The figure’s expression was complex as they gave Xu Yunfan a deep look.

"You are worthy of a place. Take his token."

"What is a ’place’?"

In response to Xu Yunfan’s question, Yuu Congling didn’t explain. They simply said, "This surge of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi from the Earth Vein has moved the timeline forward. Soon, you will understand. Increase your strength as quickly as possible. Use any means necessary—even if it means defying the heavens and climbing a path of blood, you must not hesitate. If you can break this cage, I will grant you a path to Longevity."

Xu Yunfan’s eyes flew open. He looked toward the high platform; the Demon known as Jiaang Xu was long gone.

Jiaang Xu had used a Secret Technique with the Blood Sacrificial Jade to sit in a petrified state for two thousand years, his body preserved and his Divine Soul dormant. Now that he had been disturbed, he could no longer maintain that state. His physical body rapidly began to disintegrate, forcing him to attempt to possess Xu Yunfan.

Had it been anyone else, Jiaang Xu might have succeeded. But against Xu Yunfan...

Putting aside the matter of Yuu Congling’s Extreme Dao Relic Shell, even without it, Xu Yunfan’s mastery of the Linn Character Technique would have allowed him to enter a state of Supreme Forgetting Emotions and wear his opponent down to death within his Sea of Consciousness.

’The cage of this world...’

Xu Yunfan’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’In that case, those two were likely not from this world.’

’If so, that would explain it. It would explain why only the Martial Dao has been passed down in this world. Although the Six Great Sects of Great Zhou have long histories and various Secret Martial Techniques, they are ultimately just part of the Martial Dao, falling far short of true Immortal Techniques.’

With a light tap of his toes on the Blood Sacrificial Jade Platform, Xu Yunfan instantly darted before Jiaang Xu’s remains.

The body, which had been wrapped in a clear radiance, had already disintegrated. Only a few Jade Scrolls glowing with a faint light were left scattered on the ground. The secret runes flowing across their surfaces were surprisingly identical to the Cloud Patterns on the dome of the White Jade Palace.

Xu Yunfan strode forward to where Jiaang Xu had been sitting on the high Blood Sacrificial Jade Platform. Indeed, several Jade Scrolls lay scattered there. They had fallen from Jiaang Xu’s body when it disintegrated and his soul essence transformed into that clear light.

’Jade Scrolls...’

Having read countless fantasy web novels in his past life, he was almost certain they contained Immortal Cultivation Skills.

He flicked a strand of Red Flood Dragon Powerful Qi at one of the scrolls, but it didn’t move an inch. The Strength he poured into it vanished without a trace, like a stone sinking into the ocean.

Undeterred, Xu Yunfan wrapped his palm in Pure Yang Inner Breath and tried to pick one up, but the Jade Scroll still showed no reaction.

After a moment of thought, he pressed a Jade Scroll to his forehead and entered the Linn Character State, trying to sense it.

After a long while, Xu Yunfan lowered the Jade Scroll and exited the Linn Character State.

Still nothing.

’Looks like I’ll have to ask Yuu Congling how to open these Jade Scrolls.’

He swept his gaze across the White Jade Palace one more time, and after confirming he hadn’t missed anything, Xu Yunfan turned to look at the thirty-foot-high Blood Sacrificial Jade platform.

This Blood Sacrificial Jade could absorb a person’s Blood Qi. When paired with a certain Secret Technique, it could even keep one’s physical body from decaying and their Divine Soul dormant. This effect was identical to that of the Ancient Jade Pendant that had sealed Yuu Congling, which had been excavated from the Ninggu Tower Mine beneath the Eight-Hundred-Mile Desolate River Ice-Plains.

But it was useless to him.

Xu Yunfan gripped his Thunderfire Qilin Hammer, then paused. He switched his grip to the Dragon Swallowing Mouth of his Red Fire Dragon-Swallowing Mace.

Although the Thunderfire Qilin Hammer was a Treasure Artifact, after reaching the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm, he could now easily wield a Tier Seven Divine Weapon. This mace wasn’t as heavy as the Thunderfire Qilin Hammer, but the destructive power it could unleash was several times greater than that of the Heavy Hammer.

The moment he brandished the Red Fire Dragon-Swallowing Mace, the Dragon Scale Armor Leaves on his body rippled with crimson-gold light.

Xu Yunfan poured his Triple Jiao Sword Qi into the mace. Section by section, its Nine-layered Cloud Fire Patterns ignited with an eerie blue thunderfire. Only with the unique marrow-penetrating Strength of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm could he forge his Red Flood Dragon Mountain Coiling Strength and Thunderfire Qilin Hammer Technique into a new killing move, to be unleashed through the Heavy Mace.

He strode forward, the mace’s afterimage transforming into a red dragon piercing the sun. Wreathed in Molten Lava Earth Fire, it slammed into the core of the Blood Sacrificial Jade.

BOOM!

The instant the Red Fire Dragon-Swallowing Mace—wielding Molten Lava Earth Fire and Triple Jiao Sword Qi—struck the core of the Blood Sacrificial Jade, the dense, dark-red blood patterns on the platform’s surface exploded like desiccated blood vessels torn apart by a savage force.

A shockwave of intertwined crimson and black energy erupted from the core. In the intense heat, jade fragments melted into foul-smelling Blood Beads, which were then instantly vaporized into mist by the eerie blue thunderfire.

The hostile aura from two thousand years of accumulated Essence Blood on the platform let out a piercing screech. Countless distorted phantoms of Martial Artists struggled to emerge from the cracks, only to be utterly annihilated by the grinding force of the Sword Qi and Earth Fire.

The body of the Blood Sacrificial Jade fractured inch by inch, revealing the decaying Jade Marrow structure within.

The veins within, once soaked in the Essence Blood of countless beings, snapped like dry twigs. Finally, with a deafening explosion, the entire structure collapsed, turning into a floor of fine, blood-red dust.

In the aftermath of the explosion, a wisp of clear light escaped from the jade dust. It mingled with the blood mist, briefly creating a celestial anomaly as the runes on the dome dimmed in response.

Meanwhile, the Dragon Scale Armor Leaves on Xu Yunfan greedily devoured the dispersing Blood Qi, and the crimson-gold ripples on the Armor’s surface grew ever more intense.

Xu Yunfan glanced down at the Dragon Scale Armor. ’Even though the Evil Flood Dragon’s will was subdued and destroyed, the armor’s remaining Spiritual nature is still extraordinary. It can even devour other things to strengthen itself.’

’Such a strange characteristic... even with my knowledge of the Celestial Craft Forging Technique, I’ve never come across any record of something like this.’

When he finally exited, Xu Yunfan pushed open the heavy doors of the White Jade Palace. Cold moonlight spilled in, casting a grim shadow across his features.

’Although I gained some opportunities in the White Jade Palace, I also felt the very real threat of death. In the future, I can’t be this reckless, even if someone else vouches for the situation.’

As he pushed open the doors, he saw a young man in a Jiuyao Sect disciple’s uniform standing frozen just outside. The disciple clearly hadn’t expected to run into anyone.

The moment their eyes met, the disciple’s pupils constricted, and his face turned deathly pale. He recognized Xu Yunfan.

"Xu... Xu Yunfan?!" the disciple stammered, his voice trembling as he instinctively took a step back.

"Teng Lingchuan?"

Xu Yunfan tilted his head, a little surprised.

This was the same person who had challenged him during his True Inheritance Ceremony. It had happened back when his master, Zhan Yan, was still holding the ceremony in the Celestial Craft Cave in Yanbei Dao, before the sect relocated. Teng Lingchuan had jumped out then, completely disregarding the Celestial Craft Cave’s reputation.

If Xu Yunfan had lost that day, the Celestial Craft Cave would have become the laughingstock of Cangzhou.

’This man disregards others, acting only for his own selfish gain...’

A smile touched his lips. "Brother Teng, oh, Brother Teng. It’s a small world. To think we’d meet again here, in this Secret Realm... It truly brings me joy."

Teng Lingchuan abruptly stopped retreating, his expression quickly turning calm. ’Back at the Celestial Craft Cave, Xu Yunfan only won by a narrow margin,’ he thought.

’What’s there to be afraid of?’

’But... why did he just walk out of the White Jade Palace?’

Teng Lingchuan’s gaze turned dangerous, but when he saw the gently pulsing scales of the Dragon Scale Armor on Xu Yunfan’s body, a flicker of caution flashed in his eyes.

He asked in a low voice, "Have you seen any of my Jiuyao Sect members?"

"You mean Zhou Tianyan?"

Teng Lingchuan’s expression lifted. "Are they inside?"

"Yes."