novelraw Chapter 223: The Guardian Before the Scales
Chapter 223: The Guardian Before the Scales
The white light wings contracted, ultimately dissolving into spots of light that vanished in the air. The glow from the vulture mark on the back of Lin Jie's hand shifted from blazing intensity to a gentle warmth, gradually subsiding.
Julian, supporting the severely injured William, stared blankly at Lin Jie's back, a trace of deep concern flashing in his eyes.
For that brief moment, the aura of majesty and sacredness emanating from Lin Jie made Julian feel that the person standing there was no longer his companion, but a top predator awakened from legend.
It was a power that inspired awe, but also fear.
"Lin Jie..." Julian's voice was somewhat hoarse. He didn't know how to describe his complex feelings at this moment.
A sharp, raptor-like coldness and indifference flashed through Lin Jie's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by the reason and weariness belonging to a human.
An intense feeling of weakness swept over Lin Jie's entire body. The cost of actively activating and controlling the vulture mark was far greater than he had imagined.
His mental energy was completely depleted, and his body felt extremely fatigued.
"I'm fine." Lin Jie waved his hand at Julian, his voice raspy, before quickly walking over to William to check the old soldier's injuries.
William had multiple fractured ribs. The powerful penetrating force of the [Nine-Bend Yellow River] had severely damaged his bones and internal organs. Awakened now by excruciating pain, his face was pale, his breathing labored;
he had completely lost his ability to fight."Yan Xilou..." William ground out the name through clenched teeth, his eyes filled with a humiliation and anger the old soldier had never experienced in his life.
"Don't worry, he won't get away." Lin Jie's voice was firm. He took out a first-aid kit from his clothes and began administering emergency treatment to William with practiced skill. "But right now, we must leave this place as soon as possible."
Julian understood Lin Jie's intent. He looked around. The remaining forces of the Eternal Serpent, who had earlier been repelled by the UMA, were recovering from their panic and reorganizing sporadic fire.
Although they were terrified of the power Lin Jie had just displayed, the orders from Yan Xilou and the cult's discipline prevented them from retreating.
"Lin, that ability of yours... can you use it again?" Julian asked in a low voice.
Lin Jie shook his head with a bitter smile. He felt the mark on the back of his right hand had sunk into a state of "satiated" dormancy and would not respond to his call again for a short time.
"No. We don't need it anymore." Lin Jie's gaze swept over the paths leading deeper into the temple left by the fleeing UMA. "We have a safer route now."
He said to Julian, "You support William and follow me closely. It's our turn to walk the path those beasts opened for us."
Julian immediately grasped his meaning, a flicker of admiration in his eyes.
The path Lin Jie referred to was precisely the safe corridor formed by the panicked flight of that group of UMA.
The lingering "apex predator's residual aura" left by [White's Airspace] still permeated this area. Its deterrent power meant no creature would dare set foot here for a short time.
And this path happened to lead in the direction Yan Xilou had disappeared.
The three of them hesitated no longer. Julian struggled to support the tall William while Lin Jie took the rear guard. They formed a slow-moving but determined formation, proceeding along that "safe corridor" into the darkness at the temple's core.
The surrounding cult members continued to harass them, but they too held a lingering fear of those UMA and dared not approach too closely, only watching as the three disappeared into a dark passageway.
The passage sloped downward. The air grew increasingly dry and cold. Murals depicting the "living mummy" creation process on the walls appeared even more ferocious under their swaying searchlight beams.
After walking for about ten minutes, the space ahead suddenly opened up.
They had arrived at an even more magnificent and heart-palpitating underground space—a judgment hall whose grandeur was difficult to describe in words.
The entire hall's floor, walls, and even its dome were carved from a single, massive piece of pure obsidian.
The surface of the obsidian was polished smooth as a mirror, yet it reflected no light. Instead, it emitted a cold aura that made one feel their very soul might be sucked into it.
The hall's structure was simple, reflecting the ancient Egyptian theocratic pursuit of order.
Twelve massive stone pillars, carved with images of jackal-headed deities, were arranged on either side in a pattern imbued with geometric regularity, supporting a dome so high its top was unseen. This created a feeling of oppressive solemnity and awe.
And at the center of this judgment hall, the focal point of all sightlines, a massive scale hung silently in mid-air.
Its main structure was forged from some unknown golden metal, emitting a soft, non-dazzling glow even in the dim environment.
At either end of the scale's beam were two enormous platinum trays. Although the trays were empty, they seemed to bear the weight of the world.
However, the state of this scale's existence was peculiar.
It was not a physical entity, but a spiritual projection existing between being and non-being. It flickered between visibility and blurriness, as if it might vanish into nothingness at any moment.
[Scales of the Dead].
This should be the legendary divine artifact used by Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, to judge the souls of the deceased, weighing their sins and virtues.
Lin Jie and the others held their breath upon seeing this scale.
They could feel the spiritual fluctuations emanating from it were vast, ancient, and just, forming an opposing balance on some level with the chaos and nothingness of the [Tear of Apophis].
Yan Xilou and his followers stood before this illusory scale.
They seemed to be performing some complex ritual. Several figures in black were carefully arranging items around the scale's base, while Yan Xilou stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the divine artifact symbolizing the judgment of death.
What captured Lin Jie's complete attention wasn't just Yan Xilou, nor the legendary artifact.
It was a "Guardian" standing before the [Scales of the Dead].
It was a colossal statue, ten meters tall, carved from a single, complete piece of obsidian, seamlessly integrated with the material of the entire hall.
The statue's form depicted one of the famous deities from ancient Egyptian mythology: Anubis, the god of death, mummification, and the guide and protector of the dead.
It possessed the robust torso of a human and the sleek, elegant head of a jackal, its ears held high as if listening to whispers from the underworld.
In its left hand, it held an Ankh scepter symbolizing life and power. Its right hand hung naturally at its side, palm facing forward, forming an ancient gesture representing protection and prohibition.
The entire statue was exquisitely carved, full of a sense of power and sanctity.
But what was special was that, despite clearly being a lifeless stone carving, it gave Lin Jie a feeling that it was "alive."
It stood there like a loyal guard who had remained silent for millennia, quietly protecting the divine artifact behind it, scrutinizing all mortals who dared to step into this sacred forbidden zone.
It was the final, and most solid, line of defense for the [Scales of the Dead].
The moment Lin Jie's gaze met that statue's, he sensed a cold, scrutinizing feeling. Those empty eye sockets carved from obsidian were staring into his very soul.
An irresistible warning sounded directly in his mind.
"Before the weighing begins, no being with mass may cross this boundary."
Lin Jie was first startled by the sudden voice, then began to feel puzzled.
At that moment, the ritual preparations were completed. Yan Xilou turned around.
He noticed Lin Jie and the others who had just arrived at the hall's edge. His face showed no surprise, but rather revealed a smile that said "just as I expected."
"Brother Lin, your efficiency is a bit higher than I anticipated," he said gently. "However, your timing is just right."
He raised his hand, pointing at the majestic jackal-headed statue, and said in a tone of boasting:
"Come, let me introduce you."
"This is the Guardian of the [Scales of the Dead], the very embodiment of a 'rule' that even your archives only have vague records of."
"It possesses a unique power, which I call [Mass Judgment]."
The corners of Yan Xilou's mouth curled into a cruel arc.
"It's a difficult power to counter, capable of distorting the original weight of matter within a small area."
"It can make the air you breathe become as heavy as lead ingots, crushing your bodies."
"It can make the bullets you fire become lighter than feathers, losing all kinetic energy mid-air and falling powerlessly to the ground."
"Or even..." He paused, looking at Lin Jie, "...it can act directly within your bodies, increasing the weight of your hearts a hundredfold, causing them to stop abruptly from the unbearable load, resulting in a murder with no external wounds."
"So," Yan Xilou spread his hands, making a gesture of "please," his smile both mocking and confident, "now, it's your turn to choose."
"Will you stay here, letting my subordinates and the UMA that will soon arrive slowly exhaust your strength?"
"Or will you muster your courage and challenge this rule itself?"
These words, less a choice offered to Lin Jie and more a final mobilization speech for his own allies, finished, Yan Xilou turned away, no longer looking at Lin Jie's grave expression.
He turned his gaze towards the Eternal Serpent elites who harbored fear due to the legend of the obsidian Anubis.
The mockery vanished from Yan Xilou's face, replaced by a solemnity tinged with incitement.
"My brave allies," Yan Xilou's voice became resonant, like a prophet delivering a sermon, "look before you! That silent statue is the final shackle the false god has placed upon his followers, a test forged from the rules of matter and weight!"
He extended a hand, pointing at the [Scales of the Dead] emitting its soft glow, his eyes filled with fanaticism.
"And behind that shackle lies the ultimate treasure leading to 'Gnosis'! The supreme grace that can free us all from this physical prison and allow us a premature glimpse of the Mentor's radiance!"
"The false god's rules are destined to be broken! The barriers of matter will ultimately be melted by the flames of spirit!" Yan Xilou's voice held a bewitching power. He precisely grasped the fanatical faith in the hearts of these cult followers. "Now is the moment to use your loyalty and courage to clear the final obstacle for the Mentor's descent!"
"Go!" He swept his arm forward violently, his posture like a general issuing the command for a final assault. "Let this ancient temple witness the prologue of a new world in your fearless sacrifice!"
These words of temptation and incitement instantly ignited the final madness in those cult followers who viewed death as glory.
The remnants of fear in their hearts were replaced by a powerful longing for "Ascension."