Legend of the Embroiderer

In a vast and sparsely populated borderland, there stands quietly an ancient building that has weathered the vicissitudes of time and is filled with a mysterious atmosphere.

This building seems to be isolated from the world, shrouded in layers of fog, making it difficult to peek into what unknown and shocking secrets are hidden inside.

Following the winding passage, deep into the core of the building, in the deepest and darkest part, there is a dark and damp basement.

In the faint light coming down from the narrow vent above, one can see a haggard old man huddled alone in a corner.

This old man has been imprisoned here for many years by the evil Netherworld Cult. At this moment, he is about to slowly unveil his mysterious veil.

In this dim basement, the old man's figure seemed increasingly lonely and eerie. His weathered face was etched with traces of time, yet his eyes were still as bright as stars, flashing with an unyielding light, as if speaking of the unextinguished fire of faith deep in his heart.

At this time, Prince Li Zhao and the other three were sitting cautiously in front of the old man, their eyes filled with curiosity and vigilance.

The old man took a deep breath, as if to calm himself down or to gather his strength, and then he began to recount the long-forgotten past in a deep and powerful voice.

"I am an ancient time and space mage, once shouldering the sacred mission of guarding the 'Xuan Ji of Time and Space' to maintain the delicate balance between heaven and earth."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, his voice echoed in the narrow basement like thunder.

Su Mengyao couldn't help but frown slightly. Her keen intuition told her that what the old man said was not false, but contained endless truth and powerful power.

So, she asked softly, "Why did you suffer this misfortune and be imprisoned here by the Netherworld Cult?" There was a hint of sympathy in her words.

The old man sighed deeply, and the sigh seemed to have spanned thousands of years, heavy and helpless.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and a deep sadness surged through his eyes like a tide, which moved people.

"The Netherworld Cult has always coveted the powerful force of the 'Space-Time Xuan Ji', hoping to use this treasure to control time and space and wantonly tamper with the course of history.

As the guardian of the Spacetime Xuanji, I bear a heavy responsibility and will never allow this to happen! To this end, I will fight a desperate battle with the Netherworld Cult at all costs.

However, I was ultimately outnumbered and fell victim to their treacherous scheme, being imprisoned here." The old man's voice was low and hoarse, revealing endless grief and indignation.

Li Zhao frowned slightly upon hearing this, a subtle hint of suspicion flashing across his eyes. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his arm muscles tense, and his entire body exuded a high degree of alertness.

"The Netherworld Cult has always been known for its insidiousness and cunningness, and its conspiracies and tricks are endless and unfathomable. How can we easily believe that what you said is true?" Li Zhao questioned in a firm tone.

Facing Li Zhao's questioning, the old man did not get angry. Instead, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a faint smile.

He slowly extended his right hand, palm facing upwards. Suddenly, a faint but exceptionally bright light rose from his palm. The light was like the twinkling stars in the night sky, so dazzling that it was impossible to look directly at it.

"This is the power of the 'Spacetime Xuanji'. Only a true guardian can harness and activate it. If you are willing to help me escape from this place, I will do my utmost to help you uncover the Netherworld Cult's deeply hidden conspiracy!"

The old man looked at Li Zhao and his companions with sharp eyes and spoke earnestly.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the entire basement became increasingly depressing, as if an invisible mountain was weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

The mysterious runes on the surrounding walls, as if inspired by something, began to flicker faintly. They seemed to be whispering, telling people an ancient secret long buried by time...

The three of them stood in the dark and damp basement of the Netherworld Cult, surrounded by an old and decayed atmosphere. They stared with wide eyes, their faces full of disbelief, their hearts filled with intense shock and uncontrollable curiosity.

Every word of the mysterious old man hit their hearts like a heavy hammer, making them feel the weight contained in it, and that the vague and creepy mysterious power really existed in this world.

The faint candlelight cast a flickering shadow on the wall, as if telling this unknown past.

The old man's originally turbid eyes now flashed with a distant and deep light, as if he had instantly traveled through a long time tunnel and returned to his own glorious and brilliant era.

He spoke slowly, his voice deep and magnetic, "Back in the day, before you children were born, I was already the most renowned sorcerer in the Tang Dynasty! Back then, my magic was unfathomable, reaching the pinnacle of mastery. No one in the world could rival me. My wisdom was as vast as the ocean, known to all and highly respected."

At this point, a hint of pride unconsciously appeared on his face, but this pride was fleeting, replaced by endless sadness and loneliness.

"What a pity... Power often brings out the ugliest emotions in people. Those scoundrels of the Netherworld Cult coveted the immense power I possessed. They racked their brains to seize it for themselves, but they were completely unable to grasp the astonishing secrets I had been silently guarding. In the end, these shameless people resorted to the most despicable and despicable means in the world—framing me!"

The old man's low and hoarse voice echoed in the basement like a ghost. The eerie and terrifying atmosphere made every word seem to come from the bottom of the abyss.

His past was like a colorful and magnificent painting, but the reality was so cruel that the painting had been shattered and only a dark gray remained.

Once upon a time, he was a great wizard admired by thousands of people. His reputation spread far and wide, and people were in awe wherever he went.

People revered his wisdom and magical powers, viewing him as a god-like being. But now, this once legendary figure was trapped in a dark, damp, and cold dungeon, deprived of his freedom, like an eagle with broken wings, helplessly curled up in a corner.

This huge contrast deeply stung the hearts of the three people present, and an indescribable sorrow surged in their hearts. At the same time, their anger towards the Netherworld Cult was instantly ignited.

Why did the Netherworld Cult treat this highly respected master in this way? Could power and desire really make people so cruel and ruthless?

The old man's eyes flashed with a fiery light, which was an extreme desire for freedom.

He clenched his fists tightly, his joints turning white and veins bulging from excessive force, as if he was trying to grasp the glory and dignity that had already disappeared.

"I've been imprisoned here for a very long time. Every day and night, I can clearly feel the powerful force of the 'Space-Time Xuan Ji' constantly calling me. But look at me now! These damn iron chains have bound me tightly, making it impossible for me to move at all!"

He roared and struggled hard against the heavy chains on his body. The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed in the dungeon like a sad melody.

At this moment, the three people sitting opposite, like the old man, all focused their eyes on the ancient jade in the old man's hand that was emitting a faint light - it was the legendary "Time and Space Xuan Ji".

This mysterious ancient jade seemed to contain endless magic power, attracting everyone's attention. Even the air around it became solemn because of its existence.

The old man with white hair and wrinkles on his face bent down slightly, stretched out his fingers as dry as branches, and stroked the smooth surface of the "Time and Space Xuan Ji" very gently.

His originally cloudy eyes were now flashing with a strange light, which revealed not only curiosity and exploration, but more importantly, deep awe.

The old man slowly spoke, "This is a divine object! Its power is beyond imagination. Not only does it affect the delicate balance between heaven and earth, it also possesses the magical ability to control the flow of time and space."

The old man's voice was low and hoarse, like a call from ancient times, mixed with a hint of indescribable mystery.

Su Mengyao, who was standing aside, couldn't help but widen her beautiful eyes, and a hint of surprise quickly flashed in her eyes.

She parted her red lips and asked softly, "Why does the Netherworld Cult abuse such a powerful force?"

The old man sighed deeply upon hearing this, and that sigh seemed to carry thousands of years of vicissitudes and helplessness.

His gaze grew increasingly dim, and the sadness within it grew ever deeper. "Alas... they have long been blinded by endless greed, vainly attempting to use this mysterious power to tamper with the course of history and thereby control an unknown future. However, they are completely unaware that if a force as powerful as the 'Space-Time Xuan Ji' were to lose control, it would inevitably trigger an unprecedented catastrophe, potentially plunging the entire world into irreparable ruin."

At this moment, Li Zhao, who had been silent all the time, suddenly gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, and his joints turned pale due to excessive force.

He had a resolute expression, his eyes gleaming with energy as he spoke forcefully, "No matter what, we must not let the Netherworld Cult's sinister plot succeed! The power of the 'Space-Time Xuan Ji' must be used correctly and rationally, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous!"

Wu Chen's eyes, like the bright stars in the night sky, sparkled with the light of adventure that was eager to try and move forward courageously.

At this moment, his face flushed with extreme excitement, and he shouted passionately, "This is not just a heavy responsibility, but also a thrilling and exciting adventure! We must protect this mysterious 'Time and Space Xuan Ji' and absolutely cannot let it fall into the hands of those evil forces with ulterior motives!"

In that dim and damp basement, the "Space-Time Xuan Ji" was continuously emitting dazzling light, and this light was gradually getting brighter at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The powerful force contained in it was like invisible ripples, constantly spreading in the air, impacting the three people present wave after wave.

This vast and unfathomable energy fluctuation brought them a huge sense of oppression that they had never experienced before, as if a towering mountain was pressing heavily on their hearts, making it difficult for them to breathe.

The old man with white hair and wrinkles on his face stared at the "Time and Space Xuan Ji" in front of him with a pair of turbid eyes. The "Time and Space Xuan Ji" was emitting endless light and terrifying power. His eyes were full of deep awe for this mysterious power.

He knew very well that if such a destructive force were to be abused recklessly, the catastrophic consequences would be unimaginable, and the entire world might be plunged into an abyss of no return.

Thinking of this, a trace of unconcealable urgency suddenly flashed in the depths of the old man's eyes. He knew that there was very little time left for them.

He spoke slowly in a slightly trembling and unusually hoarse voice, "I've been trapped here for a very long time, so long that I almost forgot what the sunlight outside looks like."

Having said this, he paused slightly, then raised his head and looked at the two people in front of him with eyes full of expectation and pleading.