Lin Xiao fumbled in the darkness for a moment before remembering his system's map ability. With a quick activation, the surroundings illuminated in his mind—a sprawling underground complex, full of twisting corridors and chambers. However, much of the map was blurry or incomplete, as though parts of the ruins were hidden even from the system.
Lin Xiao squinted at the map that appeared in his mind's eye. Most of the corridors were visible, but some areas remained shrouded in fog or static, making it impossible to discern their layout. He frowned and immediately opened his system menu.
"System, why is the map blurry?" he asked, his voice tense with confusion.
The system responded in its usual monotone voice:
[Some areas of the ruins are protected by an unknown force, blocking the map's full functionality.]
Lin Xiao furrowed his brow. "Unknown force? Can you elaborate?"
[The interference seems to be caused by ancient wards. These areas may contain dangerous entities or hidden secrets. It is advised to proceed with caution.]
Lin Xiao sighed. Of course, it couldn't be simple. Every time he felt like he had a handle on things, something new always cropped up.
He stared at the incomplete map, tracing the paths with his fingers. While most of the ruins were accessible, he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that the blurry sections were hiding something important.
"Great," Lin Xiao muttered. "Wards and ancient energy... Could be worse, I guess."
He knew he had no choice but to explore the ruins further, blurry map or not. Shrugging off his doubts, he focused on the paths that were clear, planning his route.
As he moved cautiously through the dim corridors, the echo of his footsteps reverberated off the stone walls, each step sending a chill up his spine. The air smelled ancient—dust and age—and he could feel the weight of history pressing down on him.
His eyes darted back to the map in his mind. If there were secrets hidden in the fog-covered areas, he'd have to be ready for anything.
As Lin Xiao cautiously navigated the ruins, he could feel the ancient air growing heavier with each step. His system's map remained blurry in several key areas, and he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something was watching him from the shadows.
Suddenly, the sound of crumbling stone echoed through the corridor. Lin Xiao froze, pressing himself against the cold wall, his heart racing. He peered ahead, trying to locate the source of the noise, but all he saw was the narrow passageway twisting deeper into the ruins.
"Is someone—or something—following me?" he muttered under his breath.
Deciding not to wait and find out, he quickened his pace, constantly glancing at the map for guidance. It didn't take long before he noticed a shift in the blurry areas—it seemed that, as he moved closer to certain sections, the fog was starting to lift. The previously obscured paths now flickered into view, albeit briefly, revealing new passages and chambers.
"Looks like the map is clearing up... Maybe if I keep going, I'll find out what's causing this interference," Lin Xiao thought, more determined now.
He reached a large chamber, its high ceiling barely visible in the dim light. Massive pillars lined the room, each carved with symbols that seemed to pulse faintly as he entered. The air felt different here—denser, like it was charged with energy. As Lin Xiao approached the center of the chamber, the ground suddenly shifted beneath him.
Without warning, a loud grinding noise filled the air, and the floor opened up, revealing a dark pit. Lin Xiao instinctively stepped back, just barely avoiding falling into the abyss. He cursed under his breath, his pulse quickening.
"Great... Traps too? What else is hiding in this place?"
Suddenly, his system chimed in:
[Warning: Host has entered a highly unstable zone. Proceed with caution.]
Lin Xiao didn't need the system to tell him that. He carefully scanned the area, noticing the intricate symbols on the pillars were now glowing more intensely. The pit in the center wasn't just a trap—it was connected to something deeper within the ruins. The symbols seemed to be reacting to his presence.
He crouched down, trying to get a better look at the markings. The air around him felt even heavier now, and the faint hum of energy vibrated through the stone. Lin Xiao's curiosity piqued.
These symbols... they were similar to the ones he'd seen before—on the mysterious feather, and even when the river of time had appeared.
"Is this all connected somehow?" he wondered aloud.
Just as he stood back up, the ground began to tremble, and a deep rumble echoed from the pit. Lin Xiao's eyes widened as he felt the air shift again—this time more violently. Something was waking up.
He had no choice now. Whatever was down there was better left undisturbed, at least for now. Lin Xiao spun on his heels, sprinting toward the nearest exit, but as he ran, he noticed the map becoming even blurrier.
The interference was growing stronger, and the walls around him seemed to ripple with energy.
Suddenly, the chamber plunged into darkness, and Lin Xiao felt the temperature drop sharply. A low growl resonated from the pit behind him, sending shivers down his spine.
"Not good!" he muttered, picking up speed, desperate to escape whatever ancient force he had just stirred.
As Lin Xiao bolted through the darkened corridor, his breath came in sharp bursts. He could hear the growling behind him intensifying, the walls vibrating with each tremor. The path ahead twisted sharply, forcing him to make quick decisions. The system map was still blurry, making every turn a gamble.
[Warning: Anomaly detected. Unknown energy source approaching.]
Lin Xiao clenched his fists. "No kidding," he muttered as he darted around another corner. The further he ran, the heavier the air felt, as if the ruins themselves were pushing against him. Whatever ancient force he had disturbed was not willing to let him go easily.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him shifted again, sending him stumbling forward. He crashed into the stone wall, wincing at the impact. Looking down, he saw cracks spreading through the floor, and the walls themselves began to ooze a strange, black mist.
Lin Xiao's eyes widened. The mist was unnatural, thick and suffocating. It crawled across the floor, seeking something. Or someone.
"No time to think!" he gasped, pushing himself up and running again. But now, the mist was rising, swirling toward him like a predator stalking its prey. The growls from the pit behind him were getting louder, and Lin Xiao realized he was being herded—pushed toward something.
He glanced at the system map, hoping for any guidance, but it was completely scrambled now, unreadable. Whatever was happening, it was out of the system's control.
Lin Xiao cursed under his breath. "Of all times for the system to fail!"
Just as he was about to turn another corner, the mist surged ahead of him, blocking his path. It twisted and writhed like living shadows, forming a barrier that seemed impenetrable. Lin Xiao skidded to a stop, heart pounding in his chest. He had no choice now but to face whatever was coming for him.
In the corner of his eye, something shifted. A faint light flickered near the ceiling—a small, narrow opening he hadn't noticed before. It was barely wide enough for him to squeeze through, but it might be his only escape.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered, jumping toward the opening and pulling himself up. His muscles screamed in protest, but adrenaline pushed him forward. Just as he got through, the mist lashed out, narrowly missing him as he pulled himself into the crawl space.
Panting heavily, Lin Xiao crawled through the tight passage, hearing the ominous growling still echoing below. The passage was narrow and suffocating, but it seemed to lead upward, away from whatever dark force was chasing him.