Duke found a hidden cave deep in the forest outside Silver Shield City. The entrance was narrow, allowing only one person to pass through sideways, but inside was a rather spacious natural stone chamber. The cave walls were covered with layers of grey-white stalactites, and the air was cool and dry.
He scanned the cave inside and out with his Spiritual Power. After confirming there were no traces of indigenous activity, he set up a simple alert and protective Witch Array at the entrance, then sat cross-legged against the cave wall and took out the statue from his Space Ring.
The statue lay quietly in his hand, the sapphire in its eye sockets still emitting a deep and steady dark purple light.
Duke's Spiritual Power penetrated into the inside of the statue, carefully tracing along the complex rune paths until he quickly understood the essence of the object.
