Chapter Sixty: Opportunity

“You mean I can set foot in the Vein-Consolidation Realm in a short time?” Lin Fan was startled, finding it hard to believe.

He knew how difficult it was to take this step. Among the top ten inner disciples of Heavenly Capital Gate, each one was a top-tier genius, each had challenged those in the Vein-Consolidation Realm while still in the Fleshly Body Realm, yet even so, they had all been stuck at this bottleneck, unable to break through.

“Of course. But do you even know what the Vein-Consolidation Realm truly is?” Prison Sky looked at Lin Fan with disdain as he asked.

“Tempering one’s own laws, seeking transcendence—that is the Vein-Consolidation Realm.” Lin Fan answered without hesitation. He had known this for a long time, even back when he was just a menial servant.

“Nonsense!” Prison Sky snorted coldly. “After the ancient era, the world declined, and you all forgot even the basics of cultivation, putting the cart before the horse. ‘Laws’—in those ancient years, laws were nothing but scrap iron, worthless and trivial. Only one’s own strength is eternal.”

“The name Vein-Consolidation refers to consolidating your own bloodline and strengthening yourself. In ancient times, those mighty beings could form lakes with a single drop of blood and snap mountains with a strand of hair; their invincibility relied on their own power. Laws are external, added only in later generations.”

Prison Sky’s face was dark, clearly harboring his own bias against laws, but Lin Fan found himself agreeing with this perspective.

“I agree with that. Back in Greenwood City, I personally shattered the old ghost's domain laws. So long as one is strong enough, there’s no need for external power.”

Lin Fan nodded, recalling certain past events.

“As long as you understand. You have already begun walking the path of consolidating your own bloodline, which is why I’m telling you all this.” Prison Sky clasped his hands behind his back as he continued.

“To consolidate your own bloodline, you need an external catalyst—a primer. I’ve told you before that there is an ancient demon slumbering in Black Demon Heaven. Your opportunity lies with him.”

His words were shocking, and he didn’t look like he was joking. He had actually set his sights on that legendary ancient demon.

“What do you mean? You should know how terrifying that ancient demon is; I don’t stand a chance against him.”

Lin Fan frowned, but he didn’t think Prison Sky was speaking without reason. There had to be a plan.

“That’s true, but I’m not asking you to fight him. Within the body of a demon at the Title Realm, a Demon God Crystal is bred—an extremely pure power. Your task is to secretly obtain one such crystal, then temper your bloodline and break through in a single leap.”

Prison Sky’s explanation was simple, but anyone could hear its peril; the slightest misstep would lead to utter destruction.

“A Demon God Crystal? But would that ancient demon really leave something so important unguarded? If he keeps it close or within his own internal space, even if I were several times stronger, I’d be powerless.”

Lin Fan’s eyes flickered as his mind began to race.

“Rest assured. The old demon is surely in deep slumber now. His power will automatically spread out, forming Demon God Crystals. Even a subpar one will be enough for you; otherwise, even if you managed to get a high-grade one, you wouldn’t be able to use it.”

Prison Sky was supremely confident, having already made his plans.

“When the great battle erupts, Black Demon Heaven is doomed to destruction. Don’t overthink it—right now, even the combined strength of your Tianwu Domain and the entire Pusa County can’t withstand that ancient demon. That’s when your chance arrives. Seize the Demon God Crystal and grow stronger!”

It had to be said, Prison Sky was a persuasive speaker; with just a few words, he had Lin Fan’s blood surging with excitement.

“As you said, this is indeed an excellent opportunity. I know what the Demon God Crystal is—though it’s not quite a divine artifact, it’s very close. With its help, stepping into the Vein-Consolidation Realm will be no problem. But we’ll need a detailed plan; otherwise, we’ll only fail at the last moment.”

Though excited, Lin Fan remained composed. The execution of this plan would require thorough preparation; there could be no carelessness.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll use my techniques to mask your presence and minimize the danger.”

Prison Sky was well prepared, having thought everything through before Lin Fan.

“One more thing. Black Demon Heaven is divided into many regions, and under normal circumstances, it’s impossible to reach another area. But this time, you just need to wait. When Black Demon Heaven is destroyed, I’ll send you directly to the place where the ancient demon is suppressed.”

As his words fell, Prison Sky’s body dissipated. Being outside for this long had already been his limit.

“Wait patiently. When the time comes, you’ll soar to the heavens. Only when I become a true core disciple will there be a future for the Divine Court.”

Lin Fan muttered to himself, slowly sitting down. His aura faded as he sank into a new round of cultivation, which lasted another half month.

One day, a brilliant divine light streaked across the sky above Black Demon Heaven, followed by an earth-shattering boom. The entire Black Demon Heaven shook violently. Lin Fan, who had been cultivating, instantly awoke.

“What is this? What terrifying power!”

Lin Fan was shaken to his core, sensing the overwhelming might that no mortal realm could possibly endure.

“It’s begun, as expected. Though it’s later than I anticipated, it seems both the human and demon races have prepared to their utmost.”

Prison Sky’s figure appeared, for once with a grave expression on his usually nonchalant face. He was clearly apprehensive; things were not as simple as he had claimed.

“Ancestor, after today you will see daylight again and lead us to stand upon the land of the human world.”

A figure appeared, thousands of meters tall—an expert of the demon race, yet all his demonic features had faded. Were it not for the horns on his head, any ordinary person would have mistaken him for a human.

“What a powerful aura—he’s definitely surpassed the Celestial Realm.”

Lin Fan could only feel the vastness of this figure’s aura, as boundless as the night sky, utterly unable to gauge the demon’s true strength.

“Don’t bother guessing. That’s a peak Voidbreaking Realm great demon, equivalent to a human at the Title Realm. It seems I’ve underestimated the demon race’s resolve.”

Prison Sky’s expression was inscrutable, his mind as deep as the sea; no one could read his thoughts.

“What?!”

Lin Fan’s body trembled at these words, his mouth dry, almost unable to breathe.

Everyone knew what kind of existence the Title Realm represented—‘unparalleled’ was not enough to describe them.

A great black hand swept forth, shattering everything. The void fractured inch by inch, unable to withstand such dreadful force—as if doomsday had arrived and all things were returning to nothingness.