152: Closed-door integration, undercurrents surging

The stone door slammed shut behind him, isolating him from all the clamor outside.

The seclusion chamber was not completely dark; night-luminescent pearls embedded in the four walls emitted a soft glow, and the air was filled with the fragrance of ancient sandalwood and pure Spiritual Qi. This was the core cultivation spot within the Lin Family Ancestral Land, connected underground to three supreme-grade Spiritual Veins, making the Spiritual Qi so dense it was almost visible as mist.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged on the jade cushion in the center, the nirvana sword laid horizontally across his knees. Its pitch-black blade flowed with a deep luster under the dim light.

He did not begin Cultivating immediately, but instead closed his eyes to quiet his mind, slowly replaying everything that had happened that day in his mind.

From entering the Nirvana Divine Palace, to undergoing the trials of the Great Emperor of Annihilation's Legacy, and then slaying Huangfu Xiong with a single sword strike to awe the masses—every scene was as clear as yesterday.

"I was still too impulsive."

Lin Fan sighed softly in his heart. If not for the nirvana sword and the Nirvana True Intent he had just obtained, defeating the four Late-stage World Lord experts today would have been nearly impossible. Even if he had won, he exposed too many trump cards.

But if he had to do it again, he would still make the same choice.

The dignity of the Lin Family was not to be violated; that was his bottom line.

"Strength is, after all, the foundation."

Calming his mind, Lin Fan sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness.

At this moment, his Sea of Consciousness was vastly different from before.

In the center of the originally golden sea of spirit, a pitch-black rune floated—this was the core of the Great Emperor of Annihilation's Legacy, transformed from the Nirvana True Intent. The rune rotated slowly, and with every rotation, it emitted a terrifying aura of ending all things and returning them to nothingness.

Surrounding the rune, the golden Laws derived from the Eternal Indestructible Body coiled like chains, attempting to suppress and fuse with this power.

Two completely opposite forces were fiercely confronting each other.

The Eternal Indestructible Body represented 'existence' and 'indestructibility,' while the Nirvana True Intent represented 'ending' and 'nothingness.' These were inherently incompatible Daos, yet they coexisted within Lin Fan.

"No wonder the Great Emperor of Annihilation said that among those who inherit his Legacy, one in ten thousand can bear it."

Lin Fan could clearly feel that every collision between the two forces inflicted a violent shock upon his Physical Body and Divine Soul. If the Eternal Indestructible Body had not reached Minor Achievement, this impact alone would have been enough to cause his body and Dao to perish.

"But crisis is also opportunity."

"If I can truly fuse these two powers..."

A sharp light flashed in Lin Fan's eyes.

He activated the System and brought up his personal panel:

[Host: Lin Fan]

[Realm: Late-stage World Lord (Stable)]

[Physique: Eternal Indestructible Body (Minor Achievement)]

[Cultivation Technique: Indestructible Divine King Fist (Perfection), Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils (Major Achievement), nirvana sword Art (Initial Glimpse)]

[Treasures: nirvana sword (Damaged), star pagoda, space-time divine talisman x 2]

[Sign-in Points: 8700]

Today, at the altar in the Ancestral Land, he had signed in again, obtaining 3000 Sign-in Points. Coupled with previous accumulation, it was nearly ten thousand.

"System, deduce the Fusion path for the Eternal Indestructible Body and Nirvana True Intent."

[Ding! Deduction in progress]

[Requires consumption of 5000 Sign-in Points. Continue?]

"Continue."

Most of the Sign-in Points were instantly deducted.

The next moment, a massive amount of information flooded into Lin Fan's mind.

It was a path of extreme peril—using the body as a furnace and the Divine Soul as fire to forcibly refine the two Daos. Any slight carelessness during the process meant death of body and Dao, with no chance for Reincarnation.

But the deduction result also showed that once successful, he would forge an unprecedented path.

Neither purely Eternal, nor purely Annihilation.

But the "Eternal Annihilation Body."

Lin Fan murmured these four words, his eyes burning with a fervent flame.

The so-called Eternal Annihilation was not about giving the Eternal attribute to Annihilation, but about achieving a dynamic balance between 'existence' and 'ending.' He could exist eternally, or he could end all things with a single thought; he could return all things to annihilation, or he could create new life within annihilation.

This was a path that surpassed both the Great Emperor of Annihilation and the creator of the Eternal Indestructible Body.

"Let's begin."

Without hesitation, Lin Fan entered the deepest level of meditation.

He guided the golden chain of Laws in his Sea of Consciousness to slowly release its suppression over the Nirvana Rune. Once freed from restraint, the two forces erupted into an even more violent conflict.

"Pfft!" Lin Fan spat out a mouthful of blood, which was mixed with golden and black light spots. But his expression remained unchanged. He formed hand seals and, following the method deduced by the System, began to forcibly guide the two forces to circulate within his body.

Every inch of his Meridians, every piece of bone, every single cell...

Became the battlefield.

Just as Lin Fan entered seclusion, the outside world began to stir.

In the Great Xia Imperial City, deep within the Imperial Palace.

Xia Qingyue stood outside the Imperial Study, quietly awaiting summons.

She had changed back into the attire of the Divine Maiden Palace, her long hair swept up, her aura as cool as the moon. However, upon closer inspection, one could detect a barely perceptible fluctuation deep within her eyes.

"Divine Maiden, Your Majesty requests your presence."

The old eunuch respectfully pushed open the door.

Xia Qingyue nodded slightly and stepped inside.

Inside the Imperial Study, a middle-aged man wearing a bright yellow dragon robe was reviewing memorials. His appearance bore a three-tenths resemblance to Xia Qingyue, but his eyebrows held the majesty and depth of an emperor.

This was the current Emperor of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty—Xia Wujiang.

"Your subject pays respects to Father Emperor."

"Rise.", Xia Wujiang put down his vermilion brush and looked up at his daughter. "I have heard the Dark Guards' report regarding the matter of the Nirvana Divine Palace. Tell me your thoughts."

Xia Qingyue pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "Lin Fan is an outstanding choice in terms of talent, strength, and Heart-Nature. His sword strike against Huangfu Xiong today proved he possesses Peak World Lord combat power. More importantly, he has obtained the complete Nirvana Legacy."

"The Legacy of the Great Emperor of Annihilation..." A complex look flashed in Xia Wujiang's eyes. "In the late ancient era, that existence nearly ended the entire epoch single-handedly. The reappearance of his Legacy in the world—I wonder if it is a blessing or a curse."

"Father Emperor, your subject believes it is better to befriend him than to become his enemy."

"Oh?" Xia Wujiang raised an eyebrow. "The Huangfu Family lost their Grand Elder; they will certainly not let this go. If my Great Xia aligns too closely with the Lin Family, I fear we might draw fire upon ourselves."

"Huangfu Xiong brought this upon himself.", Xia Qingyue's voice was calm. "Lin Fan gave them a chance; it was the Huangfu Family that chose the most foolish path. Furthermore..."

She paused and continued: "The potential Lin Fan displayed today has surpassed the scope of conventional Prodigies. If given time to grow, he will surely be a figure who suppresses an entire era. Such a person can only be a friend, never an enemy."

Xia Wujiang was silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed: "It seems Yue'er has a very high opinion of him."

Xia Qingyue's expression remained unchanged: "Your subject is merely stating facts."

"Good.", Xia Wujiang picked up the vermilion brush again. "Then it shall be as you say. Issue an imperial decree: The Great Xia Imperial Dynasty and the Lin Family shall form an eternal alliance. Anyone who violates the Lin Family shall be deemed to have violated the Great Xia. Furthermore, open the first three levels of the Imperial Dynasty's Secret Realm, the Nine Heavens Pagoda, as a gift for the alliance with Lin Fan."

A trace of surprise flashed in Xia Qingyue's eyes.

The Nine Heavens Pagoda was the foundation of the Great Xia's establishment and had never been opened to outsiders.

But she quickly understood her father Emperor's intention—this was a gamble, betting on Lin Fan's future.

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Meanwhile, in the Huangfu Family Ancestral Land.

The atmosphere in the Council Hall was extremely heavy.

Huangfu Xiong's corpse was laid out in the center. It had been roughly dealt with, but the penetrating wound across his chest was still shocking to behold.

Above the hall sat three old men.

The one in the center had white hair and a withered face, but his eyes were as deep as an abyss. He was the current Family Head of the Huangfu Family, Huangfu Tian.

To his left was the Second Elder, Huangfu Hai, and to his right was the Third Elder, Huangfu Chuan.

"Big Brother, this matter absolutely cannot be dropped just like that!" Huangfu Hai slammed the table and stood up, his eyes boiling with killing intent. "That Lin Fan brat not only seized the Nirvana Legacy but also publicly executed the Grand Elder. If this revenge is not taken, what face does our Huangfu Family have left to stand in the world?"

Huangfu Chuan, however, was relatively calm: "Second Brother, do not rush. Lin Fan was able to slay the Grand Elder with one sword, meaning his strength has reached at least Peak World Lord. Moreover, he possesses the nirvana sword and has obtained the complete Legacy; a direct confrontation is not a wise move."

"Does that mean Fifth Brother died for nothing?!" Huangfu Hai roared.

"Naturally not.", Huangfu Tian finally spoke, his voice hoarse like grinding metal and stone. "Revenge must be taken, and the Legacy must be seized. But our Huangfu Family cannot act alone."

He slowly stood up and walked to Huangfu Xiong's corpse.

"The Dark Moon Divine Cult, the Golden Sun Sect, and the Netherworld Hall—they all suffered losses today; how could they not harbor hatred?"

"Family Head means..." Huangfu Chuan pondered.

"Unite all forces hostile to Lin Fan.", a cold light flickered in Huangfu Tian's eyes. "Additionally, invite people from the 'Shadow Kill Tower.' Offer three World Lord level treasures to buy Lin Fan's head."

Shadow Kill Tower!

Hearing this name, even the irascible Huangfu Hai sucked in a breath of cold air.

That was an assassin organization that dominated the Six Realms. As long as the price was met, they dared to assassinate even Peak World Lords. Moreover, it was rumored that the Shadow Kill Tower had the shadow of dark forces behind it.

"But the Shadow Kill Tower demands extremely high prices; three World Lord level treasures might not be enough..." Huangfu Chuan hesitated.

"Then make it five.", Huangfu Tian stated decisively. "The Legacy of the Great Emperor of Annihilation is worth that price. As long as Lin Fan is killed and the Legacy is seized, all expenditures will be repaid a hundredfold."

He turned and looked outside the hall, his gaze seeming to pierce through the Void, landing on the Lin Family Ancestral Land.

"Lin Fan, you won't live past three months."

In the Dark Moon Divine Cult's underground altar.

The altar was inscribed with strange blood-colored runes. In the center, a Black-robed figure knelt—this was the Elder of the Dark Moon Divine Cult who had appeared before the Nirvana Divine Palace that day.

Before him floated a blood-colored mirror.

The mirror reflected a blurry figure whose face could not be discerned, only an overwhelming darkness and evil could be felt.

"Cult Master, the plan has failed.", the Black-robed figure said with a trembling voice. "The Nirvana Legacy was obtained by Lin Fan of the Lin Family. Your subordinate failed to complete the mission."

Silence reigned in the mirror for a long time before a cold voice emerged: "It's fine. The Nirvana Legacy is not so easy to digest. If Lin Fan forces the Fusion, he will only bring about his own destruction."

"Then what about us?"

"Continue to observe.", the figure in the mirror said. "Additionally, scatter the 'seeds.' The Six Realms Prodigy Road is about to open; that is our best opportunity."

"Yes!"

The blood-colored mirror's light dissipated, turning into nothingness.

The Black-robed figure slowly stood up, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

He walked out of the altar and arrived at a secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber lay dozens of unconscious young men and women, all talented individuals recently abducted from various places.

The Black-robed figure took out a pitch-black Medicinal Pill, crushed it, and scattered it into the air.

The Medicinal Pill turned into black mist and drilled into the bodies of these people.

Moments later, they all opened their eyes, a strange trace of blood flashing in the depths of their pupils before returning to normal.

"Go now, return to where you belong."

The Black-robed figure waved his hand, and the door to the secret chamber opened.

These young men and women rose like puppets, each leaving separately, quickly disappearing into the night.

In the Lin Family Ancestral Land, inside the seclusion chamber.

Seven days had passed.

Lin Fan was still sitting cross-legged on the cushion, but the aura surrounding him had undergone earth-shattering changes.

His left side radiated golden light, his flesh and blood crystalline like jade, exuding an aura of eternal indestructibility; his right side, however, was shrouded in pitch-black mist, as if ready to return to nothingness at any moment.

The two powers were clearly separated by his spine, yet they were slowly merging at his chest.

There, a brand new rune was taking shape.

Half golden, half black.

Gold and black rotated slowly like a Yin and Yang fish, permeating each other, yet maintaining a subtle balance.

"Just a little more..."

Lin Fan gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.

The Fusion had reached its final, and most dangerous, moment. The fundamental conflict between the two Daos reached its Peak; any slight mistake would result in all previous efforts being wasted.

He mobilized all his Divine Soul power, forcibly suppressing the restless forces.

"Condense!" With a low shout.

The rune in his chest suddenly erupted with blinding light, and the gold and black completely merged, transforming into a chaotic, grayish color.

The next instant, the gray light surged throughout his body like a tide.

The previously distinct left and right sides of his body began to merge. The golden and black faded, replaced by a faint gray skin. This gray was not lifeless, but contained an indescribable charm of intertwined vitality and destruction.

Lin Fan opened his eyes.

His left eye was golden, his right eye black, with a hint of chaotic gray light deep within both pupils.

He slowly raised his hand, and a wisp of gray airflow coiled around his fingertips.

This airflow seemed weak, but it simultaneously contained the two extreme attributes of 'Eternal' and 'Annihilation.' One thought could make all things immortal, and one thought could end all things.

"The first level of the Eternal Annihilation Body is complete.", a smile curved Lin Fan's lips. He could feel that his Physical Body strength had increased by at least threefold compared to before his seclusion. Now, even without relying on any treasures, his Physical Body alone could withstand the attacks of a Late-stage World Lord.

Moreover, with a thought, the gray airflow in his palm transformed into a small sword.

The sword body was grayish, without any aura leaking out, but Lin Fan knew that if this sword were struck, its power would be no less than a casual strike from the nirvana sword.

"It's time to end the seclusion."

Lin Fan stood up and stretched his limbs, causing a sound like surging rivers to boom from within his body.

Seven days in seclusion, a complete transformation.

He pushed open the stone door and walked out of the chamber.

Outside the door, Lin Hai had been waiting for a long time. Seeing him emerge, he quickly stepped forward: "Young Lord, you are finally out of seclusion! These past few days outside..."

"I know everything.", Lin Fan interrupted him, his gaze sweeping towards the sky above the Ancestral Land.

There, he sensed at least a dozen faint probing auras.

Undercurrents were surging; storms were brewing.

But at this moment, his heart was filled only with calm.

"Send down the order.", Lin Fan's voice was indifferent, yet it clearly spread throughout the entire Ancestral Land.

"From today onward, anyone who violates the Lin Family shall be killed without mercy."

As his voice fell, he took a step, and his figure appeared at the edge of the Ancestral Land's grand formation.

His gray robes billowed, and his gaze was like lightning.

The true storm had only just begun.