Boom!
The nearly twenty-zhang tall tribulation flames suddenly dispersed, scattering into embers that floated in the air, finally revealing Lin Qian's figure.
At this moment, Lin Qian's robe was completely drenched, making him look as if he had just been fished out of water. He appeared rather disheveled.
Even so, not a single person present dared to mock him. Instead, their gazes were filled with respect.
For five entire days, those massive tribulation flames never stopped burning. Occasionally, Lin Qian's screams of pain could be heard, moments when he simply couldn't bear it any longer.
Lin Qian's soul strength was exceptionally powerful, so enduring the pain caused by the tribulation flames did not make him pass out. Instead, it made him acutely aware of every agonizing sensation.
For five continuous days, he endured this relentless pain, unable to simply pass out and be done with it. Lin Qian could only cry out occasionally to relieve the stress caused by the torment.
He couldn't help but berate himself—if only he'd gone through each level of tribulation fire step by step, it would have been much easier. Why did he have to complicate things by forcing the five levels to converge all at once?
Fortunately, combining the five levels of tribulation fire had significantly enhanced the tempering effect on his meridians and dantian. Otherwise, this would have been nothing more than unnecessary self-torture.
As the tribulation flames faded away, Ye Xin quickly rushed to Lin Qian's side. After carefully examining him and confirming that he was unharmed, the heavy weight on her heart finally lifted.
During Lin Qian's tribulation, his pained screams had truly worried Ye Xin.
"It's okay. I might just need a nice hot bath later," Lin Qian said with a wry smile, gently tapping Ye Xin's nose.
At this moment, the surrounding human and sea tribe geniuses began to step forward, congratulating Lin Qian.
"Congratulations, Brother Lin, on creating a timeless miracle. I am truly in awe. My name is..."
"It was truly astonishing. Brother Lin, you are the only peer I genuinely admire."
These favored sons and daughters of heaven did not hesitate to praise Lin Qian and build a good relationship with him. They all introduced themselves, eager to form connections.
They were fully aware that someone like Lin Qian would rise rapidly in the future. Some even believed that he could become the next Xuan Jun.
Twelve cycles of Nirvana, successfully enduring the simultaneous five levels of tribulation fire—if Lin Qian didn't become a figure like Xuan Jun or Yuan Xiang, it would be truly unbelievable.
The year-long trial period was almost over, and the remaining talents from both the human and sea tribes were preparing to leave, ready to report back to their elders about what had transpired in the ruins.
However, of all the human and sea tribe forces that entered, only about forty individuals remained!
The trial in the Four Directions World had been incredibly harsh, and only those with extraordinary strength managed to survive.
As the remaining elites departed, it wasn't long before the entire Four Directions World became eerily quiet.
"You all go ahead. Xin'er and I will probably leave a few days later," Lin Qian said, standing in front of the exit portal and addressing the group.
"Brother Lin, you're not coming with us?" Zhang Zide asked in surprise.
Lin Qian nodded and replied, "Please convey my apologies to your grandfather. You all can return on your own; there's no need to wait for me. I have my own way back."
Then, turning to Fang Ziqian and Yang Tianhao, Lin Qian continued, "Thank you both for looking after Xin'er along the way. Please accept these small tokens of my appreciation."
As he spoke, Lin Qian produced two crystal vials filled with a vivid red liquid. "This potion, once consumed, can restore eighty percent of your injuries within ten breaths, and it even works on those in the Awakening Realm."
Fang Ziqian and Yang Tianhao were initially taken aback but then solemnly accepted the mid-tier healing potions without hesitation.
Although these potions differed from traditional pills, they had heard from Li Yunfeng and others that Lin Qian's unique alchemical products were highly effective.
If the potions worked as Lin Qian described, it would be equivalent to having an extra life.
Finally, the group bid farewell to Lin Qian and entered the swirling portal, disappearing from the Four Directions World.
Now, the only people left from the Southern Gathering were Lin Qian, Ye Xin, and the ever-watchful Zhao Long.
Once everyone else had left, Lin Qian summoned the scholars and craftsmen, who immediately began modifying the portal to allow exits but prevent re-entries.
Before heading to the exchange hall, Lin Qian had already instructed the scholars and craftsmen to modify the sea tribe's portal entrance as well.
As for the portal in the Central World, Yuan Xiang had designed it to only allow exits and not entries, so Lin Qian didn't need to worry about it.
"Xiao Qian, what are you doing? What happened during the time you were gone?" Ye Xin asked, puzzled as she watched the scholars and craftsmen modify the portal.
Seeing the concern on her face, Lin Qian gently took her hand and led her deeper into the exchange hall.
To Ye Xin's surprise, the barrier that had previously blocked others from entering the depths of the exchange hall parted to allow them access.
Inside, Ye Xin found herself in a room with four large teleportation portals, each one glowing with a distorted white light.
As Lin Qian guided her through a pale green portal, they emerged onto a vast, flat grassland.
Standing atop a tall tower in the center of a city, Ye Xin gazed out at the surrounding landscape.
In the city below, soldiers of the Huaxia Empire were escorting stone-skinned aliens toward a newly constructed Tian Gong Department building.
These aliens were bound in glowing shackles, their faces filled with despair as they shuffled forward.
Seeing these unfamiliar beings, Ye Xin's eyes were filled with astonishment.
"A lot happened after I left," Lin Qian said with a smile, then began to recount everything that had transpired.
As she listened, Ye Xin's emotions churned. She never expected that this small world would harbor so many aliens and that their plans would be so terrifying.
Just then, Lin Qian received a message from Zhuge Ming, informing him that they had discovered the object the shapeless tribe had stolen from the eight-armed sea tribe and the Xiaoyao Sect's array masters.
It turned out that the stolen item was a strange crystal called the Boundary Array Crystal, which could stabilize formations.
If used in a different way, it could also disrupt formations. The shapeless tribe had stolen the Boundary Array Crystal to destabilize the formations Yuan Xiang had set up, allowing them to refine the World Heart and claim the Four Directions World for themselves.