In a daze, Zong Shou continued asking as if guided by some unseen force, "May this junior know the name of the esteemed one?" The woman then laughed, "There's no need to call me senior; I haven't been alive for very long. Just call me Lu Hanyan."

"Lu Hanyan?"

A shockwave detonated within Zong Shou's soul, like the sound of thunder.

Yet, immediately afterward, confusion washed over him. He thought, Who is 'Lu Hanyan'? Do I know her?

After pondering for a moment in his groggy state, his heart surged, and he awoke abruptly.

No! This was recognition—

The thought barely surfaced before it submerged back into the lake of his mind, leaving not even a ripple behind.

He then wondered what this woman had just said, what her name was—why couldn't he recall it clearly?

Was it due to the prison's restrictive arts or his eyes that his sight and hearing were affected? Or perhaps there was a gap in his memory?

Feeling it inappropriate to ask again, Zong Shou could only nod slightly, "I know!"

Looking inward, he felt as though his meridians were flowing backward, blood surging in reverse.

Fortunately, his true qi and soul power had both recovered to their peak. The vital energy, after a full day of recuperation, had also mostly returned to normal.

His original plan was to rest for some time before proceeding, but since the guardian within this Abyss Gate was an Formless God-Demon, there was no need for delay.

He didn't recognize this woman, nor did he know anything about her past. Yet, instinctively, he believed everything she said.

Taking a deep breath, Zong Shou prepared to step into the black mist. Just then, the woman spoke again, advising, "Young sir, that Formless God-Demon is ferocious in temperament. I have been here for twenty years and have seen several people venture inside, but all met grim ends. Your cultivation is somewhat weaker; if you go in this time, you are likely facing mortal peril. Perhaps you should reconsider?"

A warmth spread through Zong Shou's heart, but he quietly shook his head.

Just as this woman refused to escape this confinement, he, too, had an unyielding reason to force his way into the Ninth Layer of the Death Prison.

Without another word, Zong Shou flashed, instantly appearing ten miles away.

Before the black mist, he hesitated for only a moment before stepping in without looking back.

The atmosphere within the swirling mass of fog grew increasingly chilling and sinister.

This place contained not only the power of Nether Death, condensed to a near-solid state, but the mist also held a power capable of clouding the mind.

If one looked with ordinary eyes, illusions would surely run rampant.

However, Zong Shou was currently utilizing the Illusory Heart Mirror, so he was not subjected to the confusing influence of the fog's deceptive power.

Even if his dispersed spiritual sense registered errors, under the illumination of that cool mirror light, everything here could hide nothing.

As he advanced toward the center of the mist, having taken only a few steps, Zong Shou heard a harsh, cackling laugh echo by his ears.

The sound was piercingly strange, vibrating against his eardrums.

As Zong Shou grew wary, a magnificent arc of sword light suddenly cleaved down from the distance.

Its momentum was vast, majestic, and upright, arriving like a descending giant mountain—powerfully irresistible!

Peak Divine Realm?

Zong Shou instinctively felt the urge to evade, wishing to momentarily avoid its sharp edge.

But then, he suddenly bit his tongue, advancing instead of retreating. His figure flashed, and grasping his Nameless Sword, he aggressively carved forward.

If he could not meet this sword strike, he would perish!

Following a cacophony of clashing sword glows and the resonant discharge of weaponized qi auras, Zong Shou was instantly thrown back twenty zhang. He casually swung his hand, and the Primordial Soul Sword left his sea of consciousness, manifesting beside him.

Employing the 'Unity' True Art of the Nine-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword, he unleashed hundreds of strikes in a single breath.

He completely repelled all the pursuing arcs of light and elemental techniques within a thirty-foot radius!

The thirty-seven Dao-Guarding Dragon's Tooth Swords were arrayed ten zhang beyond him.

With the sword formation established, the entire thousand-zhang area instantly filled with wisps of sword energy.

Only then did Zong Shou truly 'see' the scene before him.

A dozen cultivators with blank expressions surrounded him. Aside from their dull eyes, they were indistinguishable from Divine Realm experts in every other aspect.

Zong Shou showed no panic; instead, a cold sneer touched his eyes.

These must be Shadow Puppets!

Their divine consciousness and soul had been shattered by the Shadow Demon, turning them into controllable puppets.

However, these puppets lacking sentience could not wield the Great Dao laws they mastered in life.

It was more accurate to call them Immortal Realm practitioners with superior strength and more robust true essence than to call them Divine Realm experts.

Therefore, even though there were over a dozen of them this time, they were beneath his notice.

What truly concerned him was the source of that sword light.

That sword, far from the overwhelming power he perceived, was merely an illusion.

The Formless God-Demon could manipulate his thoughts, making him perceive it so. But in genuine combat, such a discrepancy could never escape perception.

In truth, the Illusory Heart Mirror had been reflecting everything real into his sea of consciousness from the start.

It was just that the Formless God-Demon bypassed it to strike directly at his primal soul.

Perhaps knowing that his will was unyielding and that common tactics could not shake him, this Shadow Demon initiated the confrontation with a sinister laugh to arouse his vigilance, creating an opportunity.

Then, it plunged directly into his spirit, forging the illusion of that world-shattering strike.

Had he only followed his instinct and dodged, he would have inevitably fallen step-by-step into the trap constructed by the Formless God-Demon.

However, even though he had dismantled the Divine Realm Shadow Demon's trick now, Zong Shou felt no relief; instead, he became even more cautious.

This Shadow Demon was not only powerful in its divine abilities but also exceptionally cunning in its methods!

Pervasive and impossible to guard against!

In the next instant, a youth with a cinnabar red mole on his brow stepped out of the mist from a distance.

He glanced at Zong Shou, then looked quizzically at the greenish mirror before his gaze became strange. "That’s the scent of Sky-Burning Blood. You are the Young Master of the Lu family, one of the Crown Princes of the Holy Court? Why have you come here? I have an agreement with the people of your Lu family; I cannot harm your pure-blooded kin."

Zong Shou frowned. Because of this bloodline, no matter where he went, everyone associated him with the Lu family.

Although his name was indeed listed in the Lu family's direct lineage registry, he personally detested it intensely.

He harbored a particular aversion to the titles 'Young Master' and 'Crown Prince.'

Shaking his head, Zong Shou dismissed the extraneous thoughts.

"I intend to visit the Ninth Layer. Are you willing to step aside?"

The Formless God-Demon possessed no true body; this Shadow Demon was communicating through the puppet’s form. Its combat strength was only reduced by half a tier, and in the previous exchange, its swordsmanship was already superior to his own.

Although he did not fear this being, it was best to avoid a fight if possible.

After all, utilizing the power of the Illusory Heart Realm to suppress a Divine Realm Shadow Demon would inevitably consume his lifespan.

The Formless God-Demon merely laughed, "Do you possess an Edict from the Holy Court? If so, please produce it for inspection; I shall not bar your way!"

Seeing Zong Shou's brow tighten, the Formless God-Demon understood, and its expression turned cold, a chilling glint flashing in its eyes.

"No Edict, that puts me in a difficult position."

As the Formless God-Demon spoke, its expression suddenly shifted into a strange smile. "You enter the Ninth Layer of the Death Prison seeking Lu Hanyan? Is she your mother? I recall, however, that over these past twenty years, none of the individuals thrown into the Ninth Layer of the Death Prison were women, nor was there anyone named Lu Hanyan—"

Zong Shou was first startled, realizing the Formless God-Demon was peering into his thoughts, and then his body trembled slightly.