INHA Chapter 8

Tian Ze listened from the side, his face showing no trace of shock. In fact, when he joined the Bureau, after his spiritual energy had increased, he, along with others who had similarly high spiritual energy, entered the Great Sealing Town in batches.

Unfortunately, none of them succeeded in stepping into the second sealing array of the Great Town.

However, at that time, he was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of one corner of the grandeur of Zhulong. The indescribable shock and terror left his mind blank, and his body stood there stiffly.

It wasn’t until his eyes started to sting that he finally regained his senses and quickly looked away.

If he had looked for even a second longer, his eyes might have gone completely blind.

Tian Ze recalled what the chief had said before they entered. Calming Zhulong was crucial to saving the world. He gritted his teeth, mustered up his courage, and took another step forward.

Each step took almost all of his courage, more than he had ever felt even when facing resentful spirits for the first time.

Zhulong was too immense, so immense that its entirety was almost invisible. Tian Ze could only hear Zhulong’s thunderous breathing echoing through the valley.

About a hundred meters away, he reached the second sealing array. After taking a deep breath, he slowly approached the gate of the array.

A gigantic roar suddenly erupted, more terrifying than the thunderous sound from before. Tian Ze’s mind went blank again. His ears started to bleed and he fell to the ground, losing all his courage to move forward, even wetting himself in fear.

Fortunately, he had taken the healing pill given to him by the chief before coming. With trembling hands, he swallowed it and felt significantly better.

The chief, who was standing in front of the first gate, quickly rushed over, helped him up, and retreated from the Great Sealing Town.

He had failed.

This memory was permanently etched in his heart, never spoken of to anyone. However, it must be said that after seeing Zhulong and enduring the sound of Zhulong’s rage, resentful spirits didn’t seem so frightening anymore.

He still remembered that when he retreated, the chief had said, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself; even I couldn’t pass the third sealing array.”

Not only he, but everyone with high spiritual energy had failed.

Although Xu Dongyou was the highest spiritually gifted newcomer in the branch’s history, it would likely be very difficult for him to enter the second sealing gate.

However, this experience could at least help Xu Dongyou build his courage and mental fortitude, making it less likely for him to be easily influenced by resentful spirits in future missions.

This time, the chief handed Xu Dongyou the same healing pill, “Go as far as you can but don’t push yourself too hard. If you find you can’t stand up, take this pill immediately, and I’ll come in to get you.”

Xu Dongyou listened, his heart pounding, “Will there be danger inside?”

The chief nodded, his voice calm and steady, “This ancient Zhulong, to ensure the continuation of our human race, fought a great battle with another ancient being. The other perished, while this Zhulong was wounded and driven mad. In its last moment of sanity, it sealed itself within the Great Town.”

Xu Dongyou felt a deep respect, growing more fascinated and eager to meet this legendary and mysterious entity.

“And then?”

The chief’s tone became serious as he spoke to Xu Dongyou, “I am not privy to more information, but you must understand that this being’s power is immense. If this ancient being continues to descend into madness and attacks the sealing array, it will break within two years. At that time, no one will be able to withstand the rampage of a true ancient being.”

Xu Dongyou felt the weight of the pressure even more. If he couldn’t calm it, the world would face devastation…

“We have already failed many times, so your attempt doesn’t add any extra burden. Don’t stress too much, understand?” Elder Chen suddenly spoke, comforting him, “While you are tasked with calming the ancient being, just getting through the fourth gate will suffice. That way, we can use you to take items inside, which might help to soothe the ancient being and prevent further madness.”

Xu Dongyou nodded at these words, “I will do my best.”

He just needed to do his best.

Tian Ze silently moved his lips, seemingly saying “Good luck.”

Xu Dongyou nodded, unable to muster even a smile, feeling a heavy pressure weighing him down.

The person next to Elder Chen looked at Xu Dongyou coldly. Although he said nothing, his eyes were filled with rejection and displeasure towards Xu Dongyou.

Xu Dongyou wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but that person’s eyes seemed to slightly dilate and then abruptly contract in the darkness.

Xu Dongyou hesitated, then brushed off his doubts, focusing on the more important matter of the Great Sealing Town.

Holding tightly to the healing pill given by the chief, Xu Dongyou took a deep breath and, with a heart full of reverence and nervousness, stepped into the first gate of the sealing array.

It seemed like a layer of something rippled like water in front of his eyes, and Xu Dongyou’s vision suddenly broadened.

It appeared to be the interior of a massive cavern, almost endless. The stone walls were covered with red patterns that occasionally flashed with light.

Xu Dongyou wanted to look back, but his gaze was drawn to a massive creature in the distance, leaving his mind almost blank with shock.

The creature’s enormous breaths echoed through the cavern, sounding like thunder.

The sheer size of the creature, almost larger than a mountain, was overwhelmingly shocking.

Summoning courage from somewhere within, Xu Dongyou slowly raised his head and saw part of the creature’s coiling body, covered in golden-red scales. Higher up, he could see nothing, only dragon scales the size of a house glimmering with a faint light under the array’s glow.

There was also another large, blue chain wrapped around it, even piercing through its flesh, with the chain’s end seemingly hidden in the farthest part of the mountain.

Xu Dongyou continued to look up, trying to get a clear view of Zhulong’s appearance. However, he glimpsed a red, eye-like structure within its massive body.

A feeling of suppression washed over Xu Dongyou, as if every part of his body was sounding an alarm to leave.

Soon, his eyes began to sting, forcing him to look away.

It was an overwhelming pressure that came from an irresistibly powerful creature.

No wonder this legendary ancient being inspired such awe and fear without doing anything.

But Xu Dongyou kept the chief’s words in mind: this admirable ancient being had sealed itself here for the continuation of human civilization.

He had to find a way to move further ahead; this was about saving the world and also saving a life worthy of respect.

Not only Xu Dongyou, but even the chief and Elder Chen standing at the entrance of the Great Sealing Town, were enduring the pressure from Zhulong.

Even though they clearly knew that the ancient creature Zhulong, even in its madness, couldn’t breach the final barrier.

No intelligent being could remain calm when facing such an ancient, almost god-like creature.

Among them, the demon race, most sensitive to pressure, found it particularly difficult to resist the unconscious pressure emanating from the ancient Zhulong.

Even though the array absorbed 99.9% of this pressure, the remaining 0.1% was enough to make it difficult for the oldest of the demon race to maintain their human form.

Elder Chen’s face was involuntarily covered with what looked like scales, taking several seconds to suppress them.

The person who had previously shown disdain for Xu Dongyou was suffering even more, kneeling down as two pointed long ears appeared on his head, trembling with discomfort.

Though the others were not feeling great, their human luck was strong enough for them to barely endure.

The chief and others quickly helped Elder Chen and the demon with the ears, preventing them from fully revealing their true forms on the ground.

Gritting his teeth, Xu Dongyou continued to move forward, finally managing to step through the second gate of the formation.

Inside the second gate, the thunderous breathing seemed even stronger, and the pervasive pressure in the space made Xu Dongyou’s scalp tingle, almost rendering him unable to move.

Suddenly, the sound of scales scraping together echoed, almost making Xu Dongyou’s mind explode.

Realizing something, Xu Dongyou instinctively looked up.

A pair of enormous, blood-red eyes stared at him, filled with madness and unfathomable darkness.

Xu Dongyou suddenly remembered something Elder Chen had said.

He had said that this ancient creature had descended into madness—!!

Every pore in Xu Dongyou’s body seemed to tremble involuntarily and a chill ran down his back. He instinctively held his breath, standing there, not daring to move.

Tian Ze covertly observed those furry ears, resisting the pressure emanating from Zhulong while pondering what this creature’s true form could be.

A fox?

Or a wolf-dog?

But as he watched, Tian Ze’s attention quickly shifted back to the entrance of the sealing array. Through the rippling air, he could see what was happening at the second gate, and he broke out in a cold sweat for Xu Dongyou.

Elder Chen and the others were also staring at the scene, not blinking.

The stark contrast between Xu Dongyou and the enormous creature, almost as tall as a mountain, was striking.

Xu Dongyou tentatively took a step forward.

Zhulong remained motionless, its blood-red eyes still fixed on Xu Dongyou, full of chaos and madness.

Xu Dongyou thought for a moment and then took another step.

The ancient Zhulong seemed to move its eyeballs slightly, making Xu Dongyou’s heart race wildly, stopping him in his tracks.

But this couldn’t go on.

Xu Dongyou hesitated for a few seconds before mustering the courage to raise his voice and say to Zhulong, “H-hello.”

Zhulong continued to breathe slowly, its eyes still filled with madness and chaos, with little sign of reason.

But at least it didn’t show any intention to attack him.

Xu Dongyou decided to take a gamble and continued to move forward, step by step until he finally reached the third gate. He took a deep breath and crossed through it.

At the entrance of the Great Sealing Town, Elder Chen and the others held their breath. This was the first time in nearly two years that anyone had reached the third sealing gate.

But it would end here.

No one could enter the fourth gate, as it meant enduring an even more terrifying pressure. This was why only newcomers who had not yet had much contact with resentful spirits but possessed high spiritual energy were chosen for this task.

After countless thousands of trials, this was the result they had arrived at.

Xu Dongyou continued walking forward, glancing up at Zhulong every few steps. The longer he looked, the more his eyes stung, just like before.

But the deeper he went, the more uncomfortable Xu Dongyou felt, as if something within him was instinctively trying to awaken.

Suddenly.

Despite its madness and chaos, Zhulong, which had been quiet all along, suddenly moved. Its scales rubbed together, making a crackling sound that reverberated through the valley, causing panic and fear.

The ancient Zhulong began to stir, slowly lifting its head, and revealing its massive horns. Its tail also extended out and began to wildly strike the array.

Barrier after barrier of the array opened up, resisting the furious assaults from Zhulong. The earth and mountains seemed to tremble involuntarily.

Xu Dongyou dared not stay any longer. Just then, he heard the chief’s voice from afar, “Run!”

The chief wasn’t afraid of Zhulong attacking Xu Dongyou but rather didn’t want to provoke Zhulong further, risking further damage to the formation.

Without hesitation, Xu Dongyou turned and ran. At that moment, the innermost gate of the array suddenly emitted a cracking sound.

Desperate to rush in, Tian Ze hesitated, fearing it might enrage the ancient Zhulong. He could only grasp the chief and ask urgently, “Chief, what should we do?”

“Don’t panic. Although the formation can’t hold Zhulong much longer, we have enough time for Li Dong to escape. Right now, we must find a way to calm Zhulong’s madness. Otherwise, it won’t just be Li Dong who dies; we’ll all perish.”

Elder Chen stared incredulously at the enormous dragon tail, murmuring, “Lord Jiu Yin has grown stronger again.”

The chief quickly said to Elder Chen, “The formation can’t hold Zhulong’s attacks much longer. Elder Chen, do you have any more trump cards left?”

In at most a month, Zhulong will break free from the chains and break through the last four gates from inside.

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