Published at 25th of December 2025 8:47 am

Chapter 1949: Ancient Stone Bridge?

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Lin Wan’er was also overjoyed, carefully putting Bai Ling’er down.

Bai Ling’er blinked confusedly, her gaze swept over Luo Qingchen, Lin Wan’er, and Su Xiaowan. A trace of puzzlement appeared on her small face, then she saw the bronze disc emitting faint starlight in Luo Qingchen’s hand, and the distant, dilapidated stone bridge. Her eyes suddenly became clear.

She stretched out her tender little hand, pointing to the stone bridge, and in a childish yet strangely rhythmic voice, she clearly said, "Home..."

Bai Ling’er’s crisp "Home..." was like a stone cast into the calm surface of a lake, stirring ripples in the hearts of Luo Qingchen, Lin Wan’er, and Su Xiaowan. The three were filled with surprise and joy, their eyes all focused on the small girl who had just opened her eyes.

"Ling’er! You’re really awake? That’s great!" Su Xiaowan was the first to cry out, so excited that her eyes turned red, wanting to rush over and hug her but afraid of startling her.

Lin Wan’er was also filled with excitement, gently supporting Bai Ling’er and softly asked, "Ling’er, how do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Bai Ling’er blinked her clear, dust-free eyes, her little head shook slightly, still seeming a bit confused. Her gaze swept across the three faces one by one, finally landing on the Star Map bronze disc in Luo Qingchen’s hand and the ancient, broken stone bridge spanning the abyss in the distance. The innocence that used to fill her small face was replaced with a tranquility and understanding beyond her years.

"Home." She spoke again, her voice still tender but with an undeniable certainty, her little hand steadfastly pointing in the direction of the stone bridge.

Luo Qingchen took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart. Bai Ling’er’s awakening was undoubtedly the greatest comfort in this arduous journey. More importantly, it seemed she had an instinctive connection with the Star Map and the path home. He looked at the stone bridge, most of which was constructed from large green-black stone slabs. However, it was broken in many places, with some sections held together only by a few thick iron chains, swaying slightly in the gale blowing up from the chasm, as if about to collapse at any moment. Below the bridge was an abyss whose bottom couldn’t be seen, with the faint roar of a rushing underground river echoing from it, sending chills down one’s spine.

"It seems that’s our only way out," Luo Qingchen said in a deep voice, "but the bridge... it won’t be easy to cross."

"Whether it’s easy or not, we still have to try!" Su Xiaowan waved her small fist, Bai Ling’er’s awakening filled her with enthusiasm, "Ling’er said to go home, so it must be right!"

"Let’s find a way down to the bridgehead first," Lin Wan’er said, examining the terrain along the edge of the chasm for a path down.

The edge of this chasm was extremely steep, with almost no foothold for climbing. Luo Qingchen tried using the Black Dragon Sword to carve into the rock wall, but the rocks were incredibly hard, making slow progress.

Just as everyone was at a loss, the newly awakened Bai Ling’er suddenly took her small steps to the edge of the chasm. She reached out her fair little hand and gently pressed it against a protruding rock. A faint glow emanated from the leaf mark of the Nine Revolutions Soul Revival Grass on her palm, spreading out in a soft golden aura.

"Ling’er, it’s dangerous!" Lin Wan’er and Su Xiaowan exclaimed simultaneously, trying to grab her.

However, a strange scene unfolded. As the golden aura spread, the rock where Bai Ling’er had pressed her hand, and a large surrounding area of the rock wall, seemed to be combed by an invisible force. The previously steep and smooth rock face gradually revealed naturally forming, stepped protrusions that extended all the way down, serving as footholds leading directly to the ancient, broken stone bridge’s head!

"This... this is..." Su Xiaowan’s little mouth was gaping in surprise, unable to articulate.

Luo Qingchen and Lin Wan’er also looked horrified. They could feel it wasn’t mere brute force carving but a masterful manipulation of elemental earth and stone, as if the land itself was willingly paving a path for her.

"It seems, after Ling’er woke up, it’s not just her mind that’s clear." Luo Qingchen’s eyes flashed with insight, his curiosity about Bai Ling’er’s true identity growing. This was an ability no ordinary human child could possess.

Bai Ling’er, having done all this, seemed a shade paler, but her eyes remained bright. She looked back at the three of them, then pointed again to the "auto-formed" stone steps, indicating for them to follow.

"Let’s go!" Luo Qingchen didn’t hesitate any longer, stepping onto the stone steps first. Lin Wan’er picked up Bai Ling’er—the little girl seemed exhausted, leaning sleepily on her shoulder—while Su Xiaowan closely followed behind.

The stone steps, though simple, were stable. The trio proceeded cautiously downward, soon reaching the head of the ancient stone bridge. Up close, the bridge appeared even more weathered and broken. Its surface was paved with massive stone slabs, many of which were fractured, revealing the bottomless chasm below. The iron chains binding the bridge were rusted, producing creaky noises as if ready to snap at any moment.

"Can this bridge still hold?" Su Xiaowan’s legs felt weak, she peeked below the bridge and was overcome with dizziness.

"The Star Map shows the way ahead, there’s no retreat," Luo Qingchen said resolutely, "we must cross."

He took a deep breath, elevating his Chaotic Power to the extreme, and remained fully vigilant. He led the way upfront, probing the path, while Lin Wan’er, carrying Bai Ling’er, stayed in the middle, with Su Xiaowan bringing up the rear, tightly grasping the Turtle Shell, ready to react to any unforeseen event.

As soon as they stepped onto the bridge, a cold, damp wind blew in their faces, mixed with a faint musty scent. The bridge swayed slightly under their steps, each footfall fraught with anxiety.

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