Alban, residing within the depths of the underworld, was aflame with intense passion, his heart ablaze with fervor.
The spirit energy in the underworld inherently surpasses that of the mortal world, and after being entrenched in an environment bereft of nurturing resources for an extended period, Alban was like a fish stranded on the shore.
Yet, with a sudden splash, he dove into the water, and an immediate sense of revitalization engulfed his physical and mental being.
One year…
Within such circumstances, even in the absence of effort, merely grant him a single year!
Alban believed that within this span, he could shatter his current limitations, for he sensed something loosening!
Alban remained oblivious to the fact that…
Spending one year in the underworld meant that three years in the mortal world passed. Whenever he left the underworld, he would die.
Serene furrowed her brows, yet Alban ignored her words. She immediately got angry.
The “Fairy” adopted an aloof demeanor, carefully emulating the expression of Emperor Prosper, and uttered nonchalantly, “Can you tell me where the spiritual spring is now?”
It comes to light that, after encountering Serene, Alban’s presence was still met with disregard.
Clutching his teeth, Alban offered her a droplet of water from the spiritual spring.
The spiritual spring stood as an awe-inspiring resource throughout the underworld, and it was one of the most treasured assets for those who sought to cultivate their souls within this realm.
How could Serene possibly resist?
A harmonious accord struck. Serene guided him through the underworld, while Alban led her to the spiritual spring.
Alban reins in the fervor within him and imparts, “The spiritual spring is within the depths of the Ghost Abyss.”
Serene’s gaze darkened with a tinge of murderous intent. “Are you joking?”
Even beings of the stature of the Ruler of Hell dare not venture into the depths of the Ghost Abyss.
Venturing into the ghostly abyss was equivalent to courting one’s demise.
Alban shook his head and clarified, “I’m not joking. The spiritual spring is in the Ghost Abyss. Within it, not only is the reservoir of spiritual springs abundant, but due to its inaccessibility, numerous springs converge to form a cascading waterfall.”
He recounted his initial encounter and then candidly revealed, “I know how to get down Ghost Abyss, but you need to be patient…”
Serene found it difficult to resist Alban’s sincerity and the allure of the spiritual spring waterfall. She agreed, saying, “Alright, I’ll trust you for the time being!”
The duo hastened toward the Ghost Abyss.
…
Mount Cape, the cradle of mountains.
Legend had it that Eterna and Gaea once sought refuge on Mount Cape, preserving the world from inundation and peril.
Numerous ancient texts referenced Mount Cape repeatedly. However, when considering the directions outlined in these texts, particularly in mythical accounts, the described location of Mount Cape appeared incongruent with its actual position.
Two theories emerged to address this disjunction. The first postulated a time and space incongruity, suggesting that the Mount Cape described in various records was disparate due to temporal and spatial disparities.
The second theory revolved around enchantment. Some thought that Mount Cape from ancient myths was concealed, hence its vanishing without a trace, leaving behind an ostensibly ordinary towering peak in reality, also christened Mount Cape.
Ivan, upon researching Mount Cape, dismissed these narratives as tales spun by people who seek immortality.
Yet, his perspective changed drastically when he set foot in the underworld and laid eyes on this very mountain.
The “Classic of Mountains and Seas” painted Mount Cape as a pinnacle ascending directly into the heavens, aligning with the constellation Big Dipper, Eterna’s capital, and where powerful deities resided. Hera was located in the heart of Mount Cape and held her dominion there.
Ivan gazed at the immense mountain before him, its form resembling a sky-piercing pillar. The mountain’s summit was abruptly cut off, somewhat akin to Apex Mountain; it dwarfed him in comparison to the colossal mountain now facing him.
“Considering this description, it ought to be a celestial sacred mountain. How could it possibly reside within the underworld…”
Suppressing the astonishment swelling within him, Ivan embarked on a half-month journey from merely beholding the holy mountain to traversing its terrain.
At the foot of Mount Capes, he could not gauge the distance, which spanned countless miles.
The base of the mountain was smothered in somber mist, and the moment Ivan approached its perimeter, his chest constricted as if a force pressed upon his head, demanding entry as if he were to crawl in.
At the peak of his youthful vigor at 14, Ivan would not bow his back even if his knees gave way. How could he succumb to crawling?
He had toiled covertly for years, occasionally returning to see how Lilly was doing. Yet fate seemed to conspire against him, either by making him miss Lilly by chance or by catching a fleeting glimpse of her as she passed by.
Ivan felt as if he were on the brink of forgetting what Lilly looked like, with only the indelible glow of their time spent in the Ghost Abyss remaining at the forefront of his consciousness.
Resolute, Ivan advanced.
A soft snap resonated as if his bones were being crushed, draining color from Ivan’s face and making his agony nearly overwhelming.
Clamping his jaws shut, he raised his head with effort, locking his gaze onto the sacred mountain before him with an enigmatic glint in his eyes!
An intuition seized him, suggesting that upon entering the mountain this time, he could dissolve the haze in his heart…
Who was he, truly?
