85: Chapter 85 Devouring and Metamorphosis

The Chaos Return-to-Ruins Dao Fruit inherently contained the power of the birth and destruction of the Five Elements, the Reincarnation of the Return-to-Ruins, and the capacity for containment and evolution.

Its "Return-to-Ruins" aspect, in particular, could devour, refine, and terminate all things, reducing every "existence" to the Origin point of Chaos, and from there, extract, strip, and convert them into the Origin power to strengthen itself.

This "Innate Origin Fragment of the Fire Attribute," which had been eroded by "the end" and undergone a bizarre mutation, was an evil object or tumor that ordinary Cultivators would fear to touch.

Once contaminated, a light case would lead to Qi Deviation, while a severe one would result in Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, causing one to be assimilated by the evil power.

However, to Lin Wan's Chaos Return-to-Ruins Dao Fruit, it was like a piece of excellent "tonic" that contained vast energy and perfectly matched the "ending" attribute within its "Return-to-Ruins" aspect!

"Hum—!"

As the devouring power of the Chaos Dao Fruit enveloped it, that dark gold and blood-red crystal, severely damaged by sword marks, began to tremble violently, emitting bursts of silent shrieks filled with fear, resentment, and unwillingness.

The violent and chaotic Fire Origin contained within, along with that even more bizarre and cold evil power of "the end" erosion, seemed to have found an even more terrifying and irresistible outlet, surging madly toward the Dao Fruit, attempting to erode, burst, and assimilate it.

However, the Chaos Return-to-Ruins Dao Fruit was like a bottomless Chaos vortex capable of containing and digesting everything.

The surging violent Fire Origin and evil power of "the end" not only failed to shake the Dao Fruit in the slightest, but instead, under the combined action of the Five Elements rotation, Return-to-Ruins annihilation, and the power of the starry Void Realm within the Dao Fruit, were rapidly decomposed, purified, converted, and absorbed.

The Fire Origin was stripped of its violent and chaotic characteristics, transforming into the purest and most original power of the "Fire" Great Dao, nourishing and strengthening the "Five Elements" aspect of the Dao Fruit, while also feeding back into Lin Wan himself, enhancing his control over the Law of "Fire" and tempering his Physical Body and Infant Essence.

As for the even more bizarre evil power of "the end" erosion, upon touching the power of "Return-to-Ruins" in the Dao Fruit—especially the supreme "Ending" Dao Rhyme fused within, which originated from the "Ending" Origin crystal—it was like encountering a natural enemy.

It was rapidly suppressed, decomposed, and assimilated, turning into wisps of pure, cold fragments of supreme Law that symbolized "End," "Extinction," and "Silence," merging into the "Return-to-Ruins" aspect of the Dao Fruit, making it more complete, profound, and powerful.

At the same time, it also gave Lin Wan a more intuitive and profound understanding of the essence of "the end" erosion.

"So that's how it is... 'the end' erosion is not simple destruction; it is more like a 'negation' and 'assimilation' of 'existence' itself, attempting to forcibly drag all things toward its source—that eternal, cold, and chaotic 'Void Realm'... But in this process, it will distort, amplify, and utilize the 'attributes' and 'obsessions' of the object being eroded..."

"After this Fire Origin fragment was eroded, the violent, destructive, and scorching characteristics of its 'Fire' were infinitely amplified and distorted. Combined with the 'Ending' will of 'the end,' it formed this bizarre, active, evil power that possesses both 'scorching heat' and 'coldness,' capable of eroding and assimilating living beings..."

Enlightenment continuously welled up in his heart.

Lin Wan's aura was also slowly rising and condensing at a steady and firm pace.

His Soul Transformation Early Stage cultivation was thoroughly stabilized, and he had even taken a small, subtle step toward the Soul Transformation Middle Stage.

"The Inspector... is refining that evil object?!"

Elder Zhou and the others watched as the Dao Fruit between Lin Wan's brows flashed with light, his aura steadily rising, while the dark gold and blood-red crystal continuously dimmed and shrank.

The surrounding dark red, viscous "magma" pool also rapidly dried up and solidified, turning into ordinary scorched black rocks.

They could not help but be dumbfounded, their hearts filled with immense shock.

That was a terrifying evil object that had caused even the Flame Emperor to suffer losses and had inflicted heavy casualties on the Skyfire Sect!

It was actually being treated as a "tonic" to improve cultivation by their own Inspector?

Such methods were simply unheard of!

Yue Lingfeng's hand gripping his sword trembled slightly, and his gaze toward Lin Wan was filled with awe and fanaticism.

Liaokong pressed his palms together, whispering a Buddhist chant, his eyes full of amazement.

Hua Qingxuan and Mo Wen were also surging with emotion.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn later.

"Crack..."

The final slight cracking sound rang out.

The dark gold and blood-red crystal completely turned into powder, annihilating into nothingness.

The last trace of Origin and evil power within it was also entirely devoured, refined, and absorbed by the Chaos Return-to-Ruins Dao Fruit.

"Whew..."

Lin Wan slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

This breath actually carried a trace of scorching fire and cold baleful aura, but it vanished in an instant, assimilated by the thick Chaos Infant Essence within his body.

He opened his eyes, and the light of Chaos flowed within his pupils, becoming increasingly profound and vast.

The phantom images of the Five Elements birth and destruction and the Return-to-Ruins Reincarnation flashed by and then disappeared.

His entire aura also became more restrained and composed, yet it carried a heart-palpitating majesty that seemed capable of controlling everything.

"Congratulations to the Inspector for your great increase in cultivation!" Elder Zhou and the others quickly bowed to offer their congratulations.

"Just a small gain."

Lin Wan waved his hand.

His gaze swept across the cave, which was now much "cleaner," leaving only the scorching heat of the earth fire.

He then looked at the remains of the "dark red monsters" that had collapsed on the ground, having lost the support of the evil power and rapidly decaying, as well as the traces of erosion remaining throughout the mine.

"The source of the evil power in Burning Flame Valley has been removed, but the destruction and pollution caused by the erosion still need to be cleaned up. The Skyfire Sect..."

A cold light flashed in his eyes, "They concealed it without reporting, obstructed the inspection, and there is even a suspicion of utilizing and catalyzing the evil object. This matter must be settled with them properly."

"Inspector, what should we do now..." Elder Zhou asked about the next step.

"Leave this place first and return outside the valley," Lin Wan said. "There is still a score to settle with the Skyfire Sect."

The group agreed, followed Lin Wan, and returned along the original path.

Along the way, there were indeed no more monster attacks, and the dark red mist had dissipated completely; there was only the scorching breath of the earth fire and the mess left after the battle.

Soon, the group returned to the entrance of Burning Flame Valley.

The Skyfire Sect Elder and Disciples who had been thrown away by Lin Wan earlier had just barely recovered their mobility and were gathering at the camp, anxious and uneasy.

Seeing Lin Wan and the others walk out safe and sound, and that the evil aura within the valley had greatly diminished, they were so scared that their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

"You... you all..." The Nascent Soul Elder's face turned pale, pointing at Lin Wan, unable to speak a complete sentence.

"I have already investigated and found that the mutation in Burning Flame Valley was caused by an Innate fire source fragment eroded by 'the end,' and it has now been purified by me."

Lin Wan looked at him calmly, but his voice carried an unquestionable majesty. "The Skyfire Sect concealed it without reporting and obstructed the investigation, causing the evil power to spread, resulting in heavy casualties. There is even a suspicion of utilizing the evil object. I will report this matter truthfully to the Alliance Elder Council. Your Skyfire Sect must give the Alliance and the common people of the Five Regions an explanation."

"No... that's not it! The evil object awakened on its own, and the Sect Master was also trying to control it..." The Skyfire Sect Elder hurriedly defended.

"Save these words for the 'Judgment Hall' of the Alliance."

Lin Wan interrupted him, ignoring him further, and said to Elder Zhou, "Send a message to the Alliance headquarters and the Eastern Desolation branch Alliance, reporting the matter of Burning Flame Valley. Request the headquarters to send people to take over this place, thoroughly clean up the remaining pollution, and assess the losses.

At the same time, in my name, formally issue an inquiry to the Skyfire Sect, ordering its Sect Master, the Flame Emperor, to explain this matter and set a deadline for him to arrive at the Tiandu headquarters to accept investigation.

If he does not arrive by the deadline, or if the explanation is unclear, I will request the Elder Council to impose sanctions on the Skyfire Sect."

"Yes!" Elder Zhou's spirit was lifted, and he quickly agreed.

The might of the Inspector was displayed vividly at this moment.

"Let's go, to the next stop."

Lin Wan did not stay any longer, summoned his flying boat, took everyone, soared into the sky, and left Burning Flame Valley, leaving behind that crowd of ashen-faced Skyfire Sect Cultivators.

On the flying boat, the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

"Inspector, the Skyfire Sect is probably going to be in a frantic state this time." Yue Lingfeng laughed, "That old guy, the Flame Emperor, is probably so angry he's going to vomit blood."

"It is just self-inflicted," Liaokong shook his head.

"Next, are we going to the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave in the Northern Plains, or Liangjie Mountain?" Hua Qingxuan asked.

"Go to the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave first," Lin Wan pondered. "The matter of Burning Flame Valley has already alerted the enemy.

The Ten Thousand Ghost Cave side has connections with certain forces in the Central State, so I fear complications.

It needs to be handled as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming desperate and jumping over the wall, or transferring early.

The situation at Liangjie Mountain is unclear, and it is related to space, so the danger might be higher; leave it for last."

"The Inspector is absolutely right," Mo Wen nodded in agreement.

Lin Wan did not say more, sat cross-legged, and began to carefully comprehend and digest what he had gained from devouring and refining the fire source fragment just now.

The Chaos Return-to-Ruins Dao Fruit became more rounded and solid, and his understanding of the "Fire" Law and "Ending" power became deeper, and he vaguely had new ideas about the Fusion of "Five Elements Returning to Ruins."

His cultivation was also stabilized at the Peak of the Soul Transformation Early Stage, and he could break through to the Middle Stage at any time.

"On the path of Soul Transformation, every step needs to be solid. This inspection is both to fulfill my duties and to temper myself and seek Opportunities. It seems that this position of Inspector was the right choice." Lin Wan thought to himself.

The flying boat cut through the sky, speeding toward the north, to that gloomy Northern Plains land filled with Yin Qi.

Several days later, Northern Plains, the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave.

Unlike the scorching heat and violence of Burning Flame Valley, the area where the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave is located is shrouded in gray-black Yin Qi and Death Qi all year round, with no sunlight.

The earth presents an unhealthy, grayish-decayed color, vegetation is withered, and the rocks are craggy, like ghost claws.

The air is filled with dense Yin Qi, Death Qi, and resentment. The temperature is extremely low, breath turns into frost, and there are even faint, shrill sounds of ghosts crying and wolves howling drifting with the wind, which is hair-raising.

"Such heavy Yin baleful ghost Qi! The Yin veins gather here, and having been managed by ghost path and corpse path Cultivators for years, it has long become a place of absolute Yin and death." Elder Zhou looked at the scene below, his brows locked.

"Moreover, this Yin baleful Qi seems to be more active and... more aggressive than described in the intelligence."

Mo Wen took out a Magical Artifact similar to a compass, the needle of which was spinning crazily. "There are a large number of Yin spirits and ghost objects active around, and... it seems someone is watching us in secret."

"Is it the people from the Xuanyin Alliance, or... the controllers behind those ghost objects?"

Liaokong's body faintly revealed Buddhist light, dispelling the incoming Yin baleful Qi.

"Go and see and you will know."

Lin Wan's expression was calm, and the flying boat slowly landed on a hillside near the entrance of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave.

The group got off the flying boat and immediately felt as if they were in an ice cellar.

The cold, bone-chilling aura penetrated everywhere, and there was an intangible and formless intent filled with hatred, despair, and madness, attempting to erode their minds.

Fortunately, the group's cultivation was not weak, and they were well-prepared, each operating their Cultivation Technique to resist.

The entrance to the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave was a huge mountain cave that was dozens of zhang high, pitch-black like ink, and seemed capable of swallowing all light.

Around the cave entrance, countless pale bones were scattered, some human, some animal, and some strange-shaped, obviously from a long time ago.

Dense, almost substantive black Yin Qi poured out from the cave like a waterfall, permeating the surroundings.

In front of the cave entrance, a camp was stationed, hanging the flag of the "Xuanyin Alliance."

In the camp, there were hundreds of Cultivators, most of whom practiced ghost path or corpse path Cultivation Techniques, with a cold aura and unkind eyes.

Leading them were three Nascent Soul Cultivators, two in the Middle Stage and one in the Late Stage, all wearing black robes painted with hideous ghost head patterns; they were the high-level members of the Xuanyin Alliance.

Seeing the flying boat of Lin Wan and the others land, especially seeing the "Inspection" mark on the flying boat, the three Xuanyin Alliance Nascent Soul Cultivators' expressions changed slightly, and they looked at each other.

Among them, the thin, wizened old man in the Nascent Soul Late Stage braced himself and came up to greet them.

"Vice Master Gui Gu of the Xuanyin Alliance greets the Inspector."

The thin old man cupped his hands to Lin Wan, his tone was quite respectful, but deep in his eyes, there was a trace of undisguised fear and vigilance, "I wonder what business brings the Inspector to our Northern Plains Ten Thousand Ghost Cave?"

"I am Lin Wan, ordered to inspect the Five Regions, clear out demons and evil, and stabilize the rear," Lin Wan said lightly.

His gaze swept over Vice Master Gui Gu and then looked at the bottomless Ten Thousand Ghost Cave. "The Yin baleful Qi here is soaring to the sky, and ghost objects are running rampant, already harming the surrounding living beings. As the leading force in the Northern Plains, the Xuanyin Alliance has been ineffective in extermination and instead has a trend of expansion. I have come specifically to investigate the truth and clear out the hidden dangers. Your Xuanyin Alliance must cooperate with the investigation; there must be no mistakes."

Vice Master Gui Gu's expression changed, and he forced a smile: "Inspector, please be discerning. Since its establishment, our Xuanyin Alliance has been committed to stabilizing the Northern Plains and clearing out ghost objects.

It is just that this Ten Thousand Ghost Cave is a place of absolute Yin left over from ancient times, where Yin veins gather and ghost objects breed endlessly; it cannot be cleared in a day or two.

We have done our best to suppress it, but it is inevitable that there are fish that slipped through the net, harming the surroundings. It is truly a case of being unable to do more, and definitely not intentional indulgence.

As for the talk of expansion, that is even more nonsensical. Our Alliance has always been Law-abiding and gets along well with surrounding forces."

"Oh? Is that so?" A mocking arc curled at the corner of Lin Wan's mouth.

"How is it that I heard your Xuanyin Alliance, under the guise of exterminating ghosts, annexed several small forces in the surrounding area, and has been in close contact with certain people from the Central State?

Moreover, the Yin baleful Qi in this Ten Thousand Ghost Cave seems to be even more intense than before, and the ghost objects are even more rampant. This does not look like the result of 'doing your best to suppress'."

Vice Master Gui Gu's face stiffened, and a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly covered it up and said in a deep voice: "Inspector, please do not listen to rumors!

The annexation was something those forces volunteered for, to resist the ghost disaster together.

As for the people from the Central State, it was normal communication and interaction. We are also investigating the cause of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave's anomaly, but there is no result yet..."

"Since there is no result, let me go in and see for myself."

Lin Wan interrupted him, no longer wasting words, and stepped toward the entrance of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave.

"Wait!"

Vice Master Gui Gu's expression changed greatly, his figure flashed, and he blocked in front of Lin Wan, his tone also turning cold.

"Inspector! The Ten Thousand Ghost Cave is a Forbidden Ground of our Xuanyin Alliance, extremely dangerous inside, and there are even ancient Restrictions. Outsiders entering without permission may meet with misfortune!

For the sake of the Inspector's safety, please stop! If the Inspector insists on investigating, you can wait for our Alliance Master to come out of seclusion, or report to the Alliance Elder Council before making a decision!"

"Move aside."

Lin Wan did not stop his steps, looking at him calmly. That gaze, however, made Vice Master Gui Gu feel a chill rise from the bottom of his heart, as if he were being stared at by some prehistoric Vicious Beast.

"You... you must not be too overbearing!"

Vice Master Gui Gu was shocked and angry, took a step back, but still blocked the road.

At the same time, the two Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivators behind him, as well as hundreds of Xuanyin Alliance Cultivators in the camp, also surrounded them, their auras locked onto Lin Wan's group, with a posture of being ready to strike at the slightest disagreement.

"It seems that your Xuanyin Alliance is determined to obstruct my inspection, and even... wants to take action against me?"

Lin Wan stopped, his gaze slowly sweeping over the surrounding Xuanyin Alliance Cultivators, a cold murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"I will say this one last time: move aside. Otherwise, you will be dealt with for disobeying orders, colluding with demons, and attacking an Inspector—you will be killed without mercy!"

The cold voice, like the declaration of the god of death, echoed in front of the gloomy Ten Thousand Ghost Cave.