Chapter 1177: Found You……

Sin Hall One.

The void shattered, mist swirled, and the light was dim. A scene of ruin!

This place, one of the nine great perilous lands, now seemed to have fully bared its unique fangs.

Although the forbidden zone's properties were activated, the spiritual energy and life force of the Spirit Cultivators consumed by Sin Hall One were not immediately fatal.

This created a false impression:

"I can resist it, so by taking some risks, I can find opportunities within this hall."

Subjectively, people might think this way.

But from an objective perspective, once truly lost in the hall's maze, one would unknowingly walk towards the shores of death.

"Boom!"

A thunderous roar echoed in the distance, the sound of multiple Saint Tribulations intertwining.

Everyone still in the hall, or newly arrived, understood that Sin Hall One truly offered the chance to undergo tribulation and achieve sainthood.

However, ordinary people were not blessed enough to endure such an opportunity.

At this moment, within Sin Hall One, on two sides—whether north-south or west-east was unclear—three Saint Tribulations were simultaneously occurring.

Those undergoing tribulation, still alive, demonstrated immense power.

Under the overlapping Saint Tribulations, they could barely flee far, unable to escape Sin Hall One, and were forced to stop and face their tribulations within the maze-like environment.

No one dared to peek into the distant chaos.

If it were a single Saint Tribulation, Void Realm experts might still dare to observe; it was an unspoken rule—as long as observers didn't interfere, the Saint-to-be wouldn't bother them.

But this time, both sides faced triple Saint Tribulations. Who would dare approach?

Whoever went would surely die!

"It's so quiet..."

"Sin Hall One looks like a giant coffin, as if this old woman has already died, hehe."

The distant roars, instead, highlighted the eerie stillness of the maze-like areas within Sin Hall One, imbued with an ominous aura that filled people with dread.

Grandma Tianling withdrew her upward gaze, drifting slowly forward through the maze, her vigilance raised to the highest level.

She didn't even dare to land, fearing she might make a sound and be detected.

This was a habit of caution that all Void Realm experts developed after their journey from Solitary Sound Cliff to the deep sea, to the City in the Sky, and now to Sin Hall One.

Grandma Tianling was reluctant to recall her journey; it had truly been a nightmare!

It was because of the "foundation for sainthood" that she went to the Yunlun Mountains.

However, soon after ascending Solitary Sound Cliff, the deep sea swallowed everything. Grandma Tianling watched helplessly as a Void Realm expert rushed into the forbidden spell barrier and fell into the cloud sea between the cliffs.

She wanted to turn and run, but before she could move, the deep sea transformed into hands, gripping her feet and pulling her into the deep-sea world—it was like encountering a ghost!

Inside the deep sea, water orbs almost drained Grandma Tianling's spiritual energy and life force. Just as she was in despair, on the verge of death, Rao Yaoyao appeared.

Her rescuer, Rao Yaoyao, freed her.

But before Grandma Tianling could even be happy, she was brought before the Void Gate and, under everyone's gaze, became the old white rat.

Forced to push open the Void Gate...

She was the first to disappear, the first to ascend to the City in the Sky...

Grandma Tianling gained no benefits, instead losing half her life, and after landing on the island, she hadn't encountered a single opportunity!

Yet, the City in the Sky kept experiencing fluctuations of sainthood.

Grandma Tianling finally grew envious, unable to resist moving from her secluded cave in the deep mountains, deciding to take a gamble.

Having already reached the City in the Sky, with the foundation for sainthood almost within reach, how could she merely hide?

How could she retreat after coming so far?

Grandma Tianling firmly believed in one principle...

Survive a great catastrophe, and good fortune is sure to follow!

"Caw—"

Suddenly, a crow cawed overhead, sending shivers down her spine.

Grandma Tianling's liver trembled, spiritual energy erupted from her body, and as defensive spiritual artifacts flew out, her hands already gripped a formation disk and a sword. She whirled around decisively.

Something had fallen.

Without any warning, not a hint of spiritual energy fluctuation, not even the slightest ripple in the rules of the Heavenly Dao...

The object crashed not far behind her, stuck between the maze walls, revealing only its upper body, face hanging downwards.

"A person?"

Grandma Tianling's eyelids twitched violently.

She fully understood how hard the maze walls of Sin Hall One were.

After all, anyone who came here must have tried violent methods; no one wanted to take detours.

Grandma Tianling had tried too, exhausting all her methods, but the maze walls wouldn't budge even with a forceful blast.

And now...

This person abruptly appeared, lodged between the maze walls, and had even cracked the walls.

"A dead person?"

Grandma Tianling, having taken many lives, could tell at a glance that this uninvited guest had not a shred of life force; he was clearly stone dead.

She fell silent for a moment, wanting to step forward, but suddenly felt a discomfort in her body: dry mouth, parched throat, and an itching sensation all over.

"Run!"

Grandma Tianling's face contorted in terror.

Premonitions never joked!

In an eerie environment like Sin Hall One, a Spirit Cultivator's primary rule of action should not be to covet opportunities, but to heed their body's reactions and prioritize survival.

Without even thinking, Grandma Tianling turned and fled, even spitting out vital blood to cast an escape technique.

"Buzz."

Just then, an almost imperceptible crimson light flashed in her eyes, and a commotion stirred in her mind.

"He's already dead!"

"Perhaps this is the opportunity this old woman has been waiting for?"

"That fellow looks extraordinary, but he's utterly powerless. Even if he came back to life, what could he do?"

"He's weak, I'm strong... At least take his ring! Who among those who made it to the City in the Sky doesn't have some good stuff?"

"Just one look! Just one look!"

Grandma Tianling stopped, turned around, and saw that the person stuck in the wall was still motionless and dead. A smile spread across her face.

With a flicker of her figure, she moved in front of the orange-robed man.

Grandma Tianling bent down, wanting to turn the man's head to see his true face, when her gaze suddenly fixed.

"Why is there dust? This old woman hasn't even landed..."

Her skirt had accumulated some dirt and dust, along with a few blades of grass, stuck so tightly they'd require several pats to remove.

Grandma Tianling was not a particularly clean person, nor was she obsessive-compulsive or a perfectionist.

Yet, she still bent down and reached out, plucking off the grass and patting away the dust.

"Sniff! Sniff!"

She inhaled twice through her nose.

Still bent over, Grandma Tianling frowned, detecting an unusual smell.

"What's that smell?"

The odor was somewhat pungent and foul, like sweat.

Grandma Tianling, still bent, instinctively turned her head to sniff her own armpit again.

It was putrid!

In an instant, the smell transformed, like the stench of a corpse!

"How could that be..."

Grandma Tianling grinned.

Her spiritual body was pure and unblemished, and she wasn't dead yet, so how could there be the smell of a corpse?

Speaking of "corpse"...

Right, that guy was still right in front of her!

What was she doing, bothering with all this?

Grandma Tianling straightened up, raised her head, and bumped into something with a dull thud. It hurt badly!

"Ugh!"

She groaned in pain, reaching up to soothe the sore spot on her head, but accidentally touched a large, hard object.

What on earth was that...?

Grandma Tianling took half a step back, then suddenly her eyes snapped open, as if she had finally sobered up, and she fiercely looked up.

—A face!

Right in front of her was a face!

An old face, covered in blood and wrinkles, with only half its features remaining, eyes tightly closed!

It was the face of the orange-robed man, who had originally been head down, body stuck in the wall, and seemingly completely dead, now suddenly lifted!

"Ugh..."

Grandma Tianling's eyebrows shot up, forming horrified lines on her forehead.

Her nose brushed against the dead man's nose, and she could feel a distinct chill.

After realizing what was happening, Grandma Tianling's eyes bulged, and she felt a lump in her throat, as if some frantic energy was stuck, unable to be released.

Silence lasted for a moment...

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man's eyes suddenly opened, fixed on Grandma Tianling!

"Ah—"

A piercing shriek, at that moment, almost tore through half of Sin Hall One's maze, her voice completely broken.

One indifferent eye, one Three Aversion Eye...

The dead man's face, with only half its features remaining, magnified infinitely in Grandma Tianling's pupils, filling her entire spiritual world at mere inches away!

"Die! Die! Die!!!"

Terrified, Grandma Tianling slammed the formation disk onto the eerie face with a backhand.

With a crash, an explosion erupted, infinite lightning flashed, engulfing the darkness of one side of Sin Hall One, turning into surging lightning serpents, furiously striking the skull of the Five Declines of Heaven and Man.

A cloud of dust instantly spread.

"Get lost!"

Grandma Tianling wasn't satisfied; she fiercely plunged her sword into the dead man's face again.

With a 'crack', the Tier 2 spiritual sword in her hand failed to pierce the Five Declines of Heaven and Man's head. Instead, Grandma Tianling's elbow bone fractured from the force, causing blood to splatter.

"Cackle, cackle, cackle..."

She froze.

Her lips began to tremble.

Her teeth started chattering.

Without a second thought, Grandma Tianling turned and ran!

"Orange mask, orange robe..."

"Straw, dust, sweat, emotional instability, if that counts as displeasing me, then this old woman..."

Grandma Tianling, while fleeing wildly, instinctively reached up and plucked off the protective jade hairpin from her hair bun.

The jade hairpin was dull and lifeless, its power clearly inactive...

The crown of glory withered!

All Five Declines arrived!

"Ahhhh—"

Grandma Tianling couldn't control her emotional breakdown. Amidst terrified wails, tears streamed down her face.

She knew this shouldn't be her current reaction; she hadn't shed a tear in decades.

But...

The tears still came!

Grandma Tianling was not stupid, nor was she ignorant.

Regarding the image and abilities of that dead face, a figure perfectly matching it had already materialized in her mind during her escape.

The King of Hell, the Five Declines of Heaven and Man!

"No, I can't, it's impossible—"

"Father!!!"

Grandma Tianling's tears and blood flowed uncontrollably, letting out piercing screams, and she slammed her hands onto her temples.

The blow caused blood to seep from her seven orifices, but Grandma Tianling still couldn't control the crazy and uncontrollable emotions and memories in her mind.

'Whoosh', a sound of wind came from her ear.

Grayish-black decline mist drifted past her, and an arm materialized out of thin air, grabbing Grandma Tianling's arm.

"Go to hell! Get out!!"

Grandma Tianling swung her sword in response, severing her own right arm. With a ferocious look, she spat out another mouthful of vital blood, her figure merging into the Dao, fleeing desperately without looking back.

"Look at me..."

A hoarse voice echoed from deep within her soul.

Grandma Tianling's eyes flashed crimson for an instant, and then her vision suddenly turned into a world of blood.

She stopped, materialized from the Dao, and collapsed softly to the ground, looking up.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man's hands hung limply, his feet planted on the maze wall, as if in his world, gravity pulled from the side.

From this perspective, he didn't need to move; his eye level was the ground.

And Grandma Tianling, collapsed on the ground, only had to lift her head to easily see the Three Aversion Eye, with its rotating gray flower, eerie and unfathomable.

"Calm down."

Like a puppet, Grandma Tianling stopped trembling and completely calmed down after receiving her master's command.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man slowly closed his eyes, deactivated the "Desire-Turning" ability of his Three Aversion Eye, slowly descended from the wall, and squatted beside the old woman.

"Senior, spare my life..."

Grandma Tianling's voice was tearful, her vision completely blurred, as if severely injured and unable to recover.

She had regained consciousness, knowing how embarrassing her recent actions had been.

Yet, a Void Realm expert facing another Void Realm expert, she found herself completely powerless to resist, directly toyed with.

No, that's not right...

No longer under the control of the Three Aversion Eye, Grandma Tianling's terror subsided, and she consciously felt a stinging pain on her face.

It was the pain she had forgotten during her earlier emotional breakdown!

Grandma Tianling reached out to wipe away the bloody tears from her eyes, only to find her vision still blurred, and her spiritual energy unresponsive.

She swallowed a pill, but it had no effect!

Using her spiritual sense, she saw that her face was completely rotten, her eyeballs drooped, her whole body reeked, and all sorts of ominous signs appeared.

"Is this the power of the Five Declines of Heaven and Man?"

"No! More than that, this is... Facing a Saint!"

Grandma Tianling felt something slide past the corner of her eye, her vision halved, and a soft thud came from the ground.

Her lips began to tremble again; she didn't dare to look at what was happening to her body.

"Calm down." The Five Declines of Heaven and Man did not use his Three Aversion Eye, stepping back and trying his best to restrain his power.

"This old woman... I... I can't calm down..." Grandma Tianling cried, her physical vision almost completely blacked out. "You are a Half-Saint!"

"Is that so?"

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man remembered something, his hands flipped, and Saint power surged.

A crimson pearl suddenly rose from the top of his head—it was his substitute for a Half-Saint's position, the Blood World Pearl!

"I remember now..."

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man finally recalled something.

Night Owl, upon achieving sainthood, killed him on the altar, and both their physical bodies were simultaneously swallowed by the Blood World Pearl.

Within the inner world of the Blood World Pearl, Night Owl, relying on his Half-Saint will, defeated him, successfully completing an unconventional body-snatching, merging with the Body of Decay, and also cultivating the Undying Body.

However, he had already prepared a fallback: the three corpses stored in the Soul-Summoning Banner on the stone altar.

The Three Corpses True Law, originating from the Art of Gold Sect, was a forbidden art, usable for counter-body-snatching.

But the prerequisites were specific:

First, one must cast out the three corpses first, leaving behind an empty soul shell with only one day of life left.

Second, within that day, someone must body-snatch them and foolishly approach the three corpses, triggering a soul resonance.

Third, during the preceding body-snatching process, the opponent's entire power must be exhausted, leaving them unable to resist the counter-body-snatching.

These repulsive preconditions were almost impossible to achieve.

But only when all were met could the Three Corpses True Law officially activate after the third step: injecting the three corpses between the soul of the body-snatcher, thus reclaiming oneself.

These nearly impossible preliminary preparations mentioned above...

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man cut down three Wind Azure Woods, beheaded a phantom corpse, and embedded the Three Aversion Eyes—completing everything.

At this point, the Five Declines of Heaven and Man had returned!

What he used was still the Body of Decay, transformed and fused by special power within the Blood World Pearl, in addition to the Undying Body.

Yes!

From the moment he encountered Night Owl in Sin Hall One.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man had set his sights on the not-yet-mature Undying Body, which was also known as the Death Body!

He offered himself as a sacrifice, helping Night Owl cultivate the Undying Body, and then reclaimed it with double interest.

Fortunately, there were no major mishaps in this process.

After resurrecting on the stone altar...

A Half-Saint's premonition, and the ability of the Blood World Pearl to glimpse the future, which he finally dared to use a little, made the Five Declines of Heaven and Man realize there would be danger and that he must leave.

His process of achieving sainthood was extremely complex, and he had even attacked high-ranking members of the Saint God Temple, so naturally, no traces could be left behind.

In this world, too many powerful individuals possessed the ability to backtrack time-space scenes. If he simply walked away, he wouldn't even know how he died later.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man cleared all traces from the scene, then forged a new set of traces, leaving a super gift for any later arrivals, and then departed.

Having obtained the Undying Body, the next step was undoubtedly to acquire the Sub-Dimensional Gate!

The Sub-Dimensional Gate could manipulate Void Island; possessing it was equivalent to possessing a treasure.

On Void Island, as the Five Declines of Heaven and Man understood, there was also a Half-Saint's position. Although its exact location was unknown, it existed!

The bane of the Blood World Pearl...

An inexhaustible treasure...

As long as he obtained the Sub-Dimensional Gate, all subsequent difficulties would be resolved.

And by chance, the Five Declines of Heaven and Man already knew that the Sub-Dimensional Gate was in Yu Lingdi's hands!

Based on the fragmented memories of Night Owl in his mind, he learned bits and pieces of the Saint God Temple's final step.

At least, the location seemed to be in Sin Hall One.

It made sense; only in that place could the Sub-Dimensional Gate truly connect to the outside world and close Void Island.

Yu Lingdi could not possibly leave Sin Hall One!

So where to go next was obvious.

The distance from Underworld Ghost City to Sin Hall One was too great, and Night Owl's tribulation must have attracted many people.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man couldn't possibly flaunt his newly-broken-through, blinding Half-Saint aura through the streets; that would be courting death.

He tested the abilities of the Undying Body.

"Sacrifice Spirit Forbidden Walk!"

This was a Saint-level martial art and forbidden technique collected by the Art of Gold Sect, which allowed for fixed-point teleportation and displacement through the Saint Dao at the cost of sacrificing one's soul.

Generally, this was an escape technique used by Spirit Cultivators at their wits' end. The power unleashed in that instant was unstoppable by anyone at the Half-Saint level.

But it meant instant death upon use.

—A very foolish Saint-level martial art, but bizarre enough that the Art of Gold Sect included it.

Its classification as a forbidden technique was also understandable.

The Undying Body, valued as one of the Five Great Absolute Bodies, was not just about its passive invulnerability but also meant its possessor could do many things ordinary people dared not, at the cost of their life.

Sacrifice Spirit Forbidden Walk was one such technique.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man had, of course, never used this art, but he remembered ancient records stating that Void Realm experts would certainly die upon using it, while Half-Saints would have fifteen minutes to catch their breath.

However, the soul's demise was irreversible; fifteen minutes was only enough for a Half-Saint to make their final arrangements.

Reviewing and using this art on the spot, the Five Declines of Heaven and Man's talent was exceptional; he succeeded after only three attempts.

He achieved an ultra-long-distance instantaneous leap, teleporting directly from Underworld Ghost City to Sin Hall One!

However, the Five Declines of Heaven and Man was too weak.

He had already emptied everything, setting up a murderous trap in Underworld Ghost City.

Thus, he did not enjoy the fifteen minutes of reprieve mentioned in the ancient texts; upon teleporting to Sin Hall One, he died on the spot.

The power of death activated the Undying Body, and the Five Declines of Heaven and Man entered a state of suspended animation for soul repair. It only took a very short time for his consciousness to recover, but his power could only regenerate slowly.

This was precisely why he was struck and couldn't resist when he first met Grandma Tianling, and why even his Three Aversion Eye could only be activated once before depleting his Saint power.

"It won't die, but the side effects are severe..."

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man finally recalled everything.

At the same time, he summarized several rules for the Undying Body, whose true strength even Night Owl didn't fully grasp.

"First, it doesn't truly die but enters a brief state of suspended animation."

"The extent of pre-death overexertion will cause the repair time in suspended animation to increase or decrease accordingly."

"This point should also be related to the degree of control over the Undying Body; with more deaths later, one should not easily enter a state of suspended animation."

"Second, memory is severely chaotic and lost."

"Many things are forgotten; anything not deeply impressed is largely gone, and details of some important matters have become blurred."

"If this happened during battle, one might not even remember who the enemy was upon waking."

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man frowned. It had taken him a long time from seeing Grandma Tianling until now to remember why he came to Sin Hall One.

Recognizing Grandma Tianling took even greater effort.

And the information about this person in his mind was reduced to just the four characters "Grandma Tianling."

A not-so-important person...

"Third, there is a long period of weakness after resurrection, which is the most crucial part."

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man estimated that, in his current state, it would take about half a day to recover to full strength.

It seemed short, but was actually very long.

In wartime, this could be fatal.

The Undying Body might not die, but that didn't mean it couldn't be sealed, imprisoned, or suppressed.

If caught alive, living would be more painful than death, and because he wouldn't die, that pain would undoubtedly be multiplied many times over.

Crucially, this state couldn't be remedied by pills or other means; it could only be repaired automatically by the Undying Body.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man finished his summary, quickly putting these thoughts aside.

The Undying Body was an obsession for Night Owl, but for him, it was merely an auxiliary ability.

Among the abilities he possessed, it didn't even rank in the top three.

"Grandma Tianling?"

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man looked at the old woman with the decaying body in front of him, his eyes calm, as if observing an experimental subject.

His Body of Decay had greatly increased in power after reaching the Half-Saint level.

However, because he had only just completed his sainthood and couldn't perfectly control his power, and had also undergone a suspended animation, his strength was in a recovery period.

Therefore, the signs of the Five Declines, he couldn't even fully conceal them!

This Grandma Tianling had stayed in front of him for so long; it would be difficult for her to survive.

Even if she was a Void Realm expert, as long as she had no means to resist bad luck and curses.

Death was only a matter of time.

"This old woman is..."

Grandma Tianling's voice was hoarse beyond recognition.

Her consciousness told her to run, but a red light flickered in her mind, causing emotional disarray, leaving her without the strength to even stand.

The Blood World Pearl, plus the manifestation of the Five Declines of Heaven and Man...

The overlap of these two, belonging to a 'star of solitude and calamity,' meant even the Five Declines of Heaven and Man himself didn't know when he would suffer a miserable death; for anyone standing beside him, resistance was naturally difficult.

"How long was I dead just now?"

"Not... long..."

Upon hearing her voice, the Five Declines of Heaven and Man immediately abandoned normal questioning. His right eye focused, and the three flowers rotated.

In Grandma Tianling's sole remaining eye, three gray mottled patterns also rotated.

"From the moment you saw me until I woke up, how much time passed?"

"Very short... about ten seconds... resurrection..."

"Was I dead in between?"

"Yes... From the beginning... there was no... sign of life..."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure... not a single... shred of vitality..."

"If you had only one last wish in life that could be granted, what would you wish to do?"

"This old woman..." Grandma Tianling answered unconsciously.

She was already on her last breath; after the Five Declines had manifested for so long, her physical body had begun to decay.

But at this moment, she suddenly lost emotional control, becoming agitated.

"Kill! Kill... him!"

"Kill whom?"

"Du! Shen! Lin!"

"Who is he?"

"Du Ling Sect... Former... Sect Master..."

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man was silent for a moment; he remembered.

Grandma Tianling, it seemed, was the former Grand Elder of the Du Ling Sect in the Central Region.

"What is your name?"

"Du... Qing... Zhu..."

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man closed his eyes, deactivating the Three Aversion Eye, and nodded silently, "I understand now."

"Hoohoohoo..."

Grandma Tianling's consciousness was completely chaotic, and she slumped powerlessly to the ground. Spiritual energy began to leak from the cracks in her body, along with her blood.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man lowered his eyelids, his gaze flickering as he watched the scene before him, his lips parted, as if he wanted to speak but held back.

He finally closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his gaze had returned to its cold indifference.

A lesson learned from a previous mistake?

"You truly are a fine thing!"

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man gazed at the Blood World Pearl, exclaiming in a low voice.

He had only just realized it. With the Blood World Pearl's ability, how could it possibly guide someone to success?

He, the Five Declines of Heaven and Man, had relied on the Blood World Pearl to lead Night Owl, the Death Body, down the path of death.

How could it possibly, just by a change of ownership—with the Blood World Pearl becoming his own Half-Saint's position—become inexplicably good to him?

"Why would I die? It makes no sense..."

"I am already a Half-Saint. If I were to make a move, Yu Lingdi wouldn't even have a chance to resist..."

"Ah, right, if he was just bait, what if a Half-Saint from the Saint God Temple was behind him?"

A red light flashed in his eyes.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man's thoughts paused, veering off in another direction.

"Impossible."

"If a Half-Saint was behind him, how could the Sub-Dimensional Gate still be in Yu Lingdi's hands?"

"And now, even a Half-Saint wouldn't dare to oppose me."

"Go! Just take a look..."

The power of black and white ghost beasts suddenly surged from behind him, forming two distinct broken wings that shielded the Five Declines of Heaven and Man, isolating him from the Blood World Pearl's influence.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man was momentarily stunned, then snapped back to clarity and smiled.

He looked up again, fixing his gaze on the Blood World Pearl, slowly retracting it into his body, shaking his head with a self-deprecating laugh.

"What a truly magnificent thing it is..."

Sub-Dimensional Gate?

Yu Lingdi?

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man didn't want to search for them at all anymore!

The Blood World Pearl was meant to guide people towards death; who would want to rush to their demise?

But if he did the opposite, no matter how great the risk, it wouldn't be greater than the Blood World Pearl's guidance.

"So, if I can't obtain the Half-Saint's position on Void Island, and I want to strip away the Blood World Pearl's influence, there's only one path left..."

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man tilted his head, looking towards the distant sky.

"Jiang Buyi!"

He shouted loudly.

A long silence followed. Not only were there no Saint power fluctuations, but the Five Declines of Heaven and Man didn't even detect the Saint Dao fluctuations that a Half-Saint's call would typically elicit.

"Jiang Buyi!"

He shouted again, but still to no avail.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man smiled, shaking his head with another soft sigh.

"It seems you've been through a lot too, to become so cautious. What a pity..."

"However, calling out is useless; you can't run!"

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the maze wall.

While wasting time recovering his physical strength, Saint power fluctuations rippled outwards from his feet in expanding circles.

"Roar—"

Before long, a furious roar came from the distance, followed by heavy thudding footsteps.

Around a corner of the maze, a Void Servant suddenly charged out.

"Roar!!!"

Upon seeing a human, the Void Servant raised its head and roared again, leaping into the air, its feet flying out in a kick.

As the sound of tearing air approached, the Five Declines of Heaven and Man, leaning against the maze wall, leisurely raised his gaze.

His arms remained folded, not even a fingertip moved. Only, beneath the shadow of his mask, the gray flower in his right eye rotated.

"Kneel."

The calm, unruffled voice rang out.

The massive Void Servant's eyes instantly spun with gray mottled patterns. It bent its knees in mid-air, its knees slamming straight into the ground, creating two deep pits in the earth and splitting its legs apart.

"Roar..."

"Hmph..."

The Void Servant's head was buried in the floor, suppressed by the small human's Half-Saint aura, unable to breathe.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man moved, stepping in front of the Void Servant.

He couldn't even reach a tenth of the Void Servant's knee height, yet he gently extended a hand and touched the Void Servant's body.

"Rest in peace, soul."

A ghostly image of the Grim Reaper appeared behind him, a heaven-shrouding scythe hooked across the air. The blackness on the Void Servant's chest deepened, and it softly collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Almost ready..."

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man looked up at the distance, feeling the recovered Saint power within him, now sufficient to cast another technique.

He placed one hand on the Void Servant's knee, while the other was held upright before his chest, forming a single-hand seal, muttering incantations:

"Sacrifice the Upper Corpse, lower the rule of the weak. Forbidden is my Lower Corpse, where the Dao hides and law deceives."

"Spirits depart three thousand, glimpsing myriad realms. Where the soul returns, there is Jiang Buyi."

No sooner had the incantation finished than endless streams of air diffused through the void.

Thousands of Saint Dao solidified into a phantom giant hand, slowly descending, lifting away the sacrificial Void Servant.

Then, countless spiritual lights materialized from the airflow, flying in all directions.

Another phantom giant hand descended.

This time, it targeted the Five Declines of Heaven and Man.

"Forbidden Corpse Soul Search Art!"

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man dared not raise his head, maintaining the hand seal, not daring to peek into the unknown, only diligently completing the sacrificial ritual.

The phantom giant hand gripped him and gently lifted him.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man felt thousands of pains assault him.

His soul felt as if it was being torn away from his body, and all around him, he experienced suffering from connections like severed lotus roots.

"Ahhh—"

Screams echoed all around.

Not long after, his soul died.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man's eyes became vacant, and he fell straight back with a thud, landing squarely on the ground.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Thousands of spiritual lights returned, merging into the Five Declines of Heaven and Man's corpse, but he was completely dead, not moving at all.

Silence...

At this particular spot in Sin Hall One, it lasted for a very, very long time.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man's body slowly exuded decaying mist, covering the surrounding area, and all things dared not approach.

Finally.

At a certain moment.

The Five Declines of Heaven and Man's body twitched, and he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze empty.

"I found you..."