## ⚔️ *Age of Reflection Arc — Part III*
### **Chapter 142 – The Awakening of the Hidden Era**
The **Secret Realm** stirred like a slumbering beast beneath the Inner Realm's foundation. Pillars of violet mist erupted across China's merged landscapes, each beam resonating with forgotten ancient will.
Yang Lin—barefoot, eyes half-closed—felt the tremor in existence. His qi pulsed quietly, yet it was unlike any other cultivator's. While others struggled to control their meridians, **his mere thought reshaped their flow**.
> *Realm:* Void Dao Realm – 3rd Layer (Peak; near breakthrough to Incarnation Realm)
Beside him, **Qin Lian** tightened her gloves, a faint purple mark glowing on her forehead.
> *Realm:* Tribulation Realm – 2nd Layer
The world shook as another figure approached, dragging a sword twice his size. His laugh echoed across the peaks.
> *Realm:* Venerable Stage – 3rd Layer
"I told you, this realm's entrance opens only once every three thousand years," the chubby youth grinned. "Name's Chu Shan—Sword Formation genius, occasional eater of entire beast kings."
Yang Lin turned his gaze. "You talk too much."
Chu Shan chuckled. "You'll thank me when my **Fifth-Tier Killing Sword Formation** saves your quiet self from trouble."
---
### **Chapter 143 – The Gate of Returning Souls**
Before the trio stood a gate ten thousand meters tall, engraved with runes older than time. Streams of spirits circled around it like constellations of lost memories.
"This is where geniuses die," Qin Lian said softly.
Yang Lin touched the gate, feeling the breath of forgotten gods. "And where legends are born."
The gate opened. Their figures blurred into the golden light and vanished.
---
### **Chapter 144 – Heaven-Bending Entry**
The Secret Realm was a distorted heaven—floating mountains above a reversed sea, rivers of time flowing backward. The pressure instantly crushed everyone below the **Qi Condensation Realm – 6th Layer**.
Qin Lian's aura flickered; Chu Shan drew his sword. But Yang Lin merely exhaled, and the pressure collapsed like sand before a storm.
"This realm recognizes strength," he murmured. "Not bloodlines."
Far ahead, thousands of cultivators from ancient clans fought to seize territories—each bearing levels from **Venerable 1st** to **Tribulation 3rd**.
---
### **Chapter 145 – Blood Over Treasure**
The first treasure to surface was a **Jade Lotus**, rumored to refine marrow and cleanse dao roots. Dozens of sect heirs launched assaults for it.
Chu Shan's sword formation spread in nine golden layers, shredding a **Qi Condensation 9th Layer** army in seconds.
Qin Lian darted through the chaos, her spirit-beast form unleashing purple arcs that tore apart even **Venerable 2nd Layers**.
Yang Lin remained motionless, until a youth from the Thunder Heaven Clan challenged him.
> "You're just a void brat! Die beneath my thunder tribulation!"
Yang Lin raised one finger. The lightning froze in mid-air, the heavens bent backward, and the youth collapsed without a mark.
> *"You challenged me? Fool."*
---
### **Chapter 146 – The Jade Lotus' Curse**
As Qin Lian reached for the lotus, a pulse of death erupted. The flower revealed its true form—a **Devouring Phantom**, feeding on the souls of the unworthy.
Chu Shan's sword formation shattered into fragments, protecting Qin Lian.
Yang Lin stepped forward, aura calm but absolute. Reality twisted. Every dead soul in the vicinity bowed, unable to disobey the presence of the **Realm Immortal's child**.
The lotus purified itself, recognizing the higher dao within him.
> "You—" Qin Lian gasped, "you forced a cursed treasure to surrender?"
Yang Lin looked away. "It was never cursed. Just misunderstood."
---
### **Chapter 147 – The Ancient Hunting Grounds**
Deeper in the realm, massive bones jutted from the ground—remnants of creatures from the **World Creator Realm**. Their residual energy distorted space itself.
A group of **Incarnation Realm – 1st Layer** cultivators from the Scarlet Moon Sect appeared, blocking the path.
"Hand over the lotus," their leader demanded.
Chu Shan laughed. "How about I hand you my foot instead?"
Before anyone could move, Yang Lin vanished. When he reappeared, only dust remained.
> "If you wish to see heaven," Yang Lin murmured, "I can show you a true one."
---
### **Chapter 148 – The River of Returning Time**
A colossal river stretched before them, glowing in reversed light—flowing from future to past.
Qin Lian touched its surface and saw fragments of her childhood—her clan destroyed, her mother dying.
Yang Lin placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't drown in memory."
The river stilled. Not even the river of time dared to ripple before him.
Chu Shan swallowed hard. "You really… aren't normal, huh?"
> "Normal," Yang Lin replied, "is just a lower form of existence."
---
### **Chapter 149 – The Silent Sect**
In the western region of the realm, they found a sect frozen mid-battle—every disciple turned to crystal, their souls still screaming within.
A voice echoed: "Leave. Or join them."
A white-haired figure emerged—**Lord Realm – 2nd Realm**, elder of the Heaven-Sealing Clan.
Chu Shan's sword formation flared, but Yang Lin stopped him.
> "You can't fight this one," Qin Lian warned.
Yang Lin's eyes glowed faintly. "I'm not fighting."
He raised his hand, and the elder's dao shattered silently. The man's body vanished—no blood, no ashes. Only silence.
> "He's gone," Yang Lin said simply.
---
### **Chapter 150 – The Trial of Heaven's Core**
The trio reached a temple pulsing with divine energy. Inside, a glowing sphere floated—the **Heaven's Core**, capable of accelerating one's breakthrough by decades.
Qin Lian entered first, the temple testing her dao heart.
Visions of her fallen clan appeared. She gritted her teeth, enduring it with sheer will.
> *Realm: Breakthrough — Tribulation 3rd Layer → Void Dao 1st Layer*
Chu Shan followed, overcoming gluttony with discipline.
> *Realm: Venerable 3rd → Tribulation 1st Layer*
When Yang Lin stepped in, the core dimmed. It tried to test him—then realized its error. **Its very laws were born from his shadow.**
The temple bowed.
---
### **Chapter 151 – The End of the First Cycle**
The Secret Realm began collapsing. The treasures vanished, the sky cracked apart.
"Why's it closing so soon?!" Chu Shan shouted.
Qin Lian looked at Yang Lin. "You triggered it… didn't you?"
Yang Lin watched the fragments of the realm folding inward. "This cycle was never meant to last. The next one begins in blood."
As they stepped through the collapsing gate, ancient runes whispered behind them:
> *"The Real Immortal's son has awakened."*
The sky outside thundered—
A storm not of lightning, but of **creation itself**.