Cattaleya smirked faintly, her eyes glinting with sothing between admiration and hunger. "He devours the Earthfire itself... Lin Mu, you truly are interesting."
Daoist Chu and Elyon exchanged glances, their expressions solemn. They had seen much of Lin Mu’s might before, but every ti, it was as if he tore down the heavens themselves to reveal a new truth.
And ng Bai... ng Bai walked silently, but his fists were clenched tight.
His admiration for his master burned hotter than ever, and in his heart, he swore once again: one day, he too would stand on that sa height, walking the sa path of unfathomable might.
But for now, all eyes were on Lin Mu, as he strode forward, calm and unshaken, toward the hidden heart of the cult’s secrets.
The battle had ended, but the reckoning had only just begun.
The air around the monolith was thick with smoke and the scent of scorched stone, yet the sheer pressure it exuded was not natural... it was deliberate. A formation pulsed faintly around its surface, a layered barrier that both hid and protected what lay within.
La Yu walked with an unsteady gait, his knees still bleeding from his earlier kowtows, his body trembling with every step. The unnatural energy boost that had been given by the leader’s token was still present in his body and was the only reason he was still able to walk.
Still he dared not look back at Lin Mu, only staring straight at the ground, praying silently that the terrifying man behind him would not change his mind and decide to crush him like the others.
"This is it..." La Yu croaked, voice hoarse from fear. He pointed to the shadow at the base of the monolith, where jagged cracks ford a doorway-like outline. "The prison is inside. It was carved directly into the heart of the stone."
The first place they decided to go was none other than where the High Elders of the Xian Sword Sect were supposedly kept. They were their main aim in coming here after all. The valuables could co later.
ng Bai’s eyes narrowed. "A hidden prison within a monolith... no wonder it remained undisturbed. Who would think to look here?"
Daoist Chu traced the faint lines of the array with his finger, his brows furrowing. "A formidable concealnt formation. Though there is no self destruction array on it. The cult must have reinforced this dozens of tis. Even I would need a few hours to unravel it."
Cattaleya smirked, twirling her blade over her shoulder. "Or, we could do it Lin Mu’s way."
Lin Mu simply stepped forward, his expression calm, yet in his eyes burned an unspoken command. He placed one claw-like hand against the stone. For a mont, the array reacted, glyphs flaring angrily as if to resist his intrusion.
But then the might of his body cultivation surged forth, the raw force of his Boundless Dominator Physique resonating in unison. The glyphs shattered one by one like glass, the resistance evaporating in the face of overwhelming power.
A thunderous crack echoed through the cavern as Lin Mu tore the stone apart. The hidden gate collapsed outward, revealing a long corridor descending into dim orange light. The air slled of rust, mold, and despair.
The group stepped inside, their footsteps echoing against the hollow passage. Rows of cells appeared as they descended further, so still sealed, others broken and empty. Skeletal remains littered the ground, clear evidence of those who had perished long ago.
Finally, they reached the deeper levels. Here, unlike the other rotted cages, two cells stood reinforced with shimring seals. Within them sat the two high elders of the Xian Sword Sect, gaunt and emaciated, their robes in tatters, yet their eyes still carried a sharp glimr of life.
Daoist Chu’s breath caught in his chest. "Elder Luo... Elder Gu Jin..."
The High elders stirred, slowly raising their heads. Their bleak eyes landed on Daoist Chu, then on Lin Mu, and flickered with disbelief.
"Their vitality and qi have been drained greatly... They were probably restrained and weakened systematically." Daoist Chu frowned deeply seeing the state of the two elders.
"You... you’re not with the cult?" Elder Luo rasped, his voice weak but tinged with suspicion.
"No, it’s us, High Elders! Daoist Chu and Lin Mu!" Daoist Chu said firmly, stepping forward. His voice softened with relief. "We’ve co to free you."
The elders exchanged glances, wariness still present. But when they saw the shattered remnants of the cult insignias burned into Lin Mu’s armor and the sheer carnage in his aura, they began to understand. This was no illusion, no trick like before.
Lin Mu’s gaze turned to La Yu. "Open them."
The cultist nearly collapsed at the order. "I-I don’t have the authority! Only the leader—"
Before he could finish, Lin Mu’s hand flicked, and the seals crumbled like dust. The cell doors swung open with a groan, the stale air of confinent rushing out.
Elder Gu Jin stepped forward shakily, his eyes falling on La Yu.
In an instant, murderous intent flared. "A cultist...!" He raised his hand to strike, but Lin Mu’s voice stopped him.
"Leave him." His tone brooked no argunt. "He still has use."
Cattaleya tilted her head, watching Lin Mu’s control of the situation with faint amusent. "Practical to the end, aren’t you?"
ng Bai moved quickly to support the weakened elders, bowing respectfully. "Please, allow us to escort you out."
Daoist Chu’s shoulders finally loosened, decades of burden lifting from his chest. "At last," he whispered. "At least they’re safe." He quickly began to take out healing pills to help the elders recuperate.
But Lin Mu’s eyes remained sharp, scanning the prison walls. He wasn’t satisfied yet. The cult leader’s mories would give him answers, yes, but there were still too many pieces missing. This prison might hold more than just prisoners... it might also hide secrets that the cult had buried with them.
And Lin Mu was determined to uncover every last one.
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