sjar Chapter 57 The Search for Divine Artifacts and Unknown Perils
Chapter 57 The Search for Divine Artifacts and Unknown Perils
After the ethereal voice faded, the stone chamber fell into a deathly silence. Huanmo was trapped within the light emanating from the jade box, unable to move, his eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness. The crowd gathered around him, their expressions grave, all somewhat at a loss in the face of this sudden turn of events.
The opening of the hidden door allowed a sliver of fresh air from the outside world to enter the stone chamber, but this did little to ease the tense atmosphere. The light from the luminous pearl continued to shine around, illuminating the eerie murals frozen on the walls, as if silently recounting everything that had happened here and the unknown fate that lay ahead.
Wanru was frantic with worry. She stared intently at Huanmo, her eyes brimming with tears. In her heart, she kept calling out, "Huanmo, you have to be alright! We've come this far, how can we be trapped here?" Several times she wanted to rush forward, but she was afraid that the light would bounce her away again. She could only stand helplessly in place, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.
The woman in black robes frowned, her gaze darting back and forth between the ink and the jade box. She pondered to herself, "What exactly is this ancient artifact? And where should we look for it? This jade box seems ordinary, yet it hides such a great secret; this is truly troublesome." She knew the situation was critical; if a solution wasn't found quickly, everyone might be trapped here forever.
The man in white held a jade flute, a hint of worry in his expression. He looked at Huanmo, his heart filled with anxiety. "It seems this jade box is the key, but the clues to this ancient artifact are so vague. Where do we even begin?" he said softly, his voice brimming with helplessness.
The man in the green robe and Qingwan exchanged a glance, both seeing worry in each other's eyes. They had just endured a fierce battle with the black monster, their spiritual energy severely depleted, and now faced this predicament, which truly filled them with despair.
The white tiger lay to one side, its blue eyes lacking their usual liveliness. It seemed to sense its master Huanmo's predicament, occasionally letting out low growls as if encouraging Huanmo.
Just as everyone was sinking into despair, the woman in black robes suddenly remembered something. She abruptly raised her head and said, "I've heard that there are many ancient ruins hidden in a mysterious valley nearby, and perhaps there are clues about ancient artifacts there. However, that valley is extremely dangerous, filled with all kinds of traps and powerful guardian beasts."
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in everyone's eyes.
Although Huanmo was trapped, he was still relatively conscious. He thought to himself, "As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I must not give up. No matter how dangerous the valley is, for everyone's sake, and for the sake of continuing to walk with Wanru, I must try."
Therefore, the group decided to go to that mysterious valley to search for clues about the ancient artifacts in order to rescue Huanmo and find the real way out.
Led by the woman in black robes, the group left the stone chamber and walked out through a hidden door into a passage. The passage was dark and damp, filled with a faint stench of decay. Water droplets occasionally dripped from the walls, feeling cool against their skin. The group walked cautiously, constantly on guard against any potential dangers.
Emerging from the passage, one finds oneself in a desolate mountain forest. The sky is overcast, thick with dark clouds, as if a torrential downpour might begin at any moment. The surrounding trees grow crookedly, their branches withered and lifeless. A cold wind blows, rustling the leaves with a chilling sound.
The group continued along the mountain path, which was quite rugged. In some places, the ground was so muddy that one would sink deep into it with a single step; in other places, sharp rocks were scattered everywhere, and one could easily tear the soles of one's shoes and injure one's feet if one was not careful.
Wanru stayed close to Huanmo (who, though trapped in the light, could still move with the others), glancing up at her every now and then with concern in her eyes. She whispered to Huanmo, "Huanmo, don't be afraid, we will definitely find a way to save you." Huanmo nodded slightly, her heart filled with gratitude.
After a difficult trek, the group finally arrived at the entrance to the mysterious valley. The entrance was shrouded in mist, obscuring the view inside. A powerful pressure emanated from within the valley, making everyone feel a heavy weight on their hearts.
The woman in black robes said solemnly, "Everyone be careful, this is the mysterious valley. Once inside, you must follow my footsteps closely and do not act on your own, or the consequences will be unimaginable."
Everyone nodded in agreement, becoming fully focused.
Upon entering the valley, the group discovered an even more peculiar environment. The ground was covered with various strange runes, which occasionally flickered with a faint light. The mountain walls on both sides were carved with enormous statues, each with a different form, some with ferocious faces and others with solemn expressions, but all exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
As the group walked cautiously, a rumbling sound suddenly came from ahead. Immediately afterward, the ground began to tremble violently. Panic ensued, and the group frantically searched for shelter.
"The mechanism has been triggered!" the woman in black robes shouted.
Not far ahead, a row of huge stone pillars slowly rose from the ground, covered with intricate patterns, and quickly rolled toward the group.
Huanmo was greatly alarmed. Although he was trapped, he was also worried about the safety of his companions. He silently prayed, "I hope everyone can safely escape this calamity."
Wanru clung tightly to Huanmo, her body trembling slightly. She closed her eyes in fear, murmuring, "May the Bodhisattva protect me, may the Bodhisattva protect me..."
The woman in black robes, the man in white, the man in green robes, and Qingwan all cast spells in an attempt to stop the rolling stone pillars. The white tiger also pounced forward, trying to use its body to block the advancing stone pillars.
However, the stone pillars were incredibly powerful, and the group struggled to resist. Just as they were about to despair, the stone pillars suddenly stopped rolling and slowly sank into the ground.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but before they could even rejoice, a deep roar came from the depths of the valley. The roar was deafening, as if an ancient behemoth had been awakened.
"It seems there's new danger. Everyone, get ready!" the woman in black robes shouted.
The group gazed into the depths of the valley, their hearts filled with tension and worry. They didn't know what they would encounter next, whether they could find clues to the ancient artifacts in this dangerous valley, or whether they could successfully rescue Huanmo and find the true way out.