Arriving at the location of the ancient rune, Yueyang followed the tunnel bored by the Boring Mountain Earthworm down into a modest underground chamber.

The ancient rune was inscribed at the center of a vast rune formation, atop an obelisk.

Energy radiated in all directions.

Shimmering with light.

The profundity within it was beyond words.

The surrounding underground space had been opened up by the earthworm, leaving only the columnar rock protected by rune energy — and the obelisk itself. Yueyang had seen these rune obelisks in the Heavenly Realm before — many bore complex and intricate patterns, some still maintained a degree of residual energy — but none had contained an ancient rune of this caliber.

One look was enough for Yueyang to identify its attribute and who it was suited to merge with.

He could forcibly merge it himself if he chose.

But with the Creation World Bead and the World war beast already his, there was no real need to claim every ancient rune he encountered for himself. While advancing his own strength, Yueyang also wanted those around him to grow — only then could they remain by his side forever. And even if he did merge this rune, the benefit to himself wouldn’t be maximized. Better to leave it for someone it fit perfectly. Someone like the irrepressibly energetic little sister standing right here beside him. Ancient Forest — with her Titan Ancient Tree, Green Light Treant, and Raging Toxin talents, what kind of transformation would this rune bring about in her? Just imagining it made him genuinely look forward to seeing it happen.

The only problem was that her strength was still slightly lacking.

Now was a little too early for the merge.

A little more time — let her advance further — and she would be ready.

“It’s a very good ancient rune, isn’t it?” Yue Bing noticed Yueyang’s silence and assumed the rune was simply too difficult to merge with, even for her brother. Her heart was a mix of excitement and regret — regret that she couldn’t watch him merge it herself, and excitement because a rune this difficult to claim had to be exceptional, and would surely be of great benefit to him in the future.

“Of course,” Yueyang said, ruffling her hair lightly.

“I’ll train even harder and help you however I can, Brother.” Yue Bing clenched her small fist and made a silent, resolute promise to herself.

“These rune patterns — they’re a little different from usual,” Xue Wuxia said, carefully copying down the complex formation. As she transcribed it, she noticed something unusual, and decided to bring it back to study with Sick Beauty.

“You’re right — the way these ancient runes are used is different from current practice. There seems to be a deeper meaning embedded in the structure.” Princess Qianqian’s interest was immediately piqued as well. She had been working lately on figuring out how to fully transform the Prison Emperor Divine Sword into her own divine artifact. When Yueyang had offered to help, she had refused — her competitive pride wouldn’t allow it — but she hadn’t refused Yueyang’s suggestion for a name, agreeing to call the fully claimed divine sword the Tiger Prison Divine Sword once the transformation was complete. Now, seeing the intricate, profound combinations of ancient rune patterns here, a new idea seemed to crystallize in her mind, and she enthusiastically joined the transcription.

“Brother, what can I do to help?” Yue Bing was eager to contribute, even if only in some small way.

“Keep your mind completely clear and still. I want to try recording a portion of the ancient rune patterns in that little head of yours.” Yueyang naturally wasn’t going to tell her that this was actually the very beginning of the rune fusion process — much like the knowledge inheritance worked.

He couldn’t replicate the full knowledge inheritance — but imprinting a set of ancient rune formations was within his ability.

Yue Bing cooperated fully, holding nothing back. Complete, unconditional trust and a mind entirely free of distraction — that was the essential key to success.

Even so, it took two full days to complete the initial imprinting.

The most important piece — the ancient rune Ancient Forest itself — Yueyang left untouched for now. There was no rush. A little more time, a little more growth in Yue Bing’s strength and realm, and the moment would come.

In those two days, Xue Wuxia and Princess Qianqian each took away their own different insights and gains.

What pleased Yueyang most was an unexpected benefit that came from spending two days and nights in such close proximity. In the evenings, once Yue Bing had drifted into deep, peaceful sleep, both women had shown some reluctance to engage in more intimate cultivation with him while Bing’er was right there — but they hadn’t refused outright either. Perhaps afraid of waking her, their mild resistance had gradually softened into acceptance. And when Yueyang’s wandering hands had taken certain additional liberties afterward, the response had been little more than a few reproachful glances — no genuine anger.

They would never have allowed this under ordinary circumstances. It was a small, sweet reward of this particular journey.

Yueyang was more than satisfied with the progress of this quiet, three-person closeness.

One success paved the way for the next. With a start like this, things would only get better going forward. The next time he sought them out for shared cultivation, it would gradually become more natural — until eventually it all flowed effortlessly of its own accord.

Back at the Sky Stairway, after discussing plans with Night Empress and the others who had descended, Yueyang decided to enter the Trial Grounds in the Western Heavenly Realm alone to challenge the remaining stages. With Vivienne’s experience as his guide, he was confident he could work through the Fourth Stage Desire Valley, the Fifth Stage Beast Valley, and the Sixth Stage Demon Valley without assistance. Once those three were cleared, he would return to draw on everyone’s combined strength to break through the Seventh Stage, Human Valley.

Using the Three Realms Compass, Yueyang first headed back to Conquest City.

He found the Fatty of the Sea and Ye Kong’s group being drilled to near-death by the city’s veteran soldiers.

Seeing how utterly done-in they looked — worse than dogs that had been run over — Yueyang offered them a brief, deeply sincere expression of sympathy and comfort, then turned and headed for the ancient Trial Grounds without a backward glance.

On the outer perimeter of the Trial Grounds, he ran into someone familiar.

The snake-haired demon man.

Lone Wind, of the Four Great Families.

Lone Wind was in considerably worse shape than when Yueyang had last seen him in the Earth Demon Divine Temple. He was completely surrounded by Central Divine Temple death squads. And that wasn’t even the worst of it — a powerhouse at the Vice Hall Master level was bearing down on him with a savage, unrestrained onslaught, beating him around at will. Further out at the perimeter stood a large number of Dark Realm fallen warriors, stationed there like slaves in the outermost ring, serving as backup enforcers. They were the most numerous — and the least valued. In the presence of the Central Divine Temple’s forces, not one of them dared so much as raise their heads. All bowed in obedience, not a single person making any unauthorized movement.

At the most prominent spot near the Trial Grounds entrance, a row of wooden stakes had been planted.

Iron chains hung from them.

And from the chains — hanging densely — were severed heads. Mercenaries who had attempted to enter. Failed challengers who had tried to escape from within. The members of the Snow Plains, Eight Wastelands, and War Song teams — near-total wipeouts, head after head filling the chains, including every one of their capable squad leaders.

If it had been ordinary killing, the sight would not have lit the fire it did.

These people had virtually no connection to Yueyang.

But the naked, swaggering cruelty of the Central Divine Temple’s death squads stirred something cold and sharp in him.

That was precisely why he decided to step in — to take a hand in someone else’s business, and let the Central Divine Temple’s people find out what it felt like to be on the receiving end.

“Lively place,” Yueyang commented, drifting down from the sky.

No one present — including the relentlessly aggressive Vice Hall Master and the steadily retreating snake-haired demon man — had noticed when he arrived.

“You?” The snake-haired demon man finally recognized him.

“Hmm?” By contrast, the Vice Hall Master — whose fierce, intimidating appearance could curdle milk — had absolutely no idea who Yueyang was. Nothing in his intelligence files contained this person’s name.

“What happened to you? Decided to take up begging as a profession?” Yueyang landed beside Lone Wind and took him in from head to foot. The man’s once-immaculate robes were now in the state of a very committed vagrant’s outfit — clearly the result of having been thoroughly beaten. If Lone Wind had been at full strength with the Mirror of Suffering in hand, a fight like this wouldn’t have been a problem. Right now, he was clearly struggling.

“It’s a long story,” Lone Wind said with a heavy sigh. Then something seemed to occur to him and he grabbed Yueyang’s hand. “The Mirror of Suffering — is it with you?”

“You want it back?” Yueyang had forgotten to tell this man that once any treasure entered his hands, the odds of it leaving again were essentially zero.

“No. It’s not that.” Lone Wind’s reaction was entirely unexpected.

He shook both hands rapidly. “Actually — I always assumed the curse was what turned me into… this. But when the Mirror left my possession, I noticed the curse energy in my body gradually fading. My appearance hasn’t reverted yet, but the curse is definitely weakening. I can say with certainty — what happened to my body was caused by the Mirror of Suffering. You may not believe me, but I’m telling you very sincerely: don’t use it too much. If you do, you’ll end up like me. The artifact looks harmless on the surface, but it carries some unknown curse within it. Use it repeatedly and the curse accumulates. Don’t be tempted just because it’s a sub-divine-artifact. More importantly — that young girl picked it up. Tell her as soon as you can. I’m not trying to take it back — tell her to throw it away, and absolutely not to use it.”

Yueyang looked at him with an odd expression. “You came all the way back here just to say that? Who knew you were so noble?”

Lone Wind fired back in exasperation: “If I wasn’t worried about that cool little girl turning into a snake-haired woman, I wouldn’t have come back to this hellhole for anything. Did you not notice — just now, I nearly got killed by that guy over there?”

Yueyang felt a genuine, if brief, flicker of being moved by the man.

He was worth befriending, this one.

At minimum — when he learned that a treasure in someone else’s hands carried a curse, he came back to say so. Anyone else in his position, having had a valuable item taken from them and learning it came with a curse attached, would be laughing themselves sick from a safe distance.

Of course, Yueyang’s outward demeanor remained entirely unbothered.

He waved a hand. “I’ll pass along what you’ve said. Anything else useful to report?”

Lone Wind nearly lost his mind. “I’m serious. Take this seriously. You genuinely need to tell that girl — clearly and completely — or it’ll be too late once she starts growing snake hair. If she likes mirror-type artifacts, I can look for something else for her, find something suitable to give her instead — but she absolutely cannot use the Mirror of Suffering again.”

Yueyang started to drift off to sleep mid-sentence. “You really do go on.”

That attitude sent Lone Wind to the very edge of detonation. He practically hopped in place with outrage. “I’ve told you — believe me or don’t! I’m leaving — don’t come crying to me later!”

“Safe travels,” Yueyang said pleasantly, waving him off.

“I have never in my life met anyone like you!” Lone Wind was nearly apoplectic. “I don’t have feelings for that girl, so stop acting jealous! I just think she reminds me of my sister!”

At that, Yueyang’s entire attitude transformed. He seized the man’s hand warmly. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?”

Lone Wind yanked his hand free in absolute fury. “Get lost!”

The Vice Hall Master — who had been standing there being completely ignored for a considerable amount of time now — took two steps forward, breaking in with a savage sneer: “Done chatting? Because once you’re finished, it’ll just about be time to send you both on your way.”

“Shut up.” Yueyang and Lone Wind replied in perfect unison, rounding on him simultaneously. “This has nothing to do with you. Go stand somewhere else.”