Reentering the Great Desolation Stele

Three days later.

Deep within the Desolate Hall of the Dao Sect, before that withered, ancient mountain.

A dozen or so figures with obscure auras gathered here. This area, spanning a hundred miles, had been strictly sealed off and guarded by the Dao Sect experts, and no unauthorized personnel were allowed to approach.

Lin Dong, Ying Xuanzi, the Blue-Robed Elder, Little Marten, Lord Bo Xuan... those who can gather here are either Peak Expert or those who wield the Ancestral Symbol.

"Sect Master, where is Senior Zhou Tong?"

Looking at Ying Xuanzi and the other person who had just landed, Lin Dong said.

"He's already been placed in the center of the Spirit Locking Array by me and the Grand Elder. The rest is up to him." Ying Xuanzi smiled amiably.

"Daddy, do you think my hair color looks good?"

Just then, a sweet, charming female voice broke in.

Perhaps due to the shock she experienced in the Demon City, Ying Huanhuan went into seclusion as soon as she returned to the sect. After emerging from seclusion, her cultivation level jumped from the Nirvana Stage peak to the Life Mysterious Stage, Perfected Completion.

It's true what they say, comparisons are odious; I'm afraid the girl will reach the Death Mysterious Stage the next time she goes into seclusion.

The girl's cultivation level had increased dramatically, but her long, flowing black hair had also changed color, with the ends turning ice blue and faintly exuding a cold aura.

Following this trend, the day when her long black hair turns completely ice-blue is not far off.

Perhaps worried that she was no longer beautiful, or that others would look at her differently, the sensitive girl asked this question to several close people in succession.

Lin Dong, Mother, Ying Xiaoxiao, Senior Brother Wang Yan...

Well, now the question has come to Ying Xuanzi.

"Hmm, let's watch the Sect Master death."

Lin Dong watched this scene with his eyes closed and his mouth focused on his mind.

But who is Ying Xuanzi?

Faced with such a life-or-death question, he naturally wouldn't make a mistake.

"Of course it looks beautiful. Ice blue means you will be as noble and pure as snow."

Without a second thought, Ying Xuanzi immediately praised him.

"Yes, Father is right. Mother and sister all say the same thing. Only Lin Dong, that idiot, just keeps saying it looks good. He's nothing like you, Father, who knows how to praise people."

The girl, satisfied with the answer, nodded emphatically, smiling like a little fox who had successfully stolen a chicken, overjoyed.

Lin Dong: "..."

"Oh, really? Then I'll have to practice more in the future."

Ying Xuanzi glanced at Lin Dong and revealed a meaningful smile.

"Ahem, it's getting late, let's go inside the monument."

Feeling scorned by the girl, Lin Dong felt as if he had been shot in the knee, and could only slink down to the withered ancient peak beneath his feet like a defeated dog.

Ying Xuanzi and the others exchanged glances and followed suit.

"It has only been nine months since the Great Desolation Stele was last opened. I'm afraid we cannot open or enter the Great Desolation Stele without authorization."

Ying Xuanzi, who had landed on the mountaintop, frowned and said.

"That's easy, you all step back."

After saying that, Lin Dong knelt on one knee and activated the Ancestral Stone to inject a wisp of his will into the mountain.

"Boom!"

The next second, an exceptionally powerful wave instantly spread throughout the entire Dao Sect Ancestral Court. The withered, yellow Giant Peak suddenly began to tremble violently, and huge cracks on the mountainside spread rapidly like a spider web.

A towering ancient stele, thousands of feet tall, burst forth from the mountain with an extraordinary and awe-inspiring presence, reappearing in this world once more.

"This is the Great Desolation Stele, which ranks third on the Ancient Divine Artifact Ranking? How magnificent! The Dao Sect is indeed profound, possessing such a powerful Ancient Divine Object to suppress its foundation."

Gazing at this towering ancient stele that seemed to support the sky, even Bo Xuan, the Hall Master of the Darkness Palace, couldn't help but feel somewhat dazed.

"Your Excellency Bo Xuan is too kind. Your esteemed temple's inherited Sacred Object, the Scythe of Darkness, ranks fourth on the Ancient Divine Artifact Ranking."

Although Ying Xuanzi only learned in the last few days that the broken stele deep in the Desolate Hall was actually the third ancient divine artifact, it didn't stop him from showing off.

Lin Dong lowered his gaze and saw that the base of the majestic ancient stele had been quietly entangled with dense black lines, occupying nearly a third of the stele's surface.

The black textures resembled the embodiment of the most evil and malevolent forces in the world, radiating Evil Qi, intent on eradicating all living beings in the entire world.

"It seems that the Great Desolation Stele is becoming increasingly powerless in suppressing that True Demon King," Lin Dong murmured solemnly.

"I think this old guy can hold on for a long time. It's alright, we're here now." A fragrant breeze wafted through the air, and a cool, jade-like hand quietly grasped Lin Dong's.

"Okay, let's go inside the monument."

Lin Dong nodded slightly, then squeezed the beauty's cool, jade-like hand with his other hand, placing his palm against the surface of the majestic ancient stele.

"Buzz!"

A massive, transparent beam of light descended from above, enveloping Lin Dong and his group of six and dragging them into a hidden and unknown place.

The scene suddenly shifted, and everyone felt a blur before their eyes as they instantly appeared in a Chaos Space, where an ancient, gray-yellow stele stood alone in the center.

"Lin Dong, why have you returned so early? It seems you've brought back many familiar old friends."

A blurry light and shadow appeared, followed by an ancient and hoarse voice.

It was an old figure with a hunched back. The old man had a full head of white hair and a smiling face, but that smile suddenly froze when he saw Ying Huanhuan beside Lin Dong.

"The Ice Master?!"

The Great Desolation Stele's form trembled violently, and its voice became somewhat hoarse.

"Great Desolation Stele, I didn't expect you old codger to still be alive. I remember you were ordered by our teacher to assist one of my powerful disciples in holding off a Demon Army, weren't you?"

Ying Huanhuan greeted the Great Desolation Stele, whose spirit was trembling, with a cheerful smile.

"Hehe, it's a long story, a long story."

The Great Desolation Stele gave a dry laugh and looked at Lin Dong with a complicated expression.

I asked you to find another Ancestral Symbol, and you actually found the strongest disciple under the Symbol Ancestor — the Ice Master. Although he is only Reincarnation body and his strength has not yet returned to its peak, I give you 999 thumbs up just for your attitude.

"The Devouring Ancestral Symbol, the Space Ancestral Symbol, the Ice Ancestral Symbol, and the Darkness Ancestral Symbol —excellent! With the four Ancestral Symbol gathered and four Samsara Stage experts in charge, it would be a disgrace to the Great Desolation Stele's reputation as the third divine artifact of heaven and earth if we fail to refine that True Demon King to death."

The Great Desolation Stele looked around at everyone and nodded in satisfaction.

(The Little Marten is actually only at the Half-step Samsara Stage, but we'll consider it as one here.)

"Then let's not delay, let's begin now."

After saying this, Lin Dong waved his sleeve, and the Ancient Qiankun Formation automatically flew out from the depths of his dantian, slowly unfolding in mid-air and instantly growing to a size of a thousand feet in the wind.

Immediately afterwards, the Ancestral Stone, the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, and the Space Ancestral Symbol also flew out and landed in three directions of the Ancient Qiankun Formation, serving as the array's core to suppress the array.

"The Ice Ancestral Symbol, appear!"

"Darkness Ancestral Symbol, appear!"

Upon seeing this, Ying Huanhuan and Bo Xuan exchanged a glance, and then pointed their fingers in the distance. An ancient rune with ice patterns and an Ancient Rune flashing with black light left their bodies and quickly disappeared into the Ancient Qiankun Formation.

P. S.: Why do people always say it's padded? What does it mean if it's not padded? Is it just endless fighting, one battle after another without a break, then rushing to the next, and then more fighting? After you finish writing a battle, at least give some setup before moving on to the next story. The way you guys are doing it makes me not even want to write my daily life anymore.