The arrival of Yun Ji, envoy of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, was like a stone cast into a tranquil lake—at least on the surface—sending ripples quietly outward. She had a slender figure, and her plain white Daoist robe was spotless. Though her face was veiled by a faint, indistinct mist and could not be clearly seen, her eyes were as clear as a starlit lake, as though they could reflect the hidden turbulence in one's heart, making her impossible to ignore. Her aura was restrained yet profound. Unlike Elder Xingyan's vastness, hers carried an ethereal quality that seemed to see through fate itself.
"Fellow Daoist Yun Ji." Su Yan suppressed the turmoil in his heart and cupped his hands in greeting. Mo Hen and Bai Zhi also offered their greetings, their gazes filled with scrutiny and curiosity.
Yun Ji gave a slight nod. Her voice was cool and ethereal, utterly free of worldly warmth. "Fellow Daoist Su, everyone. By the Pavilion Master's orders, I have come to lend you my aid in facing the coming calamity." Her gaze lingered on Su Yan for a moment, pausing especially at the Compass hanging from his waist. A nearly imperceptible glimmer flashed in her eyes. "Time is pressing, so let us dispense with pleasantries. What are your plans going forward?"
Su Yan briefly explained the three of them' plan to "improve with all their strength and consolidate their forces," and mentioned the resources Elder Xingyan had provided.
Yun Ji listened quietly before saying softly, "The approach is correct. Levels and strength are the foundation. Though the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion does not excel in combat, we have some modest expertise in deduction, formations, and... avoiding certain inevitable deaths." Her words were calm, yet they possessed an inherently convincing force. "I can set up a Minor Heavenly Secrets Array here. It will gather spiritual energy, accelerate cultivation, and muddle part of the heavenly secrets. For a short time, it will make it difficult for outsiders to discern the truth of this place, buying you precious time to grow."
As she spoke, without anyone seeing how she moved, several jade talismans engraved with profound star patterns flew from her sleeve and landed precisely around the small courtyard, merging into the void. Instantly, the spiritual energy within the courtyard grew visibly denser, taking on a hazy quality, as if it had been separated from the outside world by a thin veil.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yun Ji," Su Yan said sincerely. The methods of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion truly were miraculous.
"It is my duty." Yun Ji's tone remained even. "In addition, regarding a rapid increase in strength, I recommend a location—Mount War God."
"Mount War God?" Mo Hen raised his brow slightly. "That is a high-level area for those above level 45. It is said to be where an ancient War God fell. Its murderous aura reaches the heavens, its monsters are exceptionally fierce, and its terrain is complex. At present, almost no player team can venture deep inside."
"Risks and opportunities coexist," Yun Ji explained. "Ancient battle souls wander the depths of Mount War God. Defeating them offers a chance to obtain pure Essence of Battle Intent. Absorbing it can greatly increase experience and may allow one to comprehend special passive skills related to combat. More importantly, fragments of the ancient War God's will remain there. If you can gain its recognition, you may receive a Will Baptism. It would be immensely beneficial for breaking through bottlenecks and strengthening your foundation. Given your current strength and potential, if you act cautiously in the Outer Reaches of Mount War God, it is not impossible."
She looked at Su Yan. "Moreover, Fellow Daoist Su's Compass may be able to sense anomalies related to the End there. According to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's observations, the murderous aura of Mount War God has recently stirred. It may be connected to the spread of Anchor energy."
At once, Su Yan unfolded the Compass. Sure enough, within the Mount War God region marked on the Star Map, apart from the deep crimson points representing dense murderous aura and high-level monsters, he could vaguely see several extremely faint black currents flickering—similar to the Breath of the End.
"There truly is an abnormal reaction." Su Yan's voice deepened. "It is faint, but it definitely exists."
The risk was immense, but the rewards were equally enticing. Essence of Battle Intent, a Will Baptism, and possible clues concerning the End... all of it held enormous appeal for them.
"I think we should go." Su Yan looked toward Mo Hen and Bai Zhi. "With Fellow Daoist Yun Ji's Heavenly Secrets Array protecting us, we can cultivate safely for a few more days, adjust ourselves to peak condition, then attempt to enter the Outer Reaches of Mount War God. We will not seek to go deep. We will only search the outskirts for isolated battle souls and any possible anomaly points."
Mo Hen pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Worth a try. My Mechanism Arts can also be useful in complex terrain." Bai Zhi agreed as well. "Mount War God's murderous aura will be a severe test of one's will, but it is also a form of tempering. My purification spells should be effective."
With the plan decided, the four of them wasted no more time. Using the Minor Heavenly Secrets Array Yun Ji had set up and the resources provided by the Star Pavilion, they began several days of frenzied secluded cultivation.
Su Yan swallowed [Star Marrow] like candy. Vast Power of Stars surged into his limbs and bones, and his experience bar soared at an unprecedented rate. At the same time, he cultivated the Star Contemplation Method, immersing his consciousness in a boundless starry sky, refining his soul and strengthening his Spiritual Power. The mental injuries caused by the earlier omen gradually healed under the nourishment of [Soul Jade] and the effects of the contemplation method, becoming even tougher than before. He felt his perception growing increasingly sharp, and his connection with the Compass becoming ever closer. The ability called Star Track Deduction also seemed to have solidified slightly.
He also attempted to further integrate the power of [Ice Devouring Origin] into himself. The process remained perilous, but under the suppression of his powerful Spiritual Power and the Power of Stars, he ultimately succeeded in refining a trace of it. When he activated [Starlight Bodyguard], a faint icy-blue glow now appeared over the shield's surface, noticeably increasing its defense and resistance to ice, cold, and corrosive attributes.
Little Big Dipper thoroughly absorbed the medicinal power of [Dragon Heart Pill] and [Blood of Frenzy]. Its body did not continue growing larger, but its muscular lines became more streamlined and vigorous. The purple of its carapace deepened until it was nearly ink-purple, while the star spots upon it no longer merely flickered. They brightened and dimmed like breathing, faintly forming a blurred network of Star Map Veins. At the tips of its fangs and claws, that golden sharpness had nearly condensed into substance. A casual swipe could produce a piercing whistle through the air. Su Yan could sense that the power accumulated within the little fellow had reached a critical threshold. It only needed one opportunity to undergo a qualitative leap.
Mo Hen used the resources to further improve his mechanical creations. His mechanical spiders became more agile, with simple ice-resistance and dark-resistance runes added to them. He also developed a new type of [Stealth Scout Bee], smaller and better concealed, suitable for preliminary reconnaissance in dangerous areas. Bai Zhi's spiritual power became purer and more abundant, and the effects of [Heart Calming Incantation] grew stronger. Combining Mount Putuo's secret arts with several mind-stabilizing talismans provided by Yun Ji, she developed a more potent [Spirit Soothing Incense], which had remarkable effects against negative mental influences such as murderous aura and resentment.
During this time, Yun Ji did not participate in cultivation. Most of the time, she simply sat quietly in a corner of the courtyard, her fingers occasionally forming seals as she deduced something. Her aura blended with the entire Minor Heavenly Secrets Array, as if she were constantly adjusting its operation to ensure that its concealment and spirit-gathering effects remained at their best. Her presence was like a stabilizing pillar, allowing everyone to focus wholeheartedly on improving themselves.
Several days later, their secluded cultivation came to an end.
Su Yan had astonishingly risen to level 28! The enormous leap of three consecutive levels made the spiritual power within him feel several times more abundant, while the Star Refining Body Art successfully broke through to the second layer, greatly strengthening his physical body. Mo Hen and Bai Zhi had also reached levels 27 and 26 respectively. Though Little Big Dipper remained at level 25—pets required more experience to level up—its aura was far more condensed than that of ordinary pets at the same level. Its true combat strength was likely no weaker than that of an ordinary level 30 pet.
The four of them and their pet were all at peak condition.
"It is time." Su Yan felt the surging power within his body, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
They quietly left Chang'an without alerting anyone. Yun Ji's Minor Heavenly Secrets Array had not only concealed the fluctuations from their cultivation, but also blurred the traces of their departure.
Mount War God lay in the far west Outside Great Tang, separated from the prosperous central lands by a desolate Gobi. The closer they came, the heavier the air's murderous intent became, as though they could hear the clashing weapons and galloping warhorses of an ancient battlefield. Looking into the distance, they saw an unbroken range of crimson mountains that pierced the clouds like Sharp Swords. Vegetation was sparse upon them, with only drought-resistant thornbushes and strange rocks that seemed to have been soaked in blood.
Before they even entered the mountains, an invisible pressure descended upon them, weighing down their hearts and making the circulation of their blood and energy feel slightly sluggish. This was a natural domain formed from ancient battle intent and murderous aura that had accumulated over countless years.
"What heavy murderous aura." Bai Zhi furrowed her brows slightly and immediately lit a stick of [Spirit Soothing Incense]. Its faint, elegant fragrance spread outward, dispersing much of the irritating murderous intent. Little Big Dipper, however, appeared rather excited. It gave a low roar, the star spots over its body flowing as it actively absorbed the thin battle intent drifting through the air, seeming entirely at home.
"The Outer Reaches are mainly inhabited by Battle Soul Guards, Baleful Aura Condensates, and Corrupted Gobi Beasts," Mo Hen explained based on the intelligence they had gathered earlier. "They range from levels 35 to 40. They are generally highly aggressive and utterly fearless of death."
Su Yan unfolded the Compass. Its silver glow appeared somewhat eerie against the crimson mountains. On the Star Map, dense crimson points representing monsters filled the area, while the faint black currents still lingered between them, winding toward the depths of the mountain range like Bone-Attached Sores.
"Follow the plan. We will operate in the outskirts, search for isolated targets, and prioritize clearing anomaly points carrying the Breath of the End," Su Yan ordered.
The four of them cautiously stepped into the bounds of Mount War God. The ground beneath their feet was dark red, as if saturated with dried blood. They had not gone far when a group of three [Battle Soul Guards] (Level 36), shrouded in dark crimson mist and wielding broken weapons, discovered them. With silent roars, they charged! They had no physical bodies, reducing the effects of physical attacks by half, but their strikes carried fierce mental impacts and crushing battle intent.
"I'll take the main pressure! Shatter Armor!" Su Yan took the initiative to meet them. [Starlight Bodyguard] activated, its icy-blue halo glowing as he withstood the first wave of impact. At the same time, the yellow light of an [Armor Shattering Talisman] shot out, weakening their defenses. These Battle Soul Guards possessed relatively low resistance to spells.
Little Big Dipper let out a long cry and lunged forward as a purple blur. Its claws and fangs were now astonishingly powerful. Combined with the effects of [Armor Shattering Talisman], they could actually inflict considerable physical damage upon battle souls in spirit form! [Star Fire] erupted from its mouth, silver-white Iceflame scorching the dark crimson mist with hissing sounds and effectively dispersing the battle intent empowering them.
Mo Hen's mechanical spiders harassed them from the flanks, firing poisoned needles with paralysis effects. Bai Zhi held her position in the rear, using [Heart Calming Incantation] to resist the mental impacts and [Universal Salvation] to maintain their health, occasionally offering magical support with [Five Elements Incantation].
Yun Ji did not directly participate in the attack. She merely stood quietly to one side, but whenever a battle soul attempted to unleash some powerful skill, or whenever the team was about to face mortal danger, she would always offer a brief warning a moment in advance in her cool voice:
"Three steps left. Dodge."
"Focus fire. Finish the injured one on the right."
"Retreat. Area attack."
Her predictions were so precise that they were frightening. She always enabled the team to make the correct choice at the most critical moments, minimizing their losses. With a successor of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion at their side, the team's margin for error had increased by far more than a little!
After the battle ended, the three Battle Soul Guards turned into pure Essence of Battle Intent, which Su Yan and Little Big Dipper absorbed. The experience gained was indeed abundant. Su Yan felt that after absorbing the Essence of Battle Intent, both his combat techniques and his use of power had improved by an almost imperceptible amount.
"This really is a great place!" Su Yan was invigorated.
They continued onward, specifically targeting isolated enemies or small groups. Although Mount War God's monsters were powerful, the coordinated teamwork of the four people and their pet, combined with Yun Ji's near-miraculous predictions, allowed them to pass every encounter without serious danger. Their experience rose rapidly, and they continuously absorbed Essence of Battle Intent. Su Yan even felt that he could now wield [Star Radiance Evil-Breaking Fist] with greater ease.
Along the way, they also discovered and cleared several minor anomaly points. Such places were usually occupied by monsters lightly corrupted by the Breath of the End. They were stronger, and after being defeated, they yielded not only Essence of Battle Intent but also small amounts of [Tainted Battle Soul Fragment]. After the Compass absorbed these fragments, its restoration progress slowly yet steadily advanced toward 54%.
One day, guided by the Compass, they arrived at a relatively secluded mountain hollow. Deep within it stood an inconspicuous small altar. Upon the altar rested a broken, cracked stone stele engraved with an ancient War God Totem. At that moment, obvious black Breath of the End permeated the area around the altar. Several unusually massive [Corrupted Battle Soul Elites] (Level 38) guarded it, continuously injecting the Breath of the End into the stone stele.
"We found a decent one," Mo Hen said quietly, releasing a Scout Bee.
"They are polluting this ancient altar." Bai Zhi's face showed concern. "We have to stop them!"
Su Yan's gaze sharpened. "Prepare for battle! Fellow Daoist Yun Ji, we may need more of your help this time."
Yun Ji nodded slightly. Her gaze behind the mist seemed to pierce through the obstruction of the mountain hollow and fall upon the altar's stone stele. "This stele retains a faint trace of the War God's will. If we can purify the corruption, there may be an opportunity waiting for us."
Her words lifted everyone's spirits.
A greater challenge lay before them. And opportunity often came hand in hand with danger.
Before you continue