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

Ye Yunjian looked up and saw Lin Yao standing at the edge of the pit, holding a peculiar magical artifact in her hand. The artifact emitted a faint golden light, illuminating a part of the pit bottom.

"Junior Sister Lin, you've come at the perfect time!" Ye Yunjian was overjoyed. "We're trapped at the bottom of the pit. Do you have any ideas?"

Lin Yao nodded and tossed down the magical artifact she was holding.

The device landed on the ground, quickly unfolded, and transformed into a complex mechanical platform.

"This is my newly developed lifting platform, which can bring you up," Lin Yao explained.

Everyone stepped onto the platform, and with a mechanical whirring sound, the platform slowly rose.

Upon returning to the ground, the group found themselves in an unfamiliar forest.

The tall trees blocked out the sun, and the air was filled with a thick miasma.

“This place…is deeper within the forbidden zone,” Nie Hanshan said with a solemn expression.

Lin Yao took out a device that resembled a compass and said, "My compass shows that there is a weak point in the barrier ahead. Perhaps we can break through from there."

Following Lin Yao's directions, the group arrived at a hidden cave.

At the entrance to the cave, a glowing barrier sealed the entrance.

Ye Yunjian took a deep breath and said, "I'll give it a try!"

He channeled all his spiritual power and slashed at the restriction with his sword.

At the same time, Nie Hanshan and Gu Ling also joined forces to assist Ye Yunjian in his attack.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the barrier shattered.

The group filed in and discovered that deep within the cave, a mysterious fire crystal emitting a strange light was quietly floating in the air.

Ye Yunjian carefully put the Xuanhuo Crystal into his pocket, a hint of joy on his face.

Just then, a sinister laugh came from deep within the cave.

A mysterious figure dressed in a black robe slowly emerged, emanating a powerful aura that sent chills down one's spine.

The man in black robes slowly emerged, his sinister aura coiling like a venomous snake within the cave, the oppressive atmosphere almost suffocating.

The temperature inside the cave plummeted, and Ye Yunjian couldn't help but shiver. He gripped his long sword tightly and watched the newcomer warily.

His face was concealed by a black robe, revealing only a pair of cold eyes that seemed to gaze from the abyss, sending chills down one's spine.

Nie Hanshan and Gu Ling also drew their weapons, standing back to back as if facing a formidable enemy.

Nie Hanshan's rugged face was full of solemnity. He said in a deep voice, "Be careful, this guy is very strong!" Gu Ling's face was pale, and he swallowed nervously, his long spear trembling slightly.

Lin Yao hid behind the crowd, her slender fingers tightly gripping a jade pendant, her knuckles turning white, her eyes filled with terror.

The man in black robes let out a chilling laugh that echoed through the cave, sounding as piercing as the wailing of ghosts and wolves.

"Hmph, you think you can touch these Xuanhuo Crystals? Such treasures are not something you ants can lay a finger on!" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly made his move.

A black beam of light shot towards Ye Yunjian like a venomous snake, its speed so fast that it was impossible for anyone to react.

Ye Yunjian's pupils shrank sharply. At the critical moment, he dodged to the side, barely avoiding the fatal blow.

The black spiritual energy brushed against his cheek, leaving a burning sensation.

"You're courting death!" Nie Hanshan roared, brandishing his broadsword like a raging beast as he charged toward the man in black robes.

The blade flashed, carrying a sharp gust of wind, and slashed straight at the black-robed man's face.

Gu Ling also mustered his courage, his spear transforming into countless cold stars as he followed closely behind, attacking the black-robed man's lower body.

However, the man in black remained calm and easily dodged Nie Hanshan's attack.

Immediately afterwards, he struck out with his palm, and black spiritual energy surged out like a tide, blasting Nie Hanshan and Gu Ling away.

"Overestimating yourself!" The man in black robes let out a contemptuous sneer.

Ye Yunjian took a deep breath, his eyes blazing.

He sensed a powerful aura emanating from the man in black robes that was far beyond their ability to withstand.

But he did not back down, instead he became more determined.

He slowly raised the longsword in his hand, the tip pointing directly at the man in black, and said in a deep voice, "Today, it's either you or me who dies!"

The man in black robes seemed slightly surprised by Ye Yunjian's tenacity. He looked Ye Yunjian up and down with interest, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh? It seems you still have some backbone... It's a pity you're only at the Profound Sword Realm." Before he could finish speaking, Ye Yunjian moved...

Ye Yunjian seized the opportunity, his eyes blazing, and with a flick of his longsword, unleashed a sword technique.

The spiritual energy transformed into several sword shadows, which pierced towards the black-robed man like lightning. The sword shadows flashed in the air, and even the surrounding air trembled.

Ye Yunjian was filled with confidence, believing that this attack would be enough to seriously injure the man in black robes.

However, the man in black robes remained calm. With a wave of his hands, a black barrier instantly appeared in front of him.

The sword strikes the barrier, sending sparks flying like raindrops.

The black-robed man's composure made Ye Yunjian's heart sink; he knew that the black-robed man's strength far exceeded his imagination.

Upon seeing this, Nie Hanshan immediately realized that this was the only opportunity.

His eyes widened, his muscles tensed, and his broadsword seemed to be divinely aided as he swiftly slashed at the man in black robes from the side.

However, the man in black seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He slightly turned to the side and kicked out with lightning speed.

Nie Hanshan was instantly struck by a tremendous force, his body flying out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground with a painful groan.

Everyone was stunned. Gu Ling and Lin Yao's faces turned even paler, and the tense atmosphere reached its peak.

The man in black robes sneered, clasped his hands together, and black spiritual energy surged towards the crowd like a tide.

Enveloped in spiritual energy, Ye Yunjian and the others felt as if their bodies were being crushed by a thousand-pound burden, making it difficult to breathe and even move.

They fought back fiercely, and despair spread through their hearts like a thick fog, as if death were imminent.

Lin Yao's defensive magic artifact was on the verge of collapse under the black-robed man's fierce attack. Her face was full of terror, tears welled up in her eyes, and the feeling of helplessness brought her to the brink of collapse.

Gu Ling wanted to help Lin Yao strengthen her defenses, but he was struck in the arm by spiritual energy. A sharp pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth and persevered. Sweat and blood mingled together, making the oppressive atmosphere even more intense.

Just then, a glimmer of light flashed through Ye Yunjian's mind, and the ancient sword technique that Situ Jiuxiao had taught him—"Heavenly Sword Returns to Origin"—resonated in his heart.

Ye Yunjian gritted his teeth, recalling every detail of his master's teaching of "Heavenly Sword Return to Origin".

Master...

No, it's that demon disguised as the master!

Overwhelming hatred burned like a raging fire in his chest, and an unprecedented power surged from within him.

The sword shone brightly, its dazzling light illuminating the entire cave and dispelling the eerie aura brought by the man in black robes.