Chapter 516: The Nine Floors of Forgotten Souls, the Trial of Conviction

However, these cultivators eroded by the Hun Dun Power seemed unable to feel pain; even when suffering heavy injuries, they continued to attack, fearless of death.

"Taiji: Three-Origin Rotation!"

Lin Xuan leaped up abruptly, and the Taiji Three Origin Power formed a massive three-colored vortex in the air. The vortex spun at high speed, generating a powerful suction force that dragged all the surrounding enemies into it. At the center of the vortex, the three types of power transformed into one another, creating immense destructive force.

However, no sooner had this move been executed than more enemies surged out from the caves in the valley walls. Clearly, the Guixu Sect's arrangements here were even tighter than he had imagined.

Just as Lin Xuan was gradually being surrounded and the situation became critical, the Fate Compass in his bosom suddenly began to vibrate. A line of text appeared on the surface of the compass—an urgent message from Xiao Yuan.

"The Wangling Ta has encountered an accident! Helian Chen has dispatched a large number of experts to surround this place, and I am trapped inside the tower, unable to break free. Even worse, the Pure Soul Power within the tower is being rapidly extracted by some kind of device. If it cannot be stopped in time, the third node will likely activate earlier than expected!"

Lin Xuan's heart sank. According to the original plan, the three nodes were supposed to launch their attacks simultaneously, but now Xiao Yuan was facing difficulties, and he himself was surrounded by a large number of enemies, unable to break through quickly to the location of the Hun Dun Heart.

What was even more dire was that if the Wangling Ta node activated prematurely, the timing of the entire plan would be completely disrupted. Helian Chen would likely take the opportunity to adjust his deployment, causing them to lose their final chance.

"I must find a way to break through quickly!" Lin Xuan gritted his teeth and began to think of a new strategy.

At this moment, he suddenly recalled the concept of "Zhuanghua" that Lingjizi had taught him. Perhaps he did not need to fight these enemies head-on, but could instead resolve the problem in a more ingenious way.

Lin Xuan took a deep breath and held his Bagua staff high above his head. In an instant, the staff released a brilliant radiance; this light contained the Taiji True Intent that Lingjizi had cultivated for many years, possessing a powerful ability for Zhuanghua.

"Since you have been eroded by the Hun Dun Power, then I shall help you purify it!"

Xiao Yuan utilized the Wind-Walking Art, skimming over the towering mountains and ridges like a gust of breeze as she sped toward the direction of the Wangling Ta. When that legendary ancient tower appeared in her field of vision, a sense of awe could not help but rise in her heart.

The Wangling Ta stood upon a solitary peak, reaching nine stories high, with each story over ten zhang tall, and was constructed entirely from a special type of white jade. This white jade emitted a warm, moist luster under the sunlight, as if it could purify the distracting thoughts in a person's heart. The body of the tower was carved with countless exquisite patterns, depicting the various stages of a cultivator's Ascension, from a mortal refining Qi to the final transcendence of Lun Hui; every image contained profound principles.

However, at this moment, the Wangling Ta was emitting an ominous aura. Black veins had appeared on the originally pure white tower body, spreading like blood vessels and dividing the tower into eerie patterns. Even more unsettling was that the top of the tower was emitting intense energy fluctuations, and a thick, purple-black beam of light shot from the tower top into the sky, connecting with the chaotic energy within the dark clouds.

"Helian Chen really did set up a Dharma Array here..." Xiao Yuan's expression was grave; she could feel that the beam of light was frantically absorbing the Pure Soul Power that had accumulated within the tower for ten million years.

She cautiously approached the entrance of the tower, only to find the surroundings unusually quiet, with no guards present. This made her even more vigilant—given Helian Chen's caution, it was impossible for him not to have left defenses here.

Pushing open the tower door, Xiao Yuan stepped into the first floor. The space inside the tower was even more expansive than it appeared from the outside, as if some kind of spatial expansion technique had been employed. The walls were embedded with countless glowing crystals, providing soft illumination for the entire space.

However, just as she stepped into the center of the first floor, an illusory figure suddenly condensed into form before her. This was an old man dressed in an ancient Daoist Robe, his face kind, yet his eyes flickering with the light of Hun Dun.

"Latecomer, why do you break the tranquility here?" The old man's voice carried an eerie, bewitching power. "Join us, and obtain eternal rest within the Hun Dun."

Xiao Yuan's heart gave a start; she immediately realized that this was the legendary "Linghun Shouhuzhe"—remnants of consciousness left behind by ancient cultivators who had achieved Ascension. Originally, these guardians should have protected the Wangling Ta from violation, but now they had been polluted by the Hun Dun Power, becoming obstacles blocking her path forward.

"Senior, your eyes have been blinded by evil power." Xiao Yuan bowed and saluted, her tone sincere. "Please allow this junior to help you recover your clarity."

As she spoke, she channeled the power of Nature, and green light surged from her body, transforming into specks of fluorescence that drifted toward the guardian. These rays of light possessed the ability to purify evil and could dispel the erosion of the Hun Dun Power.

However, the guardian let out an angry roar, his form instantly swelling to become a massive black shadow that lunged at Xiao Yuan. She was forced to dodge, while simultaneously increasing her output of Nature power to engage in a fierce battle with the guardian.

After a bitter struggle, the guardian of the first floor was finally purified and regained his clarity. The old man bowed deeply to Xiao Yuan, then dissipated into specks of light; however, before dissipating, he left behind a single sentence: "Child, the road ahead is treacherous; only by holding fast to your original heart can you reach the other shore."

Xiao Yuan nodded thoughtfully and continued her advance toward the second floor.

The guardian of the second floor was a heroic sword cultivator, and the process of purifying him was even more difficult than the first floor. Xiao Yuan discovered that as the number of floors increased, the degree of pollution the guardians suffered grew deeper, and the amount of Nature power required to purify them increased as well.

By the third floor, the situation had become even more complex. The guardian here was actually an ancestor of the Nature Faction; Xiao Yuan had seen his portrait in ancient texts—a kind-faced old man in green robes, a grandmaster of the Nature Faction from a thousand years ago.

However, at this moment, the ancestor no longer resembled his former self at all. His body had been twisted by the Hun Dun Power, becoming tall and ferocious, and his originally gentle face had turned insane and violent. Even more terrifying was that he was still able to use the power of Nature, but these powers had become evil and dangerous under the pollution of Hun Dun.

"Junior, you are also from the Nature Faction, aren't you?" The ancestor let out a low laugh. "Come, join me, and experience the true power of Nature!"

As he spoke, with a wave of his hand, the entire third floor instantly transformed into a twisted forest. Although these trees were lush and green, they emitted an unsettling aura. Vines writhed like snakes, flowers opened their blood-filled maws, and everything that appeared natural had become evil and dangerous.

Even more terrifying was that the ancestor was not only attacking Xiao Yuan physically, but also tempting her on a spiritual level: "Child, do you see? This is the true face of the power of Nature! Growth and decay, life and death, beauty and ugliness—these are all part of Nature! Why reject this completeness?"