The broken pieces of the guardian lay scattered across the ground.
The chamber was silent again.
But the feeling had not disappeared.
It had changed.
Xu Tian stood still for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead.
"…So it wasn't alone," he said quietly.
The object in his hand felt warmer now.
Not hot.
But active.
As if it had awakened something.
The children remained calm.
The boy rested.
The girl watched the darkness ahead.
Xu Tian narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You feel it too."
No answer came.
But he didn't expect one.
He stepped forward.
The deeper part of the ruins opened ahead of him.
The air grew heavier with each step.
Not oppressive.
But dense.
Like something was gathering.
Xu Tian moved slowly.
Carefully.
The ground beneath him was no longer broken stone.
It was smooth.
Intact.
Unnatural.
"…This place wasn't meant to collapse," he thought.
The path led into a wider space.
Larger than the previous chamber.
The walls were covered in clear carvings.
Not damaged.
Not faded.
Complete.
Xu Tian stopped.
At the center of the room stood something different.
Not a creature.
Not a platform.
A structure.
Tall.
Still.
Untouched.
Xu Tian's grip tightened slightly.
"…This again."
It was similar to what he had seen before.
But stronger.
Much stronger.
The feeling inside him reacted instantly.
More stable.
More clear.
As if it recognized it.
Xu Tian stepped closer.
Each step made that feeling deepen.
Not chaotic.
Not violent.
Controlled.
He stopped just a few steps away.
"…So this is the source," he murmured.
He didn't reach out immediately.
This time, he waited.
Watched.
Listened.
The ruins were silent.
But not empty.
Xu Tian could feel it.
Something deeper still remained.
Not moving.
Not showing itself.
But present.
Xu Tian exhaled slowly.
"…If you're here," he said quietly, "come out."
Nothing answered.
The silence stretched.
Then the air shifted slightly.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
"…There it is."
The feeling changed.
Not approaching.
But focusing.
On him.
Xu Tian adjusted the children in his arms.
His stance steadied.
The energy inside him responded again.
Clear.
Stable.
Ready.
"…So this isn't over yet."
The ruins had given him something.
But they were not finished with him.
And neither was whatever still remained inside.