In the depths of the East Abyss, the currents moved slow and heavy, as if the entire sea held its breath. Ye Chenyu, Liyue Ying, Xuan Ye, and Xing Lan cautiously swam toward the oceanic chasm below. The scene before them made them all stop in awe: a colossal stone bell lay horizontally on the seabed, like the slumbering heart of a sea god. Its surface was overgrown with algae and coral, yet carved with ancient runes that shimmered under the ghostly blue glow of the sea, as if breathing softly.
Ye Chenyu reached out to touch the stone bell, feeling an icy chill that penetrated to his bones. In his mind, images of the Xishan Stone Bell surfaced—the deep, resonant toll and the watchful presence of a massive entity intertwined, as if the hearts of two ancient relics were resonating along some invisible thread. An indescribable pressure rose in his chest—it was not merely the sound of the bell, but an ancient consciousness, beyond time, slowly awakening.
Xing Lan hovered above the stone bell, her eyes faintly glowing as if sensing some subtle pulse deep beneath the waves. She whispered, "If the bell is fully awakened… the gateway to the Wildlands will open." Her voice trembled slightly but was subdued by the crushing water pressure, like a warning echoing from the ocean floor. Ye Chenyu felt a chill crawl up his spine, his heartbeat accelerating, his breaths seemingly pressed down by the surrounding water.
The sea seemed frozen, plankton suspended mid-water, as though time itself had paused. The seabed stretched and warped under the ghostly light; coral reached like grasping fingers, and the massive stones, silent, appeared to scrutinize every move of the intruders. Ye Chenyu understood clearly: this was no ordinary seabed—it was one of the core zones of the Eastern Mountains in the Spirit Realm, each corner hiding unknown power.
Suddenly, the stone bell emitted a deep, resonant vibration, causing the water to shiver. Ye Chenyu's vision blurred as all past illusions flooded his mind: the low toll of the Xishan Stone Bell, the white bones of the North Mountain Altar, the piercing gaze of the Eastern Sea's aberrant fish… In that moment, he could scarcely distinguish reality from illusion. Each toll reverberated through his soul, slowly extracting his memories and rational thought.
Liyue Ying's gaze hardened. Her hands traced sigils in the water, their ghostly blue light flickering, temporarily damping the bell's tremors. Xuan Ye intoned incantations, his rune patterns wrapping around the massive bell like transparent chains, restraining the spread of its power. Ye Chenyu gripped his rune shard tightly, every nerve taut; each breath felt like a struggle against the suffocating pressure of the water. He realized that if the bell were fully awakened, they could fall into a trap of eternal, inescapable illusions.
Amidst the bell's deep tolling, black tendrils slowly emerged from the depths, coiling around the bell and moving with deliberate intent. Ye Chenyu sensed that their threat was not merely physical—they carried a creeping consciousness, silently whispering into the mind, inciting endless fear and a sense of void.
Xing Lan's blood-tinged eyes trembled slightly as she whispered, "It… is testing us." Ye Chenyu understood that she did not mean the bell itself, but the ancient power awakened by it—an ineffable force deep within the Spirit Realm. The colossal bell seemed aware of their presence; each low toll carried the weight of its gaze, making them feel like prey under judgment.
Xuan Ye slowly retreated, pushing the rune arrays to their limit, his brow furrowed. "We cannot stay here long… it's too dangerous," he muttered. Liyue Ying nodded, cold and decisive. Her figure, illuminated by the ghostly blue glow, resembled a guardian, yet Ye Chenyu could discern the fear beneath her composed exterior.
The four slowly moved away from the giant bell. Its low hum echoed through the water like whispers penetrating the skull, bringing forgotten names, the untraveled Wildlands, and the breathing of countless ancient lives into their ears. Ye Chenyu felt a surge of emptiness and resolve: no matter how unknowable this sea was, he must continue forward. The entrance to the Wildlands lay hidden at the edge of this domain.
As they finally left the bell's vicinity, the water resumed its slow flow, and the ghostly glow gradually faded. Ye Chenyu glanced back at the stone bell, lying silent on the seabed, its runes flickering as if whispering: "The true Wildlands… await you." The air retained the chill of the sea, and a profound sense of void lingered—the suffocating helplessness of being watched by the unknown and guided by fate.
The four exchanged silent, knowing glances. Ye Chenyu gripped his rune shard, a steadfast resolve rising within him: no matter how unknowable the East Sea, he would uncover the end of the Wildlands. Xing Lan nodded faintly; Xuan Ye and Liyue Ying offered no words. The four slowly pressed onward into the deeper shadows of the East Sea. The waters were as dark as ink, unknown forces stirred beneath, and the gateway to the Wildlands silently awaited.