Chapter 73

Outside the Mystical Realm, in the Tianyuan Imperial Capital.

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

At first, no one believed it.

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

But as more details were disclosed, especially with the silence and secret movements of top forces like the Ye Clan, the Imperial Family, and the Four Seas Trading Firm, people were shocked to discover that this unbelievable news was, perhaps... true!

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

Four Seas Trading Firm, 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 the chess piece paused slightly, and a flash of imperceptible sharp light flickered in his murky eyes.

"Chaos Soul Formation... Dao Seed initially formed... shaking a Soul Transformation..." He repeated these keywords in a low voice and finally placed the chess piece firmly down.

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

Ye Clan, deep in the forbidden area.

An old man with an aura as deep as the abyss slowly opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the void to see the scene of that world-shaking battle in the Mystical Realm.

"A variable... has finally appeared?" he muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation and a hint of gravity. "Chen'er's path, it seems, will not be lonely. Pass the order: increase the intensity of searching 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, his majestic face revealing neither joy nor anger.

"The third one is quite steady this time, knowing when to advance and retreat. However, this 'Jin Shisan'... whether he is a friend or an enemy is not yet known. Have the secret guards monitor him closely; if there is any unusual movement, report it immediately. In addition, with the Mystical Realm changing and the demon appearing, order the Imperial Observatory to step up their divinations and prepare early."

Zhao Clan mansion.

In the secret room, Zhao Song looked at the intelligence report that Elder You Liang had died trying 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 plan! This hatred is irreconcilable!" He roared in a low voice, his eyes filled with resentment and... a hint of fear he himself did not want to admit.

"The ancestor's side... have you made contact?" He suddenly turned to the shadows and asked in a hoarse voice.

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

Dark currents surged in the Imperial Capital, while the center of the storm, that mysterious "Jin Shisan," was still hiding in the vast Mystical Realm, digesting the gains of his breakthrough and planning his path forward.

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

His rise was unstoppable.

And what would be set off by this would be... a monstrous wave that would sweep across the entire Tianyuan world!

Volume One 【The Rise of the Coward】, finished.

Ending the first volume here is for the following reasons:

1. Core goal achieved, stage completed: The core title of the first volume is "The Rise of the Coward." The protagonist Lin Xuan went from a "coward" suppressed in Qingyun City to the forbearing "Mu Xuan" in the Imperial Capital, and finally to the rising "Jin Shisan" in the Mystical Realm, eventually condensing the Chaos Soul Formation and refining the Chaos Dao Seed, with his cultivation reaching the mid-stage Soul Formation, completing a thorough "rise" in strength and mentality. This marks the perfect conclusion to an important stage.

2. The plot reaches a key turning point:

Crisis escalation: The biggest foreshadowing and crisis—the Xuyuan demonic awareness has officially broken the seal, its threat level soaring from a "Mystical Realm hidden danger" to "the survival of the realm," and the nature of the conflict has fundamentally changed.

Protagonist positioning shift: Lin Xuan learns of his identity as a "variable" from the Huangfu Tianji Pavilion and initially demonstrates the uniqueness of the Chaos Dao in confronting the demon. His stage is no longer limited to personal grievances or competition in the Mystical Realm, but he is pushed to the forefront of dealing with the future catastrophe.

Suspense raised to a high level: The demon fleeing and hiding, the true purpose of the Huangfu Tianji 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, and the structure is complete. The second volume, titled "Winds Rise in Tianyuan," will unfold around grander themes such as "dealing with the demonic calamity," "seeking the truth," and "traversing Tianyuan," and the narrative structure will be fully upgraded.