Long Chen and Zhu Chang kept going deeper into the hallway, which seemed mostly empty. Still, Zhu Chang told Long Chen to be wary about sudden traps.
"Even though most of the challenges are open and won't be in the form of traps, some previous explorers did talk about a few random traps to test the reaction of the participants."
He kept leading the path as well, letting Long Chen and Xun walk behind.
"Xun, are you sure you don't want to go back to the Inner World?" Long Chen asked.
"I don't need to. Don't I have the talisman already? I have an extra life. Don't worry about me," Xun replied, shaking her head.
She straight refused to leave Long Chen alone.
"Why do you even want to be here with me? I doubt you will actually be needed here."
"You can't be that sure. My knowledge can come in handy. Moreover, I keep wanting to have an adventure as well. I've watched you experience such things. I always wanted to be a direct part of one such exploration as well," Xun answered.
"I think it's fine that she is here. She is actually safer than us with the Talisman. Moreover, she is walking in the back. Don't worry too much," Zhu Chang also told Long Chen, agreeing that there wasn't much danger to her, at least until she used her talisman once.
Xun smiles. "See? That's what I was saying as well. Now, do you… Huh? That?"
"What happened?" Long Chen asked, noticing Xun stop in the middle of speaking.
"The words on the wall. That doesn't look like the language of the Godly Beasts," Xun said, pointing towards the wall on the side.
"That is certainly true. That's not our language. I wonder what language that is?" Zhu Cheng agreed. It was his first time seeing this section of the tomb as well.
He walked closer to the wall. "I can't read this language."
He brought a piece of paper and a pen out of his spatial storage and started writing what he was seeing on the walls. "I should note it down. I can show father and ask him what he means. He must know which language it is."
"You don't need to note them. I know what language it is," Xun said, observing the words on the wall.
"Which language?" Zhu Chang asked. "It's not human language either, as far as I know. I've studied them as well."
"Nope. It's certainly not human language either," Xun said, sighing.
"Then what language is it?" Long Chen asked.
"It's the Ancient Language of Origin," Xun said.
"What? How do you know it? As far as I know, that language had disappeared entirely millions of years ago. No records of that language are left for anyone to read and understand that language. That's like a remnant of a forgotten time. So how do you know?" Zhu Chang asked.
"It's not important how she knows. What's important is what this language is. Can someone tell me about it?" Long Chen asked.
Xun knew the language, and Zhu Chang knew about the existence of this language. Only Long Chen knew nothing.
"The Ancient Language was spoken a really long time ago by the Ancients."
"Ancients?"
"They were a special that existed in the past. They were said to be stronger than the Godly Beasts and Heavenly Warriors. Unfortunately, they weren't high in numbers. I think there were only around ten or twenty of them that used to exist during that time," Xun said.
"I heard the same. They had a different language than all others, but they were more secretive as well. They didn't interact with any other species and didn't involve themselves in anything," Zhu Chang said, sighing.
"However, one day, their realm was destroyed suddenly. All we know was that it exploded. According to history, no one knew how it happened. The Ancients and their Language disappeared with them," he continued. "That's why it's surprising to know that there is someone who knows their language at this time."
"So, tell me. How do you know?" he asked Xun.
"I told you about my teacher. He knew about this language. As for how he knew, I have no idea. Now can we get back to the topic at hand?" Xun asked. "Or do you not want to know what these words say?"
"Fine. You may continue," Zhu Chang said. " Tell me what it says."
Xun shifted her focus back to the wall and started reading.
"The destiny is not something to be fought. Only the worthy can come out unscathed. Return if you doubt; death awaits the unworthy."
"That's what it says?" Long Chen asked Xun.
"Yeah. It seems like some kind of warning, telling us to go back," Xun said.
"Maybe the first Ancestor is testing our courage. It doesn't matter. We can't go back," Zhu Chang said. "See? He says return if you doubt. Maybe he means to return if you doubt yourself?"
"I feel like I am worthy, at least. I don't see any reason to go back. You should be the same," he asked Long Chen.
"Yeah. It's certainly interesting wording. I've always been annoyed at this destiny stuff. I don't think I'll be going back either. Destiny is not something to be fought?"
"That sounds amusing to the person who has to go against destiny to survive at every corner of his life."
Long Chen refused to go back either. Such words weren't going to scare him.
He turned to Xun.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not going back either. The appearance of the Ancient Language is really fascinating. Who knows, there might be more such messages along the way. You really need me."
"She's telling the truth. She's the only one who can read these things. We might be needing her on the way if we don't want to be completely oblivious," Zhu Chang said.
"Fine. You'll come with us. But if you die once, I'm sending you back right away. I won't listen to any excuses," Long Chen reminded Xun. "You understand?"
"Perfectly."
…
Zhu Chang continued walking through the hallway, ignoring the words of warning.
After they all left, the words on the wall started shining in a red light before they all disappeared completely, leaving the wall completely blank.
Soon, the three of them reached the wall. There was only a small opening on the wall that looked like a door. But the door was only a few inches tall.
Long Chen looked down at the door, frowning. "Is this an entrance for rats or something?"
