268: With its might shaking the Central Plains, its sword points towards the ancient realm.

Five Dou Shengs from the Hall of Souls, including a Vice Hall Master who was a Three-Star Dou Sheng in the Late Stage, were all slain by Li Ao in ten breaths right outside the Ruins Hall's mountain gate, in a nearly crushing manner!

This news spread instantly throughout the entire Zhongzhou like a raging wildfire, at a speed countless times faster than any previous news!

Initially, no one dared to believe it.

Those were five Dou Shengs! Not five cabbages! Soul Mie Sheng, the Vice Hall Master of the Hall of Souls, was a notoriously fierce old monster who had lived for countless years, and his strength was top-tier among Three-Star Dou Shengs! How could he be so easily killed by a young man barely twenty years old who had just established his force?

However, when some powerful experts who had watched the battle from afar swore on their Souls and described the god-like punch and the four gray threads that tore through the Void Realm and buried the Saints, the entire Zhongzhou fell into a deathly silence.

Immediately following that was an unprecedented sensation and uproar!

"Burying the Saint with a single punch! Destroying five Saints in ten breaths! Is this Li Ao... a man or a god?!"

"Ruins Hall! Who dares to look down upon the Ruins Hall starting today? Its prestige is already pressing close to the Two Sects and Three Valleys!"

"This time, the Hall of Souls can be said to have kicked a steel plate—no, they kicked an Immemorial Divine Mountain! With such heavy losses, they probably won't let the matter rest!"

"What if they don't let it rest? Unless Soul Mie Tian, the Hall Master of the Soul Hall, acts personally, or they use the Hun Clan's hidden heritage, who can possibly deal with this Hall Master Li Ao?"

Countless forces were silenced, and countless powerful experts felt their hearts surge. Li Ao's name was like a rising blazing sun; its brilliance instantly overshadowed all the young Geniuses in Zhongzhou, making even many veteran powerful experts feel eclipsed.

The prestige of the Ruins Hall reached its peak at this moment! Originally neutral forces that were still observing quickly prepared generous gifts and personally traveled to the Ruins Hall Headquarters in the Western Region to offer congratulations, express goodwill, and even seek alliances. In an instant, outside the Ruins Hall's mountain gate, there was a constant stream of carriages and guests, clearly establishing it as the new center of power in Zhongzhou's Western Region.

As for these forces seeking friendship, Li Ao was neither arrogant nor overly enthusiastic. He had Wind Venerable and the Foreign Affairs Elder handle the reception, maintaining a transcendent yet courteous attitude. He knew well that true Foundation lay in his own strength; those who merely added icing to the cake could be utilized but not fully trusted.

After this battle, the Hall of Souls' influence in Zhongzhou's Western Region was almost entirely uprooted. The remaining members either fled in panic or were subsequently cleared out by the Ruins Hall. The entire Western Region completely became the Ruins Hall's sphere of influence, a solid block of territory.

Inside the Hall Master's private chamber.

Li Ao, Yao Lao, Medusa, and Xiao Yi Xian gathered together.

"Aoer, your brilliance is now fully exposed. Although you have deterred the petty villains, you have also pushed yourself into the eye of the storm." Yao Lao said with a serious expression. "Given the Hall of Souls' heavy losses this time, the Hun Clan will definitely not stand idly by. Their next move probably won't just involve the Hall of Souls."

Li Ao nodded, his eyes deep: "I understand. Therefore, the trip to the Heavenly Tomb of the Gu Clan is imperative. I must increase my strength as quickly as possible, and I also need to secure this Opportunity for Junior Brother Xiao Yan. Only when we ourselves are strong enough can we fearlessly face any challenge."

He looked at Yao Lao: "Teacher, as for Junior Brother Xiao Yan..."

Yao Lao smiled slightly: "That boy has finished his seclusion. After learning that you secured him a spot for the Heavenly Tomb, he was overjoyed and is already on his way to the Ruins Hall. He should arrive within the next few days."

"That is excellent." Li Ao felt relieved. He always held a special expectation for Xiao Yan.

"To go to the Ancient World, we need to pass through a specific Spatial Tunnel, guided by the Gu Clan. When shall we depart?" Medusa asked. She was also quite interested in the legendary Ancient Race.

"In three days." Li Ao made the decision. "During these three days, I need to make some arrangements for the Hall's internal affairs, and also wait for Junior Brother Xiao Yan to arrive."

He paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "Also, before leaving, I need to do one more thing to completely sever the Hall of Souls' lingering thoughts concerning the Western Region."

On that day, Li Ao left the Ruins Hall alone, his figure merging into the Void Realm.

Half a day later, at the junction of Zhongzhou's Western Region and Northern Region, a gloomy, inaccessible mountain range constantly shrouded in black mist suddenly erupted with a world-destroying energy fluctuation!

That mountain range was the location of the largest and most secretive Branch Hall established by the Hall of Souls in the Western Region!

The fluctuation lasted for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, then abruptly stopped.

When bold powerful experts went to investigate, they only saw that the entire mountain range had turned into a massive, bottomless abyss. All the structures, Formations, and even living beings within had vanished, leaving behind only an aura of desolate Saber Intent that froze the Soul, coupled with the pure scent of Purifying Flame.

The Hall of Souls' Western Region Branch Hall was completely erased from the map!

When the news spread, Zhongzhou was silenced once more. Everyone understood that this was Li Ao's final warning and reckoning against the Hall of Souls before his departure!

Ruthless! Decisive! Powerful!

This was the final impression Li Ao left on the various forces in Zhongzhou.

Three days later, a Black-Robed Youth arrived, travel-worn, at the Ruins Hall Headquarters. The youth had a determined face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. He carried a massive Black Ruler on his back, and his aura was steady and profound. It was Xiao Yan.

"Senior Brother!" When Xiao Yan saw Li Ao, he respectfully bowed, his eyes filled with gratitude and reverence. He already knew that this Senior Brother, whom he had never met, had secured him the precious spot to enter the Heavenly Tomb of the Gu Clan.

Li Ao looked at the Son of Destiny from the original work before him, clearly sensing the solid Foundation and hidden vast power within his body. He nodded slightly: "No need for formalities. The Heavenly Tomb Opportunity is rare; I hope you seize it well."

"Xiao Yan will certainly not fail the expectations of Senior Brother and Teacher!" Xiao Yan solemnly promised.

With everyone present, Li Ao wasted no more time. He took out the ancient jade left by Gu Xun'er, which emitted spatial fluctuations, and injected Dou Qi into it.

The ancient jade emitted a soft light, constructing a stable silver Spatial Gate in the Void Realm ahead, leading to an unknown place.

Behind the gate was the mysterious space where the Gu Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Clans, was located—the Ancient World!

Li Ao's gaze swept over Yao Lao, Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xiao Yan beside him, and he said deeply, "Let's go."

With that, he took the lead and stepped into the Spatial Gate. The others followed closely behind.

The light flickered, and the Spatial Gate slowly closed.

The matters concerning the Ruins Hall were temporarily concluded, but a contest for Opportunity, gathering the continent's top young powerful experts, along with a deeper level of struggle and crisis, awaited their arrival in the mysterious Ancient World.