Baichang Star, a colossal planet entirely composed of white sand and white stone, is situated in an unfamiliar starfield far from Kunlun Realm, adjacent to a vast and eerie Yellow Spring Star River.
The long-dormant spatial teleportation array suddenly erupted with a dazzling white light, revealing two figures.
After multiple relay teleports, Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei finally returned to Baichang Star.
At this moment, it was daytime, and looking up, one could see the giant light gate, shining as brilliantly as the sun.
Zhang Ruochen gazed upward at the light gate. Now, far stronger than before, he could discern some extraordinary aspects of this starfield.
Logically, given the uniqueness of the light gate, its radiance should be visible even from Kunlun Realm.
Yet, despite Kunlun Realm being a merit battlefield for so long, with countless gods from the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm watching, this place remained undiscovered, which was clearly unreasonable.
The only explanation was that someone with extraordinary means had concealed this starfield, making it imperceptible even to gods.
The most likely person to have done this was undoubtedly Saint Monk Xumi.
For Saint Monk Xumi to expend such effort in setting this up, this place must hide a world-shaking secret, possibly related to the great war 100,000 years ago.
With prior experience, Zhang Ruochen adjusted the spatial coordinates and activated the array.
At a distance of nearly 20,000 miles from the light gate, ripples appeared in space.
Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei emerged from the centre of the ripples, standing in the void, looking forward.
Even having seen it before, gazing at the light gate up close again, Zhang Ruochen’s heart surged with intense emotions, feeling a sense of suffocation.
“Such an enormous gate, stars are like dust before it, truly a divine marvel,” Xiao Hei couldn’t help but exclaim.
With its former cultivation infinitely close to godhood and remarkable abilities, it could never have created such a grand feat.
The light gate stood silently in the void, its age unknown to all.
Being so close, Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei felt a heart-palpitating aura emanating from the gate, almost shattering their bodies and sacred souls.
“What a complex spatial structure, endless layers of void stacked together, all caused by the power of the Ghost Gate. Could Saint Monk Xumi have forged the Ghost Gate?” Zhang Ruochen murmured.
Saint Monk Xumi, with his profound cultivation and expertise in crafting treasures like the Qiankun Divine Wood Diagram and the Chaos Space-Time Lotus, could plausibly have created the Ghost Gate.
Moreover, the spatial teleportation array here was also arranged by Saint Monk Xumi, everything seeming to align.
Xiao Hei shook its head, “Unlikely. I can sense the Ghost Gate’s aura is incredibly ancient, no less than the *Ten Thousand Lights Diagram*. It’s probably a relic from ancient times when old bald Xumi wasn’t even born.”
“Also, using my Great Saint Eye, I vaguely saw some patterns on the Ghost Gate that feel familiar, like I’ve seen them somewhere. Let me think.”
Xiao Hei propped its head with its wings, pondering deeply.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t disturb it, instead activating his Heavenly Eye at his brow, carefully observing the Ghost Gate without rushing closer.
To venture through the Ghost Gate, he needed to understand it better first.
The Ghost Gate was indeed covered with intricate, profound patterns, seemingly containing various universal truths.
Engraving such patterns on a gate so massive was an extraordinary feat, beyond ordinary capabilities.
Even with Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation, staring at these patterns made him dizzy, unable to comprehend them.
“I remember now! Similar patterns exist in the Nether Dungeon and the Sword Pavilion. Could all three be forged by the same person?” Xiao Hei suddenly shouted.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred, recalling that he had entered both the Nether Dungeon and the Sword Pavilion and was familiar with them.
Previously, he hadn’t paid much attention, but now, as Xiao Hei mentioned, both places indeed had intricate, naturally formed patterns.
Staring at the Ghost Gate, Zhang Ruochen said, “The Ghost Gate has eighteen layers, the Nether Dungeon also has eighteen layers, and legend says the Sword Pavilion has eighteen layers. Could there be a connection between the three?”
The Ghost Gate before them was singular, but the mysterious gatekeeper had said it comprised eighteen layers, and only by passing through all could one reach the Hell Realm.
Both the Nether Dungeon and the Sword Pavilion were deeply mysterious, their origins unclear.
Legend held that even gods could be suppressed in the Nether Dungeon.
After all, a figure like the Nether King, infinitely close to godhood, was imprisoned in the seventeenth layer.
The Sword Pavilion, housing the *Wordless Sword Manual*, was the supreme sanctuary for sword cultivators.
Beyond having the same number of layers, the Nether Dungeon and the Sword Pavilion shared another trait: both were spatial treasures containing their own universes. The Sword Pavilion even wielded the power of time, with higher layers having greater time-flow disparities compared to the outside world.
“To perfectly combine time and space to create such a wondrous treasure, perhaps only a Controller of Time and Space could achieve it,” Zhang Ruochen thought.
In Kunlun Realm’s history, including Zhang Ruochen, only three Controllers of Time and Space had emerged.
If, as Xiao Hei said, Saint Monk Xumi wasn’t skilled in crafting, then the creator of the Sword Pavilion was likely the mysterious first Controller of Time and Space.
Even as a successor of time and space, Zhang Ruochen knew nothing of the first Controller, whose era was too ancient, leaving only sparse legends.
The only thing Zhang Ruochen knew was that the first Controller was called the Ancestor of Time and Space, one of Kunlun Realm’s most ancient great beings.
After much thought, Zhang Ruochen used spatial shift, taking Xiao Hei swiftly toward the Ghost Gate.
In moments, they were less than a thousand miles from it.
At such close range, the impact on their minds was even more intense.
“Huh? There’s a hall here. Zhang Ruochen, is the mysterious gatekeeper you mentioned living inside?” Xiao Hei suddenly noticed a seemingly small hall at the Ghost Gate’s lower right corner.
Of course, “small” was relative; the hall was actually grand, thousands of feet tall, like a primordial divine beast crouching in the void.
Zhang Ruochen also turned his gaze to the hall. Last time, when he tried to force his way through the Ghost Gate, a hand thousands of miles long extended from the hall, slapping him back to Baichang Star.
Reflecting now, such terrifying means suggested the gatekeeper’s cultivation was extraordinarily high.
“Young man, you’re back,” a mental fluctuation came from the hall.
Receiving this familiar mental wave, Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly, “After so many years, I didn’t expect Senior to still remember me.”
Back then, he was very weak, not even at the Saint Realm, yet the gatekeeper remembered him, which was quite surprising.
“Though I’ve lived long, my memory is sharp. Young man, to reach the peak of the Saint King Realm in such a short time is impressive. Are you here to challenge the Ghost Gate?” the mental voice came again.
Before Zhang Ruochen could respond, Xiao Hei interjected, “Who are you? Why guard this place?”
“I’m just a forgotten old man. Telling you my identity is meaningless. Will you challenge the Ghost Gate?” the self-proclaimed gatekeeper asked again.
Zhang Ruochen’s mind raced, “With my current cultivation, am I qualified to know some secrets about the Ghost Gate? Please, Senior, enlighten me.”
Last time, he had asked many questions, but the gatekeeper, citing his weak cultivation, revealed nothing.
Though he had some guesses, he wanted clear answers from the gatekeeper.
“Speak, what’s the origin of the Ghost Gate? Who created it? I, in the Middle Ages, never heard of it,” Xiao Hei urged eagerly.
It prided itself on being knowledgeable, yet knew nothing of the Ghost Gate.
The gatekeeper paused, then said, “Kunlun Realm’s peace is broken again. Many secrets will eventually be known. Telling you is no harm.”
“Do you see the star river behind the Ghost Gate? That’s the Hell Realm, a powerful civilisation bent on destruction. 100,000 years ago, Kunlun Realm nearly fell to it.”
“That year, the gods of the Hell Realm, with supreme divine powers, drove an entire starfield toward Kunlun Realm’s starfield, crushing everything. If not for a great being sacrificing a supreme divine artifact to form the Ghost Gate and block the void, Kunlun Realm and many great worlds might have been consumed.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen felt a suffocating shock. The collision of starfields was unimaginable.
Who was the great being that blocked the void? Ten Tribulations Heavenly Lord? Fallen God Island Master? Dragon Lord Jiwang? Or someone else?
“Is the Ghost Gate one of the ten divine artifacts? Who was that great being?” Zhang Ruochen asked urgently.
Though not well-versed in the ten divine artifacts, he knew none seemed to be a gate.
He was also curious about the great being whose power must have been earth-shaking, with a legendary reputation.
Yet, everything from 100,000 years ago was erased by an invisible force, even Kunlun Realm’s gods largely unknown to later generations.
After a long wait, no further words came from the hall.
Since the gatekeeper was unwilling to answer, Zhang Ruochen didn’t press, avoiding displeasure.
After a moment’s thought, he extended an index finger, lightly tapping the void. A shadowy figure of Huang Yanchen formed, and he asked, “Senior, has she been here?”
“She came, entered the Ghost Gate, and never returned,” the mysterious gatekeeper said.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart trembled. His guess was correct; Huang Yanchen’s changes were indeed tied to the Ghost Gate.
Yet, he sensed the matter wasn’t so simple. Huang Yanchen wouldn’t join the Hell Realm without reason, and with her strength then, how could she pass the eighteen layers?
After all, the gatekeeper had said one needed at least Saint King Realm to challenge the Ghost Gate.
“After all these questions, will you challenge the Ghost Gate?” the gatekeeper asked.
Zhang Ruochen snapped back, his gaze on the hall, eyes flickering with strange lights. Who was this gatekeeper? Why guard the Ghost Gate? Were his words true?
With this thought, he said, “Actually, I’m more interested in you, Senior, than the Ghost Gate. I’d like to consult you in person.”
With that, Zhang Ruochen made a bold move, transforming into a streak of light, darting toward the grand hall at the Ghost Gate’s lower right.
*Bang.*
At 500 miles from the hall, an invisible barrier stopped him, forcing him to halt.
“Young man, this isn’t a place for you. If you won’t challenge the Ghost Gate, leave,” the gatekeeper said coolly.
Xiao Hei flashed over, scoffing, “What’s with the mystery? I’ll see who you are.”
*Swish.*
Seventy-two array flags flew out, instantly forming a wondrous ninth-grade array.
The array activated, condensing a 10,000-foot holy sword, radiating billions of sharp sword energies, slashing toward the hall like lightning.
*Crack.*
A terrifying force emerged from the hall, shattering the holy sword and annihilating all sword energies instantly.
The ninth-grade array collapsed, some flags cracking, and Xiao Hei staggered back.
Yet, Xiao Hei paid no heed, staring at the hall in shock, as if discovering something extraordinary.
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Ruochen asked, puzzled.
Xiao Hei, excited, said, “He used Godfall Power, only cultivable through the Godfall Scripture.”
The Godfall Scripture, one of Kunlun Realm’s six wondrous books, was a secret of Fallen God Island, typically only cultivable by the Fallen God Clan.
In the Middle Ages, the Fallen God Clan was immensely powerful, led by the Fallen God Island Master, a supreme figure alongside Ten Tribulations Heavenly Lord, Saint Monk Xumi, and Dragon Lord Jiwang, wielding profound mysteries and god-slaying power.
After the Middle Ages, the Fallen God Clan retreated to Fallen God Island, fading from prominence, forgotten by many.
Xiao Hei, familiar with the clan, had once led Han Xue to Fallen God Island to inherit the *Godfall Scripture*.
“Who are you? How did you gain the *Godfall Scripture*’s inheritance? What’s your tie to the Fallen God Clan?” Xiao Hei asked urgently.
More than Zhang Ruochen, it wanted to rush into the hall to uncover the gatekeeper’s identity, deeply invested due to the Fallen God Clan.
“Could the Fallen God Island Master have left the Ghost Gate?” Zhang Ruochen speculated.
The gatekeeper said, “Who I am doesn’t matter. Stop causing trouble and leave.”
Clearly, the gatekeeper was growing displeased with their intrusion.
As Zhang Ruochen was about to speak, a sudden sensation made him turn to the distant horizon.
“What’s that? A person?”
A blurry figure entered his view.
She carried a sword on her back, walking through the void, moving slowly yet covering 10,000 miles per step, as if strolling from one cosmic edge to another.
The figure followed a straight path, seemingly seeking universal truths and mysteries while walking.
A massive star appeared in her path, blocking her way, but before she neared, an invisible force pierced it, splitting it apart without deviating her course.
Zhang Ruochen’s mind trembled. He vaguely sensed a sword energy piercing the star, yet upon closer inspection, there seemed to be none, as if it was an illusion.
At the Saint King Realm, Zhang Ruochen had perfected his swordsmanship, believing he understood it deeply.
Now, he felt he barely knew the sword, far from its essence.
One thing he was certain of: she had cultivated the *Wordless Sword Manual*, reaching a realm beyond his comprehension.
In a blink, the figure crossed the boundless void, entering the gatekeeper’s hall.
*Roar.*
Xiao Hei suddenly howled, wildly excited, rushing toward the hall recklessly.
Strangely, the barrier was gone.
“Empress, is it you? I’m Tutian! Don’t you remember me?” Xiao Hei shouted.
Zhang Ruochen followed, his expression odd, “Xiao Hei, your real name is Tutian? Heh… wait, Empress? You mean she’s Empress Thousand Bones?”
Zhang Ruochen reacted abruptly.
“Though I didn’t see her face, I’d never mistake the Empress’s aura. It’s definitely her. I knew she was alive,” Xiao Hei said, increasingly agitated.
Zhang Ruochen frowned. Was that figure truly the legendary Empress Thousand Bones? He was skeptical.
Empress Thousand Bones vanished 100,000 years ago into the depths of the underworld. Even if alive, why appear here?
Judging identity by aura alone was unreliable.
Moreover, given Xiao Hei’s bond with Empress Thousand Bones, if it was her, she wouldn’t ignore Xiao Hei.
