Time seemed to be gently manipulated by an invisible hand. Xu Yuehuai, Yan Qing, and Wang Mang returned to the cave a thousand years later, where the air was filled with a faint dust and the fragrance of time.
"I didn't expect to be back so soon." Xu Yuehuai's voice echoed in the empty cave, her eyes filled with complex emotions, a mixture of relief at returning and reluctance to leave the past.
Yan Qing followed closely behind, a trace of worry between his brows: "I wonder how the leaders and the others are doing. Has this long period of time taken them to the other side of another time and space?"
Wang Mang slowly shook his head. "Their descendants may have already followed the laws of nature, migrating to distant places to seek a new life. Otherwise, how could this cave have been occupied by those strange people, leaving behind so many mysteries and traces?"
Xu Yuehuai's heart stirred, and she remembered the ancient clan saintess who had given her power at the crucial moment. Her figure gradually became clear in her memory.
It seems that the woman is indeed the leader's and Acai's daughter. No wonder she was able to transfer the power to her so quickly back then; it turns out that the power originally belonged to her.
However, the ancient tribe may have encountered danger, otherwise, how could the Holy Maiden have died so young?
"Perhaps our fate isn't over yet, and we'll meet the descendants of that ancient tribe again. Let's go find Li Lei and Pei Hai."
The three of them traversed the intricate labyrinthine caverns, with the red and blue gemstones pulsating gently within Xu Yuehuai's body, acting as a guiding lighthouse that led them forward.
Soon, Xu Yuehuai led them to a cave.
However, before they could get close, a violent tremor shattered the tranquility of the cave. Amidst the flying dust, a dark figure fled in panic from the ashes.
"Stop!" Xu Yuehuai darted forward like an arrow, giving orders to Yan Qing and Wang Mang, "You two rescue them first, lest they be injured by the aftershocks."
After saying that, her figure disappeared into the depths of the maze.
The man in black robes moved with incredible speed, like a ghost in the night, but Xu Yuehuai, relying on his familiarity with the terrain and the connection to the gemstone within his body, kept up relentlessly.
However, just as they were about to get close, the man in black robes vanished into thin air in front of a charred forest, leaving only a series of eerie laughs echoing in the night sky.
"If I catch you, you're finished." Xu Yuehuai looked at the empty forest, feeling both unwilling and helpless. In the end, he could only sigh and turn back to his cave.
Back in her cave, the scene before her brought her some comfort.
Yan Qing and Wang Mang were busy treating Li Lei, Li Guang, Li Wang, Gu Shen, and Pei Hai. They looked haggard and were dressed in tattered clothes, clearly having gone through a lot of hardships.
Upon seeing Xu Yuehuai's return, the five people's eyes flashed with surprise and awe, and they shouted in unison, "Your Highness!"
Xu Yuehuai stepped forward quickly, "You've suffered. Don't worry, everything will be alright."
"Wang Mang, take them to rest and take good care of them," Xu Yuehuai instructed, then turned to Yan Qing, "I'll go with you to find the Red Rose Stone."
As night deepened, Xu Yuehuai and Yan Qing acted swiftly.
"Yan Qing, do you think we can find the Red Rose Stone successfully this time?" Xu Yuehuai asked softly, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
Yan Qing said firmly, "With you here, I believe nothing is impossible. Besides, it's something we hid a thousand years ago. I hid it very well. If we don't go looking for it ourselves, even if others know where it is, they won't be able to retrieve it."
The two exchanged a smile and continued their search for the red rose stone.
As night deepened, Xu Yuehuai and Yan Qing traversed the intricate corridors and secret chambers of the cave, each step seemingly uncovering the dust of history and exploring the secrets hidden by time.
The torches on the cave walls swayed gracefully, casting long shadows of the two people, adding a touch of mystery and solemnity to their stone-hunting journey.
"I remember how many hopes and dreams we planted on this land back then," Xu Yuehuai said softly, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia for the past and anticipation for the future.
She stopped and stared at a seemingly ordinary stone wall. She gently touched it with her fingertips, and a slight vibration came from her fingertips, as if the stone wall was responding to her call.
"This is it." A hint of surprise flashed in Yan Qing's eyes. He remembered that he had set up layers of traps in this area back then, just to ensure the safety of the Red Rose Stone.
With the sound of a turning mechanism, the stone wall slowly slid open, revealing a hidden passage. At the end of the passage was a secret chamber, in the center of which was a pile of ancient stone boxes. The lids of the boxes were engraved with intricate runes and emitted a faint glow. This was where the red rose stones were stored.
Xu Yuehuai slowly stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly as she opened the stone box. Inside, dozens of red rose stones lay quietly on the soft velvet cloth, each one crystal clear, as if containing endless power and vitality.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused her mind on the red rose stone, feeling the familiar and powerful energy surging within her body.
“Red Rose Stones, you have been asleep for thousands of years. It is time to awaken your power.” Xu Yuehuai murmured, then clasped her hands together, her spiritual power surging within her body. A warm and dazzling light overflowed from her palms, slowly enveloping the entire jade box.
In the light, the red rose stone seemed to be awakened, and began to slowly rotate, releasing an even more dazzling light that illuminated the entire secret room.
As the light gradually faded, Xu Yuehuai opened her eyes. "They're all fine. Our hope remains."
They then went to other burial sites and soon obtained all the red rose stones.
"I'll go call Wang Mang and the others over so we can move these red rose stones out together," Yan Qing suggested, then turned and ran out of the passage.
Before long, Wang Mang, Li Lei, and others rushed over and were all thrilled to see the intact red rose stone.
With everyone's help, they carefully moved the red rose stone out of the secret chamber and placed it on an open space outside the cave.
Xu Yuehuai and Yan Qing then got busy, using the wood in the cave to quickly make several simple wooden carts and place the red rose stones on them one by one.
Under the cover of night, the group of people's busy figures appeared particularly determined and powerful.
"Let's prepare to set off; our destiny lies in the distance." Xu Yuehuai stood in front of the wooden cart, gazing into the distance, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly tidied themselves up and followed Xu Yuehuai away.
The group slowly returned along the winding mountain road.
On their way, they came across a market and decided to stop there to buy a more sturdy oxcart to transport the red roses.
The market was bustling with activity. Xu Yuehuai and Yan Qing weaved through the crowd and finally chose a sturdy and durable oxcart.
With the addition of oxcarts, the speed of travel increased significantly.
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