In the Wind Prison Stone Forest, the howling winds gradually quieted.
Following Ji Canglan's path, the group advanced without encountering a single obstruction. The wind blades—each capable of severing the very soul—parted on their own to let him pass.
Cultivators were already weeping, chanting under their breath: "The path the Heavenly Emperor walks is the Great Dao itself!"
…
At the end of the stone forest stood a pitch-black stone dais. Embedded upon it were nine glowing points, rotating along a strange trajectory, forming a complex array diagram.
"A mechanism array…" Su Wanci held her breath, eyes sharp. "The nine lights must be returned to their positions to form a closed circuit before it will open."
She crouched at once, rapidly calculating on her array disk. The light-screen displayed nine curving lines.
"This mechanism depends on the flow speed of energy and the precise order of runes—no mistakes can be made. As long as… as long as I deduce it correctly, I can open it!"
Her voice, for once, trembled with excitement.
But Luo Xingyun was already sobbing uncontrollably, prostrating on the ground as he cried: "The Heavenly Emperor manifests! This is the Sacred Disk! Only the Heavenly Emperor's will can break it!"
Su Wanci nearly snapped, wanting to smash his head into the floor. "What the hell do you know?!"
…
Ji Canglan walked up, squinting at the nine rotating lights. "Oh, this is just like the 'Nine-Star Floats' when fishing. When the lines get tangled, you just untangle them like this."
Without another word, he scooped up all nine lights in one grab, gave them a shake, then slapped them back down. Instantly, the nine lights lined up neatly in a straight line before rotating themselves back into their positions, closing the circuit perfectly.
Boom—
The black stone dais trembled violently, then erupted with radiance. In the depths of the stone forest, a massive stone gate slowly split open.
Su Wanci froze, her array disk flickering and then going black.
"This… this is… impossible…"
She had simulated a dozen calculations without reaching an answer, yet Ji Canglan had unraveled it in a single casual shake?
Ji Canglan clapped his hands with satisfaction. "Hah, that's better. Tangled fishing lines—just shake them and they sort themselves out."
Luo Xingyun was already bawling: "Sacred Word Thirty-Seven—The Dao is like a line, shake it and it straightens!"
The crowd instantly erupted in unison: "Sacred Word! Sacred Word supreme!"
…
Beyond the stone gate stretched a dim corridor. On its walls appeared a line of ancient script:
[Native Authority: Unlock Progress 5%]
The entire crowd roared in shock.
"The authority level… it increased!"
"With every step the Heavenly Emperor takes, the authority deepens further!"
"This… this is proof that he is the one true native!"
Su Wanci's face went pale, her eyes locked on Ji Canglan, muttering in a shaken whisper: "…He truly is… the only one born of the dungeon…"
But Ji Canglan only stretched lazily. "Ah, finally solved it. Come on, come on. Looks like the wind's weaker inside—perfect for grilling fish."
Boom—
The corridor blazed with light, the winds dissipating instantly, as though responding to his words.
The cultivators broke down in sobs: "With one word, the Heavenly Emperor makes heaven and earth bow!"
Su Wanci's fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms, her teeth grinding as she whispered: "…No, there must be a pattern to this! I will prove it!"
But Ji Canglan was already humming cheerfully, carrying his fish basket as he strode eagerly into the corridor.