Rift: Countdown to Doomsday

Chapter 161: Pursuing a New Journey

Lin Xuan and Su Wan'er set off in the dim light of dawn, with the village they had saved behind them. Although the shadow of the battle was still there, their hearts were filled with longing for the future.

"What is our goal this time?" Su Wan'er asked softly, her eyes flashing with excitement.

"We need to find that mysterious relic. It may contain the power to change everything." Lin Xuan answered firmly, looking into the distance.

"Ruins? Are you referring to the legendary 'Ancient Source'?" There was a hint of curiosity in Su Wan'er's voice.

"Yes, according to legend, there is a secret hidden there that can change the world." Lin Xuan nodded, "We must find the clue first, and then decide what to do next."

The two continued to move forward, following the winding path, gradually going deeper into the dense forest. The surrounding trees were towering into the sky, and the intertwined branches and leaves seemed to cover the entire sky. Lin Xuan stopped from time to time to check the map and the surrounding environment to make sure they were on the right route.

"Lin Xuan, have you ever thought about why this relic is so important?" Su Wan'er suddenly asked.

"Of course, I've thought about it." Lin Xuan's expression turned serious. "It is said that there is an ancient energy in the ruins that can heal all wounds and even resurrect dead souls."

"Resurrect the dead souls?" Su Wan'er repeated in shock, "Doesn't that mean... our companions may also..."

"Yes, if we can find that power, many lost lives may be able to return to us." Lin Xuan's voice was full of hope and determination.

After several days of trekking, Lin Xuan and Su Wan'er finally arrived at an ancient ruin. The broken buildings here seemed to have experienced hundreds of years of wind and rain. The two explored carefully, and every step was full of unknown dangers.

"Look, there is an entrance over there." Su Wan'er said, pointing to a half-open stone door in front.

Lin Xuan nodded, and the two slowly approached the stone door. The stone door was engraved with ancient runes, emitting a faint light. Lin Xuan reached out to touch the runes, and suddenly felt a powerful energy surge into his body.

"These runes... they are conveying some kind of message." Lin Xuan closed his eyes and felt the power of the runes.

"Should we go in?" Su Wan'er asked hesitantly.

“Yes, but be careful.” Lin Xuan opened his eyes and nodded firmly, “There may be danger inside, but we must find the answer.”

The two pushed open the stone door and walked into a dim underground passage. The passage was filled with a decaying smell. The torches hanging on the wall had been extinguished for many years, leaving only a few ashes. Lin Xuan lit a torch to illuminate the road ahead.

"Lin Xuan, do you think there is a trap in this place?" Su Wan'er followed Lin Xuan closely, looking around vigilantly.

"It's very likely. Stay alert." Lin Xuan whispered, "Every step here may hide danger."

They moved forward cautiously along the passage, and suddenly, a low sound came from the front, as if some kind of mechanism was triggered. Lin Xuan immediately stopped and signaled Su Wan'er not to move.

"What's that sound?" Su Wan'er asked nervously.

"It sounds like some kind of mechanism has been activated. We must be very careful." Lin Xuan listened carefully for a while, then moved forward slowly.

When they reached the end of the passage, a huge stone door appeared before them. The stone door was carved with complex patterns, and a shining gem was inlaid in the center. Lin Xuan walked forward and carefully observed the patterns.

"These patterns seem to be some kind of code." Lin Xuan said, "We must crack this code before we can get in."

Su Wan'er stepped forward and studied the patterns with Lin Xuan. After some discussion and experimentation, they finally found the correct arrangement. The gems emitted a dazzling light, and the stone door slowly opened, revealing a spacious hall.

In the center of the hall stood a huge altar, and above the altar was suspended a crystal emitting a mysterious light. Lin Xuan and Su Wan'er walked forward and felt a powerful energy gushing out of the crystal.

"This is the source of the ancient times." Lin Xuan murmured to himself, "We finally found it."

"But what should we do next?" Su Wan'er asked.

"We need to be careful when removing this crystal. It may be the core of the entire ruins." Lin Xuan explained, "If we are not careful, it may trigger some kind of defense mechanism."

The two stood in front of the altar, carefully studying how to safely remove the crystal. At this moment, a low roar came from the other side of the hall. Lin Xuan and Su Wan'er immediately became alert and turned to face the potential threat.

A huge gargoyle stepped out of the shadows, its eyes flashing red, obviously an awakened guardian.

"It seems we have to solve it first." Lin Xuan drew his sword and said calmly.

Su Wan'er also drew her weapon and fought alongside Lin Xuan. The two quickly separated and tried to surround the huge monster. The gargoyle swung its heavy stone fist and smashed at Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan dodged nimbly and stabbed the monster's weak spot with his sword.

Su Wan'er deftly got behind the monster and swung her dagger, causing fatal damage to the monster. After a fierce battle, the gargoyle finally fell to the ground and turned into a pile of rubble.

"We succeeded." Lin Xuan said, panting.

"Yes, but this is just the beginning." Su Wan'er looked at the crystal on the altar, "We still have a lot to do."

Lin Xuan nodded and carefully took off the crystal. Suddenly, a warm energy enveloped them, as if healing all the pain in their bodies.

"This is the power of the ancient source." Lin Xuan sighed, "We must make good use of it."

"Yes, but first, we have to leave here." Su Wan'er reminded.

The two quickly left the ruins and headed for a new journey. They knew that this was just the beginning and the journey ahead would be even more difficult, but they were ready to meet all challenges.