Chapter 31 - Chapter 32：The Deceptive Guide

With the walls of the Enchanted Labyrinth closing in, the group had no choice but to follow Yuki down the narrow corridor she pointed out. The air was thick with dust kicked up by the crumbling stone, and the only sounds were their labored breaths and the ominous rumble of the shifting maze.​As they ran, Chen Jiuzhang couldn't shake the suspicion nagging at the back of his mind. Yuki's sudden change in demeanor, that cold glint in her eye—something wasn't right. But before he could voice his concerns, a new threat emerged.​The corridor ahead was filled with a swirling, pitch - black mist. Unlike the normal mist in the 秘境,this one seemed to have a life of its own, undulating and reaching out with tendrils of darkness. "This is the Mist of Deception," Yuki said, her voice oddly calm despite the urgency of the situation. "It will show you your deepest fears and desires, trying to lead you astray. Stay close and don't believe everything you see."​Zhang Chengying scoffed, though his voice trembled slightly. "Great, just what we need. More mind games."​As they stepped into the mist, Shen Qingluan's Imperial Jade Seal fragment flared up, casting a weak golden glow around them. But the mist seemed to absorb and distort the light, creating eerie, shifting shadows.​Su Nian was the first to be affected. Her eyes widened in terror as she stared at something none of the others could see. "No... it can't be..." she muttered, her chains dropping to the ground as she backed away. Chen Jiuzhang grabbed her arm. "Su Nian, snap out of it! It's an illusion!"​Just then, Chen Jiuzhang himself was hit with a vision. He saw his 二叔,standing before him with a sad smile. "Jiuzhang, you've failed. The balance is lost forever," his 二叔 said, his voice filled with disappointment. Chen Jiuzhang's heart sank, but he remembered Yuki's warning. Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and focused on the hum of the white crystal. When he opened his eyes again, the vision was gone.​Wu Laogou, meanwhile, was surrounded by images of his past failures, of friends he couldn't save. "This is not real," he kept repeating to himself, holding onto his pipe as if it were a lifeline.​Amidst the chaos, Yuki pressed on, her figure becoming a distant silhouette in the thick mist. Chen Jiuzhang realized they were falling behind. "Yuki, wait!" he shouted, but his voice seemed to be swallowed by the mist.​Suddenly, the ground beneath them gave way, and they found themselves in a large, circular chamber. In the center stood a pedestal, on which lay a glowing, silver key—the very key they needed to escape the maze. But surrounding the pedestal were dozens of shadowy figures, their forms similar to the ones they'd faced before, but more menacing, their eyes glowing a fierce red.​Yuki was already at the edge of the chamber, her hand reaching out towards the key. Chen Jiuzhang's suspicion flared up again. Why was she so eager to get the key? Without thinking, he launched himself forward, the white crystal in his hand. "Stop, Yuki! We don't know if we can trust you!"​Yuki turned, a cold smile on her face. "Finally, you catch on. I've been waiting for you to lower your guard. That key is mine, and with it, I'll control the Enchanted Labyrinth and the entire Gui Xu Secret Realm." As she spoke, the shadowy figures charged towards the group, their weapons raised. The truth about Yuki had been revealed, and now, the group faced a battle not only against the guardians of the maze but also against a traitor in their midst.​