The jade slip bore only a single line, and Wang Lin pondered it for an age, yet its true meaning remained veiled. The words themselves offered a multitude of interpretations.

His gaze swept over Cangsongzi, and Wang Lin knew with a certainty that the man had ventured here many times. He had plundered forgotten grottos and sifted through the bones of the long-dead, claiming rare artifacts and jade scrolls filled with arcane knowledge. Such familiarity with this place could be gained in no other way.

Cangsongzi led the way along the narrow passage winding beneath the mountains. He trod cautiously, guided by a simple map, for he had never walked this path before. In past journeys to the Realm of Seven Colors, he had followed a different route, and it was upon that very path that he had discovered the map, its secrets igniting a fever in his soul.

For days they delved into the depths of the passage, evading phantasmal beasts born of mist. At last, they arrived at the foot of the final mountain range. Beyond it lay the unknown. The old crone in green robes walked on, her face serene, her eyes fixed forward, seemingly lost in a trance. Wang Lin observed her several times, yet could not decipher the thoughts hidden within.

He knew only her name was Zhao; all else about her remained a mystery. Yet, he had noted how carefully she placed each step, even as they followed Cangsongzi. Though many of the ancient wards here had crumbled with time, she unerringly stepped upon the blank spaces or the weakest points in their fading power.

It seemed a matter of ingrained habit, unyielding to the fact that the wards no longer posed a threat. Such subtle skill could only be observed by a master of wardcraft.

The elder man surnamed Pang clung close to Cangsongzi, careful to keep his distance from Wang Lin, fear etched upon his face. Now, their path ended. Cangsongzi frowned, lost in thought.

The Realm of Seven Colors was always bathed in a kaleidoscopic light, blurring the line between day and night. A surge of celestial energy rippled through the air, drawing everyone’s attention.

Wang Lin’s eyes flashed, and he peered into the distance. He could see a churning mist roiling in the sky beyond the neighboring mountain range, the epicenter of the energy surge. Within that surge was a vibration that resonated deep within the soul. “The sorcery of Chen Tianjun of the Beast Taming Sect,” Cangsongzi said, his voice cold.

The celestial disturbance gradually subsided, and the distant mist stilled, as if nothing had occurred.

“Chen Tianjun has met a grim end, no doubt. He paid no heed to warnings, and his demise is deserved! One cannot wander carelessly in the Realm of Seven Colors, for the paths shift ceaselessly. Only those with the deepest knowledge of this place can hope to enter and leave at will,” the elder man Pang sneered, his eyes filled with derision.

“Enough of Chen Tianjun. Friend Zhao, I have examined this place and glimpsed the workings of a ward. But the precise method of unraveling it lies with you,” Cangsongzi stepped back, bowing to the crone in green. She had been studying the pathless mountain before them, and now she nodded in response. “It is a pity that Friend Duanmu was carried off by a Lost One. His spiritual power could have temporarily suppressed the ward’s changes, lending you aid.” Cangsongzi shook his head.

“Most of the wards here are unfamiliar to me. I cannot promise success,” the crone said as she stepped forward, reaching the mountain’s base. There was no path here, only sheer rock. To proceed, they would have to scale the peak, but a dense mist swirled there, obscuring all routes. She touched the stone, her eyes gleaming with contemplation.

Wang Lin watched without revealing his thoughts, examining the rock face before turning away. He sat cross-legged, drawing breath to maintain his peak condition, ready for whatever lay ahead. Time crept onward, and the crone remained motionless, her gaze flickering, her brow furrowed. “Friend Cangsongzi, are you certain there is a ward here? Could it not be crossed by simply scaling the mountain?” she asked, turning her head towards him.

“This mountain is guarded not by a single beast, but by seven! All of them are of the twelfth order. When I came here before, I followed another path and attempted to climb it, but the losses were terrible. We did not succeed. Later, I found a jade scroll depicting a path through the mountains, an entrance right here!” Cangsongzi spoke slowly, his face troubled.

The crone pondered this for a moment, then took two steps back and formed a hand seal. A series of spectral hand gestures appeared before her, merging into a complex ward mark. She thrust the mark against the mountainside.

Wang Lin’s heart stirred, and he glanced casually towards the stone.

Where the ward mark touched, the rock seemed to melt, rippling like water. Yet, the ripples were composed of tiny, ancient runes. An aura of decay, of unimaginable age, seeped from within.

The crone retreated, her hands moving rapidly, striking her chest several times. Seven streams of black vapor emerged from her orifices, each filled with a thick vitality. They coiled around her as she inhaled deeply and stepped forward.

Within three paces, the crone vanished into the stone. The ripples intensified, growing translucent and revealing a vast stone tunnel within. But only the entrance was visible; the rest was swallowed by an all-consuming darkness.

As she stepped into the stone, the crone’s face paled, and her body twisted as if crushed by an unimaginable force. Faint cracking sounds echoed from within.

She closed her eyes, breathing deeply for a moment. When she opened them, she lifted her foot and stepped forward. With each step, her body trembled, and with each step, the ripples in the stone intensified. The ancient aura solidified into an overwhelming presence.

After three steps, her eyes filled with blood. She slammed her fingers against her brow, and with that gesture, a startling transformation swept over her.

Many of her wrinkles vanished, and she appeared to grow younger, becoming a woman of perhaps forty years. Though not beautiful, her face held the alluring grace of a woman in her prime. She raised her right foot and took two more steps, but as she attempted to take the sixth, she coughed up blood and stumbled back, unable to withstand the force. She crashed out of the stone, retreating until she stood beside Wang Lin. Her face instantly reverted to its aged form. “The Nine-Step Heaven Sealing Array!” she said bitterly.

“This array is a relic of antiquity. I have only read of it in ancient texts. This is the first time I have encountered the true formation. The one who laid this ward has reached the pinnacle of mastery.”

“Nine-Step Heaven Sealing Array…” Wang Lin stared at the stone, which was slowly returning to its original form, showing no sign of the magic at work.

“The array has weakened over the ages, and it no longer possesses any offensive power. But its sealing effect remains intact. With my cultivation, I can take no more than five steps. Any further, and my body would crumble.”

“How can we break this array?” Cangsongzi frowned, studying the stone.

“Take ten steps, and the array will fall!” The crone swallowed a pill, breathing deeply as she spoke.

Cangsongzi was silent for a long time. Finally, he gritted his teeth and waved his hand. A suit of black armor materialized, and dark magic radiated from it, transforming him into a demon lord.

“I will see how many steps I can take within this array, with my strength and this Demon God Armor! Friend Zhao, open the way!” Cangsongzi had no other choice. Having come this far, he refused to turn back. He strode toward the stone.

The crone formed a hand seal, sending a ward towards the stone, causing it to ripple once more and become translucent.

Cangsongzi strode forward, merging with the stone. He unleashed the full force of his Shattering Nirvana cultivation. As he entered the stone, he took four steps in quick succession!

With each step, a faint rumble seemed to echo from within. Cangsongzi’s face grew pale, and the magic radiating from his armor intensified. He paused for a moment, then took three more steps!

These three steps left him bloodless and shaking, but he roared and stepped forward again! This was his eighth step!

At the moment his foot touched the ground, cracking sounds echoed from Cangsongzi’s body, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were bloodshot. After a thousand years of preparation, he was halted by this array. He refused to accept it!

He gritted his teeth and stepped forward again. The elder man Pang watched, his eyes alight with anticipation. The crone in green showed nothing on her face.

As he took the ninth step, Cangsongzi slammed into an invisible wall. A devastating force surged back, and he was flung from the stone, retreating several paces before he could steady himself. “I cannot pass! Then none shall leave the Realm of Seven Colors!” Cangsongzi’s face was ashen, and madness shone in his eyes.

“Let me try,” Wang Lin said calmly as he stood, dusting off his clothes. He glanced at Cangsongzi’s Demon Dispelling Armor.