Chapter 75: I found it
Henrietta did not waste a moment. As soon as Lucas’s words settled between them, she began her search. Her consciousness flowed outward in all directions like a web of silken threads.
It moved through the Qi currents that rippled across the city, brushing against the ambient energy of its buildings, the movement of the people, and the thick, almost tangible tension that saturated the land.
Her senses extended far beyond the walls of her chamber. Through her stillness, she became aware of everything
....But there was something wrong.
She tried again, probing deeper this time, pushing her senses into places that are secluded, but the crystal remained elusive. The entire city pulsed with Qi, as expected, but no presence matched the unique signature of a beast core.
It was hidden, buried beneath layers of obfuscation so precise and intricate it startled even her. Whoever had brought the crystal here had gone through immense effort to conceal it. The masking wasn’t simply a clever illusion, it was high-level suppression, cast with expert precision. The kind of technique that only the truly powerful or the exceptionally cunning could perform.
She slowly turned her gaze to Lucas. Her expression did not betray any fear, but in her mind’s voice, there was something colder...frustration edged with reluctant truth.
"I can’t see it," she said. "It’s veiled. Veiled in a way that I cannot pierce without drawing attention or forcing the city’s own energies to retaliate. Whoever is behind this knew what they were doing."
Lucas’s heart sank the moment he heard her say it. He stared at the floor for a long moment, his teeth clenched behind tight lips. He didn’t want to believe it. They were running out of time. With every passing breath, more of those beasts drew closer. He had already exhausted himself once, and it had barely made a dent. He had played his part, thrown himself into the fray, and yet it still wasn’t enough. His fists tightened as a knot of rage curled in his chest.