"Ten core markings? Absolutely impossible!"
Wang Kun's voice trembled. As a member of the Wang Clan, he knew full well how terrifying nine core markings were, let alone the legendary ten.
Everyone knew that Wang Teng of the Wang Clan had nine core markings.
But who knew how steep a price the Wang Clan had paid for them?
Only after spending enough resources to nurture a Great Emperor had Wang Teng managed to condense nine core markings.
Thus, the Wang Clan unanimously believed that anyone who could condense ten core markings...
Could never possibly exist in this world!
Yet, the next moment, Wang Kun's pupils contracted. He felt as though lightning had struck him, freezing him in place as if he had witnessed something utterly unbelievable.
"No... impossible! Ten core markings?!"
Under his gaze, Lin Fan did not stop. He took his final step.
With the ninth step, the tenth core marking branded itself onto Lin Fan's golden core. Within its gold lay a faint wisp of purple Qi, like purple Qi arriving from the east, a symbol of his nobility.
His dantian blazed with boundless light, like a dazzling sun.
At this sight, Wang Kun could no longer suppress his shock. The mighty Quasi-Emperor Realm cultivator roared as though he had lost his soul, "How could anyone in this world condense ten core markings?"
The other powerhouses witnessed this historic moment, and every one of them was shaken, their hearts churning with towering waves.
Lin Fan had actually branded ten core markings onto his core.
He had broken the record of the Ancient Desolation! He had become the first person in history to brand ten core markings onto his core.
The ten core markings that existed only in legend had actually appeared before their eyes. How could these powerhouses not be shocked? This matter would surely shake the entire continent.
If the ninth core marking signified the potential to become a Great Emperor, did ten core markings not signify the potential to become an immortal?
Did that not mean Lin Fan's talent was even more monstrous than Wang Teng of the Wang Clan? Was he an unparalleled monster across the ages?
Some powerhouses could not help looking forward to it. If the two met, who would be stronger?
Even Lin Dong and Ji Ningshuang, both Great Emperors, could not help being shaken. They knew full well how difficult it was to attain ten core markings.
"My son, Lin Fan, has the potential to become an immortal!"
Lin Dong felt incomparably proud, his blood boiling. He could not help uttering those words, his Dao voice rumbling through everyone's minds. He wished he could tell everyone.
"Dad, you really shouldn't say things like that..."
Lin Fan, who had only just steadied himself, could not help stumbling when he heard this, a black line appearing on his forehead.
He had paid no small price to condense ten core markings.
After merging with the World-Destroying Double Pupils, his cultivation had broken through from Core Formation Realm First Level to Core Formation Realm Sixth Level. Only after spending 60,000 of his Villain Points had he broken through to Peak Core Formation Realm and condensed ten core markings.
Looking at his Villain Points, which were about to hit zero, Lin Fan could not help feeling a pang.
Sure enough, he still had too few. He regretted not fleecing Luo Chen and Liu Yanran more. He could only seek out a few more sons of destiny after surviving the tribulation.
He had heard that Wang Teng of the Wang Clan was rather good, though he did not know whether he was a Son of Fortune.
Lin Fan swept Wang Kun a cold glance.
He had not forgotten that this man had tried to kill him last time.
He needed to find a reason to slaughter this old man, but killing him openly would not be ideal. The two clans would go to war.
The grudge between the Lin and Wang Clans could be traced back to ancient times and was not easy to explain clearly. Once he encountered someone from the Wang Clan, he would certainly not let them off.
This boy must not be allowed to live!
As if sensing Lin Fan's gaze, Wang Kun looked over, his eyes bloodshot. He secretly resolved to snuff this boy out.
The Ancient Desolation had a rule that the older generation could not attack the younger generation, but he could no longer concern himself with that.
Suddenly, as though sensing something, Wang Kun whipped his head toward the lightning tribulation. He seemed to make something out, and excitement flashed through his eyes. He could not help laughing coldly.
"Heh, there's no need for me to act. So what if he has ten core markings?"
"Only a living heaven's chosen can be called a genius. The Nine-Nine Extinction Lightning Tribulation represents destruction. Whether he can survive it remains to be seen!"
Rumble!
The lightning tribulation had gathered to its utmost.
It was as though an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao had descended to unleash divine punishment beyond all redemption, intent on destroying Lin Fan.
Terrifying bolts of lightning filled the black clouds like enormous lightning dragons, incomparably thick, unleashing deep booms that echoed in everyone's ears.
Upon seeing this tribulation appear, Lin Dong and the others recognized its origin. The world called it-the Nine-Nine Extinction Lightning Tribulation!
It was said to be the ultimate Monstrous Genius Tribulation, its appearance heralding destruction.
Since ancient times, every appearance had claimed the life of a monstrous genius. No living creature had ever survived it.
That was how it had earned such a fearsome reputation!
Naturally, the appearance of such a heavenly tribulation brought joy to some and worry to others.
In particular, factions with grudges against the Lin Clan, such as the Wang Clan, felt that Lin Fan was certain to die.
At this sight, Wang Kun could not stop sneering. He thought, So what if you aren't crippled? So what if you have ten core markings? Even if your Lin Clan has methods that reach the heavens, Lin Fan is destined to die when faced with this tribulation!
Every Lin Clan powerhouse wore an ugly expression. Just how monstrous was Fan'er? He had actually drawn the Nine-Nine Extinction Lightning Tribulation, a lightning tribulation known to promise ten deaths and no chance of survival.
As Lin Fan's mother, Ji Ningshuang's lovely face instantly turned deathly pale. "Heavens... Fan'er!"
But the next instant, she radiated a chill that froze heaven and earth. Like a celestial maiden of the nine heavens, cold and noble, she was ready to charge forward at any moment.
"It's fine. It's only a little Monstrous Genius Tribulation. It can do nothing to my son, Lin Dong."
"It is fit only to nourish my son. But if it dares hurt him, I will cleave this wretched Heavenly Dao apart..."
Seeing this, Lin Dong held Ji Ningshuang's hand and gently reassured her. By the end, his voice had become domineering and majestic, as though he were stating a fact.
That was what he said, but Lin Dong believed Lin Fan could survive this tribulation.
Back then, he too had endured a Monstrous Genius Tribulation. Had he not used it to hone his sword, ultimately cutting apart the lightning tribulation and shocking the world?
As Lin Dong's son, Lin Fan would be no weaker than him.
Bang!
Meanwhile...
As though sensing the terrifying lightning tribulation, the ancestral tombs deep within the Lin Clan began to tremble.
Beneath several hundred gravestones, coffin lids shook one after another. Several voices rang out, some young, some aged, some even as tender as an infant's, both male and female.
"What's going on?!"
"Our ancestors have blessed the Lin Clan! A junior is about to awaken a monstrous physique-the Chaos Gods and Devils Body, which stands above countless immortal and divine physiques!"
A dozen or so coffins shook. Several questioning voices rang out, followed by excited replies. With such a monstrous genius born into the Lin Clan, who would go protect his path?
"Heh, I happen to be bored out of my mind. I'll be his Dao protector."
"I'm going too!"
"Wine Saber, Ten Thousand Poisons, Virtue, and I-the four of us coming out will be enough!"
"The rest of you keep lying down. This world is too weak. Don't emerge unless something happens."
Several voices conversed. Then, with a series of bangs, several coffin lids flew into the air, and four figures stepped out.
A solemn, imposing middle-aged man in purple robes, a handsome man with a saber on his back, a little brat in shabby Daoist robes, and a man shrouded in black robes-they were Extreme Emperor, Wine Saber, Virtue, and Ten Thousand Poisons, respectively.
The child in Daoist robes said, "We've existed since ancient times. If we swagger out like this, we may expose ourselves. What meaning would the act we put on in ancient times have, then?"
Extreme Emperor nodded. "Virtue is right!"
Ancestor Virtue chuckled. "How about... heh! This?"
As he spoke, his childlike form transformed into a white-haired old man wreathed in deathly Qi, with one foot already in the grave.
The drunkard said, "Virtue, that's just like you!"