These old monsters had gathered here naturally to find the opportunity to snatch Four Symbols Heavenly Pass. Clearly, though, Ying Tiansheng’s group was too strong, so no one had dared to lightly make a move so far.

At this moment, they could only endure the hemp-clothed man’s threatening words no matter how much it irritated them. However, Daoist Shanfeng and company refused to tolerate it.

“Gu Caozhi, how about you cut the f*cking bullshit and actually carry out what you said!” shouted Daoist Shanfeng. “And you, Ning Buqu, you wouldn't be here barking if it wasn't for Ying Tiansheng granting you protection, because I would have wrung your neck out long ago!”

That youthful looking man in hemp clothes was Gu Caozhi. The rugged, dark-skinned man in the golden robe who had yelled at Lin Xun's party to get lost was Ning Buqu. Upon being chastised by Daoist Shanfeng in public, both of their faces sank and their eyes billowed with murderous intent.

"Your old buddy Baize and his friend barely escaped from us with their lives back then, but do you really think you can manage the same? I shall behead you here!" Gu Caozhi said and was about to charge out of Four Symbols Heavenly Pass, but someone stopped him.

“What's the use of getting heated with these losers?” The speaker was an old man standing at the center of the group, who looked otherworldly with a kind face and a wide-sleeved robe fastened by a wide belt. Holding a horsetail whisk, he resembled an immortal above the heavens.

Despite his amiable appearance, everyone around him including Gu Caozhi and Ning Buqu quieted down when he spoke. Meanwhile, the old monsters outside Four Symbols Heavenly Pass tensed up, for the otherworldly elder was Ying Tiansheng!

He was a supreme legend from the Demonic Epoch, a living terror who had crossed seven Great Silence Unlife Calamities. As an existence renowned throughout the various epochal worlds beneath the Sea of Fate, he made even the most powerful experts apprehensive.

Just how strong was Ying Tiansheng?

Lin Xun had once asked Xing Jianxia this question, and the latter's reply was: “In a one-on-one fight, those of Fu Nanli's level might be able to resist him for a moment or two before an inevitable defeat.”

It must be noted that Xing Jianxia was already considered a giant in the Greater Boundless Realm, standing equal to old relics like Xinhu and Leisong. Yet, he implied he would definitely lose in a fight with Ying Tiansheng!

One could imagine how terrifying Ying Tiansheng's dao attainments were.

“Heh, screaming for half a day but you never actually have the guts to come out for a fight. Aren't you embarrassed?” Daoist Shanfeng sneered, his voice echoing around the region.

Gu Caozhi's and Ning Buqu's faces grew even more unsightly and dark.

“Old man Shanfeng, since you are so capable, do you dare to have a life or death duel with us?” Gu Caozhi shouted with a thick killing intent in his voice, “I promise to give you a very ugly death!”

However, before Shanfeng could reply, Lin Xun suddenly said, “Senior, allow me to be the challenger.”

His single sentence sent the whole field into dead silence. The old monsters around were visibly shocked. What had they just heard? A young man at the Creation Realm had boldly and loudly declared to have a life or death duel with Gu Caozhi?!

Four Symbols Heavenly Pass also grew restless as its occupiers exchanged odd expressions, almost unable to believe their ears.

Even Ying Tiansheng, an overlord of the Greater Boundless Realm, was slightly stunned and then couldn't help sneering. “During my long years in this Sea of Fate, I have never seen such an ignorant yet arrogant young man before today.”

His crowd burst into laughter. Inside, they also lamented nonstop. It wasn't hard to encounter fearless characters like this outside, but here in the Sea of Fate where all were old fellows that had lived several epochs and experienced all the ups and downs life had to offer, which one of them still dared to utter such...stupidly ignorant words?

At this moment, even Daoist Shanfeng felt caught off guard. He didn't want Lin Xun to go against Gu Caozhi because it was too dangerous!

Gu Caozhi was a menace who had overcome five Great Silence Unlife Calamities. Coming from the Demonic Epoch, his heart was cold as steel and his temperament was violent, enabling him to kill without scruples all his life.

Regarding combat power, Daoist Shanfeng judged himself to be on the same level as Gu Caozhi, and that perhaps only those like Xing Jianxia and Fu Nanli could defeat the other party.

“Young Friend, don't be rash,” Daoist Shanfeng nervously advised.

Xing Jianxia and Fu Nanli also turned to Lin Xun and shook their heads slightly, wordlessly telling him not to be in a rush. Gu Caozhi...was not an easy opponent! Moreover, it was going to be a life or death duel. They didn't want to risk Lin Xun's life.

Their reactions were observed by the crowd around, who all couldn't help but shake their heads. Apparently, they had determined that Lin Xun had spoken out of turn because he was blissfully ignorant.

In this case, it would be Daoist Shanfeng, Xing Jianxia, and the seniors who would lose face. After all, a junior couldn't be taken seriously. He only made a fool of himself by clamoring and bouncing around like this.

“Don't worry, Seniors, this is a rare opportunity to eat away at the enemy's strength. I see him as nothing more than a whetstone for my edge,” Lin Xun said indifferently and walked straight ahead.

Daoist Shanfeng, Xiao He, and the others wanted to dissuade him, but Xing Jianxia stopped them and transmitted, “Let him go. Gu Caozhi’s death will certainly help us vent some of this unpleasant feeling.”

Only he and Fu Nanli knew best of how incredible Lin Xun's battle strength was!

“He’s...actually really stepping up to receive death?”

The vicinity flew into a commotion as the old monsters stared wide-eyed.

“Xing Jianxia, why aren't you stopping him?” One of them frowned and looked at them at Xing Jianxia in confusion.

“The youngster wants to hone his dao, let him be,” replied Xing Jianxia calmly.

“You're letting him go to his death!” a white-haired old woman blurted out in anger. “A Creation Eternal is still a rare and exalted figure in the outside world. He is destined to join our ranks, but only if he lives to certify immeasurability! How can you just...send him to his death?”

The corner of Xing Jianxia's lips twitched and he smiled wryly. What could he even say?

Meanwhile, Ying Tiansheng's group at the high ground of Four Symbols Heavenly Pass all had strange looks on their faces. They had seen fearless ants, but this one took the cake!

Knowing the result of an action was certain death and insisting on doing it anyway... It wasn't daring, it was plain stupid!

In this strange atmosphere, Lin Xun stopped ten thousand feet away from the gate of Four Symbols Heavenly Pass and stood there nonchalantly.

On both sides of the majestic gate, there were two nine-foot-tall stone steles. In the most primitive dao script, the one on the left was engraved ‘life or death,’ and the one on the right with ‘victory or defeat.’

The auras around the steles were extremely occult, shrouded in the law power of fate. The words on them were as if naturally formed, as if they were a texture of the steles as there wasn't a hint of chiseling.

Looking at these two stone steles, a thought couldn't help but sprang to Lin Xun's mind. This was the Fate Lotus World transformed from a Great Dao Fate Lotus, and the Great Dao Fate Lotus was born in the Sea of Fate.

However, the Nine Great Heavenly Passes and their stone steles, as well as the Fate Lotus Dao Altar were clearly not naturally formed. Then, whose handiwork were these?

Lin Xun didn't know. He had once asked elders like Xing Jianxia about this, and none of them had been able to provide him a clear answer either. All they knew was that since many epochal civilizations ago, every Great Dao Fate Lotus born in the Sea of Fate already possessed these grand spectacles.

Over the countless years, many predecessors with heavenly skills and boundless intellect had investigated and speculated, only to come up empty-handed! To this day, the matter concerning the Fate Lotus Dao Altar, the Nine Great Heavenly Passes, and the Great Dao Ring Monuments remained a mystery that the long ages had never been able to solve.

Lin Xun collected his thoughts, placed his hands on his back, and looked at Gu Caozhi on Four Symbols Heavenly Pass.

“Gu Caozhi, do you dare fight me in a life or death duel?”

The moment these words came out, the atmosphere hit a bizarre degree of quiet. The cultivators present wore different expressions. Other than Xing Jianxia's group, almost everyone thought that Lin Xun was playing with his life and was so stupid to the point of ignorant and fearless.

Gu Caozhi's face was unsightly to look at. He had challenged Daoist Shanfeng, not this fragile little Creation Eternal. If he won, it wouldn't be an honorable victory to the ears of the world. He looked at his companions.

“Old Gu, no one will fight on your behalf. Go on, hurry up and deal with this kid. Leaving him there screaming like this, and people will think that we're scared of a Creation Eternal,” Ning Buqu said smilingly with a playful look written all over his eyes.

Right at this moment, Lin Xun spoke once again, “Ning Buqu, do you dare agree to a life or death duel with me after Gu Caozhi dies?”

As his voice circulated through the whole field, all eyes went blank and all jaws dropped.

Does this kid mean Gu Caozhi is no match for him, so he appoints Ning Buqu to be next?

The smile on Ning Buqu's face instantly solidified and contorted. “Since you've shown your courage, little brat, I don't mind personally going on stage to kill you!”

Gu Caozhi's face, on the other hand, had gotten as dark as the bottom of a kettle. He took Lin Xun's words as a provocation to his dignity, and it set his murderous intent on fire. Ning Buqu's response added insult to injury and pushed him to the verge of exploding with fury.

Seeing the twisted look on Gu Caozhi's face, Ning Buqu hurriedly explained, “Old Gu, don't misunderstand, I just...”

“No need to explain!” Gu Caozhi's murderous aura boiled, his face icy. “I shall skin this little plaything, rip out his tendons, and grind his bones to dust. Only that can quell the rage in my heart!”

Saying that, he then turned to Lin Xun and roared, “Come and fight!”

His voice shook the ten directions and shattered the clouds. For a Greater Boundless Eternal like him to be so enraged, one could imagine how much resentment and hatred Lin Xun was inciting.

“It's long overdue.”

Just as everyone was sweating for Lin Xun, the man himself suddenly laughed loudly and waved his sleeve. A divine light swept out.

Kaboom!

On the left side of the gate of Four Symbols Heavenly Pass, the stele engraved with ‘life or death’ suddenly rumbled.

At that instant, rays of light intertwined into a storm, and under the intent gazes of the crowd, an ancient and mysterious battlefield materialized in the void before the gate of Four Symbols Heavenly Pass with another resounding boom.

The battlefield covered an extremely large area, spanning across heaven and earth. The moment it appeared, a heart-stopping aura of blood and death rapidly spread in the air. The crowd of Greater Boundless Eternals present collectively felt a chill seeping into their fibers. Goosebumps sprouted all over their skin, and their expressions all changed.