Douluo Continent: The Twin Holy Dragons of Light and Darkness, the Dragon Emperor Breaks Through the

Chen Yuan put the weather vane back in its original place: "If there is fog below the steps, then the fog itself may be some kind of barrier."

Ling Feng said, "As long as the steps themselves are stable, he should be able to see what's below after he passes through the fog."

Qian Renxue said, "After he passes through the fog, the scene he sees may change."

That afternoon, Tang San was having a new piece of ironware made at the blacksmith's shop.

Ah Yin sat behind the counter organizing the accounts. She flipped through the ledgers and then looked up at Tang San: "That boy from Haifeng City, has he already reached the steps?"

Tang San said, "We've reached the steps."

But before going down, they said they wanted to observe the glowing patterns on the edges of the steps for a few days to make sure they were stable before proceeding.

Ah Yin said, "Then he is still steady."

Tang San said, "He is indeed very steady. He takes every step very firmly, without rushing or being in a hurry."

The next morning, after practicing his mist-generating technique in the courtyard, Chen Yuan walked to the stone table and asked, "Could the glowing patterns on the edge of the steps be some kind of road sign?"

Ling Feng sat on the porch: "Road sign?"

Chen Yuan said, "If there are forks in the road below the steps, those glowing patterns may indicate the correct direction."

Ling Feng thought for a moment: "Possibly."

If he sees a change in the brightness of the patterns as he moves down next time, he will be able to confirm his judgment.

Chen Yuan nodded.

As evening fell, Jin Chen walked in from outside the courtyard gate: "There's no new news from Haifeng City, which means he's still in the observation phase."

Ling Feng said, "The longer the observation period, the more prepared he will be after he goes down there."

Qian Renxue said, "Once he confirms that the pattern is stable, he should move on to the next step."

Three days later, the second letter from Sea Breeze City arrived.

Jin Chen sat on the stone bench, opened the letter, glanced at it, and then looked up: "He said he walked down the steps yesterday."

After passing through the mist, there was a circular space below the steps, which was more spacious than the space above.

In the center of the space stands a low stone pillar with a groove at the top, the same shape as the groove on the upper pedestal, but slightly smaller.

After confirming the shape of the groove, he didn't put the crystal in, but instead retreated down the steps.

Ling Feng said, "Two layers of space, two recesses."

That might be more than one layer.

Qian Renxue said, "If he continues down, he may encounter even more levels."

Jin Chen said, "He has only gone down to the second floor so far and has not yet tried to go any further."

Ling Feng said, "Then he will probably continue to explore further to confirm the total number of floors in this space."

Tang San said, "If each layer has a groove, then each layer may require a specific key to open."

Chen Yuan said, "That crystal might just be the first key."

If the recessed grooves are all different sizes, then each layer might require a different key.

Chapter 381 Mysterious Space

Ling Feng said, "Then he has only found the first level so far."

Tang San said, "The grooves in the second layer are smaller than those in the first layer, which means that a smaller key is needed to activate them."

Lin Mu arrived in the morning. He stood under the eaves and reached out to stick out a branch.

Ling Feng said, "The sky is overcast today. How long can you maintain this position?"

Lin Mu said, "I'll give it a try."

He reached out and extended the branch. The bluish-gray leaf lit up, its brightness more stable than expected, lasting for quite some time before dimming. He then withdrew the branch: "It can maintain a brightness similar to that of a sunny day even on a cloudy day."

Ling Feng nodded: "Then your control over the leaves is stable enough. You can try practicing the speed at which they light up."

The third letter from Sea Breeze City arrived a week later.

Jin Chen sat on the stone bench and opened the letter: "He said he continued on yesterday."

Below the second level is a third level, which is narrower than the second level. There is a stone pillar in the center, and the groove at the top of the pillar is smaller than that in the second level.

He didn't go any further; he observed the third floor for a while before coming back out.

Ling Feng said, "It's the third floor."

Qian Renxue said, "If the size of the grooves in each layer is decreasing, then the key also needs to decrease in size accordingly."

Chen Yuan said, "Then we might need to find keys of different sizes to continue down."

Ling Feng said, "The key is probably in one of those levels of space, it just hasn't been discovered yet."

Tang San said, "If the crystal is the first key, then the second and third keys are probably hidden in some corner of the upper space."

Jin Chen thought for a moment: "The boy needs to search in the upper space to find the second key."

Ling Feng said, "Once he finds the second key, he should be able to enter a deeper level."

Tang San came over and sat for a while in the evening. After listening to Jin Chen relay the contents of the letter, he asked, "Are there any other places to hide things in the second and third levels?"

Jin Chen said, "He hasn't conducted a systematic search on the second and third layers yet; he's mainly focused on confirming the shape of the grooves."

Tang San said, "If he starts searching those two layers of space, he should be able to find some clues."

Ling Feng said, "He will."

Once he has confirmed the dimensions of the recesses at all levels, he will begin searching the upper levels.

Qian Renxue said, "The search may take some time."

Ling Feng said, "Give him time."

Lin Mu arrived the next morning. He stood under the eaves, reached out and extended the branch. The leaves lit up faster than before, and the brightness was more stable than the day before.

He kept it lit for a long time before it slowly dimmed.

Ling Feng said, "You've already been able to control it reliably."

Next, try moving the light up in a different position, instead of keeping it fixed in one direction.

Lin Mu thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll go back and give it a try."

That evening, the boy stepped into that space again.

He walked through the passage, down the steps, past the second floor, and onto the third floor. After confirming the dimensions of the recess, he did not continue down but began searching the floor and walls of the third floor.

He found an inconspicuous protrusion near the bottom of the wall. After pressing it down, a small section of the wall surface slid open, revealing a shallow groove. In the groove was a dark stone, smaller than the crystal, with a smooth, unmarked surface.

He picked up the stone, turned it over and looked at it a few times, but didn't put it back in the groove immediately. Instead, he put it away first and then retreated down the steps.

After returning to the hut, he carefully examined the stone under the lamp, confirming its size and how well it matched the third groove. Then he placed it on the table and sat beside it for a while.

Three days later, the boy entered that space again.

He walked through the passage, down the steps, past the second floor, and onto the third floor.

He stopped in front of the stone pillar on the third floor, took out the dark stone, and placed it into the groove at the top of the pillar.

The stone made a slight sound as it fell into the groove, and then the third layer of ground began to slowly sink, revealing a set of steps that continued downwards, with the glowing patterns on the edges being denser than those on the upper layer.

He walked down the newly appeared steps for a distance, about a dozen steps for an average person, and then a new space appeared at the end of the steps.

This space is smaller than the upper level, and there are no stone pillars in the center, only a flat stone wall.

A map is carved on the surface of the stone wall, with clear lines and some symbols.

He stood in front of the stone wall for a while, carefully examined the map, confirmed the marked locations, then retreated down the steps, through the passage, out of the crystal, and onto the beach.

He went back to the cabin, sat under the lamp for a long time, and then wrote down the general layout of the map on a piece of paper.

Jin Chen was drinking tea at the stone table when he received the letter.

After reading the letter, he handed it to Ling Feng: "He found the second key. After putting it in, a new set of stairs appeared below the third floor, leading to a new space with a map inside."

Ling Feng took the letter and read it: "The locations marked on the map may be a structural diagram of those layers of space, or they may be directions pointing to other things."

Qian Renxue said, "The location marked on that map might point to a specific exit."

Chen Yuan stood in the corner of the courtyard, holding a weather vane in his hand: "Does that map mark the internal structure of that space, or the path leading to the outer area?"

Jin Chen said, "He is still unsure and is preparing for his next move."

Ling Feng said, "Once he confirms the location marked on the map, he should be able to determine its purpose."

Tang San said, "If that map points to a path leading outwards, then his exploration has entered a new phase."

Ling Feng said, "He is indeed about to enter a new phase."

Qian Renxue said, "Once he confirms the purpose of the map, our judgment will be clearer."

Chen Yuan dispersed the fog and walked to the stone table: "After he confirms the location marked on the map, he may be able to see the real exit of that space."

Ling Feng said, "That is indeed possible."

Jin Chen folded the letter and put it in the envelope: "Next time, he should bring a rubbing of the map with him so he can check it out on the actual site."

Ling Feng nodded: "He will not advance rashly before he has a complete understanding of the map's layout."

He's still in the confirmation phase.

Qian Renxue said, "Once he confirms the direction of the map, he should start looking for the exit."

Ling Feng said, "Once he's thoroughly familiar with the map, he should be able to find the exit."

Tang San said, "That exit might lead to a new area, or it might lead directly to some place outside."

Ling Feng said, "No matter where it leads, he will continue on."

Chen Yuan nodded: "He will."

As dusk crept in from the west, the things growing in the yard had already withdrawn their light for the day, making room for the new light of tomorrow.

Chapter 382 Repeatedly Entering and Exiting