They instantly understood that the pillar Ethan had turned was the core of the mechanism.

Without wasting time, Ethan moved to the opposite side. His palm pressed against the second pillar engraved with the six-winged figure. mental energy surged, muscles tightened, and he rotated it in the exact same rhythm as before.

Click~!

The sound was crisp and clear.

The ground beneath their feet trembled violently. Dust and gravel shook loose from the ceiling, falling like rain. The massive bronze door let out a deep, ancient groan, as though awakening from a sleep that had lasted countless years.

Slowly—agonizingly—the sealed bronze door retreated inward.

When the dust finally settled, the passage stood fully open.

A fishy, salty stench surged outward, slamming into their faces.

The smell was thick and oppressive, carrying the decay of countless years. It was as if time itself had rotted here, fermenting in darkness.

"Create a defensive barrier. Isolate the smell," Ethan said calmly.

He raised his hand and tossed three purple pills toward Kara, Elara, and Risa.

"Take these."

"What are they?" Kara asked instinctively.

"A special antidote pill I refined. It neutralizes corrosive miasma and toxins," Ethan replied.

"Eat it. Just in case."

The three did not hesitate. They swallowed the pills immediately.

"I'll lead the way," Risa said, stepping forward.

She activated her barrier, glanced once more at the ominous bronze door, then carefully stepped inside.

Ethan and the others followed closely behind.

The moment the four crossed the threshold, darkness swallowed them whole.

There were no lamps. No formations emitting light. Only suffocating blackness.

One by one, they took out torches. Flames flickered to life, casting unsteady shadows along the stone walls.

Then—

Boom!

A deafening sound echoed behind them.

Everyone turned sharply.

The massive bronze door slammed shut with terrifying force, sealing them inside.

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"Stay alert," he said quietly.

No one argued.

They pressed forward.

drip… drip… drip…

The faint sound of dripping water echoed through the corridor. Drops fell from the ceiling, sizzling into steam as they passed near Ethan, instantly evaporated by the heat radiating from his body.

Risa looked down.

The ground beneath her boots was slick and muddy, overgrown with moss. Thick vines crept along the floor and walls, as if the ruin itself were alive.

Ethan, however, wasn't looking at the ground.

His gaze followed the steam.

The vapor formed from the evaporated droplets was faintly lavender.

It twisted unnaturally before dissolving into the darkness.

Ethan's expression hardened.

"Don't move."

Risa froze instantly.

Before anyone could ask why, Ethan waved his hand.

A silver figure appeared.

The Silver Guardian Puppet.

Although suppressed by the rules of the Training Trial Secret Realm and only radiating the aura of a Ninth Turn Mahayana, its physical body still retained the terrifying durability of the Supreme Realm.

Puppets like this were priceless in restricted secret realms.

Ethan had no doubt that others possessed similar trump cards—but none would reveal them unless absolutely necessary.

The puppet stepped forward, replacing Risa at the front.

With each step it took, the mud grew deeper, wetter.

Snap~!

The puppet's foot landed in a shallow puddle.

Water splashed outward—

And the darkness responded.

A faint blue light flickered.

One point.

Then another.

Then dozens.

Then hundreds.

In the blink of an eye, the entire corridor glowed with eerie blue radiance.

Ethan's pupils contracted.

Floating in the air were countless beetles, each no larger than a fist. Two translucent wings vibrated rapidly, and their tails burned with ghostly blue flames.

"Ghost Flame Insects," Elara and Ethan spoke at the same time.

"Ghost Flame Insects?" Kara frowned. "I've never heard of them."

Elara explained quickly, her voice tense.

"They're low-level monsters individually, but they live in swarms. Their tails contain corrosive fire poison."

"They attack in two ways," Ethan continued seamlessly.

"They either release venom, or compress it and self-destruct."

"Their bloodline isn't high. Growth is limited. This size is usually the peak—roughly sixth level."

Kara nodded slowly. "Like ant-type monsters."

"Yes," Ethan said.

"But in sufficient numbers, they can devour even a Ninth Realm great demon."

Risa's expression tightened.

"Then… could there be an insect mother here?"

In the outside world, they wouldn't fear such a thing.

But here, with realms suppressed, a true insect mother would be lethal.

Ethan raised a finger.

"Quiet."

Dong. Dong. Dong.

A deep, rhythmic sound echoed from deeper within the corridor.

Like a heartbeat.

Slow.

Heavy.

Oppressive.

This was no sound a mere beetle could produce.

"Insect mother," Ethan said calmly.

Before anyone could react, he grabbed Risa by the shoulder and hurled her backward.

The next instant—

A streak of blue light shot out of the darkness.

It carried terrifying fire poison, tearing through the air where Risa had stood.

That strike was a signal.

The swarm awakened.

Buzz!

The Ghost Flame Insects exploded into motion.

Countless wings vibrated at once, producing a deafening roar. From all directions, they surged forward, forming a massive blue curtain that swallowed the corridor.

"Go!"

Ethan controlled the puppet to stand before him.

Ethan's hands formed a seal.

Golden light erupted from his eyes.

"The Celestial Prism Dharma Body—manifest!"

A radiant dharma body burst forth, expanding instantly.

It bloomed like a transparent flower, its multicolored light enveloping Ethan, Kara, Elara, and Risa completely.

The Ghost Flame Insects crashed against it in waves, covering the glowing dharma body in a writhing mass of blue light.

Buzz—buzz—buzz—!

The sound was overwhelming.

The noise produced by countless wings vibrating together formed an invisible attack.

This was not a physical assault.

Nor was it mental.

It was a direct attack on the soul.

Unlike the Dragon Leviathan Fish, which attacked the mind—

The Ghost Flame Insects tore at the soul itself.

The sound waves bypassed the Celestial Prism Dharma Body entirely, surging straight toward their spirits.

Ethan sneered.

"Soul Tower."

A clear, ringing hum echoed.

A thirteen-story golden tower materialized, rotating slowly and descending over the four of them.

Golden light poured down, forming an impenetrable soul defense.

The sound waves struck it head-on—

Bang~!

Then, a dull sound rang out.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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