with countless tiny wooden Buddha statues, all in a seated posture, their bodies intricately carved with scriptures and painted over with cinnabar.Those crimson, winding lines seemed as if a small Bu...This woman's tone of voice was a little off, as if she wasn't quite comfortable with the way she was speaking.

But I could feel her contempt and indifference toward me.

My clothes were ragged and unsightly, so I had to change into the ones she gave me.

Taking off my old clothes, I took a close look and found that besides some rips caused by demonic beasts, most of the cuts were neat and even.

That is to say, I was cut by my older brother's sword.

What on earth is going on

I pushed open the door and saw a scene of stunning yet chilling beauty.

The smoke and clouds blend together, the mountains and rivers stand solemn.

The distant mountains stretched as far as the eye could see, connecting heaven and earth. They seemed to resemble the gloomy and vast Yin Mountains of the underworld.

And near, the vast plains and horizon, swirling clouds and vibrant flower fields form a scene of strikingly different styles.

There is a hint of ethereal beauty, yet it also carries the hidden danger of flowing lava.

My place is a treehouse like a "cage," built on a large tree.

Having seen the underworld of Peach Stop Mountain, this giant tree wasn't anything surprising. Its trunk was like a road, with shallow steps carved into it.

I looked around, and there were several similar houses, distributed on different tree trunks.

At first glance, the big tree itself doesn't seem like much. But if you look down at its base, there's a fire pit, chains, and some figures guarding it—whether they are human or demon, it's hard to say. Going further out, there are layers upon layers of maze-like barriers.

I still don't understand who caught me here.

"Oh my... it's Sister Qiao!" a familiar voice came from above my head.

I jumped, turning my head to look around. On a small branch of a tree, I saw a tiny treehouse, like a bird's nest.

Master Huqing and Xiao Guangtou were locked inside. Xiao Guangtou saw me and was very excited, waving at me excitedly.

"Sky... You were caught too!" I was stunned.

They were arrested, what about the big guy

"Don't worry, something seems amiss... Da Mao should be fine." Master Huisqing saw my face was wrong and immediately chimed in.

"Strange"

“Yes, you see, after all this trouble, we've both been caught, but no one was hurt.” Huaisqing pointed at himself and the bald man: “If you two siblings are key figures and can't be touched, but me and the bald man are fine too.”

"Where's Jiang Qiyun! Wasn't he behind you guys just now" I asked impatiently.

“That must have been a vision from the Holy Light… Anyway, when he saw you jump into the pit without hesitation, he sighed, subdued the Holy Light, and then there was a violent tremor, and we were all swallowed by the pit... But after waking up, we're all fine here.” Huiqing monk touched his bald head, baffled.

"Give us some food." Xiao Tou added, pointing to a wooden tray outside the cage.

There were some fruits in the plate, looking quite ordinary, not any strange or unusual colors. There was also a glass of water, half drunk already by the little bald head.

Jiang Qiyun... sighed and disappeared

I'm feeling a little panicked. This doesn't look like the initial illusion we had in mind at all.

The clouds in the sky are moving, and the wind on my face carries a hint of woodsy fragrance. This feeling doesn't seem like a dream.

Jiang Qiyun should know my current situation, right Can he come and save us

I shook my head. I couldn't just keep thinking about Jiang Qiyun coming to save me. The situation in front of me, I should handle it myself.

After all... it was I who rushed in here on my own, looking for my brother.

Thinking of my brother, I hurriedly greeted Huicqing and ran down the tree trunk.

The guard, clad in armor, only revealed a pair of blood-red eyes. He was clearly no ordinary man.

"...I'm going to the main hall." I tried to communicate.

Two guards glanced at each other, then nodded their heads forward, signaling for me to go down.

But how would I know how to get to the main hall

Here, surrounded by a maze of fences, it looks like a large soft confinement prison.

...

A sinister intake of breath came from behind me, and I glanced back over my shoulder.

In the shadow behind the giant tree, there seemed to be a huge tree hollow. Inside, a pair of long and narrow, gigantic pupils stared at me.

"The main hall... where is the main hall" My heart pounded like a drum. I quickly turned my head to avoid meeting its gaze.

Before the guard could answer, a butterfly, like a shadow following me, flitted before my face.

It is a guide.

》》》

All along the way, I was in a daze, not knowing where I was.

Although this butterfly cannot speak, it acts as a silent guide, flying ahead of me.

I don't know when I walked out of this maze. A cold wind woke me up, and when I turned around, the giant tree was far behind me.

"...The main hall" I looked ahead, my whole body stunned.

Just across a small hill, behind was a flatland where giant trees stood, and in front was a sea of white flowers.

And in the middle of the sea of flowers stood a towering, black gate.

I am in a place where the city walls are out of sight.

"Are you going into town" I couldn't help but ask the butterfly.

This place looks like a garden within a walled city. There are pathways, stone pillars, and flickering lights in the center.

The butterfly, of course, wouldn't answer me; it just silently flapped its wings and flew forward.

I ran into the field of flowers, the white light making my eyes dizzy. The blossoms seemed to reflect moonlight, shimmering so brightly that I couldn't open them.

The only place I could escape this blinding white light was under the shadows of the black city walls ahead.

I sprinted through the flower sea, squinting so that I couldn't see the surroundings clearly. The sound of the wind and my own breathing filled my eardrums. When I finally stopped, I realized I had left the sea of flowers behind me.

Light and shadow intertwined...

I found myself strangely adrift—no one watching me, no one forcing my hand.

And yet, I found myself walking towards this place step by step.

If someone shackles me, tortures me, or threatens me, I will still fight to the death.

Now... I, what am I even doing...

"Hmph... you're so slow..." Just now that woman appeared on the city wall, looked down at me with a condescending glance, then turned and ordered, "Open the gate."

"Lord Mayor, shall we open the side gate" a man's voice came from atop the city wall.

The mayor This woman is the mayor

Could it be those minor deities from the demon realm, each ruling their own territory

"The deity had commanded... to open the main gate," she hummed reluctantly.

Generally, only distinguished guests would use the main entrance. In ancient times, those of lower status or with distant bloodlines would enter and exit through side doors.

So, my treatment is pretty good, right

I eyed the slowly opening door with suspicion, and couldn't help but glance back at the sea of flowers behind me, bathed in pure white light.

Like the meeting of light and shadow, darkness is before me, and light behind me.

I reflexively wanted to retreat, but where could I go

Back to the prison of that great tree Just thinking about those two crimson eyes lurking under its branches made me shiver.

"...Xiao Qiao, why aren't you coming in" My brother's voice came.

Looking up, beyond the gate, one magnificent and heavy door after another swung open. Behind the three doors, my brother stood on the main path, gazing at me from afar.emely sharp. Even though Jiang Qiyun had controlled his strength very well, the sword aura it produced still inevitably cut into a bit of skin.The skin wasn't bleeding, instead, black "mist" was emana...