Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Six: Awakening

“What’s going on? Why can’t we suppress her?”

Lin Fan furrowed his brow, sensing that matters were spiraling beyond expectations. The woman inside the crystal coffin was beyond subjugation now; she could no longer be contained.

“What are you worried about?” Qing Lin’s voice rang out as a fist shattered the space and landed squarely on Lin Fan’s shoulder.

Seizing the moment, Qing Lin struck with full force, gaining the upper hand for the first time.

Lin Fan staggered backward, absorbing the impact of Qing Lin’s punch. He could distinctly feel cracks forming in the bones of his shoulder. Although it wasn’t seriously injurious, it significantly affected his combat ability.

“I advise you, great changes are coming. It would be best to leave early.”

Lin Fan glanced at Qing Lin. Since Qing Lin hadn’t taken advantage of this opportunity to attack him—something that would have spelled disaster for Lin Fan—he had earned Lin Fan’s reluctant approval.

“Great changes? What do you mean?” Qing Lin frowned, scanning their surroundings as if searching for the changes Lin Fan spoke of. Eventually, his gaze settled on the woman inside the crystal coffin.

“You should have guessed by now. None of us are the protagonists in this tale.”

Lin Fan was not surprised by Qing Lin’s insight. To him, Qing Lin was a formidable figure, and the Void-Breaking Realm was certainly not his limit. Such a powerful individual’s abilities were unfathomable.

“Let’s go!”

Suddenly, Lin Fan’s expression shifted dramatically. He spun around and dashed toward where Yi Xiaoxian and the Flowerfall Gentleman stood, simultaneously dispatching two opponents at the brink of the Celestial Realm’s decline.

In the distance, a dazzling glow filled the sky as a colossal fist shattered the heavens, reaching directly for the woman in the crystal coffin.

The Domain Lord of the Ancient Buddha Domain was the first to act. Among many powerful figures, his strength was arguably the greatest, which was why he was the first to recover.

“How dare you!”

At that moment, a cold, clear voice echoed—it came from within the crystal coffin. The woman had broken through her seal once more. Lin Fan had sensed this and retreated because of it.

“Imperial Consort.”

The divine manifestation of the Demon-Subduing Pestle was now at its most ethereal state. With a resigned sigh, it dissipated into the wind, breaking into fragments. The pestle was utterly destroyed.

“In the end, I could not surpass the Lord.”

That was the Demon-Subduing Pestle’s final voice. It never anticipated that the Lord had already prepared another means to awaken the Imperial Consort, even using the pestle itself as part of the scheme.

“I know your intentions, but a single misstep leads to ruin. Since I have awakened, everyone here must perish with me today.”

The Imperial Consort murmured to herself. She had merely awakened, not yet fully restored.

Suddenly, the earth trembled. Four radiant beams of light surged in from the east, south, west, and north, a murderous aura piercing the skies, overwhelming everything, forcing the Ancient Buddha Domain Lord to retreat.

“So this is the true method of your resurrection. In the end, no one can outmatch others. Victory slips away even with the presence of the Sovereign Emperor’s statues.”

Lin Fan’s eyes flickered as he received the Demon-Subduing Pestle’s last transmission before its demise, instantly grasping the whole sequence of events.

“Truly befitting the Sovereign Emperor—such unfathomable methods.”

Lin Fan no longer lingered. With Yi Xiaoxian and the Flowerfall Gentleman, he withdrew. Along the way, anyone foolish enough to attack him was slain without mercy. Lin Fan once again activated the Great Devouring Technique, pushing his strength to the peak of the first decline of the Celestial Realm.

Those who died by his hand were all low-level Celestial Realm cultivators, but they were numerous. Their combined energy was considerable, though Lin Fan had yet to break through to the second decline, as ascending through the Celestial Realm required enduring successive cycles of decline; no amount of energy alone could advance his cultivation.

Meanwhile, Qing Lin had long since vanished. Though uncertain of the full situation, he knew his own strength was insufficient to intervene and withdrew promptly. The only one remaining unknown was the mysterious figure, likely still waiting somewhere.

“Who are you?”

The Ancient Buddha Domain Lord spoke, already aware of a person slumbering here, though ignorant of their identity.

“Seems you don’t understand the full story, merely deceived. But that doesn’t change your fate—you will die.”

The Imperial Consort’s voice brimmed with unparalleled killing intent. For a moment, the heavens shifted color, and brilliant radiance engulfed the nine heavens and ten earths.

“The royal family, Wang Lun has arrived. Long live the Imperial Consort!”

A tremendous voice resounded across the four directions. A figure emerged from one of the beams of light, his white robes billowing like wings ascending to immortality.

Though youthful in appearance, his eyes bore the weight of countless lifetimes, as if he had seen through the cycles of existence.

He was the ancestor of the Wang clan, a peerless ancient powerhouse, unexpectedly revived.

“So this was the true cause of the royal family’s disappearance. Everything was for this day.”

Only now did Lin Fan understand the full truth: the true grand array of Mount Wangwu was not the celestial star circuit, but the Four Symbols Array encircling the area. Its purpose was to devour the blood and flesh of all beings fallen within Mount Wangwu, ensuring the immortality of a select few guarding the woman in the crystal coffin.

“Are you the only one left?”

The Imperial Consort’s voice carried a hint of melancholy. The activation of the Four Symbols Array had not only broken her seals but had also made her stronger.

“Imperial Consort, none of them survived. Only I remain.”

Wang Lun responded respectfully. He was formidable, having recovered to the Title Realm, and with time, returning to his prime would be no challenge.

“Very well. I grant you the Mountain-Flipping Seal. Eradicate everyone here.”

With the Imperial Consort’s decree, a massive seal hovered midair, hurtling toward Wang Lun.

“I accept!”

Wang Lun caught the seal, his eyes cold and merciless. His terrifying aura swept across the nine heavens, unrivaled and supreme. The Mountain-Flipping Seal was an ancestral artifact, famed even in ancient times.

“The fallen must ultimately perish. You have crossed the line.”

The Ancient Buddha Domain Lord snorted coldly, serious and resolute. He had already summoned many powerful figures to act. The Elder Pavilion Master of the Purple-Robed Sect was the first to respond, his purple sword blazing with light, as if to cleave the heavens.

“You disrespect the ancestors. You have crossed the line.”

Wang Lun sneered. With the Mountain-Flipping Seal in hand, his aura soared to an even higher level—utterly terrifying.

“Nine-Segment Whip, daring to move against the Imperial Consort?”

Wang Lun turned to the Nine-Segment Whip, speaking aloud. The atmosphere grew tense as everyone awaited its response.

“I, your servant, dare not!”

Ten breaths passed before the Nine-Segment Whip sighed deeply. Before arriving here, it was unaware of who was truly sealed within the Little Thunder Sound Temple. Now everything was clear, but it had lost all will to fight. The name “Imperial Consort” alone was enough to make it tremble, even after countless years.

“Attack!”

Suddenly, the Ancient Buddha Domain Lord roared with fury, unleashing his full power. He activated his ancestral artifact and charged toward Wang Lun. At the same time, the leading figures of the Xiang family also struck immediately, having realized that the so-called Imperial Consort was the greatest enemy.

Meanwhile, the Purple-Robed Elder Pavilion Master clashed fiercely with the Nine-Segment Whip. The colossal collision shook the heavens, threatening to upheave the entire sky.