Lin Chongshu and Haido crossed the border from the Land of Rivers and traveled for another half night.
As dawn approached, they crossed a ridge. At the bottom of the valley was a fissure, and Fugai stood before it.
She froze for a moment when she saw Lin Chongshu and Haido appear together.
Temujin was also puzzled as he looked at Lin Chongshu.
Haido walked ahead and briefly explained his cooperation with Lin Chongshu. After finishing, he added:
"From now on, Lord Chongshu's orders are my orders!"
Fugai and Temujin exchanged glances. Since Haido had even brought Lin Chongshu to the mineral vein, they naturally understood Lin Chongshu's importance.
The two respectfully called out:
"Lord Chongshu."
The four of them descended the stone steps along the fissure.
After walking roughly a hundred paces, a magnificent underground palace appeared before them.
The palace's stone pillars and walls were covered in faded mural panels:
They depicted people digging stones out of the ground. The stones glowed, crops flourished, the nation prospered, and then the energy spiraled out of control, destroying the country.
Veins bulged around Lin Chongshu's eyes. "Byakugan: Activate!"
The Byakugan swept across the entire hall, and Lin Chongshu quickly found the hidden entrance leading deeper underground.
Haido and Fugai followed at Lin Chongshu's sides as they entered the secret passage.
Temujin walked at the rear, still staring at the murals around him.
Further inside, a stone pillar was embedded before the entrance to the mineral vein, while a massive sealing pattern covered the ground.
Both were seals. The one at the entrance opened the mineral vein, while the one on the ground opened the Space-Time Hole to destroy it. Both required royal blood to activate.
Everyone stopped. Temujin turned his head, and Haido's back before him suddenly began to overlap