Chapter Fifty-Seven: Activating the Trap of the Divine Sealing Altar (Part One)

“Hmm! That’s strange…” The speaker was the remaining apprentice of the Flame Demon. “Master, last time we came here, all kinds of magical elements were unaffected, so why has this place turned into a zone where elements are nullified?”

“If you’re asking me, who am I supposed to ask?” the Flame Demon responded irritably, casting a glance at Gu Feng. Gu Feng pondered and said, “An element-null zone can be formed by an array, but this space is vast, stretching beyond sight. It’s unlikely an array caused this. I wonder how the element-null space came to be here.”

“Wait a moment!” The Grand Sage, still cradled in Wood’s arms, spoke up. Wood suddenly realized he was still holding the woman and hurriedly released her. Her body was soft and warm, like jade, stirring his heart.

The Grand Sage’s cheeks flushed as she steadied herself and said, “If I’m not mistaken, I fear they’ve already found that thing—and it’s being activated!”

“What? Are you talking about the Altar of Deification?” Gu Feng exclaimed in shock. “Could that girl be searching for it too? With her cultivation, how dare she aspire to become a deity?”

“What? There’s an Altar of Deification here?” the Flame Demon roared. Clearly, he knew nothing of it and had only come to investigate the mutated guards. He glared fiercely at his apprentice. “How could you be so clueless—not even noticing the altar was here!”

The apprentice protested, “Master, what is the Altar of Deification?”

His words nearly made the Flame Demon explode with rage, though, thinking it over, he couldn’t blame him. Only mages of the Saint level typically study the altar; the apprentice wasn’t at that stage yet and didn’t know its legend.

“When the Altar of Deification is activated, the elemental balance of heaven and earth is disrupted, which is why we’re in a null-element space,” the Grand Sage explained. “It seems someone discovered the altar while digging.”

Gu Feng nodded, closing his eyes as his spiritual sense spread forward like mercury. Yet, after extending over a thousand meters, he encountered resistance.

“Hmm! This space… there’s illusion magic,” Gu Feng said. “I fear it’s a spatial labyrinth.” He leapt from the flying vessel and walked forward a few steps. The others followed suit. Suddenly, Wood noticed that as everyone’s feet touched the ground, countless colorful bubbles appeared on the platform.

Gu Feng grabbed Wood’s arm and whispered, “Don’t move. Wait.”

Though Wood didn’t know why, he felt a strange fear of the colorful bubbles and stood quietly.

Gradually, the bubbles thinned out. Gu Feng walked forward a few more steps, then turned to the group, saying, “Prepare yourselves to cross. Be careful—don’t touch these bubbles, understood?”

Wood was puzzled and asked, “Brother Gu, what are these bubbles?”

“They could drag you into another space. It’s an ancient magic technique,” Gu Feng replied, “Stay close to me.”

Wood and the others hurried after him. In this null-element space, Gu Feng’s flight spell was unusable, so he moved swiftly on foot. Wood noticed Gu Feng wasn’t walking in a straight line but winding through the open area, as if following a predetermined path.

Sensing with his true energy, Wood realized the space was peculiar, filled with strange, moving restrictions. Gu Feng’s route precisely navigated the gaps between these restrictions, testament to his worthiness of the Saint Mage title.

As Gu Feng hurried forward, Wood sensed an invisible wall ahead.

He was about to warn Gu Feng when he saw him stride forward fearlessly. Miraculously, the wall parted, creating a gap as if intentionally avoiding him.

Once inside, they found the ground uneven, devoid of plants or animals—a dead land, yet saturated with magical elements.

This is it, Wood mused. He looked ahead; not far off, a towering mountain appeared, and the group could sense magical elements converging toward it.

Even now, Gu Feng smiled easily. “Flame Demon, the ancient magic civilization is truly incredible. This place gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth; the magic elements here are hundreds of times stronger than outside. If we could cultivate here, our progress would be unimaginable!” Wood too felt the abundance of spiritual energy and knew Gu Feng spoke truly. If he could train here for a time, his strength would grow immensely.

The Flame Demon said nothing, but Wood exclaimed, “Brother Gu, look—the mountain seems to glow faintly green.”

“I sensed it the moment I entered!” Gu Feng replied. “It’s elven nature magic. Who would have thought Shui Rou’er is actually helping the elves to block us?”

The Kingdom of Ice and Snow had long been friendly with the Elven race, so Gu Feng’s deduction made sense. Elves are one of the most mysterious races on the continent, rarely venturing out. Unlike ordinary mages, they possess the ability to control plants—a unique wood-element skill within nature magic.

“That’s right, it’s the Grand Priest of the Elves!” the Grand Sage suddenly declared. “Who would have thought the elves would intervene? With their long lives and ancient heritage, they surely possess the means to activate the Altar of Deification.”

Originally, the Flame Demon and his party could use no magic in the null-element space, but now, feeling the surge of magical elements, he let out an angry roar and flew toward the mountain, clearly intent on confronting Shui Rou’er. The others hurried after him.

At the mountain’s base, the Flame Demon unleashed his signature move, “Flame Demon Bomb,” in rapid succession at a figure. It was Shui Rou’er. Meanwhile, the Sword Sect and Sword Saint watched each other warily; in such a contest, a single misstep could mean ruin, so they were cautious in the extreme.

The “Flame Demon Bomb” was an enhanced fireball technique, unique to him due to its rapid-fire capability; usually, this move would easily subdue an opponent. Unfortunately, today he faced someone of equal rank, and with an opposing attribute—water magic. Shui Rou’er conjured a series of miniature “Water Shields,” blocking each “Flame Demon Bomb.”

“Heh, Shui Rou’er, I’m going to teach you a lesson—don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Gu Feng, still bitter over her earlier betrayal, joined the fray, disregarding his status. All three were mages of equal rank, with Gu Feng the foremost among Saints. Normally, even if Flame Demon and Shui Rou’er teamed up, they could not best him. Now, with Gu Feng and Flame Demon united against Shui Rou’er, her predicament was dire.

“Dimension Slash!” Gu Feng’s hands moved, opening a spatial rift behind Shui Rou’er. The enormous pull nearly dragged her in, but she managed to pivot her “Water Shield” into the gap, barely escaping the attack.

“Void Shatter Seal!” Gu Feng, as if anticipating this, moved his hands again. The space before Shui Rou’er cracked like a mirror, fissures spreading. The “Flame Demon Bombs” were poised; if she entered, she would be torn apart. At that moment, death was so close she could feel its kiss.

But just then, a longsword shot from the void, shattering the “Flame Demon Bomb” in a single stroke and hurtling toward Gu Feng. Wood saw the sword’s speed and cried, “Retreat!” As he spoke, his own sword, Azure Sky, flashed forth to meet it.

Clang! The crisp sound of metal rang out as Gu Feng teleported away. Shui Rou’er used the opportunity to drift aside, narrowly avoiding two fatal blows.

“This is a master…” From that single strike, Wood sensed the newcomer’s immense power.

“Hmm… I never expected such a young sword master to appear.” A figure in a black robe emerged—it was he who had shattered the “Flame Demon Bomb” and attacked Gu Feng.

The group watched as he appeared from afar and, as he spoke, took measured steps. Though he’d seemed halfway up the mountain, a few slow strides brought him before them, an indistinct yet overwhelming aura pressing down.

Everyone was startled: a true master.

He wore a simple black robe, his silver hair casually tied behind his head. He squinted, seemingly glancing at Wood and Gu Feng with indifference, hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile on his face. He did not look young, but neither was he old; there was a certain elegance to his features.

“Sir Hius, is that you?” Gu Feng exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh! It’s young Feng. It’s been years—your skills have grown deep. I’d wager in fifty years, you’ll be the youngest among the continent’s five greatest.”

Hius had once been the Imperial Court’s chief warrior in the Empire of Azure Orchids. After reaching the Sword Saint realm, he resigned to travel the world in pursuit of higher mastery. Decades later, he became one of the continent’s five strongest. When Hius first made his name, Gu Feng was still a common mage, but both hailed from noble circles of the Empire and had known each other in their youth.

“Not at all! After all these years, Sir Hius, your skills have grown ever more profound—I could never hope to match you,” Gu Feng replied with genuine admiration.

“And this young man is…” Hius turned his gaze to Wood. “He looks barely twenty, yet has already reached the sword-riding realm. In time, I expect he’ll surpass me.” His implication was clear: for now, you are not my equal. He did not realize Wood cultivated the arts of Dao, making sword-riding the most basic of skills for him.

“He’s my friend,” Gu Feng said, then asked indignantly, “But, Sir Hius, why are you helping that girl?” He pointed to Shui Rou’er.

(Today is the first day of National Day. Wood gave up a family outing to keep writing. Readers, please support with rewards, recommendations, and favorites—comfort me! Wood bows in thanks…)