Possessed by my father, I was reborn and became the supreme ruler.

A massive black shadow, accompanied by a chilling laugh, twisted above the black-robed elder's head like a ghost. "Then let me test your worth." The shadow's voice pierced Ye Yunjian's eardrums like an ice pick.

Ye Yunjian clenched his fist so tightly that his nails almost dug into his flesh.

The shadowy figure vaguely resembled Situ Jiuxiao, whose image haunted his mind like a nightmare.

He suppressed his anger and stared coldly at the illusory face.

"Since you're so outstanding, why not try this little gadget?" Before Situ Jiuxiao's phantom finished speaking, a complex array diagram appeared out of thin air, shimmering with a ghostly blue light. Runes moved through the air like snakes, emitting a heart-palpitating fluctuation.

"Untie it in one hour, and you can leave." The shadowy figure's voice was mocking, as if watching a trapped beast struggle.

Ye Yunjian felt an immense pressure; this formation was extremely complex, far exceeding anything he had ever seen before.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

Time passed second by second, the light of the formation grew stronger and stronger, and fine beads of sweat appeared on Ye Yunjian's forehead.

A mystical maze!!! This is a formation that the Xuanhuo Sect has lost for a long time, and it has actually appeared here.

He kept deducing and trying various solutions, his fingertips leaving afterimages in the air.

The fluctuations emanating from the formation grew increasingly intense, as if it were about to explode at any moment.

Ye Yunjian felt a sense of suffocation, as if an invisible hand was gripping his throat.

Just as time was about to run out, Ye Yunjian's array light suddenly receded, like a tamed wild beast, quietly hovering in the air.

"Excellent, excellent," the old man in black robes exclaimed, clapping his hands in praise.

The dark figure let out a resentful roar before vanishing without a trace.

Ye Yunjian breathed a long sigh of relief, a surge of joy of victory welling up in his heart.

However, this joy did not last long.

"You've deciphered more than just a formation," the black-robed elder's tone turned grave, "it's also the secret I've been searching for here. Since you possess such abilities, don't let them remain buried here..."

The old man in black robes turned and walked deeper into the cave, his voice echoing in the dark cave: "Come with me, child, there are some things you are destined to face... the true core of this inner sect's secret realm—the demon race!"

Ye Yunjian took a deep breath, suppressing the surging doubts in his heart, and followed behind the old man in black robes.

The old man walked steadily, as if he knew everything about the cave.

The cave is deep and narrow, filled with the damp smell of earth. The rock walls on both sides are rough and uneven, with some strange patterns faintly visible.

The deeper you go, the lower the temperature gets; the chill creeps up from your feet, soaking through your clothes and reaching your very core.

Finally, the old man stopped in front of a secluded stone wall.

He stretched out his withered fingers and gently pressed them on the stone wall. After a rumbling sound, the stone wall slowly parted to the sides, revealing an even deeper cave.

Inside the cave, the walls were covered with densely packed runes, emitting a faint red glow that flickered like breathing.

An ancient and mysterious atmosphere blows over you, making you feel awe.

Ye Yunjian stared at the runes, a strange sense of familiarity welling up in his heart, yet he couldn't grasp any specific clues.

Suddenly, several dark figures darted out from the shadows with lightning speed, rushing straight towards Ye Yunjian and the old man in black robes.

The figure in black was agile and swift, with a sharp blade gleaming in its hand, clearly a well-trained guardian.

Ye Yunjian reacted quickly, drawing his longsword, which emitted a crisp hum as he blocked the oncoming attack.

With a loud clang, sparks flew everywhere.

The old man in black robes was equally unyielding. He waved his sleeve, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy swept out, forcing the several dark figures back.

The guardians' attacks grew increasingly fierce, each move deadly, forcing Ye Yunjian and the black-robed elder to fight and retreat.

Just then, a beautiful figure flew in from the cave entrance; it was Meng Chuxi.

"Ye Yunjian, I'm here to help you!" Meng Chuxi shouted, her left hand wielding a long whip that danced like a serpent, forcing back several approaching guardians.

Then Meng Chuxi stood calmly beside Ye Yunjian, wielding her longsword with ease, her sword energy crisscrossing, deflecting the guardian's attacks one by one.

"Who is this old man?" Meng Chuxi asked.

“I don’t know him either, but he’s a good person and a friend I just met,” Ye Yunjian replied.

"Hmph, a pushover like that will suffer sooner or later!" Meng Chuxi remained silent. Seeing that the old man meant no harm, and with a formidable enemy at hand, she decided to engage him in battle first.

The three joined forces to engage in a fierce battle with the guardians.

Inside the cave, sword light flashed, spiritual energy surged, and shouts of battle were deafening.

The number of guardians increased, and their attacks became more and more ferocious, seemingly endless.

"Their power seems to be constantly increasing!" the black-robed elder said in a deep voice, his brows furrowed.

The old man in black robes then flashed a glint in his eyes and whispered, "Be careful, the formation in this cave seems to be providing them with power!"

Ye Yunjian felt a chill run down his spine. He looked around and found that the runes on the wall were shining even brighter, as if they had come alive and were constantly flowing.

Just then, a guardian bypassed the black-robed elder's defenses and rushed straight at Meng Chuxi.

Upon seeing this, Ye Yunjian's heart tightened, and without thinking, he stepped in front of Meng Chuxi...

"You!" Meng Chuxi exclaimed in surprise.

A flash of cold light, and Ye Yunjian's shoulder was slashed open by a sharp blade, blood instantly soaking through his clothes.

Meng Chuxi exclaimed in surprise, wielding her long whip even more fiercely, forcing back the surrounding guardians, and came to Ye Yunjian's side, anxiously checking his injuries.

"How are you? Does it hurt?" Meng Chuxi's voice was tinged with nervousness, and her eyes revealed a rare worry and concern.

She carefully examined the wound on Ye Yunjian's shoulder, her movements gentle, afraid of hurting him.

Ye Yunjian felt the pain in his shoulder, but a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He smiled slightly, looking at Meng Chuxi with gentle eyes: "I'm fine, just a little scrape. Elder Meng, you should be careful too, don't hurt yourself."

Upon hearing this, Meng Chuxi bit her lower lip tightly, and her eyes even reddened.

Meng Chuxi raised her head and said firmly, "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you!"

In the perilous cave, Meng Chuxi offered Ye Yunjian some comfort.

The old man in black robes glanced at them but said nothing.

Ye Yunjian took a deep breath and refocused his attention on the battle.

He carefully observed the guardians' movements and discovered that although they were powerful, they lacked flexibility.

Their attack patterns are rigid, relying entirely on the support of formations.

"Senior in black robes, their weakness lies in their lower body!" Ye Yunjian shouted to the old man in black robes while wielding his sword to block the attack.