Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”This is just bizarre...”

Su Wan’s brow was furrowed as she murmured.

Logically, once the Seal was broken, that thing should have popped out.

How did it just vanish into thin air along with Zhou Ze?

”Could it be that they were both teleported somewhere else?”

Shen Qiuyue proposed a bold theory.

”That’s a possibility.”

Su Wan nodded slightly, feeling that Shen Qiuyue’s guess wasn’t without merit.

”It seems that to find Zhou Ze, we’ll have to track down that mysterious creature first.”

”But how are we supposed to find it, Minister Su?”

Sun Yang couldn’t help but complain.

”We don’t even know what the monster looks like, and it could be hiding in any nook or cranny. Isn’t this just a shot in the dark?”

”It is indeed a thorny issue.”

Su Wan admitted, but this didn’t shake her resolve in the slightest.

After a moment’s thought, she said decisively:

”Alright, we’re going back into the ruins. We’ll search it thoroughly and see if we can find any clues.”

”Alright.”

Li Chang’an and the others agreed.

The group entered the ruins once again.

This time, they were even more meticulous than before, determined to leave no stone unturned as they checked every single corner.

However, besides the ubiquitous corpses of Black Obsidian Beetles and some unidentified animal skeletons, the ruins were still empty, devoid of any leads.

”Looks like there’s really nothing of value left here.”

Su Wan concluded as she surveyed the empty ruins.

”Change of location. We’ll try our luck in other parts of the mine area.”

The group exited the ruins and began a grid search of the Kars Mine Area.

After a full day, they had practically turned the entire mine area upside down.

They hadn’t seen a trace of Zhou Ze, let alone the mysterious creature.

”Minister Su, I don’t think this is working.”

Li Chang’an wiped the sweat from his forehead, his tone dejected.

”This mine area is huge, with more nooks and crannies than you can count. There’s no way we can search all of it.”

”Yeah, Minister Su, maybe we should just pull back for now.”

Sun Yang was also starting to get cold feet.

”Continuing this aimless search is just a waste of time.”

”No. We can’t give up.”

Su Wan flatly rejected Sun Yang’s suggestion, her gaze filled with an unwavering resolve.

”Zhou Ze’s disappearance is a matter of pride for our entire Battle Team Alliance. We must find him, or at the very least, figure out exactly how he disappeared.”

”But—”

Li Chang’an wanted to say more, but Su Wan cut him off with a raised hand.

...

「Kars Mine Area, at the entrance to the ruins.」

Su Wan stood at the edge of the enormous pit, her brow furrowed.

”Is this where Zhou Ze disappeared?” she asked.

”That’s right, Minister Su,” Li Chang’an replied. ”Zhou Ze was sucked into the Crystal Ball at the bottom of this pit.”

”A Crystal Ball?” Su Wan was puzzled. ”What Crystal Ball?”

Li Chang’an quickly explained the full story behind the Crystal Ball in detail.

”Are you saying that the Crystal Ball was a sealing device, with a powerful creature sealed inside?” Su Wan confirmed.

”Yes,” Li Chang’an nodded. ”To save someone, we used Energy Resonance to forcibly break the Crystal Ball, but then Zhou Ze vanished.”

”And the sealed creature?” Su Wan pressed.

”We don’t know,” Li Chang’an shook his head. ”After the Crystal Ball shattered, we never saw that thing again.”

Su Wan fell into deep thought. ’This is strange...’

Logically, once the Seal was broken, the thing inside should have escaped. How could it have disappeared along with Zhou Ze?

”Could it be that they were both teleported somewhere else?” Shen Qiuyue proposed a bold theory.

”That’s a possibility.” Su Wan nodded slightly, feeling that Shen Qiuyue’s guess wasn’t without merit.

”It seems that to find Zhou Ze, we’ll have to track down that mysterious creature first.”

”But how are we supposed to find it, Minister Su?” Sun Yang couldn’t help but complain. ”We don’t even know what the monster looks like, and it could be hiding in any nook or cranny. Isn’t this just a shot in the dark?”

”It is indeed a thorny issue,” Su Wan admitted, but this didn’t shake her resolve.

After a moment’s thought, she said decisively, ”Alright, we’re going back into the ruins. We’ll search it thoroughly and see if we can find any clues.”

”Alright,” Li Chang’an and the others agreed.

The group entered the ruins once again.

This time, they were even more meticulous than before, determined to leave no stone unturned as they checked every single corner.

However, besides the ubiquitous corpses of Black Obsidian Beetles and some unidentified animal skeletons, the ruins were still empty, devoid of any leads.

”Looks like there’s really nothing of value left here,” Su Wan concluded as she surveyed the empty ruins.

”Change of location. We’ll try our luck in other parts of the mine area.”

The group exited the ruins and began a grid search of the Kars Mine Area.

After a full day, they had practically turned the entire mine area upside down.

They hadn’t seen a trace of Zhou Ze, let alone the mysterious creature.

”Minister Su, I don’t think this is working,” Li Chang’an said, his tone dejected as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. ”This mine area is huge, with more nooks and crannies than you can count. There’s no way we can search all of it.”

”Yeah, Minister Su, maybe we should just pull back for now,” Sun Yang added, starting to get cold feet. ”Continuing this aimless search is just a waste of time.”

”No. We can’t give up.” Su Wan flatly rejected Sun Yang’s suggestion, her gaze firm. ”Zhou Ze’s disappearance is a matter of pride for our entire Battle Team Alliance. We must find him, or at the very least, figure out exactly how he disappeared.”

”But—” Li Chang’an started to say, but Su Wan cut him off with a raised hand.