Chapter 301: Guardian of the Purification Grand Array

"Artifact Spirit, you have already sensed Nan Gong Ya's anomaly, right?"

Lin Chuan gazed at Nan Gong Ya's corpse, spoke calmly, and his voice echoed within the space of the Sphere of All Beings.

"Yes."

The Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of All Beings replied.

"Why didn't you stop them?" Lin Chuan asked, puzzled.

"It wasn't until your final battle with Nan Gong Ya that my spiritual intellect fully awakened, because I sensed the abnormal state," the Artifact Spirit replied.

Lin Chuan frowned.

"Did you only realize it this late?"

No wonder the Artifact Spirit's behavior now differs completely from during the Genius War, clearly showing more spirit.

The Artifact Spirit said, "In my eyes, you are also a very abnormal being, but now my doubts about you have vanished."

"Are you wondering why, although you clearly sensed the Black Mist's aura, you cannot grasp its trace?"

"Yes," Lin Chuan said in surprise, "Have you already found the cause?"

"Hmm."

The Artifact Spirit said, "Do you still remember the only method ancient cultivators used to combat the Black Mist?"

"I know."

Lin Chuan nodded.

The sole way to eliminate the Black Mist is to slice the Black Mist and fuse it with worldly Tribe of the Spirits artifacts, then drive it with the endless power of living beings, converting it into another substance.

Those substances are collectively called 'Chaos Matter'.

Chaos Matter possesses a powerful effect of nourishing the heavens and earth's living beings, and because of this, it created the golden age when many Immortals flourished in ancient times.

The Artifact Spirit explained, "The Black Mist hidden within Nan Gong Ya's body completely transformed itself into Chaos Matter, merging with her Physical Body."

"Therefore you could not capture any trace of the Black Mist on Nan Gong Ya's corpse."

"She had been constantly metamorphosing before, likely also based on this ability of the Black Mist."

Lin Chuan broke out in a cold sweat.

The Black Mist can actively convert itself into Chaos Matter?

Thus, it is impossible to catch any trace of the Black Mist.

Devour, assimilate, convert...

Come and go without a trace.

Such Black Mist is terrifying.

It perfectly avoided the possibility of being suppressed during its early weak stage.

With the Black Mist's devouring and assimilating ability, it needs not much time to evolve into a colossal monster that all heavens, earth, and all things fear.

The Artifact Spirit sighed lightly, its tone showing an emotional fluctuation.

"What I worry about now is whether the Black Mist possesses a reverse transformation ability, turning Chaos Matter back into the Black Mist itself."

"This..."

Lin Chuan felt a weight in his heart, "If they truly have such an ability, this world will collapse in a very short time."

"So we need to verify it," the Artifact Spirit said.

Lin Chuan, pondering, said, "Do you mean going to the Life Purification Grand Array?"

"Yes."

The Artifact Spirit said, "Only the Life Purification Grand Array can make the Black Mist have nowhere to hide, eliminating all hidden dangers."

That is the crystallization of All Immortals through the ages.

If even the Life Purification Grand Array has no effect on the Black Mist, then cultivators of the world have no need to resist any longer.

"Shall we go?"

Lin Chuan's words fell silent.

The Sphere of All Beings suddenly pierced the space, fleeing toward the opposite end of the Star Ring Realm.

"What about Bai Li Ming and the others?"

"They will need a long time to receive the Ascension Immortal inheritance; no need to worry."

The Sphere of All Beings itself is an Immortal Weapon that attained Daoism through Spatial Law, its speed extreme, and it quickly arrived at the location of the Life Purification Grand Array.

The Life Purification Grand Array consists of nine seats.

Corresponding to the nine Immortal Statues.

The underlying rules are all similar.

Lin Chuan sensed many powerful Daoist auras, as well as many weaker than his, stationed within the Life Purification Grand Array.

The essence of the Life Purification Grand Array's operation is the power of all beings.

What it consumes is life.

It stands in a mutually generating and overcoming relationship with the Black Mist.

Without the Life Purification Grand Array's empowerment, the power of living beings becomes a supplement for the Black Mist; conversely, it allows the Black Mist to convert into Chaos Matter, nourishing the heavens and earth.

But whether the former or the latter, the many living beings stationed here gain no benefit.

Only death greets them.

Even so, countless cultivators come here without hesitation.

The Artifact Spirit asked, "Did you sense the auras of those living beings stationed here?"

"Hmm."

Lin Chuan felt admiration well up inside, "They illuminate the heavens and earth with the light of life; they are all heroic and gallant."

Victory in war has never depended on a single person.

It is the united hearts of countless living beings.

The artifact spirit sighed, "In the age of war, countless cultivators burned with fervor, one after another arriving here, offering themselves."

"These days, the cultivators willing to take up station here have become ever fewer."

"The vast majority inherit family power, coming here because of the Ancestor's teachings; they can be called a whole clan of loyal martyrs."

There are some families that keep a low profile.

They pass down their legacy, never vying for the deeds of heaven and earth; upon reaching a certain age and realm, they rush to the Star Ring Realm to station the Living Being Purification Grand Array, burning themselves out.

"Come with me."

The artifact spirit of the Sphere of Living Beings manifested into form.

It became a boy carrying a lantern, like a night watchman.

Lin Chuan followed the artifact spirit, stepping into the outer perimeter of a Living Being Purification Grand Array.

Whoosh!

A towering, massive figure fell before them.

"Wangxian Realm!"

Lin Chuan could clearly feel the oppressive aura on the other side; it was certainly Wangxian Realm, the Wangxian Realm that has attained Daoism on its own.

Such a cultivator who boasts to surpass heaven and earth is even willing to station here.

Guarding this place has essentially cut off the Immortal Path.

For a powerful cultivator, restraining the desire to ascend to Immortality is a matter that requires endless courage and perseverance.

"Sphere Patriarch, who is this?"

The Wangxian Realm Great Being stared at Lin Chuan with an unfriendly gaze.

The artifact spirit smiled, "The champion of this Three Thousand Genius War, also the strongest champion since the ancient era, bears the title Lin Chuan."

"Lin Chuan, this is the Wangxian Realm Great Being, Axe Emperor."

"Oh?"

The Wangxian Realm Great Being raised an eyebrow, "That appraisal is far too high."

Champion of the Genius War?

Who isn't?

He once swept through the age, seizing the champion's seat, full of vigor.

But after standing at the pinnacle, he realized the weight he must bear, no longer the arrogance of former days.

"Lin Chuan has met the senior Axe Emperor," Lin Chuan clasped his fists in greeting.

"No need for formalities."

The Axe Emperor's massive body bore a pair of great axes on his back, and a striking cross scar marred his chest.

He smiled, "What? Just after attaining the champion's seat, you already feel unable to let go and wish to guard the Living Being Purification Grand Array? Such lofty enlightenment?"

"He is not here to guard."

The artifact spirit shook its head, "I brought him here to verify something, concerning the Black Mist."

Mentioning the Black Mist, the Axe Emperor's complexion changed, "What's the matter? Has the Black Mist undergone a change?"

"Hmm."

The artifact spirit said gravely, "Not only is there a change, but a great one, which could again trigger a massive upheaval between heaven and earth."

The Axe Emperor sensed something amiss and also felt the artifact spirit's emotion.

The artifact spirit looked at Lin Chuan, "After all, you were the first to discover this; go and discuss it with the Axe Emperor."