Challengers who chose the ‘life or death’ monument would have to either kill the opponent or be killed for the fight to end. Meanwhile, it was only to either win or lose to settle the fight under the ‘victory or defeat’ monument.

The vast majority of those who had attempted to seize the Heavenly Pass would choose ‘victory or defeat.’ Only those with deep grudges against each other would choose a ‘life or death’ duel.

The latter case was ultimately a minority. Most valued living so as to seize the opportunity to go to the All-Wonder Dominion, so there was no shortage of cultivators who would appoint ‘victory or defeat’ duels with their mortal enemies.

Of note, the master of a heavenly pass had a great advantage in that they got to choose whether to take on the challenge themselves or to deploy another companion to go in their place. At the same time, being in control of a heavenly pass’s law power ensured one did not have to worry about sneak attacks for the entire process.

This also meant that only those who occupied a heavenly pass could fight over the Fate Lotus Dao Altar. Those who didn't couldn't even enter a heavenly pass, let alone having a chance with the altar that was at the center of the nine passes.

“How do you intend to do this?” asked Daoist Shanfeng.

Xing Jianxia looked over to Lin Xun. "Young Friend Lin Xun is in dire need of battles where he can face off against worthy opponents in order to realize a breakthrough and step into the Immeasurable Realm. That's why I've set my sights on the Nine Great Heavenly Passes, as that place is no doubt the best to have such battles."

At this point, even the untalkative Xiao He couldn't help but speak up, “A realm breakthrough?”

This was the Sea of Fate! The Great Silence Unlife Calamity simply could not appear here, so how could one even think of taking their dao to the Immeasurable Realm? Daoist Shanfeng was just as puzzled.

Xing Jianxia laughed. ''I forgot to tell the two of you. Young Friend Lin Xun certified his dao at the river of time in the Fortune Dominion and stepped onto a supreme, absolutely unique path that transcended epochal changes. The Great Silence Unlife Calamity can no longer affect him."

Daoist Shanfeng gasped. “Even his Immeasurable Realm certification is going to be completely different from us old fellows?”

“Precisely.” Xing Jianxia nodded.

At this point, even Xiao He was so astonished that he revealed a look of disbelief. “So the lotus that the Lord of Fangchun Mountain spoke of back then...has really appeared?”

Obviously, he had also heard the rumor about the unique lotus.

“If Young Friend Lin Xun is able to reach the Immeasurable Realm...” Fu Nanli's eyes glowed in what appeared to be excitement. “What kind of terrifying battle prowess would he possess?”

Just think about it, Lin Xun, who was at the peak Creation Realm, was able to hold off three Greater Boundless Eternals all by himself! He had killed a menace like Ziche Wuji whose strength was only slightly inferior to Xinhu's, and killed Canglong Yue and Panwu Fusheng in one fell swoop! He had even blocked the strike that Xinhu had poured his entire power into.

Under these circumstances, if Lin Xun rose to the next realm and attained the Immeasurable level, how incredible would his battle power transform into? At that time, which of those old monsters in Fate Lotus World would be his match?

The most terrifying part was that he possessed five dao bodies, meaning he alone would measure up to six preeminent Greater Boundless existences!

This was precisely what made Fu Nanli excited, and it was also now that he realized Xing Jianxia’s intention. It was impossible to go against the enemy camps with their party's current strength, but that would change once Lin Xun reached the Immeasurable Realm!

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Old Fu. It’s our immediate priority to ensure that Young Friend Lin Xun succeeds with this certification. This also means we must keep him safe while we head to the Nine Great Heavenly Passes," Xing Jianxia calmly reminded.

Fu Nanli became serious and nodded.

“Seniors, since we're going to be the challengers, why don't we pick a heavenly pass that is occupied by our enemies?” Lin Xun suddenly spoke up. “That way, we get to eliminate some opponents while we're at it.”

“Are you...planning to initiate a ‘life or death’ duel?” Xing Jianxia, Fu Nanli, and the rest were shocked by Lin Xun's idea.

“I promise I won't be reckless. I'll act according to the situation and will not risk my life against characters that are impossible to defeat.” Lin Xun smiled.

The others let out a sigh of relief upon hearing his guarantee.

“You said so before yourself, that as long as we live, we have plenty of opportunities to take revenge and compete for the fortune, so you mustn't mess around with your life, okay?” Xing Jianxia earnestly said out of care and concern from the bottom of his heart.

Lin Xun could naturally feel it, and his heart warmed as he replied, “Yes, please don't worry.”

Suddenly, the sound of air ripping came from the distance. Everyone looked over and spotted Gu Yuexian, Shun Huaijia, and Xue Ye coming together.

Seeing that the three of them were safe and sound, Xing Jianxia finally relaxed and leapt to his feet. “Everyone’s here, we can set off!”

......

The Nine Great Heavenly Passes had their own set of names. They were: One Origin, Two Polarities, Three Talents, Four Symbols, Five Elements, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, Eight Trigrams, and Nine Palaces.

The place where each of them stood was a competition zone for powerful fighters.

Four Symbols Heavenly Pass...

This heavenly pass resembled a gigantic castle built on a hillside. It was ten thousand feet tall and made entirely of cemented black divine steel, which gave it an impregnable and lofty vibe.

A shining curtain of obscure law power stretched across heaven and earth, enveloping Four Symbols Heavenly Pass. This was a barrier formed by the law power of Fate Lotus World, running through all Nine Great Heavenly Passes and protecting the Fate Lotus Dao Altar at the very center.

The nine passes were the portals to pass through this barrier, meaning to seize the Fate Lotus Dao Altar, one must first seize one of the heavenly passes.

Today was the first day of Fate Lotus World’s latest opening. A total of two hundred and eighty-one cultivators had entered this time.

At this moment, when Lin Xun’s party caught the sight of Four Symbols Heavenly Pass from afar, they saw quite a number of figures had already gathered around it. There were around twenty to thirty.

Almost all of them traveled in groups of as few as three to five and as many as eight to nine. There were men and women, young and old looking, but all had a terrifyingly monstrous air around them.

The majority were Greater Boundless Eternals, and the rest were Lesser Boundless Eternals.

Such a scene made even Lin Xun a little emotional. In the outside world, Immeasurable Eternals were mysterious existences sighted once in a blue moon, but in this Fate Lotus World, virtually everyone was one!

Then again, this came as no surprise. These powerhouses came from different epochs, and while they seemed to be numerous here, there were only a handful from each epoch.

The arrival of Lin Xun's group sparked a commotion in the area before Four Symbols Heavenly Pass, with many people revealing looks of surprise.

“It's Daoist Shanfeng and Xiao He from the Martial Dao Epoch... I didn't think they'd still dare to come. Are they not scared to be targeted by Ying Tiansheng and the others?” someone whispered.

“Xing Jianxia and Fu Nanli are here as well. But in the previous four Great Dao Fate Lotus competitions, the representatives of Spirit Martial World were the party of Xinhu and Leisong. Has there been some kind of change?” another wondered with a strange look in their eyes.

These old monsters had lived for countless years, so they had keenly deduced many things just from the appearance of Xing Jianxia's group.

“Huh, they actually have a young man at the Creation Realm with them!”

Upon noticing the aura around Lin Xun, many appeared shocked.

In the outside world, Creation Eternals were already considered supreme giants that the living beings of an epoch looked up to. However, in Fate Lotus World, even Lesser Boundless Eternals looked inadequate, let alone Creation ones.

Under such a circumstance, it was hard not to attract attention when a Creation Eternal like Lin Xun appeared. It was like seeing an ant intruding into a world of divine dragons, so the surprise could be imagined.

However, they quickly ignored Lin Xun. It was the same treatment he had received when he first entered Fate Lotus World. No one put him in their eyes, and the utter lack of acknowledgement was the highest form of contempt.

“Fellow Daoist Shanfeng, please leave with haste. Four Symbols Heavenly Pass has been occupied by Ying Tiansheng’s camp. If they know you're here, they will practically fly out to deal with you.”

Before the group even got close to the heavenly pass, an old man wearing a silver-colored robe spoke up to warn them. The gazes of the cultivators around them also became meaningful.

The grudge between Ying Tiansheng’s party and Daoist Shanfeng's party had long been well-known in Fate Lotus World. Yet, the latter took the initiative to appear here. How could this not feed people's imagination?

“Thanks for your reminder, but we came here this time specifically for those old bastards,” Daoist Shanfeng flatly said.

The single sentence triggered an outcry and got the old monsters looking at one another. What is going on? Is Daoist Shanfeng and his party planning to risk everything to fight Ying Tiansheng's group?

“You’re courting death!”

From the lofty Four Symbols Heavenly Pass, a group of figures suddenly appeared, each of them emanating a splendorous aura and terrifying might. The one who had just spoken was none other than Demon Chu Bugu.

He had his arms crossed before his chest and a cold, teasing look as he gazed at Lin Xun's party across the distance. “Just you old fogeys and a puny Creation Eternal... Tired of living, aren't you?!”

The crowd around Demon Chu burst out laughing, their eyes either cold, disdainful, haunted with killing intent, or unimpressed...

"Get lost before we get angry! Otherwise, we will execute you now!" bellowed a rugged, dark-skinned man in a golden robe whose pupils were the color of blood. His voice rumbled like thunder through the sky.

This was more than just unceremonious; it was a complete attempt at humiliating Lin Xun's party.

A fair-skinned, youthful man clad in hemp clothes leisurely said, “Those old bastards can't possibly think we're too busy guarding Four Symbols Heavenly Pass to get out there and kill them, can they?”

“How about this? I'll take a few fellow cultivators and eliminate them, and let it be a warning to the rest. That way, no one else will dare come and challenge us for the Four Symbols Heavenly Pass in the days ahead.”

His suggestion caused the faces of the old monsters scattered around the area to drop in an ugly way. It appeared to be directed at Daoist Shanfeng and his group, but how could everyone not hear the warning and threat aimed at them?