Chapter 79: The Enigmatic Passageways

As Lyra stepped aside, the air seemed to shimmer, revealing a narrow passageway that disappeared into the darkness. The ground was covered in a layer of fine, glowing dust, and strange symbols were etched into the stone walls, their meaning lost to time. Chen Jiuzhang held the crystal - key aloft, its light flickering slightly as if sensing the mysteries that lay ahead.​"Are we really going in there?" Wu Laogou asked, his voice tinged with trepidation. He nudged the ground with his foot, causing the glowing dust to swirl up in a small, ghostly cloud.​Su Nian tightened her grip on her chains, the metal links clinking softly. "We've come this far. There's no turning back now." Her eyes were fixed on the passageway, a determined glint in them.​The group stepped forward, their footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent corridor. After a few minutes of walking, they came across a large, circular room. In the center, there was a pedestal made of a strange, iridescent material. On top of the pedestal rested a scroll, its edges frayed and its surface covered in more of the mysterious symbols.​Luna was the first to approach the pedestal. "This could be a map, or perhaps instructions on how to navigate the rest of this place," she said, her voice filled with excitement. But as she reached out to touch the scroll, a sudden blast of energy shot out from the pedestal, knocking her backward.​Zhang Chengying rushed to her side, helping her up. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning the pedestal warily.​Luna nodded, rubbing her arm. "I'm fine. But this place is clearly protected by powerful magic."​Just then, the walls of the room began to shake, and the symbols on the walls started to glow brightly. From the shadows, strange, ethereal creatures emerged. They were humanoid in shape but made entirely of a shimmering, translucent substance, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.​"More guardians," Shen Qingluan said, raising the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal. The golden light it emitted flickered uncertainly, as if hesitant in the face of these new opponents.​The creatures didn't attack immediately. Instead, they formed a circle around the group, their movements graceful yet menacing. One of them stepped forward, its form shifting and changing as it did so. It raised a hand, and a series of images flashed before the group's eyes - images of a great, ancient evil that lurked deeper within the realm, waiting to be awakened.​Chen Jiuzhang frowned, his grip on the crystal - key tightening. "What are you trying to tell us?" he asked, his voice echoing in the now - silent room.​The creature let out a series of strange, musical notes, and the images in the air changed. This time, they showed the group themselves, fighting against the evil, but also facing great sacrifices.​Lyra, who had been following them at a distance, stepped into the room. "These are the Spirit Guardians. They guard the most sacred secrets of the Gui Xu Secret Realm. It seems they're trying to warn you of what lies ahead."​As Lyra spoke, the Spirit Guardians began to move again, their forms swirling and merging. They created a barrier of light, blocking the path forward. It was clear that they wouldn't let the group pass without further proof of their worthiness.​With a determined look, Chen Jiuzhang stepped forward. "We've faced countless dangers to get here. We won't be stopped by a warning, no matter how dire." His words seemed to resonate with the crystal - key, which began to glow more brightly. The battle for the secrets of the Gui Xu Secret Realm was far from over, and the group was about to face a challenge like no other.