“You?” Azure Pine gazed upon Wang Lin, the madness in his eyes momentarily veiled. Inwardly, he mused, “The man’s flesh possesses a peculiar resilience. He withstood the onslaught of the Flood Dragon. Perhaps, with his physical prowess, he could indeed breach this array.” He clasped his fist to his open palm in a gesture of respect, his demeanor restored to composure. “Very well, I entrust this task to Daoist Lü.”

The elder of the Pang lineage smirked inwardly, thinking, even Azure Pine, adorned with the Divine Devil Armor, could only manage nine steps. How many could this Lü fellow possibly take?

Wang Lin eyed the stone mountain. He would have preferred to remain in the shadows, but he had glimpsed the frenzy lurking within Azure Pine’s gaze. His heart stirred. Though perilous, this place held something of immense interest to Azure Pine, something he desperately sought.

He reasoned, should they fail to penetrate this place, Azure Pine would likely prevent their departure. While he had made certain preparations for such an eventuality, he was more intrigued by the reason, the object, that fueled Azure Pine’s madness.

“I request the aid of Daoist Zhao in opening this array,” Wang Lin said to the old woman in azure robes, clasping his fist to his open palm. He surmised that she had deliberately held back her full strength, seizing upon Azure Pine’s impatience, forcing him to enter the mountain himself, and thus suffer injury.

*Even before they lay eyes on the treasure, these individuals have already begun their clandestine infighting, weakening each other. If I am to navigate these treacherous waters, I must follow suit…”* Wang Lin’s expression remained impassive, revealing nothing of the thoughts swirling within.

The old woman raised her right hand and, with a swift gesture, unleashed a series of enchantments upon the stone mountain. The stone grew transparent, and ripples of energy pulsed across its surface.

Wang Lin strode towards the mountain, taking but a few steps before entering. Unnoticed by the others, as he passed through the rippling surface, a subtle, formless enchantment slipped from his right hand, merging into the array.

The moment he stepped within, Wang Lin felt a crushing pressure converging from all sides, most intensely from ahead.

He moved forward slowly, one step, then two, then three! With the third step, Wang Lin distinctly felt the pressure from all around reached an astounding level, the resistance ahead roared like a gale, as if a massive mountain was pressing down on him.

With each step, this oppressive force doubled, making further progress increasingly difficult. An ordinary cultivator’s flesh would undoubtedly crumble under such savage pressure.

But Wang Lin possessed the flesh of an Ancient God, rendering such pressure negligible. Yet, his face was ashen. He paused, taking a few breaths after the third step, before lifting his foot again. Fourth step, fifth step, sixth!

By the sixth step, the pressure had reached a terrifying crescendo, as if countless hands were clutching at him and countless spells were crashing in front, like a lone ship in a raging sea. Wang Lin was drained of all color, his body trembled, threatening to collapse. But then, he felt a similar pressure from behind, preventing him from retreating. Outside the mountain, the old woman in azure robes watched Wang Lin within the mountain with contemplative gaze.

“The array has shifted…” Azure Pine frowned, studying Wang Lin’s form intently. He recalled his own experience at the sixth step, and fell into a brooding silence.

The Pang elder scoffed, thinking he had overestimated the man. He may have cultivation, but his mind was weak. If he was injured here, he would lose the right to continue the journey.

Wang Lin lingered at the sixth step for a long while. Finally, he took a seventh step. The moment his foot landed, a mouthful of blood erupted from his lips, but his body held firm. He took an eighth step.

As he stepped, a cacophony of snapping sounds echoed from within his body, as if flesh and bone were being crushed. A mist of blood sprayed outward, staining his white robes crimson.

At that moment, Azure Pine was moved. He moved forward a few steps and stared intently, examining Wang Lin with piercing eyes. The old woman rose to her feet, her expression grave. The Pang elder scoffed. Within the mountain, Wang Lin’s body seemed to distort, before rising his right foot. A low roar emanated from within the mountain as he took his ninth step!

With a thud, Wang Lin’s body shuddered violently, veins bulged on his face, his eyes bloodshot. But he stood firm. Azure Pine was shaken, and exclaimed “Daoist Lü, just one step!”

The old woman’s gaze was complex. She watched carefully for a long time, and saw no sign of deception. Everything seemed real.

“The array changed suddenly, and now there’s no way for him to go back even if he wants to,” she thought.

“Azure Pine, Daoist Zhao, Lü has done his best. If I am badly injured…” Wang Lin’s voice was weak.

“Rest assured, Daoist Lü. I will not break my promise!” Azure Pine replied.

Wang Lin paused, before lifting his right foot and taking his tenth step! At that moment, the entire mountain range roared and trembled, stones cascading from its slopes. A wave of energy alarmed the fog beasts. The Nine Steps to Seal Heaven Array crumbled!

Wang Lin spat blood again. He was thrown back as the array shattered. Azure Pine moved forward, placing his right hand against Wang Lin’s back, while sending his magical energy to investigate Wang Lin’s condition. He withdrew before anyone knew what was happening. In front of the old woman in azure robes, he could not kill Wang Lin, for it would make her extremely wary, which would bring unnecessary trouble to the journey. His purpose was to see whether Wang Lin was truly injured, which he now had his answer.

At that moment, roars exploded. Out of the fog, an eagle-like beast rushed towards them.

Azure Pine grabbed Wang Lin and stepped into the tunnel, with the Pang elder and the azure-robed old woman following after.

They walked for a long time, until they could no longer hear the roars. Then, they stopped.

Azure Pine set Wang Lin down, clasped his fist to his open palm, and said, “Daoist Lü, you were heavily injured to open this formation. I will remember this.” Wang Lin was pale with blood on his lips. He raised his hand and chuckled “That stone mountain array was weird. After taking six steps, I realized I couldn’t retreat…”

“Regardless, Daoist Lü is the most important for making it here!” Azure Pine’s expression was honest. Then, seeing the fatigue on Wang Lin’s face, he offered pills. “Daoist Lü should take pills and meditate. When you are recovered, we will go further.”

Wang Lin paused and nodded. He took the pills, but took his own pills before meditating.

The Pang elder’s eyes glinted, but Azure Pine glared at him and shook his head.

Time slowly passed. Then, Wang Lin opened his eyes and stood up, and said, “My injuries cannot recover quickly. Let’s go forward.” Azure Pine gazed at Wang Lin and nodded. The old woman sighed internally and said nothing.

They walked forward in the tunnel. It was quiet except for the echoes of their footsteps. After an unknown time, they reached a light. Azure Pine moved forward. At the opening, he stared forward, and laughed.

Before them was a valley and vegetation. It gave off a calming fragrance. Behind the valley was a mountain like a city wall. It was tall and circular and separated from the outside.

“Beyond that mountain is the inner realm! Sima Mo’s cave is not behind the mountain, but in the valley!” Azure Pine laughed as he moved forward quickly. The old woman in azure robes followed.

Wang Lin’s face was pale, and his seven colored mark was bright. He took a breath and followed. The Pang elder scoffed and remained close to Wang Lin.

With Azure Pine leading the way, they quickly arrived at a valley with a cave.

The cave’s stone walls were covered in vegetation. It had clearly been abandoned. It was small, with three stone rooms. There were pills all over the ground, but they had mostly decayed.

Azure Pine was not interested in the cave. He glanced at the old woman in azure robes, and said, “I will not take anything here. It is all yours, Daoist Zhao and Daoist Lü.”

The old woman sent out her divine sense, and said, “You have done so much. I could never take this. Daoist Lü can have it.”

Wang Lin looked around and said, “I cannot continue with you two. This is a good place for me to heal.”

“You are heavily injured. You should heal here, and we will give you the treasure we promised when we return.” Azure Pine said.

“Thank you!” Wang Lin nodded.

“Although this place is quiet, it is still dangerous. There may still be beasts. Daoist Pang, I have a request.” Azure Pine turned to the Pang elder.

“Daoist Lü is healing alone. I am worried for his safety. I would like to ask you to protect him. Daoist Zhao and I will split our treasure with you in gratitude.”

The Pang elder’s eyes glinted, and he said, “Of course!”