Keys and Keyholes

"Huff..."

Zhang Chen reined in his aura. On the floor of the secret chamber before him were five enormous finger gouges, covering half the circular stone room.

The Divine Marquis floating at the center stood within the middle of those gouges. The spherical, invisible membrane around his body had actually developed slight cracks at its uppermost layer. He gazed at Zhang Chen, whose aura had subsided, with a slightly solemn expression, his heart shaken beyond measure.

"Master, why does your mental power not feel exceptionally hard, yet remain impossible to break through?"

Their exchange had lasted less than five seconds. Throughout it, the Divine Marquis had merely defended passively, yet Zhang Chen had been unable to tear apart his defensive membrane.

"All things in the world exist according to rules. Every measurement has its own limit, and what constrains that limit is called a 'rule.' In the path of mental power, your master has already touched the edge of the rules and even delved somewhat into them. Zhang Chen, if you have ever entered or glimpsed the 'Great Dao,' you should know what rules are."

"Rules?" Zhang Chen was no stranger to those two words. Far beyond that door, he had seen the so-called rules.

"My words have strayed a little from the topic. Today, I mainly wished to discuss Soul Forbidden Transformation with you. What are your thoughts after fighting your master in his Soul Forbidden Transformation state just now?"

"Hehe, nothing much. I only felt that Master's use of mental power has reached the realm of a Transcendent Saint. There is still some gap between us. However, it felt as though your nature as a Jailer had disappeared, Master, and your soul also seemed different from usual. Am I right?"

"Yes. Your insight has improved greatly compared to