The blurry figure was the lingering will left behind by the former Lord of Return to Ruin. Madness was merely its surface—its true purpose was to deliver a message, or rather, a warning.
"Don't go! Whatever you do, don't go!!!"
Even though they were separated by different timelines, and Lin Yuan wasn't facing the true Lord of Return to Ruin, he could still feel the intense bitterness and resentment within those words.
"Erased again... the crucial part."
Lin Yuan shook his head slightly.
He completely understood the warning left behind by the Lord of Return to Ruin's remnant will.
The final three thousand tribulations of the third stage of the Endless Tribulations seemed highly likely to be aimed at stopping a certain being from ascending a new path of transcendence.
But who was this being?
And which time, which timeline was it?
He didn't know.
Without those two pieces of information, the warning held little practical value.
Because it couldn't be prepared for.
What was he supposed to do—give up the Endless Tribulations path to transcendence because of this message?
Besides, the other two transcendence paths weren't any easier. Each was riddled with hidden dangers.
"Looks like this is the work of the Supreme Dao of Rules and Order again."
Lin Yuan thought to himself. There was no way the Lord of Return to Ruin's remnant will would intentionally erase the key information.
If anything, with such obsessive determination, the Lord of Return to Ruin would've delivered only the critical part of the message—even if it were just a few vital words.
And yet, they weren't there.
This kind of forced erasure... Lin Yuan had encountered it more than once.
The previous time had been in the "Abyss of Tribulation" left by the Lord of Wanwei.
In the deepest region of the Wanwei Time-Space—
Before the Abyss of Tribulation, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
Watching the many tribulations recorded within.
Some had been endured by the Lord of Wanwei himself, others by different Lords.
On the path of Endless Tribulations, the Lord of Return to Ruin far surpassed the Lord of Wanwei.
The former had already passed the three hundred and ten million tribulations of the final stage—just 20 millions away from completing the path.
Whereas the Lord of Wanwei had only passed two hundred million in the final phase.
The last tribulation in the Abyss was the final one endured by the Lord of Wanwei himself.
Frame after frame flickered past, eventually settling on the tall figure of the Lord of Wanwei.
His silver-white skin appeared as though formed from countless overlapping time-spaces. With hands clasped behind his back, he muttered softly, "My two-hundred-millionth tribulation sent me to a far-future time-space to slay a being. I paid a terrible price, but I managed to do it."
"But on the return trip from that future timeline to the present, I accidentally entered a chaotic segment of time-space. In that place—"
The rest of his words were erased.
The final image was the Lord of Wanwei giving a bitter smile: "I never thought... even I, Wanwei, would one day feel like a mayfly before the heavens."
Lin Yuan had watched it many times. It was after enduring the two-hundred-millionth tribulation that the Lord of Wanwei chose to pursue the path of the Perfect Time-Life.
"What did the Supreme Dao of Rules erase? Is there a connection between what the Lords of Wanwei and Return to Ruin experienced?"
Lin Yuan was deeply curious.
Putting aside the Lord of Return to Ruin for now, for a powerhouse like the Lord of Wanwei to have his will broken—to willingly abandon the transcendence path he had long committed to—it wasn't just about strength.
It meant there was truly no hope left.
If he had merely encountered a powerful opponent? That wouldn't have driven the Lord of Wanwei to such a choice.
"But all of this is still far away from me."
Lin Yuan thought quietly.
He had only just begun walking the path of Endless Tribulations. Forget the three hundred and thirty million tribulations of phase three—he didn't even know how long it would take just to complete the first phase.
To think too much about the Lords of Wanwei and Return to Ruin now... was premature.
Outside the Golden Moon Dimension—
After the Lord of Return to Ruin's remnant will had gathered and delivered its message, it quickly dissipated.
In truth, this lingering will existed solely to convey the message. It had no other purpose. That Lord Longshi lost his sense of self under its influence...
Was simply because he was too weak—unable to withstand the information the Lord of Return to Ruin was trying to deliver.
As the remnant faded—
Lord Longshi gradually awoke from his slumber.
"I…"
Lord Longshi felt lighter than ever. The chaos that had always plagued his mind was gone—like a divine mountain lifted from his shoulders.
"The pollution from the Lord of Return to Ruin's remnant will is gone?"
Joy surged in his heart. He immediately bowed deeply to Lin Yuan and said, "Thank you, Lord Milky Way."
His gratitude came from the heart. Though he had given up a top-tier dimensional space and all of his Time Sand...
Compared to his own self, all of that was nothing.
"Don't celebrate too soon."
Lin Yuan waved his hand. "I only removed the pollution from your body, soul, and mind for now. Whether it's been completely eradicated—whether some residual fragments still linger within your thoughts—I can't be certain."
When dealing with a terrifying being like the Lord of Return to Ruin, even a remnant will must not be underestimated.
The main issue was that Lord Longshi's own strength wasn't high enough. He had no resistance to the remnants. There was even a chance that a sliver had taken root in his mind without him knowing.
But even if something remained—without the support of the main remnant—its impact would be much weaker.
Besides, it was only a possibility. Based on Lin Yuan's actions earlier, he had likely already locked down and removed all of the remnants.
"I understand, I understand."
Lord Longshi immediately nodded.
"Then I won't disturb Lord Milky Way any further."
He spoke cautiously.
"Mhm."
Lin Yuan nodded.
Next, he had to face the trial of his first tribulation—purifying the Golden Moon Dimension.
"Lord Milky Way, I'll be off as well."
The shop owner of the Time-Space Shop dared not linger.
When he didn't know Lin Yuan's true strength, he had the courage to stand nearby.
But now, having witnessed Lin Yuan's power firsthand—and knowing that he was the rumored Lord of the Milky Way—the shop owner felt immense pressure. He didn't dare engage in further small talk.
"Mhm."
Lin Yuan glanced at him.
Soon—
Both Lords vanished.
"Golden Moon Dimension…"
Lin Yuan turned and looked toward the dimension. His immense mental power spread out to envelop it. Before beginning the purification process, he needed to fully understand this space.
In the empty rift between dimensions—
Lord Longshi's figure appeared, and beside him, the image of the Time-Space Shop owner formed.
"Time-Space, who exactly is Lord Milky Way? That level of power…" Lord Longshi couldn't help but ask.
Back when he had first been corrupted by the remnant of the Lord of Return to Ruin, he had paid a heavy price to meet with a Legendary Lord.
But that Lord hadn't even considered helping him—ordinary Legendary Lords didn't want to touch the remnants of the Lord of Return to Ruin.
But Lin Yuan had removed them—nearly completely—in just a few days.
That level of power was definitely not that of a typical Legendary Lord.
"Lord Milky Way…"
The shop owner was also puzzled. Lin Yuan had shown Legendary-level power in the Wanwei Time-Space, yes—but that had been his future self.
As for the current timeline, he wasn't a Legendary Lord. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been forced to reveal his future self by the Lord of Blood Sea.
But just now...
Casually extracting Lord Longshi, and effortlessly purging remnants that Legendary Lords didn't dare touch?
That level of strength was probably at the upper echelon of even Legendary Lords.
"Just remember one thing—never offend Lord Milky Way."
The shop owner couldn't figure it out, so he deflected the question.
"Even if I had a thousand times more courage, I wouldn't dare offend Lord Milky Way…"
Lord Longshi shrank his head.
He had faced the pressure when Lin Yuan struck, and that unbelievable feeling of oppression—he'd probably never forget it for the rest of his life.
Inside the Golden Moon Dimension—
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, quietly sensing every detail of this top-tier dimensional space.
Unlike the Chaos Void or the Celestial River Dimension, this space operated on a source Dao called the "Golden Moon" Source Dao, which possessed both the traits of utmost Yang and utmost Yin.
"Not a bad Source Dao."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly. At his level, he could grasp the nature of most Source Daos at a glance.
With his Unrivaled Insight and the height of life as a Lord, ordinary top-tier dimensional spaces were of limited use to him now.
"Why did the Supreme Dao of Rules have me come here to purify this space?"
He didn't immediately begin the purification process, but instead paused to think.
So far, this space didn't appear to be anything special. Its Source Dao was rare, but in the vast rift between dimensions, who knew how many rare Source Daos existed?
The Golden Moon Dao wasn't especially outstanding.
"Well, may as well begin the purification."
After observing for some time and finding nothing unusual, Lin Yuan began operating the "Purification" method.
The "Purification" method came from the will of the Supreme Dao of Rules. It had appeared in Lin Yuan's mind along with the contents of his first tribulation.
Buzz buzz buzz~ As the method began operating, an invisible energy began spreading deep within the Golden Moon Dimension.
This energy had no corrosive properties, but it expanded steadily until it covered the entire dimension.
"According to the Purification method, I only need to maintain it for a hundred years."
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
His first trial in the Endless Tribulations was—
To purify the Golden Moon Dimension for one hundred years.
In truth, this trial wasn't very difficult.
The only obstacle was Lord Longshi.
Whose strength, while near the second-stage peak, wasn't truly overwhelming.
Even in his unstable state, one could simply wait until he became lucid again to attempt a trade.
After all, this trial had no time limit.
Even if the challenger wasn't a monstrous Lord like Lin Yuan, but a normal time-based Lord—
They could still complete the trial.
It would just take longer.
And if they couldn't reach a deal while Longshi was lucid, they could simply wait until his madness, under the pressure of the Lord of Return to Ruin's remnant, caused him to completely lose control.
Judging from Longshi's condition, in a few dozen Great Extinction Cycles at most, he wouldn't even have occasional moments of clarity.
By then, he'd probably go berserk and rampage out of the Golden Moon Dimension.
Rustle—
As time passed—
The Purification method continued operating.
By the ninetieth year, Lin Yuan sharply noticed strands of pitch-black energy being expelled by the method.
"These auras?"
He observed the black energy.
They emanated a force completely opposite—and even contradictory—to the nature of the infinite dimensional system.
"This energy... could cause irreversible collapse of dimensional space—where no rebirth is possible."
Lin Yuan's expression grew slightly serious.
Dimensional collapse and rebirth—that was the natural cycle of the vast dimensional system.
But irreversible collapse meant no rebirth at all—complete annihilation.
A clear violation of the Supreme Dao of Rules.
"So that's how it is."
Lin Yuan's expression shifted in understanding.
The so-called "Endless Tribulations" path to transcendence was, at its core, about having Lords resolve anything—person, place, or event—that violated the Supreme Dao of Rules.
Buzz buzz buzz~ The black energy kept seeping out, until in the ninety-ninth year, its flow sharply declined.
By the hundredth year, no matter how Lin Yuan operated the method, no more black energy could be expelled.
"It's done."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
Clearly, all the black energy hidden within the Golden Moon Dimension had been completely purified.
Still, the trial required him to purify the space for a full hundred years—only once that period ended would he have passed the trial.
Boom!
The will of the Supreme Dao of Rules descended. Lin Yuan instantly knew—he had passed the first tribulation.
The next moment—
A mysterious power surged into his body.
Under its nourishing influence, Lin Yuan's flesh, soul, and will all began to grow—slowly.
"Hmm?"
After a few breaths, the growth stopped.
"So this is the benefit of surviving a tribulation in the Endless Tribulations path?"
Lin Yuan mused.
The Endless Tribulations path was the most widely chosen among transcendence paths—not only for its clarity of purpose—
But because each completed tribulation granted immediate feedback—
A direct increase in power.
"Not bad."
Lin Yuan assessed the before-and-after of his own power, and concluded—
Passing the first tribulation had improved him, but only slightly.
Still, he wasn't surprised.
First—this was only the first of the Endless Tribulations.
Arguably the easiest one.
Naturally, the improvement wouldn't be large.
Second—Lin Yuan's starting point was already too high.
With such a vast foundation, any increase would be harder to notice.
"One step at a time."
He thought to himself.
If one tribulation yields little—what about ten? A hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand? A hundred million?
Quantity creates qualitative change. Not to mention that second and third-tier tribulations provided far greater gains than first-tier ones.
"Second tribulation..."
Having completed the first, Lin Yuan immediately began preparing for the next.
With his strength, he could pass any tribulation before the third stage without suspense.
Just like that—
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, ten thousand years had passed.
...