Chapter 85: Mingjin Temple
After some preparations, the teleportation array was officially activated.
This time, it took place in the backyard, under the bright sunlight. Magic power flowed with the leaves and the fragrance of flowers, and the surroundings of the array were filled with a natural and peaceful aura.
Princess Cécile wore her formal attire, and by her side, Lonis and Elus stood ready.
Mi Xue Zhou and Su Ling Zhou held their hands nervously, and Bai Ye also followed everyone.
…
“Is everyone ready? I’m going to activate it.”
“Yes, we’re ready!”
“Then I’ll begin. Ancient bloodline, please heed my call, for…”
…
As Cécile chanted, golden radiance spread from the girl’s body. This time, the teleportation did not encounter any unexpected accidents like before.
The surrounding scenery seemed to split apart like a slideshow, and then reappeared.
When their vision returned to normal, the girls had already arrived underground.
…
“Wow, that’s amazing…”
“Is this… the Underground World?”
Su Ling and Bai Ye exclaimed involuntarily.
As for Lonis, she couldn’t help but wag her tail—because this world was truly magnificent.
The entire underground space was about 500 meters high. The sky, formed by rocks, was densely covered with secondary mosses emitting a blue glow.
Countless stone pillars stood tall, like skyscrapers connecting to the rock walls above. There were also many jellyfish-like creatures floating in the air, making Lonis almost mistake it for an underwater world.
…
“Wow, that’s amazing, what are those jellyfish?”
Fortunately, Su Ling was there to accompany her, otherwise Lonis would have asked such an ignorant question.
“Mm, that thing is called a Soul Mother,” Cécile explained.
“Soul Mother?”
“Yes, this is a creature that lives underground. In its normal form, it looks like a jellyfish… but it can resonate with animals on land and read their thoughts.”
“Is it like the Nightmare from legends?”
“Mm, but Nightmares are a different kind of creature. Soul Mothers don’t attack on their own, as long as we are careful, we won’t encounter any danger.”
“Oh…”
“Please follow me and let’s proceed together.”
…
…
The roads in the Underground World also appeared very rugged.
Near the teleportation point, traces of human construction could be seen. However, after walking a few steps outwards, the steps were already badly corroded.
The road surface was uneven. If it were the old Lonis, she would have probably fallen to the ground after just a few steps.
But her little tail provided good balance, and with Elus unintentionally protecting her, nothing happened along the way.
…
After about half an hour’s walk, everyone followed Cécile into a dimly lit passage.
This place seemed to be the interior of some ruins, with slightly mottled walls etched with many symbols of the Ming Jin Kingdom.
Compared to the large underground cavern outside, the passage was clearly much narrower and more complex… But fortunately, Princess Cécile knew the way. After passing through a series of mechanisms, they finally came to a golden gate.
…
Like the Rainbow Abyss seen before, this gate was also narrow and elongated in shape.
Dark golden patterns covered the surface of the gate. Just by gazing at it from a distance, one could feel a peculiar power gathering around.
However…
Cécile blinked in confusion and said, “Huh? It’s so much dimmer than before?”
“So much dimmer?”
“Yes, I came to this place three years ago, but the gate was still bright then, not as dim as it is now…”
“Is it because the power of Yixiu is constantly converging? If I’m not mistaken, perhaps Han Yuan has already been seized by Yixiu.”
Elus did not seem surprised. She took a deep breath and said to Cécile, “Your Highness, can the Mingjin Temple still be authenticated now?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem. After all, although it’s a bit dimmer, I haven’t detected any pollution here.”
“Mm.”
“Then please hold hands, everyone. I’m going to open the gate of the Mingjin Temple.”
The girl’s fingers lightly touched the gate of the temple.
Ripples like waves rippled through space, like the clear sound of flowing water, awakening the closed gate.
And the scene that unfolded made the girls exclaim with sincere admiration.
…
“Amazing!”
“This is… the Mingjin Temple? It’s even brighter than the Temple of Clarity!”
…
The interior of the Mingjin Temple was less like a temple and more like an art museum.
There were surprisingly many statues of various sizes displayed here.
And these gorgeous and exquisite statues were not forged from solid materials like stone, but were carved from shadows by the cyclical changes of light.
It was difficult to describe what kind of technology this was, but like a surrounding holographic projection, these statues were lifelike, each with a different posture.
Some were raising weapons, appearing to attack something.
Some were bending down, seemingly launching a surprise attack.
Others were waving flags, their flowing long hair still swaying in the wind.
…
All sorts of postures were exquisite and lifelike. If the statues were not completely black, Lonis would have thought they were real humans… perhaps they would come to life at any moment.
Cécile, however, was not surprised. She was like a young lady returning home, gently introducing:
“Princess Hero, do you remember what Nalonate said?”
“Huh… that ‘destruction and hope are one, killing and saving are no different’?”
“Yes, in fact, this sentence can also be interpreted in another way. It is precisely because we destroyed the claws of the invaders that the children in our homeland can grow up healthy and normal. It is precisely because we harvest the lives of livestock and plants that our lives can continue.”
“What!”
“And those medicines for treating illnesses and saving people also require extensive experimentation before they can be taken by humans. During this process, many experimental monkeys die. Although this process is unavoidable, those dead monkeys have saved many people.”
“Ah…”
“Yes, in a way, humans also survive by plunder, just like the Demon Race. We have no right to deny the legitimacy of killing itself, because the essence of this world is survival of the fittest. However, compared to the Yixiu civilization, we humans still possess a trace of warmth, and I believe this warmth is not hypocrisy… This duality of light and darkness is the true meaning of Mingjin.”
“I see…”
Lonis took a deep breath and vaguely felt she understood something.
Just then, Elus also stepped forward and poked Lonis’s tail.
“Wuwu?”
“Little Fox, get ready. The power of Mingjin is about to activate.”
“Oh, oh…”
…
Accompanied by Cécile and Elus, Lonis gradually walked towards the core of Mingjin.
It was a formless light. Although it appeared so illusory and uncertain, closing her eyes, Lonis discovered something new.
It was not a void.
Instead, it was like an epic scroll written by history, standing clearly there.
If she touched it with her palm…
Lonis also felt an indescribable power.
What is purity?
I was once confused by this question…
A newborn child is undoubtedly the purest. Its body is not stained by any karma, and therefore, it bears no sin.
But this kind of purity can be destroyed in an instant.
Whether it be cruel wars, abuse from step-parents, or grievances caused by injustice, all will leave indelible dust on a pure heart.
I was confused by this,
I once doubted the truth of the Rainbow Abyss because of this,
I strayed from the path, trying to find a completely different way.
But then, I understood.
Purity…
is not white.
On the contrary, it is black.
Because it is black, it can accommodate all the colors in this world.
It is a smile that can still be faintly raised at the corners of the mouth after experiencing all vicissitudes.
…
Lonis, and Elus.
I believe you possess the strength to break through all thorns.
Therefore, I left a message in the Mingjin Temple.
I hope that under the protection of the God of Mingjin,
You will always advance bravely and be invincible,
And ultimately lead everyone’s hope and dreams,
To achieve our ultimate ideal land…
