Bai Zhu carried the Black Box and walked back beneath the Black Gate.
The inscriptions on the Stone Gate had dimmed considerably, and the cracks had stopped spreading. The seal that had previously been forcibly suppressed by Reiatsu was still holding, but every so often, a muffled thud came from within the gate, making the stone slabs beneath their feet tremble faintly.
The red dot behind the gate had not disappeared.
Bai Zhu moved left, and the red dot shifted left as well.
He stopped, and the red dot stopped behind the gate.
Bai Zhu raised the Pope's head hanging from his waist before him.
The moment his palm rose half an inch, the skin on both sides of the Pope's face tightened sharply, and words burst from his mouth in rapid succession.
"There's a black spike inside the box!"
Bai Zhu raised his hand again.
Afraid Bai Zhu had not heard him clearly, the Pope's voice cracked.
"Use it to touch the Black Gate! The gate will open! That's how you get inside!"
Milluki stood nearby with his arms folded.
"That was pretty smooth this time."
The Pope ignored him, his eyes fixed tightly on Bai Zhu's raised hand.
"The spike has a heart pierced through it. Be careful—you cannot pull the spike out! Absolutely not!"
"Slow down." Bai Zhu shook the head. "I haven't hit you yet."
The Pope's Adam's apple bobbed.
"If the spike leaves its suppressing position, the Black Gate's seal will collapse immediately. The thing inside will come straight out, and no one will be able to stop it then!"
Bai Zhu lowered his head and looked at the Black Box.
Most of the crack in the box wall had already sealed itself, while the golden light nails remained embedded in the box. There was