Yan Zhao let out a long breath, as if all the strength in his body had been drained away in that instant. He painfully dragged his body, which no longer seemed to belong to him, step by step back to the enormous boulder.
He took a deep breath, summoned all the Immortal Law Power in his body, and gathered it in his palm before letting out a fierce shout. With his cry, that powerful force surged forth like a torrent and slammed viciously into the boulder.
The boulder gave a dull rumble and began to move slowly. Yan Zhao's heart leaped with joy at the sight, and he hurriedly increased his output of immortal law power. At last, through his unrelenting efforts, the boulder slowly shifted open a crack, and a bright ray of light shone through it.
The light stung Yan Zhao's eyes so badly that he could barely keep them open, but he endured the discomfort and stared fixedly at it. As the boulder moved, the light grew brighter and brighter until it completely illuminated the cave.
Yan Zhao finally saw hope of escape, and he was so excited he nearly cried. Dragging his utterly exhausted yet faintly exhilarated body, he made his way step by step toward the cave entrance.
However, the moment he stepped out of the cave, he froze. The sight before him was completely beyond his expectations. Outside was not the familiar mountain forest, but a strange expanse of space.
Cloud and mist swirled all around him, making it seem as though he had entered a fairyland. Hidden within the mist were faintly visible runes that flickered with mysterious light. They floated in the air, flashing dimly from time to time and lending the entire space an air of mystery.
Just as Yan Zhao stood in astonishment, an ethereal voice that seemed to come from beyond the heavens drifted into his ears. "Young man, congratulations on passing countless trials and finally reaching this mysterious Immortal Law Trial Ground. However, if you wish to leave this place safely, one final and arduous challenge still awaits you."
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhao gripped the sword in his hand even tighter. Determination flared anew in his eyes as he declared, "Please tell me. No matter the challenge, I will face it with all my strength!"
The ethereal voice seemed quite satisfied with Yan Zhao's resolve and continued, "Within these vast Trial Grounds, three crucial Immortal Law Keys are hidden. Only by gathering all three can you open the passage leading to the outside world and depart safely. But take heed: each key is protected by powerful guardians. Obtaining them will be no easy task."
Yan Zhao took a deep breath. He knew that the true hardships had only just begun to reveal themselves. Yet he felt no fear. He decisively sheathed his sword, turned, and strode straight toward the depths of the swirling mist. His steps were steady and resolute, as though he regarded every hardship ahead as nothing at all. He wanted only to find the three Immortal Law Keys as quickly as possible and set out on the road home. Yan Zhao cautiously entered the depths of the mist, every step feeling as though he were walking on cotton, unreal and weightless. The instant he entered, the temperature around him plummeted, as if he had stepped into an ice cellar. A bone-chilling cold rushed toward him, making him shudder.
At that moment, an eerie blue light suddenly flickered within the mist ahead, as glaring in the darkness as ghostly fire. Yan Zhao focused his gaze and saw a massive Ice Sculpture Monster slowly emerge from the fog. Its entire body was transparent, like an iceberg, and it radiated an aura that sent chills down his spine. It was the guardian of the first key.
The Ice Sculpture Monster let out a low roar that echoed through the mist, making Yan Zhao's eardrums ache. It swung its enormous Ice Blade and charged at him with fierce momentum, like a moving mountain.
Yan Zhao did not dare let his guard down. He swiftly drew the sword at his waist, flashed aside like a phantom, and evaded the monster's attack. Then he nimbly circled the creature, searching for an opening.
During the fierce exchange, Yan Zhao gradually discerned the monster's attack patterns. Seizing an opportunity, he suddenly unleashed immortal law power. A blazing flame surged toward the monster like a fire dragon. When the flames met the ice sculpture, they hissed sharply. Struck by the fire, the ice on the monster's body began to melt rapidly.
Yan Zhao pressed his advantage. He leaped into the air, and the sword in his hand carved an arc through the sky before cleaving down at the monster like lightning. With a sharp crack, the monster's body split in two and crashed to the ground.
As the monster fell, a key glowing with blue light appeared before Yan Zhao. The key was crystal clear, with blue radiance flowing across it as though it contained endless mysteries. Yan Zhao carefully put it away, then continued deeper into the mist.
He understood that the challenges ahead would only grow more difficult, but he was already prepared to face everything. No matter what awaited him, he would not retreat. He would continue resolutely toward the next key.
Before you continue