This was a relatively open space, with nothing else placed within it.
At the very front stood a colossal withered tree, its age in this location unknown, yet it remained uncorrupted.
The gentle, soft light emanated from this tree.
However, this tree did not give me the feeling of a tree of life; it felt like a very ordinary tree.
What shocked me, though, was that beneath this tree lay a skeleton!
More precisely, a mummified corpse.
The mummified corpse sat cross-legged on the ground, exuding an aura of immense peace and tranquility.
Most importantly, seeing this mummified corpse evoked no sense of fear.
Even Luo Yaqin, faced with such a sight, displayed no reaction.
"Aren't you afraid?" I asked, a hint of confusion in my voice.
"I don't know why... I truly am not afraid," Luo Yaqin replied, equally puzzled.
"It's alright," I said with a smile, stepping forward to examine the mummified corpse closely.
The corpse bore no visible wounds, suggesting a natural death.
Or perhaps, a voluntary one.
"Where are the syllables the Elder mentioned?" I inquired.
"I don't know..." Luo Yaqin replied helplessly.
Due to the language barrier, it was unclear if their meanings were the same.
Regardless, this place was undoubtedly connected to the Shepherd God, and it was definitely connected to me!
With this thought, I began searching the surroundings.
Yet, after a long search, I found nothing unusual.
This place seemed like a site of nirvana, merely the tomb the person beneath the tree had created for themselves.
But why construct a tomb in such a deep location?
Having confirmed the absence of anything out of the ordinary nearby, I turned my attention to searching the mummified corpse.
The corpse was still empty, nothing on it.
Could I have come to the wrong place?
Or was the method incorrect?
My mind was filled with questions, but there was no one to provide answers.
If Vixie or Richard were here, they might have offered some advice or ideas.
But now, with only Luo Yaqin and myself, these matters had to be resolved by me alone.
After considerable hesitation, I finally sat down cross-legged before the mummified corpse.
Thus, the two of us, man and mummified corpse, sat facing each other. Although Luo Yaqin didn't understand what I was doing, she knew it was best not to disturb me at this moment.
The moment I sat down, I sensed something unusual.
The spot where I sat seemed excessively flat!
I quickly stood up and carefully swept away the ground.
Indeed, beneath was not soil, but a stone slab.
After clearing it, I discovered a line of text.
It appeared to be carved with a finger, the strokes exceptionally fluid, as if writing on tofu.
Yet, this was undeniably a stone slab!
I glanced at it; the characters were unfamiliar to me.
The instant my gaze fell upon them, I instantly understood their meaning.
"Eternal life, perhaps, is also a form of torment, endless solitude, boundless sorrow!"
"Today, I have ended my own life here, with no lingering attachments in the world. Therefore, ending my remaining life is also a form of liberation for me!"
"Should a successor arrive here, I am willing to bestow my lifelong learning, so that future generations may carry it forward and expand upon it!"
"With great power comes great responsibility!"
Reading this, I felt a slight tremor within.
It seemed this mummified corpse had voluntarily ended its life.
And it had evidently deciphered the secret of immortality!
While I was still pondering in surprise, the stone slab suddenly fractured, and the characters on it transformed into a cluster of green light points, shooting towards the sky.
I quickly looked up, only to see the green light points bursting like fireworks!
"Is that it?" My heart was filled with questions.
But when I looked down, I saw that the mummified corpse before me had crumbled into dust.
"What about teaching me everything you know?" I was speechless.
What was this all about?
Or was my approach incorrect?
As I pondered, I suddenly noticed the powder aggregating, emitting a green glow.
"Could this powder be unusual?" I frowned.
At this moment, the surrounding green radiance merged with the light emanating from the powder, forming a massive ball of light that floated before me.
Sensing that the situation was becoming precarious, I turned to look at Luo Yaqin, whose face was etched with surprise: "Listen to me, I'm not entirely at ease with you staying here alone. In my backpack, there's a canteen filled with water. If you feel hungry or thirsty, take a small sip. Remember, just a small sip!"
Luo Yaqin furrowed her brow: "What are you planning to do?"
"I'm not doing anything," I replied with a smile. "I'm just preparing in advance, in case something unusual happens next!"
"Alright!" Luo Yaqin nodded. "I'll wait here for you!"
"Good!" I nodded, then extended my hand towards the green ball of light!