One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Nie Lingfeng gritted his teeth, trying to dodge.

But his body was locked in place by the oppressive force, as if bound by countless invisible chains, and he couldn't move even a finger.

Just as that large hand was about to grab him—

"Nie Lingfeng!"

A scream ripped through the starry sky!

Chen Duo suddenly stood up.

She stood up slowly and with great difficulty, as if a mountain was pressing down on her shoulders. But she stood up.

The phoenix phantom behind him suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light!

The golden light was no longer the gentle, purifying emerald green it had been before, but a pure, dazzling gold, like the sun! The golden light was filled with an aura of violence, anger, and destruction! Like a true, enraged phoenix, it wanted to burn and destroy everything!

"Eh-!!!"

A phoenix's cry pierced the entire starry sky!

The sound was high-pitched, sharp, and penetrating, causing the "eyes" to tremble, the blood-red light net to crack in countless places, and the administrator's face to change drastically!

Chen Duo's eyes turned completely golden.

That gold had no pupils, no whites, only pure, burning golden light. Golden phoenix patterns appeared on her face, extending from the corners of her eyes to her neck, like some ancient totem. Her hair moved without wind, each strand standing upright, burning with golden flames.

She stepped forward, blocking Nie Lingfeng's path.

The starlight-filled hand just happened to grab it.

Chen Duo raised her hand and threw a punch at the large hand.

A very light punch.

Like the kind of punch a child throws when they're angry.

But from the fist, something erupted—

A sun.

Golden flames, like a small sun, erupted from her fist! The temperature of the flames was indescribable; even space itself was melting, light was distorting, and time was slowing down!

The giant starlight hand was engulfed by the golden flames and vanished into nothingness in less than a second.

The flames continued to spread, engulfing the surrounding crimson beams of light, swallowing the "eyes," and swallowing... half of the starry sky!

"How is that possible?!"

The administrator's expression finally changed. His refined and composed demeanor vanished completely, replaced by shock, disbelief, and fear.

"You're just a fledgling whose bloodline has only just awakened, how could you possibly unleash such power?! This is impossible! Even a fully awakened phoenix bloodline couldn't possess this kind of power! Who exactly are you?!"

Chen Duo did not answer.

She simply looked up, her golden eyes fixed on the administrator.

That gaze was cold, devoid of any emotion. Like looking at a dead person.

"Because..." she began slowly, her voice soft, but each word struck the administrator's heart like a hammer blow, making him tremble all over, "You touched him."

She paused, then said, word by word:

"I'll kill anyone who dares to touch him."

As soon as she finished speaking, she took another step forward.

This step shattered the void.

The space beneath her feet shattered like glass, countless cracks spreading outwards to reveal a deeper void beyond. She trod on the void, yet it felt as if she were walking on solid ground, moving forward step by step.

The phoenix phantom behind him solidified completely.

It is no longer a phantom, but the real body.

A real phoenix with a wingspan of a hundred feet and its entire body ablaze with golden flames!

The phoenix's feathers were distinct, each one adorned with mysterious runes. Its eyes were azure gold, like two burning gems. Its beak was golden, as if cast from pure gold. Its claws were crimson gold, as if cast from molten iron just pulled from a furnace.

The phoenix raises its head and cries out to the sky, flapping its wings.

Golden flames surged forth like a tsunami, engulfing the crimson net of light. The net of light shattered, melted, and evaporated in the flames, leaving not a trace behind.

Chen Duo stood on the phoenix's back, her hands forming a mudra, her golden eyes fixed on the administrator.

Then, the phoenix transformed into a golden streak of light and shot towards the administrator!

The speed was indescribable, as fast as light, as fast as lightning, as fast as a thought. Wherever it passed, the starry sky shattered, eyes exploded, and all obstacles were burned to nothingness by the golden flames.

"No--!!!"

The administrator finally panicked.

He frantically formed hand seals, and all the remaining "eyes" in the starry sky lit up simultaneously, shooting out thicker and denser beams of blood-red light, weaving together one after another into a net of heaven and earth, trying to block that golden stream of light.

But it didn't work.

Before the fully awakened Phoenix form, those beams of light were like paper. Wherever the golden light passed, the beams crumbled upon contact, the light nets shattered upon touch, and the eyes were blown apart upon exposure.

"Who are you?! This can't be! This is absolutely impossible!"

The administrator screamed, his voice filled with terror. He turned to run, but the phoenix locked onto him, leaving him nowhere to escape. No matter which direction he ran, the golden streak of light remained behind him, drawing ever closer.

Finally, the golden light caught up with him.

Chen Duo appeared in front of him.

Golden eyes, so close.

"you……"

The administrator only had time to utter this one word.

Chen Duo raised her hand, and her golden fist slammed into his chest.

"Bang."

A very soft sound.

Like a bubble bursting.

A large, transparent hole appeared in the administrator's chest. Golden flames burned along the edges of the hole, spreading rapidly from his chest to his limbs, and from his limbs to his head, instantly engulfing him completely.

"I... am not reconciled..."

He struggled, screamed, and writhed in the flames.

"I've been planning this for a century... and I'm about to succeed... I'm not reconciled... I'm not reconciled..."

His voice grew weaker and weaker until it disappeared completely.

In the golden flames, his figure transformed into specks of golden light and dissipated into the starry sky.

Not even ashes were left.

The starry sky returned to calm.

Those "eyes" slowly closed and disappeared into the darkness. The blood-red beam of light vanished, the starlight hand disappeared, and the terrifying pressure also vanished.

Everyone collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, their bodies soaked in sweat as if they had been pulled out of the water.

Zhang Chulan leaned against the bronze door, his face as white as paper, his chest still heaving violently. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, watched the slowly dissipating golden light, and swallowed hard.

"Is it... over?"

His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against glass.

"not yet."

An old voice rang out.

Wugensheng's thoughts drifted out from behind the bronze door, his expression terrifyingly solemn. His figure was even more transparent than before, as if it might vanish at any moment.

Everyone was taken aback and looked at the bronze door.

Inside the door, deep within that starry sky.

That little light grew brighter and brighter.

It wasn't ordinary light, but rather a feeling of... "gazing." It was as if something was slowly opening its eyes from the deepest, deepest depths.

Finally, it transformed into an eye.

A huge, indifferent, emotionless eye.

How big was that eye? No one could say for sure. It might be as big as a building, as big as a mountain, or even... as big as the entire starry sky. It hung there, like the ruler of the universe, the judge of all things, the origin and end of all existence.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the people outside the door.

Everyone who is seen by it feels their soul being stripped away, dissected, and... devoured.

Then, a detached, gender-neutral voice resounded in everyone's heart.

The voice didn't come from outside; it rang out directly in my mind, like another thought within me, like something that had been hidden deep in my heart since birth, finally speaking.

"The keys... are all here."

"The door...should be opened."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bronze door began to shake violently!

The three characters "Who is it?" on the door burst forth with dazzling golden light! Within the golden light, countless mysterious runes emerged, coiling around the door like chains, attempting to prevent it from opening. Those runes were densely packed, layer upon layer, like a seal woven with the blood and sweat of countless generations.

But those runes are crumbling and dissipating at a speed visible to the naked eye.

With each rune shattered, another crack appeared on the door. With each rune dissipated, the door trembled more violently.

"not good!"

Wu Gensheng's expression changed drastically, and his figure flickered violently, like a candle in the wind.

"It's forcibly breaking the seal! Quick! Close this door!"

"How do you lock him up?" Nie Lingfeng asked. He had also suffered serious injuries; the Qilin tattoo on his chest had faded considerably, but his eyes remained sharp.

"Use a lock!"

Wu Gensheng pointed at Zhang Chulan.

"Chu Lan, your Qi Source Flow!"

Without a word, Zhang Chulan sat down cross-legged and formed a hand seal. The power of the Qi Source Flow rose from his body, transforming into a white-gold beam of light that shot towards the bronze gate.

But that's not enough.

Wugensheng, keep going.

"Wang Ye, your Feng Hou Qi Men!"

Wang Ye gave a bitter smile. He could barely stand, but he gritted his teeth and began to perform the Qimen Dunjia technique at full power. A beam of azure light rose from his body, joining the two beams of light.

"Zhuge Qing, your Wuhou Qimen Dunjia!"

Zhuge Qing opened the ancient book, bit his tongue, and spat out a mouthful of blood essence onto the pages. The runes on the pages lit up, and a blue beam of light shot into the sky.

"Baron..."

"Xia Liuqing..."

The Godhood Mask was his most prized possession, having been used for so many years that it had become an integral part of him. If he used the Godhood Mask, the mask would shatter, and eighty percent of his abilities would be wasted.

But at that moment, he didn't hesitate.

He ripped the mask off his face and threw it forcefully.

The mask spun in the air, transforming into a crimson beam of light that shot towards the bronze gate.

"Old man, you've risked your life your whole life, and today you're finally serious." He smiled, a smile carrying an indescribable... relief.

"Feng Baobao—"

Wu Gensheng looked at Feng Baobao.

Feng Baobao tilted her head, seemingly unsure of what to do. She stood there, looking at the pillars of light, the bronze door, and the enormous eye, her eyes filled with confusion.

Wugensheng sighed.

He floated up to Feng Baobao, reached out his hand, and touched her forehead.

"Baby, can I borrow your body for a bit?"

Feng Baobao's body trembled.

A golden light flashed in his eyes.

A vast, ancient, indescribable power rose from her.

That power wasn't her own, but rather... something that had been dormant within her for a long time. It was something that had remained dormant since that tiny golden light entered her brow when she was an infant.

Now, it's awake.

A chaotic beam of light shot into the sky from Feng Baobao's body!

That beam of light was thicker, brighter, and purer than the others. It wasn't any known power, but a... primordial power. Like the chaotic power that existed before the creation of the world.

Finally, Wugensheng looked at Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo.

Nie Lingfeng looked at Chen Duo.

Chen Duo had reverted to human form, but her face was terribly pale, and she was swaying precariously. That outburst had consumed too much of her vital energy. Her phoenix bloodline had been almost completely drained.

Chen Duo nodded to him.

Nie Lingfeng extended his hand.

Chen Duo grasped it.

The two looked at each other and then closed their eyes simultaneously.

The Qilin tattoo on her chest and the phoenix bloodline within Chen Duo's body lit up simultaneously!

Golden-red Qilin fire and turquoise-gold Phoenix fire surged from the two figures. The two flames intertwined, entwined, and merged in the air, finally transforming into a breathtakingly beautiful pillar of light, a tapestry of golden-red and turquoise.

Within that pillar of light, one could see a Qilin running and a Phoenix flying. For the first time, the powers of these two divine beasts were perfectly fused together.

Nine beams of light converged on the bronze door.

Gold, white, cyan, blue, transparent, blood, chaos, golden red and green gold—nine colors, nine powers, nine inheritances, interwoven into a magnificent picture.

The shattered runes on the door were repaired, reassembled, and reinforced at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The enormous eye let out an angry roar.

That roar wasn't a sound, but a shockwave that directly impacted the soul. Everyone felt as if their brains had been struck by a heavy hammer; their vision went black, and blood flowed from their seven orifices.

But no one let go.

Everyone gritted their teeth and exerted all their strength, continuously channeling their power into the pillar of light.

The runes are being repaired faster and faster.

The cracks are disappearing more and more.

The shaking of the door grew weaker and weaker.

That eye grew smaller and smaller, farther and farther away, as if it were being forcibly pushed back into the abyss by some force.

"Now!"

Wugensheng shouted, and his almost transparent figure suddenly burst forth with its last light!

"seal up--!!!"

"seal up--!!!"

The nine people roared in unison!

Nine beams of light suddenly erupted, increasing in brightness more than tenfold! The light was so dazzling that it was impossible to look directly at it, illuminating the entire space as bright as day!

The bronze door trembled violently, and then—

"boom--!"

With a loud bang, the door slammed shut!

The eye let out a final roar the instant the door was sewn shut, reaching everyone's ears.

In that roar, there was resentment, anger, hatred, and... a hint of mockery.

Then, everything disappeared.

The light dissipated.

Everyone opened their eyes.

The bronze door closed.

The three characters "What is a Human Being" on the door were dull and lifeless, like ordinary words carved in stone. There was no golden light, no runes, and nothing unusual about them.

That eye disappeared.

Those "eyes" have also disappeared.

The starry sky has also disappeared.

Behind the door, there was only an ordinary, dark space with nothing inside.

"It...it was a success?"

Zhang Chulan was panting, his voice hoarse like a broken gong. His body swayed precariously, and he only managed to stay upright by leaning against the door.

"temporary."

Wugensheng's thoughts floated in the air, his figure almost invisible. He looked at the door, his face bearing a complex expression—a mixture of relief, reassurance, and worry.

"But it's only temporarily sealed. The awakening of that 'thing' has been interrupted. But it will wake up sooner or later. Next time... I don't know if I'll be so lucky."

He looked at everyone, his gaze lingering on each person's face for a moment.

Zhang Chulan's face was covered in blood, but his eyes remained resolute.

Wang Ye slumped to the ground, panting heavily, but a bitter smile remained on his lips.

Zhuge Qing, the ancient book had already turned to ashes, but there was no regret on his face.

Zhang Lingyu sat cross-legged, closed his eyes and regulated his breathing; his aura was weak but steady.

Baron, his face pale, leaned against the dagger stuck in the ground.

Xia Liuqing's mask was gone, revealing an old, wrinkled face. He was still smiling, smiling like a child.

Feng Baobao stood there, looking at her hands, as if she was thinking about something.

Nie Lingfeng supported Chen Duo, and the two leaned against each other, closing their eyes and regulating their breathing.

And then there's Chen Duo, the little girl who just unleashed terrifying power, now quietly leaning against Nie Lingfeng like a tired kitten.

Wugensheng laughed.

The smile was faint, but warm.

"Don't tell anyone about what happened today. The fewer people who know this secret, the better. You... take care of yourselves."

He paused, then added:

"Baby, live well."

After saying that, his figure completely disappeared.

They transformed into starlight, merging into the bronze gate.

The starlight lingered on the door for a moment, then slowly seeped into the room and disappeared.

The thought of Wugensheng vanished completely.

The square was deathly silent.

Only the heavy breathing of the crowd and the faint golden light remaining on the bronze door flowed slowly.

long after.

Zhang Chulan was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

"We...won?"

His voice was hoarse, carrying a sense of uncertainty.

"Win my ass."

Wang Ye plopped down on the ground, not caring whether it was cold or not. His Taoist robe was tattered beyond recognition, and his hair was a mess, looking nothing like a Wudang master.

"It just postponed the trouble. Besides, we've learned things we shouldn't have known, so things might not be easy for us from now on."

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Nie Lingfeng opened his eyes and helped Chen Duo slowly stand up. He looked at the bronze door, a smile playing on his lips.

"If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. We 'keys' together are a knife that can pierce the sky. Whoever wants to come, we'll cut them down."

Chen Duo leaned against him, closed her eyes, and whispered:

"I'm sleepy."

"Go to sleep." Nie Lingfeng gently ruffled her hair, as if afraid of hurting her. "I'm here."

Chen Duo hummed in agreement and actually fell asleep standing up.

Her breathing was light and even, and she had a faint smile on her face.

The others looked at each other and laughed.

Zhang Chulan leaned against the door, his eyes closed. Wang Ye lay on his back on the ground, looking at the sky that had returned to normal. Zhuge Qing leaned against Zhang Lingyu; neither of them spoke, but the silence was comforting. Baron sheathed his dagger, walked to Xia Liuqing's side, and handed him a cigarette. Xia Liuqing took it, lit it, and took a deep drag.

Feng Baobao walked over, squatted down in front of Chen Duo, and looked at her for a long time.

Then, she reached out and gently touched Chen Duo's hair.

"Go to sleep," she said softly. "When you wake up, I'll make you something delicious."

Calm returned to the area in front of the bronze gate.

But everyone knew that this was just the calm before the storm.

That "thing" is still behind the door.

Although that "administrator" is dead, there may be an even bigger mastermind behind him. How could someone who can arrange guards for five hundred years be so simple?

These "keys" have been drawn into this vortex of world survival that spans countless years.

There's no escaping it, no hiding from it.

We can only... face it.

"Hey, Chu Lan."

Wang Ye suddenly spoke, looking at the chaotic sky.

"What are your plans after you get out?"

Zhang Chulan thought for a moment, then grinned.

That smile was still that smug, cheeky smile that made you want to punch him.

"Let's have a good meal first. Then... let's get back to work. Investigate what needs to be investigated, punish what needs to be punished, and let those who should live live."

"Okay," Wang Ye nodded. "Count me in."

"And me too," Zhuge Qing said.

"This humble Taoist..." Zhang Lingyu was interrupted by Zhang Chulan before he could finish speaking.

"Come on, Master Lingyu, you should go back to your Longhu Mountain and be your Celestial Master. This kind of fighting and killing is not suitable for you."

Zhang Lingyu remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Very well. If needed, Longhu Mountain... will be at your service anytime."

Baron and Xia Liuqing remained silent. They simply rose quietly, bowed to the bronze door, then turned and left, disappearing into the depths of the labyrinth.

They have their own paths to follow.

Feng Baobao stood up, dusted herself off, looked at the bronze door, and tilted her head.

"Can this door be dismantled and sold for money?"

Everyone: "..."

"Sister Bao'er, can't we have some ambition?" Zhang Chulan covered his face, looking helpless.

"Oh." Feng Baobao nodded, then thought for a moment, "Can I move it? I can put it at home as decoration."

Everyone: "..."

Nie Lingfeng smiled and pulled Chen Duo to her feet.

Chen Duo opened her eyes, rubbed them, and followed him in a daze.

"Let's go, let's get out of this awful place first. We can talk about the rest later."

"Um."

The group turned around and headed back the way they had come.

Behind him, the bronze gate stood silently.

The three characters "What is a person?" on the door, in the darkness, looked like three eyes, silently watching them leave.