“To link the Primordial Yin Realm and the Mortal Realm!” Xian Tianhe’s voice was heavy, thoughtful. “The Mortal Realm is the center point of all the various realms. The Lord of the Underworld has found a way to connect them: the Styx Blood Sea. If the waters of the Blood Sea flow into the mortal world, then the denizens of the Underworld can successfully enter the Mortal Realm.”

Chang Kong’s step landed, and he had completely exited the Nine Souls Water-Locking Array. He said with solemn Buddhist words, “Little do they know that when the Great Vow Kṣitigarbha descended to the mortal world, his immense Buddhist power suppressed the spread of the Styx Blood Sea, thereby suppressing the Asura clan. This means the wish of the Lord of the Underworld to reign over the mortal world has fallen through.”

Xian Tianhe’s attitude was transcendent; he was not angered by Chang Kong’s words. “That is a matter between the Underworld and the Mortal Realm. Now, I live within the Rúshì Gate like a phantom, long having forgotten all grievances. Also, congratulations on breaking my Nine Souls Water-Locking Array.”

Ye Xiu took the final step, finally evading the intrusion of the water pillar. He questioned, “Since the Primordial Yin Realm’s invasion of the mortal world failed, what method did the Death God King of the Dead Country use? At least there are Death Gods like myself existing in the Mortal Realm.”

“I am also very interested why the Death Gods appear in the mortal world, but that is a secret of your Dead Country. If even you, a Death God, don’t know, then who would?” Xian Tianhe turned his head. A rumbling sound followed. At that moment, the Bagua array diagram on the ground suddenly opened, and a circular glass wall emerged from it.

Ye Xiu’s attention also focused on the glass wall. He had witnessed the Mirror Palace created by the Birdmen using magic. He hadn't studied this kind of thing himself. Seeing Xian Tianhe’s posture, he seemed intent on peacefully fighting Chang Kong with formations: “Water Marquis truly has refined taste. I wonder what formation this wall is.”

“The myriad forms of life—to properly dress and discern right from wrong—all require a reference point.” Chang Kong shook his prayer beads with one hand, stepping onto the golden lotus and positioning himself beside the broken wall. His demeanor was steady, and he smiled slightly, “Since we are in the Water Marquis’s domain, all rules will follow the Water Marquis’s arrangements.”

“Haha, the monk is truly interesting.” At this moment, a wisp of white light emerged from the glass. Xian Tianhe’s head also darted into it. The ball of light slowly expanded, and what emerged was an old man wearing a long robe, with white hair and a long beard—this was Xian Tianhe’s true appearance. “The Profound Light Formation. You win; take the Kṣitigarbha Sarira, and I shall destroy my cultivation.”

“Please proceed.” Chang Kong said little, transforming entirely into a single golden lotus and floating into the wall. In a moment, the glass began to shimmer with golden light.

“Hey, you went in without even figuring out the situation,” Ye Xiu was somewhat perplexed. He wanted to reach out and stop Chang Kong but realized the two were simply not operating on the same level as him.

Xian Tianhe turned and smiled at him. “Light and shadow interweave; only those who understand what their heart truly desires can attain great enlightenment. Be careful.”

Glass, mirrors—Chang Kong felt as if he had entered another world. However, facing these dazzling, reflective walls, he was full of confidence: “I see that Water Marquis’s Profound Light Formation is nothing special either; it’s merely a simple Eight Trigrams Array.”

Chang Kong knew the visitor meant trouble, but facing these brilliantly shining reflective walls, he naturally had to be extremely vigilant: “I see Daoist’s Flowing Light Returning Heart Formation is also nothing special; it’s merely a simple Eight Trigrams Array.”

“Heh heh.” Xian Tianhe stood high above, shaking his head and smiling. “Monk, if you are so confident, why don’t you come in and try it immediately? I will certainly accompany you in fiddling with it.”

Chang Kong knew the mystery of the Eight Trigrams Array lay in its orientation. Divided according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches into the Eight Gates—Rest, Life, Injury, Obstruction, View, Death, Shock, and Open—entering from different directional gates could trigger different illusions. Furthermore, after the enemy entered the formation, the various outer gates would randomly shift their positions, locking the enemy firmly within the Eight Trigrams. Its unpredictable changes meant one could enter but not retreat, enter but not exit. Coupled with the towering reflective walls within the array, Chang Kong simply didn't know their purpose and hesitated.

“Chang Kong, don’t die inside someone else’s formation!” Ye Xiu, outside the array, could no longer discern the situation inside. He simply plopped down and settled in for a nap.

“Swish…” Chang Kong steadied his mind, finally holding his prayer beads forward, spinning them a few times. He chose to enter the array through the View Gate directly opposite him. The moment his foot landed within the circular formation, he instantly felt dizzy and disoriented. The ground there was almost tilted at a 60° angle, and strangely, his body tilted along with it to 60°.

“How is it?” Xian Tianhe seemed confident of victory seeing Chang Kong enter the array. “I fear, Monk, that after this step, you won't be able to take the next.”

Chang Kong knew this was all illusion, but the sensation at the View Gate was indeed unbearable. He simply wanted to follow the array positions and move right to find the adjacent Obstruction Gate entrance. Unfortunately, just as he was about to step in, a towering wall moved directly in front of him.

“Monk, you can’t even stand steady, and you still expect to form seals calmly?” It turned out that the shining wall was as transparent as a mirror. At this moment, Xian Tianhe was clearly visible within that mirror.

“Heavenly Collection Seal, Needle.” Chang Kong assumed Xian Tianhe was taking the opportunity to ambush him. He channeled his prayer beads, forming a golden seal. The arc of the seal floated in the air and surprisingly shot out streaks of golden needles. With a few “clangs,” they pierced into the wall.

“Haha, Monk, is your head alright? How can the legendary Kṣitigarbha ultimate skill, the Vast Sea Heavenly Collection Seal, only have this much power…” Xian Tianhe inside the wall showed no signs of injury. However, something strange happened: after the golden needles submerged into the wall, shadows of the needle tips appeared on the wall as reflections.

This is not a mirror? Chang Kong hurriedly retracted his power and looked back. There was no shadow of Xian Tianhe beside him. He was standing right in front of the wall. Looking again, he couldn't see his own shadow either. What was going on? Could Xian Tianhe really be hidden within this wall?

“Hahahaha, Hahahaha!” Xian Tianhe understood Chang Kong’s confusion and laughed loudly, trying to disrupt Chang Kong’s formation.

Chang Kong still felt his body swaying, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to be moving in the opposite direction. He ignored everything else, leaped high, trying to fly over this gigantic wall. Unexpectedly, in an instant, the wall, which had been slightly taller than him, also grew taller as he jumped.

“Vast Sea Heavenly Collection Seal, Sword!” The profound dharma of Kṣitigarbha surfaced in Chang Kong’s mind. He twisted his body, circling the wall, searching for a weak point. But no matter which side he looked from, Xian Tianhe’s appearance was clearly embedded within the wall, with no apparent flaw. “Strike!” Chang Kong could only shout and randomly chose a spot, suddenly launching a long sword. With a “rumble,” smoke billowed up. The long sword fiercely poked a small hole in the wall, actually pushing the stone structure back a considerable distance.