Chapter 500: Encountering the Yuan Gate Experts Again
"Devouring Hall…" Lin Langtian committed the name firmly to memory. It seemed that place would be where all factions eventually gathered.
"However, if my guess isn't wrong, the Devouring Hall should still be guarded by the three other Pavilion Masters," Ren Xing said slowly.
"Three Pavilion Masters?" Lin Langtian asked curiously.
"In the past, the Devouring Temple was led by the Palace Master, under whom were four Pavilion Masters named after the four directions—East, South, West, and North. I was the East Pavilion Master," Ren Xing said with a complicated expression. "As for the other three Pavilion Masters, they probably ended up just like me before, completely losing their minds."
Lin Langtian's eyes flickered slightly. Inside that hall, there were still three demon corpses whose strength matched Ren Xing's peak. That meant there were three more peak-level Profound Death stage experts guarding the hall. It would definitely be challenging to get past them.
"Whether you can inherit the Palace Master's legacy depends entirely on your fate, young friend," Ren Xing continued, "You bear the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, so if you truly manage to enter the Devouring Realm, you'll likely gain the Palace Master's favor."
Hearing this, Lin Langtian breathed a sigh of relief. Now, it seemed the only remaining difficulty was how to enter that Devouring Realm.
"Haha, thanks to you, young friend, my consciousness has finally returned. I have no way to repay such great kindness, except by offering this broken body of mine," Ren Xing laughed freely, and suddenly a dazzling black glow erupted from his body. A wild and powerful fluctuation gradually spread outward.
Amidst this dazzling brilliance, an Energy Crystal about ten feet in diameter began forming, exuding an incomparably pure energy. It was far stronger than anything Lin Langtian had previously encountered.
As this happened, Ren Xing's figure gradually turned illusory. Yet, within the shimmering light, the massive Energy Crystal solidified, releasing a terrifying aura.
"Young friend, please accept this final gift of mine," Ren Xing smiled warmly, gratitude and freedom evident in his eyes. He knew that once his form vanished, he would disappear completely from this world.
"Farewell, senior," Lin Langtian respectfully bowed deeply. Although he hadn't known Ren Xing long, the elder's indifferent attitude toward life and death filled him with deep respect.
"Young friend, if you gather all three pieces of the token you possess, you will also be able to control the Devouring Realm. If you truly wish to inherit the Palace Master's legacy, you must find all parts of that token."
As Ren Xing's figure completely dissipated within the black light, his husky voice gently echoed out.
"This junior understands," Lin Langtian replied softly, watching Ren Xing's fading figure with a slight sense of loss.
A short while later, Lin Langtian deeply inhaled, calming his turbulent emotions before turning his gaze to the Energy Crystal radiating powerful black energy in front of him.
This Energy Crystal was at least ten times larger than those he'd obtained previously, and the energy contained within was exceptionally pure and potent. Even Lin Langtian felt slightly moved by its strength.
"Truly worthy of the crystal formed by a powerhouse who was half a step into the Reincarnation stage," Lin Langtian sighed emotionally.
Ren Xing's body had been tempered for a thousand years at the bottom of that energy lake. Every muscle fiber had been infused with pure energy. Now completely condensed into this crystal, its purity had reached a frightening level.
However, despite its immense power, Lin Langtian didn't immediately absorb it. He was currently at the Half-step Profound Death stage, and his next breakthrough required not only pure and powerful energy but also refining "Death Qi." This was something the crystal alone couldn't accomplish immediately. Therefore, it would be wiser to save this crystal for the right moment.
Deciding this, Lin Langtian waved his sleeve, placing the enormous crystal into his Qiankun Bag. With a thought, he then dispersed the protective barrier around him.
Whoosh!
With the barrier gone, Lin Langtian's figure emerged clearly on the ground below.
"Brother Langtian!"
"My Lord!"
Outside, Mu Lingshan had grown impatient from waiting, and upon seeing Lin Langtian appear, joy immediately flashed in her large eyes. Liu Da and the others quickly bowed respectfully.
Lin Langtian smiled at Mu Lingshan and the others, relieved to see that nothing had happened during his absence. There were numerous treasure-seekers inside this cave, and if any of them had discovered Lin Langtian's treasure, trouble would certainly follow.
"Brother Langtian, did you resolve the demon corpse?" Mu Lingshan asked curiously, glancing behind him. The troublesome demon corpse they'd encountered earlier was nowhere in sight.
"Yes. I removed the demonic energy from that senior's body. But he was merely a remnant soul—once his obsession faded, he completely vanished," Lin Langtian replied with a gentle smile.
"Brother Langtian is amazing!" Mu Lingshan giggled sweetly. She knew very well that the demon corpse had strength equivalent to a peak-level Profound Death expert, and fighting it would have given them a headache.
"It was just luck," Lin Langtian chuckled, gently patting Mu Lingshan's head. If not for Ren Xing retaining a sliver of consciousness, removing the demon Qi wouldn't have been so straightforward.
"Where to next?" Mu Lingshan looked around, eyes curious.
"Directly to the deepest part of the cave," Lin Langtian said, gazing toward the horizon. From Ren Xing, he now knew where the Palace Master's inheritance was located—the Devouring Hall would surely be where everyone congregated.
"Let's go." Lin Langtian waved his hand. They had already lost half a day here, and further delays might allow factions like the Deep Sea Xuanjiao Clan and Flame God Temple to arrive at the Devouring Hall first. Though Lin Langtian wasn't overly concerned, caution was always better.
With that, Lin Langtian moved swiftly, transforming into a streak of rainbow light, while Mu Lingshan and the others quickly followed.
…
Along their journey, although signs of various treasures appeared with many experts gathered around them, Lin Langtian didn't stop this time, heading directly toward the depths.
After traveling all night, as dawn broke, the skies gradually darkened, filled with ominous black vortexes emanating powerful gravitational forces. The deeper they went, the more violent these forces became.
"This devouring force is growing more intense," Lin Langtian murmured, perched on a giant tree crown and looking into the oppressive, dark sky above.
"Brother Langtian, there are more powerful auras around," Mu Lingshan said, scanning their surroundings carefully.
Lin Langtian nodded slightly. He also sensed numerous powerful presences nearby. Clearly, these hidden experts were now beginning to show themselves as the Devouring Hall drew closer.
"Everyone's finally making their move," Lin Langtian muttered. He'd long expected hidden dragons and crouching tigers among those drawn to this cave.
Soon after, they stopped abruptly. Ahead lay vast black plains marred by enormous cracks and deep chasms, clearly indicating a past battle of unimaginable scale.
"This place witnessed a terrifying battle," Lin Langtian said softly, deeply moved by the catastrophic destruction. This must have been the battleground between the Devouring Temple and the Yimo.
"Where is the Devouring Hall?" Mu Lingshan asked, puzzled.
Lin Langtian, sensing something, looked upward, pointing at a vast mass of black clouds. "It's above, within those clouds."
"Above?" Mu Lingshan exclaimed.
Lin Langtian ascended swiftly, closely followed by his group. As they approached the black clouds, the devouring force intensified greatly. Finally, through the swirling black mist, they saw a colossal, majestic dark temple standing silently among the clouds, emanating ancient grandeur.
"The Devouring Hall…" Lin Langtian breathed deeply, eyes burning with anticipation. Obtaining this inheritance would tremendously benefit both him and Tianfu Palace.
Scanning the surroundings, Lin Langtian spotted many powerful factions gathered already, including the Deep Sea Xuanjiao Clan and Flame God Temple.
Not far away, Ao Xuan's expression darkened at the sight of Lin Langtian, evidently surprised he'd survived the encounter with the peak-level demon corpse. Tang Xinlian offered a subtle smile, recognizing Lin Langtian's capability.
As Lin Langtian was about to withdraw his gaze, his eyes suddenly sharpened, locking onto three elderly figures in black-and-white robes staring coldly at him. Lin Langtian's face instantly darkened upon recognizing their robes.
"Yuan Gate!"
These three were no strangers to him—they were the leaders of the Heaven, Earth, and Man divisions of Yuan Gate. Surprisingly, their strength had all reached peak-level Profound Death stage!
Clearly, Yuan Gate had dispatched them specifically to deal with him.
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