Chapter 230: Dust of History

"That's not up to you." Xiao Chengzhou shrugged and snapped his fingers.

"Clang—"

Another sound of a mechanism activating.

The ground began to tremble slightly, and the display cabinets on the walls seemed to come alive, slowly moving.

The space, which was originally quite spacious, instantly turned into a complex maze.

"This is... a maze?" Xuanyuan Qing's voice carried a hint of surprise.

"That's right, welcome to my 'maze'." Xiao Chengzhou's voice echoed in the maze. "Here, you will meet some 'old friends'."

As soon as he finished speaking, various phantoms of Void creatures suddenly appeared on the walls.

Those giant tentacles, sharp claws, and those scarlet eyes...

"Damn, this old guy is playing for real!" Lin Yu couldn't help but curse.

"Be careful, these phantoms aren't just for show." Qin Tianluo reminded, the surgical scalpel in his hand gleaming coldly under the lights.

"Xiao Qing, can your silver bell find the exit?" Lin Yu asked Xuanyuan Qing.

Xuanyuan Qing nodded, closed her eyes, and carefully felt the vibration of the silver bell.

"Follow me." She opened her eyes and pointed in a direction.

The three carefully navigated through the maze, the phantoms on the walls constantly changing forms and emitting low roars.

Suddenly, a giant tentacle shot out from the wall, attacking Lin Yu.

Lin Yu sidestepped, narrowly dodging the attack.

But the tentacle seemed to have eyes, continuing to chase him, as flexible as a venomous snake.

Lin Yu brandished his surgical scalpel, wanting to sever the tentacle, but the blade hit the tentacle with a "clang," as if hitting a steel plate.

"This thing isn't an ordinary phantom!" Lin Yu shouted.

"They have fused with Void energy." Qin Tianluo added. "Be careful, don't let them touch you!"

The silver bell in Xuanyuan Qing's hand vibrated more and more violently.

"Something is attracting the silver bell." She said. "It's right ahead!"

The three quickened their pace, rounded a corner, and the view suddenly opened up.

In the center of the maze was a massive circular space.

In the center of the space hung a massive mural.

The mural depicted a blurred human figure fighting against a massive black vortex.

In the center of the vortex was a cold eye.

The Zero-Returner!

And that human figure...

Lin Yu rubbed his eyes hard; he hadn't seen wrong—the figure in the mural was himself!

"What... what is going on?" Lin Yu felt his brain wasn't enough.

"A prophecy?" Xuanyuan Qing's voice trembled.

"No, this is the past." Qin Tianluo said slowly, his voice low. "This is a battle we once experienced."

"The past? Are you kidding me!" Lin Yu felt his worldview had been impacted.

"Because your memories were sealed." Xiao Chengzhou's voice sounded again.

"And you are walking step by step toward the 'truth'."

"Xiao Chengzhou, come out!" Lin Yu roared, looking in the direction the voice came from.

Xiao Chengzhou stood at the entrance of the maze, wearing that disgusting smile.

"You think you can escape this 'game'?" he said slowly, his tone full of mockery. "Don't dream."

"This maze connects to the Void." Xiao Chengzhou's voice echoed in the maze, each word like a heavy hammer striking Lin Yu's heart.

"The more you struggle, the deeper you sink; your memories will become 'nourishment' for the Zero-Returner."

"Bullshit!" Lin Yu roared, feeling the power within him stirring again.

"It's useless." Xiao Chengzhou shook his head, seemingly indifferent to Lin Yu's anger. "In this maze, your power will be suppressed."

"And I will be your 'terminator'."

Before the words were out, more men in black emerged from every corner of the maze.

They held weapons, closing in on the three step by step.

"Xiao Qing, use the silver bell to clear the way, quick!" Lin Yu shouted low, meeting the men in black.

"What are you still standing there for?" Xiao Chengzhou's voice sounded again, this time carrying a hint of impatience.

"I say, is this broken wall made of paper? It changes face at a touch?" Lin Yu punched it, and the originally flat wall instantly twisted, revealing a grinning ghost face, the sound loud enough to lift the roof.

He felt his brain ache, the strength in his body pressed down by something, unable to be exerted at all.

"Uncle Lin, don't fight it!" Xuanyuan Qing pulled him, the silver bell in her hand ringing incessantly, like a death knell. "Follow the bell; it can lead us out!"

Qin Tianluo also came over, his face livid: "This place isn't right, we have to slip away quickly."

The three couldn't care about anything else, pulling each other, following the direction the bell pointed, stumbling as they ran forward.

The walls of this maze seemed to have legs, bulging and receding, occasionally sprouting messy things, clawing and dancing, nearly pouncing to bite them.

They didn't know how long they had run when the sound of the silver bell suddenly became urgent, like it was having a seizure.

"Almost there!" Xuanyuan Qing shouted, her voice cracking.

The three charged forward for their lives, rounded a bend, and suddenly it became bright.

The maze was gone; they were standing in a small alley, and at the exit, they could see the street scene outside.

"Finally..." Lin Yu just wanted to catch his breath when his back felt like it had been electrocuted, tingling.

He turned his head abruptly; at the maze entrance, Xiao Chengzhou was standing there, smiling so creepily.

"Want to run? Keep dreaming." Xiao Chengzhou's voice drifted over, like a ghost.

"This old thing is really a reincarnated fly, can't shake him off!" Qin Tianluo spat.

"No nonsense, get out first!" Lin Yu grabbed Xuanyuan Qing and Qin Tianluo, running for the alley entrance.

Just as they were about to rush out, suddenly "bang," as if hitting a wall, the three were bounced back.

"This... what the hell is this?" Xuanyuan Qing rubbed her head, looking confused.

"A barrier, a trap set by this old thing." Qin Tianluo's face looked even worse.

"A trap?" Lin Yu sneered. "Does he think I'm a vegetarian?"

He loosened his wrists, took a deep breath, and the strength in his body began to surge up.

"Open for me!" Lin Yu roared and punched.

"Clang—"

It really worked; a crack appeared on the invisible wall.

"There's a way!" Lin Yu felt happy, just wanting to throw another punch.

"Don't waste your effort." Xiao Chengzhou's voice drifted over again. "This thing connects to the Void; your little bit of strength isn't enough to look at." ===== CHAPTER 231 =====