Several years passed in a flash amid cultivation and preparations.
When the spatial fluctuations deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range grew so violent that even ordinary Saints could clearly sense them, all the leading powers of the Yulan Continent knew-the Necropolis of the Gods was about to open!
For a time, the great powers converged. From the O'Brien Empire, the Yulan Empire, the Luo'ao Empire, the Radiant Church, the Dark Alliance, the Arctic Icefield... Saint-level powerhouses who were rarely seen in ordinary times appeared one after another, along with several Deities who had remained hidden for years, their auras as unfathomable as the sea. All headed deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Headmaster Harrington personally led the Ernst Institute's party. Besides Lin Yinuo, who had received a guaranteed place, the participants included two Level Eight Mages who had passed the assessment through their own strength, as well as... Linley, who had been granted special permission to accompany them and broaden his horizons, but had been warned never to leave Harrington's protection lightly.
Outside the canyon, the once-silent mountain forest now teemed with powerhouses. The factions stood distinctly apart, their intangible auras clashing, filling the air with tension and murderous severity. Lin Yinuo followed behind Headmaster Harrington, his calm gaze sweeping across the gathering. Among the Radiant Church's contingent, he spotted Bishop Alvin, who had spoken with him before, and also sensed several concealed yet powerful divine wills sweep over him.
He quietly activated the [Soul Concealment Technique] and wore the [One-Time Space Mark · Disguise] close to his body. Immediately, to others' senses, he was merely a reasonably talented Level Seven Mage with relatively pure spiritual power, with little else remarkable about him. Those divine wills lingered on him briefly before moving away.
The disguise worked. Now I just have to wait for the entrance to stabilize.
He focused more of his attention on the [Plane Beacon] deep within his soul and his newly acquired, rudimentary understanding of the Laws of Space. In his "spatial vision," the space above the canyon ahead resembled a frantically churning vortex. Countless spatial rifts formed and vanished as a passage leading to a shattered plane struggled to take shape and stabilize. At the same time, he clearly "heard" another plane filled with chaos and howling-Gebados Prison-resonating with this place from deeper within that passage.
"The passage is about to stabilize! Those below Saint level, prepare yourselves!" a Deity-level powerhouse shrouded in black mist, from the Dark Alliance, shouted in a deep voice that carried in every direction.
The instant he finished speaking, the spatial vortex above the canyon abruptly stalled. Then, with a thunderous crash, a Spatial Portal a hundred meters tall burst open, its edges constantly twisting and its interior dark and unfathomable! A violent mixture of planar auras surged out like floodwaters breaching a dam!
"Go!"
Someone shouted, and the parties from the various factions, long since unable to restrain themselves, immediately turned into streaks of light and raced into the Spatial Portal!
"Stay close!" Headmaster Harrington commanded in a low voice. A gentle surge of magic swept up Lin Yinuo, Linley, and the others, and they too vanished through the entrance in an instant.
Passing through the spatial passage was unpleasant. The powerful tearing forces and spatial turbulence were enough to shred an ordinary Level Seven Warrior. Yet with his keen perception of spatial fluctuations, Lin Yinuo could always make slight adjustments to his position in advance, avoiding the most dangerous pockets of turbulence and appearing far more composed than the others. He even spared a sliver of attention for Linley, whom he protected with his magic.
Was this a planar passage? What a strange feeling... My brother seemed so relaxed.
After they passed through the short passage, the scene before them changed abruptly.
The sky was a stifling dark red, without sun, moon, or stars. Only twisted bands of light stretched across it like scars. The earth was barren and riddled with cracks, with the stark white skeletons of enormous creatures and fragments of broken weapons everywhere. The air was thick with death, decay, and a lingering divine pressure that unsettled the mind. Various kinds of violent foreign energy mingled with the sparse elemental energy.
This was the Necropolis of the Gods! The place where gods had fallen!
After briefly adjusting, the parties from the various factions immediately followed their prearranged plans, heading deeper into the necropolis either alone or in small teams. They soon scattered. Opportunities and dangers coexisted, and time was precious.
Headmaster Harrington looked at Lin Yinuo and the other two students and said gravely, "This place is fraught with danger. You may encounter lingering divine wills, spatial rifts, undead creatures, or even intruders from other planes. You three may form a team and explore on your own, but remember to stay within your limits and do not venture deep into the core region. If you encounter danger, send a signal immediately." He gave Linley a pointed look. "Linley, stay with me. Do not act rashly."
"Yes, Headmaster," the two Level Eight Mages answered respectfully. Then they looked at Lin Yinuo with a trace of inquiry and anticipation in their eyes. Joining a team with this "Imperial Bulwark" would undoubtedly make them much safer.
Lin Yinuo shook his head, however. "Sorry, I'm used to acting alone."
He needed freedom to test the ingenious applications of the Laws of Space and follow the Plane Beacon's guidance. Neither was convenient with others accompanying him.
Disappointment flickered in the two mages' eyes, but they did not dare insist. They formed their own team and left.
Headmaster Harrington gave Lin Yinuo a long look. He did not stop him, only transmitting his voice to him. "Be careful in everything. If something is beyond you, preserving your life comes first."
"Thank you for your concern, Headmaster." Lin Yinuo nodded, then met Linley's gaze and gave him an encouraging, reassuring look. His figure flickered, and he seemed to merge into the surrounding spatial ripples, instantly disappearing from everyone's sight.
What an exquisite movement technique! It contained the profound mysteries of space... This boy's opportunities truly were extraordinary.
Lin Yinuo traveled alone across the barren, deathly silent land. He did not move fast, yet each step seemed to land on a node of the spatial fluctuations. His figure shifted elusively, not only moving at astonishing speed but also easily avoiding the spatial rifts and energy traps hidden across the ground. The [Space Law Fragment · Ripple] proved immensely useful here!
Meanwhile, the Plane Beacon deep within his soul continually offered faint guidance, like the most precise radar. This guidance did not point toward any specific treasure, but toward areas where the spatial structure was less stable and the connection to the Gebados Planar Prison was stronger!
The beacon was guiding me... Did it want me to find and reinforce-or exploit-these weak points, and thereby gain partial authority over the Planar Prison?
Following its guidance, he reached an enormous valley that looked as though it had been torn open by sharp claws. The space inside was extremely fragile. Fine black rifts formed a dense web, and wisps of savage aura seeped through from Gebados Prison. He could even faintly hear frenzied howls coming from the other side.
Here, he checked in once again.
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations to the host for checking in at the [Planar Prison Rift Node] and receiving the rewards: [Spatial Stabilization Scroll] and [Bluefire's Prison Coordinates]!]
The [Spatial Stabilization Scroll] could temporarily reinforce space within a small area, making it an ideal tool for handling the situation before him. Meanwhile, [Bluefire's Prison Coordinates] was a clearer soul imprint pointing directly to the precise location within Gebados Prison where the future Sovereign, Bluefire, was imprisoned!
Just as I thought! The system was guiding me toward contact with Bluefire! This future Sovereign was the most crucial link in my plan to gain control of Gebados Prison!
He did not use the scroll immediately, instead committing the coordinates firmly to memory. It was not time yet. His strength was still insufficient to speak with Bluefire as an equal, much less help him escape. But he had already obtained the most important "ticket."
Just as he was digesting his gains, violent energy fluctuations and the sounds of battle appeared within the range of his spiritual perception. The direction... seemed roughly to be the area where Linley and Headmaster Harrington were!
Had Linley run into trouble? According to the original story, he should obtain living dragon blood here and awaken his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline...
He hesitated no longer. His figure merged into the spatial fluctuations, and he sped in that direction. Exploring opportunities was important, but safeguarding his younger brother's growth was likewise a central goal of this journey.
He intended to hold on to both threads.
Before you continue