Lu Yan smiled faintly, pointing to Lin Lu who was vomiting blood profusely on the ground.
The fresh blood just spattered from his mouth was instantly evaporated by the Profound Yellow Merit Fire. Lin Lu, unable to withstand the severe blow, not only suffered physical injuries but also a destabilized Dao heart.
"This is Senior Brother Lin from the Supreme Profound Lineage. Given our families' long-standing relationship, Brother He should give a greeting."
He Dongsheng immediately grasped Lu Yan's intent, adjusting his slightly disordered attire and solemnly clasped his hands in salute:
"I am He Dongsheng from the Four Seasons Lineage."
"Thanks to Senior Brother Lin's assistance, I was able to ascend to the True Successor position!"
Unable to endure the massive blow any longer, Lin Lu's mind was in turmoil, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and then the falling stars from the sky guided him to be absorbed into the Immortal Island.
At the instant Lin Lu was eliminated, a magnificent sound echoed above the vast mountain range.
"The True Successor Trial has concluded!"
On the Immortal Island, various parties were paying attention to the trial takers who were returning one after another.
As the several trial participants who engaged in the great battle returned one by one, all parties understood what had transpired and gazed at Mu Chunqiu with eyes full of amazement.
Mu Chunqiu had already emerged as a prodigious talent, and now, Lu Yan, who even with Foundation Establishment Cultivation claimed a True Successor Position, ensured boundless prospects for the future.
In contrast, the four Nascent Soul True Monarchs from the Supreme Profound Lineage all had gloomy expressions.
The original plan, which should have secured at least two True Successor positions, was shattered; now they could only preserve one position before Lin Lu's scheming, which undoubtedly was a huge blow to the Supreme Profound Lineage.
After a long time, Qin Zhongzheng finally spoke in a low voice:
"Forget it, one is one. At least we can stabilize the situation of our Supreme Profound Lineage with this True Successor Position.
But isn't there something amiss with this True Successor Trial? Why isn't the trial concluded yet?"
Yet, just as Qin Zhongzheng finished speaking, a blood-covered and pale-faced Lin Lu fell from the transmission, and then the grand sound of the tenth True Successor slowly echoed.
"The True Successor Trial has concluded!"
"Eliminated? How is it possible!"
Qin Zhongzheng looked incredulously at Lin Lu, who was transported out at the last moment, and the other three Nascent Soul True Monarchs all had extremely unsightly expressions.
Even the Bitter Dao Monarch from the Supreme Profound Lineage couldn't sit still; he looked up toward above the sky, clasping his hands in salute:
"May I ask the tenth True Successor, there were clearly only four trial takers left, why would Lin Lu still be eliminated?"
On the futon above, the tenth True Successor, resembling a great sun illuminating the Hidden Heaven World, glanced at Bitter Dao Monarch, pinching a star with his right hand.
Then the white star transformed into a stone dropped, and his cold, sharp voice echoed through the universe.
Thousands of Dao rhythms wove onto the white stone drop, collapsing the void at its place while chaotic space currents banished Bitter Dao Monarch from the Hidden Heaven World.
Afterward, the tenth True Successor's indifferent voice was heard once more.
"The four True Successor candidates have entered the Ancestral Hall; you all should wait here quietly."
With the conclusion of the True Successor Trial, Lu Yan and others were transported through an array formed by myriad stars to a Desolate Mountain.
This Desolate Mountain was ruinous and ancient, without any Spirit Vein, with only an old temple standing there; the damaged plaque at the door clearly bore three big characters.
"Is this the place to commune with the Immortal?"
The group was slightly stunned, their expressions filled with disbelief.
They had heard the legends of the Taiyi Immortal within the sect. In their understanding, the Ancestral Hall should be an Immortal Palace Divine Hall from above the heavens, or an Immortal Dao spectacle transformed from a Secret Realm.
The old temple before them seemed contrary to their perception of such buildings.
Lu Yan too couldn't help but raise an eyebrow but didn't delve deep, just assuming this Taiyi Immortal had some quirks.
At this moment, Lin Xiao, at the Golden Core Peak, took the initiative to speak:
"After each True Successor Trial, the order of entering the Ancestral Hall determines the standing of the True Successor.
Among us four, naturally, Senior Brother Lu should lead; I ask Senior Brother Lu to first enter the Ancestral Hall!"
Another person also slightly froze but quickly reacted, paying respects to Lu Yan: "Please, Senior Brother Lu, enter the Ancestral Hall first!"
He Dongsheng also smiled and spoke: "Please, Brother Lu, enter the Ancestral Hall first!"
Lu Yan didn't hold back either, nodding slightly to the three before striding into the ruinous temple.
The ancient door of the Ancestral Hall creaked open, and a sense of decay and ruin came rushing forth.
The hall was dimly lit, with only faint beams of light piercing through the broken roof, forming hazy columns in the dusty air. The shattered statues stood silently, eroded by countless years, losing their past majesty, the mottled surface full of web-like cracks, resembling an ancient forgotten legend.
Along the walls of the grand hall were portraits, faces indistinguishable, with faded colors vaguely showing figures in fluttering Daoist robes. On the ground lay broken incense burners and futons, covered with heavy dust, as if time had frozen for countless years.
The shrine contained rows of incomplete plaques, some shattered into pieces, others completely decayed, only the gold Daoist titles barely discernible, an indescribable melancholy permeating the air, silently recounting the past glory of the Taiyi Sect.
As Lu Yan stepped into the inner hall, he finally saw the purpose of this visit; on the offering platform at the top of the Ancestral Hall was enshrined a plaque engraved with the three ancient and vigorous characters "Taiyi Immortal."
In a flash, the three ancient golden characters seemed to transform into a portal leading to the ancient times.
Lu Yan's consciousness was abruptly drawn into the river of time and space, presenting a vision of a great figure.
He manipulated earth, water, wind, and fire to recreate the world; countless stars revolved around him, each containing a realm within it. At this moment, Lu Yan seemed to witness the miracle of the world's inception, seeing countless worlds birthed from the void's mystery.
"It's the Primordial Creation Map!"
Lu Yan's mind was shaken. As he intended to pay homage to this magnificent creator, a dazzling sword light suddenly transcended ancient times and space.
This sword light carried the destructive intent akin to universal decay, not only cleaving through the illusion before him but aiming to erase the existence of the Taiyi Immortal from the river of time and space.
Wherever the sword's light passed, space shattered, time froze, even memories and concepts fragmented under its power. Official source ıs 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹~𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮~𝚗𝚎𝚝
The Taiyi Immortal's form began to blur; the countless worlds he created shattered like foam. That sword mark spanning ancient and present not only cut the plaque but severed all traces of the Taiyi Immortal, as if intending to erase this creator Immortal from the dimension of existence completely.
In an instant, the illusion dissipated, and Lu Yan's consciousness returned to reality.
He gazed dazedly at the plaque shattered by the sword mark, with the "Taiyi Immortal" characters rapidly dimming, as though the last proof of existence in this world was being erased.
Lu Yan opened his mouth, only to find he couldn't utter the Taiyi Immortal's name.
The hard-earned glimmer of hope sought after with effort suddenly seemed severed at this moment.
And then, a voice suddenly echoed in the deathly silent Ancestral Hall.
"If you're looking for that old relic, Taiyi Immortal, indeed he's already dead."
Lu Yan abruptly raised his head, realizing there was a handsome youth seemingly replacing the statue's position, sitting cross-legged above the master platform where Taiyi Immortal's plaque was enshrined.
The youth's face was as delicate as jade, wearing a moon-white long robe, with an aura of transcendence between his brows, seeming in harmony with the natural world.
At this moment, the youth curiously examined Lu Yan, as if observing some exceptionally rare existence.
Lu Yan noticed that beneath the youth was a futon haphazardly woven with straw.
Lu Yan was touched in his mind and couldn't help but open his mouth to ask.
The youth gave a carefree smile.
Also, the Immortal you're searching for…"