Floating life reflects two lotuses

“It’s the Taoist priest who’s helping us,” Silan said softly, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Li Heng's eyes sharpened, and he said in a low voice, "No matter what, let's get out of here first."

The three quickly passed through the secret passage of the stone chamber and returned to the main hall of the Taoist temple. Looking at the rune stone tablet in her hand, Xiao Jinlian felt both relieved and a deeper mystery gradually emerging.

“The truth about the Secret Land of Spirit Offering is getting closer,” she said softly, a resolute glint in her eyes. “But our time is probably running out.”

Inside the Taoist temple, the wooden pillars in the main hall emitted a faint scent of sandalwood. The three sat around an old wooden table, on which lay several cups of warm tea. The abbot had a kind face, and the prayer beads in his hand turned slowly, yet there was a hint of unspoken heaviness in his eyes.

Xiao Jinlian held the teacup with both hands, took a sip, then put the cup down and said directly, "Abbot, I need your help to interpret the records on these rune murals."

The Taoist priest paused, his gaze falling on the rune-covered stone tablet on the table. His voice was low and slow, yet carried a profound power: "Benefactor, do you know that what you hold in your hand is one of the most ancient powers in the world?"

Li Heng frowned slightly, leaned back in his chair, and asked in a calm but wary tone, "Daoist, what do you mean by that?"

The Taoist priest gently set down the prayer beads, his gaze falling on the rune-covered stone slab on the table, as if recalling something. He slowly said, "Runes originate from ancient secret arts; they are both symbols of power and the source of curses. What you are seeking is called a 'Spiritual Incantation Talisman'."

Upon hearing the word "curse," Silan gripped her sleeve tightly and couldn't help but ask, "Master, what exactly does this curse refer to?"

The Taoist priest's expression grew even more solemn, and his voice revealed a trace of compassion: "The spiritual talisman carries not only the power of the gathering of spiritual energy between heaven and earth, but also the condensation of countless resentments. In ancient times, the royal family attempted to use the power of the talisman to perpetuate their imperial power, but this resulted in an imbalance of souls."

Xiao Jinlian frowned slightly and asked, "Is this imbalance... related to the Spirit Offering Secret Ground?"

The Taoist priest nodded and sighed, "Legend has it that the Spirit Offering Secret Land is an altar connecting heaven and earth. It was built to seal the resentment that arose from the runes going out of control. But as time passed, the power of the runes gradually weakened, the seal began to crack, and the sealed resentful spirits began to stir."

"A vengeful spirit?" Li Heng's eyes flickered slightly, clearly showing some doubt about this term. "Daoist Master, do you mean that this rune is not just a tool, but... a living thing?"

"That's one way to put it," the Taoist priest said in a low voice. "Each fragment of the rune contains a part of resentment; they yearn to reunite and return to the Spirit Offering Secret Land."

Xiao Jinlian's heart sank, her gaze falling on the runic stone slab. The complex symbols on it seemed to pulsate, as if containing some hidden power. She lowered her voice and asked, "Master, what will happen if these runes gather?"

The Taoist priest looked at her, his eyes filled with deep complexity: "With the gathering of resentment, the Spirit Offering Secret Ground will become the source of nightmares. Once it is opened, not only your era, but even the balance between heaven and earth will be broken."

"Then how can we stop it?" Silan asked anxiously.

The Taoist priest gently shook his head, his gaze falling on the candlelight in the distance: "Stop it? Easier said than done. These runes have long been tainted by desire and hatred. All you can do is find the most powerful rune core and seal it away completely."

Xiao Jinlian couldn't help but ask, "Where is the core of the rune?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed the host's eyes before he slowly said, "According to the murals, the core of the rune is hidden in the Sacrifice Grounds, but—"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Anyone who approaches the secret place of spirit offering will be corrupted by the curse of the runes. Benefactor, are you truly prepared to bear such a price?"

Xiao Jinlian's gaze was firm, and her tone revealed an unwavering determination: "Daoist Master, no matter the cost, I must find the answer. The runes are inextricably linked to my destiny, and I cannot back down."

Silan watched her retreating figure, a hint of worry appearing in her eyes: "Princess, isn't this too dangerous..."

Li Heng stood aside, remaining silent for a moment before speaking: "Daoist Master, since you know the danger of these runes, why have you preserved this information until now? Don't you have any way to neutralize them?"

The Taoist priest sighed: "This humble monk is merely a guardian, not a decipherer. The secrets of the runes are unfathomable; whether you can unravel them ultimately depends on your comprehension."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinlian raised her head to look at the abbot, her tone firm: "Daoist Master, if you know any more clues, please tell me. This matter concerns not only my fate, but may also affect the entire world."

The Taoist priest gave her a deep look, and finally nodded and said, "Since you are so persistent, I will tell you one more thing—there must be a guiding light around the core of the rune, but that light may be hope, or it may be the trigger for destruction."

The Taoist priest's words lingered in the air. The three exchanged glances, each lost in their own thoughts. Xiao Jinlian gripped the rune stone tablet in her hand, seemingly pondering the deeper meaning behind the priest's words.

Li Heng stood by the window, his gaze sweeping across the distant mountains and forests, and said in a low voice, "Since the Spirit Offering Secret Land holds such a secret, we must find the core as soon as possible to prevent an even greater disaster from occurring."

Silan nodded in agreement, but a hint of worry remained in her expression: "Princess, can we really quell this turmoil?"

Xiao Jinlian did not answer directly, but turned to look at the Taoist priest, her eyes filled with deep determination: "No matter what, I will find the truth about the runes. If I don't try, I will never know the outcome."

The Taoist priest gazed into her eyes, gently clasped his hands together, and softly chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Benefactor, may light always reside in your heart."

As the candlelight flickered, the patterns on the runic stone slab seemed to brighten, as if in response to something. The three walked out of the main hall with heavy hearts, facing the mountain wind, and began to ponder their next move.

However, they were unaware that the sound of the wind in the mountains seemed to conceal some kind of undercurrent, a whisper of curses that was slowly approaching.