The night passed quietly and a new day arrived. In the inn room, a hint of joy was revealed in Lin Xun's eyes. After refining all the Yellow Spring Beads, another of the nine netherworld runes was finally complete: the mysterious Purgatory Dao! It was the dao of suppressing all evil like a prison! When cultivated to the extreme, one could form a dao pattern resembling the Eighteen Hells! In battle, the Purgatory Dao could generate a terrifying suppression force as if opening the gates of hell. Lin Xun also noticed that the Purgatory Dao had strong synergy with the Soul Capturing Dao and could be used together with great effect. With one restraining the soul while the other suppressing it, it was practically a match made in heaven. However, Lin Xun's happiness soon began to wane. It had taken fifteen Yellow Spring Beads to complete a single Purgatory Dao. Based on this rate, wouldn't he need ninety Yellow Spring Beads to complete the remaining six netherworld daos? Given a Yellow Spring Bead was worth four hundred thousand first-grade cosmic origin crystals, ninety beads...would be a total of thirty-six million crystals! The amount made Lin Xun's heart twitch as his breathing paused for a moment. Such an astronomical figure was simply unattainable for his current self. "The road ahead will be filled with competition, and there will be more than enough killing to go around. Looks like I'll have to work extra hard to collect more battle spoils..." It had been a long time since Lin Xun had experienced the feeling of 'the cleverest housewife being unable to cook without rice,' but it did finally rouse his fighting spirit. After all, motivation would only follow when there was pressure! Soon after, Lin Xun walked out of the inn with his hands behind his back, and began to stroll around in the streets. The city was a hive of activity. Most people were locals and only a small fraction were trial takers like Lin Xun. Even so, their large numbers should not be underestimated. While walking, Lin Xun offhandedly asked, "In other words, I must participate in this Secret Realm of Trial to advance?" Previously, the green sparrow had said that among the forty-nine Immortal Heavenly Passes in the Great Thousand Battle Domain, the thirty-six lesser Immortal Heavenly Passes were just temporary stops to rest that one could enter and leave without restriction. In the thirteen greater Immortal Heavenly Passes, however, there were trials that were required to be overcome before one could advance. Origin City was the first Immortal Heavenly Pass in the Great Thousand Battle Domain. To advance past it, one needed to participate in the Secret Realm of Trial. Only after collecting ten 'star sources' from the Secret Realm of Trial would one be qualified to enter the next battlefield. "You could also buy ten star sources. That way, you won't have to participate." The green sparrow then continued, "However, a complete star source is worth about five hundred thousand first-grade cosmic origin crystals, making ten of them five million. Can you... afford it?" Lin Xun was immediately speechless. The green sparrow said, "Even the nobles from the rich clans can't gather so many cosmic origins crystals on short notice, let alone someone like you, so you'd better obediently go sign up." An idea suddenly occurred to Lin Xun. "If I collect surplus star sources, can I sell them to others?" The green sparrow was taken aback. Was this guy going crazy due to the lack of money? Meanwhile, Lin Xun had already started calculating how many star sources he needed to sell in order to collect thirty-six million first-grade cosmic origin crystals... While strolling about, Lin Xun arrived at the City Lord Mansion. With the identity token from Ferry City, he successfully registered and got a spot in the trial. As soon as he left, the news about his registration reached Heng Tianshuo. Unsurprised, Heng Tianshuo merely smiled as he thought to himself, "Using Ling Xuanzi's death in exchange for a favor from the Wen Clan Head...what a worthwhile deal." Dusk arrived. Lin Xun returned to the inn. When the server greeted him with a smile, he suddenly remembered something. He had only paid for ten days of board, but there was still three months to go before he could participate in the Secret Realm of Trial. In other words, he had to continue paying room fees until then. However, his remaining cosmic origin crystals weren't enough to sustain him for three months. Lin Xun thought to himself, "It seems that I'll be going out tonight..." While he might have appeared leisurely earlier, he had managed to discover Wen Shaoheng's whereabouts and had even gone there to take a look in person. Under the ink-black night sky, on the first floor of the inn, Lin Xun ordered a pot of wine and sat there drinking by himself. Suddenly, a surprised voice sounded from the door of the inn, "Eh, Brother Samaritan!" Lin Xun looked up and saw Dantai Feng and his group appear at the entrance. He couldn't help but smile. "What a coincidence." Dantai Feng let out a hearty chuckle. He gestured and said, "Go get us a room, we'll be staying here. I'm going to have a drink with Dao Friend Ling Xuanzi." As he spoke, he walked to Lin Xun's table, sat down, and boldly said, "Waiter, bring out your most precious stash of alcohol." Lin Xun couldn't help but caution him, "This place is ridiculously expensive." Taken aback, Dantai Feng couldn't help but laugh, "Dao Friend, let me say something that might sound a little unpleasant. I, Dantai Feng, have never worried about money in my life. Drink as much as you want. I'll pay for tonight's drinks!" He was evidently someone who never lacked money. Lin Xun immediately laughed, "Alright then, let's drink to our heart's content tonight!" Dantai Feng laughed along as well. Although he hadn't interacted much with Lin Xun on the way to Gathering Netherworld, he had already developed a great liking for the latter's 'chivalrous and helpful' nature. To have met again in the city, Dantai Feng couldn't help but sigh at the mysteriousness of fate. Although it was a brief exchange, Dantai Feng felt more and more certain that Dao Friend Ling Xuanzi was simply 'one of us' and wasn't the least bit pretentious. Soon, jar after jar of wine was brought over. "Come, let's down a big bowl first!" Dantai Feng was in great spirits as he happily started drinking with Lin Xun. The cultivators who had followed Dantai Feng here couldn't help but smile at the sight. They were initially suspicious and skeptical of Lin Xun, feeling his 'helpful' behavior was just a pretense to try and curry favor with their young master. However, Lin Xun's subsequent actions soon changed their impression. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was all thanks to him that they were able to leave Gathering Netherworld without losing a single member. After all, all the netherworld kings and soldiers along the way were slaughtered by Lin Xun. Soon, someone came forward and toasted with a wide smile. "Come, come, a toast to you, Brother Samaritan." Dantai Feng glared and scolded, "What Brother Samaritan? This is Ling Xuanzi. Stop teasing with that nickname." "Right, right, it's Dao Friend Ling." The others immediately made the adjustment. Lin Xun naturally wouldn't be offended by these small matters and clinked his cup with the other party one after one. Everyone was happily drinking and having a great time. However, no one realized that this was one of Lin Xun's dao clones... Meanwhile, at Tianyu Building, Lin Xun silently appeared amidst the darkness of the night. Stealth wasn't one of Lin Xun's weak suits and his Senior Brother, Well Moon, had extraordinary attainments in this field. Well Moon was the twentieth disciple of Fangchun Mountain. The bronze-skinned disciple was agile and strong, carried a quiver on his back, and wielded a bow made of animal bones. He was the number one divine archer of Fangchun Mountain. In the battle to kill the Nameless Esteemed Emperor, Well Moon revealed himself and killed many powerful enemies with his unparalleled archery and mysterious movement arts. His best concealment technique was called 'hiding from the sky while crossing the sea.' When activated, even Emperor Ancestors would struggle to find any trace of him. The technique was naturally among Lin Xun's many inheritances. Although he had yet to reach the same level of mastery as Senior Brother Well Moon, it was more than sufficient for the moment. At present, his figure soundlessly disappeared into the shadows of Tianyu Building. At the top floor, seated by his lonesome with a gloomy expression, Wen Shaoheng sneered, "It seems that Crane's disastrous defeat has embarrassed Empty Hidden World. They are planning to send the fourth-ranked 'Frost' next." From the side, Granny Xue appeared excited as she said, "Frost is a legend in Empty Hidden World and a true supreme Emperor-level assassin. Frost's achievements and mission difficulties have always been far above Crane's. "In fact, many rumors claim that the present Frost has become so exceedingly terrifying that he or she is likely capable of assassinating an Ancestor of a Path! "If it's Frost, even five million first-grade cosmic origin crystals...will be worth it." Despite hearing this, Wen Shaoheng coldly snorted and said, "Empty Hidden World also said that it would take at least half a year for Frost to arrive and I can't afford to wait that long. However, I do wish to see how Frost will feel when he or she arrives to find that Ling Xuanzi has already been killed!" Granny Xue was taken aback. "Young Master, has Heng Tianshuo agreed to act?" Wen Shaoheng's lips curved into a cold smile. "Do you really think that old fox will personally take action? However, I can only say that Ling Xuanzi doesn't have much time left to live!" Just as Granny Xue was about to speak again, she suddenly seemed to sense something and expression changed abruptly. Almost instinctively, she swung her palm at the empty space near Wen Shaoheng. The empty space exploded as a tall figure emerged. It was Lin Xun. He couldn't help but be a little surprised at how sharp the old woman was. However, this didn't slow him in the slightest. The moment he was discovered, the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron rumbled forth, glowing with millions of dao light rays as it slammed down at Wen Shaoheng. The sudden development made Wen Shaoheng's scalp turn numb with fear as his heart violently shuddered. He immediately stood up to try and avoid the attack but it was already too late. Lin Xun had moved far too swiftly and attacked with his full power. It was a truly terrifying and sudden attack. Amidst a horrific collision, a figure was smashed to a bloody pulp, brutally snapping bone and muscle alike. The figure was flung backwards, destroying the nearby table, chairs, and other furnishings. However, the figure struck by the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron didn't belong to Wen Shaoheng, but Granny Xue, who had managed to step in at the final moment to block the attack!
