Lilian's long hair drifted slowly in the water. With a trace of confusion in her eyes, she whispered, “Is Atlantis really here?”
Ning Busan didn't answer, his deep gaze scanning the surrounding darkness.
Atlantis was hidden by the Lock of Causality, and Lilian was the key to unlocking it. But in this void of darkness, they needed another way to sense the temple's presence.
“Close your eyes,” Ning Busan said suddenly.
Lilian was taken aback for a moment, but she did as she was told and closed her eyes.
“Feel the seawater,” Ning Busan continued. “As long as Atlantis once existed, it will surely leave traces in this sea.
“Follow your feelings, and you will find the Lock of Causality.”
Lilian's body relaxed, letting the seawater gently cradle her. She felt the silence, and gradually, her consciousness began to sink deep into the water, as if merging with it.
Suddenly, her consciousness felt as if it were being pulled by something, and a subtle, irresistible force emerged in her mind.
“I feel it!” Lilian's voice carried a hint of surprise.
She quickly swam in one direction, with Ning Busan following closely behind, his eyes alertly scanning their surroundings, ready to respond to any potential danger at any moment.
They swam for an unknown amount of time before sinking to the deepest part of the seabed.
Lilian's heart beat faster and faster, and she asked excitedly, “Ning Busan, do you see it?”
Ning Busan looked at the pitch-black seawater, having no idea what Lilian was so excited about. “What do you see?”
Lilian said, “I see... the threads of destiny.”
Countless threads interwoven around her, each one connecting the past and the future, seemingly guiding her direction.
“Your destiny is a complete void, which is why you can see things others cannot,” Ning Busan said in a steady voice. “Walk forward, don't be afraid. I am right behind you.”
Lilian threaded her way through the interwoven strands and finally found the source.
It was a lock wound from countless threads of destiny, and the shape of the keyhole perfectly fit her soul.
Lilian understood.
The only way to open the Lock of Causality was to sacrifice her soul.
She would die.
Lilian reached out, her fingertips touching the threads. They were cold and resilient, yet carried an indescribable weight.
In an instant, countless scenes flooded into her mind.
She saw the people around her fall into misfortune one after another. Her parents slept forever because of her, her friends lost their lives because of her, and anyone who tried to get close to her met with disaster.
No matter what danger she faced, she could always turn misfortune into a blessing, but those she loved could never escape the clutches of calamity, persisting until their deaths.
Her existence was like an eternal curse.
To be forever alone—that was her destiny.
Lilian turned her head, choking back tears as she said, “Ning Busan, goodbye—”
She took a deep breath, slowly moving her body closer to the Lock of Causality.
The moment she began to merge into the keyhole, the Lock of Causality finally materialized slowly.
Once Ning Busan clearly saw what was happening, three massive question marks popped up over his head. “Lilian, what are you doing?”
Lilian squeezed out a smile. “Ning Busan, don't you want to open Atlantis too?”
“If opening the Lock of Causality is the purpose of my existence, then at this moment, my life has finally been given value.”
Hearing this, Ning Busan said helplessly, “I told you to find where the Lock of Causality is, not to sacrifice yourself!”
Don't just throw away your fish head so casually!
But Lilian had already closed her eyes. Her body was gradually turning transparent, as if she were about to completely merge with the Lock of Causality.
Ning Busan drew his Jinge Sword.
So what if the Lock of Causality was a divine artifact?
His sword was forged from meteoric iron from beyond the heavens and tempered by dragon flame. Even a divine artifact could be destroyed by it.
Ning Busan aimed at the nearest thread of destiny and swung his blade down fiercely. The moment the Jinge Sword contacted the thread, a crisp snapping sound rang out.
A powerful recoil traveled up the blade, numbing Ning Busan's arm. Yet, he continued to swing the Jinge Sword. With every strike, several threads were severed.
The Lock of Causality was enraged!
Countless threads squirmed like living things, trying to wrap around Ning Busan's body.
Cause and effect, cause and effect. From cause arises effect, and from effect traces cause.
The Lock of Causality was a divine artifact that materialized destiny. As long as it could control the source of Ning Busan's destiny, it could render him completely powerless to resist.
However, very quickly, the Lock of Causality noticed something was wrong.
Tracing back along Ning Busan's threads of destiny, what it saw instead was a chaotic and vast network, with each thread connecting to an existence that left it utterly shocked.
The Lock of Causality: “...”
Who on earth is this little ancestor?
With almost no hesitation, the Lock of Causality spat Lilian back out.
If I can't afford to provoke you, can't I at least hide from you?
Lilian opened her eyes. Seeing Ning Busan standing in front of her, her breathing turned rapid.
“I... I'm not dead?”
Ning Busan's voice was cold. “Only by being alive is there value. If you die, there really is nothing left.”
Lilian's heart pounded wildly.
She nodded. “I understand.”
Ning Busan stabbed his sword straight into the keyhole.
The Lock of Causality was dumbfounded.
I already gave you your person back, why are you still stabbing me?
As Ning Busan fiddled with it, he complained, “Who says you have to use a key to open a lock? Breaking the lock works just as well!”
The Lock of Causality: “...”
You're something else, you really are!
Muttering curses and feeling utterly aggrieved, the Lock of Causality twisted its waist, letting out a click sound.
The lock opened.
A sudden burst of silver light erupted, illuminating the surrounding seawater as if day had broken.
Amidst this light, the temple of Atlantis rose majestically.
It was exactly the same as in Ning Busan's dreams. The entire temple was constructed from translucent deep-sea jade, its surface covered in countless fluorescent corals, with the dome casting down brilliant starlight that pierced through the dark seawater.
Atlantis had finally reappeared in the world.
Right at this moment, a sudden change occurred.
Countless monsters swarmed from all directions, their eyes fixed on Ning Busan with a bloodthirsty desire.
“Xenos?!” Ning Busan let out a bitter laugh. “Give me a break! Don't tell me the black hole actually collapsed?”
These xenos were clearly coming for him. He could only grip the Jinge Sword and engage in a fierce battle with them.
At the same time, the four deep-sea overlords and the jiaoren also saw the light emitted when Atlantis emerged, and they arrived at the scene simultaneously.
The jiaoren hovered in front of the temple, refusing to allow the xenos to take a single step closer to it.
Meanwhile, the deep-sea overlords confronted one another, greed and ambition flashing in their eyes.
Every single one of them wanted to be the first fish to step into the temple, obtain the inheritance of the Sea God, and become the true ruler of the deep sea.
After a brief, tentative standoff, the four of them also began fighting among themselves.
By this point, the situation was already chaotic enough.
But an even greater disruptor had arrived.
A pitch-black, ornate door suddenly materialized, with a scorching and malevolent aura pouring out from within.
The doors slowly creaked open, emitting a low rumble.
The demons of Hell had descended!
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