Elsewhere, Sen Lijiu naturally learned of the situation with Kukulu as well. Showing little emotion, he kept his head lowered and continued reading.
Yet Sen Lijiu was not nearly as calm inside as he appeared. He knew what Kukulu's arrival meant, and he also knew that his own task was not yet complete.
He set down his book and gazed thoughtfully into the distance. At that moment, a plan was taking shape in his mind—a plan that could free him from his predicament.
Before long, Sen Lijiu decided to act. He quietly left the study, avoiding everyone's notice, and headed in a particular direction...
Sen Lijiu arrived in the castle garden, where an enormous ancient tree stood.
He went around behind the tree, found a hidden entrance, and entered an underground passage. A mysterious aura permeated the passage as Sen Lijiu carefully made his way forward.
At last, he reached a secret chamber filled with strange experimental equipment and magical objects. Sen Lijiu began examining them, trying to find a way to resist the control of Jun Yi's necklace. He immersed himself in his experiments, continually trying different combinations and spells.
As the minutes and seconds passed, Sen Lijiu's efforts gradually bore fruit. He discovered an ancient scroll that recorded a powerful Curse-Breaking Spell.
Just as Sen Lijiu was about to study the scroll closely, faint footsteps sounded outside. He immediately hid the scroll and turned a wary gaze toward the doorway.
Sen Lijiu held his breath and focused, waiting for the newcomer to appear. The door slowly opened, and a figure stepped into the secret chamber.
It was Jun Yi! Sen Lijiu's heart clenched, but he quickly calmed himself and pretended to fiddle casually with the experimental equipment. Jun Yi watched him, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Sen Lijiu took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "I was just curious about some of the experimental equipment here. I wanted to see whether I could find a way to increase my magical power."
The corners of Jun Yi's mouth lifted slightly. "Really? Well, this isn't a place where you can just tamper with things. Come outside with me." With that, he turned and walked toward the door.
Sen Lijiu sighed inwardly and reluctantly followed Jun Yi out of the secret chamber. But he had not given up. He silently resolved to find a way to break the curse and restore his double's freedom.
As he walked, Sen Lijiu worked out his next move in his mind.
While passing through the corridor, Sen Lijiu pretended to trip and took the opportunity to toss a magic stone into a corner.
"How can you be so careless?" Jun Yi glanced back at him without suspecting anything.
After Jun Yi left, Sen Lijiu quietly returned to the secret chamber. He found the magic stone and cast a spell to activate it.
In an instant, light enveloped the entire chamber. The ancient scroll flew off the bookshelf and unfurled on its own.
Sen Lijiu hurried to read the Curse-Breaking Spell written on it, his heart filled with hope.
Just then, as though some force had activated it, the mysterious ancient scroll suddenly erupted with dazzling light! Blazing like the sun and brilliant as the stars, the radiance instantly wrapped tightly around Sen Lijiu.
Startled by this sudden turn of events, Sen Lijiu tried to struggle, only to discover that he could not move at all.
The powerful light seemed to hold boundless energy, subjecting him to a sense of pressure and awe unlike anything he had ever experienced.
As time passed, the light grew brighter and brighter, as though it would illuminate the entire world.
Within that resplendent sea of light, Sen Lijiu's figure gradually blurred until he vanished completely...
When the light slowly faded, only the scroll remained where he had stood, still giving off a faint glow.
It lay there quietly, as though telling a story unknown to anyone.
But where had Sen Lijiu gone? What turn of fate would this strange encounter bring him? Everything remained unknown, leaving endless room for anticipation and speculation...
Before you continue