Barrow, ever the calculating schemer, had not foreseen such a calamitous twist upon the unlocking of his hidden sanctuary. “Had I not absorbed those errant wraiths,” he snarled, “Dead Haze would surely have crushed me beneath her heel!” He paused, a sinister glee flickering across his face. “But no matter! Let the spectral lands revert to their former state; it matters not! The gateway is open. This time, I shall succeed!”

The fiendish visage contorted, and with a guttural roar, he burst from the pool’s murky depths, ascending as a streak of malevolent energy toward the heavens.

A gentle breeze of celestial origin brushed against him, yet upon contact, it was not a soothing balm, but rather devoured and twisted into dark energy, fueling the demonic luminescence with its corrupted essence.

In the Celestial Spirit Realm, beneath the infernal capital of the Yao County, Yao Xixue, deep in meditation, abruptly raised her head. At that very moment, as the celestial breeze caressed her skin, she sensed the holy aura. A shiver ran through her frame, and her eyes blazed with an unholy light. A torrent of demonic energy erupted from within, coalescing into a swirling vortex that greedily consumed the celestial essence, crushing and assimilating it into her malevolent power.

With a flicker, Yao Xixue vanished, only to reappear in the skies above. Veiled by swirling darkness, her features were obscured, yet the frigid aura emanating from her was palpable. After a moment’s pause, she transformed into a demonic comet, hurtling towards an unseen destination.

Another bastion, scarred but surviving under the celestial onslaught, was the Fiery Yao County, now known as the Soul Refining Sect.

Within the Soul Refining Sect, the celestial winds howled around the statue of Wang Lin, seeking to obliterate the darkness within. A piercing shriek erupted from the stone effigy.

At the very instant the celestial energy descended, the millions of disciples of the Soul Refining Sect sensed the desperation in the cry. Without command, they unleashed their soul banners, an uncountable host of tormented spirits billowing into the capital. Layer upon layer, they formed a protective shield around the black stone statue in the valley.

A swirling maelstrom of darkness shrouded the Soul Refining Sect’s capital, the wails of countless spirits echoing in defiance against the celestial winds. Yet the sheer force of the divine storm threatened to overwhelm them, the sect tossed about like a fragile skiff in a raging tempest. Millions of cultivators, pale with fear, sat in meditation, gritting their teeth as they struggled to maintain their defenses.

Then, a miracle occurred. A portion of the celestial wind, as if possessed of its own will, shifted its course. Instead of assaulting the Soul Refining Sect, it formed a swirling vortex around it, shielding it from the remaining three celestial winds.

The three coalesced streams of celestial energy hesitated, then bypassed the Sect, continuing their inexorable march across the land.

The protective vortex of celestial energy contracted, following in its wake, rejoining the unified storm as it swept across the heavens.

As the celestial winds engulfed the Celestial Spirit Realm, four pillars of light erupted in brilliant colors, their beams intertwining and bathing the skies in ethereal radiance.

These four pillars, linked by threads of pure light, wove a protective barrier across the Realm, restoring the ancient ward that should have always been in place!

In that instant, at the very heart of the Celestial Spirit Realm, where the four pillars intersected, as the radiant light converged and the protective shield sprang to life, the once-familiar landscape of rolling hills underwent a radical transformation.

The earth trembled. Avalanches of stone cascaded down the slopes, raising clouds of dust that obscured all.

Amidst the chaos, one mountain range collapsed, revealing a pulsating, violet light. From within the ruins, a colossal purple dragon, leagues in length, unfurled, its deafening roar shattering what remained of the stone.

The majestic dragon ascended, its icy eyes radiating ancient wisdom.

Behind it, another mountain crumbled, and a second purple dragon rose, its roar echoing the first. One by one, the mountains shattered, until nine dragons circled in the heavens, their roars a symphony of power and majesty.

The nine dragons spiraled around each other, interweaving in a dazzling display of violet light, forming a colossal circular formation. The moment this nine-dragon array coalesced, the celestial energy within the Celestial Spirit Realm surged exponentially.

The nine-dragon array hung in the sky, the violet glow so intense that it could be seen from afar.

Outside the array, the sky twisted, and three figures materialized: Lord Ling Tian, the purple-robed Zhao, and Void, his gaze calm yet piercing. Soon after, another distortion appeared nearby, revealing the presence of Tian Yun.

The moment Tian Yun materialized, Lord Ling Tian’s eyes narrowed. Void, too, turned his attention to Tian Yun.

Tian Yun bowed respectfully to Void, saying calmly, “Tian Yun greets Void, friend.” Void smiled slightly and nodded. “Lord Ling Tian invited me, and I came to observe. Tian Yun turned his gaze toward the nine-dragon array, adding, “Alone, my grasp is limited. But with you here, Void, success seems assured!” As they spoke, two more distortions rippled into existence on the opposite side of the array, and the cloud-walking daoist couple and Wang Lin and his band appeared.

Behind the daoist couple followed a shadowy wraith. Wang Lin was accompanied by Situ Nan, Floating Wind, and others. Each group sized the others up.

As Wang Lin appeared, the shadowy figure behind Wang Wei trembled, studying Wang Lin intently, a mix of nostalgia and gratification in its gaze.

Wang Lin’s eyes fixed on the cloud-walking daoist couple, faces he had seen before but didn’t know well. However, the shadowy figure behind them was instantly recognizable: Zhou Yi!

Wang Wei regarded Wang Lin with curiosity, smiling faintly. “You are Wang Lin, who retrieved the fourth key to the sanctuary?”
Wang Lin’s expression remained serene, yet his heart was guarded. He could not fathom the cultivation of the man before him, and the woman beside him radiated an even more profound and unfathomable power.

“The Cloud Immortal Daoist Couple!” Long ago, Wang Lin learned from Yao Xixue of this pair, reclusive hermits guarding a hidden grotto. He now realized these must be they. “Indeed,” Wang Lin replied calmly.

Hu Juan, standing beside Wang Wei, chuckled softly. “Our wager, husband, it seems you have lost.”

Wang Wei smiled, nodding. Turning to Wang Lin, he inquired, “Was it you who laid the restrictions at the entrance to the Fiery Demon Prefecture, during the last tide of power?” With a wave of his hand, a small sprig of herb appeared in his palm.

The moment he saw it, Wang Lin recognized it as one of the wards he had indeed placed long ago. Without betraying his surprise, he subtly nodded.

“Truly, a promising youth. At your age, I could not have woven such intricate enchantments.” Wang Wei sighed, admiration gleaming in his eyes.

“Your praise is too generous, esteemed elder,” Wang Lin replied, cupping his fist in respect. His gaze, however, seemed to casually flick over the phantasmal figure that lingered behind Wang Wei. Zhou Yi, in that instant, subtly narrowed his eyes, a signal Wang Lin understood immediately.

Suddenly, streaks of light screamed across the horizon. Leading the charge was the middle-aged woman, her appearance like that of a simple village girl, trailed by four disciples. Qian Qin, and the one suspected to be the Kunxu Holy Maiden, were among them.

The village girl approached, her eyes sweeping over the assembled throng. She offered respectful greetings to Tian Yunzi, then scrutinized the Cloud Immortal Daoist Couple with a friendly smile. Finally, she nodded briefly to Wang Lin before taking her place beside Void Master. Tian Yunzi’s expression remained unchanged, but a faint furrow appeared on his brow.

Behind the village girl, two more figures arrived. An old man seated upon a gourd and a black-clad warrior, his face like sculpted ice, swiftly drew near. The gourd-riding elder’s eyes flickered over the gathering, pausing upon the Cloud Immortal Daoist Couple, his pupils shrinking slightly. He landed beside Tian Yunzi, his silence heavy. The icy warrior, without a word, positioned himself near Wang Lin and his companions.

Wang Lin’s eyes flickered towards the black-clad man. He had never exchanged a word with him, but sensed a solitary, aloof nature, an aversion to companionship. Their eyes met, and for the first time, the warrior spoke, his voice devoid of emotion. “Take me inside.” Wang Lin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

The Nine Dragons Array slowly turned, shimmering with violet light. But at that very moment, a wave of浓郁妖焰fierce demonic energy erupted from the distance, hurtling towards them.

In an instant, the demonic energy descended, coalescing into a humanoid form, shrouded in swirling shadows, obscuring its features and even its gender.

But the moment this figure appeared, Wang Lin’s heart lurched. He stared intently, and the fiery shadow met his gaze, hatred burning within the swirling darkness, piercing him like a blade.

Only for a moment. Then, the figure turned away, offering no words, and stood beside Tian Yunzi.

Tian Yunzi’s countenance remained impassive, and he offered a slight nod. His gaze, however, was fixed on the distant horizon, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

At the edge of Tian Yunzi’s vision, a bald youth, clad in scarlet robes, walked slowly into view. He was strikingly handsome, with a touch of unsettling, otherworldly beauty.

His head was completely shaven, devoid of a single strand of hair, and an ethereal aura of immortality surrounded him. As he approached, his eyes immediately found Wang Lin. “Brother Wang,” he greeted with a smile, “I am late.”

“Bailuo…” Wang Lin replied evenly, nodding. “Not late. The timing is perfect.”

The appearance of the bald youth caused Void Master’s eyes to narrow, his pupils constricting. Even the Cloud Immortal Daoist Couple exchanged a subtle, yet chilling glance.

Only Tian Yunzi allowed a faint smile to touch his lips.

The Nine Dragons Array continued its rotation, bathed in ethereal energy. The nine violet dragons that formed the circle roared in unison, and the array above them suddenly flared with intense violet light, engulfing the surrounding hundreds of feet. The light vanished as quickly as it appeared, and the gathered figures were gone.

The Fifth Grotto, opened!