629: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (12)

There was no sound, no explosion.

The giant black hand that had made Su Han and Lu Xueqi feel despair, along with the immense "Force of Ruin" condensed within it, vanished silently the moment that ghostly blue light touched it, just like a pencil drawing erased by a rubber.

It was not scattered, nor was it purified, but rather seemed to be "Returned to Ruin" by that ray of light, completely reverted to its most primitive and void state, merging into that ghostly blue light, or rather, merging into the projection of the Return to Ruins at the source of the light.

"Ah—!" The black-robed giant let out an incomparably miserable scream; its entire solid figure instantly became much dimmer and more transparent, and its aura plummeted.

Its scarlet eyes were filled with endless fear and resentment. It fiercely "glared" at the tortoise shell in Bi Yao's hand, then "looked" at Su Han, Lu Xueqi, and Elder Mu who were standing ready, as well as the blurry projection of the Return to Ruins that had caused it to Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

"I will remember this gift today! When my true form descends, I will surely make your Divine Soul be destroyed, and forever suppress you at the bottom of the Return to Ruins!"

After leaving behind a harsh threat, the black-robed giant formed by the black shadow dared not stay a moment longer. It suddenly exploded, transforming back into black Qi that filled the sky. However, this black Qi no longer attacked but retreated frantically like a tide towards the entrance of the main hall and the Void Realm outside the tower. Its speed was more than ten times faster than when it arrived, and in the blink of an eye, it fled without a trace, along with the cold and evil sensation outside the tower, which also quickly receded and vanished.

The terrifying pressure enveloping Town Yue Tower suddenly vanished.

Inside the main hall, all that remained were the flickering light of the Restrictions, the slowly subsiding turbulent energy, and the ghostly blue halo and the projection of the Return to Ruins that were gradually receding, finally transforming back into an ancient tortoise shell quietly lying in Bi Yao's hand.

However, the light on the tortoise shell had completely dimmed, and those patterns had returned to calm, as if that shocking scene from just a moment ago had never happened.

The moment the projection of the Return to Ruins appeared and the giant black shadow hand was "Returned to Ruin," Bi Yao completely fainted due to the exhaustion of her mind and the violent backlash from the tortoise shell, yet she still tightly gripped the tortoise shell that had saved her and everyone else.

Su Han forced his weak body to stagger to the bedside to check on Bi Yao. He discovered that she was merely unconscious from exhaustion and not in immediate danger of losing her life, but her aura was even weaker, and the light of the soul-stabilizing pearl between her brows had dimmed slightly; clearly, the recent incident had placed a tremendous burden on her.

Lu Xueqi stood with her sword sheathed, her face pale. She had to lean on her sword to barely stand steady; the recent series of outbursts and intense mental strain had also exhausted her greatly.

Elder Mu let out a long sigh and slumped to the ground. His aged face was full of exhaustion and lingering fear. Looking at the tortoise shell in Bi Yao's hand, his eyes were filled with shock and contemplation.

Town Yue Tower slowly stopped shaking, and the light of the runes inside the tower gradually calmed down. The Void Realm outside the tower returned to silence, as if that terrifying attack had never occurred.

But the mess inside the main hall, the faint smell of the sea and decay that had not yet completely dissipated in the air, and the heavy breathing of the four survivors all indicated just how dangerous that short and intense battle had been.

"What... exactly is that thing? What do 'Return to Ruins,' 'Force of Ruin,' and 'Fragment of the Key to the Return to Ruins'... that it spoke of mean?" Su Han held Bi Yao's cold hand and asked Elder Mu, his voice hoarse.

Elder Mu remained silent for a long time before slowly shaking his head, his aged eyes filled with gravity and worry.

"I do not know the details either. But listening to its words and observing its power, this fiend is definitely not a creature of this world. The power it used is full of the meaning of ending, dead silence, and nothingness, and it is of the same source but different quality as the 'Return to Ruins' projection manifested by the tortoise shell; it is incomparably evil. It covets the soul-stabilizing pearl, and even more so, this tortoise shell... I fear this matter involves ancient secrets and immense dangers that we cannot imagine."

He looked at the unconscious Bi Yao, then at Su Han and Lu Xueqi.

"This place is not suitable for a long stay."

"Although the black shadow was scared away by the tortoise shell, it clearly will not give up."

"It claimed that its true form did not descend; if its true form were to come... the consequences would be unimaginable."

"We must take Bi Yao and leave immediately to find a safer place."

"We must also find a way to figure out the truth about this tortoise shell and the 'Return to Ruins'."

"Perhaps, this is the key to solving the problems on Miss Bi Yao, as well as dealing with the threat of that black shadow."

Su Han and Lu Xueqi nodded heavily.

Having experienced the life-and-death battle just now, they realized even more clearly the extent of the enemy's terror and strangeness.

The road ahead remained shrouded in mist, filled with hidden dangers.

But regardless, they had to move forward.

For Bi Yao, and also to uncover the shocking secret hidden behind this.

Su Han gently pried open Bi Yao's tightly clenched fingers.

He carefully picked up the tortoise shell, which had once again become plain and unadorned, yet now appeared incomparably mysterious.

He felt the lingering trace of warmth and the indescribable ancient aura within it.

He solemnly tucked it into his clothes, close to his body.

He looked up and met Lu Xueqi's gaze.

Both of them had firmness and determination in their eyes.

"Elder Mu, what should we do next?" Su Han asked in a deep voice.

Elder Mu struggled to stand up.

He walked to the window and looked out at the deep night outside the tower.

"The Restrictions of Town Yue Tower have been severely damaged."

"Although that evil thing has retreated, it is no longer safe here."

"We must relocate as soon as possible."

"To a more hidden and safer place."

"At the very least, we must buy time to let Miss Bi Yao stabilize and allow us to recover some Origin Qi."

Lu Xueqi frowned slightly.

"We are unfamiliar with this coast of the East Sea."

"Where can be considered safe?"

"That evil thing has strange Divine Abilities and can track by trails; ordinary hiding places will likely not be able to deceive it."

Elder Mu turned around, a hint of contemplation on his face.

"Perhaps... there is one place."

"That place is extremely hidden, and it is far from here, with a completely different aura."

"More importantly, there is ancient remnant protective power there, which might be able to interfere with that evil thing's perception."

Su Han immediately asked.

"Where?"

Elder Mu slowly spat out three words.

"Falling Star Lake."

Su Han and Lu Xueqi looked at each other, both seeing confusion in the other's eyes.

They had never heard of this place.

Elder Mu explained.

"It is a legendary Secret Realm deep in the East Sea."

"It is said that in ancient times, a star fell here and transformed into a lake."

"The lake is shrouded in strange power, which can disrupt heavenly secrets and isolate investigations."

"More importantly, it was once a sacrificial Holy Land for the Ancient Water Tribe, and it still retains an ancient protective barrier."

"Although much time has passed and less than one-tenth of the barrier's power remains, it might still be able to provide some concealment."

"The most crucial thing is that it is remote enough, and very few people know about it."

Su Han pondered.

"It sounds like an option."

"But how do we get there?"

"Given Bi Yao's current condition, I fear she cannot withstand a long journey, especially traversing the sea."

Elder Mu walked to the side of the main hall.

He groped for a brick on the wall and pressed it gently.

A slight mechanical sound rang out.

A secret door slowly opened on the wall.

Behind the secret door was a narrow staircase leading downwards, leading who knows where.