Through the Rift, Facing Shadows

Though the internal passage twisted and turned, it had no branches, and the lingering mental traces pointed the way. Chen Chuan and Hu Kan therefore reached its latter stretch in little time.

Once there, both men slowed their steps.

Chen Chuan remembered that Danliu Hall had preserved the mutated bodies of its predecessors. Even the Wave Pavilion had once had an elder stationed there.

The Anyao Pavilion surpassed both in heritage and resources. There might well be a similar presence here.

But even if there was, they only needed to exercise some caution. It was merely a Fighter's mutated body. Even if its owner were truly alive, he would dare to test himself against them, let alone now, when half their life was already gone.

Sure enough, when they reached this point, a thick wall surrounded them, sealing the passage's exit tight.

Hu Kan looked it over, then turned to him. "What do you say, brother? Want me to hammer it open?"

Chen Chuan gazed ahead, spreading his Domain Field and mental power outward. A moment later, the creature began to tremble. Before long, threads of light seeped through the once-solid wall. The thing writhed to either side, slowly opening a slit that steadily widened.

Hu Kan glanced at the dazzling light and muttered, "Looks like this leads to the Other Side World, not a Convergence Zone. They've got some reserves after all."

Chen Chuan murmured his agreement.

A Rift leading straight to the Other Side World required something on the other side that could communicate mentally with their own side. Either a mutated creature like the one just now had to plug the Rift, or a predecessor's shell and lingering mind had to remain beyond it as an anchor.

Before the World Ring appeared, this had not actually been