C20 I Have Touched the Gate to Shadowlands!

"Who are you? Are you threatening me?"

Soong Lin's face contorted with alarm.

His wary eyes were fixed on the bronze door.

Simultaneously, he rapidly activated the Seer's Stone in his grasp.

A beam of pure light stealthily targeted the bronze door.

To Soong Lin's astonishment, the door remained unchanged.

The dreadful oppression and the middle-aged man's voice seemed to materialize from nowhere.

"Haha, do I really need to threaten you? A mere early-stage Nascent Infant like you could be snuffed out with just a flick of my finger," the middle-aged man sneered.

His brazen tone caused Soong Lin's brow to crease.

"The supreme Seer's Stone can't pinpoint his location. There are only two possible explanations: either he's far from my position, or he is the bronze door itself."

With this realization, Soong Lin let out a derisive laugh.

"You foolhardy creature, how dare you be so insolent before me? Do you have any idea who I am?"

While speaking, Soong Lin's thoughts triggered the Skybreaker Sword.

Weng!

Terrifying sword energy surged through the heavens and earth.

The Skybreaker Sword in Soong Lin's grip radiated a fearsome presence that inspired dread.

Without waiting for the middle-aged man to respond, Soong Lin swung the Skybreaker Sword in a swift arc towards the bronze door.

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed as sparks scattered from the door.

A wretched scream followed.

"Senior, I beg for mercy, please spare my life. I was blind to your divine might... If you're willing, let's discuss this peacefully."

Soong Lin was taken aback, yet a surge of triumph filled his heart.

"He is indeed the bronze door itself. But this fool had the audacity to challenge me, oblivious to his impending doom."

He continued speaking without pausing his assault.

The Skybreaker Sword slashed wildly, leaving the bronze door marred with deep gashes.

As the door's cries grew fainter, Soong Lin finally ceased his attack.

"Now, let's have a proper conversation."

Soong Lin kept the Skybreaker Sword at the ready, his icy gaze fixed on the bronze door hovering in the void.

"Senior, you wield an Immortal Sword, but that doesn't justify such a grave error. Our Bronze Door Clan exists solely to seal the Spatial Passage."

"Are you wielding that sharp sword to hack at people because you intend to open a Spatial Passage and unleash all the ghosts from the Shadowlands?"

The bronze door wore a look of distress.

Hearing this, Soong Lin felt a chill down his spine.

He had just used his Spiritual Sense to explore the world within the first layer of the Exquisite Pagoda. He was aware that the space there was complex.

But he had never imagined that it was directly linked to the entire Shadowlands.

"Are you deceiving me?"

Soong Lin's demeanor grew icy.

The Skybreaker in his grasp emitted a shrill, resonant hum.

Before he could act, the bronze door pleaded for mercy.

"Senior, every word I speak is the truth. I implore you to believe me!"

"Believe you? Alright then, what about the other eight levels of the Exquisite Pagoda?"

"I do not know!"

"You don't know?"

Soong Lin let out a mocking laugh.

As he spoke, he swiftly brought the Skybreaker down in a slash.

A fierce burst of sword qi struck the bronze door, eliciting a harrowing scream.

Quickly, the bronze door's cries for mercy followed.

"Senior, I truly don't know. Each member of our bronze door family is in charge of just one exit. It's like the saying goes, 'closing the door to...'"

"To beat the dog once the door is closed?"

Soong Lin's expression chilled further.

Seeing this, the projection of the bronze door shuddered violently.

"Please, Senior, don't misunderstand. What I mean is, once the door is closed, I sever the connection between the two worlds. No messages can be exchanged. Therefore, I only have knowledge of the Shadowlands. I genuinely have no information about the other gates in the Exquisite Pagoda."

Soong Lin's brow furrowed.

After a thorough observation and determining that the bronze door wasn't lying, he finally nodded.

"You've passed my test. But be warned, if you dare not take my next questions seriously, don't think I'll be lenient!"

"Senior jests. My power may be immense, but I am incapable of lifting a finger against you. It's you who has the right to strike me. Why would I dare not respond earnestly?"

"Good. What's your name?"

"I am called the Gate to Shadowlands."

"That's a mouthful. From now on, you'll be known as Niorson."

"Niorson? Senior, how did you come to know my nickname?"

The bronze door feigned astonishment.

Soong Lin gave him a look that said it all—no words necessary.

The flattery was laid on thick, and he wasn't in the mood for idle chatter with a door.

"Tell me, what exactly are the Shadowlands? They seem vast beyond belief."

"The Shadowlands are a world unto themselves, teeming with innumerable Ghost King Halls. There are hundreds of thousands of Ghost Kings, large and small. And only those listed on the Ghost King Ranking are the true powerhouses."

"Ghost King Hall? That's a term I haven't heard before. You're not making this up just to deceive me, are you?"

Soong Lin let out a light laugh.

Niorson's face, however, took on a grave expression.

"Senior, there's no need to push me. I assure you, my words are nothing but the truth. Moreover, the Shadowlands are ruled by these countless Ghost King Palaces. Should the Gate to Shadowlands swing wide open, your realm will bear the brunt of the onslaught."

"This..."

A shiver ran through Soong Lin, his scalp tingling with dread.

Behind him lay the imperial mausoleum of the Vrabouton Empire—his empire.

If Niorson's words held true, and the Gate to Shadowlands were to open, the Shadowlands' mightiest would overrun Vrabouton, leaving the cultivators defenseless.

The fall of the Vrabouton Empire would be swift and certain.

"I've finally found a foothold in this world; I can't stand by and watch it fall to ruin. There must be a way to delay the opening of the Gate to Shadowlands!"

With this thought, Soong Lin's face set in a mask of grim determination.

"You are the Gate to Shadowlands. I command you—shut it now. Right this instant!"

A chill emanated from Soong Lin, his expression icy.

Seeing this, Niorson's face contorted with fear, his voice pitching up in alarm.

"Senior, if I truly possessed such power, I wouldn't be stuck here playing the role of a door. Moreover, had you not struck me with your Immortal Sword, the Gate to Shadowlands might have remained closed for another two or three years. Now, it's set to open within a mere two or three months."

"Why?"

"Because you've gravely wounded me. I'm no longer able to hold back the infiltration of the Power to Separate Worlds between the two realms."

Soong Lin's face contorted with displeasure.

The intangible pressure was almost too much for him to bear.

"What can be done in just two or three months? I refuse to sit idly by and await my demise. If I do nothing, I'll not only perish but also be branded a traitor to the Vrabouton Empire!"

Muttering to himself, Soong Lin's expression hardened with resolve.

"Let's cut to the chase. Is there really no other way to stall the opening of the Gate to Shadowlands?"

"Well... there is a method. The issue is, I doubt you'd be willing to follow my instructions. Moreover, even if you're brave enough, the odds of success are less than one percent. Why not enjoy what little time you have left, live a little?"

Niorson's words hung unfinished in the air.

The Skybreaker in Soong Lin's grasp struck him once more.

Boom!

The force of the blow sent Niorson reeling.

Overwhelmed by a sudden sense of peril, Niorson fell silent.

In that moment, Soong Lin's voice, icy and detached, cut through the silence.

"Enough with the chatter. Focus on the matter at hand!"