BOOOOOOOM!!
Light exploded over the Gray Ghost Valley like a second sky rising in the world.
The mist was violently pushed in all directions as the crack above the valley grew unstable. Space trembled like glass about to shatter, and waves of frenzied spiritual energy continuously descended upon the earth.
Han Feng felt his entire body weigh down.
It wasn't just spiritual pressure.
It was something deeper.
As if the very laws of the world were being crushed by the presence of the other side.
The girl lying beside him coughed up blood and instantly fainted.
Han Feng didn't even have time to help her.
Because at that moment—
the corpses scattered throughout the valley began to move.
CRACK… CRACK…
The sound of bones breaking echoed through the mist.
Dead cultivators began to slowly rise, their eyes completely black. Some had half their bodies destroyed. Others were reduced almost to skeletons.
But all…
were staring at the crack in the sky.
Like worshippers before a god.
Han Feng immediately narrowed his eyes.
—The energy of the fissure is controlling the corpses…
His Celestial Diagram vibrated so violently it seemed about to burst from his body. The golden lines shone incessantly, forming increasingly complex patterns within his consciousness.
Then—
the first corpse advanced.
Too fast.
Han Feng dodged at the last instant as a rotting hand crushed the ground beneath him.
Others followed soon after.
Ten.
Twenty.
Maybe more.
The entire mist seemed alive now.
Han Feng retreated quickly while activating his defensive Gu.
Red flames surged around his body.
FOOOOM!! The corpses were thrown back by the flames, but they continued advancing even as they burned.
Without pain.
Without fear.
Just instinct.
Han Feng realized immediately:
These were not simple undead.
The energy of the fissure was using the bodies as temporary vessels.
And then—
The crack in the sky pulsed again.
The pressure doubled.
Han Feng felt blood rise in his throat.
The space above the valley began to slowly warp, as if something was trying to force its way through.
The gigantic silhouette on the other side became more visible.
Countless red eyes gleamed within the darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
Han Feng felt a deep chill.
This was far too dangerous.
Far beyond anything he could face right now.
And worse…
the golden seal was reacting.
Burning violently inside his chest.
As if trying to respond to that presence.
Han Feng frowned immediately.
—No…
He forcefully suppressed the seal's energy.
But the next instant—
a voice echoed within his mind.
Not the old voice from before.
Another one.
More chaotic.
Deeper.
"Open…"
Han Feng's eyes widened.
The red flame instantly went berserk.
The golden lines began to spin uncontrollably within the Celestial Diagram.
And for the first time…
Han Feng felt real fear.
Because he realized:
the thing on the other side was trying to use his connection to cross over.
BOOOOOM!!
More corpses emerged from the mist.
This time they weren't ordinary cultivators.
Some still carried Rank 4 auras.
Han Feng gritted his teeth.
His body vanished in a black blur.
SHHHK!
A flaming blade ripped the head off a corpse.
Another exploded in crimson fire.
But they kept coming.
Without stopping.
The entire mist seemed to have gone mad.
Stones floated.
Trees rotted in seconds.
Even the valley's natural qi was transforming into something strange and corrosive.
Han Feng realized immediately:
The entire valley was becoming a partial collision zone between worlds.
And that was only the beginning.
Then—
A monstrous roar echoed above.
Han Feng raised his eyes.
The crack had widened again.
A massive black hand began to slowly emerge from the other side.
The space around it cracked continuously.
Even before completely crossing over, its presence made the world tremble.
Han Feng felt his scalp crawl.
If that thing got out…
the entire valley would die.
Perhaps even nearby cities would be destroyed.
His Celestial Diagram vibrated violently.
The golden lines began to form something new.
A pattern.
A formation.
Han Feng froze for a moment.
Instinct.
The diagram was trying to show a path.
Without hesitation, Han Feng moved both hands.
The red flame exploded around him.
But this time…
the golden particles weren't randomly mixed.
They began to organize themselves.
Golden symbols appeared within the fire.
Ancient runes.
Unknown.
Space itself reacted.
Han Feng took a deep breath.
Then he launched the flame into the sky.
FOOOOOOOOM!!
The crimson-gold explosion struck the crack directly.
The entire valley trembled.
The black hand stopped.
For the first time…
the presence on the other side hesitated.
Han Feng's eyes widened slightly.
It worked.
Not completely.
But it worked.
The golden lines of the Celestial Diagram were directly interfering with the fissure.
As if that energy were naturally capable of stabilizing or rejecting the collision.
But the price came immediately.
CRACK.
Han Feng heard the sound within his own body.
His chest exploded in pain.
Blood trickled from his mouth. The golden lines blazed violently.
His Celestial Diagram was being pushed beyond its limit.
The crack began to slowly close.
The black hand retreated.
But before disappearing completely—
all the red eyes stared directly at Han Feng.
And that voice returned.
Colder.
Clearer.
"We found you."
Han Feng felt his soul tremble.
Then—
BOOOOOM!!
The crack collapsed.
The pressure vanished instantly.
The mist lost control.
The corpses fell motionless to the ground.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Han Feng fell to his knees violently.
His body trembled.
The Celestial Diagram spun wildly within him.
The golden lines now occupied almost a full fifth of the diagram.
And something within them…
seemed alive.
Han Feng was breathing heavily.
His body was internally wounded.
But his mind was focused on something else.
That phrase.
"We found you."
That meant the connection was growing stronger.
Too strong.
The sky above the valley remained unstable, though the crack had disappeared.
And then—
Han Feng sensed another presence.
Different.
Silent.
Cold.
Very distant.
But watching.
It wasn't that chaotic creature.
Nor Fang Yuan.
It was…
that being on the other side.
The presence remained only for an instant.
Like someone observing through countless layers of emptiness.
Then it disappeared.
But before vanishing completely—
the agitation of the Celestial Diagram subsided.
As if that silent presence had stabilized part of the chaos.
Han Feng stood still.
His gaze slowly deepened. Because he was finally beginning to understand.
Forces from both universes were beginning to perceive each other.
Some chaotic.
Some calculating.
Some silent like natural laws.
And at the center of it all…
was he.
The wind slowly returned to the Gray Ghost Valley.
The mist began to dissipate.
In the distance, the surviving girl began to slowly awaken among the wreckage.
Han Feng stood up with difficulty.
Injured.
Exhausted.
But alive.
And as he watched the sky slowly stabilize…
a heavy feeling arose in his mind.
From that moment on…
things would only get worse.