The echo of the impact from the depths of the earth rippled through Su Nian's soul. She knelt on one knee, her palm pressed against the cold ground, trying to glean more information from the vibrations of the stone slab. The spiritual pull emanating from the earth grew restless, like a slumbering dragon unconsciously churning when disturbed.
“It’s not that the seal is loosening…” Su Nian focused her senses, “it’s pain.”
She clearly sensed the extreme pain mixed within the boundless energy, like the mournful howl of a wild beast imprisoned for millennia in its cage. This made her even more certain that what was sealed underground was indeed Xie Chen's stripped-away soul essence, and that it was enduring unimaginable torment.
For three days, Su Nian devoted all her energy to tempering the power of the Ice Soul. She discovered that whenever she successfully guided that cool energy through the cracks in her soul, a subtle resonance would occur between the earth and the surrounding space. It was as if every time she healed a small part of her own wound, she could slightly alleviate the pain of that being underground.
This discovery both excited and unsettled her. She was excited to have found a possible way to establish contact with something underground; she was unsettled because if Xie Chen discovered this connection, the consequences would be unimaginable.
That morning, when the vampire maid brought breakfast, Su Nian noticed a silvery-white leaf on the edge of the plate. This leaf was out of place in this world of eternal night, and it still bore traces of dew.
"What is this?" Su Nian picked up the leaf and felt the pure moonlight power contained within it.
The maid, head bowed, said in an almost inaudible voice, "The west wing...the prayer room behind the statue of the Moon Goddess...this is required to enter..."
After saying that, she quickly packed up the dishes and left as usual, but this time, as she closed the door, she tapped her fingers lightly three times on the door frame.
Su Nian clutched the silver leaf, her heart pounding. This was clearly a meticulously designed guide. The silver leaf was the key, the prayer room the destination. But was it a trap, or an opportunity?
The pull from the earth became unusually strong after the silver leaf appeared. Su Nian pressed the leaf close to her chest and could feel the golden light within her soul trembling with pleasure. This silver leaf seemed to have some connection to Xie Chen's origin.
After much hesitation, Su Nian decided to take the risk. She needed more clues and to uncover the truth behind the underground seal.
In the dead of night, as the castle fell into deathly silence, Su Nian took out the silver leaf. The leaf emitted a soft silver light in the darkness, reflecting her resolute face. She infused the silver leaf with the power of ice essence, and it immediately transformed into a stream of light, forming a brief teleportation portal in front of the door.
Behind the door was a staircase leading downwards, its stone walls inlaid with shimmering moss. The air was damp and chilly, carrying the scent of rust and ancient magic. Su Nian carefully descended the steps, each step feeling like she was getting closer to the tormenting presence deep underground.
At the end of the stairs was a stone door engraved with runes. The patterns on the door were identical to those on the dark gold scrolls she had seen in the library. As she approached, the silver leaf in her arms flew automatically towards the stone door and embedded itself in the central groove.
The stone door slid open silently, revealing a circular secret chamber.
In the center of the secret chamber floated a massive crystal, within which sealed a mass of dark golden energy—the very essence of Xie Chen's soul that had been stripped away. The energy mass was riddled with cracks, and waves of pain occasionally emanated from it. Countless chains of light extended from all directions, coiling around the crystal and securing it firmly.
Su Nian's soul almost detached from her body at this moment. The golden light flickered wildly, trying to return to its origin. She suppressed the urge to pounce and carefully observed the sealing array.
The magic circle was ingeniously and cruelly constructed, not only imprisoning the soul's origin but also constantly draining its power. Even more terrifying was the direct energy link between the magic circle and Xie Chen on the throne—the underground origin suffered pain, while the "outer shell" on the throne enjoyed the extracted power.
"This is the truth behind his world-weariness..." Su Nian suddenly realized. The reason Xie Chen on the throne was indifferent to everything was because his emotions and pain were sealed here.
She approached the crystal and could clearly feel the painful fluctuations emanating from it. Each fluctuation seemed to be pleading for her help. As if guided by a divine impulse, she reached out and gently pressed her hand against the surface of the crystal.
"boom--!"
A torrent of memories, several times more intense than before, swept over her. This time, she saw a more complete picture:
Amidst the sea of stars, the silver-haired immortal lord stood sword in hand, a shattered immortal gate behind him. An envoy from the Main God Space hovered in the void, a cold, mechanical voice proclaiming the verdict: "Abnormal emotional fluctuations detected... Purification procedure initiated..."
The immortal lord did not resist. Just before his soul was ripped away, he gazed into the void, a gentle smile playing on his lips: "Wait... I will definitely find you..."
The scene shattered and then reformed. She saw the sealed soul's essence gradually twisting in millennia of solitude, driven mad by pain, with only that promise as the sole light in the darkness.
Su Nian was in tears. She finally understood that every encounter in every world was not accidental, but rather Xie Chen's broken soul pursuing her relentlessly across endless time and space.
Just then, the energy within the crystal suddenly began to vibrate violently. A crack spread from it, and dark golden energy seeped out like blood, condensing in the air into a blurry humanoid shape.
The humanoid figure opened its eyes, and those eyes, so different from Xie Chen's on the throne, were filled with pain and tenderness.
"You've finally... arrived..."
Su Nian stared blankly at the phantom formed from the energy of pain. The golden light from the depths of her soul flew uncontrollably toward the phantom and merged into it. The phantom became more solid, and its outline became clearer.
"This is the core of the seal, and also the place where his senses are weakest." The illusory voice seemed to come from a great distance, echoing, "But time is running out, he will soon find out."
"Him? The one on the throne..." Su Nian asked hesitantly.
“It is my dark side, a monster born of pain.” The phantom closed its eyes in agony. “The seal of the Supreme God amplified my pain, causing it to materialize into another being. He enjoys my power, yet evades my pain.”
The illusory figure reached out and gently touched Su Nian's cheek, the touch so tender it was heartbreaking: "You must be careful. If he discovers your special nature, he will stop at nothing to keep you here."
Suddenly, the entire chamber shook violently. Footsteps approached from above, accompanied by a chilling aura.
"He's here!" The phantom's expression changed. "Run! Remember, only sincerity can heal pain..."
The phantom gave Su Nian a push, and the silver leaf flew out of the stone gate, transforming back into a teleportation portal. At the last moment before stepping into the portal, Su Nian turned back and saw the phantom give her a sad yet resolute smile.
Back in her room, Su Nian collapsed to the floor, still clutching the now-dull silver leaf in her hand. The pull from the earth was still there, but now there was a touch of tenderness she had never felt before.
The footsteps outside the door stopped. A cold voice came through the door:
"Tomorrow, when the moon is full, I will personally taste your blood."
His voice carried an undeniable possessiveness, and a hint of...killing intent.
(End of Chapter 54)
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Next chapter preview: The taste of the full moon night is approaching. How will Su Nian, who knows the truth, face the dark side that possesses Xie Chen's body? What mystery is hidden in the sealed source's words, "Only sincerity can resolve pain"? Caught between light and darkness, how will Su Nian choose?
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