The expedition did not resume immediately.
Xu Mingshan ordered a temporary halt.
Several veteran spirit masters were dispatched to investigate the giant ape’s trail while the others remained in the clearing.
Nobody objected.
The appearance of the chained beast had shaken everyone.
Even experienced spirit masters spoke in lowered voices.
Lin Yuan remained near the edge of the camp, appearing calm on the surface.
Inside, however, his thoughts were moving rapidly.
Find the key.
The ancient voice still echoed within his mind.
The words felt real.
Far too real to dismiss as imagination.
More importantly— The vision itself.
The chains.
The gate.
The prison.
Everything had felt familiar.
As though the Asura Prison had briefly revealed a fragment of its true nature.
Hours later, the scouts returned.
Their expressions were strange.
Confused.
Uneasy.
One immediately approached Xu Mingshan.
“No traces.” The vice hall master frowned.
“What do you mean?” The scout hesitated.
“We followed the path for nearly three kilometers.” His voice lowered.
“Then the tracks vanished.” Several spirit masters exchanged looks.
Vanished?
A creature large enough to shake the ground couldn’t simply disappear.
The scout nodded firmly.
“There was no sign of battle.” “No blood.” “No footprints.” “Nothing.” The atmosphere became increasingly strange.
Xu Mingshan eventually made a decision.
“We avoid that direction.” Nobody argued.
Even if curiosity existed, survival mattered more.
The expedition resumed shortly afterward.
Yet the mood had changed.
Conversations became less frequent.
Everyone remained alert.
As evening approached, they established camp near a rocky hillside.
The location provided natural protection and good visibility.
After dinner, most members retired early.
The day had been exhausting.
Lin Yuan, however, found himself unable to sleep.
The giant ape occupied his thoughts continuously.
Eventually, he rose from his tent and began walking through the quiet camp.
A few guards nodded as he passed.
The moon hung high overhead.
Silver light covered the forest.
After wandering for several minutes, Lin Yuan noticed a faint glow coming from one of the supply tents.
Curious, he approached.
Inside sat Xu Mingshan.
The vice hall master appeared to be reading something.
Several scrolls and documents were spread across a wooden table.
When he noticed Lin Yuan, he didn’t seem surprised.
“Can’t sleep?” Lin Yuan shook his head.
Xu Mingshan chuckled.
“Neither can I.” The vice hall master looked tired.
Not physically.
Mentally.
The chained beast clearly bothered him.
For a few moments, silence filled the tent.
Then Lin Yuan’s gaze landed upon one of the open documents.
Ancient illustrations covered the page.
Spirit beasts.
Ruins.
Symbols.
Xu Mingshan noticed immediately.
“Interested?” Lin Yuan nodded.
The vice hall master considered briefly.
Then pushed the document across the table.
“Take a look.” Lin Yuan examined it carefully.
The document appeared extremely old.
Many sections had faded with time.
The title immediately caught his attention.
Records of Forgotten Spirit Beast Variants.
Interesting.
He continued reading.
Most entries described unusual creatures discovered centuries ago.
Mutations.
Rare bloodlines.
Extinct species.
Then one passage froze his attention completely.
Chainbound Ape.
A legendary spirit beast recorded over a thousand years ago.
Description uncertain.
Extremely rare.
Believed connected to ancient ruins predating the modern continent.
Possesses mysterious chains that cannot be destroyed.
Sightings exceedingly uncommon.
Last confirmed appearance: unknown.
Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
Xu Mingshan watched his reaction.
“You found it.” Lin Yuan looked up.
The vice hall master nodded slowly.
“When I saw that beast today, I remembered an old record.” His finger tapped the document.
“The description matches surprisingly well.” Lin Yuan continued reading.
Unfortunately, most of the page had deteriorated.
Only fragments remained.
Then he found one surviving sentence.
“The Chainbound Ape serves…” The rest was gone.
Only those three words remained intact.
Serves.
Serves what?
Serves whom?
The missing information felt important.
Dangerously important.
Xu Mingshan sighed.
“That’s all we have.” Lin Yuan looked at the faded pages.
Ancient mysteries.
Ruins.
Chains.
The Asura Prison.
For the first time, separate pieces seemed to be connecting.
Not enough to reveal the full picture.
But enough to suggest a hidden truth.
The vice hall master suddenly leaned back.
“You know something strange?” Lin Yuan remained silent.
Xu Mingshan continued.
“That beast never looked at anyone else.” The words caused the tent to become quiet.
The vice hall master’s gaze settled upon him.
“It looked at you.” Lin Yuan met his eyes calmly.
Neither spoke.
Several seconds passed.
Then Xu Mingshan laughed softly.
“Forget it.” He shook his head.
“Perhaps I’m overthinking things.” Maybe.
Maybe not.
Lin Yuan wasn’t sure anymore.
After leaving the tent, he returned toward his own shelter.
The camp remained peaceful.
The forest remained quiet.
Yet as he lay down and closed his eyes, he couldn’t stop thinking about one detail.
The ancient record had described the Chainbound Ape as a servant.
Not a guardian.
Not a prisoner.
A servant.
Something existed above it.
Something powerful enough that even such a creature served willingly.
That realization followed him into sleep.
And deep within the darkness of his dreams— Far beyond the endless chains— A colossal black gate slowly began to open.