Zi Yan and Xiao Yi Xian followed close behind. The three of them crossed the great hall and vanished into the passageway at its end.
Behind them, the gaunt figure struggled to rise, only to discover that the Dou Qi within his body had nearly been scattered by that single finger strike.
He stared at the retreating figure, his eyes filled with shock and terror.
"Emperor Realm... an Emperor Realm Soul..."
He muttered to himself, his voice full of disbelief.
Beyond the massive gate lay a deep, shadowy passage.
Ancient runes had been carved into the walls on both sides of the passage, with faint milky-white light flowing through them.
The air also grew increasingly scorching, as though every step forward meant enduring even more terrifying heat.
Liu Bai's expression remained unchanged. Zi Yan and Xiao Yi Xian followed closely behind him, their footsteps echoing through the empty passage.
At the end of the passage stood an enormous stone door.
A lifelike lotus was carved upon it, its layered petals seemingly blooming slowly.
Faint milky-white flames danced atop the lotus, giving off palpitating fluctuations.
Liu Bai raised his hand and gave it a gentle push. The stone door slowly opened with a deep rumble. Beyond it lay an immensely vast altar.
The altar was circular and a thousand zhang wide, constructed entirely from a strange milky-white stone.
Its surface was covered in densely packed runes, through which faint light flowed.
Nine colossal stone pillars stood around the altar's edge, each one burning with milky-white flames.
At the center of the altar stood a massive throne in silent stillness.
The throne was entirely milky white, as though carved from flawless white jade, radiating a warm, lustrous glow.
Upon that throne sat a white-robed figure in quiet meditation. Strands of milky-white flame