The gray mist dissipated before his eyes.
Zhou Xuan stood on a smooth, warm white jade slab. There was no weightlessness, no death qi blotting out the world.
This was an underground divine temple so vast its end lay beyond sight. Thousands upon thousands of fist-sized luminous jade stones studded the vaulted ceiling, casting down soft halos that bathed the entire space in golden splendor.
Thousands of stone statues stood in orderly ranks on both sides of the main hall. Each wore heavy armor and held a spear or war glaive-the standard equipment of the Supreme One Divine Court's finest warriors of old.
Towering war intent radiated from these statues, unyielding and fiercely yang, carrying the tragic resolve to die rather than submit. It circled above the main hall, gathering into a magnificent, sacred pressure.
Ji Chen followed Zhou Xuan onto the jade slabs. He raised his head and surveyed the upright statues. The Compass Fragment lay quietly in his palm, its needle utterly still. There were no formation fluctuations, no warnings of danger.
A flicker stirred in Ji Chen's eyes. What he cultivated was an incomplete Dao teaching passed down by Supreme One, and standing here, he could clearly sense those pure Taiyi Laws.
This was a hall of heroes housing Supreme One's fallen warriors.
He straightened his back and put away the Compass Fragment, his nerves, taut throughout their journey, relaxing a little.
"Urgh!"
Violent retching came from behind Ji Chen.
A Gu's knees buckled, and he dropped heavily onto the white jade slabs. Both hands clamped around his throat as he vomited up stomach acid and bile.
A Gu trembled violently, without even the strength to stand. He raised his head, his face deathly pale.
A Gu clutched the hem of Zhou Xuan's black robe, his fingers