“…That great war,” the maiden’s voice echoed, her eyes pools reflecting a bygone cataclysm, “I witnessed not with mine own eyes, but through the shimmering memory of my sister. Lian Dao Fei, possessed of a power surpassing mortal ken, stood alone against the Four Great Generals and the countless disciples of the Seven Sects.”

“With overwhelming force, he brought them all low, each warrior and acolyte reeling from grievous wounds. It was then, in that hour of darkest treachery, that my sister, along with several Celestial Consorts, betrayed their oaths and lent their power to Lian Dao Fei’s onslaught.”

“Amidst this swirling chaos, Lian Dao Fei cast aside the struggling remnants of his opposition and sped towards the Seven-Hued One’s secluded sanctuary, forcing the venerable being to emerge from his meditative slumber and engage in battle.”

“A clash of titans it was, a maelstrom of celestial energies. The Seven-Hued One, already weakened by ancient wounds, faltered before Lian Dao Fei’s relentless assault. Desperate, he summoned the Celestial Mandate, the very soul of this Cave-World, which lay dormant within the depths of his hidden grotto. Employing the art of Celestial Consumption, he sought to devour Lian Dao Fei and end his reign of terror.”

“In the end, Lian Dao Fei was gravely wounded, his form consumed by the Celestial Mandate. Yet, such a being, blessed with an immortal frame, cannot truly perish. He yet lingers, weakened and unseen, within this very Cave-World.”

“However, the Celestial Mandate too suffered greatly, its essence shattered, its lifeblood scattered in countless droplets. Though it faded from sight, the Cave-World still breathes, still gives rise to life, a testament to the Mandate’s survival!”

“The Seven-Hued One’s golden form shattered, birthing forth three distinct souls. One soul, imbued with his mastery of arcane arts and divine techniques, became the very being that now guards this vessel, beyond the pale of the world. The other soul, imbued with the essence of his enlightenment and the very source of his power, fled after the cataclysm, seeking refuge somewhere within this realm.”

“The final soul, burdened with the entirety of the Seven-Hued One’s memories – including the secret of summoning the Celestial Mandate, and the hidden location of the treasures gleaned from the ancient shard – possesses neither power nor understanding. Its whereabouts are unknown to all, lost within the endless cycle of reincarnation. Perhaps it dwells within the heart of a humble mortal, or the savage breast of a wild beast. Perhaps, lost in the labyrinth of lives, it has forgotten its very origin, its memories dormant, waiting to be awakened.”

“The soul that inherited his divine arts, the Seven-Hued Taoist, wields immense power. He commands the allegiance of the traitorous Celestial Consorts, and has even enslaved Lian Dao Fei’s former page. From his domain beyond the borders of the world, he ceaselessly searches for the third soul… for if he were to find it and devour it, and then consume the soul that embodies the very essence of existence, he would ascend to become the new Seven-Hued One!”

“The second soul, hidden within this realm, also seeks the lost fragment. Whichever soul finds the third shall hold dominion over the rest! Yet, as the third soul holds the key to the past, no fusion or consumption can occur without it. Thus, the Seven-Hued Taoist and the second soul remain locked in a stalemate, unable to claim the other’s power.”

“And it is not just the three grand souls that are separated. When the Seven-Hued One shattered, his seven ethereal forms scattered as well. In the endless cycle of rebirth, they have worn countless faces, yet their souls still bear the imprint of the Seven-Hued One!”

“The Seven-Hued Taoist and the second soul pay them no heed. Even if found, their power is insignificant, and they are better left to wander and grow, for in time, when the third soul is found and devoured, these seven forms will be drawn back, completing the circle, and birthing anew the perfect Seven-Hued Immortal!”

“This,” the maiden concluded, her voice barely a whisper, “is the secret of this Cave-World!”

Wang Lin’s heart surged with a tempest of emotions. He had remained composed during the maiden’s account of events on the Immortal Astral Continent, but these revelations struck him like a thunderbolt. He stumbled back, his face paling as the truth unfurled before him.

He finally understood…the meaning of the “third.”

He finally understood why the Seven-Hued Taoist beyond the vessel differed so greatly from the statue he had discovered!

He finally understood the silver-robed woman’s cryptic claim that she had not opened the gate, for that gate, the gate to this Cave-World, had been opened by no one but this maiden, who had revealed the key to the Madman!

There were still inconsistencies, details lost in the fog of time, but Wang Lin’s mind raced to fill the gaps, weaving a tapestry of images based on the maiden’s words.

The truth might differ slightly, but in essence, he knew, this was the path.

“Three souls and seven forms… the three souls and seven forms of the soul!” he muttered, his voice thick with wonder. “The Lord Sovereign once said that Zhan the Old Ghost should have perished, yet he feigned shock when they met in the Cloud Sea! Even he was unaware… and in the Seven-Hued Realm of Kunxu, when I went to rescue Clear Water, the Seven-Hued Taoist appeared, and spoke of Zhan the Old Ghost with such admiration…

“He called Zhan the Old Ghost an anomaly… could it be that Zhan the Old Ghost is, in fact, the second soul!”

“Only that could explain his ability to stand against the Seven-Hued Taoist! Or perhaps, within Zhan the Old Ghost’s very being, there dwells another soul, the very soul of the Immortal, the second soul!”

“It must be so! The war that rages within and without this world is a conflict between Zhan the Old Ghost and the Seven-Hued Taoist, a desperate struggle to find the third soul amidst the endless carnage!”

“But who is this third soul!” Wang Lin’s mind reeled, the revelation tearing asunder the veil of ignorance that had clouded his understanding, revealing the very heart of the matter!

“And those seven forms… I remember, in the Seven-Hued Realm of Kunxu, the Seven-Hued Taoist regarded Clear Water with a gaze that mirrored his own. I sensed something amiss then, but could not decipher the meaning. Now, the answer is clear!”

“Senior Brother Clear Water is one of the Seven-Hued Immortal’s seven forms! No wonder he suffered such a tragic fate, no wonder he possessed such a profound grasp of the Source of Slaughter… no wonder he attained such power the moment he ascended to the Third Step!”

“Of these seven forms, I know only Clear Water. Who are the other six… And what of me… am I one as well?” Wang Lin fell silent, a chilling glint flickering in his eyes.

“My goal,” he said, his voice hardening, “is to slay the Seven-Hued One. Only then can I avenge the wrongs of the past. Your goal aligns with mine. Our alliance would be mutually beneficial!”

“I can beseech my mentor to guide you to the Immortal Astral Continent, to lessen the punishment for entering the realm. I will relinquish all claim to the Seven Sects. Once the Seven-Hued One is defeated, its territories shall be yours!”

“As for the others within this Cave-World, they cannot leave. They could not withstand the punishment for entering the realm, even with my mentor’s aid.”
“Though they could not tread the sacred soil of the Immortal Continent by normal means,” the woman’s voice echoed in the cavern, “I yet possess a solution. They shall embrace reincarnation, their souls drawn to you, to be reborn within the Immortal Continent. When their memories awaken, you may seek them out, one by one.”

“This,” she declared, “is the most ingenious plan I can devise!”

Wang Lin remained silent, his gaze fixed upon the woman, a storm of contemplation brewing in his eyes.

“Even were we to join forces,” he finally spoke, “with the cultivation of the Daoist of Seven Colors and that old fiend Zhan, we stand no chance. How then, can we hope to slay them?”

A melodic laugh escaped the woman’s lips. Her beauty was undeniable, and as she chuckled, it was akin to a delicate blossom swaying in the breeze, radiating an allure that could ensnare the heart.

“To kill the Daoist of Seven Colors,” she said, her eyes twinkling, “I have two paths.”

“The first,” she continued, “lies within the heart of this very realm. Due to the countless years of its sealing, and the ravages of the ancient war, I cannot enter fully. I have but a wisp of my primordial spirit, residing within the body of my sister. Yet, should you lure the Daoist of Seven Colors, or even his Second Soul, to the core of this realm, where the very gates of this domain stand, my spirit will gather strength. In that place, with my true power unleashed, I could slay him!”

“But that is not the only way,” she added. “I have a second path, one that hinges on the Third Soul. I shall impart to you a divine art. Find the Third Soul, and with this art, devour it, erasing its very existence from the fabric of reality. From that moment, you shall *become* the Third Soul. Then, with my aid, you will consume both the Daoist of Seven Colors and the Second Soul. Finally, you shall absorb the remaining Seven Essences. And thus, you shall *become* the Daoist of Seven Colors!”

Her eyes gleamed with a sinister promise. “My sister and I would remain by your side. She, as your consort, and I, as your cultivation partner. And so, all would be returned to its rightful course. Should you desire other women, they too could become your consorts. Even upon the Immortal Continent, if you should cast your gaze upon a maiden, I shall assist in her acquisition, that we may cultivate together.”

“For that is what the Daoist of Seven Colors did in days past,” she revealed, a hint of bitterness in her voice. “I aided him in the capture of many women. Of his eight consorts, aside from my sister, I was the one who brought them to him.”

“Moreover,” she continued, her voice growing softer, “with the aid of my master, our souls, joined in dual cultivation, would ascend to new heights. Possessing the fragment of the Ancient God Realm that you hold, we would surely find bliss upon the Immortal Continent. Is that not a better fate than languishing in this desolate domain?” Her smile was captivating, as she painted a vision of glory and power.

Wang Lin maintained his composure, his gaze unwavering. Yet, a distant memory stirred within him, a forgotten echo of an encounter long past.

In the Land of the Demon Spirits, he had met the daughter of the Sovereign, the Holy Ancestor of the Rune Clan. A tragic figure, her eyes gouged out, her body imprisoned within the Azure Frost Cave, her resentment reaching the heavens.

Her hatred for Azure Frost mirrored the intensity in this woman’s voice. The words of the Rune Clan’s Holy Ancestor, filled with anguish, still echoed in his mind, though over a thousand years had passed. He had almost believed her, but then he had heard Azure Frost’s own tale, and doubt had clouded his heart.

He could not discern the truth of that ancient conflict, nor could he trust this woman before him.

“That matter shall be discussed later,” Wang Lin replied, his voice betraying nothing. He had already scorned her offer in his heart, but he would not reveal his true feelings so readily. For in this initial alliance, the death of the Daoist of Seven Colors served their mutual interests.

“That is easily achieved,” the woman said, her smile unchanged. “Let us exchange oaths bound by blood, to solidify our pact. Then, I shall command this vessel to shift through the void, until you are safely delivered beyond his reach.”

“Blood oaths?” Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed. He began to understand. This entire journey, this orchestrated meeting, these enticing words – they were all part of a greater design, a hidden purpose.

“Such matters are not yet pressing,” he declared. “Tell me, where lies the altar you spoke of?”