"Calm your mind and take a good look at this guy."
My Shadow spoke. I stepped out of the column of light and moved to the side. The figure before me began sleeping again. I seemed to understand why my Shadow wanted me to come here, and the way out was actually quite simple.
It’s all about light and shadow. Since I have a Shadow, and I can communicate with it, and since this place is a nexus of powerful yin-yang transformation, I could let my Shadow pass through this column of light, exit to the surface, to the yang side of Mount Immeasurable, and then switch places with it—then I could get out.
Everything here felt unfamiliar at first, but now it reminds me of everything in the Forest of Desire. I stared intently at this figure—even if he didn’t tell me anything, it didn’t matter. Things would go on as usual.
I’m sure I’ll discover something here. During my two and a half years in the Forest of Desire, my power system never fully took shape—the time just wasn’t enough. When I hesitated, I chose to leave, since many things still hadn’t been resolved.
I left when I truly couldn’t break through my current limits anymore. But here, I’ve learned even more powerful ways to use Deathbane Aura. Maybe I’ll never reach this guy’s level, not in my entire life.
The guy on the ground was still lying there, sleeping soundly. It seemed like he was dreaming about something—there was always a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
I used the Specter Web again and again to examine his body, but to no avail. In front of me, he was like an unknown, a powerful monster shrouded in mystery. If I could glimpse even the faintest trace of a shadow from this monster, I could become stronger.
Clenching my fists, I quietly squatted in front of him.
His body was like a massive Deathbane Aura conglomerate—apart from Deathbane Aura, I couldn’t sense anything else. With a swift motion, I drew Hell’s Sentinel from my back and gripped it tightly in my hand.
Suddenly, I swung down at the figure before me. With a clang, sure enough, Hell's Sentinel was completely blocked at a distance of more than ten centimeters from his skin. It was Deathbane Aura—a thick, black mass of it—that stopped Hell's Sentinel, preventing me from harming him.
I swung Hell's Sentinel again and again, but each strike failed to harm him. I couldn't help but feel puzzled—he seemed completely unconscious.
The Deathbane Aura behaved as if it had a will of its own, protecting him from any harm.
He was still smiling, looking utterly content. I had no idea what he was dreaming about. Slowly, I raised my hand and let a thin stream of Deathbane Aura leak out, then sent it curling toward his neck.
Yet before my Deathbane Aura could touch his neck, it vanished completely—absorbed by him. Every bit of Deathbane Aura I released was taken in.
No matter what power I used, the Deathbane Aura covering his body blocked it all.
Slowly, I stood up, quietly gripping Hell's Sentinel. Then, I let myself relax. I decided to use the method I learned in the Forest of Desire, the one I used in my fight with Isabelle Frost—where I finally managed to hit her once.
I’d tried it many times and was now quite skilled—infusing my killing intent into my Deathbane Aura. After that fight, Isabelle Frost never explained much, but I understood why those high-level Blue Wraiths could wield their power so naturally. It was consciousness—their own awareness—merged into their strength.
Achieving this was extremely difficult. It took me months of practice, barely any rest.
Gradually, my Deathbane Aura began to seep from my body, winding around Hell's Sentinel. I raised Hell's Sentinel, focusing intently on the figure before me.