94: Chapter 94: Appeal, Truth, Storm Begins

Inside Chaotian Palace, you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were fixed on that figure in green robes. This young Inspector, who had risen in the Southern Region, become famous across the Five Regions in a short time, and even faintly showed signs of becoming the new generation's leader, was about to reveal what kind of earth-shattering truth?

"Fellow Daoists all know that the erosion of 'the end' is a great catastrophe for our Tiannan Continent, and indeed, for all the worlds," Lin Wan said in a steady voice, carrying an unquestionable certainty. "In the past, the evil objects, monsters, and chaotic energy we encountered were mostly caused by the dissipation and erosion of 'the end' power into the world, leading to their birth and alienation. Most lacked complete sentience and acted chaotically; although they posed a threat, they were manageable."

"However, what I, this Junior, saw and heard when I went deep into the rift of Liangjie Mountain completely overturned this understanding!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a heavy and heart-palpitating tone.

"That rift is not an ordinary spatial fissure, nor was it caused by the natural erosion of 'the end' power. Deep within it lies a 'passage' that was forcibly eroded, opened, and stabilized by the Origin power of 'the end'!"

As the word "passage" was spoken, a chorus of suppressed gasps echoed through the hall. Many Soul Transformation Cultivators' expressions changed drastically, clearly realizing the terrifying implications behind those two words.

"This passage uses twelve 'altars' containing the Origin Laws of 'the end' as its Foundation, and 'Apostles of the end' at the Late Stage of Soul Transformation as the catalysts, forcibly connecting, stabilizing, and attempting to... expand!" Lin Wan's gaze was sharp as he swept across the hall, pausing slightly on the faces of the Flame Emperor, and certain representatives from the Northern Plains and Western Desert. "What I, this Junior, encountered and killed deep within the passage were precisely three 'Apostles of the end' at the Late Stage of Soul Transformation who were guarding the altars and maintaining the passage!"

"Late Stage of Soul Transformation... Apostles?!" Someone couldn't help but exclaim. Although there had been rumors, having it personally confirmed by Lin Wan still left everyone feeling suffocated. That was the Late Stage of Soul Transformation! And they were "Apostles" who possessed complete sentience, could wield the Divine Ability of "the end," and whose strength far exceeded those of the same rank! Three appeared at once, and they were just there to maintain the passage? What kind of terrifying existence must be on the other side of that passage?!

The Flame Emperor's eyelids twitched imperceptibly, and his hand, hidden within his sleeve, quietly clenched.

The five Void Refining giants—Emperor Yan, Venerable Dan, Fairy Yaoxi, Jian Wuya, and Elder Xingshu—remained calm, but divine light flashed in their eyes, clearly listening and deducing carefully.

"Those three 'Apostles' were not mindless monsters. They possessed complete sentience and knew how to wield powerful Divine Abilities containing the Origin Laws of 'the end' and 'void.' Their goal was clear: to maintain the passage, channel the Origin of 'the end,' accelerate the erosion of this world, and pave the way for the arrival of even more powerful 'the end' existences!"

Lin Wan's voice was heavy as he dropped another bombshell: "According to my battle with them and the information I captured from their residual consciousness, the erosion of 'the end' is by no means disorderly or chaotic. Behind it exists a vast system that is highly organized, strictly hierarchical, and possesses clear will and goals! What we have encountered before were merely its lowest, outermost stragglers—the 'by-products' of its erosion process! And 'passages' and 'anchors' like the one at Liangjie Mountain are definitely not just in one place! They may have long existed throughout the Five Regions, and even outside the Tiannan Continent, only they haven't been fully activated or are hidden very deeply!"

"What?!"

"More than one place?!"

"Organized erosion?!"

Now, even those sedate and steady Soul Transformation Cultivators couldn't sit still, and their expressions changed as discussions broke out. If what Lin Wan said was true, it meant their previous understanding of "the end" was completely wrong! "the end" was not a natural disaster, but a premeditated, organized, and directed war of invasion against the entire Tiannan Continent (and even all the worlds) led by high-level existences! The nature of this was completely different!

"Inspector Lin, is there... any proof for this?" An Old Ancestor of Soul Transformation from an ancient family in the Central Plains couldn't help but ask in a deep voice. This matter was too shocking and had to be confirmed.

"Proof?" Lin Wan looked at him calmly and slowly raised his hand. Above his palm, light flowed, condensing into the projections of three tiny yet emitting dense, pure, and heart-palpitating crystal fragments of the "end" and "void" Dao rhymes, as well as the image of that huge, hideous altar covered in blasphemous runes, and the rotating Chaos vortex pouring out terrifying power.

"This is the projection of the core Law fragments I obtained after killing those three 'Apostles,' as well as the scene of the passage and altar. You may all sense and investigate it. This kind of pure, orderly Origin power that contains a clear will of 'the end' is incomparable to ordinary evil objects or chaotic energy. As for the organization and hierarchy behind it, I dare not speak rashly, but the stability of this passage, the profoundness of the altars, and the strength and purpose of the Apostles are enough to explain the problem."

Lin Wan used his Divine Thought to project those images and auras into the air of the great hall, allowing everyone to investigate.

For a moment, countless powerful Divine Thoughts swept over the projections of those images and auras. The more they investigated, the more solemn and ugly their expressions became. The highly condensed Laws of "the end" contained in those crystal fragments, the ancient and blasphemous yet systematic runes on the altar, the Soul-trembling Origin power pouring out of the Chaos vortex... all of it confirmed that Lin Wan's words were true.

"It is actually true..." Master Liaoyin put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist mantra, his expression compassionate.

"Such pure power of 'the end'... This was definitely not naturally generated!" Great Elder Danchenzi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, carrying a hint of solemnity.

Jian Wuya's gaze was like a sword, staring fixedly at the image of the altar, as if he wanted to see through the runes on it.

Elder Xingshu's star plate rotated silently in his hands, his brows furrowed, as if he were deducing something.

Emperor Yan's Dragon Qi slightly fluctuated around his body, showing his inner unrest.

"Inspector Lin," Fairy Yaoxi's cold voice rang out like the chiming of a jade chime, echoing in the great hall, "In your opinion, how many such 'passages' might exist within the Five Regions? Can their specific locations be deduced?"

Everyone's eyes focused on Lin Wan again. This was the most critical question.

Lin Wan shook his head and said frankly: "This Junior does not dare to judge rashly. The power of 'the end' is mysterious and unpredictable, skilled in hiding, eroding, and assimilating. Such passages could exist in any form, perhaps disguised as ordinary spiritual lands, Secret Realms, or ruins, or even attached to the Sect-protecting Formations or blessed lands of some powerful Sects, families, or forces, subtly eroding and assimilating them. Unless they are actively activated or erupt with large-scale erosion phenomena, they are extremely difficult to detect. I was only able to discover the Liangjie Mountain passage because it had been initially activated and was large in scale, making it difficult to conceal."

"However," he changed the subject, his gaze becoming as sharp as a knife as he swept across the hall, lingering slightly on the Flame Emperor and some Soul Transformation Cultivators with unnatural expressions, "According to what I obtained from searching the Souls of some Cultivators who had been eroded by 'the end' but still retained part of their consciousness in the Liangjie Mountain camp, combined with the anomalies in Burning Flame Valley, Ten Thousand Ghost Cave, and other places, I infer that some forces or individuals may have already been in contact with 'the end,' and have even... reached some kind of deal, becoming the 'inside agents' for the erosion of this world by 'the end'!"

"Boom—!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like throwing a huge boulder into a calm lake, instantly stirring up towering waves!

"Inside agents?!"

"Who is it?!"

"How dare they! To actually collude with 'the end,' betray the Human Race, and betray this world!"

"Inspector Lin, is there any evidence for this?!" An impatient Soul Transformation Cultivator immediately slammed the table and shouted. If there were really inside agents, and they might be hidden among the people present, perhaps even in high positions, the consequences would be unimaginable! This was simply a sharp sword hanging over everyone's heads!

"Evidence?" Lin Wan looked calmly at the questioning Soul Transformation Cultivator. "The ground fire in Burning Flame Valley changed abnormally, suspected to be man-made, and is tainted with the power of 'the end.' How does the Skyfire Sect explain this? The Nether Palace in Ten Thousand Ghost Cave openly sacrifices to evil objects, collects vengeful spirits, and refines the 'Ten Thousand Ghost Devouring Heaven Formation.' What is their intention? Alliance Leader You Ming Zi of the Xuanyin Alliance said before he died that he had colluded with a certain force. Is there a mastermind behind him?"

Lin Wan's gaze slowly turned to the Eastern Wasteland area, to the Flame Emperor, who had been closing his eyes to rest, but whose aura was fluctuating slightly.

"Senior Flame Emperor, Burning Flame Valley is a Forbidden Ground of the Skyfire Sect. As the Sect Master, are you truly unaware of the ground fire anomaly? And how do you explain the Skyfire Sect's repeated obstruction and even secret attempts to assassinate me while I was investigating? Could it be that there is someone within the Skyfire Sect who has colluded with 'the end' and has ulterior motives?"

When these words were spoken, the whole hall was in an uproar! Everyone's gaze shot toward the Flame Emperor like sharp arrows!

Although there had been rumors that the Burning Flame Valley incident was related to the Skyfire Sect, it was completely different to be questioned publicly by Lin Wan at such a formal, highest-level Alliance meeting of the Five Regions! This was almost pointing at his nose, accusing the Skyfire Sect, and even the Flame Emperor himself, of being tainted with 'the end'!

"Presumptuous!" The Flame Emperor suddenly opened his eyes, red-gold flames burning in his pupils, and the terrifying pressure of the Late Stage of Soul Transformation swept through the entire hall like a volcanic eruption! "Lin Wan! You are merely a Junior who has luckily achieved some small merits, yet you dare to make false accusations here, slandering this Emperor and slandering my Skyfire Sect! Who gave you the courage?!"

The violent pressure, like a physical force, pressed down heavily toward Lin Wan! He wanted to use his power to suppress others, make Lin Wan lose face in public, and even severely damage his spirit!

However, facing this terrifying pressure from the Flame Emperor's angry attack, Lin Wan stood like a rock in a storm, unmoved. He didn't even mobilize his magic power to resist; he just stood there calmly, with a mysterious, vast, and seemingly all-encompassing, resolving, and cycling "Reincarnation" Dao rhyme naturally flowing around him. The Flame Emperor's pressure, which was enough to make ordinary Early Stage Soul Transformation Cultivators tremble, vanished silently and dissipated upon touching the three feet around Lin Wan, failing to cause him the slightest influence.

"Middle Stage of Soul Transformation?!" Some sharp-eyed Soul Transformation Cultivators exclaimed. They could feel that the aura Lin Wan was emitting at this moment was clearly the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation! And the profoundness of his Dao rhyme and the depth of his Foundation were far beyond what an ordinary Middle Stage of Soul Transformation could compare to! No wonder he could kill three "Apostles of the end"!

The Flame Emperor's face sank, and he was also shocked. He didn't expect that not only had Lin Wan's strength greatly increased, but his understanding of the "Dao" seemed to have reached an unimaginable level, being able to resolve his pressure so easily.

"Why is Senior Flame Emperor so angry?" Lin Wan's expression remained unchanged, and his voice was still calm. "This Junior is just raising reasonable doubts based on facts. The evidence for the Burning Flame Valley incident is conclusive, and the Alliance has already sent a query to the Skyfire Sect. If the Skyfire Sect has a clear conscience, it can cooperate with the investigation and clarify the misunderstanding. As one of the Elders of the Five Directions Council, you should uphold your duties, lead by example, and be a role model for the Five Regions. How can you fly into a rage and use your power to suppress others just because of a few questions from this Junior? Could it be that you are guilty of a guilty conscience?"

"You—!" The Flame Emperor was furious, flames surging around him, almost about to strike on the spot. But he was, after all, in the Late Stage of Soul Transformation, a giant of one side, and barely suppressed his anger, knowing that taking action at this time, regardless of the outcome, would be equivalent to confirming Lin Wan's accusation. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, turned to Emperor Yan and the others on the jade steps, and bowed: "Your Majesty, Fellow Daoists! This child has no evidence, slandering this Emperor and slandering the Skyfire Sect. His heart is punishable! I ask Your Majesty and all Fellow Daoists to uphold justice!"

Everyone's eyes were cast again on the five Void Refining giants on the jade steps. This matter was no longer just a conflict between Lin Wan and the Flame Emperor, but concerned the unity within the Alliance and the overall situation of confronting "the end."

Emperor Yan's gaze was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying an unquestionable majesty: "Inspector Lin's words are within the scope of his duties. If Elder Flame Emperor has doubts, he may prove his own innocence. The matter of Burning Flame Valley will be investigated thoroughly by the Alliance, and we shall provide an explanation to the Five Regions. However, the main purpose of today's Alliance meeting is to discuss the threat of 'the end' and plan our strategy against the calamity, not to settle personal grudges. Let this matter be shelved for now and discussed later."

These words, while seemingly reprimanding both sides equally, actually revealed suspicion toward the Skyfire Sect and support for Lin Wan. After all, Lin Wan had returned with earth-shattering achievements and major discoveries, while the Flame Emperor bore suspicions that could not be washed away.

The Flame Emperor's face turned from green to white; he finally let out a cold snort and said nothing more, but the resentment and killing intent flashing in his eyes grew even more intense.

"Inspector Lin, please continue." Emperor Yan looked at Lin Wan.

Lin Wan nodded, ignoring the Flame Emperor, and continued: "In summary, this Junior believes that the calamity of 'the end' is no longer a minor skin ailment but a deep-seated threat and a catastrophic disaster concerning the survival of our Tiannan Continent! Its erosion is organized, premeditated, and directed by high-level existences. Furthermore, it is feared that hidden pawns and internal spies have already been planted within our realm!"

"Therefore, this Junior requested this supreme Alliance meeting, aiming to urge all Seniors and Fellow Daoists to face the severity of this calamity, cast aside past grievances, set aside personal interests, and truly unite to resist the great calamity!"

"This Junior has three humble suggestions for everyone to discuss!"

"First, establish a 'Five Regions Anti-Calamity Inspection Bureau', directly governed by the Alliance, to draw elites from each region and form a professional inspection team. Equipped with specialized Magic Treasures and Formations to detect and purify the power of 'the end', they will conduct carpet-style, no-blind-spot inspections across all parts of the Five Regions—especially dangerous lands, Secret Realms, ancient ruins, and even the core areas of major Sects and clans—to ferret out all potential 'passages', 'anchors', and internal spies! This work must start as soon as possible; there is no time to delay!"

"Second, integrate the resources of the Five Regions, concentrate our strength, and research, refine, and stockpile Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, and Formations specifically designed to counter the power of 'the end', restrain its erosion, and purify its corruption. At the same time, we must share all information, Cultivation Techniques, and Divine Abilities regarding 'the end', especially methods to defend against its mental corruption and Law erosion. Only by casting aside sectarian prejudices can we fight for a glimmer of survival amidst the calamity!"

"Third," Lin Wan's voice rose sharply, carrying an unquestionable determination, "I request that the Alliance authorize the establishment of a 'Demon-Slaying Special Task Force', composed of Cultivators at the Soul Transformation stage and above. It will be directly under the command of the Inspector and possess the authority to act first and report later in emergencies without needing prior approval. It will be specifically responsible for clearing confirmed, high-threat 'end' strongholds and internal spies, as well as... dealing with potentially higher-level 'end' existences that may appear! These are extraordinary times, and we must use extraordinary methods! If we must request instructions and seek approval at every level for everything, we fear we will miss opportunities for battle and cause a great disaster!"

These three suggestions were each piercingly sharp, pointing directly at the current flaws of the loose, fragmented, and inefficient Alliance, and touching upon the core interests and secrets of many major Sects and powerful factions! Especially the third one, the 'Demon-Slaying Special Task Force', with its power to 'act first and report later'—this was simply a sword hanging over the heads of all factions!

The great hall once again fell into a deathly silence. Everyone's expression became incomparably solemn and complex. They knew that although Lin Wan's words were sharp and might touch upon many people's interests, they... were likely correct. Facing an organized and premeditated invasion like 'the end', continuing to be scattered and fighting alone like before would only lead to a dead end.

But, were they really willing to give up part of their power and accept such a harsh, perhaps even abusable, 'Special Task Force'? Were they really willing to open up all secret information and resources regarding 'the end'? Were they really willing to allow the Alliance's Inspection Bureau to enter the depths of their own Sect grounds to investigate?

Contradiction, hesitation, weighing, calculation... all clashed fiercely in the heart of every Soul Transformation True Monarch.

"Hmph! What a big mouth! What great authority!" An icy, hoarse voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence. The speaker was a Soul Transformation Cultivator from the Northern Plains' 'Yin Sha Alliance', draped in black robes with a sinister aura, known as 'Old Ancestor Guyou'. "Establish an Inspection Bureau, investigate all regions, and also share resources and information? And even establish some 'Demon-Slaying Team' with the power to act first and report later? Inspector Lin, are you trying to bring the entire Five Regions under your own hand? Are you trying to emulate those mortal emperors, engaging in centralization and arbitrary rule?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately drew agreement from some factions that were already dissatisfied with Lin Wan's rapid rise and excessive power, or those who were not clean themselves.

"Fellow Daoist Guyou is absolutely right! Inspector Lin is young and promising with outstanding strength, and this old man admires him as well. But is this proposal too radical? Does it not smack of sidelining the Five Directions Council and seizing all power?"

"Indeed! Sharing resources and information—how easy is that to say? Each Sect's Cultivation Techniques, secret arts, and resources are the Foundation of their existence; how can they be easily shown to others? That 'Demon-Slaying Team' is even more dangerous. If someone with ill intent uses this as an excuse to eliminate dissenters and take revenge, wouldn't the world fall into Chaos?"

"The original intention of the Alliance was to unite against the calamity, not to strip away the autonomy of each faction! Inspector Lin's proposal may violate the Alliance's purpose!"

Voices of opposition grew rampant. Among them, certain factions from the Northern Plains and Eastern Wastelands, as well as some Sects in the Central Province that were on good terms with the Skyfire Sect or had their own secrets, were the most vehement in their opposition.

The Flame Emperor's lips curled into an imperceptible sneer. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Lin Wan's proposal was indeed the right path to deal with 'the end', but it would inevitably touch the interests of most factions and cause a strong backlash. He only needed to guide them slightly to use the mouths of the crowd to completely reject Lin Wan's proposal, and even turn the tables, slapping a label of 'ambitious' and 'ulterior motives' on Lin Wan.

However, facing the questioning and opposition of the crowd, Lin Wan's expression remained calm, and his lips even curled into a faint, slightly mocking arc.

"Sidelining the Five Directions Council? Seizing all power?" He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it clearly suppressed all the noise. "What virtue or ability does this Junior have to dare harbor such thoughts? Everything this Junior has said is for the overall situation of resisting the calamity and for the common people of the Five Regions! If everyone feels that personal interests and sectarian prejudices are more important than resisting 'the end', preserving this realm, and continuing our Daoist lineage, then treat it as if this Junior said nothing."

"However," his tone shifted, his gaze becoming as sharp as a knife, sweeping over those who spoke in opposition, "when the minions of 'the end' tear through space and descend upon your Sect gates; when the erosion of 'the end' pollutes your Spiritual Veins and cuts off your Daoist lineage; when your loved ones, Disciples, and fellow Sect members are corrupted by the power of 'the end' right before your eyes, turning into monsters that are neither human nor ghost, and slaughtering each other..."

"I wonder if, at that time, you will still feel that your little bit of Cultivation Techniques, resources, and secrets are more important than the survival of the entire Sect, the continuation of the Daoist lineage, and the lives of your loved ones?"

"Or perhaps," Lin Wan's voice suddenly turned icy, carrying a trace of undisguised killing intent, "when certain people, for the sake of personal gain, for power, or even... for that illusory longevity and strength, secretly collude with 'the end', inviting the wolf into the house, becoming internal spies, and helping 'the end' slaughter their own kind and destroy Sects..."

"I wonder if, at that time, you would rather trust a 'Demon-Slaying Team' that might 'act arbitrarily', or would you rather trust those 'your own people' who are hiding in the shadows, ready to stab you in the back at any moment?"

These words, like cold, sharp blades, pierced into everyone's heart. Especially the last sentence about "internal spies" made many people's faces turn pale, with cold sweat trickling down.

Yes, if the threat of 'the end' was as severe as Lin Wan said, and if internal spies truly existed, then what did the sectarian prejudices and personal calculations they clung to count for in the face of a catastrophic disaster? Compared to those "internal spies" hiding in the shadows who could detonate at any moment, a "Demon-Slaying Team" that was supervised and born to resist the calamity seemed not entirely unacceptable...

The great hall fell into silence once again. But this silence was different from before; it was full of struggle, reflection, and... a trace of fear for the unknown future.

Above the jade steps, the five Void Refining giants exchanged glances.

Emperor Yan spoke slowly, his voice echoing in the hall: "Inspector Lin's words, though fierce in rhetoric, show a heart that can be discerned, and his considerations are far-reaching. The calamity of 'the end' has indeed reached a critical moment of survival. The loose Alliance of the past, where everyone fought on their own, is indeed difficult to cope with. The three points raised by Inspector Lin are the keys to breaking the deadlock. However, the specific details, checks and balances of power, and supervision mechanisms need to be carefully deliberated; we must not be hasty, nor should we give up eating for fear of choking."

"This Emperor proposes the establishment of a special 'Elder Council for Formulating Anti-Calamity Rules', led by the Elders of the Five Directions Council, with Soul Transformation True Monarchs of high virtue and strong strength recommended by each region to participate. They shall refine the terms and formulate regulations based on Inspector Lin's proposal, striving for fairness, stability, and efficiency. As for the Formation and authorization of the 'Demon-Slaying Special Task Force', we can first conduct a small-scale pilot, temporarily led by Inspector Lin, to deal with confirmed high-risk targets and observe the effectiveness. What do you all think?"

Emperor Yan's proposal affirmed the necessity and urgency of Lin Wan's opinion while considering the interests and concerns of all parties, presenting a relatively moderate and stable plan. It not only showed his determination to support Lin Wan and promote reform but also appeased those opposing forces, giving them a buffer and an opportunity to participate in formulating the rules.

"Your Majesty Emperor Yan is wise! This Junior seconds the motion!" Lin Wan was the first to bow and say. He knew that reaching this point was already not easy. One must eat rice one mouthful at a time, and walk the road one step at a time.

"Seconded." Fairy Yaoxi's cold voice rang out.

"Seconded." Jian Wuya was concise.

"Agreed." Great Elder Danchenzi stroked his beard and nodded.

"Good." Elder Xingshu also expressed agreement.

The Elders of the Five Directions Council unanimously passed it, and the tone for this matter was set. The opposing factions, seeing that the five Void Refining giants had all expressed their stance and that the plan was relatively moderate, knew that the trend was irreversible despite their unwillingness. They could only pinch their noses and accept it, beginning to calculate how to fight for more benefits for themselves or set more restrictions during the upcoming "rule formulation".

The Flame Emperor's face was as gloomy as water; he knew that it was no longer possible to stop Lin Wan's proposal today. The hatred in his heart for Lin Wan was already monstrous. At the same time, an unprecedented sense of crisis surged into his heart. If the Alliance really carried out reforms according to Lin Wan's proposal and established the "Inspection Bureau" and "Demon-Slaying Team", then the secrets of his Skyfire Sect, especially those of Burning Flame Valley, would likely never be hidden again! And his connection with "the other side"...

"I must act as soon as possible..." A trace of ruthlessness and determination flashed in the Flame Emperor's eyes.

The Alliance meeting continued, beginning to discuss the personnel composition of the "Elder Council for Formulating Anti-Calamity Rules", the principles for formulating regulations, and the specific matters regarding the pilot Formation of the "Demon-Slaying Special Task Force". Although arguments continued, with the tone set by the five Void Refining giants and Lin Wan's deafeningly insightful speech, the overall situation was settled.

Lin Wan knew that this was just the beginning. The real storm was yet to come. The clearing of internal spies, the investigation of potential passages, and the all-out war with 'the end'... all of these would play out one by one in the near future.

And he had already been pushed to the very center of this storm.

But he was fearless.

Because his "Dao" had already reincarnated and been reborn.

Because behind him was everything he cared about.

Because he was Lin Wan.