# 716
Chapter 717: The Figure at the End
"The end of the Aurora River…" Lin Qiye gazed at the ancient palace before him, murmuring to himself.
If Lady Wu's prophecy was correct, then behind this door sat the so-called "Supreme Being existing in the past and future"…
Lin Qiye couldn't determine whether this supreme being was friend or foe. According to the prophecy, the one sitting behind this door was at least a god, and the gods of Takamagahara were more likely to be enemies.
If this were before, Lin Qiye would never have chosen to step through this door, because the risk was far too great. It wasn't worth gamblinh his life on some so-called secret.
But the scene of the 50-yen coin slipping from his hand made Lin Qiye realize a problem—the rules here weren't targeting the Magatsu Blade, but all Forbidden Ruins!
Once a Forbidden Ruin was activated, it would slip free from the holder's hand…
This was far too similar to Baili Pangpang's "Seize All Things" ability!
And the black and white colors that flashed when the Forbidden Ruin slipped free strongly resembled the Taiji Bagua diagram beneath Baili Pangpang's feet when he activated his Forbidden Ruins. If this place had no connection to Baili Pangpang, it would be too much of a coincidence!
Perhaps… Baili Pangpang was also behind this door?
Could he have been trapped here by the god within? Kidnapped? Or something else?
If he missed a lead on Baili Pangpang just because he was afraid of dying, Lin Qiye would never be at peace. Today, he would open this door no matter what.
Lin Qiye took a deep breath and walked to the palace gate. The ribbon-like Aurora River flowed around him, emanating a dreamlike and mysterious aura.
"You two, step back a bit." After hesitation, Lin Qiye turned to Amemiya Haruki and Wei Dong.
When he turned around, he discovered that Amemiya Haruki and Wei Dong had already retreated over a hundred meters. The latter even gave him a thumbs up.
Lin Qiye: …
Lin Qiye's mouth twitched slightly. He turned back to the palace gate before him, placed both palms on its surface, and pushed hard!
Creak—!!
A dull sound echoed across the blue clouds. The ancient palace gates slowly opened, and the Aurora River flowing from within burst forth like a released floodgate, its light now several times more brilliant than before!
Lin Qiye stood at the threshold, his gaze falling upon what lay beyond. His entire body froze.
Countless blue auroras wrapped around the massive space within the palace like silk ribbons, transforming the entire area into an illusionary realm. In the center of the palace, a chubby figure sat suspended cross-legged in mid-air. Beneath him was a snow-white Prayer Mat, and it was this Prayer Mat that served as the source of all the auroras filling the room.
Moreover, surrounding the figure seated on the Prayer Mat, one Forbidden Ruin after another floated suspended in the air—a green thimble, a tattered cloak, a残破的羊角…… Around the outside of this sea of suspended Forbidden Ruins, Lin Qiye spotted the 50-yen coin as well as a purple sheathed long sword.
This sea of Forbidden Ruins, together with the auroras, encircled that figure, appearing both mysterious and sacred.
On the figure's face was a grinning Zhu Bajie mask.
Lin Qiye's spiritual sense swept past the mask, and upon seeing the face beneath, his pupils constricted sharply.
Baili Pangpang!!
Behind the mask, Baili Pangpang's expression was solemn, his eyes tightly shut, brow furrowed, looking extremely pained.
At this moment, Wei Dong and Amemiya Haruki also walked in from outside the gate. After surveying the entire main hall and confirming there was only that one figure inside, Amemiya Haruki couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"This 'Supreme Being existing in the past and future'… isn't he a bit too chubby?"
When Wei Dong saw that goofy cartoon Zhu Bajie mask, he was completely stunned. "This… why is he wearing a Zhu Bajie mask?"
While the two were confused, Lin Qiye's form flickered and transformed into a streak of night, rapidly rushing toward the figure seated on the Prayer Mat, startling both of them!
"Pangpang!" Lin Qiye shouted.
The moment Lin Qiye charged into the auroras, the sea of Forbidden Ruins suspended around Baili Pangpang began to tremble violently. Those Forbidden Ruins seemed to come alive, simultaneously swarming toward Lin Qiye!
They no longer appeared as seized Forbidden Ruins; instead, they were like guards circling Baili Pangpang.
Lin Qiye watched the sky filled with Forbidden Ruins flying toward him, his expression slightly changed. He stared at the motionless figure seated on the Prayer Mat, a determined light flashing in his eyes.
"Pangpang." Lin Qiye looked at that Zhu Bajie mask, his voice steady. "I'm here to take you home."
Lin Qiye's form vanished on the spot.
[Night Flash].
When he reappeared, he had already passed through the skyful sea of Forbidden Ruins and arrived directly before the figure wearing the Zhu Bajie mask. He stretched out both hands to embrace him.
The instant his palms touched Baili Pangpang's body, a surge of scorching heat flooded into Lin Qiye's body, as if trying to burn him to ash. The intense pain made his muscles tremble involuntarily, but his movements showed no hesitation whatsoever. He steadily embraced Baili Pangpang.
Baili Pangpang's body wasn't as soft as expected; instead, it was rigid as stone. Lin Qiye lifted him forcefully from the Prayer Mat, and together they plummeted downward!
Thud—!!
After a dull sound, Lin Qiye landed firmly on the hall's floor, cradling Baili Pangpang.
Meanwhile, the sea of Forbidden Ruins suspended in the air, as if having lost its support, clattered and crashed down, scattering across the ground.
"Pangpang!!" Lin Qiye removed Baili Pangpang's mask, calling out with a furrowed brow.
After leaving the Prayer Mat, Baili Pangpang's tightly knit brow gradually relaxed, his expression easing as well, but his eyes remained shut, as if he'd fallen into a coma.
"You know him?" Wei Dong walked to Lin Qiye's side, asking in confusion.
Lin Qiye nodded. "He's a member of our squad."
"A squad member?" Wei Dong looked up at the Prayer Mat floating in the air, his confusion deepening. "How could he be in a place like this…"
Lin Qiye carefully examined Baili Pangpang's physical state. Confirming he was merely unconscious, he gently set him on the ground and began surveying his surroundings.
More than half of the Forbidden Ruins scattered on the floor were ones Lin Qiye recognized—Baili Pangpang's Forbidden Ruins. But some were unfamiliar, probably others' Forbidden Ruins that had been seized, just like that 50-yen coin.
On the other side, Amemiya Haruki slowly walked through the scattered Forbidden Ruins, seemingly searching for something. Finally, his gaze landed on an unremarkable purple long sword in the corner, and his eyes lit up.
"Found it…"
He hurried to the sword, bent down, and picked it up.