Projection of the Heavens: I prove my immortality through slaughter.

The moment I passed through that chaotic portal of light, it wasn't the spatial teleportation I had imagined, but rather as if I had stepped into another world constructed from pure laws. All the noise, killing intent, and the aftershocks of the two late-stage Golden Core cultivators' furious attack were completely shut out.

Lin Xuan steadied himself and found himself standing in a void. All around him was boundless emptiness; there were no stars, no earth, only nine enormous, ancient-looking stone doors floating before him. Each door was tightly closed, and each was inscribed with an ancient seal script character: 惑 (confusion), 惧 (fear), 怒 (anger), 哀 (sorrow), 贪 (greed), 嗔 (hatred), 痴 (ignorance), 劫 (calamity), 道 (the Way).

Nine stone doors, arranged in a row, emanated distinct yet equally penetrating Daoist energy. Clearly, this was the first trial of the Nine Tribulations Immortal Abode, not a test of martial prowess, but one that struck at the very core of a cultivator—their Dao heart!

Only by overcoming these nine mental barriers can one truly access the core inheritance of the Immortal Abode.

At this moment, Lin Xuan was not alone in this void. The prodigies who had entered before him—Yan Feng, Zhang Daoyi, Leng Ningshuang, Xiao Buyu, the golden-eyed giant, and a few other cultivators who had broken through the outer array through special means or luck—were all here. They stood scattered, most staring solemnly at the nine stone doors, clearly understanding the formidable nature of this barrier.

Some people tried to push open the first "Door of Confusion," but after a moment, they were ejected with pale faces and dazed eyes, collapsing to the ground in defeat. Their Dao heart was damaged, and they had lost the qualification to continue to pass the test.

Some people rushed into the second "Door of Fear" and soon let out a shrill scream, scrambling out as if they had experienced the most terrifying thing in the world, their minds almost collapsing.

The test of one's moral character is fraught with danger and invisible, even more so than weapons of war!

Lin Xuan's arrival did not attract much attention. Everyone's attention was focused on the trial at the stone gate. Only Yan Feng of the Rift God Clan cast a gaze filled with killing intent and jealousy, but he dared not make a move here.

Lin Xuan ignored that gaze and walked straight towards the first "Door of Illusion." His virtual divine essence shifted slightly, already sensing that this door contained powerful illusions and deceptive forces, designed to shake the cultivator's resolve and cause them to lose themselves.

Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out and placed his hand on the stone door. The stone door opened silently, and a power that twisted his mind instantly enveloped him.

In that instant, he seemed to return to the Azure Netherworld, seeing the expectant eyes of his parents and relatives, hearing his master's earnest teachings, and feeling the warmth and ties of the mortal world... A tempting voice echoed in his heart: "Stay, why fight in the starry sea? Enjoy peace here, and immortality is within reach..."

Those whose resolve is not firm are easily drawn into this beautiful illusion and find it difficult to extricate themselves.

However, Lin Xuan's Dao heart had already been crystal clear and flawless when he severed all worldly ties in the Broken Mountains; after experiencing the battles in the starry sky and projecting into the heavens, it was even more indestructible, like the eternal starry sky, eternally unmoving.

His eyes were clear, without the slightest lingering attachment. Facing the illusory scene, he spoke calmly: "Just an illusion. Break it!"

The single word, imbued with the will to destroy Xiao Cheng, shattered all illusions and deceptions in an instant, like a stabilizing force! The alluring voice abruptly ceased, and the first door of "deception" slammed shut behind him.

Passed! Less than three breaths in!

This speed left several nearby cultivators, who were struggling to resist the illusion, dumbfounded.

Lin Xuan didn't stop, and stepped directly towards the second "Fear" door.

Inside the gate was a terrifying scene of countless mountains of corpses and seas of blood, collapsing stars, and even his own capture by the Sky-Splitting God Clan, where his soul was being extracted and refined! Endless fear surged like a tide, attempting to destroy his will.

Lin Xuan's eyes were icy, and a hint of disdain even curled at the corner of his mouth. Hadn't he created enough mountains of corpses and seas of blood with his own hands? He even dared to devour the Abyss Demon Emperor's essence and dared to kill the true disciple of the Sky-Splitting God Clan. Why would he fear these illusory scenes?

"My heart is fearless, what is there to fear?"

The sword intent of destruction was slightly revealed, and the overwhelming and terrifying illusion shattered inch by inch like a mirage! The second gate of "Fear" was passed! Time taken: two breaths!

Next came the third gate, the Gate of Wrath. Inside, a vision of the Sky-Splitting Gods slaughtering his friends and trampling on his dignity appeared, attempting to ignite his boundless rage and drive him to madness.

Although Lin Xuan harbored murderous intent, it was like a frozen volcano—calm and controllable. He knew clearly that anger would not solve the problem; only absolute strength could annihilate all enemies.

"Anger is a sign of incompetence. My way is only to kill."

The illusion has shattered! The third door has been opened!

The fourth door, "Sorrow," presents the tragedy of the end of magical civilization and the despair of Master Elwin's tragic death, attempting to evoke the deepest sorrow and helplessness in his heart.

A slight ripple stirred in Lin Xuandao's heart, but it subsided instantly. The dead are gone, the living must move forward. He transformed that heaviness into motivation, not a shackle.

"Sorrowful but not devastated, the road ahead is mine alone." With one step, the illusion vanishes.

The fifth gate, "Greed," revealed countless top-tier cultivation techniques, divine weapons, and elixirs of immortality, all within easy reach.

The sixth gate, "Anger," conjures up images of numerous enemies kneeling and begging for mercy, or of comrades betraying each other for personal gain.

The seventh gate, "Obsession," represents the extreme obsession and bewilderment with the Great Dao, power, and immortality.

Lin Xuandao's heart was as hard as iron; no amount of temptation, grudges, or obsessions could sway him in the slightest. His virtual divine essence hovered high in his sea of ​​consciousness, maintaining absolute rationality, and his true intent of destruction annihilated all illusions.

"Greed, anger, and ignorance—these are poisons for people, obstacles to my path; dispel them!"

The fifth, sixth, and seventh stone doors were as if they were nothing to him; he passed through them with astonishing speed!

When he arrived at the eighth "Gate of Tribulation," most of the many prodigies who had previously entered were still struggling in the early stages. Only a handful of people, including Little Celestial Master Zhang Daoyi, Moon Fairy Leng Ningshuang, and Shadowless Sword Xiao Buyu, arrived at the same time as him. Seeing Lin Xuan break through seven stages so swiftly, their eyes revealed unprecedented solemnity and shock.

The steadfastness of this young man's resolve is simply beyond comprehension!

The eighth gate, the "Gate of Tribulation," possessed a completely different aura. The character "Tribulation" on the gate seemed to be formed from countless runes of heavenly tribulations such as thunder, fire, wind, and ice, radiating an immense terror that made one's soul tremble. This trial simulated the inner demon tribulation and the might of heaven and earth that cultivators faced when undergoing tribulation! Not only must they endure pressure akin to the destruction of heaven and earth, but they must also confront the deepest flaws and fears within their hearts!

Zhang Daoyi took a deep breath, the Bagua diagram around his body swirling, and stepped in first. The Cold Frost Moon Wheel, protecting him and radiating a clear light, followed closely behind. Xiao Buyu merged with his sword, transforming into a ray of light and disappearing into the circle.

Lin Xuan had no protection whatsoever, relying solely on his indestructible Dao Heart and the Destruction Sword Domain to safeguard his soul, and stepped into the realm!

"BOOM!!"

It was as if he had stepped into the very heart of a heavenly tribulation! Countless chaotic divine lightning, scorching divine fire, nine-ninth-level gales, and soul-corroding yin water... bombarded him from all directions like the end of the world! At the same time, deep within his heart, the resentment of countless people he had slain, his own thirst for power, his confusion about the future, and even the secret of his virtual godhood and projection abilities, all seemed to transform into the most ferocious inner demons, frantically assaulting his consciousness!

Attacked from within and without, destroying both body and spirit!

This is the most brutal test of one's Dao heart, will, and even the essence of life!

Zhang Dao's Dao diagram trembled violently, his face turning pale. Leng Ningshuang's moonlight flickered erratically, her delicate brows furrowed. Xiao Buyu's sword light also became somewhat scattered.

However, even amidst this world-destroying "calamity," Lin Xuan's eyes shone even brighter! Instead of being crushed, he actively integrated his divine sense into the raging calamity to feel and comprehend the vitality contained within the destruction and the profound rhythm of the Great Dao hidden within the calamity!

"Calamity is also creation! Destruction is also rebirth!"

He let out a long roar, and the Destruction Sword Domain expanded on its own initiative, not to resist, but to devour! It took in all the thunder, fire, wind, and ice that bombarded him, as well as the burgeoning and spreading inner demons and distracting thoughts, and forcibly refined and absorbed them with its own true intent of destruction!

Under this extreme pressure and test, his Dao heart was not damaged at all. Instead, it became even purer and more resolute, like a divine weapon that had been tempered a thousand times! Even the newly formed Destruction Sword Domain became more solid and its range slightly expanded!

The eighth gate of "calamity" slowly closed behind him. He successfully passed through, although it took him a little longer than the previous gates. However, the ease with which he passed through and the composure with which he did so once again made Zhang Daoyi and the others who were passing through at the same time pale in comparison!

At this moment, only one door remained before him—the Gate of the Dao.

The area in front of the gate was empty, except for Lin Xuan. Zhang Daoyi, Leng Ningshuang, Xiao Buyu, and the others were still struggling to hold on inside the "Gate of Calamity".

This last door was simple and unadorned, bearing only the single character "Dao" (the Way). But Lin Xuan could sense that the test it contained was perhaps the most difficult trial. It didn't test your emotions, nor your willpower, but rather pointed directly to... the Way of your true self!

Lin Xuan took a deep breath and, without the slightest hesitation, pushed open the door and entered.

Inside the door, there was neither illusion nor calamity, but absolute nothingness. There was no light, no darkness, no time, no space, and not even the concept of "I".

A grand, indifferent voice, seemingly originating from the very source of the universe, resounded directly in the deepest recesses of his consciousness:

"What is your way?"