Five Qi Returned to the Origin, Uniting All Arts; Divine Abilities Advanced to Unfold Great Luo Heaven

Heavenly Abyss City, in the top-secret examination chamber at the deepest reaches of the Protectorate Prefecture.

The surrounding rock walls were covered in a full ninety-nine layers of law-net restrictions left by Tie Kuangnu, commander of the Imperial Guard. Within the void, black curtains of water formed from [Netherworld Weakwater] could faintly be seen flowing.

Defenses of this caliber could not be forcibly torn apart in a short time even by the full-force strike of a mid-stage Golden Core expert.

Yet at this moment, Chu Bai stood before a stone platform cast from mystic jade, his expression more solemn than ever.

At the center of the platform sat an Ancient Ice Silkworm Jade Vial covered in spiderweb cracks.

Through its nearly shattered body, a very faint wisp of pitch-black mist could clearly be seen writhing inside like a living creature.

"Your Highness, this is the wisp of 'black mist' the Formless Guards risked their lives to retrieve from the ruins of Skywolf Pass in the Far North."

Zhang Cheng stood behind Chu Bai, his voice carrying an unmistakable trace of horror and trembling:

"Skywolf Pass in the Far North had a garrison of a hundred thousand, with every grand formation fully activated. Yet when that sky-filling black mist swept through, it took only half an incense stick for the defenders and the towering black iron walls alike to become drifting ash and lifeless wasteland."

"The brother who brought back this jade slip had already begun turning to ash, inch by inch, before he entered the city. Had I not promptly sealed it with the weak water Your Highness bestowed, this black mist would likely have spread throughout the city already."

Chu Bai said nothing. He merely watched the eerie wisp of black mist in silence.

"I intend to see exactly