Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong saw a flash of white light before him, and suddenly he was back in the plaza he had first arrived at upon entering the world behind the door. Although only two months had passed outside, nearly a year had elapsed in the world behind the door, and he found this place somewhat unfamiliar upon revisiting it. Gazing at the center of the plaza, Fang Hong instinctively looked ahead at Anluose.

The Tower Guard was still draped in a white robe flowing to the ground, silver hair cascading over his shoulders, and wearing a crown of hawthorn leaves that glimmered with faint light. He walked ahead unhurriedly, appearing not unlike a resident of the human world.

Fang Hong withdrew his gaze. The image of the Tower Guard presiding over the ceremony seemed vividly in his mind, and the earlier instructions echoed in his ears—the green door represented knowledge, the blue door represented challenge, and the red door behind it signified danger. But in a blink of an eye, he realized he was close to completing the trial in the Hall of Thousand Doors.

Originally, the goal was just two hundred doors, not too embarrassing would be fine, but after surpassing two hundred doors, he aimed for three hundred, cleared the third level, and sought the next. Eventually, while walking through level after level, he suddenly looked back and found that he seemed to have already traversed this path, leaving everyone far behind.

It gave him a feeling almost akin to being in another world.

The plaza was deserted; Odin and the group of dignitaries indeed chose to leave. After all, he stayed in the world behind the doors for years, uncertain of how much time had passed outside. Fang Hong imagined most dignitaries likely assumed he had failed, and he would need to explain the situation when he had the chance since they brought him to this place, and he gained countless benefits in the world behind the doors, so he should give them an account.

The two of them—along with Miss Fairy—crossed the plaza, and the hall was similarly empty just as it had been when they left. Only a long table spanned across the hall, lined with rows of chairs, overhead, suspended in the void was a library—Fang Hong had seen this place from a distance in some levels after the Hall of Thousand Doors.

The Tower Guard’s gaze merely swept through the hall.

Fang Hong keenly noticed a detail—between two rows of chairs neatly arranged along both sides of the long table, two chairs had been pulled back, and the door of the hall was slightly ajar—not closed tightly. It was unclear whether this was the work of an intruder or someone among the dignitaries hadn’t left.

This realization made Fang Hong momentarily dazed; previously, he tended to overlook such minute details. However, it seemed his observational skills had sharpened considerably after undergoing the numerous trials in the Hall of Thousand Doors, becoming more cautious and meticulous.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to clear certain later levels.

However, upon stepping out the door, Fang Hong hadn’t realized the seriousness of the situation, only when the Tower Guard pushed open the door did he see the scene outside, involuntarily gasping. Outside, in the darkened courtyard, lay countless scattered corpses—Ghost Wolves and Skeletons.

The air was filled with a shimmering fluorescent substance, a touch revealed green dust. Fang Hong understood it was from ghosts or similar entities. The aura of the dead permeated the courtyard, decayed and corrupted, with faint ghost fires flickering around. Fang Hong had come across such a scene once before, he hesitated slightly, wondering if the invader was an Undead Wizard type.

It made him instinctively recall the ’Messenger’ from the Dragon Worship Sect he had met before.

Could it be that the other party came here?

Were they seeking him?

He glanced ahead, watching as the Tower Guard lifted his hand, mirroring his own gesture, but after just a glance, continued forward without saying a word.

Fang Hong followed closely behind, glancing around to see the marks of combat scattered throughout the courtyard—a dip in the ground stretched from the steps to the vanishing point beyond the thick forest mist. He looked at the scene, somewhat speechless, but also realizing that among the dignitaries, someone likely hadn’t left.

Because only top-tier players from the Second World could leave such marks in a battle.

However, he was not Nightingale and couldn’t deduce from the traces who had left them, only feeling a bit stunned. Whoever it was that left them, for one of the top-tier players from the Second World to act so, the opponent’s power seemed formidable.

It made him question his previous thoughts, thinking that the ’Messenger’ seemed not to be of that caliber; otherwise, he would’ve perished in Aimumu Fortress without a trace.

At this moment, the Tower Guard suddenly stopped ahead.

Fang Hong realized the other might have perceived something and quickly stepped forward, discovering Anluose had paused at a peculiar place.

The place was at the edge of a forest outside Summer’s End Tower, where the ground seemed to have sunken, forming a large pit. At the bottom of the pit, as if scorched by flames, lay a purple-black silhouette.

Fang Hong instinctively took a step toward the pit, but Anluose caught him. Simultaneously, Fang Hong felt a chilling coldness emanating from the pit, sending a shiver down his spine.

”Be careful, Mr. Knight,” Miss Tata whispered in his ear.

Fang Hong took a light breath, gazing at the pit with doubt and uncertainty, only to realize what it was—Ether overflow; when something powerful enough was slain, the mere ether magic power that escaped post-death was enough to pose a threat to ordinary people.