In the Myriad Transformations Holy Land, Chu Kuang’s every gesture was marked by poised confidence and ease. He struck the Dao Bell and elicited a grand, resonant chime.

The bell rang eight times. As if aware of his own limit, he made no further attempt. Chu Kuang slowly descended and returned to Yuan Gang’s side. The surroundings fell silent, their gazes filled either with awe, envy, and jealousy.

At that moment, the Dao Bell vibrated slightly. A wisp of Dao mark transformed into a white light and shot into Chu Kuang. A moment later, he opened his eyes again, his aura more profound and mysterious than ever.

Yuan Gang felt a stir in his heart. “Junior Brother, you...”

He vaguely sensed that Chu Kuang was somewhat different from before, though he couldn’t pinpoint the exact change.

Chu Kuang worldlessly smiled. Composed as he was, even he found it difficult to suppress his exploding joy.

Possession had always been a major taboo. Though he selected an infant still in the womb as his vessel, a faint discord between soul and body lingered. Although it was minuscule, it would inevitably hinder his future cultivation path. However, with the Dao’s gift, his flesh and soul were now in perfect harmony. It was no different from the legendary reincarnation and rebirth.

Upon seeing his reluctance to speak, Yuan Gang didn’t press further. Instead, he sighed with emotion. “Junior Brother, you elicited eight rings from the Dao Bell. You are worthy of the title ‘heaven-endowed prodigy’!”

He wasn’t praising Chu Kuang on purpose. Among the younger generation in the Holy Land, most managed between three to four rings. Even among the seven or eight candidates for the Holy Son, only three had achieved six rings, whereas the rest had managed five like himself.

As for seven rings, there was only one. It was Luan Ping, the previous generation’s Holy Son. He was also the most talented Holy Son in the Holy Land’s history. However, with Chu Kuang here, Luan Ping could only settle for second place.

Right at that moment, Luan Ping landed before the two. “Your performance far exceeded my expectations. No wonder the Holy Master gave you the Myriad Transformations Spirit Pool.”

Although he was wearing a smile, his words carried a sting.

Chu Kuang smiled faintly. “A mere eight rings, hardly worth mentioning. Compared to the top-tier freaks in the world, it still falls short. To compete with them in the future will indeed require some effort.”

Luan Ping’s expression darkened slightly. Chu Kuang was indirectly stating that only those true freaks were worthy opponents, and Luan Ping didn’t even count.

Yuan Gang chimed in supportively. “Junior Brother, nine rings must indicate a natural-born freak. I’m afraid there isn’t a single one to be found in the entire Eastern Wasteland. You can already be called the number one among the younger generation of the Eastern Wasteland!”

Clearly, Chu Kuang thought the same and waved his hand with an air of calm detachment. “In the future, I should make a trip to the Central Continent to meet the freaks there—”

Just then, the Dao Bell vibrated softly, interrupting him. The hanging streams of profound qi rippled incessantly, tinged with a layer of hazy green. Anyone could sense the hint of favor hidden within.

Chu Kuang’s eyes instantly narrowed.

Luan Ping was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. “Good, that’s very good! What ’number one’?!”

He felt pleased and thought it served Chu Kuang right. Others probably didn’t understand, but he knew some secrets. Nine rings from the Dao Bell, and the Great Dao bestowed its favors. The Dao Bell manifested in countless forms. If it sensed the presence of someone capable of eliciting nine rings within a certain range, it would produce such an anomaly. That person was definitely in the Eastern Wasteland, possibly even closer.

Yuan Gang didn’t understand these things. He just felt something was off. Unbeknownst to him, his previous words were akin to a slap in Chu Kuang’s face.

Chu Kuang took a deep breath. “To think that such a person exists in the Eastern Wasteland!”

As a saint’s reincarnation, his face was thick-skinned to the highest degree, regardless of temperament or experience.

In less than half a breath, his expression returned to normal. “If time permits, I shall meet—”

Before he could finish, the Dao Bell shook again. That layer of green hue instantly intensified severalfold. The sense of favor became even more pronounced.

Luan Ping forgot about competing with Chu Kuang and exclaimed in shock, “What?! Another one!”

Chu Kuang clenched his fist. “Who is it?!”

Suddenly, Gu Han’s image in his mind. No! Impossible! It absolutely cannot be Gu Han!

He forcefully suppressed his anger. “I must get to the bottom of this—”

With another tremor, the Dao Bell’s green hue grew even denser.

Finally, Chu Kuang lost it. “Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!”

There were actually three! He could accept it if it were the Central Continent, but this was the Eastern Wasteland, a former wasteland!

When the Dao Bell manifested three thousand years ago, only one person had ever elicited nine rings. There had been no precedent before that. The Eastern Wasteland had always been dwarfed by the other four regions. Yet now, three had appeared in succession.

Yuan Gang had a puzzled look on his face. “Junior Brother, what on earth—”

Suddenly, the Dao Bell trembled lightly again, and Chu Kuang was seeing red.

Right at that moment, a trace of saintly might descended, pressing down heavily on everyone’s hearts. The Holy Master had appeared.

***

With the appearance of four individuals who had elicited nine rings, the hidden powers of the Eastern Wasteland could no longer remain idle.

“Who exactly are they?!”

“Alas, heavenly anomalies descend, great chaos approaches!”

“Named as freaks, but in reality, they are great calamities. They must be nipped in the bud!”

“If these four achieve the Saint realm, where will we stand in the Eastern Wasteland?”

For a time, undercurrents surged in the Eastern Wasteland. Various Saint realm experts and hidden powers dispatched personnel one after another, vowing to find these individuals.

***

In the Great Flame Imperial Dynasty, looking at the hazy green Dao Bell before him, the noble-looking man’s eyes flashed with intense resentment.

“Four! Why?! Why are you all such freaks, while I could only manage eight rings?!” Intense hatred flared in his eyes. “I refuse to accept this!”

He flickered and vanished in an instant.

***

On the mountain peak, the armored youth enviously gazed at the green light descending from the sky. “Sister, you’re really amazing!”

Without so much as a glance at the light, the woman lifted the wine gourd at her waist and drank deeply.

Long accustomed to her temperament, the youth muttered to himself, “Who would’ve thought four nine-ringers would emerge from the Eastern Wasteland? Tsk tsk... who could they be? Is the Ninth Brother one of them? What about the other two? If such freaks came to the Great Flame Imperial Dynasty—”

The woman turned, her red skirt fluttering as she flew into the distance.

The youth cried out anxiously, “Where are you going?!”

“The Northern Domain.”

The youth hurriedly chased after her. “Wait for me! I’ve long wanted to see the Fengwu Court. If not for the pressing war situation—”

Suddenly, a figure flashed by. It was the noble-looking young man from earlier. “Stop!”

The youth was taken aback. “Ninth Brother? Why are you here? Ah, right, you just elicited nine rings from the Dao Bell too, didn’t you? Tsk tsk, my sister also got nine rings. If Uncle finds out, he’ll definitely—”

“Shut up!” The young man’s eyes flashed with rage. He didn’t want others to bring up his sore spot. “The war is in a critical situation right now. Where are you going?”

The youth didn’t dare ask more and scratched his head. “The Northern Domain. Sister said—Huh? Sister, wait for me!”

The woman had already become a tiny dot in the distance.

The young man sneered. “The Northern Domain? Let’s see what mischief you’re up to!”

With that, he flickered and he followed immediately.

***

Luo Wushuang gently waved his right hand, striking the Dao Bell nine times almost instantaneously. The chimes were continuous, melodious and ancient, subtly containing countless Dao mysteries. They transformed into a wisp of Dao essence, continuously spreading outward.

Meanwhile, the demonic beastman was dumbfounded. Though he didn’t recognize the Dao Bell, he was certain that the faint strength Luo Wushuang now displayed far surpassed what he had seen before. The man didn’t even have the courage to flee.

On the other hand, even though the green light seeped into him, Luo Wushuang seemed completely unaware.

He just stared at the bell with a playful expression. “Who exactly are you looking for? Could you be looking for me?”

In the next moment, his aura changed as he became translucent. Softly and gracefully, he placed a palm on the bell. Its profound qi suddenly churned violently.