The Prodigies War

As Lin Xun stood atop the independent city wall that was floating among the clouds and looked at the vast battlefield in constant conquest that had always been so chaotic and turbulent since the beginning of time, his emotions were endlessly stirred.

Compared to this Frontline Battlefield, the Nine Domains Battlefield was undoubtedly far inferior!

“Since you have visited the Nine Domains Battlefield, you should have learned that the supreme path has never been cut off in the eight foreign domains. It’s the same here.”

Mister Shen had a complicated look on his face as he said, “The other eight domains have quite a number of quasi-Emperors, and each one far exceeds us in terms of combat power. In direct confrontations, even Gu Liangqu is no match for any of their quasi-Emperors.”

Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed as he instantly understood what this meant.

The situation of these old monsters stationed at the Frontline Battlefield was actually very similar to what they had faced in the Nine Domains Battlefield!

The only difference was that the Frontline Battlefield had a Great Emperor Pass known as the number one heavenly barrier of Ancient Wasteland Domain that blocks all Emperors!

Sure enough, Mister Shen continued, “The reason why my generation has been able to persist until now and block the great enemies outside is entirely dependent on the Great Emperor Pass. Otherwise…”

He didn’t finish his words.

But Lin Xun knew very well that without the Great Emperor Pass, the Ancient Wasteland Domain would have been breached long ago!

“I’m only telling you all this so that you would understand that petty characters like Gu Liangqu, after all, are only a minority. Whether it is in the past or now, our Ancient Wasteland Domain is never short of great heroes who have the world’s interest in their hearts and are willing to make efforts for the billions of beings therein.

“There is never a shortage of people like you and me.”

Saying this, Mister Shen couldn’t help but reveal a contented smile.

Lin Xun also smiled as he recalled Sword Emperor Taixuan, Battle Emperor Mo Yang, and the Saint Buddha Xingjia…and also the Golden Cicada Youth.

Yes, the Ancient Wasteland Domain never lacked true heroes!

From this day onward, Mister Shen took Lin Xun on a walk around the Great Emperor Pass, leaving their footprints on one stronghold after another.

He told Lin Xun all about the great heroes who had been stationed in every city, about their great deeds and feats that could be a brilliant part in the world’s history.

As a result, Lin Xun’s outlook and experience rose to new levels along the way, and he became more and more aware of the significance of the Great Emperor Pass.

If written in a history book, this ancient city that stretched across the Frontline Battlefield would be a volume that evoked praises and tears and shook the ages. It would have an endless array of characters who were bathed in blood as they roamed the fields and died without hesitation in battles!

They would be legendary sections, immortal stars in the sky whose passion and spirit were imprinted in every corner of the Great Emperor Pass.

Death befell all alike, but an unwavering heart would turn into a name that forever shone in history!

Before one could visit this place for themselves, it would be near impossible for them to feel the price paid by countless predecessors for the survival of the Ancient Wasteland Domain.

It was only now. Lin Xun could not stop a desire from burning up in his heart...

One day, I shall wipe out all the scourges, so that all beyond the Great Emperor Pass will be the territory of my Ancient Wasteland Domain!

……

When Mister Shen brought Lin Xun back to the Sun Pass, he pointed at Lin Xun’s heart and asked seriously, “Little friend, how do you feel now?”

A stunned Lin Xun was about to say something when Mister Shen laughed and shook his head, “As long as you understand it in your heart.”

Understand what?

What Lin Xun had seen and heard during the last few days then surfaced in his mind.

Eventually, he understood and nodded. “Thank you for your teachings, Senior.”

On this journey, Mister Shen hadn’t instructed him on cultivation or tried to instill him with any grand belief, but invisibly, he had let him see the broad mind that a true expert should have!

“The Big Saint Stage is founded on ‘big but immeasurable.’ Heaven and earth possess beauty that needs no words to describe; one should hold the immeasurable great dao in their heart.”

Mister Shen said softly, “This ‘big’ is not only confined to the depth of your cultivation, but it is also a measurement for your state of mind, vision, and experience.

“Only then can you embrace all streams of knowledge and let them all converge into one, and only through this can you break through to the point of ‘big but immeasurable’ in the Big Saint stage.”

Boom!

It was as if a direct blow of enlightenment had struck Lin Xun’s mind. His wish and search for a cultivation breakthrough finally found a vague answer at this moment.

“The loudest sound and the greatest beauty have no forms, and so is the dao… The mystery of the Big Saint stage lies in the word ‘big.’ Watch, little friend,” said Mister Shen, who then waved his sleeve.

The scene in Lin Xun’s vision suddenly shifted, and he found himself standing in front of a long, winding, and undulating dragon that seemed to extend infinitely.

Lin Xun was startled. “This is the entity of the Great Emperor Pass?”

Immediately after, the scene shifted again, and the winding Great Emperor Pass seemed to have abruptly shrunk by countless times, turning into the size of a foot.

However, if one looked closely, they could still feel the sense of loftiness and boundlessness from it.

“Is it the Great Emperor Pass that has become smaller? No, it’s you that has become ‘bigger’!”

Mister Shen’s words resounded in his ears, causing Lin Xun to freeze in realization.

“In the eyes of an ant, we are unreachable giants, but in the eyes of a divine dragon, we are no different from an ant. Why? It’s all perspective.

“The Big Saint stage is to understand the wondrous meaning of ‘My size is what I will, for I am infinite’!

“As cultivators, if we cannot achieve ‘big but immeasurable,’ how will we control the power of the world and toy with the sun, moon, and stars in the palm of our hands?

“If your heart is bigger than the heavens, then your power can overcome, cover, and overlook the heavens!”

The impact of Mister Shen’s voice hit straight to the heart like the rumbles of the Great Dao, sending Lin Xun’s consciousness into a trance. His heart felt as if it was breaking out of a layer of eggshell as all sorts of feelings gushed out like streams of water.

He was oblivious of Mister Shen’s receding presence, for his whole body and mind had been taken over by a resounding voice:

“Big!”

“Big!”

“Big!”

Every inch of his skin and flesh was quivering. His heart had fallen into chaos. He had forgotten about the world, the people, and the passage of time.

Mister Shen moved to the side, panting slightly.

Small beads of sweat seeped out from his brows and hair, and his face was a bit pale.

As early as when he had seen Lin Xun, he could tell that the latter had already reached the Perfect Supreme True Saint Stage and was about to face the test of breakthrough to the Big Saint stage.

Perhaps it was out of a desire to make amends, or perhaps it was because Lin Xun had brought the Ice Snow Leaf to the Great Emperor Pass and given it the opportunity to make a great transformation, Mister Shen had brought Lin Xun on a journey to open up his eyes and enhance his experience.

The ultimate goal was, in fact, to guide Lin Xun to the wondrous meaning of ‘big’!

And just now, in order to make a visual elaboration so that Lin Xun could directly ‘feel it,’ Mister Shen had made a painstaking effort that chipped away at his own cultivation.

The so-called ‘dao’ could not be lightly taught. It was not selfishness, but it was because the dao was invisible, and those with insufficient cultivation simply wouldn’t be able to comprehend.

Even if it was recorded into words, language, or any visible form, they would still find it impossible to understand without the addition of that ‘dao’ feel, hence the great price that Mister Shen had to pay to make it happen.

It was similar to forcibly placing the ‘dao’ into a presentation of its wonders. It cost not only one’s essence blood but also their cultivation energy!

If other people knew about this, they would definitely think that Mister Shen was crazy.

Forcibly elaborating on the profound meaning of the dao was tantamount to violating a taboo, and he might never ever be able to make up for the loss of his cultivation energy.

Yet, Mister Shen had done it naturally without giving Lin Xun an explanation.

And when he saw the latter fall into an epiphany-like state, he was more happy for him than Lin Xun was for himself.

Such was the paragon and wisdom of Divine Apparatus Pavilion’s Mister Shen!

From this, one could also see how much he cared for and approved of Lin Xun as a junior.

Three days later.

Lin Xun woke up from his muddled state like he was waking up from a dream. When he opened his eyes again, the whole world seemed to have become completely different.

There was an extra feel to it that was indefinable, indescribable, yet real.

“The mountains and rivers remain the same, but my mind has become different…” muttered Lin Xun.

Standing on the side, Mister Shen nodded happily. “Not bad at all. You are now only one opportunity away from becoming a Big Saint.”

Lin Xun had taken only three days to comprehend the wondrous meaning of ‘big,’ which made him feel incredibly amazed and relieved.

If the Ancient Wasteland Domain had such a talent, there was no need to worry that it wouldn’t be able to rise above the other eight domains in the future and recreate its glory in the primeval era!

Lin Xun took a deep breath and bowed deeply. “My deepest gratitude, Senior.”

He had started his path of cultivation by probing and pondering on his own. Until now, he had barely come into opportunities to listen to teachings and be enlightened.

He was also well aware that for today’s epiphany to be possible, Mister Shen must have paid a lot of effort and a great price that he couldn’t know of.

So how could Lin Xun not be moved and grateful?

……

Lin Xun had already decided to leave, and Mister Shen had no problem with it.

Before his departure, however, the Thousand Feather Sword Flower suddenly spoke up, “Little friend, since we do not know when we can meet again after this goodbye, I have a request to make of you. You can rest assured that I have never had any malice toward you, and it’s only a small request.”

Despite her fiery red dress, she had an otherworldly and ice-cold temperament. But at this moment, this terrifying existence who could easily suppress Gu Liangqu was showing a rare anticipation and nervousness on her face.

As if she were a nervous young girl.

“A request?” Lin Xun was surprised.

“Yes.” The red-clad woman took a deep breath and whispered, “Before I began my cultivation journey, I was but a small and unattended grass spirit without sentience. Once, when I was in danger and about to lose my life in the mouth of a ferocious beast, it was a senior who saved me and opened up my intelligence.

“After that, he taught me cultivation arts and instructed me as I went… That’s how I was able to obtain the power to seek the dao.

“But later, no matter how I tried to search, I could not find this senior again. Even now, I still have no way to repay his kindness, and it has become a great regret of my heart.

“So, I want to…”

Lin Xun said, “You want me to help you find your benefactor?”

The red-clad woman nodded, looking a little emotional as she said, “That senior is so powerful that whenever I think of him, I still feel that I can never catch up with his pace even though I’ve now cultivated the foundation to become an Emperor. But you, little friend, you will definitely be able to reach his level!”

Lin Xun’s heart was shaken. The Thousand Feather Sword Flower had already possessed the quality and foundation for Emperorhood, but she still said that she could never catch up to that ‘senior’?

How far ahead should that ‘senior’ be in terms of cultivation?