Bearing a secret purpose in his heart, Wang Lin ventured forth into the Seven-Hued Rift. He foresaw a clash with Cang Songzi, and though a single cultivator of the Shattered Nirvana mid-stage was a challenge he could face, even two would not deter him, provided they held no deep bond with Cang Songzi!

The boy named Duanmu was a subject of Wang Lin’s clandestine scrutiny. Ruthless and cunning he seemed, his alliance with Cang Songzi a mere pact of convenience.

As for Chen Tianjun of the Beast Taming Sect, his ties with Cang Songzi appeared even less intimate than those of the hulking Kui, suggesting motives of his own.

Truly close to Cang Songzi, it seemed, were only two: the aged Pang and the elusive Yun Hunzi!

Wang Lin surmised that it was Yun Hunzi’s presence that emboldened Cang Songzi to extend such a gracious invitation. With their combined might, and Pang’s support, they would be nigh invincible within the assembled company!

Therefore, to cripple Yun Hunzi would be to sever Cang Songzi’s very arm! And Yun Hunzi, with his veiled hostility and constant watchfulness, had long marked himself for Wang Lin’s preemptive strike. Now, the perfect opportunity presented itself! “Shattered Nirvana mid-stage!” The prospect of such a battle filled Wang Lin with a thrilling energy. He whirled, his iron sword a blur in his hand, and with a thunderous roar, he cleaved downwards!

The might of the Sub-Void Nirvana treasure unleashed a world-shattering force. As it shimmered, a torrent of sword energy surged forth, aimed directly at Yun Hunzi!

Yun Hunzi’s face contorted in alarm. Close as he was to Wang Lin, and even closer to the Rift, he had no time to ponder. As the sword-light approached, he roared, arcane symbols flashing in his hands. A burst of soulfire erupted from his very being, meant to meet Wang Lin’s attack head-on!

The soulfire hurtled towards Wang Lin, colliding with the sword-light in a deafening explosion. The soulfire shattered instantly, unable to stem the sword’s relentless advance.

In this dire moment, Yun Hunzi’s eyes widened. He bit his tongue, spitting forth a mouthful of vital essence. The blood coalesced into a crimson mist, forming the shape of a skull that devoured the sword-light whole!

A cataclysmic boom echoed through the air. Yun Hunzi staggered, his face ashen, a look of shock in his eyes. Yet, he was a cultivator of the Shattered Nirvana mid-stage, and Wang Lin’s single blow could not mortally wound him. The force of the impact, however, sent Wang Lin reeling backwards, his spiritual essence shaken, threatening to vanish into the Rift itself.

“Insolent whelp, you seek death!” Yun Hunzi roared, surging forward with incredible speed, closing the distance in an instant.

There was no time for Wang Lin to unleash the full potential of his iron sword. A glint of icy determination flashed in his eyes. This was not unexpected. He could not hope to slay a Shattered Nirvana cultivator so easily. His true aim was to wound his foe, to prepare the ground for what was to come!

Wang Lin retreated, on the verge of disappearing into the Rift entirely. Yun Hunzi was upon him, his foot already stepping into the shimmering void. He raised his hand, about to unleash a devastating art, when Wang Lin’s face twisted into a mocking smile. He bellowed a single word: “Freeze!”

The essence of his immortal power surged, transforming into the Immortal Art of Binding, encompassing Yun Hunzi in its ethereal grasp. For a heartbeat, Yun Hunzi’s body froze!

His strength would surely shatter the invisible bonds in but a moment, but it was a moment he could not afford. As Wang Lin’s body vanished completely into the Rift, a final flash of sword-light aimed for his enemy’s skull. Simultaneously, his fist, imbued with the raw power of the Ancient Gods, struck with earth-shattering force.

The sword-light swept across Yun Hunzi, finding purchase only as he broke free of the Binding Art. With a scream of agony, blood gushed from his right arm, severed by the blade!

And as the Ancient God’s fist landed, despite Yun Hunzi’s desperate defenses, it was enough to knock him off balance, sending his body tilting precariously within the Rift.

Terror filled Yun Hunzi’s eyes. Within the Rift, a realm of near-instantaneous teleportation, to alter one’s position was to court disaster, to risk being flung to unknown and hostile destinations!

Wang Lin, veteran of countless spatial crossings, knew this truth well. Though he had never traversed this Seven-Hued Rift, he understood the fundamental nature of interdimensional rifts. This one, with its unstable aura, only confirmed his suspicions!

His true goal was not to slay a Shattered Nirvana cultivator at great risk, but to ensure that Yun Hunzi, wounded and disoriented, would be diverted at the moment of crossing!

All of this unfolded in a heartbeat, with impossible speed. As he entered the Rift, Wang Lin’s vision blurred. The backlash from the Binding Art sent shivers through his spiritual essence, but he forced it down. Then, he found himself in a realm of strange and wondrous beauty.

Here, there was sky and earth, but the sky shimmered with a seven-hued radiance, bathing the landscape in kaleidoscopic colors. Yet the world was not clear, with swathes of strange mist obscuring the landscape save for a few clear areas. He did not linger over the scenery. Instead Wang Lin’s eyes darted to the location of those who’d traveled with him, and saw…no Blood Hunzi! Wang Lin exhaled, his gambit having paid off. He had risked much, knowing Blood Hunzi’s devastating ability would have made this battle far more difficult.

The group was gathered on a platform that resembled an altar, barely a hundred feet across. Old Pang gazed ahead, his face a mixture of wistful remembrance and regret. This was his third time here. He recalled his first visit, when so many of his companions had perished. The second time, more had fallen. Now, only he and two others remained.

The boy, Duanmu, licked his lips and murmured “Those mists, are not Star Mists….”

Chen Tianjun appeared exited and sucked in a few deep breaths of the air around him. The Blue robed crone said nothing.

Cang Songzi looked grim, then stared daggers at Wang Lin “Where is Blood Hunzi?” Wang Lin was calm “I would ask the same of you”

“Blood Hunzi was right behind you, did something happen in the outside?” said Cang Songzi, annoyed that Blood Hunzi had disappeared. “I do not know of any accidents that happened outside, nor did I see any accidents when I entered the rift” Wang Lin simply responded.

“How peculiar that Blood Hunzi, who was at the back of the line, disappeared! Explain that” Old Pang fixed Wang Lin with a piercing stare,

Hearing this the others looked at Wang Lin and Duanmu said “How amusing that someone can disappear in a simple rift!”

The blue robed crone, said nothing.

“Do not let such claims leave your mouth, or you might have to pay with your life!” Wang Lin laughed, and reminded Pang of Wu Qing’s death.

“I demand you explain what happened to Blood Hunzi” Cang Songzi said. He knew that Blood Hunzi was watching this youth, and thus it was suspicious he suddenly disappeared.

“Ha! You think I was able to stop the Shattered Nirvana cultivator Blood Hunzi? Absurd! If Blood Hunzi does not want to come, how am I to know? Cang Songzi, if you want to fight, then I am willing!”

“Cang Songzi, it is clear this man is right. Perhaps Blood Hunzi did not wish to be here!” said Duanmu.

Cang Songzi was quiet, because he doubted this youth could defeat Blood Hunzi who had much experience here.

*Perhaps…Blood Hunzi knew of another place to be teleported to! But, that begs the question if Blood Hunzi fought this youth and was then sent somewhere else by accident, why is it that this youth is unscathed?*

Cang Songzi pushed down his doubt “My apologies, I was too rash” Wang Lin grunted and said nothing.

At that moment, in the innermost regions of this Seven-Hued realm, deep within a mist-shrouded valley, Blood Hunzi sat cross-legged, his face pale, his eyes darting nervously. His right arm was a cauterized stump, but it was not the wound that terrified him. “Damn it! I’ve been sent here!” He licked his parched lips, his gaze fixed on the dense fog at the valley’s entrance.

Faintly, from within the mists, came the sounds of bestial howls and the stench of decay.