Lixue blinked back to herself and found a barren ruin, shattered remnants strewn like bleached bones, the air heavy with a graveyard chill.

Beside her stood Lingxiao, Lingsaki, and Wanling, just regaining awareness, eyes wandering like lost birds in fog.

Worry pricked her like cold rain. “Lingxiao, you two okay?”

She rolled her shoulders; nothing felt off, joints moving smooth as oiled hinges. She looked to the sisters and Wanling.

“We’re fine, but where’s dear big brother?! And Qianji Sister and the others aren’t here.” Her voice trembled like a loose string.

“Big brother won’t be in trouble… right?” The fear fluttered like a trapped moth against their ribs.

Not seeing their favorite brother, the sisters’ brows knotted like storm clouds on a low sky.

“This probably isn’t a problem. I think the second phase splits into several places, people thrown in like leaves scattered by wind.”

With power at the Zenith of Law Realm, Wanling read the terrain like a hawk catching the air.

“So that means we need to clear this trial here to meet back up with the Emperor and the others?” The path stretched before them like a winding river.

“Nine times out of ten. But first, beat this trial; otherwise, everything else is mist,” Wanling said, voice steady as a drumbeat.

“Then hurry and clear it! It’s scary not having dear big brother beside me.” Her heart skittered like a sparrow in brush.

“Same here. But how do we pass? I don’t see any enemies.” The horizon looked empty, a dry plain under pale light.

“Let’s walk and look around. Answers don’t knock if we stand rooted,” Wanling suggested, the words falling like pebbles into a still pool.

“Mm, makes sense. Let’s get a feel for the place first,” Lixue said, like tracing riverlines on a worn map.

“Okay, okay.” Her agreement drifted light as loose feathers.

The three and the artifact spirit, Wanling, began to wander the ruin. Wind combed the stones like old fingers; it was smaller than the Undead Town, with the same dry echo.

At the far end, they found another door, a black iron gate mottled with rust, flaking like old bark.

A hundred meters before it stood a crystal pillar, out of place like a lily in ash, sculpted with the grace of art; its clear shaft glittered beneath the setting sun like a poured river of light.

Atop the pillar rested a violet-blue orb, a cupped star shedding strange glow, its sheen rippling like moonlight on water.

“What is this thing? It’s gorgeous!” Her eyes shone, clear as spring water.

Girls rarely resist honeyed beauty; Lingxiao was no exception. She reached for the orb, but Lixue’s hand caught hers like a willow switch. “Don’t touch. Something this flashy smells wrong; it could be a trap.” Temptation glinted like sugar; danger hid like thorns under petals.

“Oh, right—almost forgot. That was dangerous.” Cold sweat beaded like dew on grass.

She drew back her hand; Lingxiao’s gaze on the orb turned wary, a cat watching a coiled snake.

“Mm… so what’s the pass condition? That iron gate looks wrapped by a strange force; brute force won’t crack it.” The barrier felt like winter ice sealing a lake.

Lingsaki turned to Wanling, hope flickering like a candle in wind. “Wanling, got a clue?”

“Yes, and it’s simple. The key sits right before your eyes,” Wanling said, plain as a mountain under clear sky.

“Right before us? Don’t tell me…” Surprise rose like a fast tide.

Hearing that, Lixue and the sisters focused, attention sharpening like blades, eyes fixed on the pillar and orb.

Wanling smiled softly and touched the crystal orb, light fingers alighting like a butterfly on a bloom.

In that instant, as if something woke, the orb burst into a blinding sun-crack of light; they shut their eyes on reflex.

After a dozen seconds, the glow ebbed like a tide at dusk; they opened their eyes. The orb shone brighter, lines of text floating like frost traced on glass:

Trial begins in half an hour. Duration: three hours.

Content: a defense battle. Nearly a million undead will attack the Crystal Pillar. Protect the Crystal Pillar for three hours under the swarm’s assault to pass.

If the Crystal Pillar is damaged, it counts as failure. You will be forcibly ejected from the Soulless Sanctuary.

Note: Those at High-tier of the Law Realm or above cannot participate. If you came alone, please return the way you came. If you have companions below High-tier, wait for them to finish.

“Ah, looks like I can’t help you.” Wanling’s hands felt tied, knotted like silk.

She sensed her power bound by an unseen dam, the flow reduced to a thin stream, not even thirty percent.

“Without Wanling, this is bad. And a million… isn’t that too much?!” The number swarmed like a locust cloud across the mind.

Blocking Wanling was one thing, but guarding the pillar against a million undead made Lingxiao’s scalp crawl like bristles; she grumbled, mood sour as stale rain.

“Everything has two sides, Lingxiao. Don’t worry too much,” Lixue said, turning the coin under the sun.

She shook her head, calm as still water. “So many means they won’t be strong. And that half-hour prep doesn’t forbid shielding the Crystal Pillar with magic ahead of time.”

“Lixue’s right. A million looks scary, but you’re good at area attacks, yeah? Treat this as a chance to hone your hand,” Wanling said, like a whetstone kissing steel.

Not joining didn’t stop Wanling from lighting their path like a lantern off the road.

“True. Thinking like that, it’s not so hard. The drain will be heavy, though. Good thing we brought plenty of Supreme Divine Elixir; we can play attrition.” Bottled light gleamed like captured stars.

“Right. No time to waste. Let’s lock down the Crystal Pillar,” Lixue said, building iron around it like a fortress wall.

“Mm!” Resolve clenched like a fist.

The sisters drew out the Dual Daynight Tomes, excitement sparking like tinder catching.

As for Lixue, she held measures in reserve like a hidden blade, planning to add more after the first wave.

Guarding the pillar from damage wasn’t enough; best to keep the undead from even nearing, a moat of fire before the gate.

Lingxiao and Lingsaki spaced themselves, one before, one behind, facing the pillar, and unleashed their strongest barrier arts, weaving walls like glass storms.

With time to spare, their casting ran long. Slow craft makes fine work; twenty minutes later, the defense stood layered like lacquer, good enough to draw Wanling’s praise.

“Sealed Moon, Scattered Blossoms.”

No extra frills—Lixue threaded Sword Aura into the barrier, steel needles sewn into silk, making it tougher and harder to breach in haste.

They fell silent after that, no more talk, only quiet readiness, like hunters waiting for dawn’s edge.

The brief remaining time slipped away like sand. Then thick undead aura condensed into mist and spread, breath cold as a marsh fog.

Next came the hordes, surging in ranks like black rivers. Their number darkened the sky like storm-burdened clouds, pressing on the heart with a heavy weight.