Chapter 194: Truce, A Hidden Pearl
“The altar?”
Both elders looked towards the altar, their expressions puzzled.
The Valley Master was hidden inside the altar?
“You knew?”
The First Elder was surprised. “I don’t remember telling you—”
“I sensed a presence within the altar.”
“You…”
Remembering that this man could even shatter the Soul Moon, the First Elder swallowed her surprise and sighed. “It’s true.
This altar is the foundation of the Soul Moon ritual. It’s incredibly strong, imbued with powerful spells. It’s the best prison in the Lunar Valley. Even the Valley Master, with her cultivation, can’t escape from it. She’s trapped… Although, looking back, she must be quite furious.”
Her expression turned awkward. “I hope she’ll forgive me later.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled. “I’ll be back soon. Wait here.”
…
As he walked towards the altar, the Second Elder turned to the Ninth Elder. “Jingyun, what happened between you and Lin Tianlu in the Moon Soul Prison? You seem to have known about his extraordinary power.”
The Ninth Elder lowered her eyes and murmured, “That’s Tianlu’s personal business. I can’t reveal it.”
“Not even to us?”
“No.”
She shook her head. “Just know that he’s truly an extraordinary individual, far beyond our comprehension. Knowing more will only cause unnecessary trouble.”
The Second Elder frowned, but she didn’t press further.
She admired Lin Tianlu’s power and wanted to maintain a good relationship with him.
“You seem quite different now.”
A soft chuckle echoed through the air.
The First Elder turned to see Yun Yue approaching gracefully, a gentle smile on her face.
“Did you also benefit from this… unfortunate incident, breaking through to a higher realm?”
“Azure Fox…”
The First Elder bit her lip, her head bowed in shame. “I apologize for attacking you earlier. If you’re upset, you can hit or scold me. I’ll accept it.”
“It’s just a minor injury. Consider it a friendly spar.”
Yun Yue smiled and helped her up. “If you truly feel guilty, just treat Tianlu well. We’re practically family now. There’s no need to dwell on such trivial matters.”
The First Elder’s expression was complex. “You’re different from the rumors.”
The Azure Fox of a thousand years ago had been a fierce and ruthless warrior, her power feared throughout the land.
But now…
She was gentle and kind, like a caring wife.
Yun Yue smiled faintly. “A thousand years can change a person. Even I am not immune to the passage of time. And Tianlu has given me a second chance at life. I’m grateful to him.”
She took the First Elder’s hand, her voice soft. “A thousand-year legacy is important, but the past cannot compare to the present.
The Lunar Valley doesn’t need to rely on the power of its ancestors. Let go of their desires and ambitions. This is your true legacy, the bonds you’ve built, the family you’ve created.”
The First Elder was silent for a moment.
Then she bowed her head respectfully. “Thank you for your guidance, Azure Fox.”
Yun Yue’s smile widened, and she exchanged glances with the Ninth Elder, their thoughts in sync.
“Where are Ruoyu and Miss Shuya?”
“They followed Tianlu to the altar. They’re worried about him.”
…
At the top of the altar…
The golden-red flames were still burning, but their intensity had diminished.
As soon as Lin Tianlu stepped onto the altar, Mao Ruoyu and Hua Shuya arrived, their faces filled with relief upon seeing him unharmed.
Hua Shuya frowned. “Senior, why are you here?”
“The Valley Master is inside the altar.”
Lin Tianlu raised his hand, and the flames vanished, revealing a black altar beneath.
Upon closer inspection, they saw that it wasn’t filled with fuel, but covered in strange and intricate runes.
Mao Ruoyu was surprised. She had never seen such markings on the altar before.
But how could they—
Click!
Lin Tianlu flicked his fingers, breaking the mechanism, and with a swift movement, he opened a hidden stone door.
A faint, grayish-black mist seeped out.
A dark and cavernous space lay beyond the door.
“This is—”
“Wait here, you two. There might be traps inside.”
Hua Shuya nodded obediently. “Be careful, Senior.”
“Mm.”
Lin Tianlu jumped into the opening, his body falling smoothly.
A pungent smell filled the air, growing stronger as he descended, like a curse, a noxious Yin energy that would incapacitate ordinary mortals.
He landed softly in shallow water and looked around.
He was inside a vast and empty cave, its walls and ceiling covered in intricate runes that pulsed with a chilling light, their energy still active.
But the most striking feature…
…were the massive black chains that were fastened to the walls, connected to eight silver pillars, each adorned with a carved dragon, extending towards a jade platform in the depths of the cave.
A figure sat on the platform.
Lin Tianlu waved his hand, dispelling the mist, and walked towards the platform.
As he approached, he saw a woman with long, gray hair sitting on the platform, her head bowed.
“This—”
He recognized her attire and his eyes widened in shock.
The woman’s legs were bound tightly by black chains, her arms pulled above her head, her body restrained, her chest and stomach wrapped in thin chains, her entire body covered in talismans, not even her fingers spared.
A strange rune glowed on her chest, emitting a faint light that flowed into the chains, then into the surrounding pillars, as if draining her Yin energy.
Her eyes were covered by a cloth, her mouth forced open by a metal gag, unable to speak or see, her senses completely sealed. Her appearance was truly pitiful.
She looked almost identical to the First Elder’s disguised form, but her face was pale, giving her a fragile and delicate beauty, her figure slightly more voluptuous.
Lin Tianlu calmed his racing heart, dispelled the barrier protecting the platform, and approached the woman.
He carefully removed the gag from her mouth.
“Cough, cough…”
The gray-haired woman coughed weakly.
But after catching her breath, a faint smile appeared on her lips. “After waiting for so long… it seems I’m finally free.”
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