Beneath a starless sky, upon the platform where the Stone Gate once stood, an unnatural forest had sprung. Within its depths, a formation of arcane symbols pulsed with unsettling energy, a nascent teleportation array manifesting from the ether. The very essence of the cave dwelling, its protective spirit, had vanished, taking with it even the memory of the Stone Gate that once guarded its entrance.

Were it not for the crimson stains upon the stone – the bitter testament of Yao Xixue’s spilled lifeblood – Wang Lin would have questioned the reality of his surroundings, fearing some treacherous illusion.

Clutched in his hand was the Crystal Token, bearing not only the incantations for traversing the cave, but also fragments of cryptic knowledge. After a moment of contemplation, Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed with purpose. He became a blur of motion, tracing the Dragon’s Path that spiraled away from the platform, his steps swift and sure.

He traversed eleven platforms, each guarded by impassive stone figures, their ancient forms still locked in the thrall of Yao Xixue’s enchantments.

Having ascended to the zenith of Infant Transformation during his sojourn within the cave, Wang Lin’s speed had undergone a transformation of its own. Quicker than lightning, faster than a thunderbolt’s descent, he returned to the first platform in a mere fortnight.

The platform was now barren. Yet, with his heightened senses, honed by the relentless breaking of seals, Wang Lin perceived what lay hidden: a teleportation array, left by the Blood Ancestor himself.

He studied the array, a frown etching upon his face. Then, from within his robes, he drew forth four storage pouches, each once belonging to Yao Xixue. In his earlier, weaker state, breaching these pouches would have presented a formidable challenge.

But now, standing at the peak of Infant Transformation, surpassing even Yao Xixue in power, Wang Lin focused his will. He swept his hand across the pouches, and crimson light erupted, struggling fiercely against his encroaching spiritual power.

With a low growl, Wang Lin summoned his Immortal Essence, intertwining it with his nascent soul. He seized one pouch, and the crimson defenses shattered before his might.

He moved swiftly to the next, and after a brief three breaths of resistance, its protective aura crumbled.

He repeated the process, obliterating the spiritual imprint on the third pouch. But as he prepared to strike the final pouch, his hand froze, hovering a mere three inches above its surface.

His gaze turned grave as he slowly withdrew his hand, scrutinizing the pouch. In the haste of claiming these spoils, he had failed to notice a subtle peculiarity. Within the crimson aura, a thread of violet pulsed – almost imperceptible, invisible to the naked eye, only revealed under the keenest spiritual scrutiny.

“This pouch appears unremarkable, yet a primal instinct warns me against tampering with it. This is no mere echo of Yao Xixue’s consciousness. Could it be… the Blood Ancestor himself?” Wang Lin murmured, lost in thought.

“It is said that only the owner can access a storage pouch without first erasing the spiritual imprint. But the Blood Ancestor, a being of unimaginable power, might have found a way to allow his daughter access without severing his own connection. Should another carelessly seize this pouch, they would be instantly slain by the lurking consciousness. A cunning trap, indeed!” Slowly, he withdrew his spiritual tendrils, and the pouch’s crimson glow faded.

Though he had never met the Blood Ancestor, Wang Lin felt as though he had glimpsed the man’s nature through the vestiges of his power – the Blood Soul Pill’s subtle deception, the pouch’s deadly snare. He felt a surge of respect tempered with a potent dose of apprehension.

After a pause, Wang Lin carefully stowed away the violet-tinged pouch, turning his attention to the remaining three.

As he delved into their contents with his spiritual sense, even his formidable composure wavered. The first pouch was overflowing with Immortal Jade!

The sheer quantity defied comprehension, dwarfing even the generous gift Yao Xixue had given him before. He estimated it to be tenfold greater.

“Ascension to the Asking stage demands an exorbitant amount of Immortal Jade, far exceeding all previous cultivation costs. And each subsequent advancement requires an unimaginable fortune. Without such reserves, progress grinds to a halt. This… this is a stroke of immense fortune!”

A rare smile graced Wang Lin’s lips. He secured the jade-laden pouch and moved on to the second. As he peered within, his eyes widened with barely concealed excitement.

This pouch contained no fewer than a thousand Blood Jade talismans!

Wang Lin had felt their power firsthand, during his encounters with Yao Xixue. These talismans, when shattered, unleashed a crimson wave of terrifying binding power.

Beyond mere imprisonment, the released aura provided a formidable shield. Wang Lin suspected that they could also be used offensively, but without the corresponding incantations and techniques, their full potential remained locked.

Wang Lin’s gaze sharpened. He reached into the pouch, retrieving a single Blood Jade talisman. After a moment of silent contemplation, he crushed it within his palm. A crimson torrent erupted, engulfing him in its embrace.

After a moment’s scrutiny as the aura dissipated, Wang Lin mused, “I lack the proper incantations to utilize its binding abilities. For now, this talisman can only serve as protection. But with Yao Xixue under my control, all its secrets will be revealed!”

The third pouch contained a disparate collection of items, including a few feminine garments, perfumes, and trinkets. He disregarded these, allowing his spiritual sense to sweep through the contents. His eyes narrowed as he located over a dozen Blood Soul Pills nestled together in one corner.

However, one Blood Soul Pill was conspicuously separated, resting alone in the pouch’s empty space. Its runes, unlike the others, shone with a faint, yet distinct, light.

Beside the pills rested a compass.

Wang Lin’s attention was drawn to this device.

He reached into the pouch, drawing forth the compass and the lone, glowing Blood Soul Pill.

“Yao Xixue could not have foreseen her own capture, nor that her pouches would fall into my hands. Therefore, the arrangement of these items holds a hidden meaning!”

“This separated Blood Soul Pill, then, is most likely the genuine article. The rest are mere decoys! And the absence of any magical artifacts, save for the Blood Jade talismans, suggests that her true treasures are likely stored within the pouch guarded by the Blood Ancestor’s essence.”

He examined the glowing Blood Soul Pill, then placed it within his own storage pouch. He retrieved his own counterfeit pill and replaced it among the others in Yao Xixue’s pouch.

Finally, his gaze rested on the compass. Forged from an unknown, crimson substance, it felt icy to the touch.

“Yao Xixue used this to navigate this place. Its purpose must be to synchronize with the array!” He probed the compass with his spiritual sense and found Yao Xixue’s lingering imprint.

Wang Lin breathed a sigh of relief. Had the Blood Ancestor left his own mark upon this device, Wang Lin would have been forced to reconfigure the platform array, solely to escape this place.

The cave dwelling held a teleportation array for departure. Wang Lin had learned this upon acquiring the Crystal Token. The array lay to the northeast of the cave. The path towards that exit would be long and full of sealed restrictions.

Thus, Wang Lin followed this route instead.

With practiced ease, Wang Lin erased Yao Xixue’s imprint from the compass, replacing it with his own. He soon discovered a miniature array within the device, its patterns constantly shifting in harmony with the compass’s needle.

“As I suspected, the array within the compass must be altered in tandem with the teleportation formation on the platform. To only alter one while ignoring the other will not work,” Wang Lin muttered, “A great number of changes are needed.”

He spent three days making subtle adjustments to the compass’ array. Then, he returned to the platform and subtly altered its formation to make it more difficult.

Though the changes appeared minor, he altered a key focal point. Any interlopers attempting to use the array would find themselves shunted back to their origin point. The back and forth shifting of this process would cause spatial instabilities to rise, which could tear the intruder to pieces.

“A simple spatial rift is not enough. I need to add an extra layer of security,” Wang Lin muttered to himself.

What took him three days to alter, took him thirty to create additional barriers, and to add various restrictions. All the while, Wang Lin went about the task with glee.

“Those who make their way through here will be in for a surprise,” he murmured, a glint of malice in his eyes. He channeled his spiritual sense into the compass, activating the miniature array. A crimson light enveloped him, and within moments, both light and Wang Lin vanished without a trace.

Hundreds of miles away, at the periphery of the Ancient Demon City’s military camp, Wang Lin reappeared in a flash of crimson light atop Drum Mountain!

The blinding sunlight assaulted his eyes. He gazed upon the surrounding landscape, a sense of detachment washed over him. In the distance, the Ancient Demon City stood silhouetted against the horizon, seemingly unchanged from the day he had departed.

Wang Lin drew a deep breath, his body transforming into a streak of light, hurtling towards the military camp. He was far faster than when he had left. It did not take long for him to be right in front of the entrance to the compound.

As he approached, a palpable wave of murderous intent erupted from within the camp, instantly locking onto him.