Multiple Personalities

At this moment, the energy fluctuations in the desert seemed to become more intense. Shen Jingqi could feel the sand beneath his feet vibrating slightly, as if some invisible force was surging underground. He frowned, a foreboding feeling rising in his heart.

"Did you feel it?" He turned his head toward Li Baiyu and Renault, both of their faces becoming serious.

Li Baiyu nodded: "Yes, the energy fluctuations in the desert are becoming stronger, it's as if... something is about to happen."

Renault held the detector tightly in his hands, the instrument's needle bouncing wildly: "This... this isn't a good sign, we need to be careful."

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath and stepped forward, embarking on the desert journey.

After walking for a short while, Shen Jingqi suddenly felt an unusual aura rushing toward him. He stopped, closed his eyes, and quietly absorbed the aura. It was a warm and pure power, seemingly able to cleanse the impurities of one's soul.

He opened his eyes and saw, not far ahead, a few tender green grasses growing on a patch of sand. Amidst the barren desert, these few grasses stood out as exceptional and precious.

"Look, what's that?" Li Baiyu exclaimed, pointing at the grass.

Renault also walked over and crouched down, carefully observing the grass: "This... this is unbelievable, how could grass grow in the desert?"

Shen Jingqi felt his heart move, as if seeing a force within these grasses, a force of goodness. Though weak, this force was full of vitality and hope. He extended his hand, gently touching the grasses, seemingly able to feel their life pulse.

"This... this is the presence of goodness." He murmured to himself, "Even in the desert, goodness exists, capable of nurturing life's miracles amidst the harshest conditions."

His words plunged Li Baiyu and Renault into deep thought. They knew Shen Jingqi's words were not unfounded; he always discovered extraordinary meanings in seemingly ordinary things.

However, this aura of goodness did not last long. Soon, the desert's energy fluctuations became more intense, and a chilling aura swept in. Shen Jingqi turned sharply, only to see in the distance on the sand dunes, a black smoke was rising slowly.

"What... what is that?" Renault's voice trembled slightly.

Shen Jingqi stared intensely at the black smoke, a sense of foreboding welling up in his heart. He sensed an evil force within the chilling aura, as if capable of devouring all life.

"Let's go have a look." He said firmly, then stepped stride towards the rising black smoke.

Li Baiyu and Renault followed closely behind him, leaving deep footprints in the desert. As they drew near the black smoke, a large sand pit appeared before them, emitting a pungent stench.

Shen Jingqi frowned, cautiously approaching the pit, seeing a decomposed corpse lying at the bottom, surrounded by disgusting insects. The evil aura was emanating from the corpse.

"This... this is so gross." Renault couldn't help but cover his nose.

Li Baiyu also frowned: "How could this corpse be here? Moreover... the aura it emits is so evil."

Shen Jingqi felt his heart sink.

This corpse did not appear here by chance. It seemed to have been deliberately discarded to convey some message or warning. He crouched down, carefully examining the corpse, trying to find some clues.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a piece of cloth held in the corpse's hand. He cautiously picked it up, seeing blood-smeared scribbled words: "Evil is coming, beware."

Upon seeing these words, a chill surged in Shen Jingqi's heart. He knew the evil mentioned wasn't the corpse itself but a far more terrifying force, one threatening their lives.

"Let's leave here quickly." He said solemnly, standing up and gesturing for Li Baiyu and Renault to follow.

The three turned away from the sand pit, continuing on their desert expedition. Yet they had not ventured far when another peculiar aura approached them. This aura was neither the warm purity of goodness nor the chilling evilness; it was neutral, elusive.

Shen Jingqi stopped, closed his eyes, and quietly absorbed this aura. He found that although the aura was neutral, it carried an inexplicable allure, as if guiding him to some unknown destination.

"What... what is this aura?" Li Baiyu asked in confusion.

Renault also shook his head: "I've never felt an aura like this; it's neither good nor evil, so strange."

Shen Jingqi opened his eyes, his gaze deepening. He seemed to see a possibility within this aura, a presence surpassing good and evil. He took a deep breath, then stepped forward, walking towards the direction the aura pointed.

Li Baiyu and Renault followed closely behind, filled with curiosity and confusion. They knew not where the aura would lead them, nor what awaited ahead.

After walking for a long time, they arrived at a peculiar sandy area. This sand differed from other parts, its surface shimmering with an unusual light, as if hiding some secret.

Shen Jingqi crouched down, extending his hand to touch the sand lightly. At that moment, he felt a flowing force, warm yet indifferent, pure yet complex.

"This... this is neutrality." He murmured to himself, "Even in the desert, neutrality exists, a force transcending good and evil."

His words shocked both Li Baiyu and Renault. They had never heard of the concept of neutrality, nor understood what it truly meant.

However, just as they were bewildered, the sand suddenly shook violently. A powerful force surged from underground, tossing the trio to the ground.

"What's happening?" Renault exclaimed.

Struggling to stand, Shen Jingqi focused on the sand, seeing a large sand hole forming slowly. The hole emitted an intense aura, containing the warmth of goodness, the chill of evil, and the complex neutrality.

"What... what is this?" Li Baiyu's voice burst with fear.

Shen Jingqi's heart sank. He knew this sand hole was not formed by chance; it seemed to be an entrance to some power, surpassing good, evil, and neutrality. He took a deep breath, then strode towards the sand hole.

"Jingqi, what are you doing?" Li Baiyu exclaimed.

Shen Jingqi turned his head, his gaze resolute: "I must enter and see, no matter what's inside, I must find the answer."

With that, he leapt and plunged into the sand hole.