A shimmering golden halo seemed to call out silently.
Wen Shu frowned slightly; she hadn’t forgotten the oppressive feeling from the last time she touched the Divine Tree Leaves.
Yet, she wanted to leave, but her legs felt as if they were welded in place, unable to move.
This neglected leaf suddenly illuminated after her arrival; it must want to convey some information...
Wen Shu resolutely closed her eyes and followed the halo deeper into the palace.
In the vast, dim hall, only her footsteps echoed.
The water carried a faint scent of death, revealing swollen, unrecognizable corpses every few paces.
Wen Shu closely observed them, noticing their wounds were clean, only a few perished from toxins.
Did a battle occur here before it was tainted?
She sensed something was amiss but had no time to ponder it; the Divine Tree Leaves lay ahead, on a high pillar.
And here, too, was the place with the most corpses.
As she approached, the leaf’s halo grew even brighter, seemingly trying to break free, yet its branch was embedded in a giant stone.
"Are you looking for me?"
Wen Shu skirted around a snake corpse covered in scales, placing her hands on the stone platform edge.
Upon hearing her voice, the golden leaves fluttered vigorously.
In the vast palace, the tall female stood atop a mountain of corpses conversing with a leaf, a truly eerie scene.
Yet upon seeing the leaf emitting a round and radiant halo, Wen Shu felt an odd familiarity.
Still somewhat haunted by their previous encounter, she asked, "You won’t harm me, will you?"
The leaf’s light quickly dimmed, its halo appeared somewhat aggrieved.
Wen Shu chuckled at her own imagination, alleviating some of her fears.
"Let me see what you want to say this time."
She hesitantly extended her fingertip toward the leaf.
Golden light quietly erupted forth, but this time the scene was entirely different: no tragic end for the original host, no endless snowy plains.
Her vision blurred, feeling a gentle pull, as if her soul was drawn into the leaf...
"Yining, where are you going? That female has fulfilled her mission and is dead!"
Wen Shu regained consciousness and heard a familiar name.
She tried to open her eyes but realized she had no eyelids, yet could discern the scene clearly with mere consciousness.
Before her was a white palace, its ceiling hollow, fitted with two circles resembling giant astrological rings.
The interior decor was unique, with bookshelves lining the left and a podium with desks on the right.
The black panel bore odd symbols, twisted and strange, with the ornate pattern of a Divine Tree at the center.
A tall shadow stood by the podium, packing a bundle of animal skins.
He wore a long black robe, his sleeves revealing ancient patterns embroidered in silver thread.
Wen Shu intended to take a few steps forward, but her body couldn’t move.
As if hearing her voice, the male paused, suddenly turned his head.
Wen Shu only managed to see his noticeably gaunt cheeks before Priest Bona’s familiar face obscured the view.
"Yining, you just passed the assessment, tomorrow is the High Priest inauguration ceremony. Are you going to give up all this for a dead person?"
He urged earnestly, seeing Yining unmoved, took several steps to Wen Shu’s side, pointing at her head, "Don’t you want to communicate with the Divine Tree? Once tomorrow passes, you’ll get your wish!"
Through his wrinkled fingers, Wen Shu saw Yining’s pale face.
He truly had lost much weight.
His angular features were drawn, making his brow appear even more prominent. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Those cold, clear eyes were sunken into deep sockets, touched by a shadow that did not belong to him.
When Priest Bona stepped aside, his gaze also fell on the radiant Divine Tree Leaves.
Seeing it unchanged, only flickering with a rhythmic halo, Yining smiled bitterly, thinking he was hallucinating.
Locking eyes with his dim gaze, Wen Shu felt a wave of sadness in her heart.
It hadn’t even been a month since their last farewell, yet he had become this thin...
She clenched her hand, intending to communicate with him, but seeing his determined expression, his eyes reddening,
"Being the High Priest was always for her; if she’s gone..."
Yining tightened his lips, grabbed the parcel, ready to leave, shaking his head obsessively, "She will be fine; I must see for myself."
Priest Bona immediately rushed to block him, but Yining deftly evaded.
Wen Shu was also anxious; the Divine Tree Leaves had brought her here for a reason, Yining couldn’t leave.
"Yining! Can you hear me?"
She called out urgently several times, while Priest Bona a few steps away showed no response, continuing, "I’m here, inside the Divine Tree Leaves!"
No sound vibrations occurred within Priest Hall.
Yet Yining’s ears twitched, pausing in place.
That ethereal voice directly reached his Spiritual Sea, heartbreakingly familiar!
He clenched his fists, restraining his immediate urge to turn, his gaze swept past the Divine Tree Leaves, fixating on Priest Bona.
He didn’t trust Bernard.
Wen Shu was driven to desperation, partly due to this teacher.
"Bernard, please leave," Yining placed the parcel down, calmly opened the main door, lowering his head: "I wish to be alone for a while."
Priest Bona glanced at the package on the ground, his anxious expression disappeared in an instant, "Fine, fine, have some time yourself."
He nodded repeatedly, grateful Yining retained some reason.
Unexpectedly, after Bernard left, the male inside the hall hurriedly approached the center, tightly embracing the stone platform holding the Divine Tree Leaves.
"Female Wen Shu, is that you?"
Yining’s light-colored eyes mirrored the dim halo of the Divine Tree Leaves, panic yet hoping for the voice to reappear.
Afraid he truly had gone mad.
Even more afraid Wen Shu had indeed died...
Approaching suddenly, Wen Shu instinctively feared a collision but realized she had no physical form.
Unable to move, she simply watched as Yining raised his face toward her.
His complexion was ghastly, eyes filled with fragile hope, as if even a gentle touch could shatter like porcelain.
Upon reuniting, Wen Shu never expected such a scene for their next meeting.
She knew Yining fairly well; his demeanor appeared aloof and noble, instantly revealing a noble lineage.
Yet unlike the hypocritical nobles, each of his actions and sentiments brimmed with sincerity.
He was the least capable of pretense.
Gazing at his haggard face and eyes brimming with tears, Wen Shu’s brow furrowed.
"Yining, I’m still alive..."
She slowly crouched down, forgetting her form, attempting to grasp his hand, but her palm fell empty, tumbling before Yining.