The road north was different from last time.
The last time they came, the ground had been covered in gray-white bone ash, soft and yielding beneath their feet.
Now, there was less ash, exposing the black rock beneath. Cracks ran across the rock, and golden light flowed within them—the power of the seal, seeping up from deep underground.
The pillar of sealing light stood five li away. Up close, it was clear that the pillar was not shining down from the heavens, but rising up from beneath the earth.
There was a hole in the ground, like the one they had seen inside the earthen mound last time, only much larger.
The opening was three zhang across and bottomless. Golden light surged from within, like a pillar of gold.
Lu Chen stood at the edge and looked down.
The hole was deep, its bottom invisible, but he could sense something there—not deathly aura, but the heart of the seal. Golden and brilliant, like a sun that had fallen beneath the earth.
[Seal Core Status: Damaged. Remaining Energy: 23%. Recommendation: Replenish energy.]
Replenish energy. How?
He took out Dragon Blood Ointment, dug out a chunk, and tossed it into the hole. It fell for a long time before the sound of it hitting the bottom reached them. Then the golden light flashed, brighter than before.
[Seal Core Energy: 25%. Dragon blood has restorative effects on the seal.]
Dragon blood. His blood.
Lu Chen drew Root Severer from his waist and sliced open his left palm. Blood welled from the wound, pale gold as it dripped into the hole. With every drop that fell, the golden light brightened a fraction.
[Seal Core Energy: 30%... 35%... 40%...]
The blood kept flowing. After roughly a bowlful had drained