“I don’t think it’s them. Everyone, be careful!” Renault warned, furrowing his brow slightly. Before long, the approaching footsteps grew louder, mingling with grumbles.
“What in the world is this place? It appears so vibrant with lush greenery and a pleasant environment, yet it curiously lacks any signs of life. Throughout the journey, not only did we find nothing, but we even lost two of our members!” someone grumbled.
Hearing that, both Jared and Cloud exchanged a glance. By listening to the voice, they realized that the newcomer was Zordey. Behind Zordey were at least a dozen individuals.
All of these individuals had been meandering without a clear purpose on the small island before coming together temporarily. It was due to Zordey’s power and the substantial number of people with him that they naturally gravitated toward him as their focal point.
“Mr. Zupakie, look ahead!” someone suddenly shouted. “An altar! I can’t believe we found an altar. There must be something good here!” someone else chimed in excitedly. They attempted to run to the altar, but Zordey stopped them.
“Everyone, not a single ant can be spotted on this island, but out of the blue, an altar emerges. None of us can say for certain if it’s a potential trap. However, allow me to clarify from the outset that any treasures we discover here will be distributed evenly among us. Let’s preserve a harmonious atmosphere,” Zordey proclaimed with a resounding voice.
“Of course, Mr. Zupakie.”
“Yes, we’re a team now.”
“We should prioritize harmony when we’re all together.” While everyone outwardly echoed his sentiments, their true thoughts remained shrouded in mystery.
After all, these individuals had convened only temporarily, and they were strangers to one another. In this ruthless world, equal sharing of spoils was a rare prospect.
Never mind if the treasures weren’t valuable. If they turned out to be precious treasures, these people would undoubtedly engage in a frenzied scramble. Who would be foolish enough to divide their gains?
Zordey was keenly aware of this, which explained his effort to maintain group cohesion. After all, among this assembly, his influence was the most substantial. If indeed there were any treasures to be found, he would undoubtedly be the one calling the shots.
With caution, Zordey and the others approached the altar. Initially, they were exceedingly vigilant, but as they observed the aged and diminutive altar, which seemed on the verge of collapse at any moment, they began to lower their guard.
“This altar appears to have been constructed by a certain tribe. What sort of treasure could possibly remain? It seems to have weathered many years and is likely depleted,” someone commented, their expression filled with disappointment.
“I’ll head up there to investigate,” a cultivator with a scarred face declared, leaping onto the altar without hesitation.
Upon closer inspection, he spotted the sealing stone. At that instant, the sealing stone emitted a faint glow, with its engraved runes: continuously shifting. Upon witnessing this spectacle, the cultivator’s eyes widened.
“Eureka! There’s treasure on this altar!” he exclaimed with excitement. The moment the word “treasure” reached their ears, the others jumped onto the altar as well.
Their astonishment was evident when they laid eyes on the sealing stone. No one had anticipated that such a decrepit altar could house such a stone!
Nevertheless, none of these individuals possessed the knowledge to decipher the runes inscribed on the sealing stone, leaving them unable to discern its purpose.
“This stone is definitely a treasure. What do you think those engravings on it mean?” someone asked curiously, reaching out to touch it.
However, as soon as the cultivator’s hand came into contact with the sealing stone, a powerful force instantly sent him flying. Seeing this, everyone quickly backed away from the sealing stone and stared at it in amazement.
“I didn’t expect this stone to have its own defense mechanism. It’s definitely a treasure. We need to find a way to take it with us,” Zordey said, his eyes gleaming.
