Chapter 273: Observing in Silence

"It has come." The gray‑bearded elder finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, as if echoing from an ancient tomb.

His gaze remained fixed on the dark vortex, as if he could see through its endless darkness.

The group held their breath and focused, waiting for the elder's next instruction.

The atmosphere was heavy, like a taut string ready to snap at any moment.

The aftershock of the explosion had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with a scorching scent.

Kelinda walked to the wounded white‑clothed Elf, took out her healing medicine, and gently said, "You were too brave just now; this medicine will restore some of your strength." The Elf smiled gratefully, took the potion, and gently sipped it.

The potion emitted a faint fragrance, entered her body, bringing a touch of warmth and dispelling part of the dark force that was eroding her.

The black specks on her pristine robe seemed to fade a little.

Zhang Cheng walked to the elder's side and whispered, "What do you mean by 'It has come'?"

The elder gave no answer, only extending his gaunt finger toward the center of the dark vortex. "Do you feel it?"

Zhang Cheng closed his eyes and gathered his mind.

A strong sense of pressure slammed into him, as if an invisible giant hand were strangling his throat.

He felt his heartbeat quicken, his breathing rapid, and an inexplicable fear rise within him.

"What is this?" Zhang Cheng opened his eyes, his face a shade paler.

"Fear," the elder said slowly, "coming from the deepest part of the darkness."

Xingji Xiake gripped his weapon tightly, his gaze resolute. "Whatever it is, we will face it!"

The Blue Star Guardian stood nearby, silently nodding, radiating steadfast protective power as if a steel wall shielding the companions behind him.

Guangming Shizhe then cast gentle light over the group, dispelling their fear and bringing hope.

Xingling hovered in midair, emitting a mysterious glow, silently observing everything.

Xingyun Zhizhe began analyzing the maze and the origin of the Dark Lord, saying, "I have seen similar dark forces in ancient texts; this may be a lingering evil from the primordial wars, and the maze might be part of its seal." The others listened intently, as if his words transported them to that ancient battlefield.

Suddenly, the dark vortex began to spin violently, and a massive black claw shot out from it…

Xingyun Zhizhe pushed up his glasses on his nose, his expression solemn.

"In ancient times, the forces of Light and Darkness waged a cataclysmic war across this star region. The Dark forces were led by a powerful being called the 'Dark Lord,' who could devour all light. The Light forces, to seal the Dark Lord, exhausted all their power and ultimately created this maze, imprisoning him here for eternity."

"So you're saying the maze we're in is the seal for the Dark Lord?" Zhang Cheng furrowed his brow, a wave of unease rising within him.

"Exactly," Xingyun Zhizhe nodded, "the maze itself contains potent sealing power, and its mechanisms and traps were set to prevent the Dark Lord from escaping."

Xingji Xiake sheathed his weapon, the blade snapping back with a crisp ring.

"Given that, we must be even more vigilant. Though the Dark Lord's power is sealed, his minions still exist, and we must stay on guard at all times." The technique he had just practiced was not ordinary swordsmanship but a counter method specifically for dark creatures, the fierce sword aura leaving streaks of afterimage in the air, displaying astonishing power.

Guangming Shizhe, seeing this, praised, "Xingji Xiake's strength has improved considerably; with him, we are even more confident."

Kelinda walked to Zhang Cheng's side and whispered, "Zhang Cheng, do you feel that this maze seems to be guiding us toward somewhere?"

Zhang Cheng pondered briefly, then nodded.

"I feel it too; an invisible force seems to be pulling us. Perhaps this is the maze's guidance, urging us to find a way to completely seal the Dark Lord."

At that moment, the Blue Star Guardian stepped before Xingling and said firmly, "We can no longer wait passively; we must strike proactively, locate the Dark Lord's lair, and eradicate him completely!"

Xingling shook his head, his indifferent voice carrying a hint of warning, "It is not yet time; the Dark Lord's power far exceeds our imagination, and rash action will only endanger us. We should first solidify our defense and wait for the opportunity…"

The Blue Star Guardian raised his voice an octave, his tone edged with impatience, "Are we to hide here forever, waiting for the Dark Lord to regain his strength? Rather than sit and die, we should strike out, find his lair, and annihilate him!"

Xingling remained calm, his indifferent voice bearing undeniable authority, "You are too impulsive. The Dark Lord's power is far beyond what we can imagine; rash action will only lead us to needless death. We must first fortify our defense, understand the maze's structure, find a way to counter the Dark Lord, and then make plans."

"Fortify defense? Understand the structure?" the Blue Star Guardian scoffed. "That's easy talk! How long have we been trapped here? We haven't even found the maze's entrance—how can we talk of solid defense? We're like turtles in a jar, only waiting to be slaughtered!" He paced irritably, his massive body thudding on the ground, like a beast caged.

Xingling ignored his emotion and said calmly, "The maze's mysteries cannot be unraveled in a single day; we need patience and wisdom. Recklessness will only cost us dearly."

The two argued until their faces flushed, and the surrounding atmosphere grew tense.

Xingji Xiake walked to the Blue Star Guardian's side, patted his shoulder, and whispered, "Old Lan, Xingling is right; we must not act rashly. Calm down and consider other options." He then turned to Xingling and said, "Xingling, I know you are resourceful; I trust you will lead us out of this predicament!" His tone was flattering.

Guangming Shizhe suddenly recalled the companions she had lost in the maze, a flash of sorrow crossing her eyes as she silently lowered her head.

Zhang Cheng noticed her mood, gently patted her shoulder, and whispered, "Don't worry, we'll find them." Guangming Shizhe looked at him gratefully, said nothing, and let out a soft sigh.

"Zhang Cheng, do you have any good plan?" Xingji Xiake asked, his tone tinged with hope yet laced with distrust, as if believing Zhang Cheng couldn't think of a good idea.

Zhang Cheng gave no reply; memories of his past expeditions flashed through his mind, the calm responses to danger offering him some insight.

He began scanning the surroundings for clues—the patterns on the walls, the uneven floor, the faint scent in the air—nothing escaped his eyes.

The silent gray‑bearded elder finally moved, slowly approaching one wall of the maze, his gaunt finger lightly touching the surface.

Strange symbols suddenly appeared on the wall, flickering with a dim glow.

The group did not understand the symbols' meaning, and a new round of suspense enveloped everyone.

The gray‑bearded elder turned, his clouded eyes scanning the group, and rasped, "The answer…"

Zhang Cheng's thoughts returned to three years ago, when he was trapped in an ancient underground tomb riddled with traps and peril.

Back then, he too had calmly observed his surroundings and ultimately found a way out.

Now, facing this bizarre maze, he believed that careful observation would surely reveal a breakthrough.

The wall patterns were not uniform; some carvings were deeper, others smoother, and the floor's undulations were not random, hinting at an underlying order.

A faint metallic scent lingered in the air, subtle yet persistent.

The elder's finger lingered on a particular symbol, which blazed brightly, causing the other symbols to light up like stars in the night sky.

These symbols resembled ancient script and mysterious totems, leaving everyone bewildered.

"The answer…" the gray‑bearded elder spoke again, his voice rasping like sandpaper, "lies within these symbols." He paused, his clouded eyes sweeping the group, finally resting on Zhang Cheng. "Young man, you are calm and keen. What do you see?"

Zhang Cheng walked to the wall's edge, carefully studying the glowing symbols.

He discovered that the symbols were not random but arranged in a specific order.

He touched one of the symbols lightly; its glow intensified, and several other symbols flickered in response, as if echoing each other.

"This is a star map," Xingyun Zhizhe suddenly said, a hint of surprise in his voice. "These symbols represent different star systems, and the lines between them denote the connections among those systems."

"Star map?" Xingji Xiake asked with a puzzled expression, "What does this have to do with us?"

Xingyun Zhizhe gave no answer; he walked to the wall and studied the star map carefully.

After a while, he lifted his head, excitement flashing in his eyes, "I know! I know how to get out of this maze!"

The crowd watched the gray-bearded elder intently decipher the symbols on the wall, eager to learn what Xingyun Zhizhe had discovered, when suddenly a cold wind swept in and a dark silhouette flashed by…