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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 8 Hundred Lantern Alliance Ring Gap
Two, three, and five were summoned, while the rest were not present at The Divine Alliance Under the Covenant. Three Cities Order silently gazed at the cave entrance and remarked, "This stone is truly peculiar."
Ji Zichen asked, "Three Cities Order, where did you find this stone?"
Three Cities Order replied, "Western Ruins. I inquired about it; this is the resting place of the Vermilion Bird."
Meng Haiqi questioned, "The Vermilion Bird sleeps on a stone?"
Three Cities Order shook his head. "No one knows the habits of the Vermilion Bird, but it is a divine beast. Anything it has used must possess some spiritual essence. When I found this stone, I could hear many voices coming from within."
After a brief pause, Three Cities Order seemed to doubt his own words. "I’m not entirely certain; the voices inside were faint and intermittent. So, I had it sent back for further study. I never expected it would explode."
Ji Zichen exclaimed in astonishment, "The Vermilion Bird's resting place! Three Cities Order, you found the Divine Dawn Ruins!"
Three Cities Order responded calmly, "No, that is not the Divine Dawn Ruins. There was nothing in that ruin except for this stone. I believe the Vermilion Bird merely stayed there for a time."
-
Lin Chuyu was being led by a woman whose skin was as smooth as cream. The woman wore an agate bracelet on her delicate wrist and a yellow-patterned silk shirt. Below her waist, she wore a floor-length embroidered skirt and draped herself in white gossamer fabric, exuding an ethereal beauty.
The woman held Lin Chuyu's hand lightly as they walked down a long corridor that seemed endless. On either side were lush green mountains and clear waters. Lin Chuyu looked on in awe and wonder, as if someone had constructed an interminable corridor through a forest.
Noticing Lin Chuyu staring blankly at her, the woman smiled like a gentle breeze and asked, "What’s wrong? Are you scared?"
Her voice was more melodious than wind chimes. Lin Chuyu pondered her words. "I'm not scared, really. You seem very familiar to me, but I know I've never seen you before."
The woman gazed intently at Lin Chuyu, chuckling softly, "You may not have seen me, but we have been together for quite some time."
Suddenly, her eyes transformed into horizontal slits that gleamed with golden light. Lin Chuyu gasped and screamed, "You are the Vermilion Bird!"
The Vermilion Bird sighed softly with self-pity. "The Vermilion Bird is merely one form; my true name is Yuanling."
"Where are you taking me?" Lin Chuyu asked, her emotions fluctuating.
Yuanling sighed softly. "You've suffered too much for the Vermilion Bird Pearl. I want to take you to a very beautiful place, one that only the chosen can enter. It's called the Realm."
The corridor that Lin Chuyu and Yuanling walked through was exceptionally exquisite and tidy. However, when Ji Zichen and Meng Hai from the Three Cities Order stepped into this corridor, they were met with a scene of decay and ruin.
The three of them entered without much support; the leader could not take risks, leaving the rest to guard outside.
The pillars of the corridor were blackened and peeling, and the ground was covered with thick layers of dried yellow leaves that emitted a foul moldy smell. There was no sign of green mountains or clear waters on either side of the corridor; instead, it was replaced by desolate hills and murky waters, creating a gloomy atmosphere.
Everyone proceeded cautiously. "I didn't expect there to be hidden depths within this Vermilion Bird's lair," said Meng Hai from the Three Cities Order.
Ji Zichen had his own thoughts at this moment. He coldly remarked, "This place is so desolate; how could it be where the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast resides? Three Cities Order, I think you've been deceived."
In truth, he didn't need Ji Zichen to remind him; he already knew. "No one would stay here for long, let alone the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast," he replied.
Ji Zichen's gaze fixed ahead in the corridor. "I think I heard someone walking up ahead, but I can't see anything."
Meng Hai appeared agitated. He kicked aside the dried leaves beneath his feet, startling a swarm of ants into chaos. "What kind of cursed place is this? I can't make sense of it. Whatever killed the brothers of The Divine Alliance Under the Covenant, I will not let it go!"
At that moment, Ji Zichen had a guess. He slowly said, "Could it be related to the Hundred Lantern Alliance Ring?"
Three Cities Order was taken aback by this remark but quickly agreed. "Yes, it must be the Hundred Lantern Alliance Ring."
Ji Zichen continued, "The Hundred Lantern Alliance Ring is like a gap in this world, similar to a barrier. However, it doesn't disappear and doesn't require any magical artifacts to support it. It's a passage left by the divine race. Three Cities Order, it seems someone wants you to bring this stone back."
Three Cities Order was startled. "What do you mean?"
Ji Zichen calmly explained his reasoning. "Think about it: if you wanted to launch an attack on The Divine Alliance Under the Covenant without suffering losses and avoid Candle Dragon at all costs, what would be the best way?"
Three Cities Order suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. "This is the passage!"
But Three Cities Order quickly thought of something puzzling. "If that's the case, why hasn't anyone come out of the passage? Instead, they captured that girl?"
Meng Hai also found Ji Zichen's speculation unreasonable. He said, "Three Cities Order is right. If someone wants to enter The Divine Alliance Under the Covenant, it must be for the magical artifacts. But why capture Lin Chuyu?"
Suddenly, Ji Zichen had a realization. "Could it be that—"
Meng Hai exclaimed, "It's the Vermilion Bird Pearl!"
Ji Zichen frowned. "It must be because of that!"
At that moment, they passed through a long corridor and arrived at an enormous hall filled with countless snake corpses. The walls of the hall were dark and crumbling, as if there had been a great fire.
---
Lin Chuyu, along with Ji Zichen and Yu Ren, found themselves in the same hall, but what she saw was a magnificent chamber entirely made of gold. The beams and pillars were golden, the floor tiles were golden, and there was a golden chair on the golden steps.
Lin Chuyu stared in awe; she had never seen such luxury before.
In the hall, hundreds of people were bowing down before the person seated on the golden chair, arranged in ten rows of ten.
The person on the golden chair wore a grand robe adorned with a phoenix design at its center. Yuanling looked on with reverence and said, "He is the Vermilion Bird King!"
Lin Chuyu and Yuanling stepped forward, and under Yuanling's influence, they involuntarily knelt to pay their respects. The Vermilion Bird King spoke, "You are all children of the Vermilion Bird. Today is a good day; welcome to ascend to the realm with me. This is a glorious moment for our Vermilion Bird clan. As you all know well, the time for purification has come. We are about to shed our human forms and become true Vermilion Birds."
The worshippers raised half their bodies and shouted, "Long live the Vermilion Bird King! Long live the Vermilion Bird King!"
The Vermilion Bird King waved his hand, and several rows of attendants approached with wine cups, distributing golden cups to everyone present. The Vermilion Bird King took his cup and toasted, saying, "Then drink this wine with me and let us proceed to the great gate of the realm."
Everyone drank from their cups, but Lin Chuyu stared blankly at hers without taking a sip. She felt something was very strange about this place. Seeing that she hadn’t drunk, Yuanling asked, "Why aren’t you drinking? Do you want to stay here and suffer? Have you forgotten how your father forced you to marry the Western King! Have you forgotten how those villagers became slaves because of you? Do you still want to stay here and harm others?"
Lin Chuyu's hand holding the wine glass began to tremble, and she instinctively took a step back. "I... I don't want to harm anyone... I haven't harmed anyone..."
Yuanling's voice carried a haunting tone. "Then drink it, and come with us. That way, you won't harm anyone, and you won't have to suffer anymore."
The glass slowly approached her lips, but Lin Chuyu knew deep down that she did not want to drink. Her hand was no longer under her control, and panic surged within her. "My... my hand..."
Yuanling revealed a sinister smile. "Drink. Once you do, you will no longer feel pain."
The cup was nearly at her lips, the wine threatening to spill over.
"Lin Chuyu!" Ji Zichen's voice thundered like a bolt of lightning, startling Lin Chuyu awake.
The glass fell to the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces and spilling wine everywhere.
Lin Chuyu turned around and called out, "Ji... Brother Ji..." but there was no one behind her.
At that very moment, Yuanling collapsed to the ground. Lin Chuyu gasped in shock as dozens of people in the pavilion fell simultaneously, leaving only the Vermilion Bird King standing, gazing at Lin Chuyu with an inexplicable expression.
The faces of those who had fallen began to rot away, transforming into writhing dead snakes.
The Vermilion Bird King spoke ominously, "Why didn't you drink that wine?" He stepped down the stairs with a rhythmic gait, approaching Lin Chuyu. "Why? Is there really anything in this world worth remembering?"
Lin Chuyu's heart surged with tumultuous waves; she finally sensed danger. In fear, she screamed, "Where is this place! What is happening!"
The Vermilion Bird King grinned wickedly. "You may not understand what's going on, but you can feel that something is wrong, can't you?"
Lin Chuyu roared suddenly at the Vermilion Bird King, "Who are you! Yuanling is not a Vermilion Bird, is she! You are not Vermilion Birds either!"
The Vermilion Bird King cackled as he stood ten feet away from Lin Chuyu. Gradually, he revealed his true form; he transformed into a Hook Snake—a monstrous serpent known for its ability to charm minds and its fondness for resting on rocks. It measured ten feet long with a forked tail.
A Hook Snake stood before Lin Chuyu, its snake-like eyes gleaming with green light. "Once I swallow you, I will claim the Vermilion Bird Pearl for myself!"
The Hook Snake opened its mouth wide, and from it emerged over ten snakes, each measuring three to four meters long. One snake coiled around Lin Chuyu's waist, lifting her into the air. The Hook Snake's massive jaws gaped open below, revealing a cruel smile. "I will eat you!"
" Ji Zichen!" he called out again in the hall.
Meng Hai remarked, "There's no one here. What are you shouting about? Except for all these snake corpses."
Three Cities Order gazed at the snake bodies and said, "Look at these corpses; they are already dried up, and many are stuck to the ground. Is this a snake den or something else? It's impossible to determine why so many snakes died here."
Ji Zichen was not concerned about why there were so many dead snakes; his focus was solely on Lin Chuyu's predicament. His expression turned unusually serious as he said, "I feel an overwhelming sense of pressure. There must be something here, and I know she is here too!"
At that moment, Ji Zichen's vision went dark again; his intermittent blindness had returned. But in that instant, he saw Vermilion Bird's Eye wide open!
It seemed Lin Chuyu was in extreme danger.
Aside from Vermilion Bird's Eye, he could see nothing else. Ji Zichen shouted, "Use Vajra! Any Evil Spirits fear Vajra!"
Lin Chuyu heard the voice but could not see anyone. Coiled in mid-air, she reached for her waist only to find it empty—Vajra was already missing.
Suddenly, Lin Chuyu was alarmed! "Not good! Vajra is gone!"
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