Pillar of Yita

The Shadow of Nicobolas hadn’t appeared in people’s sight since leaving Bellborg Valley, as if what they had seen before was just a phantom. After searching for several days in the Ash Woods, the group ultimately found nothing.

The weather was getting colder and the sensing of the Ring of Golden Flame completely faded after that. Fang Hong placed it in his palm, and the ring seemed like a dead object, completely unremarkable, even its golden appearance had become very dull.

If one didn’t know its origin, others might think it was just an ordinary gold ring.

However, only when Fang Hong held this ring in his hand, he could feel a faint sorrow in his heart, as if it were a melancholy that wouldn’t go away. When he held the ring, his mood continually stayed in a state of depression.

At first, he just thought it was his illusion, thinking his anxiety about the great changes in the Southern Region would affect the upcoming journey of the Adventure Group. But in the days following, Fang Hong gradually sensed the problem when he took the ring away from himself, the feeling instantly weakened a lot.

So he handed the ring over to Hilveld and Xiangzi, asking them to express their feelings. Everyone experimented one by one and got almost similar feedback. Only different people had varied reactions.

Among them, Miss Ship’s Officer and he felt it the most clearly, while Luo Yu, Tianlan, Elisa, and Gita followed, and then Xiesta and Bakins. As for Parker and Xiangzi, one joked about how much the ring might be worth, and the other glanced at it, then tossed it aside indifferently.

When the Elf Miss received the ring, she slightly frowned before putting it down. Atira told him she could hear a deep voice from the ring, but no matter how much Fang Hong pressed the ring to his ear, he couldn’t hear it.

The ring was cold, with no reaction at all——

Seeing him like that, Atira couldn’t help but shake her head: ”Druids are very sensitive to Nature Spirit, Ade.”

Fang Hong understood what she implied, which meant he didn’t have this talent and was destined to be unrelated to the path of the Druid. The beautiful doe in the forest, the spirit of the woods, the Shelter Protector Madam Ameya would never guide him.

As for the Lion Paladin’s evaluation of the ring, it was evidently more precise.

He picked up the ring with his sharp claws, observed it through a monocle resting on his nose, and said, ”I’ve seen such craftsmanship in Rotao, it’s the work of Fairies, it should be quite valuable.”

”Mr. Reed——”

The Big Catfolk chuckled before saying: ”This ring seems to be surrounded by a kind of longing which is especially obvious here.”

”Longing?”

”You should know, in Eteliria souls truly exist.” The Lion Paladin put down the ring and asked.

Fang Hong nodded.

”These historical objects often carry emotions and memories... it’s related to the Dragon Witch, who perished here, and her strong soul might have left something in this valley, resonating with this ring.”

”Therefore,” the Big Catfolk returned the ring to Fang Hong: ”You can feel this kind of emotion from it——”

”Mr. Reed, you’re saying, this feeling actually comes from the Dragon Witch Nicobolas?” Fang Hong was somewhat surprised.

But that faint sorrow was far different from the Dragon’s Witch Nicobolas in his impression. Dolifen’s Dragon Witch was proud and arrogant, commanding the powerful Dark Giant Dragon, looking down on everyone.

Even life itself, it held no reverence for it.

It’s hard to imagine that such a cold-hearted woman would have such emotions——if it were Miss Misu, perhaps it would be more convincing. But Fang Hong knew very well that in the era of Nicobolas and the Hero Yoshude, Miss Misu probably hadn’t even been born.

He felt somewhat puzzled.

Yet, curiosity couldn’t solve the problem——three days later, the Seven Seas Travel Group passed through the narrow Verdant Speak Gate, finally traversing the Ash Woods. This place was almost near the northern mountainous areas of Dulun, and in the distance, they could see snow-covered forests.

But up to this point, they still hadn’t found any clues related to the Ring of Golden Flame, and the black-haired, golden-eyed girl seemed to have vanished without a trace since then.

Fang Hong calculated the days, a few days later would be the Dormancy Day of Eteliria (January 21), as the weather turned cold, the next blizzard might occur within these few days.

And after checking the map, he finally resolved to temporarily leave this place. After all, although he had promised Sir Duke to bring the Ring of Golden Flame here, it wasn’t the main purpose of this trip.

Moreover, after the resolution of the Southern Region, the time left for them was becoming more urgent.

More importantly, Mr. Greyrock’s supplies were starting to run low, and Lady Kuisu’s woodcutters were also struggling. From the Masongke Creek camp to the Ash Woods, after nearly half a month of trekking, especially under such harsh weather, even these experienced Shepherds found it hard to bear.

In fact, in these past days, the injury and illness rate within the Adventure Group had been steadily rising, with Papalarians still limping, and Tianlan catching a cold, enduring persistent low fever, joining Xi in the ranks of the sick.