Dao Burial Ground. It was an unimaginable mysterious world.

According to Ling Xuanzi, in ages past this place had been barren and desolate, no different from a wasteland. Not a trace of life had existed here, but as the end of the epoch drew near, the Dao Burial Ground underwent earth-shattering changes.

The present upheaval within the Return Dominion had been born of the violent vitality fluctuations spilling out from this very place.

“So the changes here really are connected to the approaching epoch-ending calamity...” Lin Xun finally murmured in realization.

However, even as understanding dawned, countless questions flooded his mind, such as the origin of those shattered corpses and broken treasures he had seen along the way, and the terrifying mystery of the five sacred mountains...

Next, he asked Ling Xuanzi about everything he could think of. Ling Xuanzi, of course, held nothing back.

Before the end of every epoch, Eternal Stage experts from all corners of the the world would gather in the Kunlun Dominion to evade the onslaught of the Great Silence Unlife Calamity. There, they would fight to cross over, hoping to seize the faintest chance of entering the All-Wonder Dominion.

Just like now, the Kunlun Dominion had already gathered many Eternal Realm experts. Taixuan, Yan Ji, and You Beihai from the Origin Sect were there. So were Eternal figures from the Shaman Sect, the Zen Sect, and the Ninth Heaven Domain.

However, not all Eternal Realm beings could evade the Great Silence Unlife Calamity, and even fewer had the chance to cross over into the All-Wonder Dominion. Whenever an epoch came to an end, all living beings in the world were unable to escape the slaughter of the Five Dao Decays.

Likewise, many Eternal Realm figures would be struck down by the Great Silence Unlife Calamity and perish in the Kunlun Dominion. Only a small fraction would survive the destruction of the epoch.

In addition, the corpses and treasures of those Eternal beings who fell in the Kunlun Dominion during the epochal calamity were all left behind within this Dao Burial Ground!

As for the five sacred mountains within the Dao Burial Ground, they were the birthplace of the Return Dominion’s core origin. They were known as Yingzhou, Penglai, Fanghu, Daiyu, and Yuanjiao. Each mountain was governed by an origin principle law.

For example, Yingzhou Mountain spanned thirty thousand miles, and its origin principles could transform the blood and qi of any living being into origin dao vitality. As for Penglai Mountain, which stretched for ninety-nine thousand miles, it could refine the flesh and body of all living beings into the purest origin dao vitality.

The origin principles of Fanghu, Daiyu, and Yuanjiao Mountain meanwhile governed the refinement of spirit and soul, cultivation, and external objects, respectively. In the end, all things would be reduced into the purest origin dao vitality.

These origin principles of the five sacred mountains were known as the Five Principle Laws of the Return Dominion.

With each epoch’s end, these five sacred mountains would refine all the power left behind by fallen Eternal beings, dissolving it into origin dao vitality that would nourish heaven and earth. After an epoch was extinguished, the Eternal beings who had perished in the Kunlun Dominion would be gathered by the Dao Burial Ground.

It was like a cycle.

Hearing this, an icy chill crept into Lin Xun’s bones. “So all of the vitality pouring out into the world came from the Eternal Realm figures who died in the destruction of the past epoch?”

Ling Xuanzi gave a quiet nod. “It’s like fallen leaves returning to their roots. They decay and become nourishment for the earth... accumulating power for the birth of the next epoch.”

“Then...could all of this also be connected to the hidden mastermind?” Lin Xun couldn’t help but ask.

Ling Xuanzi shook his head. “Throughout the heavens, there is no place untouched by that hidden mastermind, except for the Four Dao Dominions. Even the Fortune Dominion has merely been turned into a prison, but its origin power still remains intact.”

Lin Xun nodded in understanding. The Fortune Origin lay within the Fortune Divine City. He was perhaps the one who knew best about this.

“In the same way, although the origin power of the Return Dominion has been greatly depleted, as long as these five sacred mountains still stand, it is impossible for that hidden mastermind to touch it.”

Ling Xuanzi continued, “The Kunlun Dominion is no exception. It too contained origin power and its origin power is linked to the All-Wonder Dominion. That is precisely why Eternal figures there have the hope of entering the All-Wonder Dominion.”

Lin Xun exclaimed in surprise, “So the four dao dominions are not isolated from one another at all, but they are actually interconnected?”

The Eternals who perished in the Kunlun Dominion were ultimately found in the Return Dominion’s Dao Burial Ground. Those who successfully crossed over in the Kunlun Dominion would gain the opportunity to reach the All-Wonder Dominion!

This made Lin Xun suspect that the Fortune Dominion must also be tied to the other three dao dominions in some unknown ways.

Sure enough, Ling Xuanzi nodded.

“These four dao dominions...they are truly unfathomable. The more you learn of them, the more they overturn your understanding of the world.” Lin Xun sighed.

Ling Xuanzi laughed softly. “Now, Junior Brother, is there anything else you wish to know?”

Lin Xun suddenly remembered and asked, “Senior Brother, why is the Dao Endless Pagoda in your possession?”

Ling Xuanzi’s smile stiffened, and his guard instantly went up. “Junior Brother, this treasure was personally bestowed upon me by Master, so that I have the means to seize opportunities in this Dao Burial Ground. You mustn’t try to take it from me.”

He was well aware that Lin Xun had received great help from the Dao Endless Pagoda in his youth and that he held deep feelings toward it.

Lin Xun gave a nod and said, “Why are you so tense? I’m not trying to take it. I was just curious about the phantom it suppressed just now.”

Only then did Ling Xuanzi let out a sigh of relief and relax. “That was a Blood Soul Wraith of Yingzhou Mountain. It is formed from the blood and qi of a fallen Eternal Realm expert. Its strength is brutally abnormal, ten or even a hundred times greater than an Eternal Will Dharma Form. Over the past years, if it weren’t for the Dao Endless Pagoda, I would have stood no chance against such fierce creatures.”

“Blood Soul Wraith?” Lin Xun was taken aback. “Didn’t you say that the blood and qi left behind by fallen Eternal beings would be refined by Yingzhou Mountain’s origin principle and transformed into origin dao vitality?”

Ling Xuanzi laughed. “Junior Brother, this upheaval has only lasted a little over twenty years ago. How could such immense power left behind by Eternal beings have already been completely refined? If you had arrived a few decades later, you wouldn’t see a single Blood Soul Wraith left in this place.”

His eyes gleamed as he continued, “And right now, our opportunities are not just the Blood Soul Wraiths of Yingzhou Mountain. On Penglai Mountain lie Eternal Fiend Corpses, on Fanghu Mountain are Undying Fierce Souls, on Daiyu Mountain are Dao Spirit Monsters and on Yuanjiao Mountain, Eternal Demonic Armaments... Every single one of them is a supreme fortune!”

“What do you mean by that?” Lin Xun asked.

“Because once subdued and refined they become power of the Eternal level!”

As he spoke, he summoned the Dao Endless Pagoda. With a thought, its light flared and a translucent, blood-red, gem-like object no larger than a pebble floated out. It shone brilliantly, pulsing with an unmistakable aura of eternity.

Ling Xuanzi said proudly, “Junior Brother, take a look! This is the Blood Spirit Wraith that was just subdued by the Dao Endless Pagoda. It is the purest manifestation of Eternal origin power. Its benefits to cultivation are immeasurable. A treasure like this cannot be found even in the Eternal True Realm!”

Lin Xun reached out and accepted it. After a brief examination, his expression changed. The Eternal aura contained within it was not vast in quantity, but it was astonishingly pure and dense.

“This is an Eternal Bloodstone and it has immeasurable benefits for tempering the blood and qi at the Eternal level.”

Ling Xuanzi nodded eagerly, “And it’s not just this, Eternal Fiend Corpses, Undying Fierce Souls, Dao Spirits Monsters, and Eternal Demonic Armaments can all be refined into supreme treasures: Eternal law, Eternal Soul Crystals, Eternal Dao Stones, and Eternal Divine Materials. Each has its own miraculous uses. Even Eternal beings would turn green with envy at the sight of such treasures!”

As he spoke, Ling Xuanzi draped an arm over Lin Xun’s shoulder, eyes shining with excitement. “And now, these fortunes belong to the two of us. With resources like these, how could we fail to attain eternity?”

Lin Xun’s heart stirred. There was no doubt this truly was an earth-shattering stroke of fortune.

But...

He studied Ling Xuanzi for a moment and said, “Senior Brother, you’ve been here for so many years. You must have obtained no small amount of fortune...yet why are you still stuck at the perfect Transcendence Stage?”

Ling Xuanzi hesitated before replying in a serious tone, “Junior Brother, no matter how great the fortune, it can only assist one’s path. To truly attain eternity, one’s cultivation must be unshakable and one’s mind flawless. That is the real key to breaking through.”

Lin Xun laughed heartily. “Senior Brother, you couldn't be more right.”

Ling Xuanzi’s face twitched, half embarrassed and half amused. “Enough talk, just tell me if you are joining me in hunting for more.”

Lin Xun replied without hesitation, “Of course.”

“Then come. I’ll take you to see Yingzhou Mountain.” Ling Xuanzi quickly got up and led the way out of the cavern.

......

They soon stood before Yingzhou Mountain. Ling Xuanzi came to a stop and transmitted his voice, “Junior Brother, look closely. The entire mountain is shrouded in mist, and blood-red light rises from its depths. The faint phantoms you see are Blood Soul Wraiths. We must not make too much noise, otherwise they will swarm us in droves.”

After a pause, he added, “In the past, I’d camp right here at the foot of Yingzhou Mountain, just like fishing. I’d release a trace of my aura to lure a Blood Soul Wraith out. Once one emerged from the mountain, I’d suppress it immediately with the Dao Endless Pagoda. This way, it’s simple, safe, and effortless, and with no danger at all.”

He cast a sidelong glance at Lin Xun, clearly waiting for praise.

Instead Lin Xun frowned. “But what if the Blood Soul Wraith doesn’t take the bait?”

Ling Xuanzi replied, “Then you wait. Sooner or later, one will.”

Lin Xun shook his head. “That’s far too slow and a waste of time.”

Ling Xuanzi snapped irritably, “Those are Blood Soul Wraiths! They’re formed from the blood and qi of an Eternal Realm existence. They could kill people like us with ease. If we don’t do it this way, do you plan to charge straight up the Yingzhou Mountain?”

To his surprise, Lin Xun nodded calmly. “If that lets us subdue more Blood Soul Wraiths, why shouldn’t we storm the mountain?”

Ling Xuanzi’s eyes went wide, and he looked as though he no longer recognized the person before him. “Junior Brother, when did you start talking even bigger than me?”

Lin Xun smiled faintly. “Senior Brother, let me ask...do these Blood Soul Wraiths possess intelligence?”

Ling Xuanzi shook his head. “None at all. They’re nothing but condensed blood and qi. Though fierce, they are driven purely by a savage killing instinct and have no true intelligence.”

Lin Xun's smile deepened. “Then it’s settled. Come on, let’s head up the mountain and take a look.”

With that, he strode forward.