The First Gate of the Life and Death Gate

Among the numerous stone steps, one began to vibrate gently, the surrounding space and air seemingly affected as well. This vibration lasted for a moment, and then a black vortex-like grand gate manifested in the void. Inside the gate was pitch black, making it impossible to see the conditions within.

"This is the first gate of the Life and Death Gate. Yanran, are you ready?" Yun Yun placed her jade hand on Nalan Yanran's shoulder, asking warmly.

Nalan Yanran nodded without hesitation, "Teacher, I must charge through this Life and Death Gate. I yearn for stronger power. Right, Teacher, whose inheritance is this first gate of the Life and Death Gate?"

"It belongs to the sixth-generation Sect Master, Yun Daxue. Back then, his strength had reached the Dou Huang level, and his talent was outstanding. Unfortunately, he ultimately suffered Qi Deviation and died in depression. If you can fully absorb the inheritance power he left behind, you can certainly break through to the peak Da Dou Shi level. If your comprehension is good, reaching the Dou Ling level is not impossible," Yun Yun explained.

"What kind of inheritance is this? Is it not directly receiving the strength of a Dou Huang?" Chu Chen raised his brows and asked curiously.

"The Yunlan Sect has a long history. The strength of each generation's Sect Master is limited, so they can only divide the power into energy blocks for the descendants to absorb easily," Yun Yun said.

Chu Chen nodded, an interesting idea popping up in his mind.

After Nalan Yanran adjusted her state of mind, she took a deep breath and stepped into the first gate. Yun Yun and Chu Chen exchanged a glance and followed her inside one after another.

The world behind the gate was completely different, like entering an underground mausoleum. Firefly-like lights flickered, and all four sides were sealed off, emitting a musty odor. Chu Chen took out three torches, handing one to each of them. The firelight dispelled the darkness, revealing green stone steps and stone pillars wrapped in vines. Green fruits grew on the vines, emitting a faint glow.

"This place is like a deep underground cavern; the scenery is not bad." Chu Chen observed his surroundings. When his gaze landed on the forest of jagged rocks ahead, his heart suddenly tensed. In the middle of the dim green cavern, there was an object emitting a faint light.

"Who is there!" Chu Chen barked coldly. Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran also looked in that direction warily.

The space fell into silence. That object did not respond at all, as if it had heard nothing.

"Alliance Leader Chu, how do you know it is a person? Could it be a large Sunstone?" Nalan Yanran asked curiously.

"My eyes are different from yours. In the dark, I can see heat. That object still retains a trace of temperature, and the shape of that heat is indeed a human!" Chu Chen explained, then quickly stepped closer.

As the distance closed, the image of the object gradually became clear. It was a handsome middle-aged man wearing a green robe, standing with an upright posture and a calm gaze, his hands clasped behind his back.

"A living person?" Nalan Yanran was astonished.

"What living person? He is glowing. I think we've met a ghost," Chu Chen replied.

"This is not a ghost, but the master of this place, the projection of the sixth-generation Sect Master, Yun Daxue," Yun Yun explained slowly, then stepped forward to bow, "Greetings, Sect Master Yun Daxue..."

"Young person, you are the Young Sect Master. Very good. To have the resolve to enter this place... no need for words, are you ready?" The projection of Yun Daxue smiled faintly, waving his sleeve with an immortal-like demeanor.

Nalan Yanran also hastily bowed, "Junior Nalan Yanran pays respects to Senior."

"Young person, you are the Young Sect Master. Very good... are you ready?" The projection repeated the exact same words and movements.

Nalan Yanran nodded, "Please begin, Senior."

"Young person, you are the Young Sect Master... are you ready?" Yun Daxue still smiled, his gaze looking into the distance at a 45-degree angle.

"Does this projection only know how to say that one line? Even his posture hasn't changed," Chu Chen scratched his head.

"Indeed. Only when Yanran answers 'I am ready' will it trigger the next line," Yun Yun said.

"I am ready," Nalan Yanran replied to the projection.

The projection of Yun Daxue: "Very good. I did not expect you to answer so quickly. I appreciate you greatly."

At this moment, the projection began to vibrate and rapidly split into multiple afterimages. These clones moved as eerily as spirits, holding short blades made of white energy, launching indiscriminate attacks toward the three of them.

"Merely clones at the Da Dou Shi level, nothing to worry about." Chu Chen calmly took action. When a blade slashed over, he waved his hand, dispersing several afterimages into white smoke. But what astonished him was that those mists were actually forcibly absorbed by his body.