The Prodigies War
chapter-540

Lin Xun was in deep thought in the room.

He felt a little uneasy after meeting Xiao Ran, Su Xingfeng, Yun Che, Wen Xiang and Gong Yangyu, who were all such peerless geniuses.

Ancient Wasteland Domain!

What kind of vast and sacred land of cultivation is it?

“I must make good use of time to raise my strength...”

After a long moment, he took a deep breath, and his black eyes restored their usual calmness. His mind also became clear and free of distracting thoughts.

Xiao Ran and the others might be dazzling, but he wouldn’t be affected by them. Even if he hadn’t reached the Heaven Ascension Stage, he wasn’t the slightest bit afraid of Xiao Ran or anyone else!

He had firm belief and confidence in his cultivation. Without a strong will, determination and ambition, it would be difficult to achieve anything on the cultivation path.

Hu—

Lin Xun’s breathing became long and relaxed as he slipped into a meditative state, comprehending and grasping the wisp of water imago power.

In his Spirit was an almost imperceptible ripple of calm water. It was a fluctuation of the Dao, a type of mysterious truth of the Great Dao.

Lin Xun speculated that once he completely grasped the wisp of water imago power, he could begin to attack the Heaven Ascension Stage!

Heaven Ascension!

A great cultivation realm that allowed a cultivator to undergo significant transformation. Cultivators able to reach the Heaven Ascension Stage would be able to comprehend and manipulate the Great Dao of heaven and earth, as well as open up a void hole in their body.

Void hole?

The void hole was like a cave dwelling of the great void, the embryonic form of one’s great dao. Once successfully refined, the imago power that a cultivator had mastered, as well as their insights, knowledge and martial arts would be stamped inside!

After the transformation, it became the Heaven Ascension Cave Dwelling!

The void hole that held the embryonic form of the great dao was akin to a world opening up in a cultivator’s body. That was the Heaven Ascension Stage!

The cave-dwelling gathered a cultivator’s everything—great dao imago power, comprehension, insights, knowledge and cultivation. The stronger a cultivator’s heaven ascension cave dwelling, the stronger and more terrifying the power they could mobilize.

Only those able to reach that stage were regarded as great cultivators.

The title represented transcendent power!

The most significant and obvious change after reaching that stage was that the lifespan would be extended to six hundred years...

Previously, Lin Xun could have stepped into the Heaven Ascension Stage, but when he accidentally grasped a wisp of water imago power, he felt that his Spirit Sea Stage was incomplete, so he decided to perfect it before making the breakthrough.

In short, Lin Xun wanted his spirit, physique and imago power to achieve ultimate perfection before he underwent a transformation of the Heaven Ascension Stage!

……

Half a day later.

The treasure ship finally came to the easterly borders of the empire, and a boundless sea came into view.

The sea was so vast it seemed connected to the sky. But it was strangely black, unstable and roaring endlessly. Waves lifted high up into the air and crashed down like thunder.

It was the Spirit Burial Sea!

The mysterious and terrifying sea region was well known not only in the Ziyao Empire but also the Darkness Kingdom.

The reason being that the sea was too vast and riddled with dangers and deadly disasters. The turbulent flow of air could shatter space, and the violent lightning could obliterate the world. At the bottom of the sea were terrifying volcanoes erupting, tsunamis, whirlpools and vortex storms...

Additionally, in the depths of the Spirit Burial Sea were ferocious underwater beasts, demons, monsters, spirits and ghosts...as well as some grotesque creatures from ancient times!

For thousands of years, the Spirit Burial Sea had been regarded as a forbidden place. Even mentioning it made many people’s faces pale. In fact, even a Life Death Stage King wouldn’t recklessly enter the area.

There were rumors that the Spirit Burial Sea had long existed since ancient times, and countless heroic souls were buried there.

There was a more exaggerated rumor that the vast and mysterious Spirit Burial Sea was formed from the teardrop of an immortal.

However, no one had been able to determine its reliability.

Fortunately, there was a three-month dormant period in the Spirit Burial Sea every year. During that period, many adventurers from the empire would search for opportunities in the Spirit Burial Sea.

Although this expanse of sea was terrifying, it was relatively safe as long as one did not travel into the depths. There might be countless deadly dangers, but there were also many rare treasures such as fire coral, sea jade, and sea essence.

However, the Spirit Burial Sea was still in a period of turmoil, so it was deathly quiet and deserted when Lin Xun and the others arrived on the treasure ship. Not a single figure was in sight.

“This is the Spirit Burial Sea? According to ancient records, this place is full of great dangers and is extremely mysterious.”

Xiao Ran, Su Xingfeng, Yun Che, Wen Xiang and others scanned the Spirit Burial Sea from the deck of the ship, amazement flickering across their faces.

The scene formed from the turbulent air above the Spirit Burial Sea, the roaming lightning and the roaring wind, was beyond terrifying!

A strange feeling surged in Lin Xun’s heart. He had once fallen into a space vortex and was brought to an ancient ruin in the depths of the Spirit Burial Sea. It was there that he met the Azure Turtle and learned that he had been trapped there for thousands of years.

However, only now did he realize that the Spirit Burial Sea was more terrifying than he had thought!

Immediately, a thought struck his mind. Is it possible that the secret realm that the people from Spirit Treasure Holy Land are looking for is the ancient ruins where the Azure Turtle was trapped?

As such a thought came to his mind, he couldn’t help but frown. He remembered that the Azure Turtle was trapped on the first level of the ruins!

Azure Turtle had personally told him that there were many levels in the ruins, but the prohibition seals on these levels were deadly and there was only a slim chance of surviving.

When Lin Xun left the ancient ruins, he had already planned to return to further explore the area.

However, he never thought that he would return in less than two years, only that he was acting as a servant and following Zhao Jingxuan’s orders.

“A dangerous place such as the Spirit Burial Sea is extremely rare in the Ancient Wasteland Domain. This lower domain world is not ordinary...” an old voice suddenly sounded, followed by an old man with a beard and hair whiter than snow stepping out of the cabin.

Xiao Ran and the others immediately greeted him with the utmost respect.

The servants were even more respectful. They stood to one side and dared not to breathe loudly.

Naturally, the old man was Elder Gao Yang from Spirit Treasure Holy Land, a powerful cultivator at the pinnacle of the Cyclic Derivation Stage.

Lin Xun couldn’t help but feel awe in his heart. He only caught a glimpse of the old man when he set foot on the treasure ship. But now that he saw him from a closer distance, he felt strangely oppressed as though a dazzling god had descended upon the world.

So strong!

Lin Xun had come across Cyclic Derivation Stage cultivators before, such as Third Old Zhu, and had killed Lin Feifeng, a powerful Cyclic Derivation figure of the older generation.

But compared to Elder Gao Yang, they were like fireflies. The difference in strength between them was too great.

Lin Xun even felt that Elder Gao Yang was comparable to Shui Qianshan, a Life Death Stage King from the Darkness Kingdom!

Lin Xun trembled inwardly. Elder Gao Yang’s imposing bearing was as terrifying as that of a Life Death Stage King.

According to Zhao Jingxuan, Elder Gao Yang was a top figure of Spirit Treasure Holy Land. His cultivation was unfathomable, and rumor had it that he had long become a Life Death Stage King.

“Elder, is there truly something extraordinary about this lower domain world? It doesn’t seem that impressive.” Su Xingfeng frowned.

He looked down on the lower domain worlds and couldn’t help but disagree with Elder Gao Yang.

“The great dao of this lower domain world is damaged, so it can’t be compared with the Ancient Wasteland Domain, but do you know what caused the incomplete great dao?”

Elder Gao Yang’s words caused everyone to fall into contemplation.

The question touched upon the mysteries of heaven and earth, a level beyond their grasp.

“When you reach my level, you will understand that this lower domain world isn’t as bad as you think. This is proven by the fact that it has survived to the present age from ancient times. Unfortunately, many mighty people have come to investigate this area in the past to find out the reason, but they all went back empty-handed.”

Elder Gao Yang peered at the Spirit Burial Sea from afar. His deep and unfathomable eyes seemed able to penetrate all things in the world. “For example, the Spirit Burial Sea also has many secrets that hadn’t been discovered.”

Lin Xun also fell into deep thought. It was the first time he heard a terrifying influential figure look at the lower domain world from such a perspective.

“Elder is right. The ancient ruins we are about to explore are rumored to be left by a deva from ancient times. It’s almost impossible to find someone able to cultivate to the saint stage in the present Ancient Wasteland Domain,” Xiao Ran said aloud.

Dressed in plain white clothes, he exuded an ethereal demeanor and charm that could not be ignored.

“Yes, now, very few people have been able to pass the nine immortality tribulations, let alone embark on the Saint path. It is indeed too difficult...” Elder Gao Yang sighed.

“The deva is a figure of ancient times after all. When the war of the great age happens in a hundred years, the world will change, and many peerless geniuses will emerge from our generation. Someone will no doubt soar to the top, pass the immortality tribulation, and step onto the Saint Path!” Wen Xiang exclaimed.

His voice was young but resolute and resounding.

Gao Yang’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “Indeed, so you have to take advantage of the next hundred years to grow as strong as possible. The heaven-blessed opportunity will create an unprecedented prosperous world of cultivation. Whoever can seize the opportunity will leap to the top and create a legend that transcends time!”

The eyes of Xiao Ran, Yun Che, Wen Xiang, Su Xingfeng, Zhao Jingxuan and Gong Yangyu were all full of longing.

Even the servants were stirred up. The war of the great age would create a legendary path, so which cultivator would not yearn for it?

Lin Xun was also fired up, but he quickly calmed down. The war of the great age also symbolized an age of great danger. The competition would no doubt be brutal and fierce with the rise of so many geniuses!

It was already difficult to survive the many dangerous competitions until the arrival of the great age in a hundred years!

Who would be able to guarantee they would be alive then? Who could guarantee that they would become a Life Death Stage King?

Even if they become a Life Death King Stage, who could guarantee they could seize the opportunity of the great age?

It would be difficult!

Too difficult!

Enthusiasm alone wouldn’t be enough.

“The reason I brought you all here to explore the Deva Secret Domain is an arrangement made by the sect for you to rise as soon as possible.”

Elder Gao Yang said in a leisurely voice, “But you all have to remember that all opportunities there are up to you to fight for them yourself!"

Xiao Ran and the others already knew so their expressions remained very calm.

“Let’s go!”

Without further delay, Elder Gao Yang waved his sleeve and took control of the treasure ship. He steered the ship directly into the Spirit Burial Sea.

Rumble—

Lin Xun felt as if he was teleporting. Mysterious ancient Daoist patterns flowed around the ship, turning into a dazzling light screen and completely enveloping the ship.

An invisible force dissolved the thunder, lightning and storms that filled the sky above the Spirit Burial Sea as they approached the ship.

The most incredible thing was that the ship showed no hesitation or intention of evading the space-time turbulent zone ahead!

Hiss!

Lin Xun gasped. The turbulent flow of air was extremely terrifying and could trap and kill even Cyclic Derivation experts and Life Death Stage Kings!

However, the ship shuttled straight through...

Lin Xun realized that the ship was a secret treasure with unimaginable powers!

Spirit Treasure Holy Land came prepared to enter the Deva Secret Domain.

A bizarre scene came into Lin Xun’s eyes. Regardless of how the thunderstorms raged in the sky and the storms wreaked havoc in the sea, mysterious Daoist patterns around the ship obliterated them all!

After a few minutes, the ship slowed and the scene ahead changed.

The black sea had become deathly still without a single ripple. The storms, thunder and turbulent airflow were gone. It suddenly became eerily quiet!

However, the stark change did not make them feel at ease. Instead, everyone felt a stifling sense of danger.

Elder Gao Yang’s expression turned solemn.