In a pitch-black environment, Bai Qiuran carefully felt his way forward. While some individuals with peculiar interests might have enjoyed the tight and pressing sensation surrounding him, Bai Qiuran was certainly not one of them. In fact, he had endured this discomfort for a long time. Had he not been concerned about what damage breaking through the cave might cause to the entire cave dwelling, he would have already taken action to clear a path.
He squeezed sideways into the narrow crack, moving slowly as the rocky walls pressed against him, creating a sense of unnatural suffocation, as if they aimed to crush him. Jagged hands loomed over Bai Qiuran like a canopy, yet the next moment, the massive beast let out a miserable howl of pain. "Friend? Friend!" He turned toward the sound, discovering a fellow cultivator trapped amidst a cluster of ice crystals, only their head visible above the surface.
After navigating the cramped pathway for a while, Bai Qiuran finally spotted a glimmer of light ahead. He realized it was an exit, resembling a vertical stone slit. Without special skills, it would be a painful endeavor for anyone, even a cultivator, to squeeze through it. The moment he entered the cave's opening, the path he walked became progressively narrower. Gathering his True Qi, he forcefully twisted his body, his shoulders drastically widening the walls on either side, splintering the surrounding rocks, which crumbled and fell beneath his feet.
Large hands stretched across like a sky covering Bai Qiuran, but the fierce creature let out another cry of anguish a moment later. Squeezing his way through the crack once more, Bai Qiuran advanced slowly as the rock walls pressed against him, the oppressive feeling only intensifying, as if they intended to crush him.
Of course, regardless of the cold or heat, or the significant temperature variations around him, none affected Bai Qiuran; he instead walked with thoughtful curiosity, observing his surroundings, seemingly enjoying a leisurely outing. The size of the space that could awkwardly accommodate two cultivators squeezed together had become so cramped that even one person could hardly pass through now.
"This is interesting. I had thought it was some sort of embedded beast in this space, yet it is, in fact, a synthetic life form." As he continued, the pathway again constricted into a dark crevice, to the point where Bai Qiuran could only move sideways. He drew closer to the cluster of ice crystals, muttering, "Fishing law works well, splendid!"
"This place inflicts both hot and cold misery. The previous cursed passage simulated the narrow birth canal suffered by babies... I recall that the next trial will be the pain of being gripped by a giant hand?" However, alongside his thoughts, lingering calls for help reached his ears.
In the middle of the pathway, a sudden transformation of scenery took place as the ground’s flames faded, revealing scorched earth now blanketed in frost and snow. The temperature around him dropped sharply, reminiscent of stepping from a blazing summer sun to an air-conditioned room set to the lowest setting. What initially allowed two to pass side by side had now transformed into a space almost too narrow for just one.
Moving forward, the path shrank further into a dark gap, forcing Bai Qiuran to edge forward. After walking more distance, he encountered the anticipated pain of a giant hand grabbing him. Stretching sideways, he pressed on against the narrowing walls, yet the creeping sense of urgency from the enclosing walls couldn't distract him from the scenery, which was oddly reminiscent of a picnic.
Upon noticing Bai Qiuran walking ahead, the creature, resembling a large beast covered in white fur—its form similar to that of a giant monkey with massive hands—stood in the middle of the road. Towering several dozen meters high, it loomed like a small white hill. With excitement, it let out a roar capable of shaking the ground, extending its massive hand toward him.
Bai Qiuran’s body stiffened, and he saw the fellow cultivator from the White Dragon Sect. This person, trapped in ice crystals, desperately wished he could escape and was hoping Bai Qiuran would help. "Help me out, and I assure you, there will be rich rewards under our White Dragon Sect’s name," the trapped cultivator pleaded.
"Friend, it is fate that we meet here. Would you be willing to lend a hand?" Bai Qiuran took a deep breath, feeling the coolness around him. He approached carefully, contemplating his decision.
With a crack, the icy prison around the cultivator shattered, and from within, a blue light surged forth, discreetly merging into Bai Qiuran’s spirit platform. Bai Qiuran assessed his surroundings and refrained from adding further chaos in a landscape already steeped in turmoil.
The sky above began to fill with giant snowflakes, and every now and then, hail and icy shards would rain down. Just like the prior flames, this ice and snow were no ordinary elements; even a cultivator walking through this frosty terrain might suffer severe frostbite if their foundational skills weren't sufficient.
Bai Qiuran's thoughts drifted elsewhere, thinking about the unique secrets that might exist among the eminent earth immortals, secrets that might allow for cultivation suited for his strange disposition. Yet, at that moment, something caught his eye: on the crushed ice beneath, he glimpsed a glimmer.
He resolved to uncover the truth behind it. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands," Bai Qiuran warned, shaking his head in disdain. He had seen enough of this nonsense and was ready to push through, eager to navigate this strange realm further.
Continually moving through the dark, Bai Qiuran reflected on the trials he had overcome, the peculiar trials forced upon him. "So this is the so-called pain of existence, huh?" With resolve, he pushed forward, ready to confront whatever lay ahead, prepared to face the next challenge in this intriguing yet perilous journey.