Jared chuckled. “If you’re feeling nervous, Ms. Murray, you can stay behind.”
“W-Who’s nervous?” Jemima snapped, gritting teeth. “I’m going with you!”
The two of them dove into the lake. The water was icy, sharp as needles against the skin, but to cultivators like them, it was hardly a challenge.
As they descended dozens of feet, the lakebed slowly revealed itself.
There, nestled beneath the surface, was a massive stone platform, carved all over with complex, ancient array runes. At its center was a glowing blue crystal, about the size of a clenched fist, radiating a soft light.
“Is that… The Skybound Crystal?” Jemima gasped in awe. “The divine item that balances the energy of heaven and earth?”
Jared’s eyes sharpened. “That confirms it. This entire arcane array has been running off the power of that Skybound Crystal, channeling energy from the earth vein. That’s how it’s stayed active for ten thousand years.”
He swam closer, carefully examining the carved array runes. Then his expression darkened.
“Something’s off… Some of these runes have been altered. Looks like someone tampered with the arcane array. And I think there’s another restriction hidden inside!”
Jemima’s eyes widened. “What are you saying?”
Before Jared could answer, the stone platform suddenly lit up with intense brilliance. The Skybound Crystal at its center began to vibrate violently.
“This is bad!” Jared grabbed Jemima. “Get back, now!”
But it was already too late. A terrifying suction force erupted from the lakebed, pulling them toward the platform like a whirlpool.
“Jared! What’s happening?” Jemima cried out, panic in voice.
“We triggered the arcane array!” Jared shouted, gritting his teeth as he struggled to resist the pull. But the suction force was overwhelming. In an instant, both of them were sucked into a rift in space that had ripped open beneath them.
The world spun around them in a dizzying blur. When their vision cleared, they found themselves lying amid ancient ruins.
Towering stone pillars lay shattered around them, broken palaces crumbled into dust. The air was heavy, filled with the smell of age and decay.
Not far ahead, a colossal stone pillar loomed into the sky, covered in ancient runes. Behind it, a mountain split down the middle had been carved into two malicious spirit statues.
“Who would carve an entire mountain like that?” Jemima breathed, utterly stunned.
Jared didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on the two malicious spirit statues, and a sudden, crushing pressure gripped his chest. It felt like an invisible hand was strangling him.
His face went pale. He staggered back, shouting, “Get away… Step back now!”
“Mr. Chance, what’s wrong with you?” Jemima asked, baffled by his reaction.
She didn’t understand why Jared seemed so shaken. She wasn’t feeling anything strange at all.
Seeing that Jemima was unaffected, Jared was momentarily confused. At that moment, the oppressive feeling lifted just as suddenly as it had come.
“Was I just overreacting?” muttered to himself.
He took a deep breath, glancing once more at the towering statues. He was certain the ancients hadn’t carved those figures for decoration. They had to serve a purpose.
The pressure returned the moment looked at them again, tightening around his chest like a vice.
“Break!” growled.
Instead of retreating this time, Jared drew the Dragonslayer Sword.
With a flash of determination in his eyes, lunged forward and struck. But even as poured aura into his blade, the fear didn’t loosen its grip on him.
He shut his eyes, inhaled deeply, and began to recite a calming spell.
First, had to regain control of himself. Fear clouded judgment, and that could be fatal. What baffled most was that only seemed affected.
Jemima wasn’t reacting to the statues at all. He kept repeating the spell until the fear slowly ebbed away. Finally, felt calm again.
Opening his eyes, scanned the area but avoided looking directly at the two malicious spirit statues.
The sky here was a flat, endless gray. There was no sun, no moon, just an oppressive stillness, as if this place were sealed off from the outside world.
Still anxious, Jemima turned to Jared. “Mr. Chance… Where exactly are we?”
