Transmigrating Into a Fantasy World: Signing in During Pregnancy, Reaching the Summit with My Childhood Sweetheart

72: Chapter 72: Last Words and the Ancient City of BaiheThat warning message, filled with despair and madness, pierced deep into the Sea of Consciousness of the two like icy venomous thorns, echoing for a long time.

[...Escape...run fast...they are coming...the observer...is also the observed...the ancient path...is a trap...!!!]

Every fragmented phrase contained immense information and suffocating fear.

”They?” Su Muxue’s face was pale, her ice-blue eyes filled with unprecedented gravity. ”Does it refer to the existence behind the bone rotting grass? Or...something even more terrifying?” That drop of poisonous blood, sharing the same origin as the poison that afflicted her mother, made this warning cut to the bone.

”The observer is also the observed...” Lin Mo’s consciousness repeated this phrase, the nirvana star core slowly rotating as he tried to analyze its meaning. ”The Star Palace believes they are observing the starry sky and monitoring the Burial Ancient Abyss, but in reality, they themselves are under the observation, or even...manipulation, of some other ’thing’?”

This deduction sent a chill down their spines. If even an ancient, powerful existence like the Star Palace was merely a pawn, how terrifying must the mastermind hidden behind the scenes be?

”The ancient path is a trap...” Su Muxue looked in the direction the Lingxiao Sword Intent had finally pointed—towards the Burial Ancient Abyss. ”Does it refer to that so-called ’heavenly patrol ancient path’? It’s not a path to survival, but...a dead end? Or perhaps, some kind of bait to lure prey?”

The clues were fragmented, the truth buried beneath the dust of countless ages, but even this small glimpse was enough to be heart-stopping.

That dilapidated altar and the stone pillar that recorded the final, despairing warning now appeared especially sinister and eerie in the morning light. The sunlight seemed unable to fully dispel the heavy, ominous atmosphere lingering here.

”We cannot stay here long.” Lin Mo’s consciousness carried a strong sense of urgency. ”The Star Palace Cultivator who left the warning must have met with misfortune; that drop of poisonous blood is proof. Those ’they’ might still be able to sense this place.”

Su Muxue took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the tempest in her heart, and nodded. She took one last look at the cracked, lusterless star crystal, imprinting that despairing final message deep in her mind.

Without further hesitation, the two quickly left the ancient ruins and disappeared back into the dense, primeval forest.

This time, they proceeded with even greater caution, not only wary of the forest’s poisonous insects and fierce beasts, but also on guard for any possible trace related to ’them.’

Lin Mo’s nirvana star core expanded its Perception to the fullest, scanning the surroundings like a precise radar. Perhaps it was due to absorbing the last remnants of power from that star crystal, or perhaps it was the stimulation from that final message, but his ability to distinguish between vitality and lifelessness became even sharper. He could even vaguely sense some lingering ’Fragments of Consciousness’—

For instance, the terrified emotions of a Yao Beast that passed by a certain leaf days ago; or a trace of unwillingness from an Ancient Battle Spirit buried deep beneath a certain rock... This ability was mysterious and profound, yet it greatly enhanced their early warning capability, allowing them to avoid hidden dangers several times in advance.

Along the way, they found a clear mountain stream, rested briefly, and replenished their water supply.

Su Muxue washed the bloodstains and dust from her face. Looking at her reflection in the water—her still-pale face and those ice-blue eyes filled with exhaustion and determination—she fell silent for a moment.

”Lin Mo,” she suddenly spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse, ”can we...really contend against something like that?”

Her mother’s tragic death, the shocking upheaval in the Sect, Nangong Xuan’s sacrifice, the desperate situation at the Burial Ancient Abyss, Old Man Star Remains’ guardianship, the inscrutable White Mask, and now this despairing warning from the ancient Star Palace... A series of blows and the revelation of immense terror had left this usually aloof and resilient young woman feeling unprecedented hesitation and heaviness.

Lin Mo’s light sphere hovered by the water’s edge, remaining silent for a moment.

”I don’t know.” His consciousness was honest, almost brutally so. ”But once you know certain things, there’s no turning back. Mother’s bloody vengeance, Senior Nangong’s sacrifice, the entrustments from Senior Lingxiao and Old Man Star Remains... and everything we know now, it has all pushed us onto this path.”

The light sphere flickered slightly, emanating an undeniable tenacity.

”Moreover, we are not without our own assets. Your Profound Yin Immortal Body and Lingxiao Sword Intent, my chaos dao seed and nirvana star core... these are variables, factors that those ’things’ might not have fully anticipated.”

”Most importantly,” Lin Mo’s consciousness grew profound, ”we have no other choice. The outcome of escape might be a despairing warning like that of the Star Palace Cultivator. Only by moving forward is there a possibility of carving out a sliver of life amidst the desperation.”

Su Muxue looked at her reflection in the water, then at the faint yet unwavering light beside her. The hesitation in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a determined resolve to burn her bridges.

She scooped up some of the cold stream water, washed her face, and when she lifted her head again, she had regained her usual aloofness and sharpness.

”Let’s go.” She stood up. ”We need information. We need to know exactly where we are, how much time has passed in the outside world, and... the situation with the Sect.”

Only by understanding their current circumstances could they decide their next move.

The two set off again. This time, Lin Mo’s Perception focused on searching for traces of human activity.

Their efforts were not in vain.

At sunset, as they crossed over a steep mountain ridge, Lin Mo’s Perception finally captured faint yet clear sounds of human voices and the scent of cooking smoke coming from afar!

They could even hear the faint sound of flowing water and work chants.

”Over there!” Lin Mo’s consciousness carried a hint of excitement.

They quickened their pace, advancing another few miles, and pushed aside a final thicket of dense bushes—

A broad, mighty river meandered through the mountain ranges like a jade belt, its waters calm, with boats coming and going. On the northern bank at a bend in the river, a sizable ancient city was built nestled against the mountains and beside the water. Its bluish-grey city walls stood tall and majestic. The docks were crowded with boats, and within the city, cooking smoke curled upwards, the sounds of a bustling crowd creating a scene of prosperity.

Above the city gate, a massive stone plaque was carved with two ancient, elegant characters:

[White River]

Finally... they had made contact with the civilized world!

Although they didn’t know where this place was located or how far it was from Tianyan Sect, at least it was no longer endless primeval forests and desperate dead lands.

Both Su Muxue and Lin Mo let out a slight sigh of relief.

But their vigilance did not relax. Who knew if this seemingly prosperous ancient city hid dangers, or if there were spies for ’them’ here.

”Suppress your auras, enter the city cautiously.” Lin Mo reminded her.

Su Muxue nodded. She took out a hooded cloak and put it on, covering her conspicuous ice-blue hair and overly striking appearance. She then wrapped the zhenyuan remnant sword in cloth strips and slung it on her back. Finally, holding Lin Mo’s light sphere, she began walking towards the ancient city named ’White River’ at the foot of the mountain.

There were guards at the city gate, but they didn’t seem strict, merely glancing at the people coming and going as a routine duty.

Mingling with the crowd entering the city, the two entered the city gates inconspicuously.

Inside, the streets were broad, paved with bluestone slabs. Shops lined both sides, with vendors and porters hawking their wares incessantly. Cultivators and Mortals mingled as they walked. Most Cultivators’ cultivation levels were at the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment Stage, with very few Golden Core auras. It appeared to be just an ordinary, remote Cultivation city.

However, just as they passed a shop with a sign reading ’Hundred Knows Pavilion,’ Lin Mo’s nirvana star core suddenly throbbed violently!

His Perception instantly locked onto a spot inside the shop, behind the counter—

There sat a dozing old man with a goatee. Beneath his seemingly ordinary cloth clothes, around his neck, he seemed to be wearing a necklace. The pendant on that necklace... was emitting an extremely subtle, faint fluctuation that shared the same origin as the crystal from the Star Palace ruins!

This seemingly ordinary White River City did not seem so simple after all!