The space at the bottom of the staircase was far bigger than Ye Zichen imagined. After Qing Lan and Cang Xiong appeared, he and Gu Luolin had rushed right, the direction Qing Lan told them to go in. So far, theyd seen nothing but towering stone pillar after stone pillar.

As for the path Qing Lan told them to keep an eye out for, never mind a hall or tunnel, they hadnt even seen a fork in the road.

But Ye Zichen trusted what Qing Lan had told him. If Cang Xiong had told him there was a tunnel on the right, Ye Zichen might have suspected him after running for so long without seeing any sign of it. He would have thought Cang Xiong was toying with him.

But Qing Lan was the steadiest of the three yao emperors of the pagoda, and he was the one Ye Zichen had the best impression of.

Since Qing Lan told him his fortune was waiting for him to the right, he proceeded with assurance.

Is it really okay for us to run like this? It seems the fighting is intense over there, said Gu Luolin, taking quick steps to keep up with Ye Zichen. Her eyes flashed with concern.

When he craned her neck and listened, even though they were quite a distance from the stairway now, they could still hear blasts and impacts emanating from afar.

It was obvious that Cang Xiong and Qing Lan were already fighting the Thousand-Faced Yao Monarch, and furthermore, that the battle was vicious.

It seemed Gu Luolin was the dutiful sort, but then, there was absolutely no need to worry about Cang Xiong and Qing Lan.

Remember, when Ye Zichen first entered the fourth layer, they told him

Even against a transcendent, they could save his life.

It was true: the Thousand-Faced Yao Monarch was a force to be reckoned with. But against Qing Lan and Cang Xiong, he couldnt stir up any waves at all.

Dont worry about them. Never mind that there are two of them; even one-on-one, theyre more than the yao monarch can handle, said Ye Zichen with a laugh. His divine sense was continuously surveying their surroundings.

Outside, he was worried others would discover him if he used his divine sense, but in here, there was no need to worry about that. If you wanted to enter, you needed to activate the power of all five elements within the blank scroll; there was no other way to open the secret passage.

Ye Zichen dared not guarantee that of all those in the mausoleum, only he cultivated the Grand Dao of the Five Elements. After all, at the imperial level, any further breakthroughs were incredibly difficult. It was entirely possible that, after getting stuck, some experts might try their luck at a different path and dabble in the five elements.

But there was a difference between dabbling and specializaition. Even if other experts had gleaned enlightenment into the five elements, there was no way theyd researched it as extensively as Ye Zichen.

Furthermore, Ye Zichen had done a little this and that to the scroll. Unless someone was more proficient in the five elements than him, there was no way they could break through. This was preparation to ensure that nothing went wrong after he entered the tunnel.

As for the yao monarch whod accompanied them in, hed have a hard enough time just staying alive. There was no way he could catch up to Ye Zichen now.

Thats true. Gu Luolin recalled the punch Cang Xiong swung when he first appeared, then nodded, as if it were obvious. Even her father, Gu Xuande, would struggle to match Cang Xiongs explosive destructive power, but to her dad, the Thousand-Faced Monarch was nothing but an ant. That implied the monarch couldnt outdo Cang Xiong either. Thinking about it, he was rather pitiful; he was a glorious yao monarch, an expert of his generation, and hed prepared so thoroughly, but now, he was essentially doomed.

Hey, didnt you say that the yao monarch wasnt a match for either of them? That middle-aged man just stood there the whole time. Is he really that strong? Gu Luolin suddenly tilted her head and asked.

He. Ye Zichen hesitated, then nodded forcefully.

Just how powerful an expert was Qing Lan? Ye Zichen didnt actually know; he hadnt spent much time in the pagodas fourth layer, and hed interacted with Cang Xiong the most. Ye Zichen had watched Cang Xiong unleash his power a few times, but he still had no objective handle on his true strength.

If he had to describe Cang Xiongs cultivation boundary, he could only say one thing.

Profound and inscrutable!

No wonder Qing Lan said that Cang Xiong could protect Ye Zichen even against a transcendent, albeit only once. The power Ye Zichen had seen Cang Xiong unleash was fiercer than anyone else Ye Zichen had seen.

But even more shockingly, he used nothing but pure, unadulterated, raw power.

He didnt call upon any dao, he didnt form any connection with heaven or earth. It was just a pure display of explosive physical power.

When he thought about Qing Lan.

Ye Zichen had never seen Qing Lan in action, but when he considered how respectful Cang Xiong and that wantonly arrogant firebird were to him, it seemed obvious that Qing Lans cultivation was above theirs.

At their level, conduct alone wasnt enough to convince them. The only thing that could really influence them was cultivation!

To tell the truth, Ye Zichen dared not think too deply about it. Cang Xiong was already so strong, so just how powerful was Qing Lan?

He seems to know the yao monarch, said Gu Luolin.

He does, and their relationship isnt simple, either. Ye Zichen didnt hide it. He told Gu Luolin a simplified version of their story. Hed heard all of this while facing Yuchi Kong and Huangfu Youming, because hed gone into the pagoda and mentioned the yao monarch in passing. Qing Lan had told him about their past.

That yao monarch really is no good. He actually swallowed up his benefactor, just to increase his own cultivation? Gu Luolins eyes flashed with disdain. Ye Zichen couldnt help but nod his agreement.

After confirming their direction, Ye Zichen kept on forging ahead.

His conversation with Gu Luolin was nothing but a little interlude, something to liven up their monotonous journey.

Ye Zichen was still focused on his hunt for good fortune when Gu Luolin asked, What is that man called?

This time, Ye Zichen came to a stop. He took a good hard look at Gu Luolins face, making her rather uncomfortable.

What are you doing? Gu Luolin pouted her lips.

It seems youre quite interested in him? Shed seemed curious about Qing Lan ever since he first appeared. Even when they left, her gaze had lingered on Qing Lan. Ye Zichen had noticed, but hed chosen not to bring it up.

The way shed asked about him earlier seemed like normal curiousity, but now, she was asking about his name in particular. This seemed a little strange.

Why do you care? I just want to know, so just tell me, okay? Gu Luolin scrunched up her nose and snorted.

Ye Zichen didnt want to linger on this topic any longer, so he said, Qing Lan!

As soon as he spoke, Gu Luolins eyes widened. Her eyes had been big to begin with, but now they were perfectly round. Her little mouth opened a little, and despite herself, she glanced back at where theyd come from.

Why are you so surprised?

Im not? Gu Luolin turned away and tried to cover it up, but her control over her emotions was rather poor.

She thought that, if she turned away, Ye Zichen wouldnt be able to see through her. But although she didnt know it, her entire body, from her features to her limbs, all revealed her deep shock.

Ye Zichen wasnt the type to pry. If Gu Luolin didnt want ot tell him, he wouldnt push her. Besides, the path Qing Lan told them to take was more important right now.

How much further? In the blink of an eye, an hour passed. Gu Luolin had never walked so far in her life; it seemed theyd traversed half the planet by now. Her feet were even starting to blister.

Her head drooped listlessly as she tagged after Ye Zichen. He, meanwhile, was still cuatiously surveying their surroundings.

We didnt go the wrong way, did we? pouted Gu Luolin.

No way. The concentration of elemental essences is increasing; were definitely headed in the right direction, said Ye Zichen, his eyes flashing with certainty.

The further they went to the right, the livilier the five elements within Ye Zichen became. His pores were all open and greedily sucking in elemental power.

Qing Lan was right; the fortune Ye Zichen was after was in here.

But Qing Lans accurate instructions gave Ye Zichen quite a shock; theyd had to travel a full two hours to get this far, yet Qing Lan had sensed this place the moment he left the Yao-Sealing Pagoda.

He really was terrifying.

How much longer do we have to go? I cant move anymore! Gu Luolin scrunched up her brows and sat on the ground, then crossed her arms. I wont go any further! I wont! Were surrounded by elemental essences; one look and I can tell this was prepared for you. Theres nothing in this for me! Why should I follow you around like an idiot? If you want to keep going, go by yourself! I dont want to go any further! I want to rest here!

She sat on the ground and through a fit, but Ye Zichen actually understood this reaction.

Shed been pampered from a young age, and at her cultivation, shed long since learned how to fly. It was even possible that her feet had never touched the ground before; walking this far really was hard on her.

But Ye Zichen couldnt just leave her here; this place was simply too huge.

If they split up, finding her would be like searching for a needle in the ocean. Ye Zichen didnt want anything to happen to the girl, so he had to keep her at his side at all times.

Besides, if he really did leave her behind, when her parents came looking

You cant say that! Ye Zichen squatted beside her and said comfortingly, Although you dont cultivate the Grand Dao of the Five Elements, you do cultivate wind, dont you? Wind is one of the five elements! Dont tell me this place wont help you at all?

Ive already condensed the dao heart! More elemental essence wont help in the slightest, she pouted.

Its true that this place is full of the dao of the five elements, but that doesnt mean all the fortune contained here is related to the elements. Weve already come this far; its possible were almost there. Theres no rule saying who can and cant inherit the fortune. Its possible it might choose you! If you become a transcendent, when you go back, not even your mom and dad will be a match for you! When that happens, youll have really become a grown-up; you wont be a kid in their eyes anymore.

Inexplicably, Gu Luolin blinked.

The first part of Ye Zichens attempt to persuade her didnt draw her interest at all. Transcendence? She had no great desire for that. No, what interested her was the second part

Becoming a real grown-up!

Shed longed for that for as long as she could remember!

Fine, Ill just grit my teeth and bare it. Ill accompany you a while longer. Gu Luolin clapped her hands and got back to her feet. She looked around at the elementally-charged, seemingly endless space. But how much longer do we have to go?

Not far Ye Zichen squinted and laughed. Unless my senses deceive me, were almost there!