The Surface. Edge of the Iron-Wind Canyon. The sun was high and bright, mocking the darkness below. Three days had passed since Lin Jin fell. The Heavenly Sword Sect had turned the canyon edge into a fortress. Four flying warships hovered in the sky, their cannons aimed at the abyss. A "Spirit-Sealing Formation" manned by two hundred disciples covered the perimeter. Enforcer Li stood on the deck of the lead flagship, sipping tea. "No movement for seventy-two hours," Enforcer Li said, looking at the scanners. "The magnetic interference from the canyon is gone. The readings are flat." "He’s dead," Enforcer Boulder grunted, crossing his massive arms. "Even a Spirit Ocean expert would be shredded by the winds or eaten by the beasts at the bottom. We are wasting time guarding a grave." "The Sect Master wants the body," Enforcer Li reminded him. "Or at least the bone. That boy’s skeleton broke Elder Zhang’s arm. It is a treasure.

White River City.It was the jewel of the Northern Province. Its walls were fifty feet high, constructed from white granite reinforced with steel plates. The banner of the Heavenly Sword Sect flew from every tower, snapping proudly in the wind.Inside, the city was bustling. Merchants hawked Spirit Herbs, smiths hammered High-Grade steel, and disciples patrolled the streets with their chins held high. Here, the Heavenly Sword Sect was law. They were the emperors.At the South Gate, a long line of travelers waited to pay the entrance tax."Next!" a guard captain barked, slapping his spear against his shield. "Two silver coins! Move it, peasant!"A figure stepped forward from the back of the line.The crowd instinctively parted. The air around this person felt... cold. Heavy.He wore a hooded grey robe that seemed to blur the light around him. His skin, visible under the hood, was the color of pale marble, veined with faint, pulsing violet lines.He stopped in front of the captain."Ent

The distance between White River City and the Heavenly Sword Mountain was three hundred miles of winding mountain roads and dense forests. Usually, it was a scenic route filled with chirping birds and flowing streams. Now, it was a scar. Lin Jin walked down the center of the road. He moved with a steady, relentless rhythm. He didn't rush. Step. Grass turned grey. Step. Trees shed their leaves in a sudden, dry shower. Step. Insects fell from the air, mid-flight, their tiny bodies calcified into dust. From high above, if one looked down, they would see a line of death cutting through the vibrant green forest—a grey road that was slowly expanding. "Boring," the Entity yawned. "They are taking too long. Where is the army? Where are the traps?" "They are waiting," Lin Jin said, his violet eyes scanning the ridge ahead. "They want to fight me on their terms." H