Chapter 632: The Two Demon Kings' Ambush
The vast Mental Energy that had filled heaven and earth gradually receded like a tide after lingering for a time.
In just a few breaths, tranquility once again returned to the world.
Within a certain cavern inside the Sky Cave, Lin Langtian slowly opened eyes that had been shut for a long while.
No brilliance flickered within his pitch‑black pupils, only a depth like the night sky and a faint trace of dazedness as he adjusted.
The secluded cavern was softly lit, the smooth stone walls still carrying the earthy scent of soil.
Such peaceful stillness made even the body unconsciously relax.
"So, I've advanced to the Symbol Grandmaster realm."
Lin Langtian stretched lazily as he hopped down from the stone platform. Closing his eyes slightly, he felt the boundless Mental Energy in his Niwan Palace.
"Though right now, this can only be considered the Minor Symbol Grandmaster level."
The Great Symbol Grandmaster realm corresponded to experts at the threshold of the Samsara Stage within the Reincarnation Stage. Lin Langtian had just advanced into Symbol Grandmaster, and like Kun Ling, he was only a Minor Symbol Grandmaster for now.
Even so, Lin Langtian only smiled faintly, completely satisfied.
To push Mental Energy this far would require immense hardship for any further advance. Only by relying on the Eternal Illusion Demon Flowers had he managed to step into the Minor Symbol Grandmaster realm in just a month.
"Time to head out."
With a small smile, he walked straight toward the cave's entrance.
As he moved toward the exit of the Sky Cave, Lin Langtian's steps paused. Tilting his body slightly, he glanced toward the deepest part of the cave.
"Master of Space, still not planning to show yourself? In that case, I'll refrain from disturbing you."
Murmuring to himself, he turned around and walked down the dark passage, making his way toward the outside world.
After a while of walking through the dim tunnel, warm sunlight finally shone down from above.
Stepping out, Lin Langtian was greeted by a tranquil range of mountains, towering and majestic.
"Looks like Lin Dong is still a step behind you, Brother Langtian."
A familiar voice reached Lin Langtian's ears, and a figure appeared beside him. A devilishly handsome face materialized in front of him.
"Little Marten, huh? From the way you say it, Little Brother Lin is still in seclusion?" Lin Langtian asked, slightly surprised as he glanced toward the depths of the Sky Cave.
"Yeah. Lin Dong hasn't shown the slightest movement yet, which is a bit worrying. The power of those Eternal Illusion Demon Flowers, after all…" Little Marten hesitated, then admitted, a trace of concern on his face.
"Hehe, don't worry. Although Little Brother Lin is slower in absorbing the Eternal Illusion Demon Flowers' power, with the Ancestral Stone, nothing will happen to him." Lin Langtian said with a comforting smile.
Lin Langtian himself had relied on the Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror to neutralize the black illusion fragrance of the flowers. Lin Dong lacked this advantage, but the Ancestral Stone protected him. Given enough time, stepping into Minor Symbol Grandmaster would come naturally.
Hearing this, Little Marten exhaled softly and nodded with a smile.
He trusted Lin Dong immensely. His earlier worry had been nothing more than impatience. Though not related by blood, the trials they had endured together had already made them true brothers.
"Hehe, Little Friend Lin Dong, congratulations on entering the Symbol Grandmaster realm. Even in my Celestial Demon Marten clan, those whose Mental Energy reaches such a level can be counted on one hand."
The Celestial Demon Marten clan leader stepped forward, his gaze lingering on Lin Langtian with a hint of oddity.
Their clan indeed had elders with formidable Mental Energy, but all had gained that strength through years of accumulation. To reach Symbol Grandmaster at Lin Langtian's age was incredibly rare.
"This junior merely had some good fortune, that's all."
Lin Langtian shook his head. Without the Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror's immunity to the illusion fragrance and the Devouring Ancestral Symbol's absorption of the Eternal Illusion Demon Flowers' power, it would have taken him years to cross this terrifying gap.
"If mere luck could grant a breakthrough to Symbol Grandmaster, such experts wouldn't be so rare in this world." The clan leader replied with a laugh.
"Hehe, I imagine Little Friend Langtian must be tired after his seclusion. He should rest for a day or two." Great Elder Zhu Li added with a smile.
The clan leader nodded and exchanged a few more words with Lin Langtian before remaining at his post.
After all, though Lin Langtian had emerged, their other benefactor, Lin Dong, was still in seclusion within the Sky Cave. Compared to Lin Langtian, Lin Dong's cultivation clearly required more time.
Over the next two days, Lin Langtian stayed within the Celestial Demon Marten clan. As time passed, his new realm gradually stabilized.
Now that he had fully grasped the power of Minor Symbol Grandmaster and combined it with his Reincarnation Stage Yuan Power, ordinary Reincarnation Stage experts—or even those on the verge of Samsara—were no longer his match.
At this point, only those who had truly stepped into the Samsara Stage could still pose a threat.
The realization made Lin Langtian smile faintly as a surge of boldness welled up within him.
When he'd left the Chaotic Demon Sea, he had only been at the Death Profound Stage. Now, after less than two years in the Demon Region, he had surpassed the Reincarnation Stage and could wrestle with Samsara Stage experts.
Such a cultivation speed was nothing short of monstrous.
After recovering within the Celestial Demon Marten clan for another two days, Lin Langtian finally prepared to depart.
With the clan's internal troubles resolved and the clan leader out of seclusion, all unrest had quickly been calmed. After Hao Jiuyou's fiasco, the elders who had once supported him were now on edge, fearful of being held accountable.
Thus, when it came time to select the candidate for clan leader again, they rushed to support Little Marten in a bid to redeem themselves. As a result, Little Marten became the uncontested candidate.
Those matters now belonged to the Celestial Demon Marten clan's internal affairs. Lin Langtian chose not to interfere any further and informed the clan leader of his intention to leave.
As for the fact that Lin Dong remained in seclusion, Lin Langtian estimated he would need at least two more months of bitter cultivation. After some thought, Lin Langtian decided to go on ahead.
With the Celestial Demon Marten experts guarding him, Lin Dong's seclusion would be safe, and there was no reason for Lin Langtian to wait indefinitely.
…
Atop a mountain somewhere in the Demon Region, space rippled and a slender figure emerged.
It was none other than Lin Langtian.
His expression was slightly grave. His eyes narrowed as he slowly swept his gaze around.
He was hovering above a remote mountain range where no signs of life could be seen. Strangely, not even the roar of a single beast broke the silence—this place felt like a land of the dead.
Seeing this, Lin Langtian's heart grew heavier. Ever since leaving the Celestial Demon Marten clan, he had felt as though something lurked in the shadows, watching him. Now, this eerie silence confirmed his suspicions.
Taking a few steps forward, he stopped and fixed his gaze on the empty air ahead.
"Since you're here, why hide? Isn't that right, Heaven Illusion King, Earth Illusion King?" he said lightly.
"Hehe, impressive perception for a brat."
As his words fell, the space in front of him twisted. Two figures emerged from the void, while an overwhelming aura flooded the area.
Two silhouettes appeared—Heaven Illusion King and Earth Illusion King, the same Otherworldly Demon Kings who had failed at the Celestial Demon Marten clan.
"Boy, you ruined our Infernal Prison plans. Did you really think you could just walk away? Even though we failed to annihilate the Celestial Demon Marten clan, killing a future powerhouse of the Tianxuan Continent like you will still earn us great merit."
Heaven Illusion King stared fixedly at Lin Langtian, the smile on his pale face edged with a chilling cold.
Though he and Earth Illusion King had been occupied with the clan's upper echelon in the previous battle, they had still sensed Lin Langtian's terrifying power when he defeated Hao Jiuyou.
The Infernal Prison always preferred to snuff out promising human talents before they fully matured, severely weakening the Tianxuan Continent as a whole.
Now that they had caught Lin Langtian alone, Heaven Illusion King and Earth Illusion King would obviously not waste such a golden opportunity.
Lin Langtian glanced at them with indifference. "Having two Otherworldly Demon Kings lying in wait is quite the honor. Still, your numbers are a little lacking."
"Oh?"
Heaven Illusion King and Earth Illusion King exchanged a brief, surprised look.
They had come alone, but even in the campaign to destroy the Celestial Demon Marten clan, the Infernal Prison had only dispatched these two high‑tier forces.
Two Otherworldly Demon Kings were worth an army.
Yet Lin Langtian stood before them so calmly. Was he resigned to his fate, or did he truly have some hidden trump card?
"Arrogant brat. Your Dragon Kun Physique is powerful, but you're only at the Reincarnation Stage. Forget the two of us together—on my own, what exactly are you in my eyes?" Heaven Illusion King sneered.
Lin Langtian's lips slowly curled upward. A seal formed silently in his hands as boundless Mental Energy erupted from within him like a volcano, flooding the sky.
"You're talking about me from a month ago."
Vast Mental Energy rolled outward, spreading through the heavens. A massive pressure arose in silence, tightening the very air.
"Minor Symbol Grandmaster?"
Sensing his aura, Heaven Illusion King and Earth Illusion King's expressions changed. They had known Lin Langtian was strong, but had not expected his Mental Energy to be this terrifying.
In a single month, Lin Langtian had advanced into the Minor Symbol Grandmaster realm. Such speed truly deserved the word "monstrous."
For an ordinary person to make such a leap would have taken ten years or more. Lin Langtian had condensed that journey into a fraction of the time.
"This brat's talent really is monstrous. If allowed to grow, he might one day stand alongside the eight ancient masters. Fortunately, we ambushed him here, or he would become a future calamity."
Heaven Illusion King's gaze flickered coldly as killing intent surged in his eyes.
"His potential is immense, yes, but right now he's only at Reincarnation Stage and Minor Symbol Grandmaster. That alone isn't enough for him to throw his weight around in front of us."
Earth Illusion King regarded Lin Langtian coolly. Growing impatient, he flicked his sleeve. "Boy, you have one chance. You can surrender now, or be erased by this king."
"In my arrogance, I'll choose the latter." Lin Langtian replied with a squinting smile.
"Very well."
Earth Illusion King's face darkened as he took a step forward. "Then this king shall grant your wish."
As his words fell, his foot lightly tapped the ground and the demonic qi saturating heaven and earth roared toward him. In just a few breaths, it condensed into a small, pitch‑black demonic orb in front of him.
"Go."
With a cold snort, Earth Illusion King flicked a finger and the black orb tore through space, hurtling toward Lin Langtian.
Though small and unassuming, the orb's aura was so frightening that even experts at the threshold of Samsara would not dare to take it lightly.
Lin Langtian's expression finally grew stern. His body slowly rose into the air as blinding silver‑white light flared behind him like a blazing sun.
Materialized Mental Energy.
The dazzling silver‑white Mental Energy surged from his body like an endless sea and gathered behind him, taking the form of a thousand‑zhang‑tall giant.
The giant stood astride heaven and earth, its entire form silver‑white. Every movement radiated a destructive power.
Wooo!
As the silver giant appeared, a howling gale swept through the land. In just a dozen breaths, it coalesced into a thousand‑zhang‑tall tornado.
Within the storm, a terrifying tearing force raged.
Lin Langtian's hands blurred through a series of seals. Behind him, the giant extended a massive hand and seized the tornado.
Buzz buzz!
Silver‑white Mental Energy flooded into the storm. Beams of silver light shot out as the tornado twisted, turning into a sword of raging wind.
The giant gripped the storm sword and swung. The blade, carrying an awe‑inspiring hurricane, descended toward the black orb. The raging winds were enough to make the towering mountains tremble.
"Ancestral Symbol Sword."
As the storm sword fell, a low whisper echoed in Lin Langtian's heart.
Boom!
At the tip of the raging storm sword, strange runes flickered into existence. Silver light burst forth with blinding brilliance, and within that radiance, an ancient rune seemed to drift.
In that instant, even the fabric of space itself shuddered.
(END CHAPTER)
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