Elder Danchenzi, and Elder Xingyan.

"Indeed." Sword Master Jian Wuming nodded, Sword Intent faintly appearing in his eyes, "His Dao is formed, his Foundation is profound, and his understanding of Law has already touched the threshold of Soul Transformation, or perhaps... he has already stepped over that hurdle, just not yet having triggered the baptism of Heaven and Earth to condense the Dao Fruit."

"The Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed is truly a Heaven-Defying item." Great Elder Danchenzi sighed, a complex look flashing in his eyes, "Back then, how stunning was Five Elements Dao Venerable? Now his Legacy has reappeared, creating another peerless Prodigy who is nearly invincible among his peers in such a short time. However, this Dao is too overbearing, and too... dangerous. I know not if it is a blessing or a curse."

"Blessing lies within a curse, and a curse lies within a blessing." Elder Xingyan spoke slowly, his fingers tapping the table, starlight and shadows revolving in his eyes, "This child is deeply entangled in Karma, and with 'the end' it is even more inseparable. This Dao Discussion Conference might be the key node for him to completely take that step and stir up the Five Regions. We shall just wait and see."

The several Central Plains giants were all silent. They understood that after this battle, Lin Wan already possessed the qualification to talk to them as equals, or even to bargain in some aspects. The subsequent "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion" and the final distribution of interests would likely not be so smooth.

Meanwhile, on Dao Discussion Peak, the Nascent Soul Realm "Dao Questioning Contest," after Lin Wan's earth-shattering sword strike, seemed to have lost its former intensity and suspense.

In the subsequent matches, no matter who the opponent was or which force they came from, as long as they were drawn against Lin Wan, almost without exception, they would turn pale, their fighting spirit completely gone. Some even directly forfeited, not daring to step onto the platform. And those who had to fight, under the gaze of Lin Wan's indifferent eyes, could not even unleash fifty percent of their full power, often unable to last more than three moves before being defeated in a panic, and being able to retreat unscathed was already considered lucky.

No one dared to question Lin Wan's strength again, nor did anyone dare to have the slightest provocation. Everywhere he went, he was the center of attention, yet there was silence, only the deepest awe.

Thus, with an indisputable crushing momentum, Lin Wan swept through everything and easily won first place in the Nascent Soul Realm "Dao Questioning Contest." The process was less of a competition and more of a formality to display his invincible demeanor.

And the competition for the Golden Core Realm also finally came to an end. Although Lin Jingyun encountered several powerful and experienced opponents later on, relying on his solid Foundation, exquisite sword techniques, and the Five Elements Guixu Sword Intent that continued to grow in actual combat, he finally tenaciously fought his way into the top ten, ranking eighth! This achievement, for his Golden Core Early Stage cultivation, was already a miracle, once again proving his extraordinary talent and potential, and also winning countless praise and attention.

Father and son, one invincible in Nascent Soul, one in the top ten of Golden Core, competing on the same stage and shining on Tiandu Mountain, for a time, became a story told with admiration, becoming the most dazzling scenery of this "Five Regions Dao Discussion Conference." The reputation of the Southern Region Anti-Calamity Alliance also rose with the tide, and many small and medium-sized forces that were originally watching from the sidelines took the initiative to approach, intending to make friends.

The "Dao Questioning Contest" ended successfully, and next was the real highlight of this conference, which would also determine the future pattern of the Five Regions and distribute core interests — the "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion"!

In the center of Dao Discussion Peak, the light of the Formation on the huge jade platform circulated again. In the center of the platform, an Asking Dao Platform with a diameter of only ten zhang, carved entirely from rare "Asking Dao Immortal Jade," radiating warm Dao charm and seemingly able to help people comprehend the Dao, slowly rose.

This Asking Dao Platform was the place for "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion." Only Cultivators at the Soul Transformation Stage and above were qualified to step onto the platform to conduct invisible confrontations, verification, and even... contention with their own Dao charm and understanding of Law.

"Clang —!"

The bell rang nine times, shaking the Universe.

On the main seats, the Void Refining giants of the five major forces — Emperor Yan, Venerable Dan, Fairy Yaoxi, Jian Wuya, and Elder Xingshu — appeared together again. Their appearance meant that the "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion" had officially begun.

"Through the 'Performance Dao Discussion' and 'Dao Questioning Contest,' the talents of the Five Regions have shown their strengths, and it has been spectacular." In the middle, Emperor Yan's peaceful yet supreme voice sounded, "Next is the 'Soul Transformation Dao Discussion.' This is the highest level of Dao and Law exchange in our Tiannan Continent, and it also concerns the decision of many major issues. All Fellow Daoists at the Soul Transformation Stage and above may step onto the platform to sit and discuss the Dao, use Dao charm to confront each other, use Law to make friends, and also propose issues concerning the safety of the Five Regions and the distribution of interests to discuss solutions together."

"During the Dao Discussion, it is strictly forbidden to maliciously injure others or disrupt the venue. All disputes shall be judged by 'Dao.' Now, the Soul Transformation Dao Discussion begins. Which Fellow Daoist is willing to step onto the platform first?"

After Emperor Yan finished speaking, the surroundings of the Asking Dao Platform were silent.

Unlike the "Performance Dao Discussion," the person who "steps onto the platform first" in the "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion" often requires great confidence and strength. Because stepping onto the platform first means accepting the "Dao Discussion" challenges from all subsequent participants, and their Dao charm and understanding of Law will be scrutinized and compared under a magnifying glass. If there is any deficiency, their "Dao Heart" might be damaged, and their dignity might be swept away.

After a brief silence.

"Amitabha, since all Fellow Daoists are modest, let this poor monk throw out a brick to attract jade first."

A gentle Buddha name sounded. From the Western Desert region, Master Liaoyin slowly stood up, bowed his hands to the four directions, and then took a step. Golden lotuses grew under his feet, carrying him to the center of the crystal-clear Asking Dao Platform, where he sat cross-legged.

"It is Master Liaoyin!"

"Master Liaoyin has profound Buddhist Dharma and is at the Soul Transformation Middle Stage. It is most appropriate for him to open the session!"

Everyone's spirits lifted. Master Liaoyin's Buddhist Dharma and character were well-regarded in the Five Regions, and having him open the session minimized controversy.

"What this poor monk cultivates is the 'Great Sun Tathagata True Scripture' of the Western Desert's Vajra Temple, aiming to clarify the heart and see one's nature, realize the True Thusness, and use supreme Buddha light to save all living beings and break through ignorance." Master Liaoyin's voice was peaceful. There was no dazzling Buddha light around him, nor was there any astonishing Aura. There was only an invisible Zen intent that was upright, peaceful, compassionate, and seemingly able to contain all things and transform everything, spreading slowly from him like a warm tide, covering the entire Asking Dao Platform and faintly spreading outwards.

This Zen intent was not an attack, but a demonstration and an exposition. Being in it, regardless of cultivation level or what one's Dao path was, everyone could feel their minds calm down and distracting thoughts gradually disappear, as if being cleansed and comforted. Many Cultivators with restless Heart-Nature or obsessions felt as if they had been enlightened, gaining new insights into their own Dao.

"Master Liaoyin's Buddhist Dharma has become even more pure. Such power of salvation and comfort is already close to the manifestation of 'Dao'." Fairy Yaoguang praised softly.

"The Western Desert Buddhism indeed has its unique aspects. Little Monk Liaoyin has the bearing of a Buddha." Emperor Yan also nodded slightly.

Master Liaoyin's "Dao Discussion" lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. When his last Zen tone fell and that vast, compassionate Zen intent slowly retracted, the entire Dao Discussion Peak seemed to have experienced a baptism of the soul, and the atmosphere became much more peaceful.

"Amitabha, this poor monk has embarrassed himself." Master Liaoyin bowed again and floated off the platform.

"Master Liaoyin is compassionate, his Buddhist Dharma is boundless!" A Cultivator immediately praised loudly.

"Master Liaoyin has made a good start." Emperor Yan's voice sounded again, "Next, which Fellow Daoist is willing to step onto the platform to discuss the Dao?"

This time, after a brief silence, a sharp and overbearing Sword Intent soared into the sky!

"Since Master Liaoyin opened the session with Buddhist Dharma, then let this seat use the Sword Dao to meet friends!"

Before the voice fell, a figure in linen clothes appeared in the center of the Asking Dao Platform like a teleportation. It was the Grand Elder of the Wuji Sword Sect, Jian Wuya! He stood with his hands behind his back, with no Sword Qi leaking from his body, but the whole person seemed like a peerless divine sword that had already been unsheathed and wanted to pierce the sky. That sharp, pure, and indomitable Sword Dao will, like a tangible edge, instantly pierced the peaceful Zen intent left by Master Liaoyin, making the atmosphere of the entire Asking Dao Platform solemn!

"Sword Dao, only precise and pure, only fast and sharp! The sword in the hand, the sword in the heart, are both tools to cut through falsehood and reach the original heart!" Jian Wuya's voice was cold, like gold and iron clashing, "Today, this seat will use this 'Wuya Sword Intent' to discuss with all Fellow Daoists, what is... the Extreme Dao of the Sword!"

"Hum —!"

As his words fell, a vast, pure, and terrifying Sword Intent that seemed able to cut through Karma and destroy all Laws erupted from his body, turning into an invisible Sword Domain that made everyone feel their skin prickle and their Divine Soul tremble, instantly covering the entire Asking Dao Platform and even faintly spreading towards the bottom of the platform! In this Sword Domain, it seemed that all things could be swords, and all things could be cut! That resolute will to cut through everything and move forward indomitably made countless Sword Cultivators' blood boil, and also made many non-Sword Cultivator Cultivators feel immense pressure.

"Senior Jian Wuya's Sword Intent has actually reached the Realm of 'nothing that cannot be cut, no thought that cannot be severed'!"

"What a terrifying Sword Dao! I feel that my protective spiritual light is like paper in front of this Sword Intent!"

"This is the true Peak of Sword Dao!"

Exclamations arose everywhere. Jian Wuya's Sword Dao demonstration was completely different from Master Liaoyin's Buddhist Dharma, full of aggression and offensiveness, but it also more intuitively demonstrated the sharpness and edge of "Dao."

Jian Wuya's "Dao Discussion" also lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. When his terrifying "Wuya Sword Intent" slowly retracted, many people felt as if they had survived a disaster, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

"Sword Dao, not bad." Jian Wuya commented on his own demonstration faintly, then his eyes were like lightning, sweeping across the audience, especially pausing for a moment on Lin Wan in the Southern Region area, then floated off the platform.

Next, Venerable Dan, Fairy Yaoxi, and Elder Xingshu also stepped onto the platform one after another, each demonstrating the supreme mysteries of Alchemy Dao, Immortal Dao, and Heavenly Mystery Deduction Dao, attracting bursts of exclamations and also broadening the horizons of all Cultivators, who benefited a lot. The "Dao Discussion" of the five giants had already pushed the level of this conference to its Peak.

After the giants finished their demonstrations, the next step was for other Soul Transformation True Monarchs to step onto the platform.

From the Central Plains, Eastern Wasteland, Western Desert, and Northern Plains, Soul Transformation Cultivators stepped onto the platform one after another. Some demonstrated their unique insights into a certain Law, some expounded the core Legacy concepts of their own Sect, and some, in the name of "Dao Discussion," implicitly proposed certain interest demands or stated their positions on certain disputes.

The entire "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion" process seemed peaceful, but it actually contained hidden blades. It was an important stage for various forces to flex their muscles, compete for the right to speak, and test each other's bottom line. The confrontation of Dao charm and the collision of Laws often resulted in hearing thunder in silence, and the degree of danger was no less than a real fight with real swords and guns. From time to time, Soul Transformation True Monarchs, due to the deficiency or being restrained by their own "Dao" in the "Dao Discussion," would turn pale, their breath would be chaotic, and some would even vomit blood on the spot, their Dao Heart damaged, and they would retreat in dismay.

Time passed quickly in the intense "Dao Discussion."

In the blink of an eye, the sun was setting in the west.

More than twenty Soul Transformation Cultivators had stepped onto the platform to "discuss the Dao." Among them, the Eastern Wasteland's Emperor Yan had also long since stepped onto the platform, demonstrating his overbearing and explosive "Imperial Flame Dao." His Dao charm was scorching and violent, full of aggression, although not as harmonious and profound as the five giants, it was also powerful, showing his strong strength at the Soul Transformation Early Stage. In the "Dao Discussion," he also implicitly expressed the Eastern Wasteland's dissatisfaction with certain resources and the Southern Region, pointing the finger at Lin Wan and the Anti-Calamity Alliance, attracting a lot of attention.

In addition to Master Liaoyin, two other high monks from the Western Desert stepped onto the platform, with Buddha light shining everywhere, upright and peaceful.

Only one newly promoted Soul Transformation Early Stage Ghost Dao Cultivator with a somewhat unstable Aura from the Northern Plains stepped onto the platform, demonstrating the gloomy and strange Ghost Dao Laws, but the Foundation was clearly insufficient. When "discussing the Dao" with other Soul Transformation Cultivators, he was quickly defeated and stepped down with an ugly expression, showing the lack of successor in top combat power in the Northern Plains.

The Central Plains was the strongest. In addition to the five giants, three Soul Transformation Middle Stage and five Soul Transformation Early Stage True Monarchs stepped onto the platform, with various Dao charms and deep Foundations, demonstrating the Central Plains' absolute strength as the core of the Five Regions.

The Southern Region... no one had stepped onto the platform yet.

True Monarch Daoxuan's cultivation had not reached Soul Transformation, so naturally he could not participate. Peak Master Yue Lingyun was the same. Han Lingtian was seriously injured and was only Nascent Soul. Great Master Liao Chen represented the Western Desert. Therefore, in the Southern Region area, only Lin Wan was qualified to step onto the platform for "Dao Discussion."

Everyone's eyes could not help but focus again on the figure in green clothes carrying a sword, who had been sitting quietly.

Would he step onto the platform?

With Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivation, stepping onto the "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion" platform? This was not without precedent, but throughout history, those who could stand firm and even perform well on the "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion" platform with Nascent Soul cultivation were rare, all being peerless Prodigies with Heaven-Defying Dao Foundations.

Lin Wan was undoubtedly such a Prodigy. But would he choose to step onto the platform at this moment?

Facing the gaze and invisible pressure of dozens of Soul Transformation True Monarchs and even the five Void Refining giants?

Just as everyone was guessing, Emperor Yan's voice sounded peacefully again:

"The Soul Transformation Dao Discussion is coming to an end. Are there any other Fellow Daoists willing to step onto the platform to discuss the Dao?"

His gaze also seemed to sweep over the Southern Region area intentionally or unintentionally.

The whole venue was silent, and a pin drop could be heard.

Countless eyes were fixed on Lin Wan.

Liu Ruyan, Chu Qingyao, and Lin Jingyun were also looking at him nervously.

Master Liaoyin put his hands together, his eyes filled with encouragement.

Emperor Yan's flames flickered slightly, his eyes cold, seemingly expecting Lin Wan to step onto the platform and embarrass himself.

Sword Master Jian Wuming, Great Elder Danchenzi, Elder Xingyan, and others all cast inquiring glances.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Lin Wan finally slowly opened his slightly closed eyes.

In his pupils, Chaos radiance revolved, deep as the Universe.

He stood up slowly, tidied his green clothes, his movements calm and unhurried.

Then, in the complex gazes of everyone who were expectant, nervous, gloating, or inquiring, he took a step.

The next step, he had already appeared in the center of that crystal-clear, Dao-charm-circulating — Asking Dao Platform.

Green clothes fluttering, standing with a sword on his back.

His calm eyes swept over the Soul Transformation and Void Refining giants on and off the platform who had vast Auras and soaring Dao charms, and finally, he looked at Emperor Yan, who was sitting high on the main seat, shrouded in imperial Dragon Qi, bowed slightly, his voice clear and calm, yet clearly ringing in everyone's heart:

"Southern Region, Qingyun Sect, Lin Wan."

"Willing to use my Nascent Soul body to step onto this Soul Transformation platform."

"To discuss with all Seniors..."

"What is Five Elements, what is Guixu, what is... the Great Dao."