Li Bufan steadied his mind and drew his spiritual sense back into his body, leaving only a small portion to probe outward.
His steps remained steady, his breathing even.
Within the stone walls on either side of the passage, the azure light flowed more and more slowly, and its glow grew dimmer.
After about half an incense stick's time, three forks appeared at the end of the passage.
He stood still, closed his eyes, and sent his spiritual sense into all three passages at once.
After probing them for a while, he chose the middle passage.
The moment he stepped into it, the pressure surged.
The twisting force grew fiercer, like an invisible file grinding away at his spiritual sense bit by bit.
Li Bufan frowned and began circulating the Spirit Refining Chapter of the Mountain Character Art, gathering his spiritual sense into an invisible mountain that stood firm within his Sea of Consciousness.
No matter how the pressure outside twisted and tore at it, the mountain of spiritual sense did not budge.
The passage was long. It took him about three incense sticks' time to reach the end.
Another curtain of light stood there.
This time, its color was deeper, azure tinged with purple, and the aura it gave off was heavier.
Li Bufan passed through the curtain and found himself standing in a circular hall.
The hall's vaulted ceiling soared high above. Looking up, he saw azure light converging into an enormous vortex above it, slowly turning.
Dense patterns covered the hall's floor, resembling some ancient formation.
Six passages ringed the hall, each leading in a different direction.
This was the fifth floor.
Li Bufan remembered what the jade slip had recorded—the fifth floor was a crucial juncture.
From here on, the passages would become extraordinarily complex. More