Chapter 73: Epilogue

Outside the secret realm, in the Tianyuan Imperial Capital.

News of "Jin Shisan" shaking a Soul Transformation demonic shadow in the Five Elements Demon-Sealing Land, breaking through in the midst of a desperate situation, and ultimately forcing the demon to temporarily retreat spread like it had wings, reaching this center of power through various secret channels before the vast majority of participants.

At first, no one believed it.

Mid-stage Nascent Soul, fighting a Soul Transformation demonic shadow? It was simply a fantasy!

But as more details were disclosed, especially with the silence and covert mobilization of top forces like the Ye family, the Imperial House, and the Four Seas Trading Company, people realized in horror that this unbelievable news was likely... true!

The name "Jin Shisan" was no longer linked only to wealth and talent, but also to "courage," "strength," "mystery," and even "saving the world." He was like a comet that had suddenly risen; the brilliance of his light instantly illuminated the entire sky above the Imperial Capital and stung the nerves of countless factions.

Four Seas Trading Company, deep in the courtyard.

The Ninth Elder was still playing chess under the ancient tree. After listening to Qian Duoduo’s animated and embellished report, his hand holding a piece paused slightly, and a flash of imperceptible sharp light flickered in his murky eyes.

"Chaos Nascent Soul... Dao seed beginning to form... shaking a Soul Transformation..." He repeated these keywords in a low voice, finally placing the chess piece firmly down.

"Pass down the order: all resources of the trading company are to be unconditionally tilted toward Elder Mu Xuan... no, toward Fellow Daoist 'Jin Shisan.' This child is no longer a creature of the pond."

The Ye family, deep in the forbidden grounds.

An old man with an aura as deep as the sea slowly opened his eyes. His gaze seemed to pierce through the void, seeing the scene of that world-shaking battle in the secret realm.

"A variable... has it finally appeared?" He muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation and a touch of gravity. "It seems Chen'er's path will not be lonely. Pass the order: increase the intensity of the search for the true identity of that 'Jin Shisan,' but remember, do not make an enemy of him."

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

The current Emperor put down the secret report in his hand; no joy or anger could be seen on his majestic face.

"The third one was quite steady this time, knowing when to advance and retreat. However, this 'Jin Shisan'... whether friend or foe, is not yet known. Have the secret guards monitor him closely; if there is any unusual movement, report it immediately. Additionally, with the secret realm anomaly and the demon emerging, order the Imperial Observatory to step up their divinations and prepare early."

Zhao family residence.

In a secret chamber, Zhao Song looked at the intelligence report that Elder You Liang had died to send back, every word dripping with blood. His face was ashen, and his whole body trembled.

"It's him again! It's him again! Mu Xuan! Jin Shisan! Ruining my great plans! This hatred is irreconcilable!" He growled in a low voice, his eyes filled with resentment and... a trace of fear he himself was unwilling to admit.

"Has the ancestor... been contacted?" He turned abruptly toward the shadows and asked in a hoarse voice.

A cold voice came from the shadows: "There has been a response. The ancestor says: wait for the opportunity, the prey... will eventually fall into the trap."

Undercurrents surged in the Imperial Capital, while at the center of the storm, that mysterious "Jin Shisan" was still hiding in the vast secret realm, digesting the gains of his breakthrough and planning the road ahead.

The "wretched" era belonging to Lin Xuan had long since completely ended.

His rise was unstoppable.

And what would be stirred up by this would be... a monstrous wave sweeping across the entire Tianyuan world!

Volume One [The Rise of the Wretch], End.

The reasons for ending the first volume here are as follows:

1. Core goal achieved, stage completed: The core title of the first volume is "The Rise of the Wretch." The protagonist Lin Xuan went from being a "wretch" suppressed in Qingyun City, to the enduring "Mu Xuan" in the Imperial Capital, to the rising star "Jin Shisan" in the secret realm, and finally condensed a Chaos Nascent Soul and forged a Chaos Dao seed, reaching the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, completing a total "rise" in strength and mentality. This marks the perfect conclusion to an important stage.

2. The plot reaches a key turning point:

Escalation of crisis: The biggest foreshadowing and crisis—the Xuyuan demonic consciousness has officially broken its seal, and its threat level has soared from a "secret realm hidden danger" to "the survival of the realm," fundamentally changing the nature of the conflict.

Shift in the protagonist's positioning: Lin Xuan learns from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion that he is a "variable" and initially demonstrates the uniqueness of the Chaos Dao while fighting the demon. His stage is no longer limited to personal grudges or secret realm contention, but he has been pushed to the forefront of dealing with future catastrophes.

High-level suspense: The demon escaping and hiding, the true purpose of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the movements of other "Children of Destiny," and the reactions of external forces all leave highly attractive suspense for the second volume.

3. Clear structure, connecting the preceding and the following: The volume with "Rise" as the main thread ends here, with a complete structure. The next volume, titled "Wind Rises in Tianyuan," will unfold around more grand themes such as "dealing with the demonic calamity," "seeking the truth," and "traversing Tianyuan," and the narrative scope will be fully upgraded.