The Prodigies War

Luo Jia took out the Dark Blood Black Phoenix true feather and lightly waved it.

Omm!

A cryptic dao sound responded from an extremely distant place, accompanied by a majestic and heavy sound of a bell.

The group immediately saw a divine black flame burning in the distant sky. It dyed the sky in a layer of deep black as if transforming it into a corner of the eternal night.

Clang!

The bell was a mix between the chime of a morning bell and a warning bell. The sound washed over everyone’s minds and bodies, causing Lin Xun and the others to feel as if they had been shocked numb by a deafening noise.

"Incredible!" Lin Xun was inwardly shaken.

Without further ado, the group flew toward the sound and soon saw an ancient Buddhist temple amidst the ruins.

The temple walls were run-down and damaged. Mottled marks left by the passage of countless years could be seen everywhere while a burning black flame floated above the temple.

Clang~

Upon their arrival, the sound of the bell grew increasingly grand and began to resemble a Buddhist chant. Lin Xun's and the others’ blood and qi seemed to resonate with the sound, feeling as if they were about to undergo purification.

The gates of the temple were tightly shut. Holy Buddhist light spread from the temple, creating an air of solemness that made it feel like they were on a sacred land.

"Isn’t this the location of the seal? Why is there an ancient Buddhist temple here?" Shun Baixuan was baffled.

"It was probably built by the Saint expert of the Earth Treasury Temple. The Dark Blood Black Phoenix's remnant spirit might be sealed inside." Miss Le was also somewhat uncertain.

Although she knew many secrets, she had not personally witnessed most of them. It was also the first time she had visited these mysterious ruins.

"I can sense it. The Dark Blood Black Phoenix’s remnant spirit is inside!" Luo Jia appeared very excited while an extraordinary brilliance shone from her eyes.

"This temple is the seal." Meanwhile, Lin Xun's spirit sense spread and he also perceived something unusual.

The temple was so broken down that it looked like it would collapse at any moment. However, it was covered by an invisible restriction power.

The restriction power’s aura was exceedingly alarming and made Lin Xun's heart rate jump as if sensing extreme danger.

Miss Le summoned a string of purple bells and gently shook it, producing strands of purple sound waves. When the sound waves touched the temple doors, blazing Buddhist light suddenly erupted.

The Buddhist light was holy, peaceful, vast, and immeasurable, but was deep black in color. It made people feel uneasy and afraid.

"It's an alpha divine restriction!"

A grave look spread from Miss Le's brows. "To enter, you need to unravel the essence of the restriction. Using brute force will only trigger a horrifying force and result in unimaginable repercussions."

All eyes looked toward Lin Xun because he was a rune founder and the only one among them with high enough proficiency in runes.

"I'll try."

Lin Xun pondered for a moment. He circulated the power of his divine spirit and began to probe and study the mysterious ancient Buddhist temple.

He immediately noticed a difference.

The temple changed under his spirit sense. Radiant Buddhist light covered every inch of the place and gave off an aura akin to the abyss or prison. Although it appeared holy and magnificent, it also hid a terrifying and dreadful danger.

Wisps of restriction power undulations intertwined to create masses of black Buddhist light.

What surprised Lin Xun, however, was that a Buddha phantasm seemed to be seated within each mass of light. Each phantasm displayed various expressions such as smiling, lowering their eyes, displaying a dignified appearance, angrily gazing at the world...

Lin Xun's heart trembled uncontrollably, feeling an oppressive supreme aura that made even his divine spirit feel as if it was about to be frozen.

"Focus!"

Lin Xun immediately circulated the Little Divine Meditation Art and visualized the sun, moon, and stars to dispel oppressive discomfort on his spirit.

When he spread his senses again, the temple looked different again. Every inch of restriction power was imprinted with peculiar, densely-packed, black runes. The mysterious restriction power appeared to be constructed from these runes.

Evidently, he had to decipher the essence of these runes in order to enter the temple!

"Please guard me while I concentrate."

Lin Xun took a deep breath. This was the most terrifying restriction he had encountered so far. It was extremely difficult to comprehend, and he could not afford to be the slightest bit distracted when he studied it.

"Don't worry, with me around, no one will be able to disturb you." Luo Jia displayed strong determination. Her clear eyes flashed fiercely like lightning, flowing with unprecedented majesty.

She needed to rely on Lin Xun to enter and could not afford any accidents to happen.

"Hmph!" Shun Baixuan seemed upset and icily snorted. However, when saw Luo Jia’s callous gaze, he ultimately sighed and said, "Fine, I will reluctantly help him this once."

"Be careful of the Earth Treasury Temple disciples," Miss Le cautioned. "They may have already entered the temple, but it is unlikely for all of them to be inside."

"I’m itching for them to show themselves!" Shun Baixuan grew restless as his battle intent surged. After all, he had yet to release all of his pent-up anger.

While they were talking, Lin Xun sat down and entered a state of meditation to focus.

Although he was no stranger to runes, this was the first time he would attempt to unravel a restriction left by a Saint expert. The task made him feel somewhat pressured.

However, his mind was soon emptied of other thoughts as he completely immersed himself in the restriction power undulations covering the temple.

To other cultivators, restrictions were perhaps a mysterious and frightening power. They drew power from the world to change something ordinary into something magical and were filled with unfathomable wonder.

In the eyes of a rune founder like Lin Xun, however, a restriction was merely a type of array constructed from runes.

The more difficult it was to conquer a restriction, the more valuable the learning opportunity for a rune founder.

The act of fully unraveling a restriction was equivalent to obtaining an answer. He would gain all of the restriction’s secrets and turn them into nutrients to improve his rune mastery.

……

Two hours later.

Throughout this period, Lin Xun remained seated on the ground with a straight back. His expression was unchanged and gave off a sensation that he was disconnected from the outside world.

He was like a clay statue of Buddha sitting in front of the ancient Buddhist temple.

Miss Le toyed with the string of purple bells, appearing very calm and relaxed without the slightest hint of impatience.

Meanwhile, Luo Jia remained alert as she vigilantly scanned the surroundings with cold eyes.

The dusky land around the temple seemed silent and peaceful. However, it also gave off a stifling sensation of unexplainable danger.

Shun Baixuan was growing impatient. He was looking forward to the appearance of the Earth Treasury Temple disciples, but there was no sign of them even until now.

"Aren't those baldies called the Calamity Walkers? Why haven’t they come to purify me?" Shun Baixuan was clearly displeased.

Miss Le cautioned, "Young Master Shun, please watch your words. The Earth Treasury Temple has immeasurable power. If they brand you as a heretic, you will have to face the danger of being purified for your entire life."

"Humph, I ain’t afraid. The battle of the great age is coming. It matters not if it's the Earth Treasury Temple or Heaven Treasury Temple, I will destroy everyone who dares to stand in my way."

Shun Baixuan's face was filled with arrogance and disdain. He wasn’t being boastful but honest.

It was impossible to tell whether it was intentional as Miss Le asked, "Didn’t you want to borrow Lin Xun's treasures previously? Why have you suddenly changed your mind? "

Sure enough, this was Shun Baixuan’s sore spot. His originally proud expression suddenly stiffened as the corners of his lips twitched slightly. Soon after, he expressionlessly said, "You do not need to provoke me. I have never changed my mind about the things I want to do. However, now isn’t the right time."

"Hehe." Miss Le displayed a meaningful smile.

"What are you laughing at? Is it that funny?" Shun Baixuan instantly exploded, finding Miss Le’s smile abominable. She was clearly mocking him.

Miss Le unhurriedly said, "I am laughing because you were defeated by a girl. Aren’t you able to face it? Can it be that you are really afraid?"

"You..." Shun Baixuan's face turned ugly. He was furious.

It was at this moment that he received a voice-transmission from Miss Le. "Get ready, the enemy is coming!"

The ground under Shun Baixuan’s feet suddenly burst open as an icy flash shot out.

"Die!" Shun Baixuan wasn’t surprised but delighted. While avoiding the attack, he stabbed his golden war spear at the ground.

The ear-piercing collision rang out and that icy flash was shattered by the spear.

Boom!

The spear thrust into the earth, creating a deep hole. The nearby ground rapidly fractured as dirt flew into the air.

With a swish, a black figure rushed out, heading not toward Shun Baixuan but toward Lin Xun.

It was a black-clad monk. He moved as swiftly as the wind while brandishing a crescent-blade shovel.

However, someone was faster than him!

"Chop!" The ready and prepared Luo Jia swung the Demon Purging Absolute Heavenly Sword. Its brilliant blade slashed downward, pulsing with peerless divine might.

Plop!

The black-clad monk could not avoid it and was immediately swallowed by the vast sword qi. His entire body along with his crescent-blade shovel was instantly destroyed by the sword qi!

It was as if he had vanished into thin air, which was a display of the Demon Purging Absolute Heavenly Sword’s tyrannical power!

Whoosh!

Meanwhile, several black shadows rushed out from the ground at different locations. Some of them dashed toward Miss Le while others charged at Lin Xun.

Shun Baixuan felt somewhat ashamed that Luo Jia had beaten him to the punch. Hence, there was no way he would miss this opportunity.

"Subdue!"

The Coiling Dragon Altar Cauldron appeared above Shun Baixuan, glowing with divine power that could suppress the entire world. The land trembled at its almighty presence.

Boom!

The cauldron glowed brightly as it loudly rumbled, producing thick and heavy dao light that suppressed the surroundings.

The Coiling Dragon Altar Cauldron was the ancestral relic of the Shun Clan!

In this moment, Shun Baixuan displayed the power akin to a god. It felt as if he could subdue all of time with the cauldron!

Plop plop plop!

The shadows failed to react in time. Their bodies cracked inch by inch before exploding, causing a rain of blood to fall.