Divine Beast Creator-Chapter 2162 - 2163: The Road Ahead

Feng Yuan signaled the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound to move aside and make space. After a while, Qi Chen and the others also descended along the rope. Seeing the artificially carved mountain path, Dou Yanlan said with some surprise,

"What are they trying to do after all?"

"Who knows? Deliberately making it so winding, it can’t be a training ground, right? There’s no need for that."

Spreading his hands, Feng Yuan said with a helpless expression. He really couldn’t understand why the mechanisms and traps in this place were so odd and complex.

"Rather than guessing blindly here, why not question that Ghost Series Spirit Beast when we get there? I don’t think it’ll know nothing at all~"

Showing a quirky smile, Veronia said. Glancing at Veronia, Feng Yuan hesitated for a moment but didn’t say anything. What the other said wasn’t unreasonable. If that Ghost Series Spirit Beast didn’t know anything, Feng Yuan would absolutely not believe it.

It’s even very possible that it once lived with that original group of people, considering that the lifespan of Spirit Beasts varies greatly. Without seeing that mysterious legendary-level Ghost Series Spirit Beast in person, Feng Yuan did not dare to assert whether it could really live that long.

Although this recessed passage in the cliff wasn’t right next to the metal gears, it wasn’t far either.

Compared to viewing from the platform, standing in this passage actually made one feel more of the pressure from the slow rotation of the gigantic gears, even though they were just gears, they gave off an illusion of being able to easily crush everything.

"Who knows what these gears are for? If they are forcibly stopped, will anything change?"

Looking at these gears, Feng Yuan said while shaking his head and thinking no more of it.

This exploration of the ruins wasn’t just their business; Feng Yuan hadn’t forgotten that other classmates and members of the excavation team were exploring other areas of the ruins. If his actions brought them danger, it would be bad.

"Which way should we go, left or right?"

Looking at Dou Yanlan, Feng Yuan asked. The other thought for a moment before saying,

"Not quite sure. To be safe, I think it’s best to check both sides."

Neither Dou Yanlan nor Feng Yuan knew much about this place. Without enough information, even Dou Yanlan didn’t know which direction was the correct path.

After thinking for a moment, Feng Yuan nodded and turned around, saying,

"Then let’s try this way first."

Although the space in this passage was relatively spacious, it was still a bit troublesome to switch positions among the three of them. Thus, Feng Yuan simply chose to start exploring in the direction he was facing.

On the way, none of them spoke; only the sound of their shoes stepping on the rocks and the various noises brought by the rotating metal gears could be heard.

Qi Chen silently watched Feng Yuan, who was leading the way at the front. Compared to the usual Feng Yuan, he seemed less lively at the moment, and moreover, he seemed more reliable.

"This is..."

The passage wasn’t long, so after walking for a while, they reached the end. However, at the end of the passage was a gray-white stone platform with a red anchor-shaped metal inserted into it.

Casually pulling out the "anchor" inserted in the stone platform, Feng Yuan looked back in confusion.

At that moment, a slight tremor came from the ground. Amidst the sound of mechanisms operating, everyone saw that the stone pillars were actually starting to change. Some stone pillars gradually sank, mostly descending beneath the metal gears, while others rose again, revealing pathways that had originally been covered by the gear clusters.

"Is this thing used to control the rising and falling of the stone pillars?"

Putting the anchor back in place, Feng Yuan found that this thing was not only heavy but also had a peculiar center of gravity. At least, the stone platform only had a shallow depression to restrict the movement of the huge anchor.

"Such a strange mechanism, what principle does it operate on?"

Standing behind, Dou Yanlan curiously examined the stone platform and the anchor that Feng Yuan had put back. At this moment, the sound of mechanisms operating continued, and they didn’t need to look closely to know what had happened.

Those stone pillars had returned to their previous state. However, Feng Yuan and the others didn’t quite understand why such mechanisms were set up in this place.

"Something feels off here, could there be similar mechanisms on the other side too? What’s the point of doing this?"

Whether holding or setting down the anchor, no path appeared around them, which seemed a bit off to Veronia.

Surely the other side can’t have the same mechanism, and they need to reveal the path forward by adjusting the placement of the anchors, right?

It’s not that it can’t be done; it’s just, would a normal person really design mechanisms this way?

"Don’t know, but if the other side is the same, then..."

Looking at those stone pillars, Feng Yuan picked up the anchor again and set it down, slightly shaking his head, saying,

"Let’s check the other side. Qi Chen, you go in front this time, be careful."

Although there were no traps on this side, Feng Yuan couldn’t be sure if the other direction would be the same.

Qi Chen didn’t refuse. Although the situation in these ruins was unexpected, nothing too dangerous had revealed itself so far. As for those rotating metal gears?

No sane person would think of getting close to them, right?

Of course, for safety’s sake, Qi Chen let Ah Mu take the lead and relied on Ah Mu’s vines. Even if there were traps that Qi Chen’s inspection missed, they would be triggered by Ah Mu’s vines.

However, until they reached the end of this passage, the group didn’t encounter any traps.

Looking at another similar stone platform and anchor, the three furrowed their brows. Feng Yuan thought for a moment and said,

"Qi Chen, have Ah Mu pick that thing up and see."

The reason for not having Qi Chen pick it up wasn’t because of the danger, but because the object might not be so easily lifted. Only by trying personally would they know just how heavy that thing was.

At least Feng Yuan didn’t think Qi Chen could easily lift it. Moreover, with Ah Mu around, the other’s vines could help with such tasks.

On hearing this, Qi Chen withdrew his outstretched hand. He hadn’t considered the weight issue, as the anchor, though large, didn’t seem particularly heavy at first. However, Feng Yuan’s reminder made him suspect there might be some trap involved.

Ah Mu cautiously probed with its vines, puzzled to find nothing suspicious or any energy on the anchor.

The vines twisted together to form an arm. Using the vines, Ah Mu grasped the anchor and gave it a tug. The unexpectedly heavy weight almost made Ah Mu loosen its "hand."

"Is it very heavy?"

Qi Chen noticed Ah Mu’s unusual reaction and questioned in surprise. Feng Yuan crossed his arms and turned to look at the stone pillars, saying,

"Ridiculously heavy, I wonder what kind of material they used."

As the anchor was lifted, the stone pillars changed again. However, compared to before, the pillars that sank and rose this time were different.

No matter which side, no path forward seemed to have appeared.

"Strange, this thing..."

For a moment, Dou Yanlan couldn’t help but think whether they needed to lift both anchors simultaneously and then set them down in a specific order.

Feng Yuan sighed and said,

"As expected, this place is just a facade."

"A facade?"

Qi Chen and Dou Yanlan looked at Feng Yuan, who smiled, shook his head, and said,

"Exactly. You’re probably thinking you need to pick up and place those in a specific order to open the path forward, right?"

"Isn’t that the case?"

Dou Yanlan was taken aback, because that’s exactly what she was thinking. Feng Yuan chuckled and shook his head, saying,

"Obviously not. If there’s something valuable below that needs protection, why would they leave the key here?"

"If it isn’t, then the path forward shouldn’t be made so complex. If you set up some mechanism at home, would you make the method to unlock it require wandering all over the place?"

"This..."

With Feng Yuan’s explanation, Dou Yanlan and Qi Chen realized that even a defense mechanism shouldn’t be made so complicated, unless there was an unavoidable reason to do so.

However, if that’s the case, where is the path forward then?

Looking at that slowly turning gear, Feng Yuan said,

"I noticed earlier, there’s a stone pillar close to us that neither mechanism seems to affect. Most likely, that’s a marker, and these mechanisms on both sides are more like hints for forgetting the combination."

Gazing at the slowly rotating gears, Qi Chen suddenly thought of something and exclaimed,

"We have to go down there?!"

"To be precise, to descend from the position corresponding to the stone pillar, traverse the Sea of Oblivion, and reach that hidden Holy Land..."

Feng Yuan’s voice gradually turned into a whisper, those people...