Vol 4 Chapter 123: The Arrival

The Tianyuan Grand Event in the Ancient Domain was nearing its conclusion. At this stage, the top-ranked prodigies on the Golden Ranking had ceased challenging each other. Everyone's capabilities were already well understood. Moreover, the top ten were about to enter the Origin Realm and would soon lose the benefits of the Golden Ranking. The exact ranking positions no longer mattered—securing a top ten spot to guarantee entry into the Origin Realm was the only goal.

Currently, the competition was mainly between the 11th to 100th ranked prodigies. Since the top ten would leave Tianyuan, these competitors would become the new leaders among Tianyuan Continent's prodigies, and they were now desperately showcasing their abilities.

Apart from the competing prodigies, many prominent figures from the Tianyuan Continent had gathered in the Ancient Domain of the Ancient Nation, including the Tianyuan Seekers of the Way who had been maintaining the dimensional barriers—they too had set aside their tasks.

"It seems this is the end," remarked one Seeker of the Way, preparing to leave as the top ten rankings remained unchanged and no lower-ranked prodigies seemed inclined to challenge them.

"What a spectacular event, though it's a shame that person didn't participate in the Tianyuan Grand Event!" sighed another powerful figure.

"Indeed. That monstrous genius who mastered the Heavenly Demon Secret Arts and beast taming, capable of ranking on the Golden Ranking with just his tamed beasts alone—his absence is truly regrettable."

"Yet despite not participating in a single match, the Golden Ranking still places him firmly at sixth position, proving his terrifying strength remains undeniable."

"His foundation is undeniable! I speculate Lin Jing's current true strength rivals—if not surpasses—that of the Demon Court's Holy Maiden. The Holy Maiden, who contracted the Crown Prince of the Sea God Palace and Young Master Long Liu, stands at the pinnacle of Nascent Soul Transformation in the continent. Yet even she was defeated by Princess Youran, who has cultivated an Immortal Physique. Though the Ancient Imperial Prince hasn't made a move, his position above Princess Youran suggests he too has achieved an Immortal Physique."

"No matter how overpowered beast taming may seem, against an Immortal Physique... even the Holy Son of the Demon Court's Rare Beasts would be powerless."

"The Heavenly Demon Physique likely stands no chance either. Even if the Holy Son forcibly elevated his realm to Void Mystical Stage, an Immortal Physique at Nascent Soul Transformation could potentially overcome a Void Mystical Stage opponent. Let's not forget—the Heavenly Demon Sect... was annihilated by the First Ancient Emperor."

At the Tianyuan Grand Event, experts from all factions expressed regret over that one person's absence—the most monstrous genius of the past decade, who could have tested his might against Princess Youran and the Crown Prince of the Ancient Clan.

Years ago, though Lin Jing was only ranked sixth on the Golden Ranking, his reputation far surpassed that of the top-ranked Ancient Imperial Prince and second-ranked Princess Youran. Many believed Lin Jing refrained from challenging them simply to avoid wasting his lifespan—even with his Longevity Body, the debate over whether Golden Ranking benefits or lifespan was more important remained unresolved. The prevailing opinion was that with his Heavenly Demon Physique fully unleashed and supported by his Rare Beasts, Lin Jing could undoubtedly defeat the Crown Prince of the Ancient Clan and Princess Youran.

It wasn't that Lin Jing couldn't win—the Holy Son of the Demon Court simply saw no value in such a victory. But now, with Princess Youran displaying her Immortal Physique by defeating Xu Qingyao, public opinion had completely reversed.

This was an Immortal Physique. No matter how strong the Heavenly Demon Physique might be, it could never overcome an Immortal Physique. Moreover, Princess Youran had reached mid-stage Nascent Soul Transformation, while the Crown Prince of the Ancient Clan had achieved late-stage Nascent Soul Transformation. According to the Golden Ranking, Lin Jing's normal cultivation level remained only at the peak of Nascent Soul.

The gap was too vast. Even the Seekers of the Way saw no point in Lin Jing competing against the two Ancient Clan prodigies. The Origin Realm was a battlefield for those above Nascent Soul Transformation—even if Lin Jing paid a tremendous price to borrow power beyond his realm to defeat them, it would be meaningless, as such power would be unusable in the Origin Realm, nothing more than an illusion.

The experts also knew about other forces of similar nature, including the Ghost Mother of the Heavenly Demon. The secret of Lin Jing controlling immortal artifacts had been uncovered by various factions through investigations of the Netherworld Hall. The true identity of the Ghost Mother of the Heavenly Demon as a war weapon of the Immortal Palace was no longer a secret.

What was powerful was the Immortal Palace's war weapon—the Ghost Mother of the Heavenly Demon herself—not the Holy Son of the Demon Court. He was merely fortunate enough to know the Ghost Mother and borrow her power, which clearly had no connection to his own abilities and would be inaccessible in the Origin Realm.

The Second Ancient Emperor, though aware that Lin Jing had sealed the Ghost Mother's cultivation and contracted her, also knew the Ghost Mother was barred from entering the Origin Realm. Moreover, the sealed Ghost Mother could no longer control immortal artifacts, only quasi-immortal artifacts at most. Nevertheless, the Ghost Mother's existence had undeniably strengthened the Demon Court's foundation, becoming a key factor in other demonic beast factions submitting to them.

"Has he arrived?" Most people no longer held high expectations for Lin Jing—except for one: the ruler of the Demon Court. The Demon Emperor, after learning that Lin Jing had resurrected the First Ancient Emperor using the Divine Scripture and discovering that Lin Jing had once defeated a Creation Immortal Physique in a pocket realm, held unwavering confidence in him. If Lin Jing could defeat a peer with an Immortal Physique before contracting the Ghost Mother, he would only be stronger now. Though his base cultivation was slightly lower, his Heavenly Demon Physique could bridge the gap—he might not even need to reach Void Mystical Stage to contend with an Immortal Physique.

"It's up to you now." As the Demon Emperor noticed Lin Jing's arrival, other cultivators soon detected a figure standing in the sky. When they looked up, everyone—regardless of strength, age, or gender—felt their pupils constrict at the sight. The figure's aura was too bizarre, and what he rode was even more terrifying.

Above the clouds floated a massive black arm resembling that of a giant. A figure clad in black stood on the back of the enormous hand, while the palm's grotesque flesh-face peered down unnervingly—clearly not a technique of the righteous path. The Holy Son of the Demon Court, Lin Jing, stood nonchalantly atop the Heavenly Demon's arm, observing everything below.

Only when the Seekers of the Way noticed him did he slowly descend, controlling the Heavenly Demon's arm as one would a flying sword, until he landed on the ground.

"My apologies... for being late," Lin Jing said, his gaze sweeping across the Seekers of the Way before finally settling on the Ancient Imperial Prince and Princess Youran. He was the first prodigy bold enough to act so arrogantly before a gathering of Seekers of the Way.

"The Holy Son of the Demon Court!" Many inwardly exclaimed upon realizing his identity—especially those Tianyuan prodigies who had only heard of Lin Jing but never seen him in person.

"Naturally..." The Second Ancient Emperor, seated at the highest position, narrowed his eyes at the latecomer. "Is that... a perfected Heavenly Demon Finger?"