Chapter 43 - Chapter 44: The Enigmatic Passage

The silence that settled after the Watcher Lord's demise was thick with exhaustion and relief. The group stood amidst the rubble of the chamber, their chests heaving with labored breaths. Luna, dusting off her tattered starlight - woven gown, approached a section of the wall where the symbols marking the Path of Eternity still faintly glowed.​With a wave of her hand and a soft incantation, the stone wall rumbled and split apart, revealing a narrow passageway bathed in an otherworldly blue - green light. The air that wafted from within carried a strange, metallic scent, and the light seemed to pulse in an erratic rhythm, like the heartbeat of some ancient, slumbering beast.​"This is the next stretch of the Path of Eternity," Luna said, her violet eyes solemn. "But be warned, this passage is unlike any we've encountered. It has a will of its own, and it will test not just our strength, but our wits and our bonds."​Chen Jiuzhang tightened his grip on the crystal - key. The artifact had returned to its normal, gentle glow, but he could sense a subtle restlessness within it, as if it too was anticipating the challenges ahead. "Let's stick together. We've come this far, and we won't let anything stop us now."​As they stepped into the passageway, the walls immediately began to shift and change. Stone panels slid into place, rearranging the path into a complex maze. Shen Qingluan raised the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal, but its light did little to penetrate the thickening mist that filled the air.​Suddenly, Zhang Chengying let out a startled yelp. "Guys! Look at the walls!" On the stone surfaces, faces began to form—hollow - eyed and gaunt, their mouths open in silent screams. The faces seemed to be in a state of eternal suffering, and as the group watched, they reached out with skeletal hands.​Su Nian's chains lashed out instinctively, severing one of the reaching hands. But it regenerated almost instantly, and more hands emerged from the walls. "What are these things?" she hissed.​Wu Laogou, puffing nervously on his pipe, squinted at the walls. "I've read about this in ancient texts. They're the trapped souls of those who failed to pass through this passage. They seek to drag others down into their misery."​Luna nodded gravely. "We must not give in to fear. Keep moving forward, and don't look back."​But as they pressed on, the passageway became even more treacherous. The floor turned into a shifting sea of quicksand, and the ceiling rained down sharp, icicle - like stalactites. Chen Jiuzhang used the crystal - key to create a platform of light for them to stand on, while Shen Qingluan deflected the falling stalactites with her shield of golden light.​In the midst of the chaos, Chen Jiuzhang noticed something strange. The crystal - key was reacting to the trapped souls, its light flickering in a pattern that seemed to match the rhythm of their silent screams. He closed his eyes and focused, trying to understand the connection.​Images flashed through his mind—scenes of a great battle long ago, where warriors fought to seal away these souls to protect the Path of Eternity. He saw his 二叔 among them, his expression determined and resolute. When he opened his eyes, he knew what he had to do.​"Everyone, hold on! I think I can free these souls and clear our path!" he shouted. Channeling the power of the crystal - key, he sent out a wave of pure, white light. The light washed over the walls, and the trapped souls let out a collective sigh of relief. Their forms began to dissolve, and the passageway around them started to stabilize.​But just as they thought they had overcome this challenge, a deep, rumbling growl echoed from the end of the passageway. A massive, shadowy figure emerged, its form a blend of stone and darkness, with glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce their very souls. It was a new guardian, and it stood between them and the next part of the Path of Eternity.