Some time later, at the formation headquarters on the edge of the valley.Instructor Sun, a middle-aged man with a thin beard and sharp eyes, was rearranging several formation jade plates. When the three of them arrived in a hurry and explained the situation, Instructor Sun's expression immediately turned serious.“A secret passage beneath the pool?” He stood up quickly. “And only Shi Yan was able to enter?”Gao Lin nodded quickly. “Yes, Instructor. And the door closed by itself. I sort of... uh, crashed into it. But that's not the point.”Instructor Sun looked at them one by one. “That could be the core of the main formation. I once suspected that there was a hidden section, but I never found an entrance.”“Then can you open it?” Wen Bo asked hopefully.Instructor Sun sighed. “If that formation truly is an ancient legacy from the early days of the Sect, then opening the door will not be easy. But I will try.”He took an old cloth scroll from his bag and said firmly, “Come on. We are

From within the mist that surrounded the crevice, a young man emerged. His body was upright and sturdy, far taller and more well-built than when he had first entered. His eyes radiated a calmness that was no longer the same. From where he had been meditating, Wang Lin opened his eyes. He looked at the young man with a faint smile and a relaxed tone. “You finally came out... after spending a month in there. You look taller!” Shi Yan stopped walking. His eyes widened slightly. “One month?” His brows furrowed. He looked at the sky, felt the wind, and tried to sense the difference in time. Yet within him, the experience had felt... much longer. “Why do I feel like I lived an entire year in there?” he wondered inwardly. He remembered every second of his training in that room, the pain, the changes in his body, the ancient symbols that tested him without end, and the voice within him that kept repeating the responsibility that came with power. Wang Lin slowly stood up and brushed

At a small pavilion near the eastern hill, Shi Yan sat cross-legged on a flat stone, his body surrounded by a warm aura mixed with faint flashes of lightning. Wang Lin stood in front of him, his arms crossed as he observed his disciple seriously.“Little Hedgehog,” he said casually, though his eyes narrowed. “Show me... your true cultivation level. Ever since you came out of that Secret Room, I feel that you have changed.”Shi Yan slowly opened his eyes and stood up. His expression was calm, and there was no hesitation in his gaze.“Master,” he said while taking a deep breath. “Actually... I have reached the Two-Star Gold Rank.”His hands slowly clenched into fists. As the energy within his body circulated, a vortex of light appeared on the left side of his chest, spinning like a second heart. A powerful aura erupted from his body in an instant, pressing against the surrounding air and causing the leaves on the trees to sway violently.Wang Lin's eyes widened, but what appeared on his

Bao Sheng roared as his body grew larger thanks to the Thunder Steel Skin Technique. Every punch shook the arena floor, creating cracks that spread rapidly. However, Lin Yue remained calm. She spun through the air, dancing with her sword like deadly winter leaves.“Thousand Petal Slash!”Blinding blue light filled the air, and dozens of icy cuts appeared across Bao Sheng’s body. The massive figure finally collapsed, breathing heavily, but his eyes still shone with respect.“Impressive... you won, Lin Yue.”Lin Yue gave a brief nod. She knew Bao Sheng’s strength was no joke. But she also knew that her heart was ready to face anyone.Meanwhile, the battle in the arena beside them reached its climax. Two auras collided, blazing red flames and golden lightning that shot through the air like a raging dragon.“Twin Solar Explosion!” Fan Wu shouted.Both of his hands were engulfed in intense flames, creating two fireballs the size of human heads that shot toward Shi Yan.Shi Yan stepped firm

Shi Yan's body trembled slightly. The lightning aura around him pulsed slowly. Within the world inside his body, lightning flashed behind clouds of energy. He was on the verge of reaching a deeper level of comprehension.However, behind one of the stone shelves, a pair of eyes watched him with a dark gleam. Those eyes were filled with hatred and resentment.Fan Jun.His face looked very similar to Fan Wu's, only thinner, with a more vicious gaze. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Shi Yan immersed in meditation."Shi Yan..." he murmured softly, his voice like the hiss of a snake. "You defeated my brother. You destroyed our only path into the Inner Pavilion. And now you're here... so calm... so defenseless in this state of emptiness."Fan Jun stepped out from the shadows of the shelves. Slowly, almost without making a sound. But his movements were not those of a coward. He believed this was a justified act of revenge.Several disciples noticed him, but did not pay much attention. Fan J