A dark crimson distorted vortex slowly revolved across the cavern ceiling, its edges continuously dripping lava-like "liquid light."
As it fell onto the cold black stone floor, it hissed with corrosive sounds, leaving behind small smoking pits.
That enormous, chaotic aura filled with pain and madness descended like tangible pressure, enveloping every corner of the cavern.
Ying Sha's slumber was forcibly disturbed. His Shadow Body churned violently, letting out uneasy hisses.
The pendant on Xing Mang's chest lit up with a faint defensive glow, only to quickly dim again.
Even the Seeker's ball of Light Mist flickered unsteadily under the assault of that will, which mixed order of the same origin with alien shadows.
Ming Xin braced himself against the wall, forcibly suppressing the churning blood and stabbing pain in his soul as he faced the blurry, savage outline deep within the vortex.
The other party demanded that they hand over the "key" or become eternal prisoners. The threat was direct and naked, without the slightest room for negotiation.
In their current condition, resisting something that was clearly some sort of defensive or containment mechanism of the Giant Pillar itself would be like smashing eggs against a stone.
But waiting helplessly for death was even less Ming Xin's style.
In that flash of thought, he had already made his decision.
He did not immediately respond to the ancient consciousness's coercion. Instead, he forced himself to send out a thread of spiritual intent, as calm and clear as possible.
It was transmitted simultaneously to the Seeker and the being within the vortex:
"Wait! We mean no offense! We are the guardians and bearers of the last spark of the Creators' civilization! Xing Mang's guardian is here! The Seeker's spark consciousness is here as well!"
He deliberately emphasized the identities of the