At the end of the Wind-Tunnel Corridor stood a bronze ancient gate. Its surface was covered with strange runes, shifting and crawling as though alive.
Su Wanci held her array disk in both hands, her breath steady. "Energy flow is stable, runes are maintaining dynamic equilibrium. The door must be pushed at the correct timing sequence, otherwise the mechanism will be triggered."
Her voice was cold, her tone resolute.
But Luo Xingyun was already weeping, lifting his head in worship: "The Heavenly Emperor personally left these marks! This is the Sacred Gate! The way to open it—only the Heavenly Emperor can solve!"
At once, all the cultivators fell to their knees.
A vein popped on Su Wanci's forehead. "Did none of you hear a single word I just said?!"
…
Before the gate of the temple.
Ji Canglan scratched his head, frowning at the bronze gate. "This busted door creaks like it's falling apart. Can't open it like this… tch, guess I'll use some oil."
He pulled out a small jar of fish oil he always carried and poured it along the seams.
Ka—ka—
The bronze door gave a cheerful click, the runes instantly quieting as the whole gate slowly swung open.
The entire crowd: …
Su Wanci's array disk shrieked with alarms. She froze, her voice pitching upward: "…Fish oil lubrication… neutralized the runes?!"
Luo Xingyun was already wailing himself unconscious: "Sacred Word Thirty-Six! The Great Dao must be oiled, fish oil is the Dao!"
The crowd collapsed in tears once more: "Sacred words! Sacred words!"
…
Beyond the gate stretched a massive stone forest.
Towering pillars rose into the sky, riddled with wind-tunnels. The howling gusts formed countless invisible wind blades that slashed the air without pause. Deep within the stone forest, one could faintly glimpse a colossal shadow prowling, exuding chilling killing intent.
"This is… the Wind Prison Stone Forest!" someone whispered, voice trembling.
Su Wanci hurled dozens of array flags, desperately calculating the airflow patterns. "There are countless traps here, we must walk along the formation eyes, otherwise—"
Before she could finish, Ji Canglan had already stepped inside.
He tore off a strip of cloth from his robe, tied it to his fishing rod, and held it aloft like a streamer.
"Mm, this way the wind blows the cloth, I'll know which direction is safe. Just walk straight and it'll be fine."
Whoosh—
The deadly gales of the Wind Prison shifted instantly. The blades that had once slashed through everything suddenly avoided the path before him, parting as if to make way.
Su Wanci nearly smashed her array disk. "…The wind… it's actively yielding to him?! Impossible!"
Luo Xingyun was already sprawled on the ground, frantically carving: "Sacred Word Thirty-Six, Part Two! Cultivation must be like the wind rod—flow with the current!"
…
The wind howled louder as they went deeper into the stone forest.
Suddenly, a giant wolf wreathed in wind blades lunged forward, fangs gleaming, straight at Ji Canglan.
The cultivators cried out: "The dungeon BOSS—Wind Prison Rift Wolf!"
Su Wanci shouted urgently: "Don't face it head on! Its fangs carry Wind Souls—they can cut through the spirit itself!"
Ji Canglan blinked. "Wind wolf? Looks like a wild dog to me."
He lifted his fishing rod and slapped.
Smack!
The Wind Prison Rift Wolf was sent flying on the spot, crashing through three stone pillars before collapsing unconscious.
The entire hall fell dead silent once more.
Su Wanci's face froze solid, her array disk's readings spiking wildly. Her lips trembled: "…Why is this happening… none of this makes sense…"
Luo Xingyun was already crying himself hoarse: "Sacred Word Thirty-Six, Part Three! With one palm from the Heavenly Emperor, even Wind Souls scatter!"
…
Deep in the stone forest, the light grew brighter.
A white stone tablet slowly rose, inscribed with only one line:
[Native Authority: Unlock Progress 1%]
Su Wanci stared at the words, her entire body stiff.
"Native Authority… it really exists…" she muttered, her gaze fixed on Ji Canglan's back, eyes full of turmoil. "Could it be… he truly is the sole native born of the dungeon?"
But Ji Canglan only scratched his head, grumbling: "Ugh, the wind's too strong here. Can't grill fish in this. Guess I'll wait till we get out to fish again."
The stone tablet quaked violently, as if responding to his complaint. Instantly, the roaring winds around them fell silent.
The masses went completely mad: "With one word from the Heavenly Emperor, the Wind Prison submits!"
Su Wanci's hands went ice cold, her chest rising and falling, as she whispered: "This… is no longer coincidence."