Mu Yang was not surprised that Chen Nan asked for the Ascension Path.
After their encounter in the Misty Valley, he had a premonition that this realm would not be able to contain Chen Nan. With his talent and ability, he was bound to leave the Second Heaven one day for a vaster world.
However, this day had arrived sooner than he had imagined.
Without further thought, he immediately produced the fragmented painting of the Ascension Path and gave it to Chen Nan.
With the four fragments in hand, Chen Nan pieced them together. As divine light flashed, the complete Ascension Path appeared before him. It depicted a majestic mountain, with a stone staircase connecting to the Third Heaven at its summit.
"Ancestor, to open the Ascension Path, we need to find this mountain in the painting!" Mu Yang said.
The Nine-Headed Fire Lion eyed him suspiciously. "Does such a mountain exist in the Second Heaven?" It had lived in the Second Heaven for over a thousand years. Aside from never visiting the Four Great Tribes, it had been everywhere else, yet it couldn't recall any such mountain.
Xuan Qing Niao weakly chimed in, "If I recall correctly, this should be Dragon Prison Mountain, one of the three forbidden areas."
"Yes."
"This is indeed Dragon Prison Mountain."
Chen Nan nodded slightly. The Second Heaven had three forbidden areas: the Misty Valley, the Death Swamp, and Dragon Prison Mountain.
"Ancestor, can I accompany you..." Mu Yang began, intending to ask if he could follow Chen Nan to the Third Heaven. But Chen Nan interrupted him. "Now, only the three great tribes remain in the Second Heaven. I have already discussed a merger of the three tribes with the leaders of the Cold Blade Tribe and the Southern Abyss Tribe!"
"This is something you must see through."
Mu Yang, though reluctant, replied, "Yes!"
"Alright, then we'll be taking our leave!"
---
At sunrise, Chen Nan, Xuan Qing Niao, and the Nine-Headed Fire Lion arrived at a vast lake. The water was clear, and the sky was a cloudless azure.
"The entrance to Dragon Prison Mountain is at the bottom of this lake!" Xuan Qing Niao sounded inexplicably nervous, as she couldn't swim.
"Hold your breath. I'll take you to Dragon Prison Mountain," Chen Nan said, reaching out to embrace her slender waist.
The moment his hand touched her waist, the woman's delicate body trembled as if struck by an electric current. Although they had shared a physical connection for two hours, there had been no physical contact between them since. She had tried to forget that memory, but the warmth of Chen Nan's palm brought back a flood of dying pleasures and embarrassments.
Splash!
Chen Nan's divine power surged, enveloping Xuan Qing Niao as he leaped into the lake. The Nine-Headed Fire Lion followed closely behind.
The two and the beast swam towards the lakebed. The water was bone-chillingly cold, but Chen Nan was largely unaffected, protected by his divine power. For Xuan Qing Niao, however, it was almost unbearable. She shivered uncontrollably, her lips turning a purplish-black.
"Such a stubborn little woman!" Chen Nan murmured with a hint of bitterness, pulling her closer and using his body heat to ward off the cold.
The Nine-Headed Fire Lion, speaking human words, expressed its frustration. "Why does this lake feel like a bottomless pit? I can't reach the bottom!"
"It's too deep!"
"I can't take it anymore!"
Hearing this, Xuan Qing Niao, who had been drowsy and shivering from the cold, suddenly jolted awake. A captivating blush spread across her pale face. The reason was simple: the Nine-Headed Fire Lion had uttered the same words she had shared with Chen Nan previously.
Chen Nan explained to the Nine-Headed Fire Lion, "Water has buoyancy, and buoyancy strengthens with resistance. The larger your body, the greater the buoyancy you experience."
"You can try shrinking your body."
"Really?" The Nine-Headed Fire Lion, though skeptical, transformed into a lion about half a meter long. Indeed, the buoyancy instantly lessened.
After an unknown amount of time descending, the surroundings turned dark and blurry. After another unknown passage of time, a faint light appeared in the darkness. Chen Nan's eyes lit up, and he swam towards it quickly.
However, an invisible resistance blocked their descent.
"Master, I feel an invisible energy here," the Nine-Headed Fire Lion said with a serious expression. "It's like an invisible membrane blocking our path."
Chen Nan nodded slightly. "I know. Only by breaking through this membrane can we find our way."
The Nine-Headed Fire Lion's eyes flashed with a cold glint. "Watch me!" It retreated dozens of meters and then charged towards the invisible barrier. But as it touched the barrier, a terrifying surge of energy erupted, sending the Nine-Headed Fire Lion flying backward.
"My head hurts..." The Nine-Headed Fire Lion's eyes showed a hint of apprehension.
"Your crude method won't break this obstruction," Chen Nan said. "Listen to me. Continue to charge this invisible barrier. Make the first nine impacts as gentle as possible. Then, on the tenth, strike unexpectedly with your full strength!"
"I refuse to believe we can't break through!"
The Nine-Headed Fire Lion, being quite experienced, flashed a knowing smile upon hearing Chen Nan's words. It then proceeded to charge the barrier as instructed.
"Why would this method break the invisible barrier?" Xuan Qing Niao, nestled in Chen Nan's arms, couldn't help but ask. "Even if the first nine times are gentle, why can the tenth time break it?"
Chen Nan scratched his head awkwardly. "You probably wouldn't understand if I explained it."
Xuan Qing Niao retorted, "I'll understand even less if you don't say anything."
"No!" Chen Nan insisted. "This is something that cannot be taught; it must be experienced."
Xuan Qing Niao's eyes were filled with curiosity. "Does this involve the Dao?"
Chen Nan was stunned! It had nothing to do with the Dao, yet it did, in a way...
Xuan Qing Niao sighed softly. "I'm half-dead now, my cultivation completely lost. I don't know if I'll ever have a chance to comprehend the Dao you speak of!"
Chen Nan whispered, "If you wish to comprehend it, I can help you."
???
Xuan Qing Niao looked at him in disbelief. "You can actually help people comprehend the Dao?"
"Ahem, I suppose so!" Chen Nan replied with an awkward expression, then glanced at the Nine-Headed Fire Lion, which was gently bumping against the invisible barrier.
This creature had mastered a certain skill. The first nine times were gentle. But on the tenth impact, as it neared the invisible barrier, its divine power erupted, shattering the barrier with overwhelming force.
"Hahaha, it's broken!" The Nine-Headed Fire Lion was overjoyed.
Chen Nan, holding Xuan Qing Niao, continued to descend. After they passed, the invisible barrier healed itself.
"Let's continue!" Chen Nan said.
After descending only a few meters, the Nine-Headed Fire Lion exclaimed in horror, "Master, don't you feel like we're not descending anymore, but ascending?"