Xu Qing looked at the mural, shaken in mind and heart as he saw the black umbrella glowing with such intensity it seemed real. In fact, the light coming from it emerged from the wall and spread out in all directions.

At the same time, the Spirit Breath Lamp Xu Qing held glittered with even more intense light. Together the two fields of brightness created a surging, glowing sea.

Xu Qing’s expression flickered as that light washed over him. Even if he had made the decision to back away, he wouldn’t have had time. In the blink of an eye, the sea of light vanished, and Xu Qing went along with it! Paradoxically, the process seemed to take a very long time, but also, happened in an instant.

Everything faded away from Xu Qing’s perspective. Then things started to grow clear again. The first thing he sensed was an absolutely terrifyingly mighty pressure, almost like the roar of an immensely powerful wild beast, coming from straight ahead. There was clearly no sound, just the pressure. But nonetheless, it caused Xu Qing’s ears to ring so badly he worried they might collapse. Blood even started oozing out of them.

Then blood started dripping out of his nose, and his eyes hurt so badly he was having trouble opening them. It was worse inside of him, as his internal organs all started to tremble.

Because of the intense pain, and the fact that he couldn’t open his eyes, he had no idea what was around him. All he could do was drop...