novelslam Chapter 115 The Gate of Life and Death, Living Towards Death
Chapter 115 The Gate of Life and Death, Living Towards Death
Zhao Lei's forward momentum stopped halfway, and the yellow light on the Earth Pulse Suit flickered.
He turned his head to look at Lu Yan, his face full of "What have you discovered this time?" expressions.
That's not the exit.
Lu Yan didn't keep him in suspense. He raised the black wooden scepter in his hand and pointed to the newly emerging patterns on the bottom of the bronze bell.
The pattern was ancient and intricate, formed by countless twisted lines interwoven into an asymmetrical spiral, with a hollow center. It emanated a very faint energy fluctuation, seemingly not belonging to this world.
"This is the 'Sacrifice' rune." Lu Yan's voice was clear in the silent square. "It needs enough energy to activate and open the true passage. The mirror image we just killed was probably the sacrifice."
After hearing the explanation, Zhao Leiguang scratched his head, still not quite understanding. "Isn't that perfect? The sacrifice has been offered, and the door should open. I can just swing my shield, and it'll be over, right?"
In his view, it doesn't matter what kind of runes they are, as long as they are blocking the way, just smash them aside.
"No, the offerings are just the 'key'; the key is how to open the door."
Lu Yan shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the circle of patterns. "These kinds of runes are usually accompanied by the 'Gate of Life and Death' mechanism. One wrong step and you're doomed."
"It can't be that weird," Zhao Leiguang muttered, clearly not believing in superstitions.
He felt that Lu Yan was sometimes too cautious.
The secret realm is just about fighting monsters, opening chests, and getting rewards, right? Why all the complicated stuff?
He ignored Lu Yan's advice, bypassed the fragile bronze bell, and set his sights on the more solid base of the bell tower.
"I won't use my full strength, just a light touch to see the reaction!"
Before the words were even finished, [Savage Charge] was activated.
Zhao Leiguang's figure transformed into a heavily armored truck once again, the Earth Pulse Suit shining brightly, the two tower shields closing in front, slamming hard into the clock tower base made of a single block of stone.
There was no expected energy backlash, nor any mechanical counterattack.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the entire dilapidated clock tower collapsed as if its base had been ripped out of a building block structure. Countless rubble and dust flew in all directions, completely obscuring everyone's view.
At the heart of the smoke and dust, a dazzling golden light shot into the sky, dispelling all the gloom.
As the dust settled, a magnificent gate, several meters high, slowly rose from the ruins.
The door was entirely cast in gold, carved with auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes, and cranes soaring in formation. Every detail was inlaid with shimmering gemstones. A warm and peaceful light emanated from the cracks in the door, and a faint sandalwood fragrance, calming the mind, even permeated the air.
Through the half-open door, one can vaguely see the mountain of Holy Spirit Stones, the equipment chests shimmering with various colors, and the skill orbs floating in mid-air.
That sight was enough to drive any awakened being mad.
"I'm... I'm rich!" Lin Chuxue's breathing quickened instantly.
Her eyes lit up as she stared intently at the golden door, practically drooling. What were the golden palaces in the illusion compared to this real treasure trove!
She almost instinctively lunged forward.
Not only her, but even the usually calm Xiao Qianyu and Wen Yue thought this should be the reward for passing the second level and were ready to follow suit.
Just then, a figure silently opened his arms and blocked everyone's way.
It's Lu Yan.
"You can't go in."
His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable force.
Lin Chuxue panicked: "Lu Yan, what are you doing! If we don't go now, the treasures will all be snatched away!"
"There's no one else." Lu Yan looked at her, then glanced at the eager Zhao Leiguang. "This is a classic 'death trap.' They use what you crave most as bait to lure you into a dead end."
Zhao Lei, his neck stiff, said somewhat indignantly, "But this doesn't look like a trap..."
Lu Yan did not explain further.
He simply stood there quietly, blocking everyone, his gaze calmly fixed on the magnificent golden gate, as if waiting for something.
Time passed, second by second.
The atmosphere in the team became somewhat tense. Lin Chuxue was so anxious that she kept stamping her feet, and Zhao Leiguang also seemed a little impatient.
Just as everyone was still doubtful, thinking that Lu Yan might have made a mistake this time, the light from the golden door began to flicker.
At first, it was just a slight flicker, like a light bulb with a bad connection.
But soon, the flashing frequency became faster and more intense.
The warm and peaceful glow receded rapidly, like the receding tide. The magnificent golden door began to peel and decay, revealing the rusty iron beneath. The carved auspicious beasts twisted into struggling and howling demons, and the inlaid gems became empty, bleeding eye sockets.
It took no more than a minute.
The treasure vault door, once shrouded in celestial aura, was transformed before everyone's eyes into a blood-stained door adorned with two enormous guillotines.
"Squeak—"
The guillotine gate slowly opened, revealing not a sea of gold and silver behind it, but a gloomy execution ground.
Countless tall, indistinct-faced ghostly guards, wielding shackles, fire-and-water clubs, and scorching hot branding irons, stood in a menacing array. The yin energy emanating from them was almost tangible, causing the surrounding air temperature to plummet.
Each cold gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, landing precisely on each person.
A chilling feeling emanating from the depths of their souls instantly soaked Lin Chuxue and Zhao Leiguang's backs in cold sweat.
They had no doubt that if they had just taken even half a step inside, they would have been dragged onto the execution platform by those ghost messengers and subjected to the full range of Fengdu tortures.
The gate of the guillotine did not linger for long. After displaying its terror, it slowly sank into the ground and disappeared.
The square fell silent once more.
Just then, on a plain, cracked wall nearby, a dark, unlit doorway opened silently.
It's like a crack in space itself, leading to an unknown abyss, without any allure or threat.
Lu Yan withdrew his arm, pointed there, and spoke calmly.
"This is the gateway to life."
Looking at his calm profile, everyone's eyes held nothing but admiration.
Zhao Leiguang blushed, wishing he could disappear into the ground.
Lu Yan was the first to step into that pure darkness.
Xiao Qianyu and the others immediately followed.
Endless darkness and a feeling of weightlessness engulfed them.
The next moment, when light returned to their vision, they were astonished to find themselves back in the magnificent hall they had first entered.
Hundreds of pillars coiled around black dragons, a dome so high it seems to reach the top, ghostly blue flames burning... everything is exactly the same as when I first entered.
Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the deepest part of the main hall.
There, nine enormous white skeletal dragon corpses still guarded the black jade nine-dragon throne.
On the throne, the figure dressed in a black imperial robe and wearing a twelve-tasseled flat crown remained seated.
He seemed to have never moved, and it seemed... He had been waiting for their return.
A gentle yet supremely majestic voice once again echoed slowly through the hall.
"The trial of the heart has passed."
"You are all very good."
The figure on the throne slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over every member of the first squad from behind the beaded curtain.
"So, the third challenge."
"Come and challenge me."