Despite the satisfaction of victory, Yanwei couldn't shake the lingering desire to dissect the creature's body. There was so much to learn from it—the way it fought, its physical structure, and, of course, its bone structure. His analytical mind thirsted for that knowledge. But his body, battered and worn from the fight, had other plans.
With a resigned sigh, Yanwei turned his attention to the creature's corpse. He wouldn't be able to study it right now, but he could at least keep it close for later. His growth space, it's n ideal place to store it temporarily. With a swift motion, he placed the creature's body inside, ensuring it would be safe until he was ready to dissect it.
That done, he surveyed his surroundings. The chamber was in ruins, its walls cracked and shattered from the destructive forces unleashed during the battle. It wasn't exactly a hospitable environment for resting, but Yanwei was no stranger to discomfort. He found a small, relatively undisturbed corner, his injured body protesting with every movement as he sank down to rest.
No matter how shitty the environment, rest was essential. His injuries weren't severe enough to incapacitate him completely, but he still needed to recuperate. With his back against the stone, Yanwei closed his eyes, allowing himself to sink into a deep, much-needed sleep. His thoughts, though scattered, still flickered with the details of the battle, but fatigue soon overtook him, and his mind quieted.
…
At the same time, somewhere far away from the chaos, Yun sat quietly against a cracked boulder, the ground beneath her rough and dry. Dust clung to the hem of her robes, but she paid it no mind. Her hand gripped her sword tightly across her knees, and her eyes never left the distant horizon.
She had no idea where Yanwei was.
She wanted to believe in him, in his strength, in the confidence he had always shown.
But that didn't stop the unease from tightening inside her chest, from the restless energy that refused to settle in her veins.
She sat still, enduring it, just like always.
Waiting.
Trusting.
Hoping.
…
Meanwhile, deeper inside the secret realm, a battered group of disciples huddled near the base of a crumbling cliff. Dust covered their faces, their robes were torn, and exhaustion weighed down every movement.
"We just have to survive three more days…" one muttered under his breath, voice raw with fatigue.
"Three days?" another scoffed bitterly. "Feels like three years already."
"I don't care about treasures anymore. I just want to get out of this cursed place," a third spat onto the ground, gripping his bleeding arm.
A thin, bitter laugh slipped out from someone in the back. "Who would've thought the biggest fight would be just staying alive?"
"If I ever complain about boring sect life again, someone slap me," another said, dragging his sleeve across his forehead.
"Assuming you make it out to get slapped," a boy muttered grimly.
A tense silence followed—only the wind and the distant roars of unseen beasts breaking the stillness.
One of the older disciples shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the shattered battlefield in the distance. His voice was low, almost trembling. "Did you see it? Earlier… those monsters fighting. Not beasts. People."
"I saw," another whispered. "We would've been crushed just standing too close."
"I thank the heavens, the Buddhas, whatever gods out there, that we didn't get involved," one said, his hands shaking as he pulled his cloak tighter.
Someone else cursed under their breath. "Damn geniuses… treating the rest of us like insects."
"But three more days…" another repeated hollowly. "Just three more days. Then this hell will be over."
They sat in silence after that, the fear lingering like a bad taste in the air, each of them clinging to the single hope that they might just survive long enough to see the sun again.
…
After sleeping for nearly twenty-three hours, Yanwei finally stirred.
The rough ground dug into his back, but he didn't mind. Compared to before, his body felt much lighter. The sharp pain that once screamed from his right shoulder had dulled into a faint, manageable throb.
His injuries, of course, hadn't healed completely. But the pain had eased enough that it no longer gnawed at his every breath.
Yanwei sat up slowly, his muscles stiff from lying too long in one place. His blood-stained robes cracked at the joints, flakes of dried crimson falling away. He flexed his fingers, feeling the sluggish ache still threading through his body.
Still alive. Still breathing.
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth — lazy, but satisfied.
He glanced briefly at the growth space where the creature's corpse remained sealed away. It stirred no reaction in him now. The time to dissect it would come later, once he was in better condition.
Yanwei slowly pushed himself to his feet, dust falling from his clothes as he moved. His joints cracked lightly — not from weakness, but from the stiffness of lying still for nearly a full day.
He rolled his shoulders, feeling the tug of half-healed wounds, but he ignored them. His gaze swept across the battered chamber around him: broken walls, shattered stones, faint traces of lingering spiritual energy twisting in the air.
The battlefield was silent now, stripped bare by violence.
A low chuckle escaped his throat.
"Time for the treasure hunt," Yanwei muttered under his breath, amusement flashing through his dark eyes. "I wonder what those people desire so badly."
He grinned, sharp and easy, and started moving — his steps light, almost playful, as if none of the pain in his body mattered anymore.
Yanwei's gaze swept across the endless corridor, where rows of stone doors lined the walls like silent sentinels. Each door looked identical to the next, all weathered and ancient, their carvings barely visible from centuries of neglect. The silence was suffocating, broken only by his own footsteps as he walked deeper into the maze-like structure.
He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the doors before him. There was no clear way forward. It was the type of situation he was used to: nothing but dead ends and impossible choices.
"Great. So many doors," Yanwei muttered to himself, glancing from one to the next. "I guess it's time to start checking them one by one." He grinned, feeling the thrill of the challenge rise within him. The labyrinth's tricks didn't faze him in the least. This was a game, and he was always ready to play.
After a moment's thought, he chose the first door on his left. His hand gripped the cold iron handle, and with a push, the door creaked open to reveal nothing but dark, empty space beyond.
"I think that creature is the last guardian," Yanwei mused, his voice low, almost to himself. "As for the treasure being in the hands of a Rank 2 demon? What a joke. He's poor as fuck." His smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, the confidence in his words clear. He wasn't impressed by the challenge before him.
Stepping inside, Yanwei glanced around the darkened room. His eyes adjusted quickly, but there was nothing of interest in this one. Only dust and rubble. It was another dead end.
He sighed, turning on his heel. "One down, who knows how many more to go."