Chapter 1122: Helena (Part 2)

Chapter 1122: Chapter 903: Helena (Part 2)

As soon as the blood portal opened, he rushed directly into it. The massive dragon body seemed to be scraped by countless invisible blades as it passed through, with dragon scales, muscles, and wing membranes shattering and falling off. He gritted his teeth and pushed forward desperately, finally crashing out of the contracting web of space.

But at the last moment when his dragon body passed through, the blood portal closed abruptly, precisely severing his left front claw.

Dark golden dragon blood spurted out from the severed end like a fountain, and a complete dragon claw covered with dragon scales fell heavily onto the stone slab. The claw tips still reflected a cold metallic sheen, twitching slightly before completely stiffening.

Valentine let out a wretched howl and fled deeper into the maze without looking back.

His massive body bumped left and right in the narrow passage, leaving a trail of dark golden dragon blood in his wake. His haste was a stark contrast to the poised arrogance he had displayed upon arrival.

Helena did not give chase. She stood still until Valentine’s aura completely disappeared from the edge of perception, then slowly withdrew her hands.

Her snow-white magic robe had not a single drop of blood on it. She stopped beside the severed dragon claw, glanced down at it, then reached out to store the dragon claw into her space ring, turning to head in the direction of Duke and Vera.

In terms of spatial rules, she had absolute control. Valentine’s attempt to clash using a secret technique to form a field was too naive.

After all, Helena was a genius in this field.

…

As Duke and his companion continued advancing in the maze, the air in front of them suddenly stirred with a faint ripple.

The ripple was like a drop of water landing on the calm surface of a lake, slowly spreading outwards.

At Vera’s fingertips, a few thorn flowers instantly bloomed, but Duke gently pressed them down.

The next second, Helena stepped out from the ripple, the hem of her snow-white magic robe lightly brushing against the stone floor, her entire being seemingly emerging from an invisible watery mirror.

Duke and Vera both let out a sigh of relief; they recognized the newcomer.

Helena’s face remained elegant and calm, as if the battle with Valentine earlier had been nothing more than a brief interlude in her daily stroll.

Duke stepped forward and sincerely expressed his thanks once again.

Vera also bowed slightly.

Helena lifted her hand gently, indicating that formalities were unnecessary.

“All members of the Six-Ring Tower, there’s no need for thanks,” her voice was soft and composed, “Before setting out, the teacher also instructed me to assist members of the Six-Ring Tower on the Path of Divine Revelation whenever possible. I was merely doing my duty.”

Helena glanced at him and Vera, asking if they needed further assistance.

Duke and Vera exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

Duke said they would continue their journey on their own. Helena did not say much more, just nodded lightly, then turned and stepped towards the air.

Her figure was once again enveloped by a ripple the moment she stepped, then, as if melted into the ripple, she disappeared silently in front of the two.

The stone corridor fell back into silence, with even her lingering aura swiftly swallowed by the maze itself.

Duke withdrew his gaze, exhaled lightly, turned to Vera, and said, “Let’s go.”

The two walked for another half a day, passing countless branches.

The map in Vera’s hand now included several newly drawn passages, and the patterns on the surrounding stone walls grew denser. Threads of faint golden light slowly crept through the stone slab seams, as if they would flow down the walls to the floor.

The air also felt different, no longer just the dry and cold stone scent of other parts of the maze, but with the addition of a faint plant fragrance, mixed with the scent of soil and decayed leaves, faintly wafting in the depths of the stone corridor.

Duke halted; he was the first to sense the source of this fragrance.

His Life Rule Perception spread out, immediately capturing a patch of unusual life force deep within a nearby branch passage.

Lush, dense, and exuberant, incongruous with the stone and fog-filled maze.

He gestured for Vera to slow down, and the two turned into that side passage along the stone wall.

The further they walked, the stronger the plant fragrance grew. At first, it was just a faint scent of vegetation, but gradually it became strong enough to discern the aroma of decayed leaves, damp earth, and something blooming with an overpowering sweetness.

The ancient patterns on the stone walls on both sides were no longer that cold light but were mostly obscured by deep green vines emerging from the stone crevices.

The vines grew along the stone walls, with small, thick leaves that glowed faintly. As the two approached, the leaves gently trembled as if sensing something.

At the end of the passage, an open area surrounded by high walls appeared before them without warning.

There was no mist above, and daylight streamed down from the dim dome high above, casting a dim yet warm green light over the plant-shrouded space.

The plants here seemed to have been transplanted from another world: interwoven ancient trees, half-human-height ferns, vines spreading across the ground, and several clusters of deep purple flowers blooming abundantly.

At the center of the lush greenery stood an extremely ancient Ancient Vine, rising like a coiled creature. Robust thorny branches intertwined, slowly reaching outward. The surface of the vine was covered in sharp thorns, each thorn faintly glowing with dark golden luminescence.

At the tip of its highest branch, a few withered yellow leaves were half-curled, cradling the only seed inside.

The seed was about the size of a thumb, deep green almost black, with a surface covered in intricate golden veins. Every time the golden veins brightened, the surrounding plants would seem to respond to a silent call, swaying slightly.

Vera stood at the entrance; the half-bloomed thorn flowers at her fingertips suddenly blossomed fully, their pale purple petals trembling nervously in the aura exuded by the Ancient Vine.

Her breathing grew light, her composed expression replaced by a profound longing.

Duke took one look at her and understood.

The seed was responding to her, and Vera’s spiritual power was responding to that seed.

They had not yet acted, but the Ancient Vine had already recognized them.

Yet Duke did not rashly move forward; he saw what was beneath the Ancient Vine. Nestled among the entangled roots, a long-bodied demon lay there.

It resembled a creature assembled from branches and beast bones, with long and slender, bent limbs. Its skin was covered in rough bark, with hair-like tendrils protruding from the cracks along its back.

It had no eyes, just a vertical slit on its face, from which fine golden pollen drifted out with each opening, dispersing into the air.

Demigod level, this demon’s presence was so low that Duke’s conventional senses couldn’t even detect it; only the Life Rules could barely outline its shape.

It was carefully guarding that only seed, like a guardian coiled at the base of the Ancient Vine.

The duo retreated to the corner of the passageway, where Duke used his spiritual power to send his voice directly into Vera’s mind, “The seed is responding to you. Can you confirm what happens if you approach it?”

Vera nodded lightly, slowly stepping forward, raising her hands, and fully opening the two purple thorn flowers that bloomed in her palms without a sound.

The petals trembled gently in the air, as if touching an invisible barrier.

In the next moment, the Ancient Vine moved.

A few of its thorny branches crept out of the soil, extending very slowly toward Vera, stopping a couple of steps away, then gently swaying rhythmically as if sniffing her presence.

And the demon resembling dried bones also raised its head. It did not attack but opened the slit on its face toward Vera, as if verifying something.

Duke understood; the Ancient Vine was alive and possessed its own will.

There was a natural resonance between Vera’s Thorn Domain and that seed, which was why they could reach this place without alarming the demon.

However, the seed was guarded by the demigod-level demon, and even though it hadn’t shown any aggressive behavior, it remained firmly positioned at the base of the Ancient Vine, showing no intention of stepping aside.