Chapter 111

The Primordial Star Palace is right before his eyes; those dilapidated yet still towering palace buildings exude an aura of ancient vicissitudes. However, the rising starlight barrier acts like a natural chasm, blocking the path forward. The runes flowing across the barrier are complex and profound, containing star laws that far exceed the understanding of the Soul Formation level. Forcibly breaking the array is by no means an easy task, and it would inevitably trigger unpredictable consequences.

Behind him, the angry roars of Elder Xing Yan and the sounds of intense battle are drawing closer. Clearly, he has already paid a significant price to break through the obstruction of the heroic spirits, but his Spirit Transformation cultivation base still cannot be underestimated, and he could catch up at any moment.

Time is of the essence!

Lin Xuan's gaze finally settles on the two dilapidated stone warrior statues in front of the main hall's gate. They stand silently, as if they have been guarding this place since time immemorial; their stone eyes are hollow, yet they faintly reveal a sense of scrutiny.

He holds the Starfall Token and walks toward the stone statues step by step. As he approaches, the light of the Starfall Token becomes increasingly gentle, creating a subtle resonance with the statues.

When Lin Xuan steps onto the final stair leading to the main hall and stands between the two stone statues, a sudden change occurs!

"Hum—!"

Bright starlight suddenly ignites in the hollow eyes of the two stone statues! It is as if giants who had slept for eons have suddenly awakened! A vast, majestic will, seemingly originating from the source of the starry sky, descends simultaneously, enveloping Lin Xuan!

The scene before his eyes instantly blurs and twists. The next moment, Lin Xuan discovers he is no longer on the dilapidated plaza, but in the midst of a boundless, violently evolving chaotic starry sky!

Beneath his feet is surging earth, water, fire, and wind; overhead are stars and phenomena in constant states of birth and death. A magnificent figure, blurry yet seemingly supporting the entire universe, stands with his back to him in the center of the chaos.

"Latecomer..."

An ancient, weathered voice, seemingly woven from the sounds of countless Great Dao celestial tones, resonates directly in the depths of Lin Xuan's mind, shaking his soul.

"I am Primordial, master of chaos, evolver of stars. I leave this remnant thought, waiting for those with affinity."

Primordial Dao Ancestor! Even though it is only a wisp of a remnant thought, its power still makes Lin Xuan feel as insignificant as dust.

"You have come here holding the Starfall Token, bearing the Dao seed of chaos, which shows you have affinity with my Dao. However, the Great Dao is difficult; only those with firm will, transcendent comprehension, and a heart for all living beings can bear its weight."

The magnificent figure does not turn around, but his intent strikes Lin Xuan's Dao heart like a great bell.

"There are three questions here, which are also three trials. Pass, and you may obtain my core inheritance and carry on my legacy. Fail, and your Dao foundation will be destroyed, and your soul will return to the chaos of this place."

As the voice falls, without waiting for Lin Xuan's response, the first question descends:

"What is the Dao?"

Three simple words, yet they seem to contain the ultimate principles of the universe. In an instant, Lin Xuan feels that all his understanding and insights into the "Dao" are being scrutinized and interrogated by this supreme will! If his Dao heart were not firm or his cognition unclear, his mind would collapse instantly!

Lin Xuan's mind shakes violently, but his Dao heart has long been as firm as a rock through countless life-and-death trials. Facing this interrogation that points directly to the source, he does not panic, but settles his mind and responds with his most authentic insights:

"The Dao has no name; it is forced to be named Dao. Chaos undivided is the Dao; the evolution of stars is also the Dao. To me, the Dao is under my feet, in my heart, and in the cycle of birth and death of all things. My Dao is the Dao of chaos, encompassing all laws, evolving all living beings, seeing new life in destruction, and proving eternity in reincarnation!"

His voice is not loud, but it carries an unquestionable firmness and his own unique understanding. He does not expound on those profound and mysterious grand theories, but returns to his original heart, expounding on his own cognition of the Dao of chaos.

The chaotic starry sky trembles slightly, and the surging earth, water, fire, and wind seem to calm down a little. The remnant thought of Primordial Dao Ancestor does not commit, and the second question follows:

"Why seek the Dao?"

Why cultivate? Why pursue this ethereal Great Dao? Is it for immortality? Is it to be invincible? Or is it for transcendence and freedom?

The answers of countless cultivators flash through Lin Xuan's mind. He recalls his journey from being the "good-for-nothing" in Qingyun City, recalls the threat of the Ruins Abyss demonic awareness, recalls the pressure from the Star Palace, and recalls the desolation of Starfallzi's passing in the Star Burial Valley...

He takes a deep breath and says loudly: "Initially, it was to break free from the cage and master my own destiny. Later, it was to protect the people, things, and beliefs I cherish in my heart. Now, it is to explore the truth of this realm, cut through the fog ahead, and with my Dao of chaos, in this ancient game of chess, fight for that sliver of transcendence for all living beings, and for myself!"

His answer, extending from himself to others, from small to large, is not hypocritical empty talk, but his true heart from the depths of his soul!

The evolution of the chaotic starry sky seems to accelerate a bit, and the magnificent figure with his back turned seems to move slightly.

"Good."

A faint thought comes, carrying a trace of imperceptible approval.

Immediately, the third question, the most critical one, descends:

"If you obtain my Dao, what will you do?"

This is not a simple promise, but an interrogation involving future paths and responsibilities! What does inheriting the Primordial orthodoxy mean? Is it just gaining power?

Lin Xuan is silent for a moment, his gaze piercing through this chaotic starry sky, as if seeing the Ruins Abyss hidden in the depths of the void, seeing the Star Palace watching like a tiger, and seeing the insignificance and helplessness of countless living beings in this realm under unknown calamities.

He slowly raises his head, his gaze as firm as the stars:

"If I obtain the Dao Ancestor's true transmission, this junior does not dare to boast that I will definitely save all living beings or quell the chaos. But I will uphold the Dao Ancestor's will, do what I must do, and slay the enemies I must slay! I will protect those I can protect, explore the truth of the Heaven-Slaying, and if the Ruins Abyss brings disaster, I will surely use the sword in my hand and the Dao I bear to level the demonic abyss! This heart and this will, chaos can bear witness, and the stars shall be the proof!"

There are no impassioned oaths, only a calm yet ironclad promise. He inherits power, and he also inherits responsibility, but the path he will walk is his own path, Lin Xuan's path!

"Boom—!"

The entire chaotic starry sky seems to boil over because of his words! Countless stars erupt with unprecedented light, earth, water, fire, and wind evolve crazily, and finally return to calm, turning into a clear and vast true starry sky!

The magnificent figure who had always had his back to Lin Xuan finally turns around slowly.

It is a face that is blurry, yet seems to contain all the mysteries of the universe. His gaze falls on Lin Xuan, carrying endless vicissitudes and a trace of... relief.

"Good."

"Very good."

"My Dao... is not alone."

Three consecutive thoughts, full of gratification. The magnificent figure begins to become transparent, turning into countless purest chaotic air currents and starlight points.

"Latecomer, remember your words today. My inheritance is all here. I hope you... walk further than I did..."

The voice fades, and the endless chaotic air currents and starlight points, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, surge crazily toward Lin Xuan, merging into his dantian, into his chaotic Dao seed, into the star dharma image in his palm, and into his limbs, bones, and soul consciousness sea!

"Primordial Star General Outline"! "Zhou Tian Star Array"! "Chaos Heaven-Opening Seal"! Countless ultimate mysteries regarding the Great Dao of chaos and stars, divine abilities, secret techniques, and even partial memory fragments of Primordial Dao Ancestor regarding the Heaven-Slaying War, like a vast ocean, surge into Lin Xuan's cognition!

His cultivation base surges crazily at this moment, instantly breaking through the barrier of the late Soul Formation stage, reaching the peak of Soul Formation! And his foundation is incomparably stable, without a hint of vanity!

Above the chaotic Dao seed, those three hundred and sixty-five main star phantoms completely solidify, as if turning into real star embryos! The chaotic star dharma image in his palm is even more condensed as if real, reaching nine zhang in height, with endless majesty!

His control over star power reaches a brand-new realm! With a slight movement of his mind, he can draw upon the power of the stars of the universe!

The inheritance is complete!

And at the very moment the inheritance is completed, the scene outside becomes clear again.

Lin Xuan is still standing between the two stone statues, the Starfall Token in his hand has turned into a stream of light, sinking into his brow, becoming part of the inheritance. And the starlight barrier in front of him that blocked the path forward parts to both sides like gentle flowing water, revealing the passage to the main hall of the Primordial Star Palace.

"Junior! Give me your life!!"

Almost simultaneously, a roar full of murderous intent and greed sounds from behind! Elder Xing Yan is covered in blood, his aura somewhat chaotic, but his eyes are even crazier. He has finally broken through the obstruction of the heroic spirits and caught up! He sees at a glance that the barrier is open, as well as the aura of the inheritance on Lin Xuan that has not yet completely calmed down, which makes his heart palpitate!

He does not hesitate, burning his essence blood, the Zhou Tian Star dharma image condensing all its power, turning into a giant starlight palm that covers the sky, carrying monstrous hatred and a heart of certain death, and slaps down fiercely toward Lin Xuan, who has just finished receiving the inheritance and seems to still be in a state of comprehension!

This strike is launched in anger, and its power is even greater than before!

However, facing this terrifying strike that is enough to severely injure or even kill an ordinary early-stage Spirit Transformation, Lin Xuan, who has just opened his eyes, has only a calm starry sky and flowing chaos in his pupils.

He does not even look at the giant palm slapping down, but slowly raises his right hand and presses it lightly toward the direction of Elder Xing Yan.

"Suppress."

One word uttered, and the law follows!

In an instant, the starlight of the entire Primordial Star Palace plaza gathers suddenly! Countless ancient star runes emerge from the void, weaving into a larger, more solid chaotic star giant palm that seems to be composed of the will of the entire starry sky, arriving first despite starting later, meeting Elder Xing Yan's attack!

"No!! This is impossible! How can you mobilize the Star Palace restrictions?!!" Elder Xing Yan lets out a desperate and unbelievable roar!

"Boom—!!!!!"

The two giant palms collide fiercely!

There is no stalemate, only crushing!

The moment Elder Xing Yan's starlight giant palm touches the chaotic star giant palm, it shatters, disintegrates, and annihilates inch by inch like fragile glass!

The chaotic star giant palm continues with undiminished momentum, slapping fiercely onto Elder Xing Yan and his dharma image!

"Puff—!"

Elder Xing Yan spits out blood wildly, and the Zhou Tian Star dharma image instantly dims and becomes covered in cracks! His entire body flies backward like a kite with a broken string, smashing heavily into the ruins in the distance. His aura instantly withers to the extreme, and his eyes are filled with endless fear and horror!

One strike! Just one strike! Elder Xing Yan, an early-stage Spirit Transformation, is severely injured and defeated!

Lin Xuan slowly retracts his palm, the aura around his body returning to calm, as if he had just done a trivial little thing.

He glances at Elder Xing Yan, who is severely injured and unable to rise, his face full of despair, and does not finish him off, just saying faintly:

"The Dao of the Star Palace, the path has gone narrow."

After speaking, he pays no more attention, turns around, takes a step, and enters the open main hall of the Primordial Star Palace.

Huangfu Hao and Feng Xi follow closely behind, looking at Lin Xuan's back, their eyes filled with endless shock and awe.

After this inheritance, Lin Xuan has been reborn. In this vast starry sky, there are not many who can block his path.