Lin Ye followed Hirwa's gesture and looked ahead, as if he could see the bustling scene from thousands of years ago—craftsmen absorbed in their work, scholars engaged in heated debates, the essence of two great civilizations blending here. The Golden Blade in his hand trembled faintly, as though responding to that forgotten history.
"Something's wrong up ahead," Ace said alertly, pointing forward and interrupting everyone's thoughts.
The road abruptly ended here. Ahead stood a massive stone bridge spanning a deep ravine. The bridge was at least fifty meters long and ten meters wide, carved from single slabs of enormous stone, its surface covered in intricate ancient writing. Even more striking was a roughly four-meter-tall stone statue at its entrance. Its form was vague and difficult to discern, somewhat humanoid yet bearing inhuman traits, giving off an otherworldly sense of mystery.
"This is a statue of a Guardian," Hirwa said softly, unconsciously slowing her steps. "A guide said to lead true heirs onward."
As everyone cautiously approached the bridgehead, the stone statue, which should have been lifeless, suddenly began to glow blue. Most shockingly, it spoke, its voice ancient and solemn, as if it had traveled from distant time and space:
"Bearer of the Dawn Blade, if you wish to proceed, you must undergo a trial of wisdom."
As soon as the voice fell silent, three beams of light suddenly lit up over the bridge, forming three intricate written riddles that floated in the air, awaiting answers.
Robin immediately stepped forward to examine the riddles, but her expression soon turned troubled. "These symbols... I've never seen them before. They're older than any ancient script I know. They seem to be predecessors of the Heavenly Script."
Hirwa also leaned closer to inspect them carefully, but she had to admit, "This is beyond