Chapter 198: The Seal House

Chapter 198: The Seal House

The trek through the mist remained slow. This time, however, Jack didnt mind. Better to be careful than take a wrong step when there were traps everywhere.

Everyone else had also fallen silent by now. The first trap had driven home just how dangerous this place was. Jack had survived, but the next person might notand it could be any of them.

As for the Lords, they were also preparing mentally. Everyone knew they would fight each other soon.

The merfolk guide stopped and thought for a moment, then turned sharply to the right. Everyone followed wordlessly. Five minutes later, a barren hill appeared before them.

It was small, barely thirty feet in height, but steep, rising from the ground like a dropped boulder. On its front was a cave opening leading into the darkness.

I believe we should pass through there, the guide said.

Longsword raised a brow. Through there? I dont see an opening on the other side.

It should appear after we enter.

To Jack, the guide didnt sound too confident. Everyone else must have felt the same, because Lady Minerva immediately suggested sending in someone to check. The draconic woman was the unlucky one.

To her honor, she didnt talk back. One slow step after another, she approached the cave and basically crawled through the opening. A moment later, she was lost in darkness. There must have been magic at play there because, despite everyones heightened senses, they couldnt see inside the cave.

Are you still alive? Longsword called out.

Yes, a small voice came from inside. The draconic womanher name was Maylindidnt dare shout, in fear of awakening whatever may be in that cave.

Longsword snorted. He reached for his space bag, took out a yellow orb, and tossed it into the cave. The moment it touched the ground, it erupted with light, like a sun had been born. The draconic woman screamed in surprise.

Jack held his breath. The woman in the cave froze, her eyes darting around looking for danger.

There was none. It was just a cave.

Couldnt you do that before she entered? Jack asked.

Someone had to volunteer first. Otherwise, who would get the loot?

Jack was left speechless. That had to be the dumbest thing hed ever heardeven though no retort came to mind.

The orb remaining lit, showing a small cave that resembled an abandoned home. The walls were carved into almost straight lines. There was a door-shaped opening on the far wall, though Jack couldnt make out what lay beyond it. The walls curved as the cave stretched to the right, outside their line of sight.

Do you see any other openings? Longsword asked.

The woman inside recovered. She seemed a bit braver after nothing jumped at her, and she quickly scanned the surroundings with her eyes, even taking a couple steps away from the entrance.

This is a house, she shouted. There is an opening to the right, leading to the bathroomI think. The door at the back leads to the bedroom. There is a bedframe rotting in there.

Well, that explains the smell, Longsword replied, keeping his voice low. He then shouted, So, no exits?

None! No treasure, either. Oh, waitthere is a lever!

Pull it.

No! the guide quickly shouted. Dont pull it yet!

Everyone looked at him questioningly.

Some mechanisms can only work once. We have records from previous Garden Assaults, he explained. If she pulls the lever and another opening is revealed, this one might close. Well be stranded here and have to find another way arounda far more dangerous one than this.

There is a stone slab above the entrance, the draconic woman shouted from inside. It can be used to block it, as the guide said.

The Lords exchanged a glance of a thousand words. So, we should facecheck the trap, Lady Minerva said dryly. That doesnt sound prudent.

Its all we can do sometimes, the guide explained quickly. He seemed nervous.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

And youre sure its not a trap?

We can never be surebut I believe thats our way forward.

The Lords looked at each other again. If we cannot trust our guide, said Priya, who can we trust? I say we go.

You would gamble your life away like that? Minerva challenged her.

Interesting, Minerva muttered, stepping up. How did you discover this?

I just got desperate and scanned everything very carefully. Anyone would have found it, given time.

But you did. Good job.

Thank you.

Jack glanced at Vocrich. The vampire had obviously come along in Trial Garden, though Jack made sure to ignore him. This time, however, even the vampire had to nod at him.

Maybe he hadnt saved their lives, since they would find it eventually, but he had saved them from the fear they felt. The exception was the guide, who sweated profusely as he bowed deeply in Jacks direction.

The Lords took their time inspecting the rest of the stone slab, but there was no vacuum besides the one Jack had discovered.

I believe we just have to pour in our Dao, Lady Minerva finally said.

Maybe a specific type of Dao is needed, Jack said quickly. Better safe than sorry. Why not try with earth or stone-oriented Daos first?

Lady Minerva nodded at him. Very well. Lets do as Jack says.

Jack felt like he had just been praised by the teacher. He then immediately squashed the feeling; he was an equal to these people. If he just got a few more levels, and a little more insight, he would become a Lord himself.

Plus, if he wanted to defeat the Planetary Overseer within a year, he couldnt be subservient to E-Grades. Not to mention how the Dao of the Fist was unyielding.

They tried pouring earth-related Daos into the stone slab. It sucked them up like a sponge would absorb water. Before long, the cultivators with these Daos started sweating.

Its a bottomless pit, one of themthe stone golemsaid. I get the sense that we arent even filling it up.

Maybe its an issue of quality rather than quantity, Longsword said, cupping his chin. He poured in a sliver of his Dao. Oh! It absorbs my Dao of the Sword as well, and I can sense it filling up a bit. Its not meant for a specific Dao, then. It looks like we just have to pour large quantities of high-quality Dao into the slab.

What kind of cruel trap is this? Priya wondered. If youre not a Lord, are you supposed to just wait here and die of thirst?

Not just a Lord, Longsword retorted. He had kept feeding his Dao into the stone, and by now, he was sweating, too. I cannot fill it up by myself. Can my fellow Lords help?

Trial Garden is not a game. Minerva sighed, placing a hand on the slab. Some traps can threaten even immortals. We need to be careful.

Priya placed her hand on it, too. Immediately, three streams of energy flooded the cave. Even the little parts that werent absorbed by the boulder were enough to rock the world and make Jack feel dizzy. He had to muster his own Dao to resist. Some others were not as luckyhe caught the draconic woman stumble.

A moment later, the Lords retrieved their hands. Done, Minerva said, a sheen of perspiration on her pale forehead.

At once, the cave shook again. The slab began to float. Inch by inch, it rose over the ground. Jack, Longsword, Bocor, and every other Physical cultivator quickly reached under it and started pushing up, just in case.

Whether they helped or not was unclear, but the slab rose. Everyone rushed out into the light. The last person to exit was Longswords ice witch, who picked up the yellow orb Longsword had thrown in at the startthe only source of illumination they had in the cave.

When they exited, everyone looked back. The cave remained just as they had found it. The stone slab hung over the entrance, the lever had been lifted to its original position, and it seemed dark and empty.

And yet, it was one of the deadliest traps around.

I saw the back of the slab as it rose, Lady Minerva said. There was no vacuum on the outside. It can only be opened from the inside. If Maylin had pulled the lever before everyone entered, she would have been stuck there forever.

The draconic woman was sweating in terror. She quickly thanked the guide for insisting everyone should go inforgetting hed been the one to lead her there in the first place.

There was no reward, someone noticed.

Indeed. Though theyd resolved the trap, no treasure appeared. That was unusual. Most traps had a reward.

Could there be another way to solve this? Minerva wondered. Well, if anyone wants to go in and give it another shot, be my guest.

No one did.

Sorry about that, Maylin, Longsword said. It happens.

Its okay, replied the draconic woman, who was excited just to leave this place with her life.

Lets keep going, Minerva said, laying a hand on the guides shoulder. And, Farfer Be more careful from now on, okay?

I will try my absolute best, my Lady, the guide replied, bowing deeply. His fish eyes were wide open.

Leaving the cave behind, they marched into the mist. This time, they were even slower. The guide was double-checking every decision he made, but nobody complained.

Ten minutes later, they were still walking through the mist when a voice came from behind them. Excuse me, hello.