Passing through the stone gate carved with runes, the scene before Lin Wan made her pause slightly.
She had expected to see an even more sinister and eerie witch clan secret realm. But unexpectedly, behind the gate was an expansive underground world.
Countless glowing mushrooms grew on the rock ceiling above. Their speckled fluorescence was like stars in the night sky, illuminating the entire space like a dreamlike fantasy.
In the distance, a stream babbled. The water's surface rippled with faint phosphorescence. Strange fluorescent plants grew along the banks, their branches spreading out and emitting a soft glow.
The air was filled with the moist scent of earth. It was mixed with the fragrance of some kind of vegetation, giving one the illusion of being in a secret realm paradise.
Lin Wan raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself. "These witch clan people certainly know how to pick a place. They live quite comfortably."
However, her thoughts were quickly proven wrong.
The witch clan leader led her through this beautiful "underground garden." They turned into a narrow tunnel.
As they went deeper, the surrounding light gradually dimmed. The number of fluorescent mushrooms sharply decreased. They were replaced by damp rock walls and the smell of mold.
Finally, they arrived before a cluster of low cave dwellings.
This place was simply like an underground slum.
Crude stone houses were crowded against both sides of the rock walls. Their roofs were barely constructed from withered vines and animal hides, many already half-collapsed.
Sewage flowed across the ground, emitting a rotting stench. Several skeletal witch clan members huddled in corners, their eyes hollow, only lighting up slightly when they saw Lin Wan's face.
Lin Wan's footsteps unconsciously slowed.
She saw a little girl squatting in the corner, holding an equally scrawny black cat in her arms. Both the girl and the cat had wide eyes, looking at her timidly.
Several elderly people sat on worn straw mats. Their witch robes were already tattered beyond recognition, revealing the skeletal ribs underneath.
Further away, a few young people were using bone knives to divide some unknown wild beast. Their movements were mechanical and numb.
The leading witch clan elder brought her to the largest stone house among them. Saying "largest" was relative, as it was only slightly more spacious than the other houses.
The animal hide roof had already turned black. The walls were covered with mold spots.
Lin Wan stood at the entrance. She finally couldn't help but speak. "You guys... are living pretty miserably."
Her voice was soft, but in the silent cave, it was exceptionally clear.
The witch clan elder smiled bitterly. He didn't answer, only respectfully made a gesture inviting her in.
Lin Wan frowned and stepped into the house.
The interior of the stone house was even more primitive than it appeared from outside. Except for a stone table and a few straw cushions, it was almost empty.
In the corner, several clay jars were piled up, containing moldy grain. A few worn witch robes hung on the wall, the runes embroidered on them already faded.
The only thing that appeared "valuable" was a bronze lamp placed on the stone table. Its wick burned with a weak green flame, illuminating a small area of the room.
Lin Wan looked around. A question rose in her heart—these witch clan people clearly possessed supernatural powers, and this place didn't appear to lack resources, so why had they fallen to such a state?
She turned to look at the elder, waiting for an explanation.
...
The witch clan elder sat down opposite Lin Wan. His withered hands gently stroked the bronze lamp.
"You must be wondering why we have ended up like this," the elder said slowly. His voice was hoarse but steady.
Lin Wan nodded. "Indeed. You possess extraordinary power, and this underground world doesn't seem lacking in resources. Why..."
"It's the curse," the elder interrupted her. "A curse from the great evil."
"Curse?"
"The great evil that the Holy Master sealed back then was no ordinary entity. Before being sealed, it placed a terrible curse on our clan. This curse prevents us from leaving this underground world and slowly erodes our vitality and spiritual power."
The elder sighed deeply. "In the beginning, we were a powerful clan. But over thousands of years, under the curse's influence, we have become what you see now."
Lin Wan fell into thought.
If what the elder said was true, then these witch clan members were victims rather than sinners.
"Then why didn't you seek help from the outside world?" Lin Wan asked. "Surely there must be cultivators in the outside world who could break this curse?"
The elder shook his head. "The curse prevents us from leaving this place. And for outsiders to enter... the seal of the great evil also blocks external spiritual sense. Unless someone with the bloodline of the Holy Master appears, no one can find this place."
"So that's why you were so excited when you saw me," Lin Wan suddenly understood. "You think I have the Holy Master's bloodline?"
"We don't think—we're certain," the elder said firmly. "The prophecy clearly states: 'When the descendant of the Holy Master arrives, they will possess the power to resonate with the seal, and only they can lift the curse and reseal the great evil.'"
"And you just now... your spiritual sense resonated with the altar. This is irrefutable proof."
Lin Wan fell silent.
She didn't know what to say.
She was just an ordinary transmigrator. And suddenly she was being told she was some "Holy Master's descendant" and had to save an entire clan.
This plot development was too sudden, wasn't it?
But... Lin Wan thought of the mysterious power that had awakened within her earlier.
That power did indeed feel connected to the seal.
Perhaps there really was some connection between her and this "Holy Master"?
"What exactly do I need to do?" Lin Wan finally asked.
The elder's eyes lit up. "You need to enter the Gate of Causality."
"Gate of Causality?"
"The Gate of Causality is the core of the seal. Only by entering the gate can you find the true source of the great evil's power and completely seal it. At the same time, the gate also contains the method to lift our clan's curse."
"Where is this Gate of Causality?"
"Right below the altar," the elder pointed downward. "But it can only be opened by someone with the Holy Master's bloodline."
Lin Wan took a deep breath.
She had a feeling that from the moment she stepped into this underground world, her fate had already begun to change.
Whether she wanted to or not, she was already involved in this ancient struggle.
"Alright," Lin Wan stood up. "Take me to the Gate of Causality."
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