After resting for about ten minutes, the group arrived at the foot of the trail.

Everyone looked with surprise at the layer upon layer of stone steps that ascended at least three hundred steps.

But Beichuan Si raised an eyebrow and approached the first torii gate.

This torii was different from usual ones.

There was no crossbar, just white Shimenawa rope, and you could vaguely see 'No' shaped talismans hanging from it.

On the torii columns, whose red had faded to a tragic hue, you could still see the engraved script.

"These texts are the names of the clan members who built these torii gates in the past."

Four Directions Huixue explained, then stepped forward to caress the tragic red torii column, looking at words that had been worn down by the years almost to the point of illegibility.

She seemed to be reflecting on something, but soon the fragile expression on her face vanished, replaced by a firm resolve.

Four Directions Huixue turned back, looked at the bodyguards and driver behind her, and spoke resolutely, "From now on, we are entering the realm of the spiritual realm; you all stay here and watch our belongings."

Then she looked at Beichuan Si and the others:

"Beichuan Master, Master Yutian, Master Onodera, let's go."

The group nodded, following Four Directions Huixue, and stepped onto the stone path.

But the moment they stepped on the steps, an icy chill rose from behind, and the surrounding temperature also dropped imperceptibly.

It was a phenomenon easy to understand.

After all, Beichuan Si and the others were now very close to the Four Directions Shrine, a large spiritual realm, and the environment of the spiritual realm could cause a variety of discomforts in the human body, including the overflow of the deceased's resentment which could even lead to a decline in a person's fortune and health condition.

Master Yutian and the others wore alert expressions and began to look around, clearly entering a state of alert.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the dense woods on both sides of the stone steps had become somewhat blurred, inverted, as if tree crowns and roots had been switched.

Under the cover of the dark resentment, the path behind them was obscured, and amidst the reversed dense woods, one could faintly hear the spirits' fragmented voices, unable to form coherent sentences.

"Indeed… choosing to come during the witching hour was correct," Four Directions Huixue slightly held her breath.

On her chest, the Moon Obscuring Mirror was shining brightly.

Its soft, gentle light dispelled the fog composed of resentment.

Without using much of the benevolence stored in the Moon Obscuring Mirror, she naturally approached the spiritual realm.

In such an alert state, the group kept moving forward.

They climbed upwards for about twenty more minutes and finally stopped in front of a black mass of resentful fog.

This mass of resentful fog surged under a halo of colorful lights, as if trying to break through the halo and enter this world.

It was evident that the Four Directions Family Shrine's barrier had several fractures, and the gentle halo could no longer contain the resentment, which leaked out everywhere like worms squeezing through.

"... Is this the barrier of the Four Directions Family?" Beichuan Si finally spoke, his tone tinged with surprise.

Hearing Beichuan Si speak in such a manner, Four Directions Huixue was also satisfied internally.

She had assumed Beichuan Si was not the kind to easily show his emotions, but now it seemed he could still be surprised.

It appeared that the strength of the Four Directions Family's barrier had taken him aback.

"Indeed, this is the barrier constructed by the Four Directions Family Head using moonlight."

Four Directions Huixue confirmed Beichuan Si's observation.

"...Is it?" Beichuan Si responded, staring at the barrier, then fell silent again.

But in Four Directions Huixue's eyes, Beichuan Si's silence was already an indication that he was rendered speechless by the shock of the Four Directions Family's barrier.

She began to explain the barrier's details, while Beichuan Si, on the other hand, was pinching his chin, feeling puzzled.

He couldn't help thinking that he could break through this barrier with just a few swings; the Moon Obscuring Mirror of Four Directions Huixue wouldn't be necessary.

Beichuan Si glanced at Four Directions Huixue, who had already reached the barrier, then shook his head and kept his thoughts to himself.

"Now the barrier is extremely fragile, unlike the barrier of the past that could isolate everything… this current barrier isn't much to speak of. But even so, it's not something that can be breached by human force."

Four Directions Huixue sighed, then took the Moon Obscuring Mirror from around her neck, flipped her hands slightly, and aligned the mirror with the barrier.

The mirror surface emitted a rich glow.

And correspondingly, the surface of the barrier in front of everyone also rippled.

The glow intertwined with the barrier, eventually forming a passage wide enough for one person to pass through.

And this passage led to the Four Directions Shrine.

Without hesitation, the group followed Four Directions Huixue into the dark passage.

The passage wasn't long; after about ten seconds, everyone emerged from it.

"This is the Four Directions Shrine." Beichuan Si's eyes flickered as he stopped and looked up at the building before him.

Under the bewitching, fiery red sunset, lay scattered and incomplete square stone slabs.

And on these stone slabs stood the orderly arranged shrine buildings.

Just like Four Directions Village below, these ancient Japanese-style shrine buildings were also in ruins.

Dead ivy covered the cracked walls.

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