Chapter 28 - Chapter 29：The Unveiled Secrets

The crumbling chamber groaned and shuddered as the group made their hasty retreat. Debris rained down around them, yet their spirits soared high with the taste of victory. Chen Jiuzhang clutched the white - glowing crystal, its power thrumming through his veins like a second heartbeat. But the elation was short - lived. As they stumbled into a new passageway, a cold, eerie mist rolled in, obscuring their vision and sending a chill down their spines.​"Something's not right," Shen Qingluan murmured, her hand instinctively reaching for Chen Jiuzhang's arm. The fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal in her grasp flickered, as if warning of impending danger.​Suddenly, a figure materialized from the mist. It was a woman, her long black hair flowing like liquid shadow, and her eyes glowed with an otherworldly blue light. She wore a robe embroidered with symbols that seemed to shift and change with every breath. "You think you've won?" she hissed, her voice echoing through the passageway. "The Gui Xu Secret Realm is a labyrinth of endless secrets, and you've only scratched the surface."​Zhang Chengying brandished his broken peachwood sword, stepping forward bravely. "Who are you? Another one of Miyuki's lackeys?"​The woman let out a cold laugh. "Miyuki was but a pawn in a much larger game. I am Yuki, the keeper of the forbidden knowledge in this realm. And you, Chen Jiuzhang, have disrupted the balance by claiming the white crystal."​Chen Jiuzhang frowned, his grip on the crystal tightening. "We only wanted to stop the darkness from spreading. What do you mean by disrupting the balance?"​Yuki glided closer, her presence sending waves of cold energy. "The white and dark crystals were meant to exist in harmony, maintaining the equilibrium of the Gui Xu Secret Realm. Now, with the dark crystal shattered, chaos will soon follow. And there are others who seek the power of the white crystal, forces far more ancient and powerful than you can imagine."​As if on cue, the ground began to tremble. Strange, glowing runes appeared on the walls, pulsating with a menacing red light. Wu Laogou's face paled. "These are ancient warning signs. We're in grave danger."​Su Nian's chains tensed, ready for whatever might come. "So, what do we do now? We can't just give up the crystal."​Yuki's expression softened slightly. "There is a way. Deep within the heart of the secret realm lies the Well of Origins, where the power of creation and destruction is born. You must take the white crystal there and attempt to restore the balance. But beware, the path is fraught with perils, and guardians more fearsome than any you've faced await."​Chen Jiuzhang looked at his companions, seeing the determination mirrored in their eyes. "Then we have no choice. We'll go to the Well of Origins and set things right."​Just as they were about to set off, a familiar voice echoed in Chen Jiuzhang's mind again—his 二叔's. "Jiuzhang, trust Yuki. She is an old ally, and she holds the key to understanding your destiny. And remember, the power of the crystal is a double - edged sword. Use it wisely."​With newfound resolve and a sense of trepidation, the group followed Yuki deeper into the Gui Xu Secret Realm, unaware of the dark secrets and powerful enemies that awaited them at every turn. The journey to the Well of Origins would test their strength, their bond, and their very souls.