After being chosen by the Ice Queen

The sailors lowered their small boats and carried buckets of fresh water and a small amount of supplies to the island. The long voyage through the fog had taken a toll on their energy, and even Boss Liu agreed to rest there for the night and set off again the next day when the fog had cleared.

Commander Zhao did not forbid anyone from landing on the island, but ordered that the inner guards must travel in groups of at least two, not venture into the island's center, and return within a specified time. Murong Zizhan, accompanied by one of his attendants, boarded the first small boat with great interest. Several wandering swordsmen and merchants also disembarked, wanting to stretch their limbs on solid land and relieve the boredom of several days of sailing.

Gu Yan did not rush into action. He stood by the ship's railing, the aura of the Candlelight like invisible tentacles reaching out towards the island.

"Boss, shall we go up?" Jinbao poked his head out from his chest. "The smell on the island is even more... It's like something is asleep, but as soon as we arrived, it started... dreaming?" It struggled to find the right words.

"Let's go up and take a look."

Seeing that there were few people, he boarded a small boat that had just finished delivering supplies and was returning to pick up people and landed on the island.

He headed towards the higher part of the island, towards the location of the ruins. Murong Zizhan and his entourage had already disappeared in that direction. Several guards had set up a simple perimeter around the camp. Seeing Gu Yan leave the main road, one guard raised his hand to stop him, but was gently pressed down by his companion, who shook his head.

He arrived at the half-collapsed stone house. The house was even more dilapidated than it appeared from a distance, with only two walls and half a roof remaining. The interior was small, with scattered fragments of unidentifiable pottery and carbonized wood on the floor. Behind the house was a relatively flat open space, paved not with natural rock, but with black stone slabs of varying sizes, covered with dense, indistinct patterns eroded by time.

In the center of the open space stood a grayish-white stone tablet, taller than a person. The tablet was neither stone nor jade, its surface covered with cracks, and its top was missing. Murong Zizhan stood about three steps in front of the tablet, gazing intently at it. His attendants stood guard at the entrance to the stone path leading to the open space. When they saw Gu Yan approaching, their eyes flickered slightly, but they did not stop him.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Murong Zizhan said softly without turning his head, "Brother Gu is also interested in this place?"

Gu Yan walked to his side and behind him, his gaze falling on the stone tablet. The stone tablet seemed empty, but under the perception of the Candlelight's Breath, it was covered with extremely subtle energy flow traces invisible to the naked eye, forming a fragmented, abstract pattern—vaguely resembling a giant serpent coiled around a chaotic vortex, its head lowered, gazing towards the center of the vortex. The desolation, antiquity, and hint of "end" and "return to nothingness" emanating from the pattern subtly echoed the "Eye of the Abyss" imagery conveyed by the Dark and Bright Lamp, yet it was more concrete, more... sorrowful.

"This stone tablet, and the patterns on the ground," Gu Yan said, "are not for sacrificial purposes, but more like... records, or perhaps, markings for sealing?"

Murong Zizhan turned his head, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "Brother Gu has keen insight. This is not the work of humans. Look at the rhythm of these patterns, the residual attributes of this power... it is the work of an extremely ancient demon race, and one of the highest-ranking ones. It records not glory, but a... helpless sacrifice, or perhaps, an anchor point."

"Anchor point?"

"Mark a special place to ensure that even as time passes and the world changes, future generations can still find 'there.'" Murong Zizhan gestured with his folding fan to the chaotic vortex pattern at the center of the stone tablet. "Brother Gu, where do you think this mark refers to?"

Gu Yan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The Gate of Return to Nothingness? The Eye of the Abyss?"

"This is one of the signposts left by an ancient being who knew the exact location of the 'Eye of the Abyss' countless years ago, and who may even have a great connection with it. Unfortunately, it is too ancient, and the information is incomplete, so it can only point to the general direction."

The dim, abstract pattern on the stone tablet suddenly lit up! At the same time, the blurry patterns on the black stone slabs on the ground also lit up one after another, like a lit fuse, quickly spreading to the entire open space!

"Watch out!" Murong Zizhan shouted, his figure drifting backward as he unfolded his folding fan, its dark surface held horizontally in front of him, blocking most of the invisible pressure. His attendants immediately rushed forward, their bodies radiating an earthy yellow aura as they attempted to stabilize the surrounding ground.

Gu Yan was the first to be affected; the oppressive aura seemed to pay special "attention" to him, with most of the power surging towards him as if it had found an outlet.

A dark gray aura emanated uncontrollably from Gu Yan's body, mingling with the dark gray glow emanating from the stone tablet.

The scenery around the open space began to distort and blur. The fog was no longer the sea fog from the outside world, but a thicker, darker aura emanating from the stone tablets and the patterns on the ground. Within the fog, countless blurry and distorted shadows vaguely appeared, roaring silently as they stretched out illusory arms to grab at Gu Yan and Murong Zizhan.

Murong Zizhan's expression turned solemn. He waved his folding fan repeatedly, and starlight swirled on its surface, emitting a calming glow that repelled evil spirits and forced back the nightmare shadows that were surging towards him. His follower let out a low roar and stomped his feet heavily on the ground. A powerful and solid force spread out, attempting to stabilize the void that was trembling from the impact of his will.

Gu Yan bore most of the pressure. Countless resentful thoughts, like sharp needles, tried to pierce his consciousness. He immediately guarded his mind, activating the "Heart Source Meditation Technique" at full power, his heart as clear as a mirror, resisting the external erosion. He no longer suppressed the darkness and light.

A clear, resonant clang of the blade echoed across the gray-shrouded open space. The sword, now unsheathed, gleamed with an eerie interplay of dark gold and deep gray light. Eight serpentine patterns seemed to come alive, meandering and dancing along its surface.

The power of Orochi was fully activated.

With a flash of light, following the sensation of the candle's shadow, the blade slashed towards the point where the resentment was most intense and central.

The intent of the sword clashed fiercely with the lingering resentment of the ancient imprint.

The dark mist churned and dissipated violently. The nightmare figures emitted silent shrieks, vanishing like burst bubbles. The eerie light on the stone tablet rapidly dimmed, and the patterns on the ground quickly disappeared.

Gu Yan stood holding his sword, slightly out of breath, sweat beading on his forehead. The clash just now had taken a toll on him.

Murong Zizhan closed his folding fan, staring intently at the Hidden Light Blade in Gu Yan's hand. After a long while, he sighed, "What a deadly blade! Such pure Hidden Light power! Brother Gu, every time you make a move, you surprise me... no, you amaze me."

His attendant watched the knife in Gu Yan's hand warily, his aura still locked onto Gu Yan.

Gu Yan slowly sheathed his sword, suppressing his surging blood and restless power, and looked at Murong Zizhan: "Mr. Murong knows quite a lot."

"Likewise." Murong Zizhan smiled, pointing to the completely dimmed stone tablet. "Now, this signpost has been 'activated' with its last bit of power by Brother Gu, and it's utterly useless. However, before it finally collapsed, I caught a clearer directional fluctuation..." He turned his gaze to the east of the island, towards the deepest and heaviest part of the fog. "The place we're looking for is very close. And, I'm afraid we're not the only ones looking."

As soon as he finished speaking, a short cry of surprise came from the direction of the temporary camp below the island, followed by the drawing of weapons and shouts.

Gu Yan and Murong Zizhan exchanged a glance and then sped off towards the camp.