The Mysterious Stone Gate

A chilling wind howled through the pitch-black valley.

Ye Chuan formed a hand seal, and hundreds of sword shadows materialized from his peachwood sword, shimmering with an eerie blue glow. They trembled slightly in the wind, poised like dragons ready to strike.

To avoid damaging the terrain, he refrained from using large-scale magical attacks. Instead, he wielded his sword with precision—each shadow slicing through the air like a scythe, swift and deadly.

Wherever they passed, the swarming spirits dissipated into nothingness, as if harvested like wheat.

At the same time, Ye Chuan’s spiritual sense expanded outward from his core.

Breaking through to the Crystallization Realm had its advantages—his range far surpassed what it had been during his Foundation Establishment days. Though he couldn’t cover the entire valley, searching was effortless now.

His senses combed through every inch of the valley, leaving no suspicious corner unchecked.

Behind him, Tian Xiaotian and Susu followed closely, their eyes brimming with admiration.

The translucent sword shadows weaved through the hordes of spirits, reducing them to ashes and leaving behind clusters of soul essences.

Tian Xiaotian couldn’t help but mutter, “If I had this kind of power, I wouldn’t have to be so cautious in dungeons anymore.”

Hell, she could even braid a Ghost King’s hair if she wanted.

Susu nodded slightly, though she said nothing. Her envy was plain to see.

Time slipped by unnoticed. After over an hour, Ye Chuan glanced at his backpack, now filled to the brim with soul essences, and felt a flicker of satisfaction.

Then, his spiritual sense suddenly detected something—a downward-leading cavern, oozing with a palpable darkness. A faint but unmistakable sense of danger prickled at his awareness.

“There…” Ye Chuan paused, finally spotting something unusual.

“Let’s go. Found something interesting.”

Hearing the faint excitement in his voice, Tian Xiaotian and Susu exchanged a nervous glance but followed without hesitation.

As they approached, a massive cavern entrance loomed before them.

The mouth of the cave was lined with dark-red moss, radiating an icy chill.

Just standing near it sent a bone-deep cold rushing over them. Tian Xiaotian shivered violently, hugging herself as her teeth chattered.

“S-so cold!”

Susu frowned, her expression grave. “It’s freezing inside… and there’s something unnerving about it.”

Ye Chuan studied the cavern’s depths for a moment before turning to them with a smile.

“Wait here. I’ll go in alone.”

Tian Xiaotian and Susu paled, their faces twisting with unease.

Tian Xiaotian rubbed her hands together. “B-boss, we know we’d just slow you down, but staying out here…”

After the relentless waves of spirits, their stamina and spiritual energy were nearly depleted. Even a single stray spirit could be deadly now.

They’d die. Absolutely.

Ye Chuan chuckled reassuringly. “Of course I’ll keep you safe.”

Before they could react, an inky surge of chaotic energy erupted from the ground. The earth trembled slightly as a massive Blood Wolf Demon emerged—its crimson eyes gleaming, its oppressive aura thick with the metallic scent of blood.

“Eek?!” Tian Xiaotian and Susu screamed, clinging to each other in terror.

Ye Chuan patted the wolf demon casually. “Relax. With it here, nothing will get close.”

Tian Xiaotian stared at the creature—more terrifying than any spirit—and forced a trembling smile. “H-have a safe trip, Boss…”

Noticing her expression, Ye Chuan added offhandedly, “Don’t worry. It used to eat people, but it doesn’t anymore.”

Tian Xiaotian: “?”

Wait, what?!

That did nothing to reassure her. If anything, she was now even more terrified of the wolf demon.

Without another word, Ye Chuan turned and strode into the cavern.

The moment he stepped inside, an icy chill enveloped him. The ancient peachwood sword in his hand glowed faintly, pushing back the darkness.

The tunnel twisted like a giant serpent, descending deeper with every step. The cold grew more intense, until even his breath crystallized in the air. The temperature had long since dropped below freezing.

But thanks to his Chaotic Immortal Body, the biting cold was nothing more than a mild discomfort.

“Can’t even see my own hand,” Ye Chuan mused, eyeing the dim glow of his sword. He realized he lacked proper illumination magic.

After a moment’s thought, he extended a hand. Spiritual energy surged at his fingertips, coalescing into a blazing fireball the size of two fists. The orange flames roared to life, casting light on the moss-covered walls and strange carvings.

With a flick of his will, he sent the fireball floating beside his shoulder like a miniature sun.

Satisfied, he pressed onward.

The deeper he went, the heavier the sense of danger became—as if unseen eyes watched from the shadows.

Strangely, not a single spirit or monster crossed his path. The unnatural silence only heightened his wariness. His steps grew lighter, his spiritual energy coiled tightly within him.

Too many monsters were predictable. But a place where none appeared? That was far more unsettling.

After what felt like an eternity, a towering stone gate materialized before him.

The gate stood several meters high, its surface etched with ancient, cryptic runes. A faint blue radiance pulsed from the cold stone, as if harboring some primordial power.

“A door? Seriously?” Ye Chuan arched a brow, intrigued. He ran his fingers over the surface—icy to the touch, the grooves rough with age.

He pushed against it with all his strength, but the gate didn’t budge, as if fused with the mountain itself.

“Not that easy, huh?” Ye Chuan stepped back, stroking his chin as he studied the gate.

Should he force his way in? Or attempt a spatial leap?

To be safe, he first tried probing beyond the gate with his spiritual sense—only for it to rebound as if striking solid metal.

Blocked?

That meant spatial leaps were off the table too.

“Then brute force it is.” Ye Chuan channeled spiritual energy into his peachwood sword. The blade blazed with light as power condensed along its edge.

“Clear Breeze Sword Art—Sever!”

Dozens of wind blades, sharp and unrelenting, shot toward the stone gate like arrows loosed from a bow. The sound of their passage echoed through the silent cavern, shaking loose fragments of rock from the walls.

Yet, despite the barrage of sword energy, the stone gate remained unmoved.