Chapter 111 — The Strange Beast
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 3 of 5
But upon the smooth rim of the well lay a strange stone, white and translucent as crystal, seemingly round, though a closer look revealed countless facets of uneven size, over which a dazzling radiance streamed and played.
And the red light that ceaselessly shot up from the well, after passing through this crystal-like stone, was refracted layer upon layer until it seemed that threads of blood were flowing within it. These rays gathered in the space three chi above the stone into a crimson orb of light—the very "flame" Ming Li had seen burning from afar, and the source of all the light in the great hall.
Gazing at this mysterious and wondrous spectacle, Ming Li slowly approached the well, drew near that translucent, resplendent stone, and looked down.
A scene half-familiar met his eyes. Molten rock seethed and roared below, like the tides of a furious ocean, surging up and ebbing away without cease, the spattered magma hissing against the hard rock walls.
This Mystic Fire Altar had actually been built atop what seemed a volcano on the verge of eruption.
A wave of irritation swept Ming Li. Unconsciously he clenched his fists, and even his breathing grew heavy. Ever since drawing near those carvings of vicious gods on the floor, it was as though the images—such as he had never heard or seen—had roused the savagery deep in his heart; or perhaps these deities were simply cruel and wicked gods. The bloodlust in him waxed ever stronger, and yet, strangely, his mind remained clear, quite unlike his usual state, when he would sink almost wholly into madness.
But though his mind stayed clear, the torment of that violent savagery raging through his body grew all the more unbearable. Had anyone stood near, they would have seen Ming Li's eyes now blazing with red light, almost like a malevolent ghost's.
Just as Ming Li was forcing himself to hold on, Grey on his shoulder suddenly gave two squeaks, leaped down, and dropped straight toward that strange stone.
Ming Li was greatly alarmed. Within that stone a blood-red light faintly circulated, and even he, who had studied the demon cult's heavenly book for many years, sensed no small evil power in it. He hastily reached out to catch the monkey, crying, "Grey, careful!"
But Grey had leaped without warning, and Ming Li's reaction was a beat too slow; his grab caught only air. He saw Grey stretch out its body in midair, only its eyes flashing red like his own. Quick as a word, in the blink of an eye Grey had landed on the strange stone with a soft thud.
In an instant, the red light refracted up from the volcanic well through the stone was blocked beneath Grey's body, and almost at the same moment the crimson orb of light hovering in midair, condensed nearly into flame, lost its source and vanished at once.
Suddenly, the whole world seemed to fall silent.
In the space of a single turn, all light fled the great hall of the altar, and darkness shrouded every corner.
Ming Li held his breath, staring blankly at Grey.
It lay upon the strange stone, and for the moment seemed unharmed. The red light refracted from the well was blocked beneath it, cast upon its belly, every hair revealed.
The red glow circulated like fresh blood, flickering faintly over its body. Slowly, sounds began to issue from within Grey, like the grating of bones and joints.
Crack, crack...
Ming Li took a step forward, fixing his gaze on Grey, a faint foreboding stirring in his heart.
Grey turned its head slowly. Its eyes had become utterly red, dazzling and arresting in the darkness!
The next moment, the change struck!
In the great hall, from the depths shrouded in darkness, there suddenly came a desolate howl, sweeping vast and mighty through the air. Upon the floor around them, those carvings of vicious gods all began to glow with red light, lighting up one after another.