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Chapter 1082: The Fallen Radiance of the Lake
Chapter 1082: The Fallen Radiance of the Lake
Upon entering the interior of the cave, the initial rock walls were red, illuminated by the glowing moss, but it didn't seem very comfortable.
However, as they ventured deeper, the walls were no longer uniformly red. Instead, they were adorned with crystal-like formations, seemingly naturally occurring.
These crystals had been artificially carved into various forms, and Chen Chuan noticed their resemblance to the divine patterns on the map. Since they appeared here as well, they must be the deities of the First People.
As they continued their journey, almost every crystal bore a different divine image, countless and densely packed. It wasn't hard to imagine the immense manpower and resources required to create such a spectacle.
Just as they were nearing the end of this section, they noticed large areas where the crystals had been intentionally damaged and smashed, and in one place, an entire wall had been excavated.
It resembled an ugly scar, with a simple human silhouette drawn in charcoal inside. The lines were extremely basic, reducing the human form to a few ovals, and the brushstrokes were exceptionally concise, giving off a primitive and rugged feeling. But upon closer inspection, there was also a sense of eeriness, leaving people with a strong sense of discomfort.
Someone couldn't help but ask, "What kind of mark is this?"
Gao Ming took a few glances and compared it to the data he had prepared in the Jieping. He told Chen Chuan, "Cousin, this should be the mark of the Primitive Sect."
"The Primitive Sect?"
Most of the people present didn't understand, but when the First People heard the translated term, their expressions changed instantly.
Someone noticed their reaction and asked, "Are these people from your First People?"
One of the First People, filled with anger, replied, "No, they are devils!"
The One-Eyed Elder had been here before, and as he gazed upon the scene he had witnessed before, he spoke gravely, "No matter which tribe of the First People, none would dare to defile the statues of the deities. Once, a group of outsiders, devils, entered here, and they were the ones who caused this destruction. They intended to seize the Voice of Star Spirits and offer our ancestors' deities as sacrifices to their evil god, but our last Holy Warrior of Isu'tar perished here, fighting them to the death."
The First People typically referred to the people from the Federation as 'outsiders,' and only those from the Federation's heretical sects were called 'devils.'
Gao Ming said, "Cousin, they are right. Among those who destroyed the gathering place in Atahoca Continent, many were from the Primitive Sect. Even now, in the central city of Atahoca Continent, this sect remains mainstream. Not only in the central Federation but also on the East Coast, they hold significant influence."
Chen Chuan acknowledged, having read the information provided by the Daxun Visit Group before their arrival, which included a description of the Primitive Sect.
This sect believed that only the purest physical body could experience the purest goodness, so they advocated for indulging oneself and releasing one's desires without any implants. It was rumored that many elites from the Federation had secretly joined this sect.
When Chen Chuan first encountered their teachings, he had a sense of familiarity, thinking that this sect seemed to carry the essence of the Tianxing Sect. It was likely that the Tianxing Sect had branched out to form this new sect.
The Tianxing Sect was never known for its unity, instead emphasizing the liberation of one's nature. In the Daxun region, where there was already a lack of centralized organization, the situation on the West Coast might have been even more chaotic.
However, it was undeniable that the Tianxing Sect's top-tier fighters possessed formidable strength, as they were either extremely dedicated or extremely extreme.
Chen Chuan asked, "Elder Lie Feng, how did these people from the Primitive Sect find this place?"
The One-Eyed Elder spoke with a heavy voice, "The last time I was here, the Priest told me that there was a traitor among us who joined the devils and led them here. They intended to seize the Voice of Star Spirits and offer our ancestors' deities as sacrifices to their evil god, but our last Holy Warrior of Isu'tar perished here, fighting them to the death."
He raised his head and said, "The Voice of Star Spirits is guarded by our deities, and they can receive the blessings of the gods."
Chen Chuan nodded, understanding that this place, like Kavatuya, was located on the sacred ground of the First People, where rituals and divine protection made it difficult to conquer.
In fact, the internal problems that led to the destruction of the Kuizhatek people in the East were a classic example of inviting wolves into the house.
At that moment, someone asked, "Did the traitor die in the end?"
The One-Eyed Elder shook his head and said, "I don't know. The Priest said that his body wasn't found, so he was probably torn to pieces."
The person asked again, "If this traitor knew about this place, his status must have been quite high, right?"
The One-Eyed Elder spoke gravely, "He was a Holy Warrior, once the most promising candidate to become a Great Guardian."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment. The complete destruction of this place had occurred at least over a hundred years ago. If the traitor had indeed died here, it would be a closed chapter. But if he hadn't, there might be more to the story.
A Daxun expert in rituals stepped forward to examine the area and offered to help them cleanse the place.
However, Elder Lie Feng and the others refused, believing it to be a stain on the honor of the Isu'tar people, one that they must erase themselves.
The Daxun group didn't press the issue.
After a brief stop, they continued their journey deeper into the cave.
The One-Eyed Elder had trouble distinguishing the path ahead. He had only visited this place once during his youth and left some markings, but over time, many of these signs had faded away.
It wasn't entirely his fault; the terrain was incredibly complex, with countless interconnected caves and numerous branching paths. Some passages were so narrow that they were almost invisible from a distance, while others were obscured by dense vegetation. After decades, the landscape had changed significantly from its original state, making it nearly impossible to navigate without proper guidance.
Under normal circumstances, one could only rely on luck or disperse to search for the right path. Fortunately, this time, they had a map, unlike the damaged and destroyed paths outside. The caves here had remained relatively unchanged.
After discussing with the One-Eyed Elder, the team decided on their route. However, despite this, most of them lost their sense of direction as they traversed through the numerous caves, except for a few who managed to maintain their bearings.
Some of the caves had been intentionally blocked, possibly by those who sought refuge here to prevent the traitor from finding the correct path.
Despite the winding path, many in the group could sense that they were consistently descending. Based on their estimates, they had gone down over a thousand meters, yet the barometer readings remained unchanged, and their breathing was unaffected. This indicated that they were within a massive ritual field, where the environment remained relatively stable.
After walking for two to three hours, they finally left the maze of caves and entered a vast underground space. The most striking feature was a large hot spring lake in the center, with a thin layer of mist hovering above its surface, emitting a warm glow even from a distance.
The group gathered at the lake's edge, where they observed the water's center, which was a deep purple, gradually transitioning to sapphire blue, emerald green, and finally, golden yellow at the edges. The colors were incredibly vivid and transparent.
Strange beetles with iridescent wings and shells danced above the lake, their colors reflecting the vibrant hues of the water. On the shore, several small white water birds took flight as the group approached, keeping their distance.
The rocks surrounding the lake were covered in the same glowing moss they had encountered on their journey. The ceiling above seemed brighter, dotted with countless glowing spots like a starry night sky. Warm breezes caressed the group, making them feel as if they had returned to the open sky, basking in the warmth of summer.
Such a magnificent sight was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and everyone couldn't help but marvel at their surroundings.
Upon reaching the lake, Lie Feng Changzhe, with a reverent and excited expression, exclaimed, "Yes, this is it! The Gemstone Lake! This is where the old priest brought me!"
He scanned the area and pointed to one end of the lake, "Over there, that's where I came from. There's a pile of stones I stacked, and behind it, you can see the entrance to another cave."
The group looked in the direction he indicated and indeed saw a small pile of stones with a cave entrance behind it.
"I reached the end of my journey here and paid my respects to our ancestors. The priest told me that this was the farthest we could go without a complete key," Lie Feng Changzhe explained.
The One-Eyed Elder took out the reassembled obsidian spearhead and held it in his palm. He knelt down and bowed towards the lake, remaining in that position for a long time.
The group waited patiently, looking around, but nothing happened, and there were no visible changes in the surroundings.
Chen Chuan also waited patiently, remaining vigilant.
Finally, Lie Feng Changzhe stood up from where he had been kneeling. He walked to the edge of the lake, tightly gripped the obsidian spearhead, and with a mighty throw, hurled it into the water.
The spearhead traced a long arc before landing in the purple waters, creating a splash. A strange sensation enveloped the area, and the initially separated colors of the lake began to merge, forming concentric circles until the entire surface turned a pale gold.
The mist around the lake thickened, and the white water birds took flight in flocks, filling the air with their melodious calls.
Lie Feng Changzhe's face lit up with excitement. He shouted, "Follow me!" and dove into the water.
Without hesitation, the rest of the group followed him, jumping into the lake.
On the ground above, a slight tremor was felt, noticed by both Tan Shi and Iron Crow, who were waiting there.
Tan Shi licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light. He stood up, his voice filled with magnetic force, "I think it's time for us to leave."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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