Lost

"I really broke through."

Big Gold Dog stared at Su Ye, shock written across his face. The man had already been powerful, and now that he'd broken through, he would be even more terrifying. Was Big Gold Dog really going to spend his whole life as a slave?

No.

The Qilin clan would never be slaves.

Big Gold Dog's gaze hardened. He had only recovered three elements and still hadn't completed his Nirvana. Once he succeeded, he would crush Su Ye and show him just how powerful the Qilin clan was.

Boom!

Another deafening crash rang out, shaking heaven and earth. A second hazy Heavenly Passage appeared in the void, spewing out vast clouds of Auspicious Mist. Runes manifested, expounding the profound mysteries of the Great Dao Rules.

"Two Heavenly Passages?"

Big Gold Dog looked astonished, then muttered, "This guy has a deep foundation. It's only natural that he'd open two Heavenly Passages at once."

Boom!

Suddenly, another rumble rang out. Runes filled the sky and transformed into a sea of runes. In their midst, lush mists spread and Auspicious Mist billowed.

"A third Heavenly Passage?"

Big Gold Dog could no longer sit still. He stared at Su Ye, who was wreathed in Light Rain, in utter shock. He hadn't expected him to open three Heavenly Passages at once.

Opening three Heavenly Passages wasn't extraordinary on its own. But opening all three at once was no small feat. A Heavenly Passage wasn't merely a passage one opened; it also reflected a living being's innate potential and mastery of runes.

Since time immemorial, those who could open two Heavenly Passages at once had been as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. As for three, only the most exceptional purebloods and the offspring of gods could manage it.

Su Ye paid no heed to Big Gold Dog's shock. He was immersed in comprehending the Heavenly Passages. They were profoundly mysterious, giving him the sensation that he was merging with heaven and earth. As his consciousness entered them, he even felt as if he could command the world.

But it was only an illusion, born from his sudden increase in strength.

Su Ye drew the world's origin energy through the Heavenly Passages, transforming himself further. His body grew increasingly translucent, as if it were no longer flesh and blood, but crystalline immortal jade.

Boom.

Heaven and earth rumbled once more. Runes spread everywhere, forming a vast sea that covered the sky. Beside the third Heavenly Passage, a hazy miniature world appeared.

A fourth Heavenly Passage.

Su Ye hadn't opened three, but four Heavenly Passages. The four passages reflected one another in the sky, and surging essence poured out of them, filling the land with a sacred aura.

By now, Big Gold Dog was too stunned to speak. Three passages had already left him reeling in disbelief. But Su Ye had opened four at once. It was simply staggering.

How could anyone have such a terrifying foundation? Even a young True Dragon might not measure up to him.

Su Ye continued studying the mysteries of the four Heavenly Passages, but didn't open any more. Four was his current limit.

If he hadn't previously devoured a vast amount of Divine Marrow Treasure Liquid, his foundation would have allowed him to open only two. Of course, if he'd spent some time suppressing his cultivation, he could have opened three.

By refining all that Divine Marrow Treasure Liquid, his physical strength had reached 108,000 jin, surpassing the extreme limit. Combined with his comprehension of the technique that seemed to belong to the Willow Deity, his mastery of runes had reached an even higher level. Only then had he been able to open four Heavenly Passages at once.

The Mist Mountains were perilous, but filled with opportunities. With luck, one could undergo a transformation there. Without it, one would be buried beneath its mists.

Su Ye rode Big Gold Dog through the desolate fog.

Perhaps they were unlucky, or perhaps the place was simply too vast. After several days, they hadn't encountered a single living being. The whole world was utterly strange.

"Have we gotten lost?"

Big Gold Dog asked nervously. Even if the Mist Mountains were vast, countless living beings entered them every day. Yet since they'd come here, at least half a month ago, they hadn't encountered a single one.

"You're the one leading the way. Why are you asking me?"

Su Ye looked down at Big Gold Dog, his expression unfriendly. He also sensed something was wrong. This place seemed to give him a deeply unsettling feeling... as though countless eyes were watching him from all around, sending a chill down his spine.

He had just used his Samsara Eye to look around, but there was nothing there. That was what made him most uneasy. After all, the unknown was the most frightening.

"Well..."

Big Gold Dog thought about it. He had indeed been leading the way. He looked at the mountain peaks ahead, shrouded in clouds and mist, then turned around and said, "When we came in, we were facing Mist Immortal Mountain. Now we're facing away from it, so we should be able to find our way out."

With that, he set off.

Su Ye said nothing. He felt there was no way they'd get out by going that way, but for now, they could only take things one step at a time.

He sent his consciousness into the Totem Pillar on his back, wanting to ask Fairy Menglian for advice. She had lived here for a long time, so she ought to know something about the place.

Inside the Totem Pillar.

Su Ye's consciousness took shape above the vast sea of energy. The boundless Life Essence filling the world felt wonderfully refreshing.

"Hm?"

Su Ye suddenly furrowed his brow and looked toward the sea of energy. For a moment, he'd sensed something spying on him.

His figure flashed, and he appeared above the sea. Runes manifested in his eyes as he tried to investigate, but he saw nothing. Confusion rose in his heart.

Still, he didn't dwell on it. It might have been nothing more than an illusion. He flew toward the Divine Temple to ask Fairy Menglian about the Mist Mountains.

Outside the Divine Temple.

Fairy Menglian sat cross-legged outside the temple, surrounded by Auspicious Mist. Her skin shimmered like crystal, and her peerless beauty was a delight to behold.

Fairy Menglian was different from God Emperor Qimu. God Emperor Qimu had been reduced to a remnant soul, but Fairy Menglian still possessed a small section of root. Though it was only a small section, it was enough for her to be reborn.

A true rebirth.

Fairy Menglian's peak cultivation had only been that of a True God, not a Heavenly Deity, so she couldn't be reborn from a drop of blood. But she was a Divine Medicine. As long as she had enough energy, she could reconstitute her body.

And the one thing this Totem Pillar world had in abundance was energy.

Fairy Menglian sensed Su Ye's arrival and slowly opened her eyes. They were beautiful as stars. Looking at him, she asked in a melodious voice, "What brings you here?"

"I'm lost."

Su Ye got straight to the point, completely unembarrassed as he explained his predicament. "These Mist Mountains... this battlefield we're in now. Where can I find treasure, and where are the dangers?"

At that, Fairy Menglian shot him a sidelong glance, a touch of coy playfulness in her expression. But soon her face turned cold. "You'd best not venture too deep. This battlefield is far more dangerous than you imagine. Cult Masters have fallen here—not just one, either."

"What?"

Su Ye's expression changed dramatically.