Chapter 19: The Mystery of the Symbol

Ji Chen bent down to pick up the piece of debris, his fingers gently stroking the mysterious symbol carved on the surface, and a strong sense of unease surged in his heart.

This symbol seemed to possess some strange power, making him feel a sense of pressure he had never felt before.

Ceng Yue stood beside him, her gaze equally heavy.

"What is this..." Ji Chen asked in a low voice, his voice carrying a hint of trembling.

He carefully studied the shape and texture of the symbol, trying to find some clues from it.

This symbol presented an ancient style, with smooth and complex lines, as if it contained some profound meaning.

The surrounding air seemed to become heavy because of this mysterious symbol, and every breath felt particularly heavy.

Ji Chen looked up at Ceng Yue, their gazes meeting, and firm light shone in each other's eyes.

"We must find out the origin of this symbol." Ceng Yue's tone was cold and resolute, her heart also filled with curiosity and vigilance.

Ji Chen nodded and put away the debris.

"Let's go find those ancient families; they might know something." The two quickly sorted out their emotions, decided to leave the ruins, and look for answers.

They first came to an ancient family called the "Yun Family."

The Yun Family held a prominent position in the Supernatural World, and there was no lack of strong individuals in the family.

As soon as Ji Chen and Ceng Yue stepped into the Yun Family's gate, they felt a thick sense of hostility.

The patriarch of the Yun Family sneered, his gaze like a knife, and the cold air pressed down directly.

"What do you want to ask?" The patriarch's voice was as cold as frost.

Ji Chen took a deep breath and took out the piece of debris carved with the mysterious symbol.

"We discovered a mysterious symbol and hope you can tell us its origin."

The patriarch's gaze fell on the debris, a flash of surprise in his eyes, but he quickly returned to indifference.

"This symbol is not simple, and we don't know its true meaning either. You'd better leave quickly and don't ask any more."

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue exchanged a glance, their doubts growing stronger.

They tried hard to remain calm, not wanting to lose to the other side in terms of momentum.

"We will find the answer." Ji Chen's voice was firm and powerful.

After leaving the Yun Family, they visited several other families one after another, but the results were all the same.

Every family's attitude was full of vigilance, and some even secretly exerted pressure on the two.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue felt very helpless, but they were also more determined to solve this mystery.

Just as they were about to leave the gate of the last family, Ceng Yue suddenly stopped and looked back at the tall mansion.

A glimmer of light shone in her eyes, as if she had seen something.

"Ji Chen, wait." Ceng Yue said in a low voice, her voice carrying a hint of tension.

Ji Chen stopped and turned to look at Ceng Yue. "What's wrong?"

Ceng Yue's gaze was fixed on a corner of the mansion, as if she had discovered some unusual signs.

"Just now, I think I saw a figure flash by."

Ji Chen frowned, his gaze following the direction Ceng Yue pointed, but he found nothing.

"Are you sure?"

Ceng Yue nodded. "Yes, someone must be watching us in secret. We must be careful."

Ji Chen clenched his fists, a firm light shining in his eyes.

"Then let's wait and see who is playing tricks behind our backs."

The two quickly left the mansion, but their hearts were already filled with new clouds of doubt.

What exactly was hidden behind this mysterious symbol? The answer seemed to be getting closer, but the road ahead was becoming more dangerous.

Time flew like a white horse passing a gap. Ji Chen and Ceng Yue bumped around like headless flies, visiting one ancient family after another, but the answers they got were all the same: they knew nothing, plus various sarcastic remarks, which was enough to make one's blood pressure soar.

A hint of frustration began to appear on Ceng Yue's cold-as-frost face, and a small "chuan" character twisted between her delicate brows. The air pressure around her also dropped, making people feel as if they were in an ice cellar.

"I say, is this broken symbol an unsolvable puzzle?" Ceng Yue's voice carried a hint of rare fatigue. She looked up at the gloomy sky, as if questioning the heavens.

The surrounding air seemed to have frozen, and even the wind stopped roaring, leaving only the sound of their heavy breathing.

Ji Chen looked at Ceng Yue's slightly disappointed profile, and his heart moved slightly.

He didn't comfort her as usual, or continue to beg those dead-as-a-doornail old antiques, but suddenly stood up straight. "Instead of bumping around here blindly, why don't we go to a more exciting place?"

Ceng Yue was slightly stunned and turned to look at Ji Chen, a hint of doubt in her cold eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Ji Chen's mouth lifted slightly, outlining a confident arc, his tone firm and powerful.

"I've decided to go to that legendary mysterious Relic! Perhaps we can find the answer to this symbol there."

Ceng Yue heard Ji Chen's decision. "That place... it's said to be very dangerous. Are you crazy?"

Ji Chen shrugged and said indifferently: "Wealth is sought in danger, right? How would we know if we don't try? Besides, with you here, what am I afraid of?" His tone was relaxed, as if he were going to a backyard garden, not some dangerous Relic.

Ceng Yue looked at Ji Chen's confident appearance, and the frustration in her heart was dissipated a little.

She was silent for a moment, but finally nodded.

"Since you've decided, let's go. Anyway... I'll accompany you."

The two didn't waste any more time, quickly packed their bags, and set off toward the legendary mysterious Relic.

Along the way, they passed through dense forests, crossed rushing rivers, and experienced countless dangers, each time making Ceng Yue feel as if she had walked through the gates of hell.

When they finally overcame all difficulties and arrived at the entrance of the Relic, Ji Chen took a deep breath, and a hint of an excited smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Finally here!" He turned to look at Ceng Yue, the light in his eyes hot and firm. "Are you ready?"

Ceng Yue didn't respond, just silently gripped the weapon in her hand, her eyes cold. She stepped into the Relic first and disappeared into the deep entrance.

The entrance of the Relic was like the bloody mouth of a giant beast, gloomy and mysterious.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue stepped into it, and an ancient and vicissitudinous aura rushed toward them. The air was filled with the smell of dust, the ground was a slippery stone road, and everything around was silent, with only the echo of dripping water reverberating in the empty Relic.

"This place... it's gloomy. It wouldn't be haunted, would it?" Ji Chen rubbed his arms and joked, trying to break the suffocating silence.

Ceng Yue ignored his chatter, her gaze scanning the surrounding environment sharply, and she gripped her weapon even tighter.

"Be careful, there must be something strange here."

Ji Chen put away his joking attitude and activated his Supernatural Ability. Instantly, the surrounding energy fluctuations were clearly presented in his perception.

"Wait!" He suddenly stopped and locked his gaze on an inconspicuous protrusion on the wall. "There's something strange here!"

He walked quickly to the wall and observed the protrusion carefully.

"This... looks like some kind of mechanism." He reached out to touch it, and a faint energy fluctuation came from his fingertips.

Ji Chen's mouth hooked into a confident arc. "Hehe, a petty trick, watch me!" He operated his Supernatural Ability and injected energy into the protrusion. With a "click," a gap appeared on the wall, and an ancient Stone Stele slowly rose from the gap.

The Stone Stele was covered with strange symbols, and a part of them were exactly the same as the symbols Ji Chen had discovered before!

"Great! It seems we found the right place!" Ji Chen shouted excitedly, a sense of accomplishment welling up, and the surrounding air seemed to brighten a bit.

Ceng Yue walked to Ji Chen's side. Feeling Ceng Yue's reliance, Ji Chen felt a warmth in his heart. He patted Ceng Yue's hand gently and said softly: "Don't worry, I will protect you."

The two smiled at each other.

However, the information on the Stone Stele was incomplete, only recording part of the meaning of the mysterious symbol.

"It seems we still need to find other Stone Steles." Ji Chen's tone carried a hint of regret, but more of it was firmness.

The two carefully retreated from the Relic.

However, the moment they stepped out of the Relic, a feeling of being watched welled up in their hearts.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue exchanged a glance, both seeing vigilance in each other's eyes.

"Someone is following us..." Ji Chen said in a low voice.

"Let's follow them and see." Ceng Yue's eyes turned cold.

The two accelerated their pace quietly and walked toward a quiet path.

Suddenly, Ji Chen stopped abruptly, pulled Ceng Yue behind him, and stared ahead with eyes like torches.

"Come out, stop being sneaky!" ===== CHAPTER 20 =====