Encircling the flowerbed was a circular canal. The canal appeared to be man-made, and the canal was actually made of gold. It emitted a dazzling golden luster, and was exceptionally bright.
One could discern an unknown liquid was faintly rippling within the canal. This liquid was very unique, it was like mercury, and possessed a unique luster and texture. The flowing liquid gave off a faint light. This light did not come from the reflection of the sunlight from the outside world, but from the liquid itself. This kind of light was completely different from sunlight. It was soft, viscous, and faintly carried a hint of purple.
Noteworthily, the source of the liquid within the canal, was from the densely packed skulls that formed the flowerbed. If one wanted to deepen their understanding, then one could treat it as the saliva of the 'Stairway of the Sun', excrement, sweat and other similar substances.
Right in front of the flowerbed, was a similarly deathly pale skulls paved out a small pathway. Half a metre around the skulls, not a single blade of grass grew. Thus, it clearly separated the rest of the green vines and plants in the cave.
Once one stepped onto this pathway, not sure if it was intentional, but the skulls' mouths were eerily facing upwards. The hollow space beneath one's feet was enough to cause one to have a false impression of being bitten by the dead. Timid individuals would probably tremble uncontrollably! One must note, 99% of the humans who entered this place didn't wear shoes … … just this environment alone was enough to instill fear and trepidation into one's incomparable devotion … ….
Sheyan stood at the end of this skull pathway, and appeared to be standing outside of the Sun Altar. That was to say, his ultimate goal in this world was just a short distance away. More accurately speaking, it should be 33.52 metres. To Sheyan, if he used his fastest speed to dash over and back, it would only take a few seconds.
However, he didn't move, but calmly stood his ground. His gaze was vigilant and prudent, as though this skull pathway wasn't his ultimate goal, but a path to the yellow springs of the underworld! If he took half a step further, he would regret it forever!
The sunlight gradually intensified, yet Sheyan still showed no signs of moving. It was as though there was an insurmountable transparent wall obstructing him. Sheyan stood rooted to the spot like a statue. At present, the ceiling of the cavern he was in didn't have any holes, it was roughly the size of a classroom.
Although most of the cave was sealed, and the exit could only depend on the stone slab, and the wind couldn't blow in, it didn't feel stuffy and narrow at all. Although the surrounding environment was very humid, it didn't have the rotting smell that a damp cave should have. Everything here was intertwined with a mysterious and strange clean atmosphere.
The strange thing was that even though it was only half a step away from the Sun Altar, there were no plants growing here. Compared to the Sun Altar, where the plants were flourishing and full of vitality, this place was filled with an intense contrast. Sheyan continued waiting quietly. Gradually, as the temperature of the cavern rose, an indescribable unique fishy fragrance drifted in.
Taking a closer look, the green plants surrounding the Sun Altar had begun to blossom, rapidly blooming into gorgeous flowers. This fragrance was sweet at first, but after a few more whiffs, one would feel dizzy, and even nauseous.
Sheyan took a few steps back and nodded. Then, he retreated out of the cavern and left the skull path. He went all the way back to the place where the stone slab had fallen down earlier. Sheyan took a few steps back and nodded his head. Then, he retreated out of the cavern. He left the skull path and went back to the place where the stone slab had fallen.
Overall speaking, the area occupied by this cavern couldn't be considered large. Even including the Sun Altar, it was merely 5 caverns. However, the environment here was exceptionally peculiar. It was warm yet not dry, cool yet not cold, moist yet not waterlogged, breathable without wind, and illuminated without exposure to the sun. It could be said to be the uncanny workmanship of nature. Only such a peculiar environment could possibly nurture a mysterious plant like the 'Stairway of the Sun'.
All of a sudden, Sheyan's thick black brows twitched! An ant drilled out from a crevice beside the cavern wall, and entered his vision. This was a relatively large ant, as thick as a human's thumb. Among the ant species, it was comparable to the Tibetan Mastiff of the dog species.
This ant first crawled around, as though it was scouting for something. Then, its antennae swayed, and it proceeded to crawl towards the direction of the Sun Altar.
It crawled over resolutely.
Sheyan's gaze rested on this ant. His expression was solemn and dignified, as though he wasn't looking at an ant at all. Instead, it was as though he was observing the gains and losses of his long term plans after entering this world, and even ….. success or failure!
That large black ant stretched out its six long legs, and swiftly crawled towards the cavern where the Sun Altar was located. Without a trace of hesitation, it crawled up that skull pathway, and crossed over the boundary that Sheyan had been hesitating to advance. It recklessly barged into that radiant and enchanting sunlight, brimming with vitality, and yet strangely sinister stone chamber.
The surroundings were tranquil. Sheyan stared fixedly at that ant, and could clearly hear its breathing. The sun had already risen high up in the sky, yet its rays remained entrenched in this place. The air permeated with a pungent fishy stench, an indescribably dense one. Such a stench completely toppled one's common sense, because this fishy stench actually gave one a sweet and comforting sensation.
The two grey antennae on the ant's head swayed incessantly, as it locked onto its target and adjusted its direction. From the frequency of the antennae's swaying, one could tell that this ant was attacking. Suddenly, the sharp compound eyes of this ant discovered a grey object spiraling down from the sky!
That was the antennae on its head!
Following that, its long legs and head were corroded away.... until its fragmented body completely separated from the damp ground. Even at this moment, this ant was still stubbornly struggling, attempting to continue advancing. Only, its body no longer allowed it to do so.
One could clearly see that its body cavity began to expand. Finally, like a balloon filled with water, it burst with a "pop" sound, emitting a light blue mist that quickly drifted into the air. Such a process, was extremely similar to the gradual dissipation of smoke from one's lungs after smoking.
No wonder Sheyan didn't dare to enter that cavern of the Sun Altar!
Inside that stone room, was actually permeating with such a potent and corrosive poison!
It was common knowledge that plants would undergo a process of photosynthesis, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. The 'Stairway of the Sun' was similarly a plant, but it was a rather unique plant. It absorbed both oxygen and carbon dioxide, and released an incomparably horrifying toxic gas! It was slightly heavier than air, formless and colorless. Hence, it would settle within the chamber. If an ignorant individual were to know of this, then his outcome wouldn't be much better than that ant.
Yet after the death of that large black ant, it was as though a bugle call had been blown. From the crevices of the cave walls, a long row of large black ants emerged. Moreover, they formed a long row as they bluntly charged towards the direction of the Sun Altar! These ants advanced with unwavering determination! They directly charged towards the Sun Altar without fear of death!
Following that, a series of 'Pa Pa Pa' sounds could be heard. It was like the sound of fats being boiled in an iron cauldron and exploding. This was naturally the sign of the ants succumbing to the lethal poison. Yet after their deaths, the formic acid in their bodies would undergo a bizarre chemical reaction, as it released a faint blue mist that dissipated into the air.
Sheyan gradually discovered a crucial point. Those large black ants were crawling up one after another, and they were actually getting crazier and crazier!
Initially, that ant had only crawled a few centimetres into the cavern of the Sun Altar before perishing. Yet now, after hundreds of ants had died, the foremost ant had already crawled a metre into the cavern. Only then did it begin to agonizingly struggle, disintegrate and explode. This was sufficient to explain one thing – the lethal poison within the cavern was gradually being diluted!
At this moment, Sheyan finally understood that Mbenga's previous exhortations weren't deliberately mystifying. Previously, he had ignited a special poison that the Ndipaya High Priest had placed beside the cavern walls. It was used to obstruct the invasion of those black ants.
Once that poison was dispelled, those black ants could use their own corpses to produce gases to neutralise the lethal poison surrounding the Sun Altar. Only by doing so, could one safely enter the cavern of the Sun Altar, and obtain the 'Stairway of the Sun'!
Mbenga definitely knew of this process, yet didn't know the reason behind it. In addition to his drunken stupor, those who listened would be baffled, and would most likely treat it as drunken ramblings. Fortunately, Sheyan understood the meaning of 'great wisdom may appear foolish, but great skill may appear clumsy'. Though his heart was filled with doubts, he still executed Mbenga's exhortations. Indeed, it was effective in one move!
Sheyan silently observed those massive black ants. These tiny insects were displaying exceedingly powerful courage, as they endlessly charged into the cavern of the Sun Altar, one after the other. They had already charged in 5-6 metres, and were about to reach the end of the skull pathway. Evidently, it wouldn't be long before the toxic gases within were completely neutralised. At that moment, Sheyan's wish would be fulfilled. Instead, Sheyan's expression turned exceedingly solemn. (To be continued. If you like this work, I welcome you to donate your recommendation votes or monthly votes to me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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