Pillar of Yita

On the surface, after Fang Hong had killed those few Dragon’s Claw minions to break out, he temporarily gained a chance to breathe.

But the people had only slightly loosened their breath while still feeling a heavy stone hanging in their hearts. They saw Fang Hong moving north, yet that direction was taking him farther and farther from the only way off the island—the fifth Light Bridge, with no enemies ahead but also no way back.

There lay only a vast expanse of empty pyramids and behind them a lonely, suspended cliff. Below lay thousands of feet down, the crimson Sea of Lava, reflecting the underground kingdom in a reddish hue.

More and more of the Dragon’s Claw minions were flooding into this area, like a dark tide surging from all directions, encroaching this last corner, eroding it like the rising tide around an isolated land until there was only enough room to stand.

Every time Fang Hong evaded the Chasers, people would let out a soft sigh.

But the cheers gradually disappeared.

The crowd slowly became silent.

A thought unavoidably emerged in the minds of the people: perhaps a miracle would not happen a second time. For killing a few Dragon’s Claw minions and breaking out from this siege were entirely different concepts.

They saw Fang Hong walk through an ancient Holy Sanctuary, slowing his pace, and came to the edge of that cliff, below which golden lava flowed slowly, making the mask on the teenager’s face glisten.

Ahead was a fractured bridge.

Fang Hong silently observed the bridge, which was left with only its remnants in the sea of lava, its surface completely collapsed, leaving only a few irregular, lonely pillars still standing in this golden-red ocean.

He believed this bridge and another Lonely Bridge on the opposite side of a distant pyramid fortress corresponded to each other. They were structurally similar; even with only a few pillars remaining, one could still discern their original continuous arch structure.

Presumably, a thousand years ago, the Xinsas Serpentfolk had built this pyramid fortress over this Abyss and these bridges, along with other bridges of varying sizes outside, connecting the core area of the Holy Sanctuary with these ruins.

But years of accumulation had caused these bridges to collapse one by one and disappear; their masters also lost in the past millennia, leaving only this silent, isolated ruin, waiting for its visitor of a thousand years.

Sophie’s voice came through the channel: ”Mr. Xiaya, Xi has sent a message that they have reached the other side of the Light Bridge.”

Dianmo and Ran Qingzhu also sent a message: ”Boss, we are here, hurry up, the Light Bridge is darkening...”

”Mr. Xiaya, the Light Bridge has one minute left, fifty-nine seconds, fifty-eight seconds—” The urgency was evident in the military personnel’s tone.

”No need to report anymore,” Fang Hong replied.

The communication channel went silent.

”Xiaya...?” Sophie asked in surprise.

The silver mask covered most of Fang Hong’s face, leaving only his gleaming eyes. He took a deep breath and confidently replied, ”Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon.”

But no one knew where his confidence came from.

This gentle reply was heard by everyone.

And at the end of their vision, countless Dragon’s Claw minions were swarming into the Holy Sanctuary.

They rushed into the hall, immediately surrounding Fang Hong. A Dark Giant Dragon descended from the sky, flapping its wings and landing in the outer square, raising its head with its seven golden pupils to scrutinize him from above, not hiding its greed and frenzy.

At that moment, Fang Hong thought he heard a voice screaming madly in his mind:

”Pale Glory—”

That was not the language of the dragons.

He stepped back subconsciously, as if triggered by the movement, the surrounding Dragon’s Claw minions roared deeply and pounced.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Fang Hong subconsciously positioned the Energy Angel in front of himself.

But just then, a deep tremor once again originated from Fenris’s core, and by the time it reached near the surface of these ruins, it had evolved into a severe lateral shake. Fang Hong was about to evade the attack of the Dragon’s Claw minions, but unexpectedly crashed into a nearby altar.

However, no one laughed at this scene.

After a crisp crack, Fang Hong felt something break underfoot; the floor of the Holy Sanctuary began to tilt, slowly leaning toward the flowing Sea of Lava, the blazing Sea of Light seeping into the sanctuary.

On the ground, rising up, were drawings of the moon, sun, and stars—the ancient aesthetic style of the Xinsas Serpentfolk, embedding the brick-red clay lines onto an obsidian floor, somewhat abstract.

Fang Hong was dizzy from the impact, not expecting such a scene—but he reacted quickly, grabbing the nearby altar immediately while ordering the Energy Angel to dig its feet into the ground, preventing it from falling into the lava.

But the flying Dragon’s Claw minions were not so lucky; one, unsteady, fell beside Fang Hong, letting out a panicked shriek as it flapped its wings trying to alter its fate.

But the Holy Sanctuary was collapsing, the collapsing tiles flying down, some hitting pillars and changing direction. Unable to evade, the Dragon’s Claw minions were hit squarely.

They instantly lost control, spiraling down into the golden sea below, turning into a ball of fire in the blink of an eye.

The shaking was still intensifying.

Fang Hong’s situation wasn’t much better; the Holy Sanctuary seemed to be splitting from the center, bifurcating. A long crack also appeared in the distant square, and he could then see the entire rock pillar beneath collapsing.