Chapter 298: Entering the Ancient Ruins

"What's going on?"

"Why not send Nan Gong Ya's corpse back?"

"Do we have to bring the corpse into the Ancient Ruins to behold the Immortal statue?"

The super geniuses were all a bit puzzled.

Lin Chuan, deep in thought, remained silent, "Could the vessel spirit of the Sphere of All Beings have sensed something?"

It's not impossible.

After all, the Sphere of All Beings itself is one of the few intact Immortal Realms in the world, and it operates by the power of all beings.

And the power of all beings is the greatest counter to Black Mist.

"If that's truly the case, there may still be hope for a reversal," Lin Chuan thought.

The vessel spirit of the Sphere of All Beings gave no explanation.

After a while, the vessel spirit opened its sight, allowing them to see the outside scenery.

"Eight Daoist Friends, please pay attention; we are about to enter the Star Ring Realm."

In their view, a brilliant, multicolored Long Rainbow pierced the Heavenly Dome, guarding the world; that was a corner of the Star Ring Realm.

"We're arriving."

The geniuses' expressions turned excited.

Except for Mo Sha and Lin Chuan, the other geniuses came from super powers, were well‑versed, yet none had ever entered the Star Ring Realm.

At this moment, their faces were filled with curiosity and excitement.

Lin Chuan, however, remained far more composed.

He had once entered there alone, gazing from afar at the nine Immortal statues.

But this time's purpose was entirely different from his previous visit.

The Sphere of All Beings traversed the Star Ring Realm; wherever its gaze fell, there was ruin, scarred lands, and an atmosphere thick with blood and carnage.

The super geniuses' expressions tightened.

Yun Lian couldn't help but say, "It's been so long; why does the Star Ring Realm still look this grim? Is there still a war?"

The super geniuses' knowledge of the Star Ring Realm was limited to ancient texts.

Many ancient secrets were beyond their level, and powerful beings from all sides deliberately concealed them.

Even though the books described the ancient wars in horrific detail, the information they revealed was still mostly positive.

Perhaps they feared that geniuses learning of Black Mist's terror would cause their Dao hearts to collapse?

The vessel spirit's voice rang again, "The Star Ring Realm is isolated from the two great Living Worlds; the Heroic Spirit's Will endures, creating this scene."

"This is also to protect the descendants who enter the Star Ring Realm."

"Without the Heroic Spirit's protection, what you will face will be thousands of times more terrifying than the current sight."

The vessel spirit's explanation left the geniuses deep in thought.

Three-Burial Fozhi asked, "Vessel spirit, are the strange invaders from the ancient era truly still present?"

Opinions on the matter were myriad.

Some cultivators said the strangeness had long been eradicated; others claimed it was indestructible and would eventually return.

Without firsthand witness, no one dared to draw a conclusion.

The vessel spirit gave no answer.

Bai Li Ming laughed, "As super geniuses about to behold the Immortal statues, we should be qualified to know the truth, right?"

"After passing the trial, you will naturally have the right to know the truth," the vessel spirit replied.

The vessel spirit replied.

Beholding the Immortal statues does not necessarily grant the inheritance of an Immortal.

The nine paths to ascension merely represent nine viable routes; they do not guarantee reaching the end.

"Please prepare yourselves; we are about to enter the Ancient Ruins," the vessel spirit prompted again.

The vessel spirit sent another prompt.

The scene ahead changed again.

The previously tragic, brutal, blood‑stained atmosphere vanished, and they entered a region shrouded in dense mist.

Their divine senses expanded, yet still could not see through.

"Look,"

At that moment, Yun Lian exclaimed.

She saw a towering statue reaching the clouds; its overall shape was a helmet‑clad, armor‑wearing female hero, but without a distinct face.

"Vessel spirit, is that the Immortal statue?"

"Why is there only one?" Yun Lian asked.

The vessel spirit gave no answer.

The other super geniuses also observed, but the scenes they saw were completely different.

Bai Li Ming saw a statue clad in a Dao robe, left hand sweeping dust, right hand holding a sword.

Three-Burial Fozhi saw a statue seated cross‑legged on a Lotus Platform, hands together, eyes closed, smiling faintly.

Bai Miao Miao's vision was even stranger; the statue resembled no known beast, with a fox‑like head, rabbit ears, a tiger's torso, ox limbs, a horse's tail, and a pair of golden eagle wings.

Meng Ziyin saw an elderly figure in twilight, hunched, one hand cradling a book, the other wielding a teaching staff.

Mo Sha saw a tall, mighty man, one hand holding a blade, the other a sword, with countless weapons suspended behind him.

Even the usually silent, composed Kun Shiqi now displayed an expression of immense shock.

In his view, the statue grasped the sun and moon, stood upon stars, as if the very principles of the cosmos were under its control.

I hold heaven and earth; with a flip my hand becomes cloud, with a cover my hand becomes rain; the Heaven-Earth Ten Thousand Dao Principle is all in my hand.

This is the lifelong goal pursued by countless fellow disciples of the Hidden Studio.

Everyone saw the Immortal statue, but each only saw a sculpture.

But this was enough to shock and excite the super geniuses.

"What's this!"

At this moment, only Lin Chuan's expression was completely different.

"Brother Lin Chuan, didn't you see the Immortal statue?" Bai Miao Miao asked.

"Is that an Immortal statue?"

What Lin Chuan saw were nine massive stones, not a sculpture at all.

"Congratulations, everyone."

The spirit artifact's voice sounded again, interrupting Lin Chuan and Bai Miao Miao's exchange, "Being able to see the Immortal statue proves you are qualified to receive the Ascension Immortal inheritance."

"Looking across previous cohorts, the situation where all who beheld received the inheritance is extremely rare."

"Perhaps a brilliant great era is about to arrive."

"And you all will be the initiators of this great era."

The spirit artifact's words delighted and shocked the super geniuses, while they also felt immense pressure.

During the genius competition, they had heard many similar statements.

Many cultivators said this was the strongest cohort since the ancient era; Lin Chuan and Bai Li Ming's talents could even crush the previous cohort's champions.

Even the great powers of the Wangxian Realm placed high hopes on them.

Unexpectedly, after entering the ruin, these super geniuses could all obtain the Ascension Immortal inheritance, even the spirit artifact of the Sphere of All Beings recognized them.

"Can I really usher in a brilliant great era?"

Except for Lin Chuan, the other seven also harbored the same thought.

Even Bai Li Ming was no exception.

Boom!

The Sphere of All Beings halted, no longer moving forward.

Because ahead lies the area where the Nine Immortal statues stand, there the endless oppressive pressure exists; only super geniuses who have been recognized can enter.

"Daoist Friend Lin Chuan, as this cohort's champion, you have the right to be the first to behold the Nine Immortal statues; what do you choose?"

The spirit artifact asked.

The other super geniuses' gazes all fell upon Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan's earlier behavior was unusual, making them curious about what kind of scene Lin Chuan actually saw.

The Nine Immortal statues, nine inheritances, neither stronger nor weaker.

Further, they consider the degree of compatibility.

If the compatibility is extremely high, they have hope to surpass Lin Chuan in the future.

Even though they lose now, they do not think they will always lose; deep inside they still yearn to surpass Lin Chuan, to be invincible among their generation.

Lin Chuan responded to everyone with action.

He took a step forward, without hesitation, stepping into the area where the Immortal statues stand.