Lin An said calmly, "My life, you can take it."
The sect leader sneered, "I never thought my disciple would be such a romantic. A woman has completely captivated you."
Lin An looked at him calmly, saying indifferently, "Is worldly affection limited to only love between a man and a woman? Xue Luo and I are like-minded, close friends, companions, and those who practice the Dao."
He paused, then suddenly said, "Master, if you were still the master you once were, and someone wanted me to exchange my life for yours, I would gladly do it."
The sect leader was taken aback, his expression momentarily distant.
Among his many disciples, only Lin An had followed him since childhood.
He had guided Lin An onto the path of cultivation; he had watched from afar as Lin An learned his first spell, swung his first sword, and embarked on his first adventure.
To the sect leader, Lin An was like a son.
But...
When did all of this begin to change?
Perhaps it was the day everyone started expecting Lin An to become the new sect leader.
The sect leader's expression became indifferent again. "Since you have made your choice, for the sake of our master-disciple relationship, I will grant you this wish."
The sect leader extended his palm, and threads, just like before, pierced into Lin An's sea of consciousness.
Li Shuang's expression changed.
Was Senior Brother going to perish just like that?
No! That's not right!
He must have had a backup plan!
Otherwise, how could the current Langya Palace secret realm exist?
But the reversal didn't happen at this moment. The sect leader forcibly extracted Lin An's Supreme Spiritual Root, then gathered its energy towards the sky.
Another Celestial Gate was broken open.
Faintly, they could even see the golden light above their heads.
Beyond that golden light was undoubtedly the legendary Immortal Realm.
A look of ecstasy appeared on the sect leader's face.
The originally somewhat flustered people on the third floor also showed a hint of fanaticism in their eyes.
The Immortal Realm!
Was the Immortal Realm finally arriving!
The sect leader smiled as he looked at the Frost Dragon.
The Frost Dragon lay slumped on the ground, her eyes filled with sorrow. She closed her eyes, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
The sect leader said indifferently, "Don't be too sad. I will... send you to him."
The sect leader raised his hand, and threads pierced into the Frost Dragon's body.
The threads immediately turned blood-red.
The sect leader was absorbing the Frost Dragon's bloodline.
Meanwhile, Langya Palace had already reached the threshold of the Immortal Realm.
The lightning became increasingly violent, falling like an apocalypse.
The entire Langya Palace was split in half at this moment.
But.
The sect leader remained unhurried, refining the Ice Dragon's bloodline!
With the Ice Dragon's bloodline, he would surely be able to withstand the apocalyptic lightning and break open the final gate!
But at this very moment!
An incredibly sharp sword light shot up into the sky.
This sword light carried a strange power and actually split open the Thousand Silk Net with a single strike!
The sect leader suddenly looked up, his voice becoming incredibly furious: "Lin An!!!"
Lin An, who should have died, was alive again!
The sword technique he used seemed to have a restraining effect on the Thousand Silk Net. Under the continuous strikes of lightning, the Thousand Silk Net had already suffered heavy damage, and with Lin An's final blow, a gap finally appeared in the Thousand Silk Net.
The last bolt of lightning then fell!
The entire Langya Palace was instantly struck down!
Based on previous experiences,
at this point, the next cycle of reincarnation should begin.
But this time.
Perhaps because Li Shuang had reached the third level.
The story was not yet over. What appeared before Li Shuang was a video, a real recording from 50,000 years ago.
After the last bolt of lightning struck, Langya Sect was completely submerged into an alternate dimension. The incomplete Thousand Silk Net, however, suddenly escaped and became untraceable ever since.
The majestic voice of the Heavenly Dao rang out.
"Langya Sect, defying the principles of heaven and earth, collaborated with the evil Thousand Silk Net, plotting rebellion! The masterminds and participants will all be cast into the Avici Hell, unable to reincarnate for all eternity!"
The ascension faction, including the sect leader, was instantly annihilated.
The voice of the Heavenly Dao sounded again.
"Within Langya Sect, there are also those who did not participate in the ascension plot. But you, too, enjoyed the resources forcibly collected by Langya Sect, and thus deserve punishment! Your death sentence is hereby commuted, and you are sentenced to eternal confinement."
The Heavenly Dao's judgment on the ascension faction was somewhat normal, but for those who did not participate, the punishment was actually a bit too severe. After all... they had also tried to resist, but simply failed.
It was evident from this.
This Thousand Silk Net was indeed a formidable evil object, so much so that it might have even threatened the Heavenly Dao itself, which is why the Heavenly Dao issued such an exasperated punishment.
"Only one person is exempt from punishment." The voice of the Heavenly Dao finally sounded: "Lin An painstakingly researched methods to counter the Thousand Silk Net, and at the last moment, he severed a corner of it. I grant you merit, bestow upon you good fortune, and from this point onward, your path shall be smooth. You may leave on your own."
Li Shuang silently looked at Lin An.
So.
The only person in Langya Sect who was acquitted was Lin An.
But...
He did not leave.
Fifty thousand years of waiting, instead, he bore it all.
In the video, Lin An calmly said, "Langya Sect is guilty, and I, too, am a member of Langya Sect. I am unwilling to remain aloof. I am willing to relinquish all rewards to earn an opportunity for Langya Sect!"
The sky suddenly churned: "Lin An! Don't push your luck!"
Lin An slowly knelt down: "I only seek a glimmer of hope. The Thousand Silk Net is an evil artifact that can ensnare hearts. While the sect leader and elders were at fault for their wavering resolve, the true culprit is the Thousand Silk Net! I dare not ask for their lives to be spared, but only ask that they be allowed to enter the cycle of reincarnation and start anew."
"Xue Luo and others were not unwilling to resist; it was simply that human power is limited. What could they do? Eternal confinement is far too strict. I also wish to seek a possibility of freedom for them."
Lin An's words fell.
The Heavenly Dao remained silent for a long time.
Then.
A cold voice rang out: "Give up everything? Including your life?"
Lin An said without hesitation, "Including it!"
The Heavenly Dao said indifferently, "Langya Sect was punished because of its forceful ascent! Since that is the case, I grant you an opportunity. A thousand cycles of reincarnation, ten thousand cycles. If there is one time, even one time, that Langya Palace fails to reach the gate of the Immortal Realm and fails to invite the final apocalyptic lightning, I will allow them to be reborn and grant them freedom."
Subsequently.
The rules of the Heavenly Dao forcibly descended.
This is how the current Langya Palace secret realm came to be.
And Lin An became the only conscious person, repeatedly trying to guide the final outcome, only to fail each time.
Fifty thousand years passed in a flash.
Finally, Li Shuang's arrival was awaited.
The scene disappeared at this moment.
Li Shuang reappeared in the central plaza.
The eighth cycle of reincarnation.
It had begun.