Floating life reflects two lotuses

Li Chenyao stared at Chu Wanlian, his brows furrowed, his eyes revealing an unprecedented seriousness.

"You mean, we're going to create a reverse energy flow here to help her complete the seal in ancient times?" he analyzed calmly, a hint of doubt in his voice.

Chu Wanlian nodded, her fingers rapidly inputting data onto the screen, a determined look on her lips: "That's right. We need to use the existing rune array in the laboratory to temporarily stabilize the power between the two timelines. As long as she can complete the sealing of the Spirit Offering Ground, the energy fluctuations on our side will automatically dissipate."

Li Chenyao was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered: "You've thought things through very thoroughly, but the risks we need to take are not just as simple as a system crash."

“Li Chenyao, now is not the time to hesitate.” Chu Wanlian raised her eyes, staring intently at him. “Haven’t you always wanted to stop the lab’s plan? This is the only chance.”

Li Chenyao looked at her intently for a long while, then sighed softly and began to type on the keyboard: "Okay, I'll go crazy with you this once."

A fierce wind howled as the rune array at the Land of Offering Spirits entered its most crucial stage. Xiao Jinlian stood at the center of the array, the rune fragment in her hand emitting a dazzling light, like a radiant moon.

The runes on the ground shimmered with light, and energy converged upon her like rivers flowing together. Xiao Jinlian could feel a powerful force surging within her, as if her soul was being torn apart, teetering on the brink of collapse.

"Hold on a little longer..." She gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed firmly on the rune fragments, her hands trembling slightly as she continued to guide the rune energy.

"Xiao Jinlian!" Li Heng's voice came from the storm. He struggled through the gale and grabbed her wrist. "Enough! Do you want to die here?!"

Xiao Jinlian looked up, her forehead covered in sweat, but her gaze remained firm: "This is the only way, I cannot back down."

"But you will die!" Li Heng's voice was filled with anger and helplessness. He grabbed her wrist tightly, trying to pull her out of the core area of ​​the formation.

Xiao Jinlian looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips, her voice low but firm: "Li Heng, if this curse isn't sealed, the entire world will be destroyed. Do you understand? I can't stop."

Li Heng's fingers trembled slightly, and a look of pain appeared in his eyes. His lips twitched slightly, but he ultimately said nothing more, only gripping her hand even tighter.

“Okay, I’ll go with you.” His voice was steady and strong, yet carried a hint of determination. “I won’t let you face this alone.”

At the site of the offering of spirits, the first rays of dawn break.

The cracked earth gradually calmed down, and the previously raging runic energy seemed to be suppressed by an invisible force, transforming into a soft halo that fell upon the desolate altar. The lingering aura of the curse in the air gradually dissipated, as if the world had returned to tranquility.

Xiao Jinlian was slightly out of breath, her clothes soaked with sweat, and stray hairs clung messily to her cheeks. She knelt on one knee, clutching the last fragment of the rune tightly in her hand; the fragment had now returned to stillness, emitting a faint glow.

Li Heng immediately stepped forward and helped her up, his voice filled with worry: "Are you alright?"

Xiao Jinlian struggled to stand firm, a slight smile appearing on her lips, but her eyes betrayed her exhaustion: "We've succeeded for now, but only temporarily. The power of the runes has been sealed, but it hasn't disappeared after all."

Her gaze swept across the surroundings. On the previously destroyed ground, the runic array faintly glowed, like a giant net sealing all the power beneath this land.

"Princess, how did this curse originate? Why is it so difficult to completely eliminate?" Li Heng asked in a deep voice, his eyes full of contemplation.

Xiao Jinlian looked up into the distance, her eyes deep and solemn: "I have reviewed the records of the Luo Yuan Contract, but there is only fragmented information. This curse may be related to the power of the rune fragments themselves, and the Land of Offering Spirits is only a key part of it."

She paused, clenching the rune fragment in her hand, her voice low: "The secrets of the Luo Yuan Contract are far more than what we know. If the true core is not found, the curse could return at any time."

Li Heng frowned slightly, and after a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "No matter what happens next, I will accompany you to find out the truth. The secret of the runes cannot continue to devour innocent people."

Xiao Jinlian turned to look at him, a hint of tenderness in her eyes: "Aren't you afraid? This path is full of danger, and it might even be... a path from which there is no turning back."

"Afraid?" Li Heng chuckled softly, his eyes resolute. "If even you don't back down, what do I have to fear? Besides, my duty is to protect you, no matter how difficult the road ahead may be."

Looking at him, Xiao Jinlian felt an indescribable warmth welling up in her heart. She nodded gently, her eyes resolute: "Okay, we'll face it together."

Their eyes met, and an unspoken understanding seemed to fill the air. The tranquility of the sacrificial ground seemed to strengthen their resolve.

Chu Wanlian rapidly typed commands on the control panel, her fingers flying across the keyboard, attempting to completely shut down the remaining runic devices. On the screen, a series of red warning indicators popped up, signifying that the runic energy's out-of-control state had not yet fully subsided.

Li Chenyao stood beside her, his eyes cold and sharp. He held a metal rod, guarding the control panel, ready to deal with any emergencies.

"Almost there..." Chu Wanlian gritted her teeth, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, her fingertips moving rapidly, "Almost there!"

Suddenly, the warning on the screen stopped, and a beam of light burst forth from the center of the rune array, shooting straight into the sky, so bright it was almost blinding. Chu Wanlian was jolted back two steps by this force, nearly falling.

"Jinlian!" Li Chenyao quickly helped her up and asked in a low voice, "Are you alright?"

Chu Wanlian took a few breaths and slowly shook her head: "The passage is completely closed, but... the energy of the runes has not completely dissipated."

She looked up at the center; after the pillar of light disappeared, the runic device slowly returned to calm. She reached up and touched her chest; her heart was pounding, but deep within her soul, there was a strange sense of tranquility.

“She’s there…” Chu Wanlian murmured to herself, her gaze somewhat unfocused.

Li Chenyao frowned and asked in a deep voice, "What did you say?"

Chu Wanlian looked up at him, her eyes resolute: "She is still in ancient times, in that world. The resonance between our souls continues."

Li Chenyao narrowed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought: "So, this experiment has only been temporarily contained, not completely ended?"

Chu Wanlian nodded, her voice low: "They will continue. As long as the power of the runes is not fully controlled, these people will not give up."

Li Chenyao looked at her with a complicated expression, and after a moment he sighed softly: "If this is your decision, I will continue to help you. But you must remember that everything comes at a price."

Chu Wanlian looked up at him with a firm gaze: "Some things are worth paying the price for."

The two stared at each other for a moment, and a tacit yet resolute atmosphere filled the air.

Xiao Jinlian stood atop the mountain, the wind ruffling her clothes, rune fragments gleaming faintly in her palm. She gazed at the distant horizon, murmuring softly, "The power of runes... what exactly is it?"

She turned to look at Li Heng, her eyes filled with determination: "We're not over yet. The story of the runes has only just begun."

Li Heng smiled gently, his gaze tender: "No matter what, I will always be by your side."

Li Chenyao and Chu Wanlian stood before the ruins of the laboratory, as the distant sky gradually revealed the first rays of dawn. Chu Wanlian looked down at the fragment of the rune in her hand, a complex mix of emotions welling up within her.

"The information she left behind hasn't been fully revealed yet." Chu Wanlian raised her head, looking into the distance with a determined gaze. "I must find the answer."

Li Chenyao stood beside her, his gaze sharp: "Then let's walk together."

The camera zooms out, and on the distant horizon, a glimmer of light faintly appears. A new rune fragment has been discovered in an unknown land, shimmering with a mysterious glow.

The peace of the ancient and modern worlds is only temporary. The true secrets of the runes, the balance of the soul, and the intertwining of destinies across time and space remain unsolved.

"The story is not over; the gears of fate continue to turn."