Chapter 507 (Inspiration Capsule Extra - )

Right at that moment, a violent tremor erupted from the base of the tower and the entire structure began to shake, Bruce was startled, he knew he had to leave immediately, he turned and ran toward the entrance, only to find the doors tightly shut and impossible to open.

He looked around frantically for a way out, suddenly, he spotted a half-open small door that seemed to lead to a secret passage, without hesitation, he dashed inside, sprinting down the narrow tunnel.

The passage was pitch black, with only the occasional howl of wind rushing past his ears, Bruce’s heartbeat echoed in the darkness, he felt as if he had been plunged into an unknown world, he didn’t know where the passage led, nor whether he would escape.

Just as he was on the verge of giving up, a sliver of light appeared ahead, he quickened his pace, running toward it, and finally emerged, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar place, surrounded by a desolate wasteland of ruins.

Bruce sat panting on the ruins, his heart filled with fear and confusion, he didn’t know where this place was or what he should do next, but he knew he had to find the truth and seek justice for Valen.

He stood up, looking around for a direction, just then, he noticed a stone stele amidst the ruins, engraved with strange runes, he approached and carefully observed the markings, suddenly, he felt an intense surge of power erupting from it.

Bruce wanted to retreat, but it was too late.

As the power erupted, he felt himself tightly bound by an invisible force, then rapidly dragged into one illusion after another, he attempted to use the formation disk bestowed by his Master, hoping to break through the endless labyrinth, but every attempt failed.

After the first teleportation, he found himself in a bustling marketplace, it was a cacophony of voices, vendor cries and haggling rang endlessly in his ears, colorful flags fluttered in the breeze, and stalls were packed with a dazzling array of goods, yet all this prosperity gave him an inexplicable sense of alienation, as if he were merely a passerby, unable to blend into this world.

Immediately after, he was teleported into a desolate desert, scorching sunlight baked the earth, and rolling sand dunes stretched endlessly, he felt plunged into a realm of deathly silence, loneliness and helplessness welled up in his heart, he trudged across the wasteland, filled with despair.

Just as he was at his most desperate, he was teleported again, this time into a deep, secluded forest, towering trees reached the sky, thick vines entangled the branches, and the air was heavy with moisture, he heard birds chirping, but this pulse of life brought no comfort, instead, it felt incredibly eerie.

He knew that if he couldn’t figure out a solution, he would be lost forever within his Master’s formation, it was simply too formidable.

Yet just as he was about to give up, that mysterious voice rang out once more, piercing through the barriers of the illusion directly into his ears, "Bruce, do not give up, these illusions are merely surface appearances, your inner heart is the key, only by finding your true heart can you break the formation."

Bruce’s heart jolted, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his fear, closing his eyes, he began to recall every detail from joining Heaven-Sealing Pass to meeting Valen.

The past laughter, tears, struggles, and sacrifices played back in his mind, he felt his inner determination and courage, as well as the profound grief over Valen’s death, these emotions converged into a powerful force, allowing him to rediscover himself.

The mysterious voice echoed again, "Bruce, it is time, I will pull you back to reality, but remember, the truth often hides in places you cannot see."

Bruce felt a tremendous force wrap around him, swiftly yanking him back into the prison, he stood in the corner of his cell once more, looking at the familiar surroundings, his heart filled with disappointment.

"How was it? Did you discover anything?" The voice now sounded somewhat weak.

"No, I only entered the outermost barrier and got lost in the illusions," Bruce shook his head, frustrated.

"It’s fine, we still have a long time ahead, we will investigate slowly."

Next door, the red light gleaming in the old man’s eyes had noticeably dimmed.

"Damn it, it’s all because I’m too weak! If I were the strongest in the world, why would I still be stuck in this cell?!" Bruce kicked the wall and cursed, unbeknownst to him, a flash of red gleamed in his own eyes.

Meanwhile, outside the cell block, Adam was quietly gazing at the Starlight Crystal in his hand, his eyes as profound as the deepest lake.

...

A few more days passed.

Bruce leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath of the prison’s stale air, they still hadn’t broken through that illusion.

Every time he came out, Bruce would piece together what he had seen and heard, trying to find a pattern from those chaotic memories, but every recollection only left him more confused, the scenes were so real, yet so illusory, he couldn’t determine what was true and what was fake.

Bruce did not lose heart, he knew that uncovering the truth required effort, he began observing everything in the cell more meticulously, every brick and every crevice could potentially hold a secret.

He also kept a close ear on the guards’ conversations, his only source of intelligence, he tried to glean clues regarding Valen’s death from their idle chatter, whenever a guard passed by, he would prick up his ears for useful information.

In the following days, Bruce endured one long day and night after another, he continuously recalled, observed, and pondered, he knew this path wouldn’t be smooth and might be fraught with danger, but he was prepared.

Finally, one day, Bruce heard something unusual in the guards’ conversations.

One guard whispered, "It seems the formations in the Central District are being rearranged, I heard some of the old formations are being dismantled."

"Oh? What does that have to do with us? What are we having for a late-night snack?"

A/N:

Extra Chapters

Dragon - 1 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 5 Extra Chapters

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Thanks for the Inspiration Capsule : @sgtcwby