The instant the lightning tribulation dispersed, an eerie silence fell over heaven and earth. Pale purple lightning wreathed Lin Wudao, and the pressure unique to the Tribulation Transcendence Realm spread outward like a tide. Wherever it passed, the shattered rocks of the ancient battlefield crumbled inch by inch, and every bird and beast within a hundred li lay trembling on the ground. He slowly opened his eyes, a glint of gold flashing through them, and raised a hand to stroke the Chaos Sword. The resonance from its blade filled him with indescribable confidence.
Just then, the system notification sounded again: "Ding! Host detected to have successfully broken through to the Tribulation Transcendence Realm. Reward: coordinates to a secret realm from High Antiquity, containing the 'Mystic Heaven Creation Instruction: Advanced Chapter,' which can raise the grade of your cultivation method." Lin Wudao's pupils contracted slightly. He knew full well what advancing his cultivation method meant. This might be the key to escaping his fate as an ant once and for all.
Before he could examine the secret realm's information closely, however, a faint fluctuation suddenly came from underground. Lin Wudao's expression changed sharply, and he shot backward like lightning. The next second, the spot where he had just stood exploded. An enormous black hand covered in scales burst out of the earth, dark green poisonous mist flowing through the lines of its palm.
"Who's hiding there? Show yourself!" Lin Wudao held the Chaos Sword, its tip pointed straight at the black hand. The Chaos Sword gave a clear, ringing cry, and the lightning flowing over its black blade illuminated every detail of their surroundings.
"Interesting. Someone actually survived the tribulation under the Heavenly Mysteries Sect's encirclement." A hoarse voice came from underground, followed by a figure slowly rising, black mist coiling around his entire body. His face was indistinct, with only a pair of blood-red eyes standing out starkly within the mist. He exuded a presence that made even Lin Wudao's heart tremble.
"Who are you?" Lin Wudao asked warily, quietly circulating the spiritual power within his body, ready to attack at any moment.
The shadowy figure let out a sinister laugh. "I am the Ancient Clan's tomb keeper. I have lain hidden here for over ten thousand years. I never expected that old fellow Xuantian's death to draw out such an interesting little fellow." He paused, his blood-red eyes fixed on Lin Wudao. "But why do you carry Great Emperor Xuantian's presence?"
Lin Wudao's heart tightened. He certainly did not want to expose the Corpse Collection System's secret. "That's none of your concern," he said gravely. "Why have you suddenly appeared? What exactly do you want?"
The shadowy figure snorted coldly. "Hmph, what do I want? Your life, of course! How could an ant like you be allowed to lay a finger on Great Emperor Xuantian's inheritance?" Before he finished speaking, the black mist around him surged, transforming into countless black chains that coiled toward Lin Wudao like venomous snakes.
Lin Wudao's gaze sharpened. He swung the Chaos Sword, unleashing the Sword Control Technique from the Mystic Heaven Creation Instruction. In an instant, countless streams of black Sword Qi erupted from the blade, colliding fiercely with the black chains. Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions rang out one after another, and the powerful aftershocks formed an enormous storm above the ancient battlefield.
A flicker of surprise crossed the shadowy figure's eyes. He immediately formed hand seals, chanting under his breath. An enormous blood-colored altar appeared behind him, covered in ancient, mysterious runes. As the runes lit up, a desiccated corpse giving off a putrid stench slowly rose from the altar's center. It wore tattered imperial robes strikingly similar to Great Emperor Xuantian's attire.
"This is... Great Emperor Xuantian's corpse?!" Lin Wudao's pupils contracted sharply, shock filling his heart. He had clearly already collected Great Emperor Xuantian's corpse. Why was there another one here?
The shadowy figure laughed sinisterly. "Indeed. This is Xuantian's true corpse. The one you collected earlier was merely a clone he left behind to deceive others. Now, witness the might of the Ancient Clan's secret arts!" As he spoke, he swept both hands, and the desiccated corpse actually opened its eyes slowly, an eerie red light flickering within them.
A decayed yet powerful presence emanated from the corpse. It raised a hand and waved lightly toward Lin Wudao, sending a beam of black light hurtling at him. Lin Wudao hurriedly used his movement technique to dodge. The beam skimmed the hem of his clothes and left a bottomless trench in the ground.
Lin Wudao knew he could not keep passively taking blows like this. Drawing a deep breath, he poured all his spiritual power into the Chaos Sword. The sword instantly erupted with dazzling light, nine enormous dragons condensed from spiritual power coiling around its blade. "Mystic Heaven Creation Instruction-Nine Dragons Destroy the World!" Lin Wudao roared, and the nine dragons charged toward the corpse and the shadowy figure with thunderous roars.
The shadowy figure's expression shifted slightly, and he hurriedly controlled the corpse to meet the attack. The corpse let out a howl, and the black mist surrounding it transformed into an enormous shield, attempting to block the nine dragons. However, the power contained within the Chaos Sword was too great. The nine dragons smashed straight through the shield and slammed into the corpse.
Boom! With a tremendous explosion, the corpse was blasted into dust. The powerful impact sent the shadowy figure flying backward as well, a large mouthful of black blood spraying from his mouth.
"Impossible... How could you be this strong..." Disbelief covered the shadowy figure's face, and the blood-red light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
Lin Wudao walked slowly forward and pressed his sword tip against the shadowy figure's throat. "Now can you tell me exactly where the Ancient Clan came from, and what grudge you had with Great Emperor Xuantian?"
The shadowy figure gave a bitter laugh. "What does it matter if I tell you... The Ancient Clan was a mysterious people who existed as far back as High Antiquity, wielding many forbidden secret arts. Back then, to seize a supreme treasure from High Antiquity, Great Emperor Xuantian slaughtered nearly the entire Ancient Clan... As the tomb keeper, I waited here for ten thousand years solely to avenge the Ancient Clan..."
Towering waves of shock surged through Lin Wudao's heart. He had never expected such a staggering secret to lie behind all this. Just as he was about to press for the whereabouts of that supreme treasure from High Antiquity, a vicious gleam suddenly flashed in the shadowy figure's eyes. "You think this is enough to make me submit? Even if I die today, I'll drag you into the grave with me!" As he spoke, intense light suddenly burst from his entire body. He was actually preparing to self-detonate.
Lin Wudao's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly retreated with all his strength. Boom! A deafening explosion rang out, and a powerful blast hurled Lin Wudao away. He felt heaven and earth spin around him, then lost consciousness...
After an unknown length of time, Lin Wudao slowly opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar forest. He struggled to his feet and checked his body, finding that he had suffered no serious harm. Recalling what the shadowy figure had said, he silently pondered, A supreme treasure from High Antiquity... the Ancient Clan's secrets... It seems none of this is so simple. Perhaps that secret realm from High Antiquity will hold the answers I want.
With that thought, Lin Wudao took out the secret realm coordinates the system had rewarded him. A flash of light appeared, and a mysterious map materialized before his eyes. A red dot blinked on the map, marking the secret realm's location. With a resolute gaze, Lin Wudao tightened his grip on the Chaos Sword and walked toward the red dot. What awaited him would be still more challenges and secrets...