"Relax, I'm only here to steal your stuff, not your virtue." Grace rummaged through everything in her arms.
A stunningly beautiful embroidered pouch.
A Phoenix Jade Key.
Grace tucked the pouch into her chest, picked up the Phoenix Jade Key, and couldn't help but feel a rush of delight.
She really did have the key!
The Phoenix Jade Key's size and shape matched the second slot in the portal array exactly. It had to be the key for that portal.
This was exactly what she was looking for!
"Grace Lawrence!" Princess Luminia's voice was icy cold. "Put down my things! Spare them, and I might let you live!"
"Let me live?" Grace raised an eyebrow. "I'm honestly curious! I've never wronged you, yet you either want to cripple my spirit root or kill me. Is it all just for Wendy Zhu?"
She turned to glance at Wendy Zhu.
Wendy Zhu shivered behind the door, then quietly slipped away.
"Don't touch that Phoenix Jade Key, or we'll all die here!" Princess Luminia warned again.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Grace stood up. "This is obviously the key to leaving this place!"
With that, she got up and walked away.
She had to hurry.
Otherwise, if Princess Luminia regained even a little of her powers, there'd be nowhere left for Grace to hide!
"Grace Lawrence! Don't go! Stop right there!" Princess Luminia struggled on the ground, dragging herself toward the Secret Chamber's entrance.
"Wendy Zhu, stop her! Hurry! If you don't, I'll kill you myself before Grace even gets the chance!"
"Stop yelling! Wendy Zhu already ran off!" Grace shouted from afar.
Grace returned to the circular corridor, thinking Wendy Zhu would be hiding there, but after a quick search, she didn't see her anywhere.
She must have escaped through the portal array again!
Princess Luminia fainted on the spot when she heard that.
Grace placed the Phoenix Jade Key into the second slot of the portal array.
It fit perfectly!
Grace stepped onto the portal array. A flash of white light, and she was teleported away.
She landed in a clump of grass that came up to her waist.
Not dry grass—fresh, living grass.
Everywhere she looked, vibrant green grass stretched out before her.
A little further away, there was a forest—tall trees blocked her view, and she had no idea where she was.
She picked up the Phoenix Jade Key from the ground, looked around, and climbed up a big tree.
Climbing up to the treetop, Grace finally took in the whole scene.
It was a wild, ancient forest teeming with trees and tangled grass.
But off in the distance, she spotted a cluster of First Spirit Trees.
There were actually First Spirit Trees here!
Seven or eight First Spirit Trees formed a circle, with a house built of Celestial Stone in the center.
Next to the house stood a massive purple vine, reaching up into endless sky.
That purple vine was the Soulbane Vine—the one that drained Grandpa Gene the High Saint, Ray, and Princess Luminia of their powers...
Grace channeled her energy, leapt from treetop to treetop, and landed near the house.
Not even weeds dared grow near the First Spirit Trees—everything here was clean and pristine.
Grace didn't rush inside; instead, she hopped onto the roof.
The roof tiles had long since turned to ash, leaving everything exposed.
There was nothing left inside.
Just a layer of gray dust.
And walls made of Celestial Stone.
"I wonder where the owner of this place went..." Grace muttered. "Did they die in that ancient battle against the Fiends?"
The most eye-catching thing here was still that purple Soulbane Vine.