Chapter 296: Skyfall city 8.

Restaurants had begun serving food again.

Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing chose the first restaurant they saw.

It was called Immortal Roast Pavilion.

The restaurant was full of cultivators discussing the theft.

Everyone had a theory.

Some believed a demonic sect had stolen the treasure.

Others believed the City Lord’s own people were responsible.

A few claimed a mysterious young master from a major clan was behind it.

The most dramatic theory involved an ancient inheritance opening beneath the city and choosing a destined heroine.

Su Yubing whispered, "That one sounds like a novel."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"Very generic."

"I prefer the young master theory."

"Why?"

"Because they are always easy to deal with."

Mo Yuxin laughed.

They ordered several dishes.

While they were eating, a young woman suddenly entered the restaurant.

She was dressed in pale green robes.

Several guards followed her.

She looked anxious.

Her eyes moved around the room.

Then she saw Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing.

She stopped.

A moment later, she walked toward their table.

"Are you Senior Yuxin and Senior Yubing?"

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"Yes."

The woman bowed.

"I am Lin Shuang, the daughter of the Skyfall City Lin family. I need your help."

Su Yubing looked at the untouched dish in front of Lin Shuang.

"Have you eaten?"

Lin Shuang blinked.

"No."

Su Yubing pointed to the chair.

"Sit."

Lin Shuang sat down automatically.

Mo Yuxin pushed a plate toward her.

"Eat first."

Lin Shuang stared at them.

"But my family..."

"Can wait ten minutes."

Lin Shuang hesitated.

Then she started eating.

The food was good.

Very good.

Within a few minutes, her nervous expression softened.

Su Yubing asked, "Now tell us."

Lin Shuang lowered her voice.

"My younger brother disappeared."

Mo Yuxin frowned.

"When?"

"Three hours ago."

"What does this have to do with us?"

Lin Shuang looked around nervously.

"Because before he disappeared, he told me something."

"What?"

Lin Shuang swallowed.

"He said the thief was not after the treasure."

Su Yubing’s expression changed.

"Then what were they after?"

Lin Shuang leaned closer.

"A person."

Mo Yuxin’s eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

Lin Shuang looked directly at her.

"You."

The restaurant seemed to become quieter.

Su Yubing slowly placed her chopsticks down.

Mo Yuxin remained calm.

"Why?"

Lin Shuang shook her head.

"I do not know. But my brother found a message in the family ancestral hall."

"What message?"

Lin Shuang pulled out a folded piece of paper.

She placed it on the table.

Mo Yuxin opened it.

There were only seven words.

THE TWO WHO RETURN MUST REACH THE SEVENTH GATE.

Mo Yuxin stared at the paper.

Su Yubing leaned closer.

At that exact moment, every spiritual lamp in the restaurant went out.

Darkness covered the room.

A scream came from outside.

Then another.

Then the sound of thousands of bells ringing together across Skyfall City.

Mo Yuxin immediately stood.

Her hand found Su Yubing’s.

A strange blue light appeared above them.

The restaurant ceiling vanished.

The entire night sky was visible.

Seven enormous blue lanterns were floating above Skyfall City.

One by one, they opened.

A huge staircase appeared in the sky.

The staircase led nowhere.

It simply descended from the clouds toward the city.

At the bottom stood a single figure.

A woman in black robes.

She had long silver hair.

Her face was hidden behind a mask.

But when she raised her head, Mo Yuxin felt a familiar spiritual aura.

The masked woman spoke.

"Mo Yuxin."

The entire restaurant fell silent.

Su Yubing moved closer.

Mo Yuxin looked upward.

"Who are you?"

The woman removed her mask.

Su Yubing’s face changed.

Mo Yuxin’s pupils contracted.

The woman looked exactly like Su Yubing.

Not similar.

Not merely carrying the same appearance.

Exactly.

The woman smiled.

"You finally found her."

She pointed toward Su Yubing.

"Now come to the seventh gate."

The sky shook.

The seven blue lanterns burned brighter.

Then the masked woman smiled again.

"Or I will take her from you."

Mo Yuxin’s expression became completely cold.

For the first time since arriving in the Southern Continent, the calm and easygoing smile disappeared from her face.

She stepped forward.

Su Yubing immediately caught her sleeve.

"Yuxin."

Mo Yuxin looked back.

Su Yubing’s expression was calm.

"Together."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"Together."

They stepped outside.

Above them, the impossible staircase waited.

And beneath Skyfall City, the second gate began to open.

The final sound that echoed through the mega city was the voice of the ancient presence.

"Seven gates. Seven lives. One final choice."

The first step of the staircase lit up.

Mo Yuxin tightened her grip on Su Yubing’s hand.

Then the entire city suddenly vanished beneath their feet.

They were falling.

Not down.

Somewhere else.

Into a darkness filled with countless blue lanterns.

Su Yubing’s hand remained in Mo Yuxin’s.

Neither let go.

And in the darkness ahead, a familiar voice whispered the words that ended their peaceful journey.

"This time, let us see which one of you dies first."

The darkness swallowed them without warning.

There was no sensation of falling for the first few breaths.

There was simply nothing.

No sky.

No ground.

No spiritual energy.

Even divine sense seemed to disappear.

Mo Yuxin’s first instinct was to tighten her grip on Su Yubing.

Her second was to pull Su Yubing behind her.

Her third was to realize that there was no behind anymore.

The space around them had become completely directionless.

Su Yubing’s voice came through the darkness.

"Yuxin?"

"I am here."

"Can you see me?"

"No."

"Neither can I."

Mo Yuxin reached outward.

Her fingers found Su Yubing’s wrist.

She pulled her closer until their shoulders touched.

"Do not let go."

Su Yubing smiled faintly despite the strange situation.

"I was not planning to."

"Good."

They floated together for an unknown amount of time.

Then a blue lantern appeared in front of them.

It was tiny at first.

Then anot6her appeared.

Then another.

Soon the darkness was filled with hundreds of blue lanterns.

Each lantern contained a scene.

.

.

.

TO BE CONTINUED.