HISS

SHA~

A soft hiss echoed as the cloth at the top of the torch caught fire, burning with an eerie gray flame. The light was dim, almost invisible in the gloom, yet its presence was profound. Even the surrounding Baleful Energy seemed to hesitate, rippling uncertainly as if confused by the sudden anomaly.

The wind stilled.

Lin Mu took one final glance over his shoulder. Daoist Chu, Monk Hushu, and the others stood watching from afar, their figures outlined against the faint glow of the weakening wall. Then without another word, Lin Mu turned back toward the marsh and took his first step forward.

The ground beneath him was soft, sinking slightly under his weight.

HISSA

The gray flame flickered, its light struggling against the oppressive haze. The instant his foot crossed the invisible boundary, the air thickened like a living thing, pressing against his body with immense force.

The Baleful Energy surged toward him in a wave of darkness... only to recoil at the last moment, fading into the mist once more.

Lin Mu tightened his grip on the torch, his heart steady.

The Death Obscuring Torch had protected him.

He had entered the Marshes of the Silent Skies.

Lin Mu stood motionless for several moments, his breathing slow and deliberate as he tried to take in the new reality before him.

The air inside the Marshes of the Silent Skies was heavier than anything he had ever felt before. It was not just air, but a dense mixture of energies so warped and twisted that even his senses struggled to comprehend them.

The light of the Death Obscuring Torch flickered gently in his hand.

Its eerie gray flame gave off almost no warmth, yet it illuminated a faint space around him in which the oppressive pressure eased. It was a strange sensation, as if the torch had not created a shield or barrier, but rather convinced the very air around him that he did not exist.

The Baleful Energies did not collide with him or disperse upon contact. Instead, they simply moved around him, flowing as though guided by unseen currents.

He slowly extended his hand forward, letting the tips of his fingers hover just at the edge of the dim glow. The instant his skin brushed beyond that faint boundary, a stabbing chill tore through his nerves.

SHALA!

The Baleful Energy rushed at his hand like a living beast. Lin Mu immediately pulled it back, and the pain subsided, leaving his skin unblemished but his mind wary.

"So that's how it works," he muttered to himself. "The torch doesn't repel the energy. It deceives it."

Satisfied with the result, Lin Mu took a cautious step backward.

The gray light flickered once, then dimmed slightly as he retraced his path toward the outer boundary. As he emerged from the marsh, the oppressive weight on his chest lifted at once, and the strange darkness that clung to his form began to fade.

The others were waiting exactly where he had left them, tension visible on their faces.

Daoist Chu was the first to speak. "Lin Mu! Are you unharmed?"

"I'm fine," Lin Mu replied, lifting the still-burning torch. "And it works. The Death Obscuring Torch truly protects its bearer. The Baleful Energy doesn't even notice me when I hold it."

A collective breath of relief escaped the group. Even the Elder Ice Drake, whose usual stoic demeanor rarely cracked, allowed a faint sigh to escape him.

"That is excellent news," said Monk Hushu, his voice calm but relieved. "Then our next task is preparation."

Lin Mu nodded, extinguishing the gray flame with a flick of his wrist.

The eerie light vanished, leaving behind only the scent of charred wood. "Yes. We will need to make more torches. I have already identified the three main components required, and we can begin collecting them right away." Meng Bai leaned forward slightly. "Three components? What are they?"

"The first is the wood," Lin Mu explained. "The torch's body is crafted from a specific kind of tree that grows... or rather, used to grow inside the marshes. These trees have long since died, but their remains still stand. The wood is soaked in Baleful Energy, making it the perfect foundation for the torch."

He held up the existing torch, showing them the aged, nearly black grain of its shaft. The wood looked brittle at first glance, yet it pulsed faintly with dormant energy that didn't leak out at all.

"The second part," Lin Mu continued, "is the cloth wrapped around the top. This one is simple to prepare. It is made from Death Tainted Cloth."

"Death Tainted Cloth?" Cattaleya repeated, her brows furrowing.

Lin Mu nodded. "Its just a name for cloth from the garments of those who died wearing them. Their lifeforce and lingering resentment infuse the fabric with traces of death energy. Normally, it's considered useless or inauspicious, but here it serves a purpose. It stabilizes the flame once the torch is lit."

He paused for a moment before adding, "I have enough such material stored in

my ring already."

Meng Bai blinked, uncertain how to respond.

Daoist Chu, however, gave a small chuckle, shaking his head. "I suppose there are advantages to having slain so many enemies over the years."

Lin Mu allowed himself a small smile. "Sometimes, hoarding pays off."

Then his expression grew serious. "The third component, however, is the most difficult one. It is a substance known as Baleful Corpse Tar."

Monk Hushu's expression turned grim. "I have heard of that name before in the temple's archives. Is it not created through a human sacrifice?"

Lin Mu inclined his head slightly. "Yes. In the case for the torch, it's specific type forms when a living person is offered to the marshes. As the Baleful Energies consume the victim, their body undergoes a unique reaction. A thick, viscous substance seeps out from their remains, black as pitch and reeking of decay. That is the Baleful Corpse Tar."

Everyone went silent for a long moment. The concept alone was enough to unsettle even experienced cultivators.

Daoist Chu finally spoke, his tone measured. "I assume you do not intend to... create it the traditional way."