ebookslot Chapter 30 A Dead End at the Three Forks, A Terrifying Sound from a Strange Footstep
Chapter 30 A Dead End at the Three Forks, A Terrifying Sound from a Strange Footstep
A cold wind swirled at the three-way intersection, and each of the three passages was swallowed by deep darkness.
The black mist on the left was as thick as ink, with wisps of poisonous energy emanating from it; even inhaling a single breath made one feel suffocated. The runes on the stone wall on the right flickered faintly, containing a murderous aura, clearly indicating that an ancient killing formation was lurking. Only the middle path had a thin mist and a stable aura, looking like the safest and most open road.
As soon as the old monster Xuan Yin stepped onto the entrance to the middle road, he suddenly stopped deliberately, turned his head and glanced back, raising his voice with a hint of mockery and control.
"Brother Wang, our judgment has never been wrong. These three paths clearly show which is better. The middle path is the safest and most reliable way to enter the heart of the ruins."
He then changed the subject, his words carrying a pointed meaning: "There are some young people who, relying on their cultivation, become arrogant and unwilling to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors. They always think of finding alternative paths and using their cleverness. Little do they know that in the secret realms and ruins, the most dangerous thing is to be conceited and reckless. One wrong step and they will be reduced to nothing but bones."
The burly Wang Meng grinned and snorted, echoing in a gruff voice, "Hmph, just being clever for his own good. Does he really think he can roam freely in the secret realm just because he defeated a Black Mist Demon Ape? The dangers of the ancient ruins are far greater than those of the outer mountains and forests. Let him wander blindly until he hits a brick wall and realizes that fate is unpredictable."
The two spoke in unison, every word aimed at Qin Zhan, who was hidden in the background.
The intention was obvious: he deliberately made the middle route sound like the safest path, pretending that he was going to take the right one, but in reality he wanted to provoke Qin Zhan into avoiding the middle route out of spite and choosing the two dead ends on the left and right.
The old monster Xuan Yin's eyes concealed a sinister scheme, but he feigned earnestness, saying, "We've already given him a well-intentioned warning; whether he listens or not is entirely up to his own fate. Let's go, don't waste time. The important thing is to delve deeper into the ruins and find the ancient treasure."
After saying that, the two stopped and walked straight into the middle passage. Their figures were quickly swallowed by the darkness, leaving only the faint sound of their footsteps fading away.
Qin Zhan stood quietly in the shadows, taking in the entire affected conversation between the two, a faint chill flashing in his eyes.
"What a clever scheme," he muttered to himself. "He openly takes the middle path, pretending to be carefree, but in reality, he's hiding a trap, and he's trying to mislead me into dead ends with his words."
The mysterious woman had already given us a heads-up: the left path is rife with poisonous miasma that devours the spirit, and the right path is filled with overwhelming killing intent, seemingly the most dangerous; the middle path appears safe, but in reality, it involves the key to destiny and is the most inescapable trap in this game.
Xuan Yin Laoguai and Wang Meng thought they were clever and wanted to use him as a pawn, but little did they know that they had also stepped into a trap set by others.
Just as Qin Zhan was pondering which path to choose, that clear and ethereal female voice, like a gentle evening breeze, quietly rang out again.
"You've already seen through their intentions?"
Qin Zhan remained unmoved and replied in a low voice, "Since you've been observing from the shadows, why not show yourself? Always sending messages from afar and hiding is too deliberate."
The woman sighed softly, her tone tinged with helplessness: "It's not that I'm unwilling to show myself, but the time isn't right yet. If I show myself, it will trigger the seal beneath the ruins, prematurely awakening that sleeping being, and then neither of us will be able to escape."
Qin Zhan frowned slightly. "What exactly is that aura from underground? An ancient ferocious beast, a guardian spirit of a ruin? Or some other strange entity?"
"None of those," the woman said, her tone becoming more serious. "That is the source of destiny suppressed by ancient powerful beings, waiting specifically for those with special bloodlines to come here and complete the cycle of reincarnation. The portrait on the stone wall that looks exactly like you is not a prophecy, but an imprint—you were born to step into this ruin."
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhan's heart sank.
He has always believed that my fate is in my own hands and has never accepted the idea that everything is predetermined.
But everything he saw and heard along the way—the murals, the atmosphere, the woman's warning—all revolved around him, making it impossible for him not to feel a sense of unease.
"I refuse to believe in fate binding people." Qin Zhan's tone was firm. "The path is one's own to walk, opportunities are one's own to seize, and calamities are one's own to bear. No one can decide my ending for me."
The woman was silent for a moment, seemingly touched by his stubbornness, and said slowly, "I understand your nature. That's why I've repeatedly given you advice, not wanting to see you fall into a trap step by step. Now, at this crossroads, let me tell you one more truth: the left and right paths are dead ends, easy to enter but difficult to exit; the middle path is the path of life, but also the path of destiny."
"Take the left or right path, and you'll die a violent death; take the middle path, and you'll be caught in the cycle of reincarnation. The choice is yours."
Qin Zhan's gaze narrowed slightly.
On one side lies the desperate situation of certain death and annihilation; on the other, a game of chess entangled with destiny. Caught between a rock and a hard place, with no middle ground.
He pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: "What if I deliberately choose a different path instead of the three?"
"It's no use," the woman replied calmly. "The layout of the ruins has long been fixed. The three-way intersection is the only passage; you can't go around it or avoid it. You can only choose one. Also, remember one thing—no matter what calls you hear or what familiar figures you see, don't be tempted, don't turn around, and don't easily use the power of your bloodline origin."
As soon as she finished speaking, the woman's presence vanished again, and no matter how much Qin Zhan searched with his divine sense, he could not find a trace of her.
Qin Zhan stood quietly in place, his gaze slowly sweeping over the three dark passages on the left, middle and right.
Poisonous fog churned on the left, with a faint, bone-chilling wind blowing out; runes flickered on the right, and a chilling aura of killing intent swept over you; the middle lane was eerily quiet, so quiet that it made people uneasy, like a giant mouth quietly opening, waiting for someone to step in.
Xuan Yin Laoguai and Wang Meng have already ventured deep into the central route, and they have probably already encountered the first hidden barrier.
Qin Zhan took a deep breath, having already made up his mind.
Rather than facing certain death, it's better to confront the game of fate head-on.
He wanted to see just how far this ancient ruin could trap him; whether the so-called cycle of reincarnation and destiny could forcibly control his path in martial arts.
Just as he was about to step towards the middle of the road—
dong... dong... dong...
From the depths of the dark passage behind them, a series of muffled yet orderly footsteps suddenly echoed.
Its pace was slow, each step heavy and deliberate, unlike the walking of humans or the stamping of demonic beasts. It carried a deathly, cold, and lifeless rhythm as it slowly approached along the passage.
The sound was neither too close nor too far, as if shrouded in mist, yet it struck the heart and mind with precision, sending a chill down one's spine.
Qin Zhan turned around abruptly, his body instantly enveloped in azure light, his energy barrier suddenly opened, and his divine sense locked onto the dark depths behind him.
Who?
Is it human or ghost? Is it a relic puppet, or a vanguard sent by a strange being awakened from the earth?
What made his heart tighten even more was that, as the eerie footsteps drew closer, the ancient runes on the stone walls of the three forks in the road simultaneously turned blood red and began to tremble slightly. The entire ruins emitted a faint hum, as if something was slowly awakening from all directions.
The dull, eerie footsteps approached from afar in the dark, ruined passage, each step feeling like a blow to the heart.
A chilling, deathly atmosphere permeated the passage. There was no sign of life or the ferocity of demonic beasts, only an ancient, frozen chill that sent shivers down one's spine.
Qin Zhan turned around instantly, his azure energy surging and flowing around him, his protective aura solidifying into a tangible form, and his divine sense extending to its limit, locking onto the depths of the dark passage behind him.
He secretly gathered strength in his palm, his expression cold and his eyes full of vigilance.
Just then, a terrified roar suddenly came from the depths of the middle road, mixed with Wang Meng's angry shouts and the sounds of chaotic fighting. It stopped abruptly and fell silent again in an instant!
What exactly happened in the middle lane?
What are those eerie footsteps approaching from behind?
Should Qin Zhan turn around to face the enemy, or immediately step into the middle lane to escape?