Xiao Ming's steady breathing slowed as he closed his eyes, entering a meditative state. The Shadowless Spirit Sword Sutra began to circulate in his heart, each chant a steady rhythm that aligned his dao qi with the environment. The maze's energy pulsed faintly, a dangerous hum beneath the surface, but Xiao Ming paid it no mind, focusing instead on perfecting his synchronization.
Meanwhile, Xue Mao busied itself with deciphering the maze's structure. The cat's glowing paws traced intricate patterns along the translucent walls, its sharp eyes darting between energy nodes as it muttered to itself.
"This isn't just a Severing Path Formation," Xue Mao murmured, its tail flicking with frustration. "It's layered with a Spirit Binding Array... and something else. Something I can't quite identify yet."
