"Here, take it. I've annotated all the Witch Script on it." Fire Spirit Child tossed the scroll to Shen Luo, put away the black stone tablet, and flew back into the Netherfire Refining Furnace.
Shen Luo studied the scrawls on the scroll. At first glance, it seemed to be a map, but a closer look proved otherwise. Every intersection branched off in several directions, and many routes overlapped or even contradicted one another. What terrain could possibly be laid out like this?
He shook his head, tucked the scroll into his robes, then put away the Netherfire Refining Furnace before continuing onward.
The passage was quite long, and he dared not move quickly. It took him a full quarter of an hour to reach its end, though fortunately, nothing unexpected happened along the way.
Once he emerged from the pitch-black passage, his surroundings suddenly brightened. A long bluestone corridor appeared ahead, with a stone tablet standing beside it, several lines of text engraved on its surface.
"Those who reach the second floor of the Heavenly Puppet Palace possess extraordinary strength and commendable courage.
Ahead lies the Celestial Pivot Maze, where danger and opportunity coexist."
Shen Luo read the inscription and let out a soft breath.
It seemed this really was the second floor of the Heavenly Puppet Palace. Somehow, he had been swept into a trial, and he had no idea whether that was good or bad.
He surveyed the bluestone corridor ahead. Nothing about it seemed particularly special. Its walls were carved with all sorts of strange images: mountains, rocks, flowing water, people, birds, and beasts. Some were exquisite, others crude, leaving him unable to fathom the artist's intentions.
The bluestone corridor was also thick with restrictions, and he still could not extend his divine sense.
Having come this