Chapter 1933: The Immortal Astral’s tenth sun, The Madman! (Second Update)

When this strand of hair landed in Wang Lin's hand, the familiar feeling made him realize something even clearer. He didn't know why, but this single strand of hair seemed like a part of his own body.

With the hair in his grasp, it didn't cause him any harm; instead, it hung down like an ordinary strand, ready to float up again if a breeze passed by.

After a few breaths of silence passed within the Immortal Dao Hall, the voice of the Immortal Emperor rang out.

"This item was not bestowed upon you by Us, but since you desire it, you may have it."

Wang Lin's words of gratitude and thanks played a crucial role. After all, this was his Investiture Ceremony, watched by tens of thousands, with all the Sects of the Immortal Clan bearing witness.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Lion Beast was originally summoned for his Investiture Ceremony, so even if Wang Lin took the white hair, others could not complain.

The State Preceptor Shang Xuandao, standing before the Immortal Dao Hall, gave Wang Lin a meaningful look and spoke slowly.

"The Blood Sacrifice is complete. The final step of the Investiture Ceremony. Wang Lin, everyone here may challenge you, but only three times. After the three challenges, the Immortal Emperor's investiture will proceed!"

The moment the State Preceptor finished speaking, in the crowd below, the Family Heads and Old Ancestors of the three Royal Manors—excluding the Li Manor—suddenly looked up. These three Family Heads and Old Ancestors were all elderly men, and furthermore, they were Sky-Treading Venerable Cultivators!

One of them, wearing a red robe, flashed and instantly transformed into a long rainbow, rising into the sky. He cupped his fists and bowed a hundred zhang away from Wang Lin.

"This old man wishes to be the first challenger. I hope the White-Haired Sky-Treading Venerable will grant me guidance!" The old man's eyes glowed faintly. Looking at Wang Lin, and without waiting for a reply, he sat cross-legged in mid-air. As he raised his right hand, veins bulged all over his body, and wisps of black Qi visibly spread out from within him, instantly condensing outside his body to form a massive black shadow!

This black shadow seemed to be clad in black Armor. Its face was blurred and its eyes were tightly shut, but its appearance caused the Imperial Palace's sky and earth to change color, as if the winds and clouds were being rolled back.

"Wang Lin, grant me guidance!" The old man let out a low roar, biting his tongue tip and spitting out fresh blood. The blood, like mist, fell onto the black shadow. Stimulated by the blood, the black shadow suddenly opened its eyes, which were entirely crimson.

Amidst a dull roar, the black shadow raised its right hand, and a black Long Spear instantly materialized, shooting straight toward Wang Lin!

Wang Lin's eyes flashed. He didn't recognize the opponent, but based on the Cultivators the man was associated with, he vaguely guessed that the opponent was from one of the Four Great Royal Manors!

The black shadow was filled with extremely powerful strength. As it approached, it brought a whistling sound, seemingly capable of splitting the sky. Wang Lin did not retreat. After the Heavenly Ox Soul Armor instantly spread over his entire body, starting from his face, he raised his right hand and punched forward.

This punch landed precisely at the moment the black shadow's Long Spear stabbed out, resulting in a heaven-shaking boom upon contact!

Under the roar, Wang Lin's body swayed, and he slowly withdrew his right hand. However, the black shadow in front of him suddenly collapsed, shattering and rolling backward. The old man sitting cross-legged in mid-air immediately turned pale, but he gritted his teeth, raised both hands, and fiercely slapped his forehead!

With this strike, he actually sacrificed his Lifespan and vitality. An even denser black Qi violently spread out from his body. With the release of every strand of black Qi, the old man's appearance aged drastically, as if he had just crawled out of a grave.

This massive black Qi condensed, causing the black shadow to not only fully recover but also become almost tangible. Below it, a warhorse also condensed. The warhorse neighed, carrying the black shadow on its back, and charged toward Wang Lin.

Wang Lin's expression, hidden beneath the Soul Armor, was slightly solemn. The moment the black shadow arrived, he placed his hands on top of his head, slightly bent backward, and then violently charged forward, as if headbutting!

Heavenly Ox Ram!

Following this ram, a massive Heavenly Ox phantom immediately appeared behind Wang Lin. The Heavenly Ox roared up at the sky, using its two enormous horns to directly smash into the black shadow.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The black shadow, along with the warhorse beneath it, collapsed simultaneously. Unable to withstand the force of the impact, they suddenly disintegrated, allowing the Heavenly Ox phantom to pierce through the disintegrating black Qi and charge directly toward the State Preceptor Shang Xuandao outside the Immortal Dao Hall below!

All this looked like a coincidence. As the Heavenly Ox roared and charged forward, the State Preceptor Shang Xuandao maintained his usual composure, without the slightest change in expression. He merely raised his right hand, seemingly performing a divination, and pointed forward.

This finger strike landed on the approaching Heavenly Ox phantom, causing the phantom to violently tremble.

"Nothingness (Wu), is a type of Great Dao. Because it exists, once it is lost, it is called Nothingness." As the State Preceptor Shang Xuandao spoke leisurely, the Heavenly Ox phantom in front of him vanished into thin air.

Because it existed, once it disappeared, it became Nothingness. This scene perfectly matched his words.

Wang Lin's pupils sharply contracted. In that instant, he felt an extremely terrifying fluctuation emanating from the State Preceptor—a fluctuation belonging to a profound comprehension of the Dao.

The Heavenly Ox dissipated, and the black shadow formed by the old man sacrificing his Lifespan also vanished. The old man, still sitting cross-legged in the air, was pale-faced and looked much older. With a bitter expression, he stood up, cupped his fists toward Wang Lin in a bow, and without speaking further, flashed down to the ground and returned among the Cultivators of his Family.

"The second challenge…" The State Preceptor standing before the Immortal Dao Hall smiled slightly and spoke slowly, but just as he reached this point, his brows furrowed.

Not only him, but Wang Lin also turned to look into the distance. Among the Cultivators below, many immediately noticed and looked, and one by one, they simultaneously frowned.

"Hmph, hmph, you sure have guts! Such a lively event, and you didn't call this King! Do you… do you even see this King anymore?!"

"Little Red, Little Green, Little White, Little Blue, clear the way for this King!" Just outside the Nine Gates of the Imperial Palace's grand hall in the distance, a group of people emerged as the light of a Teleportation Formation flickered.

Leading this group was a young man wearing a floral patterned long gown and holding a fan. He looked furious, and the fan in his hand rapidly fanned the air, causing his hair to constantly flutter.

Beside him, Xu Ligou's face was pale, and his legs seemed to be trembling even while standing there. There was also the youth in green robes, equally pale-faced and terrified, who grabbed the floral-gowned youth and spoke quickly in a low, almost pleading tone.

"Your… Your Highness, this is the Imperial Palace!"

"The Imperial Palace is nothing! I am a Prince! You, slave, go clear the path for me!" The floral-gowned youth was highly displeased. He grabbed the youth and pushed him forward.

"Little Red, show the prestige you displayed when you went to the Li Manor! Don't ruin this King's reputation! Otherwise, I'll make you pay when we get back!" The floral-gowned youth kicked Xu Ligou's backside. Trembling under the gaze of tens of thousands of Cultivators in the square, Xu Ligou gritted his teeth and quickly took a few steps, putting on a determined front. But immediately, he spat out a mouthful of blood, clutched the spot where he was kicked, convulsed a few times, and then lay motionless.

"Huh? Dead?" The floral-gowned youth was stunned. He looked down at his foot, his expression confused.

Wang Lin stood in mid-air, silently watching the floral-gowned youth in the distance. The youth's appearance had changed somewhat, but Wang Lin recognized him instantly: he was The Madman.

The floral-gowned youth vigorously shook his fan, circled Xu Ligou's motionless body a few times, and kicked him again.

"Hmph, faking death, are we? How dare you fake death in front of this King! Let me tell you, this King once encountered someone else faking death… wait, who was it again…" He muttered, thinking for a long time but failing to recall. He simply forgot about Xu Ligou on the ground, put on an arrogant expression, and swaggered forward. Along the way, all the Cultivators who saw him frowned bitterly, retreating repeatedly to avoid him.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Such greetings continued nonstop along the way. The floral-gowned youth was extremely pleased, muttering as he walked.

"Why are there so many people today? Is my older brother choosing a consort? Hey, Old Man Luo, what's wrong with you? You look much older, like you've wilted?" The floral-gowned youth stopped in front of the old man who had challenged Wang Lin earlier, widened his eyes, and immediately shouted loudly.

"Who dared to bully Little Huahua's grandfather? Damn it, I'm going to teach them a lesson! Old Man Luo, tell me, who beat you up like this? Tell me!" The floral-gowned youth rolled up his sleeves, vigorously shook his fan, and kept shouting.

"Is it him?! It must be him! I've long found this guy disagreeable. He's clearly old, yet he likes to look so youthful! It's you! I… I'll strangle you!" The floral-gowned youth pointed at the frowning State Preceptor in front of the Immortal Dao Hall, ran a few steps, looking like he was going to strangle the man.

Just as he was about to rush over, the youth in green robes, who had been following closely behind, quickly grabbed the young man's leg.

"Your Highness, Your Highness… he… he is the State Preceptor! Your Highness, let's go back…" The youth was frightened pale, and no matter how the floral-gowned youth shook his leg, he refused to let go.

"He bullied Little Huahua's grandfather, how can I let him off! You slave, you won't let go, right? Fine, I'll take you with me!" The floral-gowned youth vigorously fanned himself again, simply dragging the youth along, looking fierce, determined to strangle the State Preceptor no matter what.

Wang Lin stood in mid-air, looking at The Madman below. His expression was complex amidst his silence. He had come to this Ancestral City precisely to see if this old friend could still recognize him.

He watched the man continuously fanning himself, dragging the pleading youth, and walking step by step toward the Immortal Dao Hall. Xu Ligou, in the distance, was still lying on the ground, but his eyes quickly opened. After glancing at the floral-gowned youth far away, he immediately and without hesitation closed them again.

"Daofei!" Just as the floral-gowned youth, dragging the green-robed youth, arrived in front of the State Preceptor, baring his teeth fiercely and raising his hands to grab his neck, the Immortal Emperor's helpless voice came from within the Immortal Dao Hall.

"What are you doing! You didn't tell me you were choosing a consort! You… you've gone too far!" The floral-gowned youth glared fiercely at the Immortal Emperor sitting on the Dragon Throne inside the Hall.

"Daofei, stop making trouble. Today is the Investiture Ceremony of your Benefactor. Having seen your Benefactor, why don't you go pay respects?" The Immortal Emperor's voice rose leisurely, and a gentle force spread out, pushing The Madman dozens of zhang away from the State Preceptor.

"Benefactor?" The floral-gowned youth was stunned.

Second update delivered!