The ferocious bird streaked across the sky with great force, its momentum fierce and aggressive as it approached Lin Xun. Lin Xun immediately halted, his gaze calm as he looked up, and a faint trace of cold amusement curling at the corners of his lips. Lin Xun extended his hand in a swift, grabbing motion. A massive hand imbued with terrifying power shot through the air like the sky itself, seizing the man effortlessly. “Earlier, someone tried to enter and was instantly obliterated by the golden waves. It was horrifying beyond words.” This response caught the group off guard, their expressions flickering with confusion. Lin Xun’s arrival drew many gazes. Just like the group led by the man in the luxurious robes earlier, these cultivators looked at him as if they had found a fresh piece of prey. The heavens collapsed and the earth split, the destructive force unleashed spread violently, crushing and tearing apart the void, resulting in a thunderous explosion. “Don’t believe me? Then go ahead and try. Just remember, this time I warned you out of kindness since we all come from the Divine Ascension Starfield. Next time...you’ll have to fend for yourselves.” The remaining cultivators watched the scene, all in agreement. “I wonder what dangers lie hidden in the lake...” Lin Xun didn’t even react to the threat. Such words held no weight with him. He waved his hand casually. The bloody and domineering event left the Emperor-level figures near the golden lake so terrified that they nearly fainted. In the wake of the collision, the old man in the crane cloak was completely overwhelmed by the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron. His skin and bones were shattered inch by inch, and he let out a miserable scream. In the end, he was utterly destroyed, both his body and soul obliterated! To Lin Xun, were they not just another group of prey delivering themselves to his doorstep? “Fellow Daoist, is Ling Xuanzi truly that fearsome?” The man in the luxurious robes finally couldn’t help but ask. Someone else treating me as prey? Many exchanged grim glances, but no one dared to challenge him. They suppressed their resentment and slowly withdrew. Beneath his feet floated a colossal green-skinned gourd the size of a small boat, exuding an extraordinary and transcendental aura. Clearly, he had entered a dangerous region. Even Lin Xun became visibly more cautious. Is Ling Xuanzi truly that terrifying? “Hahaha, Ling Xuanzi, I didn’t expect to run into you here.” On the back of the ferocious bird, a tall, thin man in luxurious robes laughed loudly, his gaze fixed on Lin Xun with fearless intent. The others behind him looked equally eager to make a move. “I’m happy to meet all of you as well,” Lin Xun replied with a radiant smile. Everyone knew that Wen Shaoheng had promised a great reward for anyone who killed Lin Xun: ten star sources and the chance to leave Origin City. If they wished, they could even follow Wen Shaoheng to the Eternal True Realm! In their eyes, Ling Xuanzi was only a sixth realm supreme Emperor and far from someone worth fearing. Moreover, he hailed from a deteriorating place like the Ancient Nebula Road. Even if he had a backer, it was nothing worth mentioning. However, with a thunderous crack, the serpent-shaped cane was shattered, exploding into a rain of brilliant light. The old man’s face changed drastically. There was no time to dodge, and he could only brace himself and take the blow head-on. In that moment, he clearly sensed a terrifying concentration of the aura of the dao of gold deep within the lake. It was so dense that it was almost tangible, radiating an astonishing aura. As far as they knew, Ling Xuanzi had once tried and failed to assassinate Wen Shaoheng, and the only reason he survived the City Lord’s Residence’s killing attacks was because he had benefited from Dantai Feng’s protection. It was precisely this judgment that gave them the confidence to confront Lin Xun so brazenly. However, his calm and unflustered demeanor made an uneasy feeling rise in their hearts. He ignored them. Among those gathered around the lake, there were no figures worthy of his attention. His gaze shifted to the golden lake. However, what was truly terrifying was the sharp, destructive aura emanating from the lake. It distorted the surrounding space, creating a constant hissing and tearing sound. This was a temptation that few could resist. Was this something that a mere sixth realm Emperor could do? “Go, enter the lake and test its depth. If you survive, it's your good fortune. If not...it’s just bad luck,” Lin Xun said calmly. Born into an extraordinary lineage, gifted with extraordinary talents, and cultivating the profound dao for over nine thousand years, he had a deep and unfathomable foundation. Yue Duqiu was also one of the few individuals participating in the trial whom even Lin Xun regarded seriously. He understood that these people clearly had no idea about the bloody slaughter that had unfolded at the entrance of the trial grounds. Otherwise, they would never have dared to approach him with such arrogance. “Are you planning to help them?” Lin Xun asked, a faint glint in his eyes as information about the other party surfaced in his mind. The expressions of the luxurious-robed man and his group all changed drastically. Shock flickered across their faces, and a chill gripped their hearts. It was also here that Lin Xun keenly sensed a surge of vibrant life force rushing toward him. It made him realize that, within the lake covered in golden starlight, there was a star source! Lin Xun continued his journey, traveling thousands of miles across desolate terrain. Gradually, the faint scent of blood filled the air. Scattered fragments of treasures, shattered weapons, and traces of fierce battles appeared along the way. “If you don’t want to die, leave now.” Lin Xun’s voice was icy as he issued his command, making it clear he intended to claim the golden lake for himself. This group was anything but ordinary. They hailed from the same faction, led by the luxurious-robed man who was a seventh realm supreme Emperor. “Who else wants to try?” Lin Xun’s brows knitted slightly. In an instant, they instinctively retreated, putting distance between themselves and Lin Xun, as if facing a savage beast. After speaking, Yue Duqiu stepped onto this massive green gourd, and vanished into the air. The man in the luxurious robe and the others exchanged looks, all breaking out in cold sweat. Just moments ago...they had been standing at the very edge of death! Hearing these murmurs, Lin Xun immediately understood. Someone had already tried to seize the star source, but they perished without a trace. No wonder so many Emperors had gathered here, yet none dared to take action. Everyone was waiting for the right opportunity. At that moment, a low, magnetic voice filled the air, “Fools. Ling Xuanzi just slaughtered over a dozen Emperors, including supreme Emperors and Ninth Realm Ancestors. And yet you still treat him as prey. Do you have a death wish?” Everyone was stunned. Ling Xuanzi is too fierce and domineering. He attacked without even exchanging words! No one dared to meet his gaze. The murderous aura he exuded had deeply unsettled these Emperor-level figures. The voice echoed between heaven and earth, like the sound of the great dao. In the distance, a figure appeared out of thin air. He was a handsome man in a flowing black daoist robe, his sleeves fluttering. As his eyes opened and closed, primal chaos qi churned around him. The man was no fool. Upon hitting the lake, he immediately tried to swim to the surface. Unfortunately, just as he broke through the water, a massive golden vortex appeared, pulling him back into the depths. He vanished in the blink of an eye. The old man in the crane cloak snorted coldly, raising his serpent-shaped cane and striking out with all his strength. The blow carried terrifying force, as it was the full power of a Ninth Realm Ancestor. Normally, an Emperor would have had to avoid such an attack. Who would have imagined that such a powerful Ninth Realm Ancestor could be killed in the blink of an eye?! An eighth realm supreme Emperor, also known as Great Emperor Zhuliu. Like Feng Junlin, he hailed from the Divine Ascension Starfield, which was ranked first among the Great Thousand Worlds. Even from a distance, the aura felt like countless blades scraping against the sky, and the starlight was so blinding that it stung the eyes. Suddenly, a cold voice rang out. The speaker was an old man in a crane cloak, leaning on a serpent-shaped cane. He radiated the unmistakable aura of a Ninth Realm Ancestor. After hearing that, many cultivators turned their eyes toward Lin Xun, ready to take action. However, he also detected lurking dangers hidden within the golden starlight. For example, malevolent presences that were indistinct and obscured by the golden starlight, their true nature impossible to discern. Lin Xun’s eyes flashed like cold lightning, scanning the crowd. “I’ve been wandering around this area for quite some time. Only here is the qi of gold particularly oppressive, and the great dao manifests. Judging from this, the star source buried deep within this lake must surely be imbued with the law power related to the dao of gold.” The expressions of the man in luxurious robes and the others grew uglier, but they dared not show any disrespect. Lin Xun merely gave Yue Duqiu a glance, then turned and left without saying a word. After all, a cultivation at the eighth realm Supreme Emperor Stage was impossible to ignore. At his side were two Ninth Realm Ancestors. Among the trial participants, such a lineup was considered exceptionally powerful and not to be underestimated. Before long, a vast lake came into view. Golden starlight churned within the lake, its dazzling brilliance dyeing the heavens and earth in a resplendent golden hue. Watching Lin Xun’s figure disappear into the distance, Yue Duqiu fell into a momentary silence, seemingly lost in thought. “You...actually dare treat me ! My senior brother will definitely kill you!!” The man screamed in rage, fear evident in his voice. He had never imagined that a mere casual remark would lead to his demise. The man was tossed straight into the golden lake. At that moment, the greed and murderous intent in everyone's heart faded, replaced by chilling dread, and their gazes toward Lin Xun shifted completely. At that moment, Lin Xun’s figure blurred. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before the old man in the crane cloak. With a deafening rumble, the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron descended from the sky, crashing down to suppress and kill. However, Yue Duqiu simply smiled, handsome and transcendent in his black daoist robes, “I’m just giving them a friendly reminder, Otherwise, they’d die without even knowing how.” At this moment, clusters of figures had already gathered around the lake, each one looking vigilant and alert. Clearly, some incredible treasure lay hidden within the lake. “Brother, we’ve had our eyes on this star source long before you arrived. You can’t just show up and claim it all for yourself. Don’t you think you’re looking down on us?” A voice suddenly spoke out in anger. There was no chance for resistance, let alone struggle. It was just like an eagle grasping its prey! The man, an ordinary seventh realm Emperor, was insignificant in Lin Xun’s eyes. Although the man in luxurious robes had called them fools, they recognized his origins and status at a glance. There was no way someone of his stature would bother to lie to them. “Everyone, Ling Xuanzi has shown up here. Why don’t we join forces to capture him? Then we won’t have to risk our lives fighting over the star source in this lake?” The onlookers gasped in shock, their faces changing drastically. Even Lin Xun’s pupils contracted slightly at the sight.