The Prodigies War

The greatest truth was the simplest. During the battle, Lin Xun's mind was clear and serene. Every movement, every action, encompassed countless principles and techniques, yet all were seamlessly integrated into a single, effortless punch or palm strike. It was like the fading of all worldly splendor, revealing the natural essence of the dao.

Tian Wu’s path is based on destruction, yet he can forge a path to eternity through destruction. He is truly a genius of unparalleled talent, rarely seen throughout history...

During the battle, Lin Xun could clearly perceive Tian Wu's power of the great dao. Defeating him actually wouldn't require much effort, but he didn't immediately go to that. He was calmly experiencing this struggle between two daos.

This battle lasted for a long time. After a full day and night, Tian Wu's figure dissipated like a wisp of smoke. He hadn’t been suppressed or defeated, but rather his power of the great dao had been completely exhausted, causing him to vanish.

Once the battle ended, everyone present was stunned, their expressions a mixture of shock and bewilderment. They were shocked that even the powerful dao of Tian Wu was no match for Lin Xun. They were bewildered that after this battle, Lin Xun still hadn't attracted a Chaos Dao Fruit!

This was undoubtedly unbelievable, even incomprehensible. Why was this happening?

On the peak of Thousand Birds Mountain, beneath the sky, Lin Xun stood with his hands behind his back, his posture serene, silent and still. Within him, many wondrous and incredible insights surged like a flowing stream, immersing his mind in a profound state of enlightenment.

After a long time, he collected his thoughts, let out a light sigh, and thought to himself. Although Tian Wu's dao is incredibly strong, his path is only on par with that of Pei Tu, the Heavenly Mandate Dao Lord of the Qian Department...

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lin, on another great victory on your journey!"

Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice rang out, filled with genuine admiration. “Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lin!”

“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lin!”

A chorus of congratulations rang out in the surrounding area, echoing through the heavens and earth, lingering for a long time.

Those powerful experts had been in the Mortal Transformation Zone for countless years, so they themselves were old monsters on the boundless path of cultivation. Now, facing Lin Xun, they all felt a sense of profound respect and admiration. In the pursuit of the dao, there was no seniority; the accomplished ones were the teachers!

Lin Xun had only been fighting for a little over four months, yet he had won more than eight hundred battles. This was an unprecedented miracle! Compared to him, who among the heroes of the world could not bow down in admiration?

Lin Xun smiled and cupped his hands, “On the road of the great dao, we are all fellow travelers. I also wish you all further progress in the future.”

With that, he turned and left.

Suddenly, a gray-robed man said, “Everyone, in my opinion, when the previous battle ended, Lin Xun was clearly greatly exhausted. If someone had attacked him then...”

However, before he could finish, the faces of the powerful experts standing near the gray-robed man changed slightly, and they moved away, clearly distancing themselves from him.

The gray-robed man immediately shut up, his face changing, looking very wronged, and said, “Everyone, I was just pointing out something, why are you so nervous?”

Of course, no one paid attention to him, instead moving even further away. This made the gray-robed man feel uneasy. After a long time, he muttered bitterly, “Has Lin Xun’s prestige really become this formidable?”

...

Seven days later, Long Kingdom, Feixia Lake.

A Dao Competition was underway. On one side was the dao manifestation of the dao left by the Zen Sect’s founder, Shi, which was ranked seventh among the Heavenly Cycle Dao Laws. The other was Lin Xun.

The fight had been going on for four hours.

Under the sky, a vast Buddhist kingdom stretched out, boundless and magnificent, with brilliant lotus flowers floating everywhere. The sound of chanting scriptures resounded like a tide. Vaguely, countless illusory images of Buddhist realms appeared, with Buddhas discussing the dao and Bodhisattvas expounding teachings. It presented a magnificent scene of boundless light and boundless bliss.

This was the dao of Shi, the founder of the Zen Sect. It was based on the Zen heart and was infinitely profound and mysterious.

Competing against him was Lin Xun, who was sitting alone in the void. His figure was ethereal, calm, and detached from the mundane world. There were neither grand manifestations of the great dao nor earth-shattering power; he looked utterly unremarkable.

However, the debating Buddhas could not shake his state of mind in the slightest, and the expounding Bodhisattvas could not harm a single hair on him. Even the eternally flourishing and boundless Buddhist realms could not intrude upon the place where Lin Xun sat.

He was like a rock, unmoving, simply watching, feeling, and experiencing, possessing an air of composure and transcendence. After a long time, the Buddhas sighed and vanished, the Bodhisattvas shook their heads and disappeared, and the countless Buddhist realms all vanished into thin air. Even the ethereal Sanskrit chants disappeared with them.

At this moment, the figure of Shi also faded away. Lin Xun rose to his feet, stretched his limbs, took out a wine flask and took a long drink, laughing, "Whether it's a Buddha or demon, if you can't overcome me, you'll turn to dust in the blink of an eye!"

...

Ten days later, Star Bridge Kingdom, Dragon Sparrow Ridge.

"Senior, I apologize for the offense earlier." Lin Xun bowed in greeting.

A great battle had allowed him to defeat the dao legacy left by Xu Yin, the founder of the Spirit Sect, and this dao manifestation, which was ranked eighth, also disappeared.

...

Half a month later, on Fengya Mountain, eight hundred miles outside the Rong Kingdom. A sword swept across the sky, overshadowing the galaxy of nine heavens! Countless stars fell, like fireworks fading away, and then disappeared.

That galaxy of nine heavens was the dao legacy and dao manifestation of Yuan Chu, the founder of the Origin Sect. It was a supreme dao ranked sixth among the Heavenly Cycle Dao Laws.

"Senior, if we meet again someday, I will surely invite you to drink wine."

Lin Xun bowed. At this point, the merit forces and dao manifestations left behind by the founding ancestors of the Four Great Ancestral Courts had all been defeated by him! The news spread, and the vast Mortal Transformation Zone was shaken into silence.

"Could it be that Lin Xun will be able to challenge the entire world, just like Chen Linkong did back then, and rise to the top?" Some old experts couldn't remain calm, their hearts trembling.

Many years ago, Chen Linkong had arrived in the Mortal Transformation Zone, traveling the world like a carefree wanderer, neither competing nor fighting, simply observing the world and its inhabitants. It wasn't until thirty-three years later that he wielded his sword, defeating the Grand Scholar Immortal, who had been ranked first in the Heavenly Cycle Dao Laws. His dao manifestation had then taken first place!

This event caused a great sensation in the Mortal Transformation Zone. Everyone believed that Chen Linkong at that time possessed a cultivation level that was close to the perfect Immeasurable Realm, which was why he was able to reach the top and stand alongside the other four supreme beings.

"Lin Xun's Chaos Dao Fruit hasn't appeared yet. This means that he might only have a chance to attract a Chaos Dao Fruit and ascend to the heavenly gate if he defeats any one of the five dao manifestations that are ranked first in the Heavenly Cycle Dao Laws."

"But what if he fails?"

"Then he will be trapped here, just like us!"

"Could someone as powerful as him also be trapped in the Mortal Transformation Zone?"

Discussions were rampant throughout the world. Nearly half a year had passed since Lin Xun had entered the Mortal Transformation Zone, and he had not suffered a single defeat in his battles.

However, the situation was different now. The only opponents left before him were the five dao manifestations that were all ranked first. They were the legacies left by the five supreme beings: the Lord of Fangchun Mountain, the golden cicada, Black Crow, Chen Linkong, and the Ape Ancestor.

Each of them possessed an unfathomable power!

Although Lin Xun had never been defeated in his previous battles and he had actually defeated the dao manifestations of the founders of the Four Great Ancestral Courts, now that his opponents were reduced to these five supreme beings, no one dared to be certain that he would win. This was simply because these five experts were too powerful!

To be ranked first, without any distinction in superiority, was an incredible feat, and it also showed how extraordinary the legacies left behind by those five people truly were!

While the world was in an uproar, Lin Xun had already arrived at a place called Pine Smoke City in the Tao Kingdom. A sword monument stood in a pine forest. It was three feet tall, resembling a sword piercing the sky. This had been left behind by Chen Linkong.

After observing the sword monument for a moment, Lin Xun suddenly spoke, "In this battle, I do not wish for outsiders to witness it. Please, everyone, leave quickly."

His declaration surprised the many powerful experts scattered around Pine Smoke City. Although they were all bewildered, they wisely retreated. Of course, they couldn't truly leave.

Such a battle would inevitably disturb the heavens and earth, drawing upon the power of the dao in all directions. Even observing from afar would allow them to discern some clues. However, Lin Xun had anticipated this and didn't say anything more.

Clang!

The next moment, a clear sword cry resounded, shaking the skies above Pine Smoke City, causing the clouds in all directions to disperse. The world suddenly changed, as if falling into an endless, dazzling sharpness. It pierced the hearts and minds of those present, giving them the feeling that their divine consciousness was being severed.

Even the many powerful experts observing from a great distance were injured on the spot, their souls suffering from a terrifying impact as their faces blanched. It was at this moment that they realized that it wasn't that Lin Xun didn't want them to watch the battle, but instead that watching the battle with their level of cultivation would inevitably lead to backlash!

For a moment, these experts were all overwhelmed with emotion, their expressions filled with shock. This was a single confrontation, yet all of these Immeasurable Eternals had to pay a price just to observe it. How terrifying was that?

Clang!

Before they could react, another sword cry resounded, its momentum no less powerful than the previous one. Then, in Pine Smoke City, sword qi filled the universe, and sword intent moved the heavens.

Everyone knew that the battle had begun. Unfortunately, the details and mysteries of it were beyond their ability to perceive.

Time flowed slowly. Those mighty experts could only wait in agony, waiting for the moment when a winner was decided. No one had expected this battle to be so long, lasting from sunrise to sunset, from the hustle and bustle of daily life to the quiet of night...

Day after day passed, the clanging of swords sometimes sounded, sometimes fell silent. Just when people thought the battle was over, the sound of swords would suddenly resound again. The vast city of Pine Smoke was filled with sharp, radiant light that lingered for a long time.

Seven days later...

In the Hongling Domain in the Realm of All Mysteries, Chen Linkong sat casually near a thatched hut, holding a bamboo rod while fishing by a stream. His demeanor was quite relaxed. The stream was clear, but there were no fish.

Despite that, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. Suddenly, he raised his eyebrows, abruptly dropped the bamboo rod, and stood up. A look of undisguised surprise appeared in his eyes.

"This young man, has he already achieved such mastery on the Immeasurable dao path?" Chen Linkong stood there stunned as his heart stirred.

"Feeling uneasy about being surpassed?" A laugh echoed from the thatched hut.

"Grandfather, you knew about this too?" Chen Linkong turned around, his expression subtle. There was a mix of joy and a touch of melancholy on his face.

"The Heavenly Cycle Dao Laws are originally a manifestation of the origin of the All-Wonder Dominion. It can accommodate your sword dao, but it cannot accommodate his great dao.” The voice in the thatched hut then continued, "This is the variable."

Chen Linkong sighed softly, then smiled. "I don't mind being surpassed by him. After all, that's the dao legacy I left behind. If Lin Xun can't even surpass me, it would probably disappoint many people."

"No need to say anymore. Let's continue to wait and see." The voice in the thatched hut sounded leisurely, carrying a rare hint of anticipation.