I looked back, but there was no one behind me—only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves.
"Who is it?!" Qu Chen drew his sword with sharp vigilance, his eyes blazing as he scanned the surroundings.
"Youran, did you hear something?" Linger's voice trembled slightly, clearly startled by the sudden turn of events.
I shook my head, trying to steady myself. "I did hear a voice just now, but it seemed... like it came from inside my head."
"From inside your head?" Xuanfeng frowned. "How is that possible?"
"I find it strange too..." I reached up to massage my temples, trying to recall the voice I had just heard, only to find my mind completely blank, unable to remember a thing.
"Never mind that for now," Qu Chen said. "Let's be careful; there might be something strange about this place."
The four of us stood back-to-back, slowly walking toward the center of the altar. In the middle of the altar stood a massive stone tablet, covered densely in inscriptions.
"What kind of script is this?" Linger curiously stepped forward, trying to decipher the characters on the tablet. "How come I don't recognize a single one?"
"These are Ancient Script," said Qu Chen, who had remained silent until now. "I once saw them in an ancient text."
"Ancient Script?" My heart stirred. "What does it say?"
Qu Chen carefully read the inscriptions on the tablet, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. After a long while, he spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity: "This records... the secret to the higher-dimensional Immortal Cultivation world."
"Really?!" Joy surged in my heart; it seemed we had indeed found the right place.
"However..." Qu Chen paused before continuing, "It also says that the entrances to the higher-dimensional Immortal Cultivation world are not limited to just one, and every entrance is fraught with danger and trials. Only true geniuses can find the entrance and successfully enter."
"Danger and trials?" A chill ran through my spine. "What kind of danger and trials?"
Qu Chen shook his head. "It doesn't say on here, only that..."
He suddenly stopped, his gaze falling upon a line of small characters at the base of the tablet.
"Only that what?" I asked eagerly.
Qu Chen did not answer, but instead slowly recited the small line of text at the bottom of the tablet: "The entrance... is in... the Echoing Lands..."
"The Echoing Lands?" I muttered the four words, a flash of inspiration suddenly crossing my mind. "I remember now! My Master once told me that deep within our sect's Forbidden Land, there is a place known as the 'Echoing Lands'!"
"Really?!" A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Qu Chen's eyes. "Without a moment to lose, let's set off right now!"
The four of us set off immediately, flying deep into the sect's Forbidden Land based on the lingering memories in my mind. After flying for about an hour, we finally arrived at the depths of the Forbidden Land.
"Right here!" I pointed to a forest shrouded in thick fog ahead and said, "Master said the 'Echoing Lands' are deep within this forest!"
The four of us charged into the thick fog without a moment's hesitation. However, the moment we stepped into the mist, the scenery around us underwent a dramatic transformation...
"Watch out—" I cried out in alarm, but it was already too late.
...The fog before us dispersed, and we found ourselves inside an ancient palace. The palace was resplendent and magnificent, adorned with carved beams and painted pillars, yet it exuded an eerie silence.
"Is this the 'Echoing Lands'?" Linger's voice echoed through the vast, empty hall, sounding exceptionally ethereal.
"It should only be the entrance." Qu Chen looked around, his brow tightly furrowed. "Be careful, there could be danger here."
I looked around and discovered that the walls of the hall were covered in bizarre patterns. These patterns seemed to tell some sort of story, yet remained completely incomprehensible.
"Let's go, let's head inside and take a look." I lowered my voice and took the lead, stepping deeper into the hall.
Deep within the hall lay a secluded corridor, flanked by stone doors at regular intervals on both sides. We advanced with utmost caution, every step taken with extreme care.
"Ah!" Linger suddenly let out a startled cry, her body violently falling backward.
"What's wrong?!" I hurried to catch Linger, only to find her face pale and her forehead covered in cold sweat.
"My foot..." Linger moaned in agony, pointing at her right foot.
I looked down and saw a sharp arrow deeply embedded in Linger's right ankle!
"Damn it, a trap!" Qu Chen's expression shifted, and he hurried forward to check Linger's injury.
"It's all right, just a flesh wound." Qu Chen examined the injury and let out a sigh of relief. "I'll pull the arrow out for you."
"Mm..." Linger clenched her teeth and nodded.
Qu Chen carefully extracted the arrow, then pulled a bottle of medicinal ointment from his robes to bandage Linger's wound.
"Thank you, Qu Chen." Linger looked at Qu Chen with gratitude.
"Between us, there is no need for thanks," Qu Chen said indifferently. "Let's find a safe place to rest first; your wound needs attention."
We found a relatively safe room and had Linger sit down to rest.
"It's all my fault for being so careless..." Linger said self-reproachfully. "Now I'm holding everyone back..."
"Don't talk nonsense, Linger." I took Linger's hand, offering comfort. "We are a team. When anyone encounters difficulties, the others must lend a hand, right?"
Linger nodded, her eyes welling up.
"All right, let's take a brief rest and then press on," Qu Chen said. "Danger lurks everywhere here; we cannot lower our guard."
We rested in the hall for a while, and Linger's wound stabilized, though she still had difficulty moving and required support.
We continued forward, encountering various mechanical traps along the way—some were hidden arrows, others poisonous mists, and some were sudden abysses. Every time we faced danger, we managed to turn misfortune into safety through our tacit cooperation and extraordinary strength.
However, as we went deeper, the density and power of the mechanisms and traps increased, and we gradually began to feel the strain. Linger's injury also became a burden on our progress; her face grew paler and her steps increasingly unsteady.
"We can't go on like this; Linger's injury will only get worse..." I looked at Linger's frail appearance, my heart filled with worry.
"We must find a way to dismantle these traps, or we'll all be trapped here to die!" Qu Chen said in a deep voice.
"But these mechanisms and traps are designed with such exquisite precision, we have no idea how to crack them..." I said, feeling somewhat desperate.
"No, there must be a way..." Xuanfeng suddenly spoke, his gaze fixed intently on a wall ahead. "Although these traps are complex, they certainly follow a pattern..."
Xuanfeng walked up to the wall, closely observing the patterns upon it. His brow furrowed tightly as if he were deep in thought.
Qu Chen, Linger, and I all held our breath, watching Xuanfeng anxiously in hopes that he could find a way to disarm the traps...
Time ticked away second by second, and my heart tightened in tandem with Xuanfeng's silence. With a furrowed brow and piercing gaze, he swept over the patterns on the wall again and again, his fingers tracing empty shapes in the air as he muttered under his breath. Because of her injury, Linger's face grew paler still, yet she bit her lip to keep from making a sound that might disturb Xuanfeng's train of thought, gripping my hand tightly with a palm full of cold sweat.
"I've got it!" After who knows how long, Xuanfeng suddenly cried out in excitement, pointing to a pattern on the wall. "These patterns are not meaningless decorations, but a special set of symbols representing different trap types and trigger conditions!"
He paused and pointed to an eye-like pattern. "Take this one, for instance—it represents a vision-sensing mechanism. We need to avoid its line of sight to pass safely."
Next, he pointed to another gear-like pattern. "This represents a mechanical linkage trap; we must find the correct sequence to open the passage..."
Xuanfeng explained eloquently, as if deciphering these ancient mechanisms was effortless for him. I listened in utter astonishment, a deep sense of admiration welling up within me.
Under his guidance, we carefully bypassed one fatal trap after another, finally arriving before a massive stone door. Unlike any stone door we had seen before, this one was pitch black, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
"If I'm not mistaken, behind this door lies the entrance to the 'Echoing Lands'." A hint of excitement colored Xuanfeng's tone, though solemnity predominated. "Everyone be careful; a fierce battle may lie ahead."
We exchanged glances, seeing firm resolve in each other's eyes. Linger also struggled to stand, but I gently pressed her back down. "Rest easy, we will protect you."
Taking a deep breath, Qu Chen stepped forward and pressed his hand against the black stone door. The very instant the door began to open, a sudden change occurred!
A deafening roar suddenly shattered the spacious and quiet hall, and the ground violently shook. Immediately afterward, more than a dozen black figures lunged at us from all directions!
"Watch out, Guardian Beasts!" Xuanfeng cried out in alarm, drawing his sword from its scabbard as a fierce sword qi struck directly at one of the black figures.
I looked closely and saw that the black figures were actually gigantic Gargoyles, their eyes glowing with a ghostly green light, their sharp claws and fangs flashing coldly as they emitted a powerful pressure.
"Prepare for battle!" Qu Chen roared, his figure transforming into a flash of lightning as he charged straight at one of the Gargoyles...
At that moment, I felt unprecedented pressure, yet not a shred of fear lingered in my heart—only a blazing will to fight. I gripped my sword tightly, looking forward with a resolute gaze—
"Lier, stay close to me!"
The Gargoyle let out a teeth-gritting roar and brandished its claws as it attacked me. I sidestepped, barely dodging the strike, and countered with a sword thrust to its chest. However, my blade bounced off its tough hide, leaving behind only a shallow white mark.
"These Gargoyles are infused with powerful Spiritual Power; ordinary attacks won't work on them!" Xuanfeng shouted a warning while parrying another Gargoyle's attack.
A chill ran through my heart, and I grew even more cautious. Qu Chen was locked in combat with two Gargoyles not far away; moving like lightning with fierce sword forms, he still couldn't break through their defense.
"Lier, use your Chixiao Sword!" Qu Chen seemed to sense my predicament and called out loudly.
Only then did I remember Master's words: the Chixiao Sword was an Ancient Divine Artifact possessing the power to vanquish all evil spirits. Remembering this, I channeled my Spiritual Power into the blade without hesitation, and the Chixiao Sword instantly erupted with a dazzling red light that illuminated the entire hall.
"Break!" I shouted angrily, swinging my sword down toward a Gargoyle.
The power of the Chixiao Sword truly lived up to its reputation. With a crisp, sharp "crack," a split was actually cleft open across the Gargoyle's chest!
"Well done!" Qu Chen cast an appreciative glance my way, and taking advantage of the other Gargoyles being distracted by me, he thrust his sword straight through a Gargoyle's throat.
The two of us worked in coordination, gradually turning the tide. However, just as victory seemed within our grasp, an accident occurred.
While dodging, I accidentally stepped on a raised flagstone on the floor. With a deafening roar, the floor of the hall began to shake violently, and bizarre runes emerged on the surrounding walls, emitting a blinding red light.
"Oh no, we've triggered the Formation!" Xuanfeng cried out in alarm. "Fall back quickly!"
However, it was already too late. Those runes seemed to come alive, rapidly spreading to encircle us. I felt a powerful force pulling me backward, and the scene before my eyes began to blur and twist...
"Lier!"
I heard Qu Chen's anxious cry, but I could no longer reply. Desperately trying to grab onto something, I found myself pulled by an invisible force into an endless dark abyss...
"The entrance..."
A weak voice seemed to echo by my ear, but I could no longer make out who was speaking. I felt a dizzying spin, and then lost consciousness.