Chapter 104: Each Door, A World

As the heavily rusted door slowly creaked open, the first thing to assault their nostrils was a dense, suffocating scent of aged ink. It was not fragrant but rather choking, as if countless ancient, resentment-soaked documents had been burning in a sealed chamber for untold years, releasing this oppressive aroma.

Before them unfolded a world steeped in ink and mist.

Majestic peaks, outlined in varying shades of ink, rose abruptly from the ground, stretching endlessly into the hazy dome above. Between these mountains flowed rivers, their waters as black as ink, and a mere glance seemed to summon haunting whispers that unsettled the very soul.

Though the landscape was grand and ever-shifting, its hues had faded somewhat, as if a masterpiece timeworn by millennia had lost some of its original brilliance.

Standing at the threshold, Shangguan Chuci and Lin Jianyān felt as though they were at the foot of these ink-washed mountains. The scene before them was so inexplicable and eerie that even two individuals of their caliber were momentarily speechless, utterly captivated.

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching roar echoed from the celestial dome above, compelling them to look up instinctively.

Their breath caught in their throats.

At the horizon of this ink sky hung an enormous scroll—not made of paper or silk, but composed of countless twisted fragments of flesh and blood. Ink stains bled across its surface, intermingled with a crimson hue, writhing ceaselessly like a colossal primordial beast skinned alive and nailed to the heavens.

Each of its struggles caused this ink world to tremble; mountains shook, rivers reversed their course—a true vision of apocalypse.

“Master Chu... is that... the Heartfire of Steward Lu?” Lin Jianyān asked, her voice trembling with awe. Though mentally prepared, she was still shaken to her core. Her small hands gripping the lantern trembled uncontrollably.

She prided herself on her broad knowledge, yet the terrifying might and ferocity of this imprisoned creature was beyond anything she had ever encountered.

She wondered, if assessed by the Nine Heavens standard of cultivation, which level this monstrosity might correspond to.

Yet she sensed that with her current Foundation Establishment realm, she was no match for it.

Shangguan Chuci also gazed upward at the sky-darkening beast.

He was intimately familiar with this creature; the fear it evoked was being reignited within him. He felt, perhaps mistakenly, that this celestial-bound monster was even more formidable than the one he had glimpsed that fateful night in the backyard.

Wasn’t it supposed to be somewhat diminished?

Strictly speaking, this might not even count as a weakening...

Taking a slow breath, Shangguan Chuci suppressed a comment on this, then answered the girl’s earlier question:

“Yes, that is indeed Brother Lu’s Heartfire. And these mountains and rivers form his Dao Foundation... or rather, one of his Dao Foundations.”

---

Lin Jianyān was stunned once more. “Steward Lu not only possesses myriad Heartfires but also numerous Dao Foundations?”

Her worldview shattered anew.

Was this still cultivation?

Seeing her expression, Shangguan Chuci smiled inwardly but said with certainty:

“Where there is Heartfire, there is Dao Foundation. Heartfire and Dao Foundation together form a world. Behind this very door lies one such realm, and the countless other doors along the corridor each conceal their own strange and wondrous worlds.”

Lin Jianyān’s heart raced. After a moment’s pause, she instinctively asked:

“Master Chu, what level of cultivation does Steward Lu truly possess? Somehow, even my father would not have such unfathomable powers.”

She hesitated, then added, eyes filled with confusion and conflict:

“And is he truly some kind of heretical demon? Both his sinister puppet and these incredible abilities differ greatly from the orthodox cultivators I know. In fact, he seems even stranger and more terrifying than those Lantern Bearers...”

“Your father?” Shangguan Chuci suddenly asked.

Lin Jianyān was taken aback, quickly waving her hand.

“Ah, sorry, Master Chu, that is a private matter concerning my father. I cannot speak of it.”

“Then Brother Lu’s cultivation level is an even greater secret not to be shared with outsiders,” Shangguan Chuci said, lightly fanning himself with his folding fan as he chuckled.

Lin Jianyān pursed her lips, slightly deflated. But then she reasoned that given the gravity of the matter, the other’s reticence was understandable.

As she pondered, Shangguan Chuci added:

“Actually, Brother Lu is the leader of the Turbid Flow Holy Sect.”

“Ah?!” Lin Jianyān gasped, mouth agape, unable to close it.

Shangguan Chuci found her reaction amusing and said matter-of-factly:

“Think about it: if he were not the sect leader, who in the Nine Provinces, the Ten Lands, the Four Seas, or the Eight Desolations would be worthy of such an extraordinary cultivation method?”

Lin Jianyān drew a sharp breath. Upon reflection, she found this argument quite convincing.

Indeed, if not the head of a demonic sect, who else could imprison Heartfire within their body and manifest countless Dao Foundations with such overwhelming power?

Just as she was about to believe it, a soft chuckle came from beside her.

Startled, she turned to see Master Chu covering his mouth with a hand, mischief gleaming in his eyes.

---

“Master Chu, why are you laughing?”

“Actually, I was merely joking with Assistant Lin just now.”

“Huh?”

Shangguan Chuci collected himself and spoke seriously:

“I do not fully understand Brother Lu’s true origins. Only that he and his affairs are extraordinary. As for his cultivation level...”

“Currently, it is likely sealed. Many of his powers are restrained and cannot be wielded freely.”

He thought to himself, If I keep praising him like this, this girl might start seeing Lu Chenyuan as some sort of devilish overlord who toys with the world.

If the truth slips out, not only will that fool lose face, but I won’t know where to hide my own.

“I see...”

Hearing this, Lin Jianyān subconsciously patted her chest, as if exhaling a long-held breath.

Whether this relief was because Steward Lu was not the sect leader or for some other reason, even she could not say.

“Though Brother Lu’s identity is mysterious, I believe he is not truly a ruthless villain.”

“I... I feel the same,” she replied.

Shangguan Chuci glanced at the girl and said:

“That makes things easier. After all, Assistant Lin represents the court. What you have seen today must remain secret—do not let what you’ve witnessed or heard be leaked.”

“If you fail to keep this, it will only bring bloodshed and disaster. The ensuing carnage is surely not what you desire.”

Lin Jianyān nodded in understanding.

“Of course. Steward Lu saved my life. As long as he does not commit heinous acts, I will not reveal what I’ve seen today to anyone—not even my father.”

Though she gave her word, she left some room for herself.

Shangguan Chuci could tell, but felt this was enough for now.

He looked up at the still-roaring monstrous painting in the sky and smiled:

“Let us go inside. Brother Lu is still waiting outside. Since that beastly painting is now mounted in the heavens, it should not harm us. As long as we proceed cautiously, there should be no danger.”