Did Pasha Rivas, Tote, and the searching Nunes respond to the call, cross the flowing mud and step into the depths of the mine?

"There are their footprints on the opposite side."

As the dust enveloped them, Heinz Ellis spoke.

They did not return to the surface; indeed, the trio of Nunes delved into the abandoned mine shaft. But why would they do this? Was there some irresistible force?

At least at this moment, the faint calls could not sway their will. As the vibration from beneath the earth subsided, the flowing mud closed, and the grotesque was cloaked beneath calm.

"Are we going to find them?"

Tovani whispered. He held a pessimistic view about the survival of Nunes and the others—under normal circumstances, they would have no reason to abandon Lu Li and the companions.

Something must have happened to make their will falter.

"Yes."

Lu Li would not give up on his comrades until he received news of their demise.

"We need to leave someone here." Tovani suggested.

"Already three companions have gone missing; should we continue to split up?" Heinz Ellis frowned.

"People from the Bloodline Family could come down at any time. If the Earth Dwellers betray us, we will have no escape. So we need to get them on our side, capture those from the Bloodline Family, and interrogate them for information." Tovani said.

"Moreover, I can inquire with the Earth Dwellers about where the mine shaft leads."

Lu Li left Tovani and Joshua Cavalho behind. Coming from Giant Tree Academy and the Noble Council, they were trustworthy. He handed them an eyeball to use when necessary, then dove into the flowing mud, stepping onto the unfamiliar other side.

The abandoned mine shaft was quiet and still.

Led by Heinz Ellis, Lu Li and four others ventured deep along the mine shaft.

Forks in the path appeared at the edge of the oil lamp, with disordered footprints lingering.

"Is it trying to keep us separated?" Kaiser observed the footprints. Trails extended into both forked tunnels.

Heinz Ellis examined the footprints, analyzing the movements of the three from Nunes: Pasha Rivas and Tote entered the same forked path, then retreated, ventured into the other fork, retreated again, and chose separate paths to enter. The pursuing Nunes entered the left fork and did not return.

"We will go left first."

Following Heinz Ellis into the left tunnel, after some distance, a flat stone wall obstructed their path.

The footprints they were following lingered in front of the stone wall, extending into the stone wall.

Nunes and the others had entered the space beyond the stone wall.

The rock prominently displayed a mechanism; with permission granted, Kaiser attempted to press it. The mechanism responded by sinking into the rock, but nothing happened.

"Most likely, the other fork has the same device; only when both mechanisms are pressed simultaneously will the stone wall open." Heinz Ellis judged, then looked at Lu Li: "Do we give up or continue?"

Lu Li had Ida use a spider web to bind the mechanism, but it was of no use; only when they touched the mechanism would it remain triggered.

The Swamp, as a forbidden land, was eternally suffused with a vague atmosphere. It was as if one could not distinguish the fragrance of individual grains of rice in a steaming bowl of porridge; they could not discern the scent of the mine shaft either.

Unfortunately, the worm could not come to the forbidden land.

After a brief silence, Lu Li spoke calmly.

"Continue."

Oddly, neither Heinz Ellis nor Ida or Kaiser showed any discontent with Lu Li's decision to take the risk.

Heinz Ellis and Kaiser stayed behind, while Lu Li and Ida made their way to the other fork, and Ida revealed part of the reason.

"I don't know what the upper academy is like; the lower academy and other places are no different, survival of the fittest, struggles and battles. The only difference is that killing is forbidden."

Lu Li was constructed as a symbol by human civilization, a symbol of hope, light, and future.

Though some remained pessimistic, still disdainful, indifferent. But to many—

Lu Li was indeed the sole light.

And light is light because it opposes darkness.

The self-serving and selfish Exorcist is still an Exorcist, but will no longer be praised nor sung about.

Upon reaching the end of the right fork, a mirrored stone wall and mechanism appeared. With Ida touching and pressing it with its limbs, the stone wall slowly rose, revealing a deep mine shaft that made people uneasy.

Lu Li and Ida crossed the stone wall. But when they turned to look back, behind them was not an open passage or a slowly descending stone wall, but an unmeasured thickness of a rock wall.

Ida's forelimbs scraped, leaving only white marks at the knock spot.

The rock wall was real...as if entering the stone wall had brought them to another space.

There were no mechanisms around to trigger; they had no retreat.

To be safe, Lu Li summoned Merchant Anthony, relayed a message to Claire asking for help: "I'm excavating the mine area in the northern Swamp; three companions are missing, and we are trapped in the mine shaft." Then they continued onward.

Unexpectedly, as they went some distance along the mine shaft, they met up with Heinz Ellis and Kaiser in another fork.

They experienced the same: as they entered the stone wall, the path behind disappeared.

And without exception, the mine shaft continued to extend deep. As they forged ahead, new forks emerged.

This time there were three.

Disordered footprints split into three branches extending into three deep mine shafts.

"Whatever that existence is, it's dividing us." Heinz Ellis couldn't suppress the frustration in his voice.

There was no doubt; they had become prey, caught in a trap set by some existence.

Worse, they had no retreat and could only keep going forward.

They might meet Nunes and the others at the next fork. Or they might keep going until their numbers are fewer than the forks and they are trapped here, unable to trigger mechanisms.

"Are you still willing to take risks?" Lu Li asked his companions their opinions.

At all times, his calmness and rationality shielded those around him from being encased in frustration and despair.

"Continue, we have no other choice. We either find Nunes and the others, or we end up like them."

Yet they still harbored blind trust—trust that Lu Li would be okay.

Ida steadfastly followed Lu Li, while Heinz Ellis and Kaiser each entered a mine.

Triggering the mechanism within the three mine shafts, the stone wall rose again, and as they stepped through, the area behind turned into unfamiliar rock walls.

But this time, the guiding footprints of Nunes and the others disappeared.

It was as if they lingered in the previous mine, brushing past Lu Li and the others.

No matter, those dispersed could only continue down the mine and then reunite.

The endless mine shaft forced them to forge ahead, and after a distance, the mine shaft unexpectedly split into four forks.

"Will Ken, can you sense anything?" Lu Li thought.

"Here gives me a strange feeling... I don't know how to describe it... Continuing forward, maybe we will find answers..." Will Ken replied slowly.

The briefly reunited four dispersed again, entering seemingly destined individual mine shafts, triggering mechanisms to reach new spaces.

This time, the extending mine shafts did not reunite.

At this moment, the tremor from deep underground emerged once more.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.