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墨書 Inktalez
"Han Lingyun!" Lin Yuan suddenly woke up, drenched in cold sweat.
He looked around and found himself lying in a strange stone chamber, the walls covered with peculiar runes that emitted a faint glow. Su Jiu'er and Zhou Haoran were also nearby, unconscious but appearing to have just regained consciousness.
"You finally woke up," a deep voice said. Lin Yuan turned to see the tattooed Indigenous Leader sitting cross-legged in the center of the chamber, playing with a peculiar bone whistle.
"What happened?" Lin Yuan asked warily, quietly circulating his Lingxi Youlong to check his physical condition.
"Energy... explosion... you all... fainted," the Indigenous Leader struggled to articulate. "I... saved you."
Su Jiu'er rubbed her temples and got up from the ground. "I remember seeing a red light, and then everything went dark."
"Me too," Zhou Haoran said as he examined his injuries, noticing that the toxins in his arm had been completely cleared. "But it seems my wounds have healed."
The Indigenous Leader nodded. "I... treated... you. As... a gesture of goodwill."
Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes. "What is your name?"
"Ger." The Indigenous Leader patted his chest. "I am... the leader of the Kara Tribe."
"Alright, Ger." Lin Yuan stood up. "What exactly is this Lingqi anomaly area you mentioned? Why are there such strong energy fluctuations?"
Ger's expression grew serious. "Long ago... our ancestors... sealed away... a monster. It... consumes Lingqi... to grow stronger. Now... the seal... is weakening... it wants to escape."
"A monster that eats Lingqi?" Zhou Haoran frowned. "That sounds like some kind of energy entity."
Su Jiu'er took out the compass and noticed the needle spinning wildly. "No matter what it is, the Spiritual Energy Fluctuation in that direction is indeed exceptionally strong and very unstable."
Ger stood up and walked to a stone slab in the center of the chamber. He traced several symbols on its surface with his finger. Instantly, a three-dimensional map emerged, displaying the surrounding terrain and a region glowing with red light.
"Here." Ger pointed to the area of red light. "The monster... is here. Han Lingyun... is also... here."
"Han Lingyun?" Lin Yuan's eyes lit up. "Are you sure she's there?"
Ger nodded. "She... stole... the sacred object... and went... there. She might... want to... control... the monster."
"This is troublesome." Su Jiu'er frowned. "If Han Lingyun really intends to control that monster, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Lin Yuan pondered for a moment. "Ger, you mentioned earlier that Han Lingyun stole your sacred object. What is it?"
"The Source of Life." A flicker of pain crossed Ger's eyes. "A special spirit stone. We... rely on it... to survive. Without it... we will die."
"So that's why you proposed the deal." Lin Yuan realized. "You want us to help you retrieve the sacred object."
Ger nodded. "You are... strong... and can... help us. We can... tell you... where Han Lingyun... went."
Lin Yuan looked at Su Jiu'er and Zhou Haoran. "What do you think?"
Zhou Haoran shrugged. "We were going to find Han Lingyun anyway, so helping them out wouldn't hurt."
Su Jiu'er was more cautious. "But that monster sounds very dangerous; we need more information." She turned to Ger, "What exactly is that monster? Does it have any weaknesses?"
Ger shook his head. "I don't know... exactly what it is. Our ancestors... only said... it's very dangerous... and can consume Spiritual Energy. Its weakness... might be... the core."
"The core?" Lin Yuan pressed for more information.
Ger drew a circle on his chest. "Every... creature... has... a core. If we find... the core... we can kill it."
"It sounds like some kind of energy focal point," Zhou Haoran analyzed. "If we can locate and destroy its core, perhaps we can stop it from continuing to absorb Spiritual Energy."
Lin Yuan nodded and turned to Ger. "Alright, we accept your deal. Take us to that area of Spiritual Energy mutation, and we will do our best to help you reclaim the sacred object while dealing with that monster."
A look of relief spread across Ger's face. "Thank you... I will lead the way."
He turned and walked toward the exit of the stone chamber, with Lin Yuan and the others following closely behind. Before leaving, Lin Yuan whispered to Su Jiu'er and Zhou Haoran, "Stay alert; this deal sounds too dangerous."
Su Jiu'er nodded. "I have a feeling Ger hasn't told us the whole truth."
Zhou Haoran had already begun analyzing data on his tablet. "According to the Spiritual Energy Fluctuation data I've collected, the energy patterns in that area are very peculiar, unlike anything naturally occurring."
A glint of determination flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes. "Regardless, this is a great opportunity to find Han Lingyun. We must seize it."
Ger led them through a maze of caves until they finally arrived at a wide platform. The edge of the platform dropped off into steep cliffs, revealing an abandoned mine shrouded in red mist below.
"That's... the place," Ger pointed downwards. "The monster... is deep within the Abandoned Mine... Han Lingyun... is also... down there."
Lin Yuan squinted, carefully observing the situation below. Strange flashes of light flickered through the red mist, and an ominous aura enveloped the entire Abandoned Mine.
"The mist looks suspicious," Su Jiu'er frowned, the compass in her hand spinning wildly. "The Lingqi inside is very chaotic and contains some corrosive energy."
Zhou Haoran took a small detector from his backpack and tossed it towards the Abandoned Mine. As soon as the detector made contact with the Red Mist, it emitted a piercing alarm and was quickly corroded into a puddle of metallic liquid.
"Goodness, this mist is more corrosive than Sulfuric Acid," Zhou Haoran gasped. "Ordinary people would probably be dissolved instantly if they went in."
Ger took out three Bone Amulets from his pocket and handed them to Lin Yuan and the others. "Put these on... They can... resist... the mist. But... time... is limited."
Lin Yuan accepted the Bone Amulet, feeling the peculiar energy contained within. "What material is this made of?"
"Beast... bones," Ger explained. "They have... protective... properties."
Su Jiu'er examined the runes on the Bone Amulet. "These runes are very ancient, at least several thousand years old. It seems your tribe has indeed passed down its heritage for a long time."
Ger nodded, a hint of pride on his face. "We... Guardians... have been here for a very long time."
Lin Yuan hung the Bone Amulet around his neck and immediately felt a cool energy enveloping him. "This feels good; it should provide some protection."
Zhou Haoran and Su Jiu'er also donned their Bone Amulets, and the three of them prepared to descend.
"Wait," Ger suddenly said, his tone much smoother this time, as if the urgency of the situation forced him to speak more clearly. "You need to know one thing. That monster... it doesn't just consume Lingqi; it can also control people's thoughts. If you feel your mind becoming unclear, retreat immediately."
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Your Mandarin has suddenly improved."
Ger looked a bit embarrassed. "In a crisis, language doesn't matter."
"Control thoughts?" Su Jiu'er asked warily. "How exactly does it work?"
"Through... illusions," Ger explained. "It makes you see... the things you fear the most, or... the things you desire the most. Then... it lures you... closer to it."
"Sounds like some kind of mental interference," Zhou Haoran analyzed. "We need to keep a clear mind."
Lin Yuan nodded. "I have the ability of Time-Space Manipulation. If anything feels off, I can briefly pause time to help us escape danger."
Ger pointed to a narrow path at the edge of the cliff. "You can go down this way... I can't... accompany you. My abilities... aren't enough... to fight the monsters."
"Will you wait for us here?" Lin Yuan asked.
Ger nodded. "I will... wait for you here. If... you succeed... I will tell you... more about Han Lingyun."
Lin Yuan glanced at Su Jiu'er and Zhou Haoran, both of whom nodded in readiness.
"Alright," Lin Yuan took a deep breath. "Let's go."
The three began to descend along the steep path. As they lowered their altitude, the temperature gradually increased, and a strange metallic scent filled the air.
"This place used to be an iron mine," Zhou Haoran observed, looking around. "These facilities must have been abandoned twenty years ago."
"The question is, why is there a creature that feeds on Lingqi here?" Su Jiu'er frowned. "That doesn't make sense."
Lin Yuan pondered, "Perhaps this Abandoned Mine was built to seal that monster in the first place. Mining was just a cover."
As they ventured deeper, the Red Mist thickened, and visibility plummeted. If it weren't for the protection of the Bone Amulet, they would have likely been harmed by the corrosive fog.
"My compass indicates that Han Lingyun's presence is just ahead," Su Jiu'er whispered. "But there's another, more powerful energy fluctuation; it must be that monster."
Lin Yuan nodded. "Stay alert. Let's find Han Lingyun first and assess the situation before deciding our next move."
The three of them cautiously advanced, weaving through abandoned mine carts and rusted machinery. Suddenly, Lin Yuan raised his hand to signal them to stop.
"There’s movement up ahead," he murmured.
Through the thick mist, they faintly saw a figure busy with something. As they drew closer, the outline became clearer—it was indeed Han Lingyun.
She stood before a massive stone platform, holding a glowing green stone—it must be the Source of Life that Ger had mentioned. The runes of Impuritium surrounded a central sphere radiating red light.
"What is she doing?" Zhou asked.
"It looks like some kind of ritual," Su Jiu'er analyzed. "She might be trying to control that monster."
Lin Yuan carefully surveyed the surroundings for potential ambushes and traps. "We need to get a bit closer to see exactly what she's doing."
Just then, Han Lingyun abruptly halted her actions and turned to look in their direction. "Come out; I know you're there."
Lin Yuan exchanged glances with the others, realizing they had been discovered, and stepped out from their hiding place.
"What an unexpected visit," Han Lingyun sneered. "Lin Yuan, you always manage to show up at the most critical moments."
"What are you doing here?" Lin Yuan asked bluntly. "Why did you steal the Source of Life from the natives?"
Han Lingyun gently caressed the Green Stone in her hand. "This little thing? It's just a key, a key to unlock the real treasure."
"What treasure?" Su Jiu'er asked warily.
Han Lingyun pointed to the Red Sphere in the center of the stone platform. "This one, an energy entity from ancient times, possessing unimaginable power. Those foolish natives treat it as a monster, but in reality, it is an Advanced Life Form that can grant its master limitless power."
"So you want to control it?" Lin Yuan scoffed. "You overestimate yourself."
Han Lingyun dismissed him with a wave. "You don't understand its true value. It can only absorb Lingqi, but it can also transform Lingqi, creating entirely new forms of energy. Mastering it means mastering an infinite source of power."
Zhou Haoran quietly activated the Scanning Device to analyze the energy fluctuations on the stone platform. "Be careful, the energy fluctuations from that Red Sphere are extremely unstable and could erupt at any moment."
"You've come at just the right time," Han Lingyun suddenly said, a strange smile spreading across her face. "I need some 'fuel' to complete the final ritual."
She abruptly inserted the Green Stone into a slot on the stone platform, and immediately, the entire platform lit up with blinding red light. The Red Sphere began to tremble violently, and the surrounding Red Mist quickly gathered towards it.
"This is bad!" Lin Yuan felt a powerful suction force emanating from the platform. "She has activated something!"
Han Lingyun laughed maniacally as she stepped back. "Enjoy merging with ancient life! It will first devour your Lingqi, then your consciousness!"
At that moment, the Red Sphere suddenly exploded, and a wave of dark red energy surged forth like a tide, rushing towards Lin Yuan and his companions.
"Watch out!" Lin Yuan shouted as he activated the Time Manipulator, attempting to pause time. However, that energy seemed unaffected by the laws of time and continued to approach them at an astonishing speed.
Su Jiu'er swiftly unleashed the Nine-Tailed Fox Barrier, while Zhou Haoran produced a set of specially crafted silver needles, forming an Energy Barrier. The defenses of both were as fragile as paper in the face of the Dark Red Energy, which was instantly torn apart.
"Step back!" Lin Yuan shouted, simultaneously channeling the Lingxi Youlong Technique to its utmost limit. The Azure Dragon Illusion spiraled around him, forming a final line of defense.
The Dark Red Energy collided with the Azure Dragon Illusion, producing a deafening explosion. Lin Yuan felt an unprecedented pressure bearing down on him as cracks began to appear in the Azure Dragon Illusion.
"This is not good; it's too strong!" Lin Yuan gritted his teeth. "We have to find a way to seal it!"
At that critical moment, Ger suddenly burst forth from the shadows, holding an Ancient Bone Artifact aloft. "Use this! It can temporarily seal the energy entity!"
He tossed the artifact to Lin Yuan, who caught it and immediately felt an ancient and powerful energy surging from within.
"How do I use it?" Lin Yuan asked urgently.
"Aim at... the core... inject... Lingqi!" Ger shouted, while approaching Han Lingyun from another direction, attempting to reclaim the Source of Life.
Understanding what he needed to do, Lin Yuan poured all his Lingqi into the artifact and aimed it at the center of the Dark Red Energy. The artifact emitted a dazzling white light, forming an energy beam that shot straight toward the core of the energy entity.
The Dark Red Energy seemed to sense the threat and began to thrash violently, trying to evade the attack of the energy beam.
"Su Jiu'er, Zhou Haoran, hold it steady for me!" Lin Yuan yelled.
Su Jiu'er immediately manipulated the Nine-Tailed Fox Phantom to flank from the side, compressing the Dark Red Energy toward the center. Zhou Haoran used his silver needles to create an energy net around it, further restricting its range of movement.
"Now's our chance!" Lin Yuan shouted, pouring all his Lingqi into the artifact. The power of the energy beam surged several times over and pierced directly through the core of the Dark Red Energy.
A piercing shriek echoed throughout the Abandoned Mine as the Dark Red Energy began to rapidly contract, ultimately coalescing into a Red Sphere that settled on the stone platform, motionless.
Meanwhile, Ger had successfully reclaimed the Source of Life from Han Lingyun, but he was gravely injured and collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
Seeing this, Han Lingyun's expression darkened. "You have ruined my plans! But this is just the beginning; we shall see!" With that, she quickly retreated.
Lin Yuan wanted to pursue her, but Ger's shout stopped him. "Don't chase... her! First... seal... the energy entity!"
Lin Yuan turned to look at the Red Sphere on the stone platform. Although it was temporarily quiet, the flickering red light on its surface indicated that it could erupt at any moment.
"How do we seal it?" Lin Yuan asked.
Ger struggled to rise and handed the Source of Life to Lin Yuan. "Use this... place it... in the center... of the stone platform... recite the incantation..."
He whispered an ancient incantation to Lin Yuan, who carefully memorized it before cautiously taking the Source of Life and approaching the stone platform.
Just as Lin Yuan was about to place the Source of Life in the center of the platform, the Red Sphere suddenly began to tremble violently, as if sensing danger.
"Hurry!" Ger shouted. "It's about to... awaken!"
Lin Yuan did not hesitate and quickly placed the Source of Life in the center of the stone platform while reciting the incantation. As he spoke the words, the Source of Life emitted a dazzling green light, contrasting sharply with the Red Sphere.
The two energies clashed on the stone platform, producing a deafening hum. The entire Abandoned Mine began to shake violently, with debris falling from above; the situation was dire.
"Hold on!" Su Jiu'er shouted as she used her Nine-Tailed Fox Phantom to help Lin Yuan stabilize the flow of energy.
Zhou Haoran quickly stepped forward, using silver needles to form an Energy Barrier around the stone platform, preventing any leakage of energy.
Lin Yuan gritted his teeth and continued to chant the incantation, simultaneously infusing his Lingqi into the Source of Life to enhance its sealing ability.
As the final syllable of the incantation fell, a dazzling light erupted from the center of the stone platform, illuminating the entire Abandoned Mine as if it were daytime. When the light faded, the Red Sphere was completely enveloped by a layer of Green Energy Shield, no longer showing any signs of movement.
"We did it!" Ger sighed in relief, a look of reassurance washing over his face. "The seal... has been restored."
Lin Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to Ger. "Now, it's time to fulfill your promise. Tell us the exact whereabouts of Han Lingyun."
Ger nodded, about to speak when his expression suddenly changed. He abruptly pushed Lin Yuan aside. "Watch out!"
A black beam shot out from the thick fog, piercing directly through Ger's chest. He staggered back a few steps before collapsing to the ground, blood pouring from his wound.
"Ger!" Lin Yuan exclaimed, rushing forward to check on his injuries.
Ger grasped Lin Yuan's hand tightly, struggling to say, "Han Lingyun... went... to... the ancient city... searching for... another... seal..."
"What ancient city? What is being sealed?" Lin Yuan asked urgently.
Ger’s voice grew weaker. "Dragon vein... convergence... ancient city... there..."
His hand suddenly went limp, his gaze becoming vacant as his life force rapidly dissipated.
"Ger!" Lin Yuan attempted to use Lingqi to heal him, but it was too late; Ger had already stopped breathing.
"Damn it!" Lin Yuan exclaimed angrily as he stood up and scanned the surroundings. "Who is it? Show yourself!"
A light laugh echoed through the thick fog, and a figure slowly emerged—Xi Men Lian, a senior member of the Qi Gong Association and a trusted aide to Han Lingyun.
"What a touching scene," Xi Men Lian mocked. "Too bad your native friend is of no use anymore."
A glint of murderous intent flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes. "You will pay for this."
Xi Men Lian shrugged dismissively. "Don't be in such a hurry; we will meet again. Han Lingyun asked me to tell you that the secrets of the ancient city are far greater than you can imagine. If you have the guts, come find us."
With that, she turned and vanished into the fog, leaving behind a chilling laugh.
Lin Yuan looked at Ger's lifeless body, filled with anger and sorrow. He gently closed Ger's eyes, then stood up with a determined glint in his gaze.
"We're going to find that ancient city," he said solemnly. "Whatever Han Lingyun is plotting, we must stop her."
Su Jiu'er nodded and took out a compass. "The convergence of the dragon veins... I can locate it using this."
Zhou Haoran had already begun gathering data from the surroundings. "I will analyze the information Ger provided and see if I can find more clues."
Lin Yuan took one last look at the sealed Red Sphere and Ger's body, resolving that no matter the cost, he would uncover Han Lingyun's conspiracy and avenge Ger.
Just as the three were about to leave, Su Jiu'er’s compass suddenly shook violently, its needle spinning wildly before finally pointing in one direction.
"What’s happening?" Lin Yuan asked.
Su Jiu'er's expression grew serious. "The dragon veins... they are moving... converging in the same direction..."
"What direction?"
"The direction of the ancient city." Su Jiu'er raised her head, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "If all the dragon veins converge there, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Lin Yuan and Zhou Haoran exchanged glances, both seeing determination reflected in each other's eyes.
"We must reach the ancient city before Han Lingyun," Lin Yuan said solemnly. "Whatever is there cannot fall into her hands."
The three of them quickly left the Abandoned Mine, heading towards the direction indicated by the compass. Meanwhile, in the distant ruins of the ancient city, Han Lingyun stood before a massive stone gate, a strange smile on her face.
"Soon, true power will belong to me..." she murmured, a piece of black stone in her hand emanating an ominous glow. "And you will become witnesses to my rise."
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