Chapter 30 - Chapter 31：The Enchanted Labyrinth

The group dragged their weary bodies along the dimly - lit passageway, the weight of Yuki's words pressing down on them. The air, already thick with an otherworldly chill, now carried a faint, metallic scent, as if the very atmosphere was warning of impending danger.​Without warning, the ground beneath their feet began to shift and rumble. Stone tiles rose and fell, rearranging themselves into a complex maze of walls and dead ends. "What's going on?" Su Nian shouted, her voice echoing through the newly - formed labyrinth.​Yuki's eyes widened in alarm. "We've entered the Enchanted Labyrinth. This is no ordinary maze—it's alive, and it feeds on the confusion and fear of those who wander within." As she spoke, the walls began to pulsate with a sickly green light, and strange whispers filled the air, their words just out of reach, like a taunting secret.​Chen Jiuzhang held up the white crystal, hoping its light would guide them. But instead of illuminating the path, the crystal's glow was absorbed by the walls, which seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment. "This maze is somehow neutralizing the crystal's power," he said through gritted teeth.​Shen Qingluan stepped forward, her Imperial Jade Seal fragment held out before her. "Maybe the seal can help. Its power is different from the crystal's." She concentrated, and a faint golden light spread from the fragment, but it barely managed to penetrate the darkness of the maze.​Just then, Zhang Chengying let out a startled yelp. "Guys! Look at the walls!" On the stone surfaces, faces began to form—distorted, 痛苦的 visages that seemed to be trapped within. Their mouths opened and closed, as if trying to scream but unable to make a sound. Wu Laogou's face paled. "These are the souls of those who were lost in this labyrinth," he murmured.​Yuki nodded gravely. "To escape, we must find the heart of the maze. There lies a key that can unlock the path forward. But beware, the maze will do everything in its power to stop us."​As they began to navigate the twisting corridors, the whispers grew louder, and the trapped souls on the walls seemed to reach out towards them. Su Nian's chains lashed out at a particularly menacing hand, severing it with a sickening squelch. But more hands emerged, grabbing at their clothes and limbs.​Chen Jiuzhang closed his eyes again, trying to sense the direction of the maze's heart. He felt a faint pull, like a thread tugging at his consciousness. "This way!" he called, leading the group through a narrow passage.​But their path was blocked by a towering figure made entirely of stone. It had no face, only a gaping void where its head should be, and its arms ended in massive, jagged blades. "Another guardian," Yuki hissed.​The stone figure let out a grinding sound and charged forward. Shen Qingluan quickly erected a shield, but the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the group. Zhang Chengying and Su Nian launched a flanking attack, while Wu Laogou threw out talismans that exploded on the guardian's stone body.​Chen Jiuzhang, determined to find a way to use the crystal, focused on the connection between his own energy and the maze itself. He realized that the maze thrived on chaos and uncertainty. What if... he created a sense of calm and order within himself?​Taking a deep breath, he centered his mind, envisioning a peaceful, still lake. The white crystal began to hum, and a soft, soothing light emanated from it. To everyone's surprise, the stone guardian seemed to hesitate, as if confused by the sudden change in energy.​Seizing the opportunity, the group launched a final, coordinated assault. With a mighty push, they managed to shatter the stone guardian into a million pieces. But as it crumbled, the maze let out a deafening roar, and the walls began to close in around them, threatening to crush them all.​In the midst of the chaos, Yuki's expression turned cold. "Hurry! The heart of the maze is this way!" she shouted, pointing down a narrow corridor. But as Chen Jiuzhang looked at her, he noticed a strange glint in her eye—a glint that made him wonder if they could really trust her. With the walls closing in and time running out, they had no choice but to follow her lead and hope for the best.​