The instant the silver-white ring flared to life, a colossal pillar of white energy, like a roaring geyser, erupted from the surface of the Tiandu River behind the youth in the mink coat and black attire. Countless fine droplets sprayed outwards, catching the sunlight to cast shimmering, iridescent rainbows.

The youth in the mink coat whipped his head around, fixing his gaze upon the spot where a pitch-black silhouette violently arched upward amidst the towering spray behind him. It stood suspended in the air, being washed over by massive white torrents falling from the sky. His clothes and hair were drenched, plastered against his bronze skin, obscuring the eyes beneath his brow.

The youth’s brow furrowed slightly. As his gaze swept over the figure, he noticed thick, heavy black chains binding both hands and feet, as if eternal shackles were fastened upon him.

"He's yours, River Demon," Bai Tian said with a smile.

Mount Yanshen, within the secret passage tunnel.

The immense, soaring mountain mass was crisscrossed by numerous winding, rugged paths, and quiet byways overgrown with weeds, where droplets of clear dew would gather on the leaves in the early morning.

In a long, dark, and gloomy passage, Di Zichuan walked alongside Lian Guang (the Fourth Seal Envoy). The only sounds in the silent corridor were the crisp, echoing footsteps of the two of them.

"Hey, I'm asking, what exactly are we looking for?" Di Zichuan asked casually, hands clasped behind his head, following Lian Guang indifferently.

Lian Guang’s exquisitely handsome face held a soft, gentle smile. He walked steadily, replying without turning back, "You'll know when we get there."

Just then, a turn appeared ahead in the dark passage, casting a faint white light from the corner. Lian Guang glanced at it and murmured softly, "We're here." He moved forward, rounded the bend, and faced a magnificent stone gate. In its center was a recessed handprint indentation, from which the faint white light emanated.

Smiling, he stepped forward and pressed his slender, pale hand into the recess. With a distinct 'click,' the entire ancient and mysterious stone door began to rumble slowly as it rose upward, sliding into the space between the slabs, revealing a vast, empty stone chamber before them.

The walls of the chamber were somewhat yellowish, suggesting it had been built many ages ago. In the corners lay stacks of ancient sheepskin scrolls and various glass bottles, all blanketed under a thick layer of dust. In the very center of the chamber stood a high altar comprised of three ascending steps, also completely covered in dust and utterly bare.

Di Zichuan surveyed the interior, asking curiously, "What is this place? It looks incredibly ancient. Not even the faintest trace of Chaos energy could penetrate that stone door. For dust to accumulate this thickly, it must be at least tens of millions of epochs old."

"Indeed." Lian Guang didn't spare the room a glance, heading straight for the altar. A brilliant light shimmered in his eyes. Standing before this ancient and mysterious structure, he observed six transparent crystal pillars surrounding it, etched with countless esoteric patterns, all coated in a thick layer of grime that made them resemble crudely molded mud pillars at first glance.

As Di Zichuan scanned the surroundings, Lian Guang suddenly pressed something unseen. A sharp 'crack' echoed through the otherwise silent stone chamber, sounding like a specter chewing on bone, startling Di Zichuan. He whipped around and glared at Lian Guang crossly, "You nearly scared me to death! Can you give a warning next time? Startling people like that can kill them."

Lian Guang did not look back, replying coldly, "Are you truly considered a person?"

Di Zichuan was momentarily speechless. After a moment, he rubbed his nose and mumbled, "Perhaps... I am indeed not quite human anymore, but you are even less so than I."

Lian Guang ignored him, his gaze fixed intently upon the altar. Following that initial 'crack,' the altar remained silent for a beat, then slowly began to turn like interlocking gears. First, the six crystalline totem pillars erupted with millions of needle-point shafts of brilliant light, so intense they forced one to shut their eyes. This intense light vaporized the surface dust, restoring their pristine luster. Simultaneously, the entire chamber seemed to awaken; the floor vibrated gently, and the dust coating the walls and glass bottles shook loose.

Di Zichuan sighed and extended his pale hand, clenching it slightly. The floating, swirling dust particles seemed guided, instantly shooting toward his palm, coalescing into a muddy sphere of black and yellow, which he tossed backward into an unknown corner.

Everything in the stone hall regained a brilliant, renewed sheen, emitting a soft, gentle radiance, but the attention of Di Zichuan and Lian Guang remained fixed on the altar.

The six crystal totem pillars on the altar began to rotate slowly, operating like gears to propel a mysterious object upward. At the same time, a section of the floor in the altar's center began to convex slowly. Only when it had risen half a meter did Lian Guang and Di Zichuan recognize it: it was distinctly a stone pillar carved with secret markings.

Lian Guang's eyes suddenly narrowed, a sharp gleam flashing across them as he focused on a protruding, round black bead atop the stone pillar. As the pillar continued to ascend, it finally stopped rising. Dense, dazzling white light radiated from the crystal pillars, reflecting brightly in the pupils of the two men.

"Crack!" The stone pillar emitted a heavy sound. A white light flickered across its hexagonal facets as it slowly began to disassemble. Inside lay a golden divine sword, appearing forged from the purest golden essence. The blade shimmered with needle-like golden radiance, utterly pure without a single blemish, and then, held aloft by an unseen force, it slowly rose.

A glint flashed in Lian Guang's eyes, and his body shot into the air. He reached out and grasped the hilt of the golden divine sword. The hilt was spiraled, and its end was inlaid with a perfectly round black gem that seemed capable of swallowing all light, shrouded in a dark aura.

Lian Guang spun in the air, landing lightly back in his original spot. He gazed at the golden divine sword in his hand, and a sharp, golden glint seemed reflected in his eyes. Di Zichuan’s pupils contracted slightly as he scrutinized the sword. After a moment, he inquired, "Could this be the Earth Divine Sword?"

"Indeed." The corners of Lian Guang's mouth curved into a gentle yet cold arc as he examined the divine sword, holding it as if he had acquired the greatest treasure.

"Legend states that the Supreme Being of the Heart Realm once forged eight Supreme Treasures. Four were scattered and lost during a great war, while the remaining four are still within the Heart Realm. This Earth Divine Sword is among those eight Supreme Treasures!" Strange light flickered in Di Zichuan's eyes.

Lian Guang smiled faintly. "Do you know that the Earth Divine Sword ranks third among those eight weapons? And your Sky-Slaying Dagger ranks eighth among the eight Supreme Treasures!"

Di Zichuan's expression shifted subtly, but he remained silent.

Lian Guang was in an excellent mood. He glanced sideways at Di Zichuan, a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth, then with a grasp of his hand, he tore open a tiny spatial rift and deposited the Earth Divine Sword inside before turning to leave the stone chamber.

Di Zichuan watched his retreating figure, an indefinable light flickering in his deep eyes. After a moment, the slight furrow in his brow eased, and he stepped out, following him.

As he exited the chamber, a faint speck of light suddenly refracted, catching his eye. He involuntarily paused and turned to look. Amidst a pile of miscellaneous objects, there was a small, golden bead...

Wuming Divine Temple, the mountain outside headquarters.

The Temple of Light belonged to the territory of the Guangming Empire. The relationship between the Temple and the Empire was akin to that between the military and the commercial departments: one handled force, the other amassed wealth, operating as allies.

Far from White Spirit Mountain, there lay a range called the Guangming Mountains. Peaks jutted out like bamboo shoots, resembling the fangs of colossal beasts piercing the heavens and earth. Upon every peak stood a structure as magnificent as a palace.

"Ye Zhu, Elder Chief Steward has summoned everyone at the Divine Realm to assemble. An army of dead corpse monsters is attacking outside; we must hurry to provide support," a fair-faced young woman said quickly to the slender girl beside her, whose skin was so fair it was almost translucent.

This girl’s long, dark hair fluttered behind her in the wind. Her elegant black eyebrows were like a crescent moon, and her clear, pure black eyes were ethereal and sacred, belonging to a girl untouched by a speck of dust. She exuded an aura of detached purity and youth.

"You go ahead, I’ll be right there," Ye Zhu replied softly, her voice as melodious as spring water dripping against stone.

The girl, seeing her unhurried demeanor, felt both anxious and helpless. Finally, she stamped her foot. "Then I’ll go first. You have to hurry." With that, she darted away like a puff of pale smoke.

Ye Zhu withdrew her gaze, looking toward the distance where the mountain peaks were encircled by white clouds. In the hazy mist, several black peaks were faintly discernible, and she sensed something there calling to her—a connection as intimate as if it were etched into her very bone marrow.

"Ever since I received guidance from the Nanhai Divine Monk and discovered my innate affinity for the Light attribute, I was recommended to the Temple of Light. I don't know why, but I always feel like this place is strangely familiar, especially the central peak. It seems... something is summoning me..."

Ye Zhu’s delicate brow knitted slightly. She had never shared this strange state of hers with anyone, fearing they would think her mad.

She gazed into the distance, staring blankly at the peaks shrouded in mist. Suddenly, a chime echoed behind her, piercing through the vast sky.

Ye Zhu startled and quickly spun around, darting swiftly toward a large square. Her agile eyes swept the area, and she instantly located the girl from before. With a flash of movement, she silently appeared behind the girl and tapped her shoulder.

"Ah!" The girl cried out, turning around to see Ye Zhu, and she couldn't help but sputter, "You’re trying to scare me to death! How can you move without making a sound?"

Ye Zhu playfully stuck out her tongue.