Breaking the Precept

Shura Infernal Prison.

Zhan Tianming had already departed with Mu Ruyi, leaving Zhan Tianxiang and a few hidden protectors behind.

Before leaving, Zhan Tianming gave Zhan Tianxiang a stern scolding, reprimanding him for his reckless impulsiveness and warning him about future regrets. Although Zhan Tianxiang stood silently with his head lowered, clutching his robes like a chastised child, he felt no remorse in his heart.

He didn't deny that he had acted impulsively. But even if he had to do it all over again, he would make the same choice.

Now, with Xiaolou gone, he was stuck in this desolate place for the next five years. The thought alone left him feeling stifled.

"Second Young Master," someone reported, "something strange has occurred."

"Hm?"

"After the explosion in the family's cave heaven, we've been rebuilding it under the eldest young master's orders. Earlier, someone suddenly emerged from the tunnel behind the cave."

"Who?"

"We're not sure. He was in tattered clothes, looking like a beggar. His spiritual energy was severely depleted, and he appeared confused, as if his soul had been attacked. He kept mumbling something like, 'Heaven's dual balance, Qian-heaven and Kun-earth, thunder and wind, retreat three for fire, advance six for wood—it's wrong, all wrong!' We tried questioning him, but he didn't respond and ran back into the tunnel in a frenzy. We couldn't stop him, and we didn't dare enter the tunnel without permission…"

This was bizarre.

Zhan Tianxiang blinked and stood, heading toward the cave heaven.

The tunnels behind the cave heaven were intricate and labyrinthine, designed by Zhan Jingwei, an ancestor of the Zhan family, with the help of a formation master skilled in five-element techniques. The entrance and exit methods were known only to the Zhan family's direct descendants.

Back then, storage bags were rare, and resources were stored in secret locations. The cave heaven within the prison was one such storage site. With the advent of high-capacity storage bags and rings, these sites became obsolete.

Still, Zhan Tianxiang knew how to navigate the formation.

While waiting for Zhan Tianming to emerge from seclusion, he had explored the tunnels out of boredom. They were empty, not even a rat in sight. Where could this person have come from?

"I'll check it out," Zhan Tianxiang said, flying into the cave.

"Second Young Master," his guards protested, "we're not allowed inside. If you go alone—"

"It's fine."

Used to roaming the demon realms alone, Zhan Tianxiang was unaccustomed to being constantly followed and ignored their protests as he entered the maze.

After wandering for a while, he found nothing unusual.

Which made it even stranger—had that person vanished into thin air?

Just as he was puzzling over it, a surge of spiritual energy caught his attention. He followed its source, his gaze locking onto a bare stone wall.

Could there be something hidden here?

Examining it closely, he saw nothing out of the ordinary, even probing it with his spiritual sense. After some thought, he bit his finger, letting a few drops of blood drip onto the wall.

Whoosh!

The stone wall trembled violently, glowing with firefly-like specks of light.

Startled, Zhan Tianxiang took a few steps back, watching as the glowing fireflies scattered to reveal a transparent barrier. After some hesitation, he summoned his silver spear, donned his soul crystal armor, and leapt through the barrier.

What he saw left him utterly shocked—a grand formation powered by thousands of human cocoons.

Zhan Tianxiang's expression mirrored Xiaolou's when she first encountered the Earth Core Spirit Gate.

Though he understood some formations, this one was beyond him. The glowing fireflies were earth spirits, but he couldn't connect them to the Earth Binding Art of the Heavenly Alliance's leader.

His thoughts instead turned to his family—what madness was this? Using living humans as the formation's foundation?

Amid the cocoons, he noticed a disheveled figure crouched on the ground, clutching his head.

It was someone he recognized: Mei Ruoyu of the Fire Refining Sect.

Zhan Tianxiang remembered Mei Ruoyu not for any direct interaction but because the man had once spent an entire night in deep conversation with Xiaolou. Curious, Zhan Tianxiang had asked around and even sought him out for a glimpse, which left a lasting impression.

"Heaven and earth, thunder and wind, retreat for fire, advance for wood—where is it wrong?!"

Mei Ruoyu suddenly went berserk, conjuring a misty force in his palm to strike his own spiritual sea.

Zhan Tianxiang, alarmed that he might be going into Qi deviation, shouted to stop him. "Mei Ruoyu! What are you doing?!"

The hand froze mid-air. Mei Ruoyu raised his head, his muddled eyes clearing slightly. "You're… Zhan Tianxiang?"

"Yes."

"How did you get in here?!"

Mei Ruoyu stood abruptly, his surprise brightening his demeanor.

"I followed you in." Zhan Tianxiang descended from the air, not mentioning the blood-activated barrier.

"I was about to ask how you entered this place. What's your connection to my family, and what is this formation?"

"Don't come down!" Mei Ruoyu, his mind damaged by the formation's attacks, failed to stop him in time.

Zhan Tianxiang landed among the earth spirits, his body unscathed despite the crushing spiritual pressure.

Instead, the clustered earth spirits scattered in all directions.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the First Sword Sect, Bai Lixi was doing her best to endure. But as Chu Fengchen passionately recounted his insights on forming a golden core, her face grew more and more strained.

Finally, unable to hold it in, she interrupted. "Chu Fengchen, could you please…"

Before she could finish, her junior disciples chimed in, eager for more guidance.

Bai Lixi exhaled deeply. Watching them depart, Xiaolou sighed in sympathy. "The poor Sect Leader," she murmured. "If I had to deal with this, I'd…"

Bai Lixi gave her a knowing glance, the two sharing an unspoken understanding. Only Chu Fengchen remained oblivious.