Restriction Mutation

Yan Zhao clenched his teeth, veins bulging across his forehead as he poured every ounce of his spiritual power into the Ice Dragon without pause. Sensing its master's resolve, the Ice Dragon let out an earth-shaking roar, opened its cavernous maw, and breathed even more frigid air onto the restriction.

As the cold energy continued to pour in, the restriction began to tremble violently. Fine cracks suddenly appeared across its once mirror-smooth surface. Like a disturbed spiderweb, they rapidly spread in every direction.

At the same time, the faint, almost illusory sound of immortal music grew clearer and clearer, as though urging Yan Zhao and the Ice Dragon to quicken their pace. Its exquisite melody was like music from the heavens, impossible not to lose oneself in.

Yet just as Yan Zhao was about to put forth one final burst of strength and shatter the restriction completely, a sudden change erupted!

The cracks on the restriction abruptly expanded at breakneck speed, covering the entire barrier like a spiderweb in the blink of an eye. Then, a massive phantom hand burst from the restriction, like a demon crawling out of hell. Its five fingers spread wide as it viciously clawed at Yan Zhao and the Ice Dragon!

The phantom hand moved with astonishing speed and was already upon them in an instant. Yan Zhao's expression changed drastically. With no time to think, he immediately unleashed his movement technique, his body flashing away like lightning as he narrowly evaded the fatal claw.

At the same time, Yan Zhao swept the longsword in his hand, sending a fierce streak of sword light slashing straight toward the phantom hand. The sword light tore through the air like a bolt of white silk, carrying boundless force as it struck viciously at the hand's wrist.

The Ice Dragon refused to be outdone. It opened its enormous jaws, and an incomparably freezing blast surged from its mouth, instantly condensing into a thick pillar of ice. Like a gigantic ice spear, it shot straight at the phantom hand.

The ice pillar echoed Yan Zhao's attack, combining into a tremendous force. The instant the two converged, a deafening boom rang out, as though the entire space had begun to shake.

Before this immense power, the phantom hand could not help but halt for a brief moment. Its seemingly invincible strength appeared to have met a tremendous obstruction.

Seizing this rare chance, Yan Zhao immediately drew upon the spiritual power within his body once more. His hands danced swiftly through the air, streams of spiritual power streaking across like meteors before rapidly gathering into an even greater force.

With an angry roar from Yan Zhao, that force crashed toward the phantom hand at terrifying speed like a burning meteor.

This attack was astonishingly powerful. Struck by that overwhelming force, the phantom hand finally could not withstand it any longer. It let out a shrill scream, then vanished in an instant like torn cloth.

As the phantom hand disappeared, the restriction that had once seemed unbreakable also lost its support, collapsing with a thunderous crash.

With the shattering of the restriction, a crisp and melodious strain of immortal music suddenly rang out, flowing past Yan Zhao and the Ice Dragon's ears like a clear spring.

Amid that beautiful immortal music, the sight before them changed as well. Where there had once been nothing but emptiness, a passageway radiating mysterious light suddenly appeared.

The passage looked deep and enigmatic. Strange runes flickered along its walls, as though recounting tales of what had once happened here.

Yan Zhao took a deep breath and steadied himself before stepping forward into the passage. The Ice Dragon followed close behind as they entered the path filled with unknowns, ready to face the unknown trials within the Immortal Mansion.