CHAPTER 99 — The World Trembles Before a Nascent Sun
The world did not sleep that night.
How could it?
A single man had clashed with the hand of an abyssal god and survived.
Rumors spread like wildfire, reaching distant kingdoms, immortal sects, and shadowy organizations—each adapting, fearing, or coveting this new myth in the making.
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1. The World Reacts to Lin Xuan
Across the continent, in lofty sects and hidden palaces, cultivators whispered a name with awe and dread.
"Lin Xuan."
"The Spear of the Sun."
"The one who fought the Abyssal Ancestor."
Some called him a rising tyrant.
Others called him a heaven-defying prodigy.
Most simply prayed they would never stand against him.
A. In the Holy Sword Sect
A group of sword saints debated fiercely.
"He clashed with the Abyssal Ancestor's hand?"
"He didn't die?"
"A Nascent Soul cultivator did THAT?"
The sect master clenched his fist.
"Keep an eye on him. If he continues on this path, he will become a sovereign of this era—or its greatest catastrophe."
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B. In the Eternal Cloud Palace
An immortal-level elder, deep in seclusion, opened her eyes for the first time in a century.
"Solar domain… cosmic laws… tribulation lightning?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"That boy… is not normal."
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C. Among the Demonic Sects
Panic.
True panic.
The remaining generals gathered before the Abyssal Ancestor's projection, kneeling on trembling knees.
"Ancestor… the Cloudsky boy—"
> "He is MINE."
The Ancestor's voice shook their minds to the core.
> "None of you are to touch him."
"He belongs to ME."
They bowed, terrified.
If the Ancestor personally marked a prey…
even demonic lords dared not interfere.
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2. Back at Cloudsky Sect — A Somber Return
The Cloudsky Sect—once a thriving fortress—now resembled a battlefield after a natural disaster.
Crumbling towers.
Charred earth.
Ruins of formations.
Fresh graves marked by hastily carved stones.
Lin Xuan landed at the center courtyard with his group behind him—Mu, Bai (spear), Wen, Shengyuan (illusion projection from the inner world), and dragon-Bai resting on his shoulder in miniature form.
Every surviving disciple turned toward Lin with expressions ranging from gratitude to reverence…
and fear.
Whispers filled the air.
"He fought a god."
"He killed two generals."
"He… devoured abyssal energy?"
"What is he…?"
Lin ignored them.
His gaze went straight to the sect master, who now stood with both dignity and frailty—recently healed, but weakened from the tribulation of stabilizing his Saint Realm foundation.
"Lin Xuan," the sect master said softly.
"Welcome home."
Lin bowed.
"We returned… with all the ingredients. And with news—news the alliance will want immediately."
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3. The Meeting of the Alliance — Shock and Unease
Within hours, the leaders of the four allied sects gathered inside Cloudsky's Grand Hall.
Cloudsky Sect
Flower Pavilion Sect
Crimson Phoenix Sect
Starforge Mountain Sect
Lin Xuan stood before them—not as a disciple, but as a force of nature.
The Flower Pavilion sect master placed a hand on her chest to steady her qi.
"Lin Xuan… the aura you carry… is beyond Nascent Soul."
The Starforge Mountain elder trembled.
"How did you survive the Ancestor's hand?"
Lin answered simply:
"I didn't fight the hand. I survived the pressure… long enough to force him to withdraw."
A lie.
He had done more—but telling the truth might shatter their sanity.
The Cloudsky sect master explained the situation:
The Abyssal Ancestor is preparing full descent.
The demonic sects have unified under him.
Their enemies now include multiple abyss-touched generals.
The world is entering a new era of war.
Silence fell.
Then the Crimson Phoenix elder finally said:
"…We are doomed."
Lin stepped forward.
"No," he said, spear flashing in his hand.
"You only lose when you stop fighting."
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4. Shengyuan's Homage — A Saint's Bow
As tension reached its peak, a ripple of power emerged beside Lin.
A projection formed.
A tall, handsome man with flowing robes of starlight.
A Saint Realm sovereign—
Shengyuan, reborn in Lin's inner earth and now stepping into the mortal world through a soul projection.
Every elder rose in alarm.
"What powerful aura—!?"
"A Saint realm expert!?"
"Impossible!"
Shengyuan bowed deeply toward Lin.
The room froze.
"Young Master Lin," Shengyuan said proudly, "I have entered the late Soul Transformation realm and stand one step from regaining my Saint realm. It is all thanks to the nourishment of your world. I am ready to serve Cloudsky Sect."
Gasps filled the hall.
A Saint bowing to a Nascent Soul disciple?
This was beyond comprehension.
The Flower Pavilion sect master's pupils shrank.
"…Just what did Lin Xuan create inside his world?"
Bai (spear) grinned, whispering to Mu:
"Master is ridiculous."
Mu nodded, dazed.
"More than ridiculous…"
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5. The Alliance Decides — A New Strategy
The four sect masters exchanged tense glances.
The Flower Pavilion sect master finally spoke:
"…We will reorganize the alliance. From now on, Cloudsky Sect stands as the spearhead."
Cloudsky's master blinked.
"What? Why?"
Starforge Mountain's elder gestured toward Lin.
"Because of him.
He is the only variable the Abyssal Ancestor fears."
Crimson Phoenix elder nodded.
"And if he continues to grow… he may be our only chance at survival."
Silence followed.
Lin didn't boast.
He simply said:
"Then let's start cleaning the abyss."
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6. Lin's Private Meeting with the Sect Master
Later that night, the Cloudsky sect master summoned Lin alone.
"Lin," he said, his eyes heavy with responsibility, "what you carry… is both gift and burden. The world sees you as savior—and target."
Lin nodded.
"I know."
"Then hear this."
The sect master's tone hardened.
"If you fall, the alliance collapses. If you rise, we rise with you."
Lin took a slow breath.
"I don't plan on falling."
The sect master chuckled weakly.
"I thought so."
He then handed Lin a sealed scroll.
"The Abyssal Ancestor marked you. He will not let you go. Your next tribulation… will be catastrophic. Prepare yourself."
Lin accepted the scroll with a steady hand.
"I will."
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7. Closing Scene — A Quiet Warning From Aurora
As Lin left the hall, Aurora manifested beside him as a shimmering spectral woman.
"Lin."
"What is it?"
She looked toward the sky, worry clouding her normally playful demeanor.
"I felt something when the Ancestor withdrew."
Lin frowned.
"What?"
Aurora whispered:
"He wasn't retreating."
She turned her radiant eyes to Lin.
"…He was waiting."
Lin froze.
"For what?"
Aurora's voice trembled.
"For you to grow strong enough…
to devour."
A cold wind swept through Cloudsky Sect.
Lin clenched his spear and looked toward the horizon.
"Then I'll grow faster."
The clouds parted—
revealing a sliver of dark red sky far beyond the sunset.
The Abyssal Ancestor… watching.
War was no longer coming.
It had already begun.
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