Chapter 309 (1/2)

Inside, the temple was more dilapidated than the last saw time they it. Although the energy storm did not totally destroy the temple, it had apparently inflicted severe damage with its great force: a large number of decorative columns had collapsed in the vestibule, the crests over the corridor had fallen and cracks were all over the exquisite reliefs on the facades of the temple. Additionally, some of the glass-like areas ravaged by the energy storm had melted and solidified.

Hessiana found a large hole in front of the temple—the one they escaped through earlier. It proved that this was the cloud temple they had visited the last time. But, it was not in the sky this time. It was half-buried in the mountain they were standing on at the moment. Only the front portion of the temple protruded out while the rear portion was planted in the mountain; there were no signs of impact or cracks where the temple met the mountain. It looked like they both grew together in one body.

Hao Ren took the lead, walking in front of his team as he scanned their surroundings. “This is confusing; it was a sea of clouds but it’s turned into a desert… how is it possible?”

“Perhaps it’s just a big illusion. What we’re seeing is an illusion from a projection,” said Vivian. She sent out a swarm of bats to look for clues as she responded to the questions in Hao Ren’s mind. “Whether it’s a sea of clouds or a desert, the temple is the only constant; this must be the heart of the ruins.”

Lily looked at Nangong Wuyue with concern. “Are you okay?”

Nangong Wuyue was crawling on the ground, with several huge bumps on her head. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

If this was the heart of the ruins, then Bethanos had to be hiding somewhere inside. But it was unknown if he had detected the intruders. Vivian had a hunch that Bethanos came for the temple’s “storage chamber”, which they did not manage to find the last time they scouted the gallery. They carefully manoeuvred across the corridor as they constantly watched over their shoulders: the shadelings were a cunning race and they were wary that Bethanos may have rigged the place with traps.

Hoever, Bethanos may also have thought that no one made it back in after the key was destroyed. There did not seem to be any traps laying about as they came to the end of the corridor.

Hao Ren triggered his shield. He was the first to enter the gallery. The gallery was empty, just like the last time he left it, but his eyes quickly landed where the mysterious sculpture of Vivian used stand. It disintegrated when the energy storm struck. All that was left was the base. On the base was a shimmering light of an undefined shape. There seemed to be something in the glow.

“That’s it!” Hessiana whispered as she saw the light. She began to run towards it. “This is the entrance!”

“Wait a second.” Vivian immediately stopped the reckless maiden, throwing a bat in their path before she nodded and said, “Now let’s go.”

As they entered into the glow, they felt like they had just walked through a layer of cold water membrane. The surroundings then changed. It was vast, but pitch dark.

The space seemed like a big stone chamber surrounded by darkness; visibility was poor but they managed to spot rows of stone columns in the distance. The air was damp with a rotten smell, probably because this place had remained sealed for God-knows-how-long. There was light about 100 metres ahead: there was a weird looking device about three to four metres tall in the centre of the chamber. It was a combination of several cylinders and ellipsoids, shimmering with light which barely kept the chamber from falling into absolute darkness. As soon as Hao Ren’s vision adapted to the environment, he immediately spotted a sneaky figure: Bethanos!

The others had also spotted the same. Everyone immediately geared up for battle. Meanwhile, Bethanos finally noticed the movement behind him. He was shocked to find familiar faces as he turned his head. “How did you guys come in?”

Hao Ren was surprised to find that Bethanos was like an ordinary old man; he was draped in grey robes, had sparse white hair, a face full of wrinkles, and was slightly hunched. He almost looked like a harmless human, like an extra in a movie set who got paid with a pack of lunch. No one would have imagined this old man to be the mastermind who had orchestrated the disaster in the sanctuary. When Hessiana saw the “old man”, she clenched the weapon in her hand: a black and red whip made of unknown material. She shouted, “Bethanos! What do you want?!”

“Oh, it seems I’ve underestimated you people.” Bethanos looked at them as they glared at him. He showed no signs of nervousness and spoke in a calm voice while he pointed his finger at the strange device shimmering behind him. “You probably haven’t understood, but I’m in the midst of studying the ultimate knowledge and answer to our world. So, please be quiet if you don’t mind.”

As Bethanos’ voice trailed off, a cold wave of movement emerged from the darkness—a group of huge shadelings appeared!