"Do you feel it?"
As they moved deeper into the pyramid, Rowan suddenly stopped.
"The psychic fluctuations here are getting stronger."
"Definitely," Rowan Vale replied after carefully sensing the surrounding energy. "And they seem to follow a pattern. Like a heartbeat, pulsing over and over."
"Maybe this pyramid itself is a gigantic psychic device," Rowan speculated. "The ancient civilization may have used it for some special form of cultivation or research."
The two continued forward.
Before long, they arrived at a vast hall.
At the center stood a massive circular stone platform covered in intricate formation patterns. Surrounding it were more than a dozen towering pillars, each topped with a floating crystal sphere that radiated a gentle glow.
"This looks like some kind of altar," Rowan Vale observed while examining the structure. "Probably a place where important ceremonies were held."
"These crystal spheres are unusual."
Rowan walked toward one of the pillars and studied the floating crystal closely.
"There seems to be a unique energy sealed inside."
Just as he reached out to touch it, the entire hall erupted with dazzling light.
Every crystal sphere began flashing violently.
The formation carved into the stone platform lit up, releasing a deep humming vibration.
"Not good!"
Rowan Vale immediately stepped back.
"We triggered some sort of mechanism!"
To their surprise, however, the light brought no danger.
Instead, as the radiance intensified, a translucent figure slowly materialized above the center of the stone platform.
It was a tall being dressed in magnificent robes.
Its features were blurred and indistinct, yet it radiated an ancient majesty that instinctively commanded respect.
When the figure fully formed, it spoke.
Its voice echoed throughout the entire hall.
"Strangers from afar, welcome to the Sacred Temple of the Aesra Civilization."
Although the words were spoken in an ancient language, both Rowan and Rowan Vale understood them perfectly.
It felt as though the meaning was transmitted directly into their minds.
"Are you... the guardian of this civilization?" Rowan asked cautiously.
"I am Silas, the final guardian of the Aesra Civilization," the figure replied.
"My mission is to protect the knowledge preserved here and await those destined to arrive."
"The destined ones?"
Rowan Vale frowned.
"What qualifies someone as a destined one?"
"Anyone capable of entering this temple is considered destined," Silas explained.
"The entrance can only be opened by lifeforms possessing specific psychic aptitude."
"I see."
Rowan nodded before asking directly,
"Then can you tell us what is stored here?"
"The greatest treasures of the Aesra Civilization."
Silas's voice carried a trace of pride.
"Advanced methods of psychic cultivation."
"The mysteries of interstellar technology."
"And our preliminary research into the Laws of Time."
The moment those words were spoken, excitement flashed across both men's eyes.
For Rowan in particular, advanced psychic cultivation techniques were exactly what he needed most.
"Can we learn them?" Rowan Vale asked eagerly.
"Of course."
Silas nodded.
"That is the very reason I remain here."
"However, obtaining this knowledge requires time and dedication."
"You must first pass a series of trials to prove your qualifications."
"What kind of trials?" Rowan asked.
"Tests of psychic control."
"Trials of willpower."
"And examinations of your understanding of the laws governing the universe."
Silas spoke calmly.
"Only those who pass every trial may inherit the complete legacy."
Just as the two were preparing to accept the challenge, a commotion suddenly echoed from outside the pyramid.
Through some mysterious perception, Silas's expression became serious.
"Others have arrived."
"And they carry hostile intentions."
He looked toward the entrance.
"It appears your troubles have found you."
Rowan and Rowan Vale exchanged glances.
They immediately understood.
The Black Shark Mercenary Group had found the pyramid as well.
"We need to leave," Rowan said decisively.
"If they discover us here, things will become troublesome."
"But this knowledge..."
Rowan Vale looked reluctant.
"The inheritance can wait," Silas said.
"Life cannot."
"If fate truly binds us together, you will return one day."
As he spoke, he traced a complicated rune in the air.
"This is a hidden passage leading deeper into the temple."
"You may use it to avoid the enemies outside."
A section of the wall suddenly vanished.
A concealed corridor appeared behind it.
"Thank you for your help."
Rowan bowed respectfully.
"If we get the chance, we will return and complete the trials."
"I shall wait."
Silas's figure slowly faded.
"Remember this."
"True power comes from cultivating the self, not from external treasures."
Without hesitation, Rowan and Rowan Vale entered the hidden passage.
Only a few steps later, rough voices echoed from the hall behind them.
"Damn it! There's nothing here!"
It was Karl's furious roar.
"Captain, these runes on the walls seem valuable," Old Wu said.
"Maybe we should record them and study them later."
"Enough nonsense."
Karl's voice dripped with impatience.
"Search for other passages."
"Those two brats must be here somewhere. They couldn't have vanished into thin air."
Hearing this, Rowan and Rowan Vale immediately quickened their pace.
The secret tunnel stretched far into the depths and gradually sloped downward, clearly leading to a lower section of the pyramid.
After about ten minutes, they arrived at another chamber.
This hall was smaller than the previous one, but its decorations were far more refined.
At its center stood a raised platform covered with strange devices and instruments.
"What are these?"
Rowan Vale stared curiously at the equipment.
"They look like experimental apparatus," Rowan said after a brief inspection.
"Perhaps they were used by the ancient civilization to research psychic technologies."
At that moment, footsteps echoed from another entrance.
The two immediately became alert.
Apparently, the Black Shark Mercenary Group had moved even faster than expected.
"Hide."
Rowan lowered his voice.
The two quickly slipped behind a nearby stone pillar.
Moments later, Karl and the remaining mercenaries entered the chamber.
The instant they saw the devices on the platform, greed filled their eyes.
"Do you see this?"
Karl laughed excitedly.
"These are treasures from an ancient civilization!"
"Take any one of them outside and it'll sell for a fortune!"
"Captain, should we take everything?" Old Wu asked.
"Of course."
Karl answered without hesitation.
"This is our chance to get rich."
The mercenaries immediately began collecting the devices.
They handled them as roughly as common cargo, showing no respect for what could have been priceless relics.
"These barbarians..."
Watching from concealment, Rowan Vale clenched his fists.
"They're treating the legacy of an ancient civilization like scrap."
"Stay calm."
Rowan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We aren't in a position to confront them yet."
"Let's wait until they leave."
Unfortunately, events unfolded differently.
While gathering treasures, Old Wu suddenly pointed toward a corner of the platform.
"Captain, look over there."
"It seems someone has already been here."
Karl immediately walked over and examined the area.
There were footprints.
And several other traces left behind.
"Someone definitely came through recently."
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"So those two brats are still alive."
"And they arrived before us."
"Could they have already taken the most valuable treasures?" one mercenary asked nervously.
"Very likely."
Karl gritted his teeth.
"I knew there was something suspicious about them."
"They must have taken the best treasures and hidden themselves somewhere."
"What should we do?" Old Wu asked.
"Search the entire pyramid."
Karl's voice turned icy.
"I want them found, dead or alive."
"If they've stolen our treasure, they'll pay the price."
Listening to this, Rowan and Rowan Vale could only sigh helplessly.
They had not taken a single treasure.
But at this point, explanations meant nothing.
To a man like Karl, every explanation sounded like a lie.
"We need to leave immediately," Rowan whispered.
"They've already convinced themselves we're thieves."
"They won't listen to reason."
"But how do we get out?" Rowan Vale asked.
"They'll probably guard every exit."
"First we avoid them."
"Then we find another route."
Rowan remained calm.
"A pyramid this large must have more than one exit."
The two quietly began retreating from the chamber.
Unfortunately, one of the searching mercenaries suddenly spotted them.
"Captain!"
The man shouted.
"They're here!"
"Capture them!"
Karl immediately roared.
"Don't let them escape!"
No longer able to remain hidden, Rowan and Rowan Vale burst from behind the pillar and sprinted toward another exit.
"Stop, you little thieves!"
Karl bellowed furiously.
"Hand over the treasures!"
"We didn't take anything!"
Rowan Vale shouted while running.
"This is a misunderstanding!"
"You still dare lie?"
Old Wu raised his weapon.
"You arrived before us. If you didn't take the treasures, who did?"
"We really didn't!"
Rowan tried to explain as well.
No one believed him.
High-energy laser beams streaked through the air behind them.
The pair could only dodge desperately.
Though they were stronger than the mercenaries, fighting back recklessly inside such a confined space could damage the ancient structure and completely expose their true strength.
"Damn it!"
One mercenary shouted while chasing them.
"They're too fast!"
"These two definitely aren't ordinary people!"
"I suspected them from the beginning."
Karl sneered.
"Now it's obvious."
"They came here specifically for the treasures."
"Maybe even their earlier accidents were staged!"
The misunderstanding left Rowan and Rowan Vale speechless.
But there was no time to argue.
First, they had to escape.
"Over here!"
Rowan spotted an ascending passage and immediately pulled Rowan Vale inside.
The corridor was narrow, barely wide enough for one person at a time.
That slowed the pursuit considerably.
Unfortunately, Karl's group had no intention of giving up.
Their footsteps echoed relentlessly behind them.
"You brats can't run forever!"
Karl's voice reverberated through the passage.
"This pyramid isn't infinite!"
"We have plenty of time to hunt you down!"
"And sooner or later you'll need to leave," Old Wu added.
"We'll be waiting at the exits!"
The two continued running while desperately considering their options.
The situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable.
Not only were they branded as thieves, they were now trapped inside an ancient structure.
"We can't keep running forever," Rowan Vale said between breaths.
"We need a way to lose them."
"I know."
Rowan nodded.
"But our choices are limited."
"Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Unless we reveal our true strength and defeat them directly."
Rowan's expression turned serious.
"But we both know the consequences."
Indeed, revealing their Star-Level power would allow them to crush the remaining mercenaries with ease.
But it would also expose their identities and potentially attract unwanted attention throughout the universe.
"Maybe there's another way," Rowan Vale suggested.
"We could use the pyramid's mechanisms against them."
Rowan's eyes lit up.
"That's a good idea."
"The ancient mechanisms might help us while becoming obstacles for them."
The two immediately began paying attention to the runes and devices lining the corridor.
Soon they noticed something interesting.
Whenever they passed certain runes, the symbols briefly illuminated before fading again.
"These runes seem to respond to our psychic energy," Rowan observed.
"Then how do we use that?" Rowan Vale asked.
"By activating mechanisms and creating obstacles."
"Just like the spatial maze earlier."
They deliberately began channeling psychic power into the runes they passed.
As expected, the corridor started changing.
Walls shifted and moved, creating barriers.
New passageways emerged.
Branches split in every direction.
"What the hell is happening?!"
Panicked voices erupted from behind.
"Why are the walls moving?"
"Damn it!"
Karl cursed furiously.
"The ancient mechanisms have activated!"
"Those two brats must know how to control this place!"
"Captain, should we keep chasing them?" Old Wu asked nervously.
"These mechanisms look dangerous."
"Of course we keep chasing!"
Karl growled stubbornly.
"No matter how many traps there are, I'm catching those thieves!"
But the power of the ancient mechanisms far exceeded their expectations.
As more and more runes awakened, the entire corridor transformed into a vast and intricate labyrinth.
Walls continuously shifted and reassembled themselves, making it impossible to maintain any sense of direction.
The hunters were rapidly becoming the ones trapped in the maze.
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