Before the second gathering point, Ji Changkong continued to overturn everyone's perception. He found a foothold with absolute precision and zero hesitation. Just as he stabilized on one spot, informing Xiao Han of the next target location, he would launch himself forward again.

Huo Feng and Xiao Han followed closely behind him, dealing with the emerging Green-Stained Water Ghosts to clear his path and allow him to advance without worry.

The three moved with remarkable coordination, pushing the path ahead farther and farther.

One, two, three...

Only after he settled onto the twelfth foothold did Ji Changkong finally cease moving, standing perfectly still.

Five Green-Stained Water Ghosts, aided by Huo Feng and Xiao Han, were forced back into the green swamp. Once a Green-Stained Water Ghost's soul entered the swamp, it would immediately reform its body, recovering rapidly no matter how severe its previous injuries were—even if its physical form had been utterly obliterated.

It seemed as if, as long as the green swamp existed, they were immortal.

"Tap, tap! Tap, tap!"

Huo Feng and Xiao Han settled onto the foothold beneath him, gazing at the swirling green mist ahead. The surprise in their eyes deepened noticeably.

Tian Lie, Yin Ji, Tu Can, and Jiu Nan arrived from the rear, taking positions on the closest foothold behind him, also staring at Ji Changkong with furrowed brows.

"How did you know the true layout of the Mud-Stone Mounds?" Xiao Han suddenly asked.

"Through the Green-Stained Water Ghosts." There was no point in obfuscation now. He pointed towards a Green-Stained Water Ghost slowly reforming its body beneath a Mud-Stone Mound ahead, explaining calmly, "These Water Ghosts are former explorers. They came here before; they experienced everything here. Their fragmented memories contain brief echoes of their short lives..."

Without needing further elaborate explanation, Huo Feng and the others immediately understood, realization dawning on their faces. Tian Lie spoke up directly, praising him, "Kid, you've got a method. We were all focused on probing the Mud-Stone Mounds directly, never thinking to work through these Water Ghosts."

"What about the path ahead?" Yin Ji sneered darkly. "Can you keep going?"

Shaking his head, Ji Changkong spread his hands, indicating his own lack of knowledge. "The memories of those Water Ghosts only extend this far. I know nothing about the road beyond this point."

Yin Ji pouted, ready to say more, but Huo Feng cut him off. "Enough. What happens next doesn't concern you or him. You found twelve safe spots; that gives you and him six exemptions."

Huo Feng pointed towards Hong Mandun.

Hong Mandun looked overjoyed, nodding eagerly with a grin. "That fellow from the Three-Eyed Clan..." Yin Ji gestured for him to step forward. "You, come here and continue the exploration that was interrupted."

Leo's heart sank, and he could only steel himself. As he approached Ji Changkong, he quietly whispered, "Little brother, do you have any good advice? If I survive this, I will owe you a favor!"

Ji Changkong was taken aback, paused in thought, and then replied, "I truly don't know how to proceed from here. I can only offer one piece of advice: the closer a foothold is to you, the more likely it is to be a death trap!"

With that, he pointed to a Mud-Stone Mound in the center ahead. "Avoid that mound. The one who just became a Green-Stained Water Ghost fell there. Other than that, I have no further suggestions."

Leo of the Three-Eyed Clan listened intently, terrified of missing a single word. After listening, he closed his eyes in thought for a moment before solemnly telling Ji Changkong, "If I return alive, I will certainly honor this debt to you!"

Leo then launched himself into the air, leaping toward the furthest Mud-Stone Mound, landing heavily upon it.

The Green-Stained Water Ghosts surged up to claw at Leo, but the flames and ice shards from Huo Feng and Xiao Han arrived just in time, blasting the Water Ghosts back into the swamp.

A few seconds later, the Mud-Stone Mound remained intact. Leo's face filled with elation, and he nodded heavily towards Ji Changkong.

Ji Changkong let out a faint laugh, thinking the fellow had decent luck after all.

"Next!" Yin Ji's death knell-like call sounded again, and the new rotation began.

Starting with Leo, the mist in the green swamp ahead grew progressively thicker, and the corrosive energy now required targeted defense. Many were forced to utilize their divine weapons and protective barriers, expending more energy just to contend with the surrounding green vapor.

Lives were lost one by one during the advancement. As the numbers dwindled, the survivors pressed on with difficulty.

At this moment, life became terrifyingly cheap.

Yin Ji, Tian Lie, and the others never made a move; they didn't risk their lives on exploration but constantly urged others forward, watching life after life vanish into the green swamp.

Fortunately, they honored their agreement: Ji Changkong and Hong Mandun became the two unbound individuals, enjoying the same privilege of avoiding risk as the leaders.

Ji Changkong watched the path ahead coldly, seeing life after life instantly extinguished in the green swamp, watching Yin Ji, Tian Lie, and Tu Can's faces tighten, reconfirming the crucial role true strength played in pivotal moments.

After a final, inhuman scream slowly faded, a strange, crystal-like lake surface finally appeared ahead. Yin Ji and the others rejoiced, immediately smiling and saying, "We're here."

Huo Feng, Xiao Han, Tian Lie, and Yin Ji’s group didn't spare a glance for the surrounding piles of corpses, shooting forward like streaks of light, plunging one after another into the mirror-like water ahead.

The few survivors, having narrowly escaped, showed expressions of relief and rushed toward it as well.

Ji Changkong and Hong Mandun did not hurry. They waited until most others had entered before slipping in themselves.

"Ah! Medicinal herbs! Spirit Iron!"

"Why is it like this here? Is there no danger?"

"No turning back now; we can't leave empty-handed!"

Before Ji Changkong could properly survey the surroundings of this unfamiliar environment, he was met with a cacophony of surprised cries. The surviving masters were chattering excitedly, their eyes fixed ahead filled with greed.

Hong Mandun, standing beside him, was no exception!

Gazing ahead, Ji Changkong was momentarily stunned, a flicker of lost expression crossing his face.

Before them lay an ancient marketplace. Along both sides of the street stood shops with signs advertising medicinal herbs, ancient flora, rare minerals, and divine metals. Every shop door stood wide open, seemingly welcoming guests.

The only strange thing was the complete absence of any figure on the cobbled street.

There were no life fluctuations even within the open-doored shops. At the far end of the street stood a stone wall, upon which was carved a mysterious circular array. The array glittered brightly, now expanding and rippling, forming a passage similar to the lake surface they had previously entered.

"Alright, you may take any cultivation materials from these shops. It is what you deserve," Tian Lie stated, his face grave. "But remember, each person may only take three items. If you exceed three, a certain entity's restriction will be triggered, the shop doors will close automatically, and no one will be able to leave."

"Heh heh. If even one person in a shop harbors greed, those with them will suffer. Once the door shuts, you will experience a nightmare from which you can never escape! Upon entering the shops, you will find many dried corpses—that is the fate of those who succumbed to greed," Yin Ji's insidious voice followed close behind.

As he spoke, Huo Feng and Xiao Han had already walked forward on their own, not sparing a glance for the rows of material shops lining the street.

Tian Lie and Tu Can hesitated, appearing tempted to snatch a few items from the nearest shop, but for some unknown reason, they held back.

Yin Ji’s strange eyes swept over those who rushed into the shops, a mocking smile playing on his lips, as if there was a danger he hadn't disclosed.

Ji Changkong’s heart stirred. He suppressed the urge to explore the shops and reached out, pulling back Hong Mandun, who was about to move, shaking his head gently.

Hong Mandun looked utterly confused, staring at him strangely.

"Little brother, you were right not to go in," Leo of the Three-Eyed Clan approached him and Hong Mandun just then. "Those shops are not safe either. Anyone who enters must first face their inner demons. If they cannot pass that test, they cannot claim the herbs or the spirit iron for tempering divine weapons inside."

Ji Changkong paused, glancing around at the others. He noticed that the young man with whom he had previously argued had also refrained from entering the shops to gather supplies.

Besides Leo and that young man, four others also remained still, seemingly understanding something unspoken.

"Furthermore, the passage ahead has a time limit; it will close soon after opening. Those who enter must contend with inner demons, meaning they often struggle to emerge in time, causing them to miss the opportunity to ascend to the next level," Leo of the Three-Eyed Clan continued in a low voice.

"Are those guys done needing cannon fodder?" Hong Mandun pointed toward Yin Ji and the others ahead.

Leo nodded, forcing a wry smile. "Starting from the fifth level, sheer numbers are useless. No matter how many people ascend, if they can't enter the sixth level, they can't enter. This means the group ahead no longer needs cannon fodder to scout the path after the fifth level."

"I see," Ji Changkong nodded. It made sense. If cannon fodder were still necessary, Yin Ji would certainly have spoken up to remind them, and Tian Lie wouldn't be encouraging others to linger here.

While he was speaking, the stone wall ahead transformed into the lake passage, and Huo Feng, Yin Ji, and their group were already entering one by one.

"Let's go. We need to hurry too," Leo alerted him, quickly rushing forward.

Ji Changkong exchanged a glance with Hong Mandun. Without much hesitation, they immediately followed Leo ahead.