101: Entrusted by the Thunder Emperor, the journey home is in sight.

The illusory figure that sat up from the coffin wore a Thunder Emperor's Crown, was clad in a Myriad Thunders Robe, and had a blurred face, yet it exuded an awe-inspiring majesty that looked down on the world and the vicissitudes of ages. It was precisely the last clear Divine Thought remaining from the Thunder Emperor!

His gaze, like substantive thunder, swept over Lin Xuan, Su Wanqing, and Qu Feiyan, who were holding hands below, then passed over the nervous Gongsun Yu and the solemn Wangshu, finally settling on Lin Xuan. More precisely, it focused on the Golden Core within him, which had integrated a trace of thunderous creation and Grand Yin Origin, making it unique, as well as the immortal abode pivot token in his palm.

"Yang... Taiyin... cardinal edict... and this strange bond..." The Thunder Emperor's remnant will let out a low, rumbling sound like thunder, tinged with confusion, recollection, and a sigh of relief. "I didn't expect that the one who would ultimately come here and awaken my last obsession would be such a wondrous combination."

Lin Xuan stood up with the support of Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan (though the two women were shy, they did not let go), suppressing the shock in his heart. He cupped his hands in a respectful yet unyielding bow: "Junior Lin Xuan, along with my companions, inadvertently entered this Myriad Ages Desolate Sea. It is our great fortune to witness Your Majesty's Legacy. We only seek the way back and have no intention of offense. I hope Your Majesty will see clearly."

"The way back..." The Thunder Emperor's remnant will cast its gaze into the depths of the starry sky illusion, as if piercing through endless time and space. "This place is a corner that I forcibly peeled off and banished into the temporalTurbulence with my last strength when the Immortal Palace disintegrated, originally to preserve a spark of the Dao tradition, and also to... suppress something."

His gaze suddenly sharpened, looking at the rusty broken sword beneath the altar! "This sword is named 'sin-slaying.' It once drank the blood of outer demons and was stained with the souls of Immortal Palace comrades... Its breakage is a testament to the internal strife within the Immortal Palace and the act of inviting wolves into the house!" His voice was filled with endless grief and sorrow.

Lin Xuan's heart trembled violently. Immortal Palace internal strife! Inviting wolves into the house! This matched the information from the remnant will's earlier roar!

"The outer demons Your Majesty spoke of, could they be... the Guixu Cult?" he probed.

"Guixu Cult?" The Thunder Emperor's remnant will snorted coldly, with disdain and deep apprehension. "They are merely a group of pitiful wretches who stole the power of true outer demons and willingly served as their pawns! The true 'Xū' is a terrifying existence that devours myriad realms and annihilates Laws... If not for some within the Immortal Palace being blinded by greed, foolishly attempting to use its power to glimpse the realm of transcendence, how could they have brought disaster upon themselves, leading to the collapse of the glorious Immortal Palace in a single day!"

He looked at Lin Xuan, his illusory gaze seemingly able to penetrate everything: "You possess a fragment of my old friend Yang, hold the cardinal edict, receive the wholehearted assistance of the Taiyin Legacy inheritor (his gaze swept over Su Wanqing and Wangshu), and furthermore, bear a strange Luck... Perhaps, this is fate's decree."

The Thunder Emperor's remnant will raised a hand and pointed at the broken sword, sin-slaying: "Though this sword is broken, its spirituality has not faded. Sealed within it is a wisp of my undying Battle Intent, as well as a trace of perception of the 'Xū's' power. Take it with you; perhaps in the future, it can help you discern the true enemy."

Next, he pointed to the coffin on the altar, wreathed in thunder patterns: "This coffin is cast from thunder source crystal marrow, containing my last Origin thunder power and the core control runes of this realm. Refine it, and you can initially control this banished fragment of the Thunder Emperor Palace, perceiving its possible weak connections to the main world. That... will be your way home!"

The hope of leaving finally appeared clearly before their eyes! Everyone's spirits were greatly uplifted.

"However, to obtain these two items, you must pass my test." The Thunder Emperor's remnant will's voice turned cold, carrying an undeniable majesty. "My Dao is the magnificent thunder, wielding punishment and guarding all living beings! My Legacy inheritor may not possess heaven-shaking power, but must have an unyielding will, a heart to protect companions, and the ability to discern good from evil!"

His gaze once again fell upon Lin Xuan, Su Wanqing, and Qu Feiyan, lingering for a moment especially on their still clasped hands. "You three, with your intertwined affections, willing to die for each other, have already initially possessed the spirit of 'guarding.' Now, let me see your 'resilience' and 'discernment'!"

Before his voice faded, the entire starry sky illusion suddenly transformed! Countless bolts of thunder materialized out of thin air, turning into a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, a Heart Demon illusion, and a spatial maze, completely engulfing the five individuals! Every bolt of thunder struck directly at their Dao Heart, testing their will, wisdom, and adherence to their true selves!

Lin Xuan tightly clasped Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan's hands, feeling the firm strength they returned, his gaze sharp as a sword: "Everyone, follow me to break this situation!"

Su Wanqing's icy eyes were clear, the Taiyin Moon Essence protecting herself and those beside her. With a clear sword heart, she cut through illusions. Qu Feiyan's charming eyes, like silk, no longer bewitched others but saw through her own Heart Demon, her blood lotus power transforming into a protective barrier. Gongsun Yu's drumbeats thundered, drawing forth righteous Qi with her pure thunder heart. Wangshu's moonlight flowed, protecting everyone's spiritual platform from being lost.

In this final test of the Thunder Emperor, the five individuals each displayed their abilities, working together with one heart. Lin Xuan, in particular, with the System's powerful analysis and deduction capabilities, repeatedly found the illusion's nodes and weaknesses at critical moments!

After an unknown number of illusionary tests, when the last Heart Demon thunderbolt was extinguished by Lin Xuan's firm Dao Heart, the surrounding illusions receded like a tide, and they returned to the starry secret hall.

The Thunder Emperor's remnant will's illusory figure became even dimmer, almost transparent, but his eyes showed a look of relief.

"Good..."

He raised his hand, and the sin-slaying broken sword and the thunder source crystal marrow coffin simultaneously flew towards Lin Xuan.

"Remember... the true enemy is 'Xū'... the Immortal Palace... needs new sparks..."

His voice gradually faded, and the Thunder Emperor's remnant will finally dissipated completely, transforming into specks of thunder light that merged into the world he had guarded until now.

Lin Xuan solemnly received the broken sword and the coffin (the coffin instantly shrank to palm-size upon touch), feeling the immense power and information contained within them. His heart felt heavy, filled with both the joy of gaining an Opportunity and the hope of a way home, and the weighty responsibility concerning the unknown powerful enemy 'Xū' and the past of the Immortal Palace.

He turned to look at the four women beside him, whose bonds had deepened through the trials.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan were also looking at him, their eyes conveying an unspoken affection.

Gongsun Yu's eyes were full of trust.

Wangshu's gaze, however, held a hint of complexity and relief.

"We're going home," Lin Xuan said in a deep voice, tightening his grip on the thunder source crystal marrow coffin. He began to communicate with it and refine it with his Divine Thought. The way home was finally in sight!