Survival for All: I can deconstruct projections and synthesize everything.

"In that case, I'll give you a chance!"

Lin Xiao looked at Yan Shan, waiting for him to continue.

Iwayama was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"My name is Yanshan. My father gave me this name."

His gaze drifted into the distance, as if he had traveled through time and returned to that distant era.

"My father was arguably the strongest person in the Earth Soul Domain at the time, a peak eighth-order existence."

"He was one of the core leaders of the alliance that rebelled against the God of Mist back then."

"I watched him train, watched him fight, and watched him lead his people to repel the attacks of the Misty World time and time again since I was a child."

"I thought he would keep winning."

"I thought the Earth Soul Domain would continue to exist forever."

"I believed that one day we would be free."

Yanshan's voice became low.

"Until that day..."

"The messenger of the Mist God has arrived."

"A ninth-tier being is so powerful that it inspires despair."

"My father exerted all his strength, burning the core of the rules and the very essence of his soul, just to barely injure one of the messengers' fingers."

"But that's how it is."

"Three moves."

"Only three moves."

"My father fell in a pool of blood."

"It wasn't until then that I realized the Misty World had been toying with us all along!"

"They could have easily wiped us out long ago!"

Lin Xiao listened silently without interrupting.

Yan Shan took a deep breath and continued, "In that battle, the Earth Soul Domain was shattered. Countless clansmen perished, and countless powerful warriors died in battle. Only a few escaped into the depths of the ruins and sealed themselves with the rules of earth, barely managing to survive."

"And I am one of them."

"I hid deep within the wreckage, watching everything outside."

"Watching those messengers slaughter my people, watching them sacrifice the leaders of the rebels to the God of Mist, watching them somehow banish the remnants of the Earth Soul Domain beyond the Mist World."

"I want to go out and fight, but I can't."

"Because I promised my father that no matter what happened, I would live on."

Yanshan withdrew his gaze and looked at Lin Xiao.

"For over a million years, I have been cultivating myself."

"From the fifth to the sixth rank, from the sixth to the seventh rank, from the seventh to the eighth rank."

"Every step is the result of countless hours and efforts."

"It took me almost a million years to finally break through to the eighth rank."

"One million years."

His voice carried a hint of bitterness.

Do you know what a million years means?

Lin Xiao remained silent.

he knows.

For ordinary people, a million years is an unattainable time scale.

But for the strong, a million years is enough for oceans to turn into mulberry fields, and for stars to be born and die countless times.

Yanshan continued, "After I broke through to the eighth rank, I thought about going back."

"Go back to the Misty World, seek revenge on that messenger, seek revenge on the God of Misty World."

"But I found that I couldn't do it."

"His kingdom is expanding, and his power is being restored."

"Don't even mention a mere eighth-rank being like me; even a ninth-rank being would be nothing more than an ant before Him."

He looked at Lin Xiao, his gaze becoming profound.

"So, I was somewhat surprised when I sensed the aura of the other four attributes on you."

"Metal, Wood, Water, Fire."

"Four rules, four forces, intertwine within you."

"Although you are only at the seventh level, I can sense that your potential far exceeds that of ordinary people."

"Moreover, you actually managed to come out of the misty world and arrive at this exiled ruin."

"That in itself is a miracle."

Lin Xiao looked at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Iwayama was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Lin Xiao, I already know why you've come."

"You want the core crystal of the Earth Soul Domain, you want to gather the five elements, and evolve your divine kingdom into a miniature universe."

"I understand."

"But I can't just give you the crystal so easily."

"Because it was a memento left by my father, and also the last hope of the Earth Soul Domain."

"If I give it to you, how can I face my dead father? How can I face my sleeping people?"

Lin Xiao nodded: "I understand."

He looked at the rocky mountain, his gaze calm as still water.

"So, what are your conditions?"

Iwayama paused for a moment, then smiled.

That smile was complex, containing both appreciation and bitterness.

"Conditions..." he said softly, "I do have an idea."

He paused, his gaze becoming serious.

"I want you to fight me."

Lin Xiao's brows twitched slightly.

Fight?

Iwayama continued, "Of course, I won't bully you."

"You are at the seventh rank, and I am at the eighth rank. You should be well aware of the difference between the seventh and eighth ranks."

Lin Xiao nodded.

Of course he knew.

There is a huge chasm between the seventh and eighth ranks.

That's a difference in the level of life.

Compared to an eighth-tier being, a seventh-tier being is nothing but an ant.

Although he had killed countless seventh-tier behemoths in the universe, he still wasn't confident of victory against an eighth-tier opponent.

Moreover, he cannot use the power of the divine kingdom in the universe.

Yanshan looked at him and slowly said, "Therefore, I will keep the rules within a reasonable range."

"Our rules for this duel are very simple—"

"You, Lin Xiao, must withstand my full-force attack within five minutes."

"If you can survive for five minutes, if you can hold out against me—"

"Then I will offer up the core crystal of the Earth Soul Domain with both hands."

"Not only the crystal, but the entire Earth Soul Domain's ruins, and all those sleeping clansmen, are all entrusted to you."

"From this day forward, the Earth Soul Domain belongs to you."

Lin Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.

five minutes.

It withstood the full-force attack of the eighth-tier unit.

This condition sounds simple, but it's incredibly difficult to achieve.

An eighth-tier all-out attack, each strike is enough to destroy the heavens and the earth.

Five minutes is practically an eternity in the face of an eighth-level opponent.

But he did not hesitate.

Because he had no choice.

"Okay." Lin Xiao raised her head, looking directly at Yan Shan. "I promise you."

Iwayama paused for a moment, then smiled.

That smile contained surprise, appreciation, and a hint of anticipation.

"You're quite straightforward."

He said softly.

"However, I must remind you—"

"I won't hold back."

"If you die in battle, that's your fate."

Lin Xiao nodded: "Understood."

Iwayama took a deep breath and raised his right hand.

The earthen-yellow power of the rules surged from his body, condensing into a massive barrier in the void.

The barrier enveloped the entire wreckage, isolating it from all external interference.

Then, he looked at Lin Xiao.

"Are you ready?"

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, and seven-colored light flowed around him.

The rules of the true self of all things are operating at full capacity, mobilizing all available power.

He knew that the next five minutes would be the toughest battle of his life.

But he was not afraid.

On the contrary, his eyes burned with an unprecedented fighting spirit.

Being invincible among those of the same level does not mean you can challenge those of higher levels.

But he really wanted to try.

Try to see if you can withstand an eighth-tier attack.

Try to see where your limits are.

Try it—

Is it possible to create another miracle?

"Ready."

He said softly.

Yanshan nodded.

"Let's begin then."