Published at 5th of December 2025 7:37 am

Chapter 1887: The Abandoned Ruins

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She curiously dipped a finger into the water and brought it to her nose for a sniff. It didn’t have any strange smell; instead, there was a faint fresh fragrance.

"Brother Luo, Sister Wan’er, there’s water here! It seems drinkable!" Su Xiaowan shouted excitedly, as if presenting a treasure.

Luo Qingchen and Lin Wan’er were currently focused on treating Bai Ling’er and merely nodded slightly to show they understood. After a prolonged period of running and fighting, they indeed needed to replenish their water supply.

While Luo Qingchen controlled Chaotic Power to refine the Elixir to recover himself, he also distractedly observed the cave’s surroundings. His gaze fell on the stone wall at the end of the cave, which shimmered faintly. The ancient and obscure runes on the wall formed a labyrinth of lines that exuded an indescribable rhythm. The style of these runes closely resembled those he had seen at the edge of the Star Dome Illusion Realm platform, and fragments he had analyzed from the altar of the Nine Netherworld Hall. But they seemed even older and more incomplete.

At the center of the runes, the circular Light Gate rippled like water waves, emitting gentle spatial fluctuations. These fluctuations were weak, even somewhat unstable, but the energy attribute contained within was of the same origin as the Star Force from the Star Dome Illusion Realm, yet carried a sense of desolation and fragmentation.

"A one-way portal..." Luo Qingchen murmured in his mind. This should be the only way to leave this eerie mushroom forest. However, what lay on the other side of the door was unknown. After experiencing the nearly fatal transport turbulence of the Star Dome Illusion Realm, he was full of caution towards such unstable spatial passages.

Time slowly passed. The medicinal power of a Moonlight Orchid was gradually absorbed by Bai Ling’er, and the glow of the leaf on her forehead stabilized, though still dim, at least without further deterioration. There even seemed to be a faint, almost imperceptible blush returning to her pale face. Lin Wan’er continued to infuse vitality, with her forehead beaded with sweat as her face turned pale again.

Luo Qingchen’s own injuries had also somewhat recovered under the slow repair of Elixirs and Chaotic Power. At least, his movements were no longer as difficult as before, and the exhausted Chaos Origin in his body welcomed a trickle, like a dry riverbed finally receiving a small flow, insignificant yet a sign of recovery.

He stood up and walked to the rune stone wall, studying it carefully. He probed the ancient runes with his Divine Sense, attempting to decipher the information within. However, these runes were more complex and incomplete than those of the Star Dome Illusion Realm. With his current formation and rune mastery, combined with his spiritual power not yet fully recovered, he could only barely discern the spatial transmission properties, and a vague sense related to "stars," "extinguishment," and "abandonment."

"It seems that this is likely the entrance to an abandoned ancient ruin of the same origin as the Star Dome Illusion Realm." Luo Qingchen concluded in his mind. The Star Dome Illusion Realm itself was full of eeriness, and this abandoned ruin might be even more dangerous.

"Brother Luo, how is it?" Lin Wan’er stopped infusing Spiritual Power and walked over, looking at the Light Gate with inquisitive eyes.

Luo Qingchen turned around and looked at Lin Wan’er and the approaching Su Xiaowan, as well as Bai Ling’er on the stone platform, whose condition had somewhat stabilized.

"This should be a portal leading to an abandoned place related to the Star Dome Illusion Realm," Luo Qingchen said. "The swarm outside is temporarily blocked by the vines, but we can’t stay here forever. The energy of these vines seems to be slowly weakening, and our food and water supply is limited."

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaowan’s face fell again: "An abandoned place? Isn’t it more dangerous? We just escaped from a nest of bugs, and now we’re heading to who knows where?" She spoke with lingering fear, glancing at the wriggling purple vines at the cave entrance.

"Without entering the tiger’s den, how can you catch the tiger’s cub?" Luo Qingchen’s gaze swept over the Light Gate. "Staying here is waiting for death. Passing through this door, there might be peril everywhere, but there might also be a glimmer of hope, and perhaps a way to completely heal Ling’er." Pausing, he looked at Lin Wan’er, "Wan’er, what do you think?"

Lin Wan’er gazed into Luo Qingchen’s determined eyes, then glanced down at Bai Ling’er, whose breath was faint, in her arms, and nodded lightly: "I’ll listen to Brother Luo. Whatever lies ahead, we’ll face it together."

Su Xiaowan looked at one, then the other, and finally stomped her foot: "Alright, fine! Let’s go then! Anyways, with Brother Luo, we’re either being hunted or on the run, I’m used to it now! But let it be known, if we encounter something worse than those bugs, I’ll... I’ll run first!"

Luo Qingchen’s lips curled into a rare faint smile. Though this girl talked as if she feared death, she never fell behind. "Don’t worry, I’ll protect you all."

After making the decision, the three of them no longer hesitated. Luo Qingchen carefully packed the remaining Moonlight Orchids, and also gathered some of the clear water and moss that Su Xiaowan had found for future use. Lin Wan’er checked Bai Ling’er’s condition again to ensure she was stable, then wrapped her in soft cloth and held her gently in her arms.

Luo Qingchen approached the rippling Light Gate, took a deep breath, and gathered the little Chaotic Power he had recovered to protect himself. He glanced back at Lin Wan’er and Su Xiaowan, signaling with his eyes for them to follow.

"Let’s go!"

He stepped forward first, entering the shimmering light. His figure vanished instantly like a pebble thrown into water.

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