35: Ancient temples, hidden secrets, shadows of oblivion

As Shadow Nightmare retreated, the thick dark aura permeating the basin receded slowly like a tide, but the heart-palpitating sense of oppression did not disappear completely, as if it were merely lurking deeper underground, waiting for the next opportunity to erupt.

The dilapidated stone hall stood quietly in the center of the basin. Having endured the earth-shaking energy impact just now, although it appeared even more precarious and covered in cracks, it stubbornly refused to collapse entirely, as if an invisible force were supporting it. The pitch-black corrupted runes above the hall doors had dimmed, faintly revealing a hint of the original ancient and weathered quality they once possessed.

The dozens of Prodigies who survived the disaster were mostly injured, their auras fluctuating. Their mutual wariness had not completely vanished due to their brief alliance, but their gazes all turned simultaneously toward the mysterious stone hall and the figure surrounded by a faint Chaos aura standing before it—Lin Fan.

Lin Fan closed his eyes and concentrated, operating his Cultivation Technique with all his might to guide the strand of Innate Chaos Qi within his body to repair the slight internal injuries caused by his hard clash with Shadow Nightmare, while simultaneously consolidating his initially formed "World Lord" Concept. He could feel that his control over the surrounding Heaven and Earth Origin Qi had increased several times over, and the range of his Divine Sense perception had also expanded significantly, even allowing him to faintly capture the subtle Law trajectories flowing through space. Although his Realm remained at the Mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm, his true combat power and life level had already undergone earth-shaking changes.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, thank you for your help just now." The Buddha Son of the Lesser Leiyin Temple spoke first with his hands pressed together in prayer, his tone sincere. Had Lin Fan not unleashed a punch that touched the World Lord dao rhyme at the critical moment to integrate everyone's power, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The Elf Race Woman, the Giant Clan Warrior, and the other top Prodigies also nodded in greeting, expressing their goodwill. The strength and potential Lin Fan displayed had earned their respect.

Mo Yuan walked to Lin Fan's side, his sharp gaze sizing up the faint Chaos aura surrounding him as he said in a deep voice, "The Way of the World Lord emphasizes 'governance' and 'creation.' You have already initially condensed the prototype of your own Dao Domain; next is to continuously solidify your Foundation and clarify your own Dao until it follows naturally, opening up a 'World' that belongs to you."

As the Demon Son of the Primal Demonic Domain, his understanding of higher Realms far surpassed that of ordinary people, and his words now carried a hint of guidance. This was not a gesture of favor, but a form of recognition for an opponent of the same level.

Su Zhiqing also spoke coldly, "Your 'Dao' is very special." With her Sword Heart Illumination, she could feel the infinite possibilities and inclusiveness contained within Lin Fan's Chaos aura, which was completely different from the extreme purity of the sword Dao she pursued, yet it had reached the forefront all the same.

Lin Fan opened his eyes, a Chaos glow flashing through them for a moment, and he nodded at the words of Mo Yuan and Su Zhiqing. "Thank you for the reminder; the road is still long." He did not become arrogant due to his temporary lead; the path of the Dao was long, and he knew this was only the starting point.

His gaze turned toward the dilapidated stone hall, his brow furrowing slightly. "Before Shadow Nightmare retreated, he seemed quite concerned about this hall. This place might hide secrets of the Ancient Road, or rather, this Myriad Worlds Battlefield."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression turned solemn. Indeed, Shadow Nightmare's appearance here and his attempt to control this stone hall were certainly not without purpose.

"We'll know once we go in and explore." Zi Linger was the most impatient; her injuries were not heavy, and she had already mostly recovered by now.

Ethereal Moon sensed for a moment and said softly, "The Death Qi and resentment inside the hall are extremely heavy, but there also seems to be a trace of a weak, pure protective intent remaining."

The group discussed for a moment and decided to enter the stone hall together to investigate. Facing the unknown and the possible hidden moves of the dark forces, sticking together was undoubtedly the safest choice.

With Lin Fan, Mo Yuan, and Su Zhiqing leading the way, followed closely by the Buddha Son and the Elf Race Woman, the group cautiously passed through the massive, crack-riddled hall doors and stepped into the interior of the stone hall.

The space inside the hall was much vaster than it appeared from the outside, as if it contained its own world. The light was dim, with only a few Moonlight Stones embedded in the walls—which had long since lost most of their energy—emitting a faint glow. The air was thick with dust and the scent of decay, and the floor was scattered with broken armor and long-weathered bones.

The dome of the great hall had partially collapsed, revealing the dark red sky outside. On the four walls, some blurred murals were faintly visible, depicting scenes of myriad races worshiping some sacred being in ancient times, but the face of that sacred being seemed to have been deliberately erased by some power, leaving only a vague outline.

At the end of the hall was a tall altar. The altar was built of a warm white jade, which was completely out of place with the dilapidated style of the rest of the stone hall, as if built by a later arrival. The top of the altar was empty, but in the center of the altar's base, there was a rusted Bronze Broken Sword that looked as if it could snap at any moment!

The broken sword was unremarkable, but when everyone's gaze fell upon it, an inexplicable sense of sorrow and solemnity rose in their hearts.

["System," Lin Fan thought to himself, "sign in at the ancient hall altar."]

[Ding! Sign-in location detected—Core Ancient Hall Altar of the Myriad Worlds Battlefield (contains the power of the Ancient Covenant and traces of Annihilation erosion), meets special sign-in conditions, sign-in successful!]

[Congratulations, Host, you have obtained: epoch imprint (Fragmented)!]

A faint ancient mark, which seemed to carry the information of endless time passing and the changing of epochs, merged into the depths of Lin Fan's Divine Soul. This mark was incomplete and the information was blurred, but Lin Fan could feel a grand, sorrowful Concept regarding the birth and death of the Universe and the rise and fall of civilizations, as well as a trace of an Unyielding will of resistance that shared the same source as the "Lord of Annihilation" yet was its complete opposite!

Just then, another change occurred! The Bronze Broken Sword on the altar, as if triggered by the "epoch imprint" Lin Fan had obtained, suddenly let out a faint, Soul-piercing wail! An extremely dim, almost transparent phantom rose from the broken sword.

The phantom was an old man clad in tattered battle armor with a blurred face. His figure was thin, appearing as if it would dissipate at any moment, but his eyes seemed to have seen through the vicissitudes of eternity, containing endless exhaustion and a trace of Indestructible obsession.

"Latecomers, you have finally come..." The old man's thoughts were intermittent as they entered everyone's minds.

"Senior, who are you? And what place is this?" Lin Fan stepped forward and asked in a deep voice. He could feel that this remnant Soul held no ill intent, only a regret of unfulfilled mission.

"I am the last Tomb Keeper of this hall..." the old man's phantom said ethereally. "This hall is not a battlefield, but a cenotaph for a buried 'era,' and also a node sealing the tentacles of that 'Annihilation'."

Annihilation! Annihilation again!

Everyone's minds shook violently!

The old man's phantom continued, his tone carrying endless sorrow: "'It' came from beyond the epoch, bringing The End. Myriad spirits wept blood, the Twilight of the Worlds arrived. We failed, and could only sacrifice ourselves to Seal a portion of its body and will here to delay its pace of devouring the heavens."

"This Myriad Worlds Battlefield was one of the former main battlefields, soaked with unwilling hot blood and permeated with desperate darkness."

"That Shadow Nightmare is the lackey cultivated by 'it' eroding this world's Seal; they wish to destroy the Seal and usher in more of 'its' power to descend."

The information was like a thunderclap exploding in everyone's minds! This Tongtian Ancient Road and this Myriad Worlds Battlefield actually hid such a terrifying truth! Their so-called competition between Prodigies was, in a sense, being carried out on a graveyard of ancient gods, demons, and the "Annihilation" entity!

"Senior, what should we do?" Su Zhiqing gripped the sword-shaped jade talisman in her hand and asked clearly.

The Tomb Keeper phantom's gaze swept over everyone, lingering on Lin Fan for a moment with a trace of faint expectation: "Protect the Seal or become stronger... before it fully awakens, find a way to completely destroy 'it'."

"Regrettably, our remnant thoughts are about to dissipate and can no longer protect this world." His figure grew dimmer and dimmer, finally turning into spots of light and completely dissipating into the air. That Bronze Broken Sword also let out a "crack" and completely turned to ash.

The hall fell into a deathly silence. Everyone was shocked by these sudden ancient secrets, their hearts feeling as if pressed by a ten-thousand-pound boulder.

Lord of Annihilation, Enemy of Epochs, survival of the worlds... these terms were so heavy they almost made them unable to breathe.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, feeling that fragmented "epoch imprint" in his Divine Soul and the strand of Innate Chaos Qi in his body that seemed to resonate with this tragic history. His gaze gradually became firm.

He looked at the crowd, his voice steady and powerful: "The truth has been revealed; escape is useless. No matter what lies ahead, we shall simply fight!"

Demonic light flickered in Mo Yuan's eyes, and his Battle Intent increased rather than decreased: "Interesting! Only such an opponent is worthy of me, Mo Yuan, wielding my blade!"

Su Zhiqing's Sword Qi was awe-inspiring: "Protecting the Dao and the land is the responsibility of a swordsman."

The Buddha Son chanted a Buddhist name, the Elf Race Woman's gaze was firm, and the Giant Clan Warrior beat his chest—none of the top Prodigies present retreated! After the fear came an even stronger fighting spirit and sense of responsibility!

They knew that by stepping into this ancient hall and knowing this secret, they had already shouldered the mission of continuing the legacy of the ancient sages and resisting Annihilation!

And just then, the entire stone hall—no, the entire Myriad Worlds Battlefield—began to vibrate slightly! A will far more terrifying and vast than Shadow Nightmare, appearing to represent the Universe's ultimate void, like a Vicious Beast that had slept for eternity, seemed to have been stirred by the dissipation of the Tomb Keeper's remnant Soul and the appearance of the epoch imprint, slowly awakening a trace of itself!

The ultimate test might have arrived early!