The western forest of Cang Yue City was trembling.
The trees swayed violently, enormous branches snapped, and the ground shook as though a colossal earthquake had descended upon the region. Cracks spread across the earth, rocks broke apart, and countless birds and beasts fled in panic.
Yet this was no ordinary natural disaster.
Two extraordinarily powerful auras were colliding in the forest, each attempting to overwhelm the other.
On one side was an endless world of frost.
An icy aura swept across the woodland, freezing everything in its path. Trees became covered in thick layers of ice, their branches turning into frozen sculptures. Even the creatures that had failed to escape were gradually encased in frost. The temperature continued to fall, and the air itself seemed to lose its ability to flow.
On the opposite side was a world of flames.
A blazing aura spread across the forest, burning trees, vegetation, and everything unfortunate enough to be caught within its reach. The earth cracked beneath the tremendous heat, while rocks shattered and the surrounding atmosphere distorted.
The two forces were like separate worlds attempting to devour one another.
Above them, the sky trembled.
Dark clouds gathered, covering the heavens. One side of the sky was dominated by an endless white frost, while the other was illuminated by a fierce crimson blaze.
It was as though two different worlds had collided in the middle of the forest.
And at the centre of this terrifying spectacle stood Yan Feng Luo and the enormous Talismanic Wolf.
Both were suspended in the sky.
The wolf's enormous body radiated a chilling aura. Its eyes were fixed upon its opponent, and the surrounding frost seemed to respond to its every movement.
Yan Feng Luo stood opposite it, his fiery aura blazing around his body.
His expression was no longer relaxed.
Lin Shuan, who had been preparing to enter the cave, glanced toward the battlefield.
His eyes narrowed as he observed the changes in the surrounding environment.
'This is a Rank Seven Talismanic Wolf. It possesses an understanding of the powers it controls, allowing it to influence the surrounding weather according to its will.'
He carefully observed the frost spreading across the forest.
'Although this is my first time witnessing such a sight, I know about it because of Longshe.'
The wolf was not simply releasing cold energy. Its control over its elemental power was affecting the environment itself.
The frost, the falling temperature, and the changes in the sky were all connected to its understanding of its own power.
Lin Shuan turned his attention toward the two figures in the sky.
Yan Feng Luo glanced down at him.
"Lin Shuan!"
His voice travelled through the turbulent atmosphere.
"This wolf is at the peak of Rank Seven! It seems things might become a little troublesome, but I can handle it. Hurry up and go inside. Bring back that icy herb!"
Lin Shuan nodded.
"Alright."
He turned toward the cave entrance and began moving forward.
However, just as he was about to enter, a sharp fluctuation of energy appeared behind him.
A thin, needle-like shard of ice shot through the air.
Its speed was astonishing.
The wolf had launched the attack while Lin Shuan's attention was directed toward the cave.
Yet Lin Shuan's consciousness was already at the Third Stage.
The moment the attack entered his perception, he sensed its trajectory.
His body shifted instantly.
The icy needle passed dangerously close to him and struck the ground nearby, creating a small explosion of frost.
Lin Shuan looked at the place where it had landed.
"Hmph! That was close…"
He glanced at the frozen ground.
"I nearly died just now."
His words carried a hint of irritation, although he was clearly unharmed.
In the sky, Yan Feng Luo had witnessed everything.
His gaze immediately turned toward the wolf.
The beast had actually turned its attention toward Lin Shuan, completely ignoring the person standing directly before it.
Yan Feng Luo's expression darkened.
His fiery eyes narrowed, and the flames around his body suddenly surged.
"You should remember something…"
His voice became colder.
"Your opponent is me!"
The next instant, his aura erupted.
"Fire Vortex!"
BOOOOM!
A tremendous pillar of flames descended from the sky.
It stretched from the heavens to the earth, forming an enormous blazing vortex that surrounded the Talismanic Wolf.
The fire rotated violently, creating a terrifying storm of flames. Its enormous body seemed to connect the sky and the ground, while waves of scorching energy spread in every direction.
The surrounding trees were instantly engulfed.
The ground beneath the vortex began to crack, and the air distorted beneath the tremendous heat.
The Talismanic Wolf was caught within the fiery storm.
Its enormous body staggered slightly as the flames pressed against it from every direction.
For a moment, the beast seemed to have lost its balance.
However, it was a peak Rank Seven Talismanic Beast.
Such an attack was not enough to defeat it.
The wolf lowered its head, and its enormous limbs gathered power. A terrifying wave of icy energy condensed around its feet.
Then it struck the ground within the vortex.
BOOOOM!
A tremendous wave of frost erupted.
The flames surrounding the beast began freezing.
The enormous fire vortex, which had been raging moments earlier, gradually turned into a frozen structure. Cracks spread through the icy flames before the entire formation shattered into countless fragments.
The frozen pieces scattered through the sky.
Yan Feng Luo watched the scene carefully.
His expression became serious.
'Ordinary techniques won't be enough.'
He had already understood that the wolf possessed exceptional control over its icy power. Even a powerful technique such as Fire Vortex could not hold it for long.
His right hand moved.
Flames gathered around his palm, rapidly condensing into a long spear.
The weapon grew brighter with every passing moment, and its scorching aura caused the surrounding temperature to rise once more.
The Talismanic Wolf raised its head.
Its eyes fixed upon Yan Feng Luo with the sharp gaze of a hunter observing its prey.
The two powerful beings faced one another in the sky.
Neither showed any intention of retreating.
Meanwhile, Lin Shuan had already realised that the battle was becoming increasingly intense.
He glanced once toward Yan Feng Luo.
'He should be able to hold it.'
Without wasting any more time, Lin Shuan turned around and entered the cave.
The moment he crossed the entrance, the temperature changed dramatically.
A cold breeze brushed against his face.
The cave was considerably deeper than it appeared from outside. Its walls were uneven and rugged, covered in thick layers of white frost. Countless ice crystals had formed across the rocky surfaces, reflecting the faint light with a beautiful yet eerie glow.
Lin Shuan continued forward.
His footsteps echoed through the narrow passage.
The deeper he travelled, the colder the atmosphere became.
The walls were almost entirely covered in white ice, and the ground beneath his feet was slippery. Occasionally, he noticed enormous ice crystals protruding from the walls, their sharp surfaces resembling frozen blades.
He carefully examined his surroundings.
There was no sign of the medicinal herb.
He continued walking.
Several minutes passed.
Yet the passage showed no indication of ending.
Lin Shuan finally slowed down and looked ahead.
"How long is this cave?"
His voice echoed through the passage.
"Is there really a medicinal herb here?"
He looked toward the seemingly endless darkness ahead.
For a moment, he considered whether the information sent by the Merchant Organization might have been incomplete.
Nevertheless, he decided to continue a little farther.
He took another step.
BOOOOM!
The entire cave suddenly shook.
An enormous tremor travelled through the passage, and the ground beneath Lin Shuan's feet violently shifted.
He immediately steadied himself.
"What happened?"
Another tremor followed.
The walls shook, and thick layers of ice began breaking away from the rocky surfaces. Large chunks of frozen material fell to the ground, creating loud crashing sounds.
Lin Shuan looked upward.
'Could this be because of their battle outside?'
Considering the terrifying auras he had sensed before entering, it was not difficult to imagine that their clash was powerful enough to affect the surrounding region.
However, something else caught his attention.
As the ice covering the walls fell away, the rocky surfaces beneath became visible.
And upon those surfaces were strange markings.
Ancient markings.
Lin Shuan stopped walking.
His gaze fixed upon them.
He had encountered such symbols many times before. Their unusual patterns and ancient structure were familiar enough that he could immediately recognise them as something far older than the cave itself.
'These markings…'
He moved closer.
The symbols had been carved into the walls, and although many were partially damaged, their original structure was still visible.
Before Lin Shuan could examine them more carefully, a faint light emerged from one of the markings.
Then another.
And another.
Soon, the ancient symbols began glowing one after another.
A strange fluctuation spread throughout the passage.
Lin Shuan's expression changed.
The ground beneath him suddenly cracked.
CRACK!
A massive fissure opened beneath his feet.
"Wait—!"
Before he could react, the surface collapsed completely.
Lin Shuan lost his footing and fell into the darkness below.
The sound of falling rocks echoed around him as he descended through the broken ground.
A moment later—
THUD!
His body struck the snowy surface below.
For a brief moment, everything became quiet.
Lin Shuan remained on the ground, surrounded by white snow.
Then he slowly pushed himself up.
A mouthful of snow had entered his mouth during the fall.
He coughed several times and spat it out.
"Kh… Kh…"
He wiped his mouth and looked around.
"What kind of place is this?"
But before he could examine his surroundings properly, something unusual happened.
His Frost Divine Heart began beating rapidly.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
The rhythm was unusually powerful.
Lin Shuan's expression changed.
He immediately placed a hand over his chest.
The Frost Divine Heart had reacted to something.
It was not an ordinary fluctuation. Its beating carried a distinct feeling, almost like a warning—or perhaps a signal calling him toward something.
Lin Shuan looked into the distance.
His eyes narrowed.
'What is it trying to tell me?'
He slowly removed his hand from his chest and began walking forward.
The world before him was completely different from the cave passage above.
It was an immense white domain.
Endless snow stretched across the landscape, and enormous ice formations rose from the ground like frozen mountains. The sky was pale, and a terrifying cold permeated every corner of this place.
It was a world in which an ordinary human could not survive.
The temperature was so extreme that even breathing would become difficult for an ordinary person. The icy wind swept across the frozen land without interruption, carrying countless tiny ice crystals through the air.
There was no visible vegetation.
No ordinary living creatures.
Only an endless expanse of snow and ice.
Lin Shuan continued walking.
His Frost Divine Heart remained active, beating more rapidly whenever he moved in a particular direction.
Yet despite travelling for some time, he still could not find the medicinal herb.
He stopped.
His gaze swept across the enormous frozen landscape.
'There is no sign of the herb.'
He had already travelled a considerable distance, but nothing resembling the seventeen-thousand-year-old medicinal herb had appeared before him.
He considered his options.
Then his thoughts shifted toward an ability he had obtained after his rebirth in the Primordial Garden.
His Spiritual Eye.
Lin Shuan's expression became focused.
'Let's see how far I can perceive.'
He activated his Spiritual Eye.
His perception spread outward.
One hundred metres.
He examined the surrounding ice formations and the distant frozen ground.
Nothing.
Five hundred metres.
Still nothing.
One kilometre.
No medicinal herb.
His perception continued expanding.
Ten kilometres.
One hundred kilometres.
The frozen world stretched endlessly before his senses, yet the herb remained nowhere to be found.
Lin Shuan frowned.
'Even at this distance, there is nothing?'
He did not immediately give up.
Instead, he gathered his consciousness.
His Third Stage Consciousness Realm surged outward, extending his perception far beyond what his Spiritual Eye had previously revealed.
One thousand kilometres.
His consciousness swept across the frozen world.
Then—
Something appeared.
Far away, within the endless white landscape, stood a tremendous pillar.
It rose from the frozen earth and extended toward the sky.
Its surface emitted a faint, mysterious glow, making it visible even from an extraordinary distance.
Lin Shuan's attention immediately locked onto it.
"What is that…?"
He stared at the distant pillar.
"Let's take a look."
He did not know whether it was connected to the herb, but the structure was clearly unusual.
His body began gathering energy.
A moment later, lightning spread across his figure.
The Lightning Immortal Path Technique activated.
Zzzzt!
White lightning enveloped his body.
The next instant, he vanished from his original position.
His speed became astonishing.
He crossed the frozen landscape like a streak of lightning, moving past enormous ice formations and snow-covered terrain.
Within one hundred breaths, he reached the distant location.
And what appeared before him left him momentarily speechless.
It was a ruin.
An enormous ancient ruin buried within the frozen world.
At its centre stood a gigantic pillar.
Lin Shuan slowed down.
His eyes moved across the structure.
The pillar was enormous, and its appearance immediately reminded him of something familiar.
The pillars within the Lin Clan.
His gaze sharpened.
He remembered those pillars clearly.
Back in the Lin Clan, such structures had been capable of releasing powerful energy. The clan members would sit near them and cultivate, drawing upon the energy they emitted to strengthen themselves.
Those pillars were an important part of the clan's cultivation environment.
And the pillar before him bore a striking resemblance to them.
Yet there were differences.
This pillar appeared much older.
Its surface carried signs of age, and the energy fluctuations surrounding it were faint.
Near the pillar was a raised platform.
However, the platform was severely damaged.
Its surface was broken in several places, and traces of what seemed to have once been an enormous arena remained visible.
Lin Shuan looked around.
The arrangement of the ruins suggested that this place had once been used for combat.
Perhaps a battlefield.
Perhaps a place where cultivators had gathered to compete.
He slowly approached the pillar.
'This pillar resembles the one in my clan…'
He examined its surface.
'But I can't sense any power within it.'
His brows drew together.
The pillar seemed almost lifeless.
There was no obvious energy circulating through it, and its surface appeared completely dormant.
Nevertheless, Lin Shuan felt an inexplicable curiosity.
He extended his hand.
The instant his fingers touched the pillar—
WHOOSH!
His expression changed dramatically.
A tremendous suction force erupted from within the structure.
His Spiritual Power began rushing out of his body.
At the same time, the Luo Power within him was also drawn toward the pillar.
"What?!"
Lin Shuan's eyes widened.
He immediately tried to withdraw his hand.
But his palm seemed to have been firmly attached to the pillar.
He could not pull away.
The suction force became stronger.
His Spiritual Power and Luo Power poured into the pillar as though they were being absorbed by an endless abyss.
Lin Shuan's expression grew tense.
'What is happening?!'
He attempted to circulate his energy and resist the pull.
But the pillar continued absorbing his power.
The more energy it consumed, the brighter its surface became.
Ancient markings appeared across its body.
One after another, they began illuminating.
The entire ruin trembled.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
A tremendous burst of white light erupted from the pillar.
A terrifying blizzard swept across the frozen world.
The storm rose toward the heavens, tearing through the sky like an enormous white dragon.
The surrounding ice formations shook violently, and the snow-covered land trembled beneath the overwhelming power.
Then a dragon's roar echoed through the heavens.
ROOOOOAAAR!
The sound was so powerful that the entire frozen world seemed to tremble.
Lin Shuan's hand finally separated from the pillar.
He staggered backward slightly and immediately raised his head.
His eyes widened.
Above the pillar, an enormous white figure had appeared.
A dragon.
A gigantic, ancient White Ice Dragon.
Its body stretched across the heavens, covering the sky like an enormous mountain range. Its length was approximately ten thousand metres, and its immense presence made the surrounding frozen world appear insignificant.
Its scales were pure white, each one reflecting the cold light of the frozen domain.
Its enormous body moved through the sky, surrounded by an endless storm of frost.
Its eyes were ancient.
Its aura was overwhelming.
And its roar continued to shake the entire world.
Lin Shuan stared at it.
For a moment, he could barely believe what he was seeing.
He recognised that dragon.
His lips parted, and his voice emerged with disbelief.
"Th-this… Dragon!"
He looked up at the enormous figure.
"Why is it here…?"
Before he could think further, the pillar beneath him shone once again.
A wave of energy surged outward.
The Spiritual Power and Luo Power that had been drawn from Lin Shuan's body began returning to him.
The energy flowed back into his meridians, restoring what had been absorbed.
At the same time, the enormous White Ice Dragon began fading.
Its gigantic figure gradually disappeared into the storm.
The blizzard slowly calmed.
And in the space where the dragon had appeared, something else emerged.
A technique.
It floated in the air for a brief moment before moving toward Lin Shuan.
He instinctively raised his hand.
The technique entered his palm.
Several ancient characters appeared before his eyes.
Sky Dragon Smash Technique.
Lin Shuan stared at the name.
His expression changed.
"This is the Sky Dragon Smash Technique…"
He examined the technique carefully.
"Could this have belonged to the ancient Lin Clan?"
His gaze shifted toward the pillar.
"What exactly is this pillar? It nearly absorbed all my power…"
He was still trying to understand what had happened when a golden shadow appeared beside him.
The figure gradually took shape.
It was Tian Wuchen.
The golden shadow looked toward the pillar and then at Lin Shuan.
"Lin Shuan…"
His voice carried a seriousness that was unusual even for him.
"This is not the Lin Clan I knew."
Lin Shuan turned toward him.
"Master, what do you mean?"
Tian Wuchen did not immediately answer.
Instead, he raised his head and looked toward the sky.
"Look at this world's heavens. Their end cannot be seen."
Lin Shuan followed his gaze.
The sky was vast, extending far beyond what ordinary perception could comprehend.
Tian Wuchen continued.
"That is because this place is broken. It has merged with the Void."
His expression became thoughtful.
"It seems that some of the people who were saved in that ancient era eventually returned here and established another Lin Clan."
Lin Shuan's eyes widened.
He looked toward the enormous pillar again.
Then he looked at the ruined platform.
A powerful realisation emerged in his mind.
"This is the legacy of the Ancient Lin Clan…!"
Tian Wuchen nodded.
"Judging from its structure, this appears to be a platform for combat competitions. And that pillar…"
His gaze settled on the enormous structure.
"…is a method of testing your strength."
Lin Shuan listened carefully.
"You awakened it and have already participated in its trial. However, it seems this technique will not be given to you so easily."
He glanced at the technique in Lin Shuan's hand.
"Even if it is the second part of the Sky Dragon Smash Technique, you will still have to prove yourself worthy of obtaining it."
Tian Wuchen had barely finished speaking when a deep, ancient voice suddenly echoed throughout the frozen world.
"Who will challenge the participant?"
Lin Shuan's expression changed.
He turned toward the sky.
Several figures began appearing above the ruined platform.
Their bodies were surrounded by powerful auras, and each one carried the unmistakable presence of an Immortal Seed cultivator.
One voice spoke.
"I will!"
Another followed immediately.
"Let me challenge him!"
"I will do it!"
Their voices overlapped, echoing throughout the frozen world.
Lin Shuan stared at them.
There were three figures.
Three Immortal Seed Rank cultivators.
And their auras were extraordinary.
Two of them were at the Third Star of the Immortal Seed Rank.
The remaining one was at the Second Star.
Lin Shuan's expression froze.
For a moment, he nearly stumbled backward.
"Th-these are Immortal Seed Rank cultivators!"
His eyes moved from one figure to another.
"And not just one… there are three of them?!"
He turned toward Tian Wuchen.
"Do I have to fight all of them?"
Tian Wuchen suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
Lin Shuan looked at him with an expression that seemed to ask whether the situation was really amusing.
Tian Wuchen shook his head.
"What? Are you afraid of people from your own clan?"
Lin Shuan remained silent.
Tian Wuchen continued, his voice carrying a teasing edge.
"Don't forget, you are now the head of the Lin Clan."
He looked directly at Lin Shuan.
"Do you intend to trample upon the position of your own clan head like this?"
His expression gradually became serious.
"You claim to belong to the Lin Clan. Then show me whether you possess the capability of your ancestors."
He paused.
"What face will you show Lin Xin Jian if you retreat now?"
The name struck Lin Shuan deeply.
For a moment, his expression changed.
He looked toward the three figures suspended in the sky.
Then his gaze shifted to the enormous pillar behind him.
The ancient platform.
The mysterious ruins.
The legacy of the Ancient Lin Clan.
He was not merely standing before three powerful opponents.
He was standing within the legacy of his ancestors.
And he was the current head of the Lin Clan.
The clan that had once possessed such an extraordinary history had fallen into ruin. Its name had lost its former glory, and its descendants had struggled to survive.
But that did not mean its legacy had ended.
Lin Shuan slowly clenched his fist.
The technique in his hand seemed to carry the weight of an ancient promise.
His eyes became resolute.
"I am Lin Shuan…"
His voice was calm at first.
Then it grew stronger.
"I will not allow the Lin Clan to perish like this!"
He looked toward the ancient platform.
"I will fight!"
Without another moment of hesitation, Lin Shuan leapt onto the platform.
His white robes fluttered as he landed before the ancient pillar.
He raised his head toward the three figures in the sky.
Then, with a solemn expression, he clasped his hands and bowed.
"Ancestors… Elders…"
His voice echoed across the frozen world.
"I am Lin Shuan, a member of the Lin Clan."
He paused, gathering his resolve.
"Please guide me, so that I may one day teach a lesson to the one who brought our clan to this state!"