81: Chapter 81 The Secret Treasure of Returning to the Ruins

Regardless of their private thoughts, under the collective will of Emperor Yan and the five major powers, as well as the increasingly clear threat of the "Heavenly Rift," all factions had to start taking action, reporting resources, reorganizing internally, and mobilizing troops in accordance with the Alliance's requirements.

As the "Chief Inspection Envoy," Lin Wan quietly left Tiandu Mountain with his wife and son immediately after the assembly ended. He did not return to the Southern Region but instead steered the "return to ruins star boat" once again toward the depths of the Heavenly Ruins, in the direction of the Five Elements Barrier.

Before leaving, he had already reached an agreement with True Monarch Daoxuan, Peak Master Yue Lingyun, Han Lingtian, Master Liaoyin, and others.

The specific affairs of the Qingyun Sect and the Southern Region Anti-Calamity Alliance were handed over to Daoxuan, Yue Lingyun, True Monarch Xiaoyun, Fairy Baihua, the Mountain Lord, and others to handle, ensuring full cooperation with the Alliance and the integration of the Southern Region's strength, while secretly guarding against any potential maneuvers from the Eastern Wasteland and Northern Plains.

Han Lingtian needed to focus on healing his injuries and stabilizing his cultivation. Master Liaoyin would also return to the Western Desert to coordinate the forces of the Buddhist Kingdom.

As for himself, with the status of "Chief Inspection Envoy," his movements were even freer. He needed to take this opportunity to do several crucial things.

The return to ruins star boat, like a streak of Chaos light, traveled through the vast and chaotic depths of the Heavenly Ruins.

This time, Lin Wan was no longer as cautious as before. He directly released his Nascent Soul Great Perfection Spiritual Pressure, combined with the unique Dao charm of the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed. Wherever he passed, most of the Ruins Beasts and evil spirits in the Heavenly Ruins were intimidated by that supreme aura containing the will of "the end," fleeing far away and not daring to approach.

Even if there were any that were oblivious, they would be easily left behind by the defense and speed of the return to ruins star boat, or be slashed to death by a casual strike of his Chaos sword light.

Inside the star boat, Lin Wan sat cross-legged, his mind resonating closely with a distant place.

The Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed between his eyebrows, after being tempered by the Dao charm impacts from dozens of Soul Transformation and Void Refining giants on the "Soul Transformation Dao Discussion" stage, had become unprecedentedly solid, perfect, and agile.

On the Dao Seed, those profound patterns representing the Five Elements, Guixu, Void, and Stars were completely connected, transforming into a natural, constantly evolving Chaos Formation map, resembling a miniature, ever-birthing and dying embryonic Universe.

Deep within the Dao Seed, a vast, majestic power that seemed capable of creating the world was slowly awakening and accumulating, waiting only for that final opportunity to break out of its shell and evolve into the true "Dao Fruit" that belonged solely to him.

He could clearly feel that the connection between himself and the Five Elements Barrier deep in the Heavenly Ruins had also become unprecedentedly tight and clear. It was as if that war fortress, which had been silent for eons, was gradually "coming to life" due to the growth of its new master, emitting a silent summons.

"It is soon... I can feel that the core of the barrier, the Seal of the 'Return-to-Void Secret Treasury,' is loosening and responding to my Dao Seed..." Lin Wan muttered to himself, Chaos light flowing in his eyes. "The true core Legacy of the Five Elements Sect for resisting 'the end,' the power targeting the Origin of 'the end,' and... the key items to help me break through to Soul Transformation must all be inside. I must open it as soon as possible!"

Although the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed was profound, wanting to use it as a Foundation to break through to Soul Transformation, achieve his own "Dao Fruit," and condense his "Primordial Spirit" still required a massive amount of more primordial Five Elements Ancestral Qi, as well as some peerless divine objects capable of bearing and stabilizing the newly born "Dao Fruit." These were likely all prepared within the "Return-to-Void Secret Treasury" of the Five Elements Barrier.

Moreover, he had a faint premonition that the "Return-to-Void Secret Treasury" might also hide key information about the Origin of "the end" and how to truly resist or even eliminate "the end." This was crucial for him, as he was about to serve as "Chief Inspection Envoy" and shoulder the heavy responsibility of resisting "the end."

The return to ruins star boat was extremely fast and had strong adaptability to the Heavenly Ruins environment. Coupled with Lin Wan's greatly increased strength and his more precise sensing of the Five Elements Barrier, in just over a month, he had traversed many dangerous areas and arrived once again at the outskirts of the Five Elements Barrier, which was shrouded in a chaotic five-colored light curtain.

Now, under Lin Wan's control, the Five Elements Barrier had completely entered a state of deep concealment. Unless an existence above the Void Refining Realm intentionally scanned this area with great divine abilities, it would be extremely difficult to discover its existence. The huge ancient battlefield ruins on the outskirts of the barrier remained dead silent and desolate, with traces of that tragic battle from years ago, and it also witnessed the fierce battle between Lin Wan and "The End Hunter" not long ago.

Lin Wan did not stay on the outskirts, but directly controlled the return to ruins star boat to penetrate the chaotic five-colored boundary membrane, which had no defenses against him, and entered the interior of the barrier.

The familiar, pure, and vast Five Elements Ancestral Qi, mixed with even richer Guixu Dao charm, rushed toward his face, refreshing Lin Wan's spirit, and even the Dao Seed between his eyebrows emitted a joyful resonance.

Inside the barrier, compared to when he left, there was not much change. The palaces, pavilions, spirit springs, and herb gardens were all in perfect order and spotless, only with a bit more "human activity." When he left, he had left behind some simple Formation Restrictions to maintain the basic operation of the barrier. Sensing them now, these Restrictions were intact, and the barrier had no signs of having been intruded upon.

"Father, is this the Five Elements Sect war fortress you mentioned?" Lin Jingyun, having come here for the first time, looked at the magnificent, ancient, and majestic cave heaven world before him, unable to help but be dumbfounded and full of shock. Although he had heard his father mention it, seeing it with his own eyes was still far beyond his imagination.

"Yes, this is one of our important Foundations for resisting 'the end.'" Lin Wan nodded and said to Liu Ruyan and Chu Qingyao, "Ruyan, Qing Yao, take Jingyun to familiarize yourselves with the environment inside the barrier and choose a few suitable palaces or Immortal Caves as our future residence here. The Spiritual Qi here is abundant and the Dao charm is clear, which will be of great benefit to your cultivation. I will go to the core hub to check on the situation of the 'Return-to-Void Secret Treasury.'"

"Brother Wan, be careful." Liu Ruyan advised gently.

"Rest assured." Lin Wan smiled slightly. With a movement of his body, he appeared at the core of the barrier, beneath the slowly rotating Chaos Five Elements wheel.

The huge Five Elements wheel was still rotating tirelessly, emitting a vast and boundless supreme Dao charm. But compared to before, Lin Wan could clearly feel that the connection between the wheel and his Dao Seed had become tighter and deeper. With a slight movement of his mind, the light in the various regions on the wheel representing the Five Elements, Guixu, Void, and Stars flowed accordingly, as if it were an extension of his body.

He sank his mind completely into the core of the wheel, sensing the "Return-to-Void Secret Treasury" Seal, which was hidden in the deepest part of the wheel, integrated with the entire barrier Formation, and could only be touched by a Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed inheritor who had reached a certain Realm.

As his Dao Seed power probed in, a more ancient, more obscure, yet more vast consciousness fed back from the depths of the wheel. Within that consciousness, there was joy, anticipation, and a trace of faint... tragic heroism.

"...Five Elements Dao Seed... inheritor... cultivation has reached... Nascent Soul Perfection... Dao Seed... Perfection..."

"...Meets... minimum requirements... to open the 'Return-to-Void Secret Treasury'..."

"...To open the secret treasury... requires the Dao Seed as a guide... the Five Elements wheel as a key... and the barrier's Origin power as a Foundation..."

"...Inside the secret treasury... lies the final Legacy of our Five Elements Sect... weapons to resist the calamity... the Dao Venerable's bequeathed grace... and... secrets about the Origin of 'the end'..."

"...Opening the secret treasury... will also completely activate the barrier... ultimate defense... and... self-destruct program... be cautious... be cautious..."

The intermittent conscious information flooded into Lin Wan's mind. He understood that opening the "Return-to-Void Secret Treasury" not only meant obtaining the final treasure of the Five Elements Sect but also meant that this Five Elements Barrier, which had been silent for eons, would completely "awaken" and enter the highest level of alert and combat state. At the same time, its self-destruct program would also be activated; once the barrier was breached or encountered irresistible force, it would trigger self-destruction, perishing with the enemy, and not letting the secrets within fall into the hands of "the end."

This was a double-edged sword. But Lin Wan did not hesitate.

The "the end" calamity was already approaching; he needed stronger power and more trump cards. The Five Elements Barrier was built to resist "the end," and now, it was time to let it play its true role.

"In my name, Lin Wan, inheritor of the Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed, today, I open the 'Return-to-Void Secret Treasury,' inherit the Legacy of the Five Elements Sect, and together resist the 'the end' calamity!"

Lin Wan recited silently in his heart, while simultaneously exerting his full power to drive the already perfect Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed between his eyebrows!

"Hum—!!!"

The Dao Seed shone with brilliant silver light, unprecedentedly dazzling! Streams of pure, vast chaotic Dao charm, containing the Origin of the Five Elements birth and death, and Guixu Reincarnation, like tangible ribbons of light, gushed out from between Lin Wan's eyebrows and poured into the Chaos Five Elements wheel above his head!

The wheel shook violently! The rotation speed soared instantly! On it, the five-colored regions of gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow erupted with blinding light, merging seamlessly with the Chaos Dao charm! Even more, faint star phantoms and ripples of void appeared and evolved upon the wheel!

The entire Five Elements Barrier shook along with it! The Five Elements Ancestral Qi inside the barrier gathered crazily toward the core! The boundary membrane on the outskirts of the barrier shone brightly, becoming more solid and thick! Everywhere in the barrier, those palaces, Formations, and weapon platforms that had been silent for who knows how many years seemed to be injected with vitality, beginning to slowly "awaken," emitting faint spiritual light and pressure.

"Crack... Crack-crack..."

At the center of the Five Elements wheel, at the slowly rotating Chaos Origin point, space began to twist and fold. Finally, it cracked open a space crack that was only a foot wide, yet incomparably deep, as if leading to another dimension, emitting a more ancient, boundless, and mysterious aura!

Inside the crack, it was not pitch-black void, but flowing with strange, thick, inseparable, chaotic five-colored light, carrying specks of starlight. Even more, an indescribable supreme Dao charm, which seemed capable of suppressing the heavens and allowing all things to return to ruins, permeated out from within.

The door to the "Return-to-Void Secret Treasury" was open!

Lin Wan took a deep breath, without the slightest hesitation, stepped forward, and his figure disappeared into the space crack.

The light and shadow before his eyes changed, and time and space flowed.

The next instant, he appeared in a strange space.

This was not the treasure vault he had imagined, piled with rare treasures and exotic items. Instead, it was a... vast and boundless Chaos void, as if the Universe had just begun.

In the void, there was no distinction between up, down, left, or right, only endlessly flowing Chaos air currents, and... three things floating in the void.

In the very center was a light orb about a zhang in diameter, constantly changing in chaotic five colors, seemingly containing countless worlds birthing and dying within, emitting a supreme aura that seemed to be the source of the Great Dao! The light orb rotated slowly, and every rotation stirred the Chaos air currents of the entire secret treasury space to pulse along with it.

"Five Elements Dao Venerable... Origin Legacy!" Lin Wan realized in his heart, his gaze burning. This light orb was the final and most complete Legacy left by the Five Elements Dao Venerable regarding the Great Dao of Five Elements Returning to Ruins! It not only contained supreme Cultivation Techniques pointing directly to the Great Dao but also contained the Dao Venerable's lifelong insights into the Great Dao, understanding of Laws, and even... possibly a wisp of the Dao Venerable's immortal Origin mark! Obtaining it, his Great Dao of Five Elements Returning to Ruins would be completely perfect, and he might even have a chance to glimpse the supreme Realm the Dao Venerable had reached back then!

To the left of the light orb, a sword was floating.

The sword was three feet and three inches long, its entire body presenting the original color of Chaos, neither gold nor jade, as if condensed from the purest Chaos air currents, yet refined like substance. On the sword body, there were no patterns or decorations, only a profound Sword Intent of returning to simplicity, as if capable of severing Karma and destroying all Laws, restrained within. Just by looking at it, Lin Wan felt that his own Return-to-Ruins Sword Intent had a tendency to be triggered and resonate! This was definitely a sword that surpassed the category of Spirit Treasure or even Immortal Artifact—a dao sword! It was the sword carried by the Five Elements Dao Venerable back then, or perhaps one he personally forged with his supreme Great Dao specifically to target "the end"—a sword for slaying evil!

To the right of the light orb was a... black crystal, the size of a fist, presenting a chaotic color, with countless tiny cracks on its surface, as if it would shatter at any moment, yet emitting an indescribable, terrifying aura that seemed capable of "devouring" and "ending" all existence.

The moment he saw this crystal, the Dao Seed between Lin Wan's eyebrows jumped violently, sending a complex wave of intense desire, vigilance, and even a trace of... intimacy.

"This is..." Lin Wan's pupils shrank slightly as he sensed carefully. From that black crystal, he felt a terrifying power that was extremely similar to "the end," yet purer, more essential, and as if it were the source of all "ending" and "annihilation." However, this power was sealed, suppressed, and refined by some higher-level, more profound Five Elements Guixu Dao charm, existing in a strange state of balance.

"Could it be... this is part of the core Origin of some 'the end' source existence that the Five Elements Dao Venerable killed or sealed back then? Or... a 'ending' Law crystal stripped and refined from the Origin of 'the end' by the Dao Venerable with supreme divine abilities?" Lin Wan was shocked in his heart. Regardless of which one it was, this crystal contained unimaginable value and danger. If he could successfully refine and absorb it, it might allow his Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed to reach an unprecedented height in its control over the "ending" Law, or even complete the "ending" aspect within "Guixu," making it truly perfect. But at the same time, it also contained a huge risk of being backlashed and assimilated by the terrifying "ending" will within it.

Besides these three core treasures, on the edge of this Chaos void, there were also some Jade Slips, scrolls, and a few Magic Treasures and Materials emitting powerful fluctuations floating, which were clearly also precious legacies left by the Five Elements Sect.

But Lin Wan's gaze was completely attracted by the three things in the center at this moment. He knew that this was his greatest reliance for breaking through to Soul Transformation and even for resisting "the end" in the future!

"Five Elements Dao Venerable Legacy... chaos dao sword... ending Origin crystal..."

Lin Wan took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation in his heart, and his gaze became incomparably firm.

"First step, accept the Dao Venerable's Legacy, and completely perfect my Great Dao of Five Elements Returning to Ruins!"

He no longer hesitated, sat cross-legged in the Chaos void, the Dao Seed between his eyebrows shone with brilliant silver light, shooting out a condensed Chaos light beam, connecting with the Five Elements Dao Venerable Origin Legacy light orb in the center.

"Boom—!!!"

A massive amount of Legacy information, Law insights, and Dao charm true meaning, more vast, pure, and direct to the Great Dao than any time before, like a bursting galaxy, flooded crazily into Lin Wan's Dao Seed, Nascent Soul, and Divine Soul!

His consciousness was instantly pulled into a strange world, constructed of endless Five Elements light, Guixu annihilation, star birth and death, and void evolution, resembling the source of the Great Dao.

The most critical step on the road to Soul Transformation, finally... began.