Chapter 121: Imprisoned by One’s Own Boundaries

As the claw descended, reaching to seize him, his massive form was suddenly restrained by an unseen force, rapidly shrinking. In an instant, the black swan that once blotted out the sky became a tiny black chick, held captive in the grasp of the claw.

“A mere tenth-tier ant, truly insolent beyond measure. Is he even someone you can move against?”

“A tiny ant daring to covet his bloodline—he must die!”

A deep voice echoed within Bai Zhan’s mind. His eyes bulged wildly as an overwhelming pressure surged from all directions, crashing down like a tidal wave. The snapping of bones filled the air incessantly. To the mysterious figure, Bai Zhan, a tenth-tier powerhouse, was nothing more than an insignificant insect—his limbs and bones shattering piece by piece under a single grip.

Just as despair overtook him, convinced that death was inevitable, the low voice spoke again in his mind: “Killing you would be a mercy. I want you to understand what it means to neither live nor die.”

The ominous words sent chills through Bai Zhan’s heart. He had no idea what this enigmatic, peerless powerhouse intended for him.

Suddenly, the crushing pressure vanished, and his body fell uncontrollably.

“Imprison the earth—turn stone into gold!”

The deep voice reverberated through the heavens and earth. At the tip of the ethereal claw, a golden light flickered, striking Bai Zhan as he plummeted.

Whoosh!

The golden radiance enveloped him, shattering the earth’s surface before swallowing him beneath the ground.

The entire Wudu trembled faintly at that moment.

A thousand meters below the surface, Bai Zhan was trapped. A golden halo encased him, from which five golden chains shot forth, binding his neck and limbs, locking him firmly within the earth. He lay there, struggling desperately but unable to break free.

Beyond the halo, the surrounding earth began to turn golden. Bai Zhan sensed the terrifying speed of the spreading golden metal—within moments, the entire subterranean layer beneath Wudu was transformed into gold.

This was no ordinary gold but an unyielding golden metal. Despite his shattered bones, his cultivation remained intact. He examined the metal carefully and sank into utter despair—it was utterly indestructible, even if he were whole.

“Imprison the earth, turn stone into gold!”

Bai Zhan’s voice trembled. The technique “Imprison the Earth” was a spell that many beasts or human cultivators of some skill could master. But he had never imagined it used by such a mysterious creature would be so horrifying. Coupled with the stone-to-gold transformation technique, it was utterly overwhelming.

What crushed him even more was the mysterious voice that once again echoed in his mind.

“This is your punishment—sealed beneath Wudu, to savor loneliness and desolation.”

“When the day comes that you behave, that you become obedient, someone will set you free.”

The voice lingered before fading, as the golden claw slipped back into the black hole. The void rippled, and the black hole vanished without a trace.

The bright moon and stars in the sky quickly receded as well.

When darkness vanished and light returned, every living being felt a sharp discomfort in their eyes. The oppressive aura was gone. People regained freedom but dared not rise, still lying on the ground, breathing deeply in relief. They had never realized how precious breath was.

Amid the ruins of the manor, Bai Jingjing lay unconscious.

Lin Qiu, though mentally lucid despite his physical faintness, opened his eyes. To his astonishment, his lost vitality had mysteriously returned. Moving slightly, he glanced coldly at the unconscious Bai Jingjing with a sneer.

“You shameless woman, you wronged me first, so don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“System, devour her for me!”

A murderous gleam flashed in Lin Qiu’s eyes as he issued the command.

But no black hole appeared, leaving him stunned.

“System, why is this?”

A prompt sounded: “Host, this woman cannot be killed for the time being.”

“Why not?”

Lin Qiu frowned, displeased. She was a seventh-tier immortal beast. Without a binding contract, devouring Bai Jingjing should have elevated him to at least fifth-tier! Passing up such a perfect elixir was maddening.

“Because of that mysterious existence.”

“The golden claw?”

Lin Qiu raised an eyebrow. Though his body was unconscious, his spirit was clear. Through his spiritual form, he had witnessed everything outside—the sudden shift of the stars, the suppression of the tenth-tier powerhouse—all etched deeply in his mind.

Recalling the previous moment, his eyes brimmed with awe.

“Who would have thought that such a mighty being existed in this world? It’s simply unbelievable!”

He exclaimed, then frowned. “System, what kind of existence is this? Are you afraid of him too?”

“It’s not fear,” the system replied. “My purpose is to assist the host’s cultivation. When the time is right, the host will naturally learn who this mysterious being is.”

“It also said to leave this woman alive; she will be useful in the future.”

The system’s ambiguous words withheld the identity of the mysterious figure. Though frustrated, Lin Qiu nodded in acquiescence, out of respect for the enigmatic presence. Had it not appeared, he would have been killed by now.

Yet a heavy weight pressed on his heart. Why had the Ancient City Tablet lost connection with the Ancient City just moments ago? At the brink of life and death, Lin Qiu had tried to summon the Ancient City’s protection through the tablet, but the link was severed. Then the golden claw appeared, sealing Bai Zhan underground.

It was a mystery he could not yet unravel, but he sensed the disappearance of the Ancient City was connected to that mysterious claw.

“If she is not to be killed, then what should be done with this woman?” Lin Qiu asked cautiously.

After all, Bai Jingjing was a seventh-tier powerhouse. If she awakened and sought revenge, it would be no small matter. He could not be sure if the mysterious claw would appear again in his moment of peril.

As soon as he finished speaking, a weight settled into his hand. Looking down, he saw a pair of handcuffs materialize.

“What is this...?”

Surprise flickered in Lin Qiu’s eyes.

“Magic-restricting handcuffs? My upgrade points?!”

Staring at the familiar cuffs—his precious upgrade resource—he let out a wailing cry of despair...