Chen Siyu and Chen Ruixuan followed the Lingxi Tribe back to their settlement. The tribe was nestled in a valley on the grasslands, surrounded by green mountains, with a clear stream running through it. Many houses built from massive stones and timber were scattered across the valley in an orderly fashion. The tribe's people were warm and hospitable, and they all cast curious looks at Chen Siyu and Chen Ruixuan.
A man from the Lingxi Tribe led the siblings to the largest stone house, the tribe's council hall. He introduced them to a white-haired elder. "Elder, these two young friends stepped in at a critical moment and drove back those mysterious people."
The elder looked Chen Siyu and Chen Ruixuan over, his eyes full of approval. "Thank you, young friends. Though you are still so young, you are remarkably brave and kind. May I ask where you come from, and why you appeared on these grasslands?"
Chen Siyu briefly recounted their experiences. After listening, the elder frowned slightly. "I see. Your adventures have indeed been rather extraordinary. As for those mysterious people, we have been investigating their origins, yet we have found nothing. Recently, however, abnormal fluctuations of spiritual power have often appeared around the tribe. It seems someone has been secretly watching our every move."
Chen Ruixuan asked curiously, "Elder, have you found any special clues?"
The elder pondered for a moment before saying, "A few days ago, a tribesman who had gone hunting discovered some strange footprints at the edge of the grasslands. Their shape was unusual, unlike tracks left by any ordinary creature. Moreover, a strange dark aura lingered near them, similar to the aura surrounding those mysterious people."
Chen Siyu's heart stirred. "A dark aura? It sounds somewhat connected to Lingdie, whom we encountered in the Flower Sea. She also gave off an eerie feeling. Perhaps these mysterious people are linked to whatever lies behind her."
The elder's expression turned grave. "If that is true, then this matter may be more complicated than we thought. We have heard of the name Lingdie as well. She is a mysterious figure in the Misty Forest, always acting alone and behaving strangely. But we never imagined she might be connected to the mysterious people attacking us."
To find more clues, Chen Siyu and Chen Ruixuan decided to search around the tribe. They followed the edge of the grasslands in search of the strange footprints the elder had mentioned, and sure enough, they found several oddly shaped tracks beside a patch of grass. The footprints were triangular, each one deeply embedded in the ground, as though the creature that left them had been extraordinarily heavy.
Chen Ruixuan crouched down and carefully examined the tracks. Suddenly, he said, "Sister, look at the soil around these footprints. It seems to have been compressed by some powerful force, and this dark aura is so intense."
Chen Siyu nodded. She closed her eyes and tried to sense whether there were any other abnormalities nearby. At that moment, she detected a faint ripple of dark power in the distance. Opening her eyes, she pointed ahead. "Brother, something seems to be happening over there. Let's go take a look."
The two followed the fluctuations of dark power and arrived before a hidden cave. A thin layer of Black Mist hung around the entrance, carrying a nauseating stench of decay.
Chen Ruixuan covered his nose. "Sister, this place is so eerie. It feels dangerous."
Chen Siyu gripped the Five-Colored Ribbon tightly. "We're already here, so let's carefully go inside and have a look. We might find important clues about those mysterious people."
The two cautiously entered the cave. It was dim inside, and they could only feel their way forward by the faint light filtering in from the entrance. As they walked, a spacious cavern suddenly appeared ahead. In its center stood a massive Black Stone Stele, covered in strange runes that flickered with an eerie glow...
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