Chapter 1132 - 358: Nighttime City_3

Stranger still was her contradictory attitude: both warning him of danger and seemingly expecting him to investigate further. Also, the temple priests’ attitude towards this woman seemed off.

Is it an internal power struggle within the temple or something else?

"Come to the temple at night..."

Ian softly repeated the woman’s words, his fingers unconsciously caressing the Magic Wand. As he turned the last corner of the temple’s wall, Ian abruptly stopped. The scene before him caused his pupils to slightly contract—the bustling street from just half an hour ago was now completely deserted.

The wooden doors of the shops were tightly shut, the colorful flags of the tavern hastily taken down, and even stray cats and dogs were nowhere to be seen. Strewn across the cobblestone street were a few overturned baskets of dates, evidencing the hasty departure of people. The entire city seemed to have been cast with a collective disappearing spell, with only the creak of the swinging signs echoing between buildings.

"Curfew?" Ian frowned. Indeed, Ancient Egypt had a tradition of closing the city gates at night, but the situation of an entire city under lockdown before the sun had fully set was truly abnormal. He walked along the main street, deliberately lightening his steps, keenly noticing the tense air seeping from the window gaps of each household—clearly, countless eyes were peeking out from behind those coarse fabric curtains.

A sudden clang of metal came from the side alley.

Ian quickly moved to the wall, seeing two guards dragging a vendor who had returned late.

"This is your third warning!" the fatter guard said harshly, the bronze bracer casting a bloody glow in the twilight, "Caught again, and you’ll be sent straight to the temple!"

The captured man trembled, the ceramic jar in his arms shattering, spilling milky white liquid that snaked across the stones.

Ian’s gaze followed the departing backs of the guards, noticing the unfamiliar symbols etched on their armor—not the common Eye of Horus, but a sun motif entwined with thorns. What was more concerning was their mention of being "sent to the temple." Typically, curfew violators should be handled by the city guards; why the special delivery to the temple?

Everything appeared enigmatic and puzzling. With darkness deepening, Ian decided to find a place to observe. He retreated into a secluded alley, and lightly touched his temple with the Magic Wand.

"Visual Sharpening." The world instantly became clearer, the distant patrol torches of the guards tracing glowing lines like threads. He selected the highest dwelling nearby—the protruding bricks of its outer wall offered perfect climbing holds. The rooftop view was breathtaking. The entire Memphis City presented a bizarre dual state as the dusk thickened.

While the Sun Temple’s direction was as bright as day.

Stranger still, the sources of light were not ordinary torches or oil lamps, but golden spheres of light suspended in mid-air, arranged into some complex geometric pattern, enveloping the temple’s main hall in blinding radiance.

"A variant of the Advanced Illumination Spell..." Ian muttered. This type of magic required continuous consumption of a large amount of Magic Power and was usually reserved for the most important rites. Just as he was about to observe further, a subtle vibration suddenly came from beneath his feet. The ceramic tiles on the roof emitted a slight clicking sound, and a low-frequency hum transmitted through the building structure.

Making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

Almost simultaneously, the sound of a baby crying emerged from somewhere in the residential area, followed by the muffled sound of being forcibly silenced. The city’s fear became palpable at that moment, like a thick layer of grease floating in the air. Ian suddenly understood the deeper meaning of the woman in the black robe’s words—she was not inviting him to investigate the temple.

But rather, revealing a horrific ritual that was underway!