Chapter 673: Half-Step Samsara
Lin Langtian stared at Nine Kings Hall, who was bound in demonic thunder, a chill flickering through his eyes. Nine Kings Hall's strength was considerable, but far from his peak.
Even Seven Kings Hall had been unable to withstand Yuan Demon Power; a Nine Kings Hall barely clinging to the level of two Samsara Tribulations stood no chance.
Still, the Demons' vitality was monstrous.
Even after suffering such a devastating assault, this one had survived.
If he escaped, he might well recover over the next century.
Little wonder that in the ancient war, even the Eight Ancient Masters had struggled to truly kill the upper echelons of Abyssal Prison.
The creatures were like centipedes that refused to die.
But today, Nine Kings Hall had fallen into his hands.
"Ending you here will make the next World War a little easier to bear," Lin Langtian said lightly, watching him struggle in the thunder.
He raised both hands and let demonic lightning weave between his fingers, forming a net that wrapped tighter and tighter until Nine Kings Hall was trussed up like a hog for slaughter.
"A figure of your status shouldn't be wasted," he added.
Then he summoned the Suppressing Demon Tower and tossed Nine Kings Hall inside.
For a Demon King who had crossed two Tribulations, his demonic energy would be a feast for the Eight Heavenly Demons.
…
Within the tower, a terrified demonic shadow hung in the air—
The shrunken remnant of Nine Kings Hall, his earlier arrogance nowhere to be seen.
"Hehe.
"Welcome to the Suppressing Demon Tower, Nine Kings Hall," Lin Langtian's will said calmly.
He flicked his sleeve and the tower walls shook.
Eight terrifying demonic statues slowly emerged, forming a ring around the Demon King.
"This… what is this?!"
Even he paled at the sight.
Each statue radiated the pressure of a Demon King.
Even as Nine Kings Hall, he could feel the noose tightening.
Lin Langtian ignored his panic.
At his silent command, the eight statues roared, their gaping maws twisting into vortexes that latched onto Nine Kings Hall and began to drink.
His demonic power thinned rapidly.
"No! Stop!"
His body shrank under their pull, his screams rising higher and higher.
Even with his overwhelming might, there was no escaping the eight devouring maws.
Sooner or later, they would strip him clean.
Lin Langtian let his consciousness withdraw to his body.
It would not take long now.
…
"Brother Langtian, is it done?"
Lin Dong flew over, face brightening at his brother's faint smile.
"Mm. He won't be making any more trouble," Lin Langtian replied.
Lin Dong could not help the admiration in his eyes.
Even weakened, Nine Kings Hall had still been a solid two‑Tribulation Demon King.
Yet Brother Langtian had dispatched him with startling ease.
A roar burst out from the peak behind them.
The guardian, sensing the Demon King's demise, lifted his head and howled, gratitude shaking every note.
Buzz…
Streams of light burst from his body, rising to hover in the sky.
Lin Langtian and Lin Dong glanced up and froze.
At the forefront, a black‑robed elder sat in meditation, his eyes dark as ink.
Old Man Black Eyes—the previous wielder of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol.
And all around him, countless other seated figures shimmered in the light.
The brothers traded a look and understood.
These were the remnants of the Great Desolate Sect's powerhouses—wills left behind to guard their fallen sect.
"Senior, the Demon has been slain.
"Your wishes should at last be fulfilled," Lin Langtian said quietly, raising his head to face the phantoms.
Every figure in the air bent low in a deep bow.
A faint warmth lit Old Man Black Eyes' face.
"Thank you, young friend.
"This grace cannot be repaid, so accept this token instead," his voice echoed softly.
Their bodies began to scatter into glittering motes.
As they faded, strange, shimmering light points formed and drifted toward Lin Langtian.
He reached out, and the touch sent a shock through him.
Reincarnation insights.
The sky filled with dazzling lights, and the entire realm turned dreamlike as waves of mystic reincarnation aura washed over them.
Lin Langtian sat cross‑legged in the air, eyes half‑closed as the floating specks flowed into him.
Excitement flickered in the depths of his gaze.
He had already brushed against the threshold of Samsara, but the gap remained substantial.
This would narrow it.
These were the final insights of the Great Desolate Sect's fallen experts.
They had clung on, guarding their sect until the one who destroyed it was finally slain.
Now, freed of regret, they were leaving their experiences behind.
"Brother Dong. Jiang Xue.
"This is a chance for you too. Don't waste it," Lin Langtian said with a faint smile.
Lin Dong's face lit up.
Jiang Xue stroked Yinyin's hair, then sat down as well.
She knew exactly how valuable such insights were.
The brothers floated in the air as the lights poured into them like rivers into two black holes.
As the ocean of reincarnation intent surged into Lin Langtian's body, a subtle wonder rippled through his heart.
His mind, once clear, blurred under the weight of the new understanding.
He hovered on the edge of some indescribable place that he could not quite reach, left only to steep in the sensation and slowly comprehend…
…
Time flowed.
When Lin Langtian finally emerged from that strange state, ten days had passed.
He opened his still‑hazy eyes and took in the familiar world.
Exhaling slowly, he gathered a clump of yuan power in his palm and felt the dense reincarnation fluctuations coiled within.
Far stronger than before.
But still… incomplete.
"Just a little short.
"For now, half a step into Samsara," he murmured.
He could feel it clearly.
He now stood at the peak of the Wheel Realm, a hair's breadth from true Samsara.
One more step and he would join the ranks of the Samsara experts.
But that step would not be easy.
He smiled faintly, unbothered.
Even with all his fortunes, Samsara was never meant to be simple.
If it were, the path would not be littered with the bones of countless geniuses who fell short.
He had a feeling that the final push would not be too far off.
And now that he had fused yuan and demonic power, a breakthrough in only one of them would mean little.
If he waited until both reached Samsara together, the resulting Yuan Demon Power would transform him completely.
When that day came, even the highest‑ranked Kings Halls would have reason to fear him.
"You're awake?"
A gentle voice drew his gaze.
Jiang Xue stood nearby, smiling softly.
There was a new depth in her eyes—proof she too had profited greatly.
Lin Langtian nodded and looked up toward the peak, where the guardian now sat quietly.
Confusion still clouded its gaze, but there was relief as well—the calm of vengeance fulfilled.
"With more cultivation, its mind should slowly return.
"In any case, thank you for what you've done for the Great Desolate Sect.
"I inherited their legacy. Let me thank you in their name," Jiang Xue said quietly.
Lin Langtian shook his head.
"The sect helped me as well.
"This was only right.
"Besides, letting Nine Kings Hall escape would've been my problem down the road," he said.
Jiang Xue smiled and flipped her hand, revealing a shard of black armor in a halo of dark light.
A faintly evil aura pulsed from it.
Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed.
The Demon Emperor Armor.
He remembered the Demon King Armor he'd once acquired and long since outgrown.
He had wanted Seven Kings Hall's armor earlier, but Five Kings Hall's arrival had ruined the chance.
To think Nine Kings Hall's set would end up here instead.
"Since you killed him, this should be your spoils.
"And I doubt anyone else can even use it," Jiang Xue said.
The magic in the armor was far too heavy.
For Demons, it was a treasure; for humans, a curse.
Lin Langtian inclined his head.
With both yuan power and demonic power at his command, he was perhaps the only one here who could truly draw out its worth.
He accepted the broken armor without ceremony and sent it into his mirror world to be refined slowly.
"Brother Langtian, you're awake," Lin Dong's familiar voice rang out.
He too had just surfaced from his meditations, his aura deeper and sharper than before.
Though he had not broken into Samsara either, he now stood at half a step from it as well.
Lin Langtian smiled.
"This trip was worthwhile.
"But the problem's solved—we should head out," he said.
Lin Dong and Jiang Xue both nodded.
She called Yinyin over; the girl scampered happily to her side.
Having been forced to anchor the monument alone all this time, she was thrilled to be leaving.
Lin Langtian smiled at the sight, then swept his sleeve.
Space twisted—
And the four of them stepped back out into the world before the Great Desolate Monument.
Jiang Lei and the others had been waiting anxiously.
Seeing them emerge, and Jiang Xue's relaxed smile, they finally let out the breaths they'd been holding.
The worst was over.
"Uncle Jiang, since things are taken care of, we'll be heading back.
"If you ever need anything, just come to the Lin Clan," Lin Langtian said.
Jiang Lei blinked at his abrupt announcement, then glanced helplessly at Jiang Xue.
"Thank you for everything," she said with a small smile, though her eyes lingered on him a moment longer than before.
He only smiled and ruffled Yinyin's hair.
"If anything changes with her, come find me.
"I'll help however I can," he added.
"Big Brother…" Yinyin murmured, unwilling to let go of his sleeve.
He offered her a warm smile, chatted a bit longer, then nodded to Lin Dong.
The brothers rose together and soon vanished at the edge of the sky.
Jiang Xue stood watching until their figures faded completely.
Only then did the smile slowly slip from her face, leaving a hint of bitterness behind.
"If you care that much, why not try to keep him?" Jiang Lei asked with a sigh.
His niece could be stubborn—she hadn't voiced her feelings from beginning to end.
"I like him.
"That's my own burden to carry," Jiang Xue answered softly.
"And it's not as though we'll never meet again."
She smiled faintly, turned, and walked away, her back straight and seemingly carefree.
(END CHAPTER)
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