Chapter 326-327 (Patreon)

326. Palace Master's Decision

"Transcendence!" Lin Fei murmured softly, a touch of astonishment evident in his voice. Previously, he had been worried about advancing his Annihilation Divine Ability, uncertain of how to enhance it. But now, in just a short span of time, his Annihilation Divine Ability had achieved Transcendence and was not far from perfection.

"System," Lin Fei invoked the system to check his martial arts progress.

Host: Lin Fei

Martial Realm: Mid-stage Martial Sovereign

Great Divine Ability: Black Wind Prison: Perfection

Great Divine Ability: Gravity Domain: Perfection

Great Divine Ability: Dual-World Saber: Perfection

Great Divine Ability: Annihilation: Transcendence (Progress 40%)

Saber Domain: Transcendence (Progress 1%)

Indeed, Lin Fei's Annihilation Divine Ability had reached Transcendence with a cultivation progress of 40%. This meant that once Lin Fei advanced his cultivation a little further, he would achieve perfection in this ability. At that point, he could begin cultivating a fifth Divine Ability.

Moreover, Lin Fei understood the path to enhance the Annihilation Divine Ability: destruction. However, with the entire Profound Light Cave Heaven obliterated by him, there was nothing left to destroy.

"Let's return to Ancient Origin Sect," Lin Fei decided without any further delay, joining Wind Sovereign and others to fly towards the Ancient Origin Sect.

...

Inside the grand hall of Taiyi Dao Palace.

"Bang!"

The esteemed palace master, who was always calm and composed, could no longer contain his fury. The entire grand hall seemed to tremble from his rage.

He's furious!

Taiyi Dao Palace's palace master was absolutely livid.

"Six Golden Core True Persons from my Taiyi Dao Palace, plus Xuanwu who pledged allegiance to us. That's a total of seven. And including the five elders, that's twelve Golden Core True Persons—all killed by Lin Fei! Lin Fei must be executed! The Ancient Origin Sect must be destroyed!"

Inside the grand hall, everyone remained silent, not even daring to breathe. The palace master had never shown such wrath before. However, upon receiving this news, everyone was stupefied.

Profound Light Cave Heaven was gone, completely erased without a trace. Xuanwu and the Golden Core True Persons from Taiyi Dao Palace were all dead. The culprit was none other than Lin Fei, whom Taiyi Dao Palace loathed to the core.

Previously, Taiyi Dao Palace had even dispatched the five elders to ambush Lin Fei outside Cangli Ancient City, taking ample precautions. The five elders were top-tier Golden Core True Persons. It would be more than enough to assassinate a Martial Sovereign. Many even felt that the palace master was making a mountain out of a molehill.

However, the reality proved otherwise. It wasn't the palace master overreacting. It was Lin Fei surpassing everyone's imagination. He even counter-killed the five elders.

This time, Taiyi Dao Palace, by using the Nascent Soul Transformation Pill, managed to take the initiative. They almost incorporated the entire Profound Light Cave Heaven into Taiyi Dao Palace. Destroying the Red Hades Mansion and the Ancient Origin Sect seemed like a walk in the park.

Moreover, the palace master was fully prepared. Always cautious, monitoring Lin Fei's movements. They even planned to concentrate their forces to deal with Lin Fei. Yet, they were still one step behind. Or perhaps, the palace master hadn't expected that Lin Fei would break the protective formation of Profound Light Cave Heaven. And then, single-handedly obliterate the Profound Light Cave Heaven.

"Lin Fei's obliteration of Profound Light Cave Heaven signifies his unstoppable momentum! In the past, the Taiyi Dao Palace would avoid offending such a person. And even if we did, we'd seek to reconcile. But now, after Lin Fei killed so many of our Golden Core True Persons, the hatred can't be dissolved.

Furthermore, considering Lin Fei's talents, achieving the title of Martial King in the future isn't out of the question. If that happens, the very existence of my Taiyi Dao Palace would be threatened. The fate of Profound Light Cave Heaven serves as a lesson! Therefore, we must eliminate Lin Fei at all costs!"

The palace master's expression was stern, his tone chilling with murderous intent. Everyone present was slightly startled. They hadn't expected the palace master to give such high praise to Lin Fei.

In fact, having led the Taiyi Dao Palace for hundreds of years, the palace master had done quite well. He was very wise, not always relying on sheer power. Taiyi Dao Palace also knew when to compromise.

But now, who would've thought Lin Fei could grow this fast? In such a short time, he had reached this level. Taiyi Dao Palace was now in a bind. They had to take action! They must kill Lin Fei!

"While Lin Fei is strong, becoming a Martial King seems almost impossible, right? So many talented Martial Sovereigns failed to become Martial Kings. Even Martial Sovereigns from Martial King families, possessing Martial King bloodlines, find it almost impossible to become Martial Kings. As long as Lin Fei doesn't become a Martial King, he won't pose a threat to our Taiyi Dao Palace.”

Some of the elders felt that the palace master was being overly concerned. Yes, Lin Fei was powerful, But he wasn't powerful enough to destroy Taiyi Dao Palace. After all, Taiyi Dao Palace wasn't Profound Light Cave Heaven.

"If you all think that way, then you are greatly mistaken. Perhaps, Xuanwu thought the same way. And what was the result? The protective formation was broken, and their sect was erased, their lineage completely cut off. The consequences are too grave, the cost too high. Even if there's the slightest chance, Taiyi Dao Palace can't take that risk! Therefore, I've decided to invoke the mighty Great Mountian Divine Seal and personally head to the Ancient Origin Sect. We must obliterate the Ancient Origin Sect, kill Lin Fei, and completely eliminate this tiny threat!"

As the palace master finished speaking, The entire hall was filled with murmurs of shock.

"What? Palace Master, you want to use the Great Mountian Divine Seal?"

"Palace Master, absolutely not! The Great Mountian Divine Seal is the foundation of our Taiyi Dao Palace, it cannot be harmed in the slightest."

"If the Great Mountian Divine Seal suffers even the slightest damage, then the foundation of our Taiyi Dao Palace will be compromised."

"Exactly, the Great Mountian Divine Seal is not just a simple magic treasure. It supports the entire magic treasure system of our Taiyi Dao Palace."

"Without the Great Mountian Divine Seal, can we still refine the Great Mountain Seal?"

"Our Taiyi Dao Palace, the reason we stand out among so many Nascent Soul legacies is primarily because of the Great Mountain Seal. If the Great Mountian Divine Seal is gone, there will be no talk of the Great Mountain Seal."

"Palace Master, please reconsider!"

The Great Mountain Divine Seal, which was crafted by the founder of the palace a Nascent Soul Great Being. It wasn't just at the Golden Core level but at the Nascent Soul level!

Such a powerful magic treasure is the foundation of the Taiyi Dao Palace. Thus, the palace master's proposal was met with opposition from almost all of the Taiyi Dao Palace Golden Core True Persons. The importance of the Great Mountian Divine Seal was too great to risk. There were quite a few forces comparable to them, and they had to be wary of those dark glances.

The palace master's face turned ashen. In his mind, no price was too high to kill Lin Fei. Yet now, it seems that using the Great Mountian Divine Seal faces too much resistance. Even if he's the palace master, it's not something that can be decided easily. Nevertheless, Lin Fei must be eliminated.

"If we don't use the Great Mountian Divine Seal, we can only awaken the sleeping elders. However, once awakened, they cannot sleep again, and when their time comes, they will inevitably die."

The palace master gritted his teeth and made a decision. The Taiyi Dao Palace had many Golden Core True Persons approaching their end who chose to sleep, their powers sealed, ensuring they wouldn't die. They would only be awakened in times of great peril to the sect. Yet, once awakened, they cannot be sealed again. When their time comes, they will die. This technique is a legacy passed down by Nascent Soul Great Beings, representing the foundation of the Nascent Soul legacies.

But, was it worth paying such a huge price just to kill Lin Fei?

The palace master believed it was. This time, no Golden Core True Person stopped him. Waking the elders might come at a significant cost, but at least it wouldn't shake the foundation of Taiyi Dao Palace.

Therefore, the palace master arrived at the cave where the elders were sealed in their sleep. He cast a spell and the whole cave began to vibrate.

The palace master, along with all the Golden Core True Persons, paid their respects to the cave and shouted, "The 38th generation palace master of Taiyi Dao Palace respectfully requests the awakening of our past elders!"

"Respectfully requests the awakening of our past elders!"

Many Taiyi Dao Palace Golden Core True Persons also cast their spells, the sounds reverberating throughout the cave.

The cave shook violently. Simultaneously, powerful presences seemed to wake from their slumber and erupted with force.

"Has the Taiyi Dao Palace encountered a life-and-death crisis?"

An ancient voice echoed in the ears of the palace master and all the Golden Core True Persons. The past generations of Taiyi Dao Palace's Golden Core True Persons awakened!

327. Treasure Trove

Within the Ancient Origin Sect, it seemed as if the entire world erupted in exultant cheers. Pride and excitement radiated from every face, erasing the shadows that once lingered. And for a very simple reason. Lin Fei had obliterated the Profound Light Cave Heaven. With his power alone, he had completely erased the existence of Profound Light Cave Heaven. For the disciples of the Ancient Origin Sect, the feat was both shocking and exhilarating.

The relationship between the Ancient Origin Sect and Profound Light Cave Heaven could scarcely be termed 'friendly'. Among the three major powers, the two were always in covert and overt contention. Moreover, Profound Light Cave Heaven later "betrayed" the three major powers, siding with Taiyi Dao Palace. This betrayal only deepened the resentment the disciples of the Ancient Origin Sect held against Profound Light Cave Heaven.

Now, with Lin Fei's intervention, the entire Profound Light Cave Heaven was eradicated. Every disciple of the Ancient Origin Sect was jubilant. And with Lin Fei guarding the Ancient Origin Sect, who would fear Taiyi Dao Palace?

At that moment, Lin Fei was in his cavern abode. With him was an acquaintance, Shen Lianxin.

"Brother Lin," Shen began mysteriously, "there's something I've never told you. But now, seeing you have the power to obliterate Profound Light Cave Heaven, it's time you knew."

Curiosity lit Lin Fei's eyes. What secrets could Shen Lianxin harbor? And what had he not yet disclosed?

Without further ado, Shen Lianxin drew a piece of beastskin from his robes and handed it to Lin Fei. When Lin unfolded it, it appeared to be a map—or more specifically, a sea chart. It depicted an immense island, so large that it could almost be called a landmass. Though this land was dwarfed by the vastness of the Ancient Continent, it was, in its own right, significant. Emblazoned upon this piece of land were two words: "Treasure Trove".

Lin Fei was perplexed. How could a treasure map be of any use to him? Surely, Shen Lianxin wouldn't ask him to hunt for treasures. After all, in the realm of martial artists, treasures were not paramount. No treasure could perfect a Martial Saint's saber momentum or elevate one to become a Martial Sovereign.

But then, a thought struck him, "Wait, why does the contour of this land seem so familiar?" It felt as if he'd seen the outline of this "Treasure Trove" somewhere before.

A sudden realization flashed in Lin Fei's mind. The map hanging in the Great Chang royal palace—the depiction of Great Chang and its surroundings—it was identical to the contours on this map. The islands or continents in the vast sea, wasn't Great Chang itself an enormous island or continent amidst the boundless ocean?

In the days of old, Lin Fei and Shen Lianxin left the realm of Great Chang. They voyaged across vast oceans, finally arriving at the Ancient Continent. Indeed, amidst the boundless seas, they were unable to chart their course or mark their journey. For them to find their way back to Great Chang, they'd have to rely heavily on luck.

However, now a nautical chart lay before them, clearly marking the location of Great Chang. If it were accurate, Lin Fei would have a direction to return to Great Chang in the future.

"Brother Shen, does this map depict the Great Chang continent?" Lin Fei inquired, even though he already harbored such suspicions.

Shen Lianxin nodded affirmatively, "Indeed, it represents Great Chang."

"But how did this map come to be?"

Shen Lianxin paused for a moment, then began, "The tale of this map dates back a long, long time. Its inception might have even been ten thousand years ago. According to ancient legends, this map points to a 'Treasure Land', within which lies an artifact of earth-shattering significance. This relic could possibly aid a Golden Core transform into Nascent Soul and a Martial Sovereign to evolve into a Martial King. Perhaps, it could even enable a Nascent Soul Great Being to ascend to an even higher realm. As time passed, these tales grew increasingly embellished. Consequently, many ventured to the sea, heading towards Great Chang. Yet, almost none returned. Those who set sail vanished without a trace."

"This is the lore from the Ancient Continent. But as for the tales of Great Chang, I believe you're familiar with them, Brother Lin," Shen Lianxin continued. "Great Chang once witnessed a cataclysmic battle. Subsequently, many masters, such as the Golden Core True Persons and Martial Sovereigns, departed in succession, claiming they were in pursuit of a greater Dao. But how did they know that sailing the seas would lead to such enlightenment? Perhaps it's because some masters from the Ancient Continent came to Great Chang, clashing with the native martial artists and cultivators of Great Chang. As a result, Great Chang's glory began to wane, and almost everyone capable of leaving did so."

Lin Fei nodded in agreement. Shen Lianxin's analysis was logical and probably aligned with the truth.

"What of this artifact?" Lin Fei pressed further. "Does it truly exist?"

"I'm uncertain," Shen Lianxin admitted. "Despite my inquiries, there seems to be no word of anyone obtaining such an artifact. Brother Lin, do you recall our time in Great Chang, where we were ensnared by glaciers and deserts, unable to find our way out? There's something amiss about Great Chang. Perhaps, the artifact truly exists. I refrained from mentioning this earlier, fearing it might distract you from your cultivation. However, you've now become a peak Martial Sovereign, capable of demolishing even the Profound Light Cave Heaven. Attaining the Martial King status is within your reach. Perhaps, you can discover the treasure hidden within Great Chang, and it might assist you in becoming a Martial King."

Shen Lianxin spoke with a calm tone. Lin Fei glanced at the map in his hand. Clearly, Shen Lianxin might have possessed this map for quite some time. It was, in essence, his own "secret" or perhaps, a stroke of destiny. Yet, Shen Lianxin chose to share it, for he realized that while the treasure would be of no use to him, it was perfectly suited for Lin Fei.

"Brother Shen, my gratitude knows no bounds," Lin Fei expressed with heartfelt sincerity. Words failed him, but this one sentence captured it all.

"When the time comes to return to Great Chang, be sure to bring me along," Shen Lianxin remarked. "I once believed I was unburdened by attachments and could roam anywhere freely. But after spending significant time at Ancient Origin Sect, there are moments when I find myself yearning for Great Chang, longing for its wine and the scenic mountains and waters." With those words, Shen Lianxin turned on his heel and exited the cave dwelling.

The mere utterance of the word "yearning" from Shen Lianxin's lips signified his deep desire to revisit Great Chang, for it was his homeland.

As for Lin Fei, he rose to prominence through his journey in Great Chang. He had many people and matters in Great Chang that tethered his heart.

"Great Chang..." Lin Fei murmured softly to himself. Of course, he too wished to return. His earlier hesitations were merely due to the lack of a map, an absence of a path back. But now, with the nautical chart in hand, revealing the specific route, everything had changed. Lin Fei could return whenever he desired.

However, the looming threat from the Ancient Origin Sect and the Taiyi Dao Palace still persisted. Lin Fei couldn't simply abandon the current situation. He had to deal with the threat of the Taiyi Dao Palace first.

"If I wish to completely neutralize the Taiyi Dao Palace, I must further enhance my prowess," he mused. "Four Divine Abilities are insufficient. I need five or even six top-tier Great Divine Abilities. Ideally, my Saber Domain should achieve perfection."

A glint flashed in Lin Fei's eyes, and a cultivation plan began to crystallize in his mind. Although the advancement of his Saber Domain to perfection seemed momentarily unreachable, the possibility of his Annihilation Divine Ability reaching its zenith was still very much alive. There was a place, he reckoned, that might assist in elevating his Annihilation Divine Ability to its pinnacle.

With a soft "whoosh", Lin Fei took a step, and in a blink, transformed into a streak of light, departing from the Ancient Origin Sect.