Floating life reflects two lotuses

Xiao Jinlian stood in the core area of ​​the Sacrifice Grounds, surrounded by fragments of runes suspended in mid-air, emitting a faint blue light. This light appeared calm, yet it contained immense power, surging like invisible waves in the air. She looked up at these runes, a complex mix of emotions welling up within her.

“The source of the curse is here, but if we cannot completely unravel the secrets of these runes, restarting the spirit offering ritual will only bring greater disaster,” Xiao Jinlian said in a low voice, her eyes resolute.

Li Heng stood behind her, his eyes scanning their surroundings warily. The recent raids had left him no time to relax. He stepped forward, his tone firm: "Lian'er, no matter what, I won't let you bear these risks alone. If the spirit offering ritual can truly solve the problem, we'll complete it together."

Xiao Jinlian turned to look at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of helplessness and emotion: "Li Heng, once this ceremony begins, the price we might pay is unimaginable. Are you sure you want to take this risk with me?"

Li Heng lowered his eyes, and after a moment he looked up and stared directly at her, his voice low but unwavering: "Because you are the most important person in my heart. I will not allow anyone, including the power of this curse, to harm you."

Xiao Jinlian looked at him, a warm feeling welling up inside her, but mixed with a trace of bitterness. She took a deep breath, looked away, and her tone regained its composure: "In that case, what we need most now is to find the remaining rune fragments. Only by combining the power of these fragments can we activate the complete spirit offering ritual."

Silan ran over, panting, carrying an ancient book she had just found nearby. "Princess," she said, "I found some records! It mentions that a complete spirit offering ritual requires seven rune fragments, but we only have two so far."

Xiao Jinlian took the ancient book and quickly flipped through it, her eyes growing increasingly solemn: "The seven fragments correspond to 'life,' 'death,' 'balance,' 'sacrifice,' 'seal,' 'protection,' and 'reincarnation.' Only by placing the seven fragments into the core of the formation in sequence can the complete spirit offering ritual be activated."

"So, we're still five pieces short?" Li Heng frowned. "Time might not be enough. The curse has begun to spread, and the power of the Land of Offering Souls is spiraling out of control."

“Yes, and these fragments are scattered in various places.” Xiao Jinlian gently closed the ancient book and looked into the distance. “According to the records, the third fragment may be in the Yinshan Mountains in the north.”

“Yinshan?” Silan’s eyes widened. “That place is notoriously dangerous. Legend has it that the mountains are shrouded in mist, and even hunters familiar with the terrain can lose their way.”

“It is precisely because of the danger that the fragments were not easily discovered,” Xiao Jinlian said softly, her tone carrying a hint of restrained determination.

Li Heng gripped the hilt of his sword, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Then set off as soon as possible. I will arrange for guards to accompany you and ensure your safety."

“Li Heng, we can’t bring too many people on this mission.” Xiao Jinlian shook her head, her eyes calm. “The power of the curse has already affected the surrounding land. Too many soul fluctuations will only exacerbate the energy runaway.”

Li Heng frowned, but finally nodded in agreement: "Okay, we'll only take the necessary supplies. We'll set off at dawn."

As night fell, an eerie red light enveloped the sky above the Land of Sacrifice, and black cracks gradually spread across the ground, as if a giant hand was tearing the earth apart.

Silan stood to the side, her face pale: "Princess, this land is becoming increasingly dangerous. Are we running out of time?"

Xiao Jinlian was silent for a moment, then her gaze became firm: "There is still time, as long as we seize every moment."

"But what if we fail?" There was a hint of fear in Silan's voice.

"Then let's give it our all and leave no regrets." Xiao Jinlian turned around, gently patted Silan's shoulder, her tone soft yet firm, "Silan, I understand your worries, but fear cannot stop us."

Li Heng walked over from a distance, carrying two rabbits he had just hunted. He handed the prey to Si Lan, then turned his gaze to Xiao Jinlian: "Keep dinner simple, get plenty of rest, and we'll set off early tomorrow morning."

Xiao Jinlian looked at him with gratitude in her eyes: "Li Heng, thank you for your continued support."

Li Heng chuckled lightly, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing: "Lian'er, if you're not by my side, who will I support?"

This sentence lightened the atmosphere a little. Silan couldn't help but laugh, picked up the rabbit, and ran to start a fire.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the three of them set off. Xiao Jinlian placed the two rune fragments into a specially made box and carried it close to her body. Li Heng, on the other hand, carried a bow and arrows and dry rations, ready to deal with any unexpected situations.

They set off along the rugged mountain path towards Yinshan. During their short rests, Xiao Jinlian used the opportunity to decipher more of the runes.

“These runes are not only symbols of power, but also carriers of curses,” Xiao Jinlian explained to Li Heng, pointing to one of the intricate patterns. “If these powers are not used correctly, the ritual of offering spirits may backfire on the caster.”

“Therefore, we must be extra cautious.” Li Heng glanced at her, his tone becoming more serious. “Lian’er, no matter what happens, I will not let you face it alone.”

“Li Heng…” Xiao Jinlian’s gaze softened, but she quickly regained her composure. “Thank you.”

The three continued on their way, sunlight filtering through the trees and dappling the ground. Occasionally, a few squirrels would leap across the trees, adding a touch of life to the otherwise tense journey.

But no one knew what dangers awaited them in the Yinshan Mountains ahead.