Chapter 1330: Change

"Don't worry, the power of the ancient prohibitions won't extend beyond the dark clouds. However, if someone were to force their way in, it would be a different story," Daoist Cang Hong explained, his tone both reassuring and cautionary. "It appears Old Demon Ye isn't here. Let's proceed with our plan and split up."

Meanwhile, the Sky Eye Butterfly thoroughly scanned the surroundings and found nothing unusual.

Qin Sang withdrew his gaze from the dark clouds and looked toward the depths of the Sin God Palace. This area was once a vast palace complex, but now it's difficult to surmise their original purpose. The palaces lay in ruins, some toppled, others collapsed, with rubble scattered everywhere. Only broken walls and remnants remained; not a single structure was intact. It was a complete and utter ruin.

The void was filled with a dense, omnipresent network of ancient prohibitions, making the Abyss Ruin seem insignificant by comparison. Countless ancient prohibitions intersected, layering upon layer and influencing each other. Many areas were highly unstable, making it impossible to take even a single step. Through the diligent exploration of generations of cultivators from Sin Abyss, a few relatively safe paths had been discovered.

"Where is the passage to Ziwei Palace?" Daoist Zhen Yi inquired.

The others were also curious, having observed for a long time without discerning any clear entrance to a passage.

"It's in the sky!" True Lord Cang Hong declared, looking up into the depths of Ziwei Palace. "You can't see it clearly from here. After traversing this expanse of palace ruins, you'll observe a convergence of lightning within the dark clouds. The passage is concealed within that area. Our predecessors long noticed the anomaly there and had their suspicions, but the power of the lightning generated by the ancient prohibitions was simply too formidable. Many attempted to probe it but ultimately gave up; one senior even perished there."

"Did you obtain the secret art to control the ancient prohibitions by soul-searching the demon?" someone interjected.

"Indeed," True Lord Cang Hong affirmed with a nod. "The ancient prohibitions governing the passage are intricately linked to Ziwei Palace. Whenever Ziwei Palace becomes dormant, the passage closes. Old Demon Ye must have waited until now to enter Ziwei Palace. Even so, we're too late to intercept him. The signs of the passage opening aren't distinct, making it difficult to ascertain his movements based on them..."

Abandoning any lingering hope, they divided their forces according to their previous assignments and entered the palace ruins. Despite possessing a geodetic map, no one dared to lower their guard. Qing Jun and Lu Boyuan maintained vigilance at the front and back, while Qin Sang, protected in the middle, activated his Sky Eye divine ability.

The palace complex was so vast that they had been walking for half an hour. Along the way, Qin Sang roused his Fat Silkworm and Fire Jade Centipede, hoping they might sense any hidden rare treasures or spiritual herbs. He also kept the sword spirit in mind, constantly monitoring for any changes in the Slaughter Sword. The three secret realms were interconnected. As fragments of the Slaughter Sword were found in both Ziwei Palace and the Seven Kills Hall, the Sin God Palace should be no exception. Perhaps the area had already been thoroughly plundered, as after walking for so long, neither spiritual insect reacted, and the sword spirit showed no signs of awakening.

The path wound in twists and turns. After traversing an unknown distance further, Qing Jun, who was at the forefront, halted and softly announced, "We're out!"

Outside the ruins, the atmosphere remained dim and oppressive. Upon exiting the ruins, they indeed saw the location True Lord Cang Hong had described. The dark clouds deep within the Sin God Palace exhibited a higher frequency of lightning strikes than outside. It seemed as though something was attracting them, causing a continuous bombardment of a single spot. However, the distance was still too great to discern it clearly.

Ahead, indistinct mountain ranges stretched one after another. Iron chains crisscrossed the mountainsides, and the faint outlines of ancient castle ruins were discernible. In such a treacherous place, flying was ill-advised. After a brief pause, they activated their movement techniques and sped toward the mountain range.

The mountain peaks were treacherous, with sheer cliffs everywhere, connected by thick iron chains. Gusts of biting yin wind swept through, chilling them to the bone. Even as Nascent Soul cultivators, they felt the piercing cold while traversing the iron chains, their faces growing pale. They scaled one icy peak after another, but found nothing of value.

Beyond the mountains lay a vast swamp. Qing Jun retrieved the geodetic map and pointed toward a specific location within the swamp. "One of the restricted areas is here," he explained. "The swamp's putrid substances possess corrosive power that intensifies the deeper you venture. Everyone, be cautious."

The group activated their respective magic treasures, maintaining a height of roughly half a person, and swiftly moved toward their destination. Along the way, they encountered numerous ruins. Some were completely destroyed, while others still flickered with light but were severely dilapidated. The appearance of these ruins strongly suggested they were once cages, leaving one to wonder how many individuals had been imprisoned within this vast swamp.

After navigating through countless cages, they finally reached the entrance of the restricted area. This particular location was designated a restricted area because of its unique nature, starkly different from the other cages scattered throughout the swamp. This expansive area was conspicuously empty of other structures; it was evident that the surrounding cages had been constructed around it, marking it as the core. The interior of the restricted area was shrouded in dense, ink-black ancient prohibitions. Standing outside, everyone sensed an imminent danger. Above the restricted area, four gray stone pillars rose, only their uppermost sections visible, almost touching the dark clouds.

Upon arrival, the group immediately made a discovery: "The restricted area has been opened! Old Demon Ye has been here!"

A stone path outside the restricted area led to a black door. The iron lock on it had been snapped, and the protective enchantment was visibly damaged!

*Whoosh!*

The group reacted instantly, dispersing and forming a defensive formation. The door stood ajar, revealing only dead silence within.

Someone voiced a suspicion: "Could Old Demon Ye have deliberately set up a diversion to delay us?"

"It's possible!" Qing Jun, emboldened by her formidable skill, declared. "Let's enter and investigate first, then decide whether to inform the others."

The group landed on the stone path and proceeded cautiously inside. The traces left by Old Demon Ye were unmistakable, leading directly to the end of the stone path. Along the way, door after door lay ruined. The group proceeded without incident, reaching the depths of the restricted area.

"Only a few more layers remain until we reach the core of the restricted area. If Old Demon Ye is inside, we should call for reinforcements first," Lu Boyuan advised Qing Jun via spiritual transmission.

The group quietly retreated from the restricted area, employed their communication methods to notify the other two teams, and then established a formation at the entrance.

Simultaneously, True Lord Cang Hong and Demon Lord Tong You were leading their respective teams in exploring the other two restricted areas within the Sin God Palace. Traces left by Old Demon Ye were also found in these locations, but they quickly realized these were false leads, confined solely to the outer perimeter of the restricted areas. Upon receiving Qing Jun's communication, both teams immediately set off, swiftly moving toward the swamp.

Meanwhile, Qin Sang and his group guarded the restricted area, waiting for the others while deliberating their next steps. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Qin Sang noticed something amiss in the depths of the dark clouds, specifically at the location of the passage. He abruptly looked up.

The others gradually noticed the anomaly as well. The lightning strikes were inexplicably intensifying, and at their epicenter, a millstone-sized lightning ring gradually began to form. Initially, the lightning ring was faint and small, but it steadily expanded with time. From the center of the lightning ring, bursts of multicolored light erupted, dissipating into the void upon their emergence.

The group exchanged bewildered glances. Several Sin Abyss cultivators among them also wore expressions of utter bewilderment. Never before, even when the passage had been open, had such a phenomenon occurred!