114: seed

On this day, they arrived at an extremely special area.

There were no broken buildings here, no giant skeletons, only a mirror-flat black earth that stretched as far as the eye could see.

The ground was covered with countless broken weapons, from ordinary iron to damaged Saint King weapons radiating saintly might, densely packed and endless, forming a heart-palpitating "Soldier Tomb."

Even more peculiar was that this area was terrifyingly silent, without even the sound of wind.

A heavy, solemn aura, as if condensing the unyielding will of countless Battle Souls, filled the air.

"This place... has such a strong aura of slaughter from weapons, and... a tragic soul intent." Lin Feng’s perception was the sharpest, and he frowned slightly.

Lin Dao’s gaze swept across this boundless Soldier Tomb, his eyes grave.

He could feel that beneath this land lay buried an uncountable number of Battle Souls; their will had not dissipated, merging with these broken weapons to form a unique Domain.

"Be careful, this place is strange. Do not touch any weapons lightly," Lin Dao reminded.

They moved forward cautiously through the gaps in the Soldier Tomb.

After walking about a hundred miles, a small hill made of countless weapon fragments appeared ahead.

At the top of the small hill was a rusty, almost broken bronze war halberd.

That war halberd looked ordinary, but Lin Dao's gaze was firmly drawn to it.

He felt that this war halberd was a convergence point for the will of countless soldier souls in this area, containing a Battle Intent that, though damaged, was resilient to the extreme, even... faintly touching upon the Origin of a certain "Dao."

Just as he was observing the bronze war halberd closely, a change occurred.

Buzz!

The bronze war halberd moved without wind, emitting a faint hum.

Immediately after, within the Soldier Tomb, countless broken weapons began to tremble slightly, producing either crisp or muffled sounds, like thousands of Battle Souls whispering and awakening!

Illusory, incomplete, but resolute-eyed phantoms of Battle Souls rose from those weapons, densely packed, filling the entire sky!

They included the Human Race, the Yao Race, descendants of Gods and Demons... various races, but at this moment, their gazes all turned toward Lin Dao’s group, or more accurately, toward Lin Dao!

An incredibly massive pressure, condensing the unyielding will of billions of Battle Souls, crashed down on Lin Dao like the entire world collapsing!

This pressure was not a physical attack, nor was it a crushing of Law, but a pure impact of will!

It sought to grind down his fighting spirit, dismantle his Battle Intent, and force him to kneel on the ground to repent for the sin of disturbing the land where heroic souls were buried!

Lin Dao’s body sank slightly, and the ground beneath his feet instantly cracked.

But his eyes remained clear, and his back stayed ramrod straight.

The Primordial Divine Demon Body gave him not only power but also a supreme will originating from Chaos, which did not revere heaven or earth and feared nothing!

"Seniors, what is your intention in blocking my path?" Lin Dao looked up, his eyes like torches as he faced the sky full of Battle Souls, his voice steady, piercing through the invisible impact of will.

The billions of Battle Souls remained silent, with only the incessant humming of weapons.

The impact of will became even more violent, like crashing waves, hitting Lin Dao’s mind wave after wave.

Lin Hao and the other six were also affected, their faces turning pale as they operated their Cultivation Techniques with all their might to barely remain standing.

Just as Lin Dao was preparing to strike back with his Chaos will, the bronze war halberd stuck at the peak of the fragment hill suddenly erupted with a sky-piercing green light!

Within the green light, the phantom of an old man wearing broken bronze armor, with a tall stature and a blurred face but eyes as sharp as a hawk's, slowly condensed.

He was not a physical entity but was formed from the last wisp of undying Battle Intent contained within the bronze war halberd!

The old man’s gaze fell on Lin Dao, filled with scrutiny, doubt, and even a hint of... expectation?

"You... possess Chaos Qi... you are not an ordinary being of this world." The old man’s voice was hoarse and ancient, as if traveling through eternal time and space. "We... are the remnant souls of the 'Dao Protecting Army,' guarding this place, waiting for the 'Seed' to return."

Dao Protecting Army?

Seed?

Lin Dao’s heart stirred, as he vaguely grasped something.

That great war in ancient times seemed not to be a simple struggle between gods and demons.

"What is a Seed?

Who are you Seniors waiting for?" Lin Dao asked in a deep voice.

"In the Era of Emperor's Fall, the Dao collapsed and Law was destroyed... My Lord... used himself as bait to lure away the great enemy... to ensure... the Fire Seed would not be extinguished..." The old man’s phantom flickered, his words intermittent, filled with sorrow and unwillingness. "We... were ordered to be here... to guard the core of the 'ancient guiding formation'... waiting for the Seed holding the 'Token'... to restart the ancient formation... and guide... hope back..."

ancient guiding formation?

Token?

Lin Dao’s gaze narrowed; he thought of the Heavenly Emperor Inheritance within the bodies of Lin Hao and the others!

Could it be... He tried to draw out a wisp of the aura belonging to the Heavenly Emperor's Sword Dao from within Lin Hao.

Buzz!

The moment that Heavenly Emperor Sword Intent was revealed, the bronze war halberd and the sky full of soldier souls simultaneously emitted an incredibly excited and pious hum!

All the impact of will vanished instantly, replaced by a feverish excitement and expectation like a pilgrimage!

"The Heavenly Emperor... it's the Heavenly Emperor's aura!!"

"The Seed! The Seed has returned!!"

"The heavens have eyes! My Lord's... Legacy is not extinguished!"

Billions of Battle Souls let out a silent roar, as the tragedy and waiting condensed over eternal ages transformed into a surging light of joy and hope!

The old man’s phantom was so excited he almost dissipated; he slowly knelt on one knee toward Lin Hao, or rather, toward the direction of the Heavenly Emperor Inheritance within Lin Hao!

"This general... Green Halberd, greets the Young Lord! Welcome back, Young Lord, to take command of the ancient formation and rekindle the fire of hope!"

This scene left Lin Hao stunned where he stood, and Ye Chen and the others were dumbfounded.

They were the "Seeds" left behind by the ancient Heavenly Emperor, the keys to restarting an "ancient guiding formation" that concerned the survival of this world!

And this Soldier Tomb, these unyielding Battle Souls, were the loyal guards who had protected this place and waited for eternal ages!

"General Green Halberd, please rise." Lin Dao spoke on their behalf, his tone carrying a hint of respect. "We obtained the Heavenly Emperor Inheritance by chance, but we know very little about the secrets of this place. Please enlighten us, General."

Green Halberd’s phantom slowly rose, his gaze sweeping over Lin Dao with a hint of surprise, clearly seeing Lin Dao’s extraordinary nature, but most of his attention remained on Lin Hao.

"Since the Young Lord has arrived, the core of the ancient formation can be restarted."

Green Halberd pointed toward the deepest part of the Soldier Tomb. "The core of the ancient formation is beneath that 'Ten Thousand Weapons God Slaying Platform.'

However, the core is severely damaged and requires the power of the Heavenly Emperor Inheritance, combined with a 'Soldier Soul Blood Sacrifice,' to be initially activated..."

He didn't finish his words, but Lin Dao already understood.

Activating the ancient formation would likely require a significant price, perhaps even requiring these Battle Souls who had waited for eternal ages to offer up their final existence.

"Is there no other way besides this?" Lin Dao asked.

Green Halberd shook his head, his phantom filled with determination: "This is the meaning of our existence. To guide hope back, we would not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths!"

Just then, from the distant horizon, several incomparably powerful auras came rushing toward the Soldier Tomb!

"It's the people from the Netherworld Hells and the Ancient God Heavenly Domain! They must have also sensed the anomaly here!" Lin Yun said in a deep voice.

Green Halberd’s phantom's eyes turned cold: "Insignificant scoundrels, they dare to covet the ancient formation?

Young Lord, please follow me, quickly to the God Slaying Platform!

We remnant souls are willing to clear the way for the Young Lord and intercept the incoming enemies!"

As his voice fell, the phantoms of the sky full of soldier souls let out a heaven-shaking silent war cry, transforming into a vast iron torrent that swept toward the direction the auras were coming from!

They were going to use their last strength to buy time for their "Seed"!

Lin Dao knew that there was no room for hesitation now.

"Let's go!"

He led Lin Hao and the other six, transforming into streaks of light, following closely behind Green Halberd’s phantom toward the deepest part of the Soldier Tomb, to the so-called "Ten Thousand Weapons God Slaying Platform."