Chapter 348: Mysterious Guidance

Ao Li and Lín Jìn were at the end of the passage, trying to solve the stone gate puzzle while being disturbed by a strange song, and fell into a dilemma. The song wound around their minds like a thread, unsettling their spirits. Lín Jìn gritted his teeth against the song's interference and carefully examined the fallen monster again.

He discovered that the black blood oozing from the monster's neck wound etched strange patterns into the ground upon contact. Those patterns seemed to resemble the symbols on the stone gate. Lín Jìn had a flash of insight: could the monster's weakness be linked to these patterns?

He quickly relayed the finding to Ao Li, and the two began to follow that line of thought to locate clues to the monster's weakness. Ao Li recalled the battle scene and said, "Lín Jìn, after I pierced the monster's neck, it reacted violently, suggesting the neck is its vital point. Yet its scales are too hard; ordinary attacks struggle to inflict fatal damage. Perhaps these patterns can show us how to breach its defense."

The two moved closer again to study the ground patterns, and after some research they found that the direction indicated by the patterns corresponded to a particular scale on the monster's abdomen. That scale was slightly lighter in color than the others and bore subtle textural differences.

At that moment, the eerie song grew louder, as if trying to stop them from probing further. Lín Jìn shouted, "Ao Li, there's no time; let's gamble and strike that scale!"

Ao Li nodded, and the two swiftly gathered their power to launch an attack at the special abdominal scale. Ao Li's longsword bore Inheritance Power, while Lín Jìn unleashed a beam that condensed his entire strength. The two powerful strikes hit the scale simultaneously; with a "Crack" sound, the scale split and then shattered completely. The monster's body convulsed a few times before falling still.

After the monster was dealt with, the eerie song abruptly stopped. Yet before they could catch their breath, the stone gate suddenly glowed, and waves of energy radiated from it. As they puzzled over this, the symbols on the gate began to flicker and shift, and the light coalesced into a vague humanoid shape.

The flickering humanoid light emitted an ethereal voice: "Outsiders, I admire your courage and wisdom. If you wish to uncover the secret beyond the stone gate, you must earnestly perceive the path of this light."

After speaking, the light began to move swiftly across the stone gate, forming intricate patterns and trails. Ao Li and Lín Jìn stared intently, trying to memorize every detail. The light's trails sometimes resembled winding rivers, other times glittering constellations, dazzling the eyes.

When the light vanished, Ao Li and Lín Jìn fell into contemplation. Ao Li spoke first: "Lín Jìn, I think these light trails are connected to the symbols we saw earlier in the passage, as if guiding us to touch the gate's symbols in a specific order."

Lín Jìn nodded in agreement: "Exactly, I feel the same. But the sequence is extremely complex; we must be cautious, because a single mistake could trigger the gate's defense mechanisms."

The two began to follow the remembered light trails, cautiously touching the symbols on the stone gate. Each time they touched a symbol, the gate emitted a slight tremor and the light flickered. When they reached the final symbol, the gate opened slowly, and a stale yet mysterious aura washed over them.

Beyond the stone gate lay a circular chamber, its surrounding walls inlaid with glowing crystals that illuminated the space. In the center stood a stone platform bearing an ancient tome that emitted a faint glow.

Ao Li and Lín Jìn approached the platform, about to lift the tome, when a faint footstep sounded behind them. They spun around to see a figure in a white robe walking slowly toward them. The person's features were blurred, surrounded by a soft radiance that concealed their true appearance.

"You have finally arrived. This ancient tome contains crucial clues about the First-generation Gene Sample and that conspiracy. Yet the road ahead is fraught with danger; are you sure you wish to proceed?" the mysterious figure said.

Ao Li and Lín Jìn exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with resolve. Ao Li said, "We are certain; no matter how many hardships lie ahead, we will uncover the truth and clear the injustice for Ao Zhan."

The mysterious figure nodded slightly and said, "If that's so, take the tome and continue your journey. Remember, time is tight; the Dark Abyss Society's plot is accelerating."

Ao Li and Lín Jìn lifted the tome, and just as they were about to ask the mysterious figure for more information, the figure turned into a beam of light and vanished. They realized little time remained. Flipping through the tome, they found fragments detailing the origin of the First-generation Gene Sample and the Dark Abyss Society's conspiracy, though much of it was vague and required further interpretation.

They left the circular chamber with the tome, continuing their quest for truth. Yet the Dark Abyss Society would not let them go easily. Mo Sha learned they had obtained the mysterious tome and was gathering more forces, preparing to strike at the moment they deciphered it. Will Ao Li and Lín Jìn manage to decode the tome and obtain the crucial clues amid the Society's pursuit and blockade? How will they face the looming greater crisis? Everything is shrouded in uncertainty and suspense…