Monster Hunter, start with a wife!

That seemed to make sense. Cheng Zhuo pondered for a moment and then asked:

"So, according to you, if a Star Lord-level expert like us accidentally enters a world with a different cultivation system, we'll be crippled?"

"You'll understand when you reach that level," the dragon explained.

"Anyone who can touch the threshold of Star Lord has somehow acquired some power of laws. Laws are universal, only the methods of application differ. Changing the system is merely changing the shell to activate the power. If one truly reaches the Star King level, one can still cause upheaval in any universe."

"I see."

Cheng Zhuo understood and stopped dwelling on the issue.

He pointed to the surrounding gray fog and asked, "So what exactly is this shadowy area? Can you figure it out?"

The dragon remained silent for a few seconds, as if carefully sensing something.

"This so-called shadow is more like a reflection of some special energy in your realm," the dragon said slowly. "It can't be considered a world, or even a complete space. From my perspective, from the moment you stepped into that rift, your physical bodies have remained in place, and the ground beneath your feet is still the frozen tundra. Everything here is like a projection of consciousness, but not entirely."

"If I had to put it that way, it would be more accurate to say that it's a projection of the world's own rules and consciousness."

Cheng Zhuo was a little confused.

"The world... still has consciousness?"

"It's not the kind of consciousness that can think and speak, as you understand it. It's the instinct of rules operating on their own. Just like water flows downhill and fire burns things, it's all instinct. This shadow is a fragment of the world's instincts, a mixture of the obsessions of many dead souls, ancient memories, and a jumble of fragments of rules, which have made up this place."

Cheng Zhuo digested the information for a while, then seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to.

"This place is rather eerie," he said in a low voice.

"It's unorthodox, but it's also useful." The dragon changed the subject. "The rules here are complex, and consciousness can spread along those rules. I might be able to use this shadow to find something useful for you, like... a boundary stone."

Cheng Zhuo was overjoyed after hearing Shenlong's words:

"Where? How many pieces can you find?"

"a lot of."

A flicker of excitement crossed Cheng Zhuo's eyes. "How do we retrieve it?"

"Don't rush," the dragon said slowly. "The rules here are a mess. I need to use this projection of consciousness to slowly spread my divine sense. You need to head towards the center of the lake."

"Okay, wait a minute."

Cheng Zhuo agreed and started walking back.

The gray fog seemed to be sliced ​​open by a sharp blade, and Cheng Zhuo stepped out.

Gao Wang, who was guarding the shore, suddenly stood up straight, and the muscles on his usually calm face twitched violently.

"Orange Card..."

His voice was hoarse, with a slight tremor that he himself didn't even notice.

"You actually got the King card?"

"Luckily, he's a man with a story."

Gao Wang stared at Cheng Zhuo, as if trying to see through the young man, and finally only sighed:

"Lord Cheng, you... are amazing."

Ruan Qinghe and the other girls quickly surrounded him. Seeing that Cheng Zhuo was unharmed, they finally felt relieved.

"Cheng Zhuo, what's in there? How did he suddenly disappear?" Xia Chan peered curiously into the gray fog.

"Some old matters have been settled."

Cheng Zhuo didn't elaborate, and turned to look at Gao Wang.

"Steward Gao, I have a favor to ask of you. I'd like to explore this area a bit more; perhaps it would be possible to take them out first?"

Gao Wang's expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice:

"Lord Cheng, listen to my advice: now that you have the card, leaving is the best course of action."

"The rules deep within the shadows have been completely distorted, and even spatial overlaps have occurred. Let alone a sixth-order being, even I, an old man, might not be able to find my way back if I went in."

"Steward Gao, I never do things I'm sure of, so you can rest assured." Cheng Zhuo looked at Gao Wang, his tone resolute.

Gao Wang frowned: "Are you sure?"

"Um."

Seeing this, Ruan Qinghe gave Cheng Zhuo a deep look:

"Be careful, we're waiting for you outside."

She knew Cheng Zhuo's personality; once he made a decision, he must be confident.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Gao Wang could only shake his head helplessly.

"Very well. I will escort the young ladies to the exit and guard it there."

He took out a specially made Bai family beacon from his pocket and handed it to Cheng Zhuo.

"If you really lose your way, crush it. The Bai family's secret technique can guide you to the exit once."

Thank you.

Cheng Zhuo took the beacon, said no more, and turned to step back into the thick gray fog.

As his figure disappeared, Gao Wang couldn't help but murmur to himself:

"Where did this prodigy come from...?"

Cheng Zhuo stepped into the gray fog, and the temperature around him plummeted. He could vaguely hear countless overlapping whispers.

"Kid, to the left front, go straight."

The dragon's consciousness spread out in all directions, like a sophisticated radar, forcibly carving out a path amidst the chaotic rules.

Cheng Zhuo walked very fast.

After walking for about ten minutes, Shenlong suddenly called for a stop.

"arrive."

Cheng Zhuo was somewhat surprised; all he could see was a vast, gray, icy plain...

"Wait a moment." The dragon whispered, and then, using some unknown ability, Cheng Zhuo felt a blur before his eyes. The surrounding space shattered like glass shards, and what he saw transformed into a valley filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.

"Don't be fooled by what you see; the thing is right under your feet," the dragon warned.

Cheng Zhuo immediately looked down and was stunned.

The ground beneath my feet was still ice.

It was a hazy gray, and its depth was indiscernible, but there seemed to be a fluorescent glow inside.

"Go ahead and smash it. It's a small matter, you can handle it yourself. Oh, by the way, there's an old thing that you woke up." The dragon's voice said lazily, "It seems to be an old evil spirit, a mixture of hundreds of years of obsession. That little fat cat can't swallow it, so you should give it a discount before feeding it to the cat."

"Okay." Cheng Zhuo replied, giving a low shout:

Thorne.

Black mist suddenly surged out from their sides, and Thorne and Adrian stepped out.

Thorne licked his lips, his crimson eyes fixed on the direction from which the hissing sound came. "What the hell is that?"

"Cripple him, feed him to the can, can you handle that?" Cheng Zhuo didn't even look up, thinking about how to chisel the ice.

"certainly!"

Thorne grinned maliciously, and his figure suddenly transformed into a cloud of black mist, rushing towards the screeching sound.

From the depths of the gray fog, a twisted black shadow burst forth.

The thing was blurry, like countless wronged souls twisted together, its body shrouded in dark green miasma, with a dozen eyes on its face, all staring at Thorne as he charged forward, emitting a piercing shriek.

"You're ugly, yet you come out to scare people."

Thorne scoffed, raising his scythe high, "Seven Demonic Curses - Bone Corrosion!"

The fourth curse mark spread along the scythe blade, its black lines spreading out like a spider web.

The scythe struck the E'ling, instantly corroding a large hole in the dark green miasma. The E'ling let out a shrill scream, and its form faded slightly.

As his cultivation level increased, Thorne's Seven Demon Curses also evolved considerably, with each layer becoming more insidious than the last: Bone Corrosion, Soul Locking, Armor Breaking, Essence Corruption, and Severing Thoughts.

Ordinary seventh-tier beasts, once struck by two curse seals, would be paralyzed on the ground and at the mercy of others.

Enraged, Erling's dozen or so eyes simultaneously lit up with a ghostly green light, and countless soul thorns shot out from its body, forming a force field.

Thorne remained calm, drawing his scythe in an arc, and a crimson shield appeared in front of him.

The Soul Spike struck the shield silently, like a pebble hitting cotton.