Several days later.

In the Boundless Void.

Qi Yuan stood suspended in the empty air, his gaze fixed on a mass of void mist so dense it appeared solid. Ink-black clouds churned within, radiating a bone-chilling cold. This was the entrance to the Slaughtering Daoist’s hidden cave abode.

What puzzled him, however, was the absence of his teammates. The Holy Scions of the Eternal Sacred Ground and the Boundless Sacred Ground were nowhere to be seen.

Did they go in without me?

Qi Yuan frowned. Just as he prepared to enter the mist alone, the thick black fog nearby rippled. Two familiar figures flew out.

Or rather, two… lumps.

It was Tu Ruoxu and his best friend, Zhuang Qingyun.

But their appearance had undergone a drastic transformation. They were wrapped head-to-toe in bulky, earthen-yellow cloaks. They wore matching wide-brimmed hats made of the same coarse material, and even their hands were encased in thick yellow gloves. Not a single square inch of skin was exposed.

If they hadn’t projected their familiar spiritual signatures, Qi Yuan might have mistaken them for two giant, sentient droppings that had learned to fly.

“Fellow Daoist Qi, I trust you have been well since we last met.”

Tu Ruoxu removed his hat, revealing a face that was calm, polite, and completely oblivious to how ridiculous he looked.

Qi Yuan looked the duo up and down, his nose wrinkling phantomly. He couldn’t help but ask, “Fellow Daoist Tu… what is with the getup?”

Before Tu Ruoxu could speak, Zhuang Qingyun removed his own hood, beaming with pride.

“Fellow Daoist Qi, you might not know, but this is a defensive suit Senior Brother Tu invented specifically for this expedition. It is called the ‘Heaven and Earth Black Yellow Cover’!”

“This treasure conceals one’s aura, repels water and fire, is impervious to blades, and most importantly, it reflects malicious curses. It is simply a divine object!”

Qi Yuan’s expression turned solemn. “Is that so? Fellow Daoist Tu is truly impressive. I am in awe.”

Hearing the praise, Tu Ruoxu smiled modestly, though a gleam of satisfaction betrayed his pride.

“The inspiration for the Heaven and Earth Black Yellow Cover came from an ancient text I studied. I commissioned dozens of the Eternal Sacred Ground’s finest artifact refiners to spend years perfecting it.”

“While it still has flaws, it should suffice for our needs. We crafted three prototype sets. This one is for you, Fellow Daoist Qi.”

He retrieved a bundle of the yellow fabric from his storage bracelet and handed it over.

Staring at the excrement-yellow garment, Qi Yuan felt a wave of repulsion. However, since it was a gift meant to keep him alive, he mentally pinched his nose and accepted it.

Under the expectant gazes of the two Holy Scions, he forced himself to don the suit.

Despite the hideous aesthetics, Qi Yuan had to admit the quality was undeniable. The Eternal Sacred Ground didn’t cut corners for their Holy Scion. This was at least a Dharma Treasure-level defensive artifact.

Whatever. I can’t see it when I’m wearing it. As long as I don’t feel embarrassed, the awkwardness belongs to everyone else.

Having successfully brainwashed himself, Qi Yuan cupped his hands. “Many thanks for the generous gift, Fellow Daoist Tu. You really think of everything.”

“No need for formalities,” Tu Ruoxu waved his hand dismissively. “We are allies; sharing resources is only natural.”

He then pulled a jade bottle from his robe. “The suit protects against curses and traps, but the air inside might be toxic. These are Top-Grade Poison-Avoiding Pills. Keep one under your tongue, and you will be immune to all poisons for seven days.”

Then, he produced three bizarre, horn-shaped objects.

“Furthermore, the cave abodes of Tribulation Crossing cultivators are vast. We may need to split up, and the chaotic heavenly secrets inside will render standard transmission talismans useless.”

“This is the Amplifying Dharma Conch. Speak into it, and your voice will be amplified a thousand times. Even if we are miles apart, we will hear each other clearly.”

“We’ll each take one to prevent losing contact…”

“This is the Mind’s Eye Talisman. Stick it on your back, and you will gain a 360-degree view behind you to prevent backstabs.”

“This is the Flash Stick. It emits blinding light even in zones devoid of spiritual Qi.”

“And this…”

Qi Yuan stood there, mouth slightly agape, watching Tu Ruoxu pull item after item from his storage bracelet like a neurotic Doraemon.

What was truly terrifying was that every single item had a legitimate, practical use. This wasn’t just paranoia; it was weaponized preparation.

This guy was so cautious it was almost nauseating!

Zhuang Qingyun looked at Tu Ruoxu with worshipful eyes. “Senior Brother Tu is wise and brave! Truly a role model for our generation. With you leading the way, my survival is practically guaranteed!”

Finally.

After an excruciatingly detailed safety check, the three fully-armored cultivators ventured into the void mist.

Soon, three massive blood-red doors loomed out of the darkness.

They stood suspended in the void, identical in size, shape, and the gruesome patterns carved into their surfaces. The open doorways were filled with swirling fog, blocking any view of the interior. A faint, metallic scent of old blood wafted from them, triggering a primal sense of dread.

The trio stopped.

Zhuang Qingyun frowned, his expression grave. “It seems only one of these doors is the true entrance. The other two likely hide fatal traps. If we choose wrong, we won’t just fail to enter the tomb—we’ll be walking into a meat grinder.”

“Fellow Daoists, which one should we choose?”

Qi Yuan, who possessed the memories of the Slaughtering Daoist via soul-searching, knew the answer. He shook his head and opened his mouth to reveal the truth.

But before he could speak, Tu Ruoxu smiled. It was a calm, confident smile.

“The Slaughtering Daoist was a giant of the Demonic Path. His mind was twisted, his cunning deeper than the abyss. Why would he place the entrance in such an obvious location?”

“If my deduction is correct, these three doors are nothing but bait. All of them are fake. Anyone foolish enough to charge into one is courting death.”

With that, Tu Ruoxu ignored the doors entirely and flew straight past them, heading deeper into the darkness.

Watching his retreating back, Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed.

The doors were indeed traps. Behind those swirling mists lay nest of Blood Fiends hungry for fresh meat. Any Nascent Soul cultivator who entered would be torn to shreds.

Qi Yuan had the answer key, but Tu Ruoxu had solved the puzzle with pure logic.

I have to hand it to him… this Eternal Holy Scion is actually the real deal.