Chapter 107: Shackles

While the group took a moment to rest, Jiang Lan looked up at the Night-Ghost Glazed Light floating above. It cast a faint, greenish glow through its icy blue radiance. The shattered bead hovered overhead, casting a veil over the entire space. As Jiang Lan gazed upward, many others followed suit, staring at the canopy above.

"It’s beautiful, just like a starry sky."

"What exactly is this thing?" the man asked, looking toward Jiang Lan, but she offered no answer. Compared to a blood bead, this treasure was far more precious.

"We’ve rested long enough. Should we start looking for the exit?"

"Yes, that makes sense."

At this, everyone turned their attention to Jiang Lan. As she rose to her feet, the others followed suit. Someone voiced their concern about the object above: "Are we just going to leave this here? Wouldn't that just be handing a prize to those scoundrels at the Imperial Observatory?"

Many shared this indignation. Jiang Lan slightly raised her right hand, and the Night-Ghost Glazed Light, which had been hovering three feet above, gradually converged toward her palm. The surroundings plunged back into darkness, with only the faint, ghostly glow emanating from Jiang Lan.

The crowd watched her with envious eyes, thinking to themselves, "It’s good to have such a powerful ancestor."

Though they were envious, no one harbored ulterior motives. They had already faced life and death together above, and the depths below were even more treacherous. If not for her breaking the illusions, they would have long since perished in this sunless hellhole.

Without the light, moving was indeed difficult. The group reverted to their previous formation, walking in squads of ten, each holding onto the person in front.

Jiang Lan looked at the Night-Ghost Pearl in her palm, now shattered into countless fragments. As if endowed with a spirit of its own, the pieces flew from her hand, manifesting into three hundred and sixty-five fragments that circled her like stars, forcing those nearby to step back.

Seeing the magical runes rotating beneath the glazed light, Jiang Lan thought to herself, "How thoughtful."

The treasure’s sentience left many in the crowd wide-eyed with excitement.

"Split off a few more to light the way for them."

The brightest fragment, which had been circling the rest, flew out and, in an instant, multiplied into hundreds, drifting toward each person.

"This is truly marvelous!"

Everyone watched as the fragments—each the size of a firefly but many times brighter—settled near them, illuminating a radius of five yards clearly.

"This is a true treasure. Now we can all see clearly."

"Yes, indeed! Thank you, benefactor."

Jiang Lan said nothing, merely nodding.

"I will lead the way."

The remaining three hundred and sixty-four fragments continued to orbit Jiang Lan. As she walked, she noticed one of the lights split into two, once again forming the pattern of three hundred and sixty-five stars.

She wondered, "Was this originally crafted by Jing Yan, or was it triggered by my own palm strike?"

Jiang Lan contemplated the flickering Night-Ghost Glazed Light around her with mild curiosity as Daoist Qingmei and San Mu approached.

"We are deeply indebted to you, benefactor. We will certainly return this treasure intact once we are out," Daoist Qingmei said, bowing. Many of the other Daoists echoed his sentiment, though some remained silent, looking elsewhere.

Jiang Lan nodded. Whether they returned it or not did not matter; she could recall it whenever she pleased. She was indifferent to the matter of return.

By the light of the scattered fragments, Jiang Lan surveyed her surroundings. They were in a stone pit of sorts, surrounded by walls etched with intricate patterns—spells likely meant for containment. Jiang Lan was not well-versed in such things.

"These are secret techniques from the thirteenth department of Yin-Yang, specifically designed to suppress powerful demonic entities," Qingmei explained.

"Demonic entities? And powerful ones at that? That sounds terrifying!" San Mu said, worried. Seeing Jiang Lan reach toward the carved patterns, he instinctively grabbed her wide sleeve. "Don't touch it!"

Jiang Lan, Daoist Qingmei, and the others looked at San Mu. He immediately pulled his hand back, stammering, "It’s... it’s dangerous, isn't it?"

Jiang Lan nodded. She did not touch the wall directly, opting instead to scrape against the carvings with her sword scabbard.

With their own individual lights, many of the group had dispersed from behind Jiang Lan and Qingmei to search for exits or mechanisms. Jiang Lan walked half a circle, carefully examining the seals before leaning against the wall with her scabbard, lost in thought.

"Catch."

At her command, San Mu instinctively reached out. The glowing treasure circling the Young Master suddenly scattered, and an object flew into his hands. Looking down, he saw it was the cold sword the Young Master had been holding.

Jiang Lan crossed her hands, and two paper talismans appeared. They ignited at her fingertips as she swept her hands before her eyes.

"Young... Benefactor, what are you doing?" San Mu asked, cradling the sword and peering curiously toward her.

"Searching for a way out."

"A way out! Good, good..."

With the Night-Ghost Glazed Light provided by Jiang Lan, San Mu had returned to his normal self and could converse easily with Huang Shu.

"Hurry, watch closely and learn! The expert is about to demonstrate a high-level technique!"

"I know, don't interrupt." San Mu held the sword and stared intently, fearing he might miss a detail. He watched as the two ordinary yellow talismans passed over the expert's eyes, after which she stood still, merely scanning the entire area.

"Is that it?"

Jiang Lan nodded.

"Benefactor, what did you see?" Daoist Qingmei asked, though he was less impatient than San Mu.

"The spiritual energy within you is no longer being drained by the external formation, but you have less than forty percent remaining."

Daoist Qingmei’s eyes widened, and he bowed in deep admiration. "Benefactor's powers are truly boundless. Nothing escapes your gaze."

"Ah! No wonder I found it so difficult to block those three arrows earlier. So that's why the energy was being drained so quickly!" Thinking of this, San Mu grew indignant and began to curse the Imperial Observatory loudly.

"Mind your manners; don't disgrace our sect." Daoist Qingmei hurriedly pulled at San Mu’s sleeve, whispering that he needed to be careful.

San Mu smiled sheepishly, but as soon as Qingmei turned away, he began muttering and complaining again.

"My disciple is ill-mannered," Qingmei apologized to Jiang Lan.

"Disciple?"

Seeing the benefactor’s interest, Qingmei hurried to explain.

"So you are from Mount Zhongnan. I have long heard of it," Jiang Lan remarked. She took a special look at San Mu, recalling that when he first arrived at the manor, she had assumed he was a charlatan trying to swindle her third uncle. It turned out he was a genuine Daoist from Mount Zhongnan after all.

Mount Zhongnan was her family's ancestral land; her father had cultivated there from birth before the entire clan moved to Mount Wushan in the God Realm for reasons she didn't fully understand.

Her father had often suggested she go to Mount Zhongnan to cultivate, calling it a place of excellent geomancy that might help her progress beyond her stagnant, albeit temperamental, God-tier level.

For various reasons, she never went. Instead, she ended up in the void beyond the six realms, where she broke through the barrier of a God Lord. Yet, for some reason, she returned as a High God, and with a portion of her memory lost.