He turned to Aurelius and said, “King Aurelius, what price does Heaven exact for forcing a gate to level eight?” Aurelius exhaled.
“The barriers between realms are woven from Heavenly Law,” explained. “Ascending from a lower realm invites even harsher suppression. With your current power, you’ll wrestle the power of law from two realms at once…”
“If backlash erupts, the mild result is shattered meridians and lost cultivation. The worst? Your divine soul burns to ash, denied even reincarnation.”
“I’ll go anyway.” Jared’s answer cut through the gloom. Dragonslayer Sword quivered at his hip as though cheering its owner on. “Level six is in danger. If we delay a day, more cultivators will be killed by the Demonic Cultivators. The deceased is waiting for our revenge. I can take the risk.”
Aurelius saw the unbreakable resolve in Jared’s eyes and knew further argument was useless.
“Then we stand with you,” Aurelius said at last. “Crossing a realm is no task for one man. I’ll Join forces with Ms. Lughlin and Abbot Infinides. Together we can steady the passage, absorb some of the Heavenly Law’s fury.”
Artemis and Infinides nodded simultaneously. “We’ll pour out every drop of power,” they promised. “Whatever it takes to see you safely into level eight.”
Yuliana bit lip, reached into cloak, and produced a small jade vial that glowed like moonwater.
“These are my Focus Pills…” whispered, pressing them into Jared’s palm. “They shield the divine soul when Heavenly Law’s backlash strikes. Promise me you’ll use them.”
Jared closed his fist around the vial, then bowed low. “All of you have my oath. I’II remember this debt until my last breath. When I return with allies, we’ll reclaim level six together.”
No one wasted another word. Armor was buckled, charms gathered, blades inspected. Determination thickened the stale air.
Infinides unrolled a brittle realm map across the cavern floor. His fingertip traced a dark crimson line that zig-zagged north.
“We start here,” said. “Meteorite Cliff, northern edge of level six. The barrier is thinnest there. Less resistance means fewer Heavenly Law’s lashes.”
Aurelius nodded once. “Then we march now and reach the Meteorite Cliff before night swallows the sky.”
The party secured their gear and slipped from the cave, bound for Meteorite Cliff.
As they traveled, the number of Demonic Cultivators grew scarce. The cliff lay in a desolate quarter where razor gales screamed year-round, a place even Demonic Cultivators avoided. Still, every shadow was treated as an ambush, every rustle a potential threat.
***
By dusk, Jared’s group reached the Meteorite Cliff.
The scene here was extremely desolate, with the ground covered in bottomless cracks from which black gusts of wind howled, sweeping up debris and producing piercing sounds. The sky was thick with dark clouds, occasionally split by purple lightning, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Infinides halted at the very edge of Meteorite Cliff. A hush fell over the party as murmured, “We have arrived…”
He lifted one weather-scarred hand and pointed into the void. “The barrier between realms lies inside the void. Your eyes will never see it, but the tremor of Heavenly Law is already crawling across your skin.”
“Listen closely,” Aurelius said, turning to Jared. “In a moment, Ms. Lughlin and I will weave our power together and set up a makeshift spiritual energy barrier. That shield will weaken the power of the law. When the shield steadies, Abbot Infinides will look It in place. The instant does, you must gather your spiritual energy to tear a doorway open.”
“Once the passage appears, do not hesitate. Step through at once. Linger, and the backlash of Heavenly Law will explode around you.”
Jared nodded. His fingers tightened around the Dragonslayer Sword, and streams of gold spiritual energy spun from his core, coiling around him. His Draconian bloodline was activated. A glint of gold flickered through his eyes.
