After I caught my footing, I immediately postured myself to dive back into the Abyss.

"No!"

However, a woman slammed into me before I could do anything and pinned me against the wall. It was Karinshan holding me down and rebuking me loudly, "Have you gone insane? No living person has ever entered the Abyss of Death and came out alive. Don’t you understand?"

My knees gave, and my sword clattered beside my feet. I murmured, "I… I must rescue Xinran from the Purgatory no matter what. Tell me… tell me how I can enter the Purgatory. What must I do to see her again?"

Karinshan stared blankly at me as she murmured back, "I don’t know either…"

Rustle rustle…

I heard a pair of boots walking up to me and the occasional splash of blood. It was Sophie pressing against the bleeding wound on her chest. She said, "If Xinran manages to survive Lin Na’s subordinates, you may just be able to see her again. A mere mortal won’t be able to enter the Purgatory plane, however."

I shot her a confused look. "What do you mean, a mortal won’t be able to get in?"

Sophie said, "A mortal simply cannot endure the winds of the Purgatory. The mere brush...