Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Chapter 1305  More evil than Infernal Energy

"Probably," Lucien said as he nodded in agreement with Max. His gaze remained fixed on the towering Celestial Beast Temple, and his expression grew thoughtful. "I believe the being who sealed Mark was from the same organization as the Four Divine Beasts in the Divine Realm. Otherwise, it makes no sense. How else would he possess knowledge of the Tower of Truth, the existence of this secret domain, and the true purpose of this temple? These are not things an ordinary cultivator or even a powerful outsider could ever stumble upon by chance."

Max gave a quiet hum of agreement and slowly turned away from the temple to face everyone who had followed them this far. His eyes swept across the gathered group, from the young geniuses to the elders and guards who had escorted them through countless dangers. "Only a selected few will enter the temple," he said firmly. "The rest of you will remain here and guard the surroundings."

His decision was not born from arrogance or mistrust. The Celestial Beast Temple was a place where countless people had entered and never returned. No one knew what awaited inside, and charging in with overwhelming numbers would only increase the chances of disaster.

A confined group would be easier to manage, easier to protect, and easier to withdraw if things went wrong. Max understood that recklessness here would cost lives, and he refused to gamble with the fate of everyone present.

He turned toward the seven squad leaders who had followed him through battle after battle, their growth forged through blood and fire.

"The seven squad leaders will prepare themselves," Max said calmly. "You will be entering the temple with me." There was no hesitation in his voice, only trust. These were people who had proven their resolve and adaptability under the harshest conditions.

Then Max shifted his attention to the four leaders of the Four God Nation. "This temple was created by the Four Divine Beasts themselves," he continued. "I do not believe we can move forward without the bloodline representatives of those beasts present. You four leaders must come with us."

Aden stepped forward and nodded without the slightest hesitation. "We are coming," he said firmly. "This is our responsibility as much as it is yours. The legacy of the Four Divine Beasts cannot be confronted without those who inherit their bloodlines."

The decision was made. The chosen few stood ready before the ancient temple, while the rest prepared to hold the line outside. The air grew heavier as the moment of entry approached, and everyone present understood that once the doors of the Celestial Beast Temple opened, there would be no turning back.

"I will wait outside and look after everyone," Freya said quietly as she looked at Max. Her expression was calm, yet there was a trace of concern in her eyes. She understood better than anyone that once they stepped inside the Celestial Beast Temple, there would be no way for her to intervene if something went wrong.

Max nodded at her words without hesitation. "Then I will take Lucien with me."

"I am good," Lucien replied simply, his gaze already fixed on the towering entrance ahead.

Max gave a short nod before turning to the seven squad leaders and the four leaders of the Four God Nation. His voice was steady and authoritative. "Follow behind me and Lucien. Do not stray, no matter what you see."

With those words, Max stepped forward and crossed the threshold of the Celestial Beast Temple, Lucien moving beside him. The others followed closely, one after another, their figures swallowed by the massive entrance.

From the perspective of those remaining outside, the chosen group walked deeper and deeper into the temple's passage until their silhouettes faded entirely, leaving behind only silence and the unmoving stone gate.

Inside, the passage stretched on far longer than anyone expected. The walls narrowed and widened irregularly, as if the temple itself were breathing. A suffocating pressure pressed against their senses as they advanced, and not a single sound echoed back to them, as though the space devoured noise. They walked for a long time before finally emerging into a vast inner hall.

"What the hell?" Daniel exclaimed the moment his eyes adjusted to the scene before him.

Seraphina's breath caught in her throat. "What happened here?"

Victor and the others stood frozen, their expressions no better. From the outside, the Celestial Beast Temple had looked majestic, sacred, and divine, a place worthy of being shaped by the Four Divine Beasts themselves. Yet the interior was something entirely different.

Dark red vines crawled along the walls, the ceiling, and even the massive stone pillars that held the structure together. These vines pulsed faintly, as if alive, twisting and writhing with slow, deliberate movements. They looked less like plants and more like veins belonging to some colossal living organism.

From these vines leaked waves of dreadful energy that seeped into every corner of the temple. The air felt thick and oppressive, carrying a sense of decay and corruption that made one's skin crawl.

Shadows clung unnaturally to the walls, and the faint red glow cast by the vines turned the entire hall into something resembling a nightmarish ruin rather than a holy sanctuary. Whatever this place had once been, it had been twisted into something grotesque and terrifying.

Yet among everyone present, Max and Lucien were the most shaken.

Lucien's brows furrowed deeply as he scanned the surroundings. "Such intense infernal energy," he muttered, his voice heavy with disbelief. "What happened here?"

Max shook his head slowly, his expression grim. "This is not infernal energy," he said after a moment. "It resembles it, and it gives off the same oppressive and violent aura, but it is not the same. I can control infernal energy. I know its nature better than most. What we are sensing here only imitates infernal energy on the surface."

He clenched his fist slightly as his gaze followed the dark red vines stretching endlessly into the depths of the temple. "This is something far worse. It is darker, more malicious, and far more potent. Whatever corrupted this place is not infernal energy but something more evil."

"Something more evil than infernal energy?" Lucien looked at Max in doubt.

"Like the drop of True Origin Devil Blood that corrupted Mark." Max said his expression turned solemn. "If I am not wrong, then this entire temple has been corrupted with the drop of the True Origin Devil Blood."