Multiple Personalities

They took a deep breath and resolutely stepped into the ruins.

The interior of the ruins was dark and mysterious, as if hiding countless secrets and dangers. They proceeded cautiously, always alert to the sounds around them. Suddenly, a strange noise broke the silence, startling them.

"What is that sound?" Renault asked nervously, his heart filled with unease and doubt.

Shen Jingqi also listened carefully to the sound.

Just at that moment, a strong light suddenly illuminated the entire ruins. The three of them were shocked and immediately looked towards the source of the light. In the center of the ruins, a gigantic treasure chest was emitting a dazzling light. That light contained a mysterious energy, seemingly capable of attracting the desires and greed within people's hearts.

"Is that... the treasure?" Renault asked in astonishment, his heart filled with shock and disbelief. He had never thought that he would actually find this legendary treasure.

Shen Jingqi also stared intently at the chest, his eyes flickering with a thoughtful gleam.

"This chest must hide some important secret or power, but it could also be a trap or bait."

"Should we... should we open it?" Li Baiyu asked nervously.

Shen Jingqi pondered for a moment, then said firmly, "Of course we should open it. But we need to be careful to ensure we don't trigger any mechanisms or traps."

Thus, the three of them decided to open the chest together. They cautiously approached the chest and simultaneously pushed open the lid. A mysterious aura surged from within, seeming to contain endless power and secrets.

However, just as they thought they were about to obtain the treasure, a sudden change shattered the tranquility. A powerful energy surged from within the chest, blasting the three of them away. They fell to the ground, their hearts filled with shock and disbelief.

"What's happening?" Renault asked in surprise, his heart filled with confusion and unease. He felt that this surge of energy must signify something important was about to happen.

Shen Jingqi also fixed his eyes on the chest, his eyes flickering with a wary gleam.

At that moment, the light inside the chest blinked and a voice sounded.

The light from the chest flickered, and a strong, eerie aura assaulted them, causing Shen Jingqi, Li Baiyu, and Renault to squint their eyes.

Then, a voice echoed in the air, low and hoarse. It was like the sound of an ancient millstone slowly turning or a call from the depths of ancient times, carrying an indescribable antiquity and mystery.

"Who? Who's speaking?" Renault glanced around nervously, his eyes filled with vigilance and unease.

However, apart from the three of them, there was no other figure in sight.

The voice seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere, leaving them unable to determine its specific source.

Shen Jingqi also frowned, a vague premonition rising in his heart.

He felt that this voice was absolutely not simple; it surely hid some unfathomable power or secret.

He tried to catch the subtle variations with his ears, but the voice was like a ghost, elusive and unfathomable.

Just then, a strange scene appeared.

Their bodies seemed to suddenly freeze, but everything around them continued in motion. The wind still blew, dust still danced in the air, and the trees in the distance continued swaying gracefully. However, the three of them seemed to be frozen in time, unable to move an inch. Renault widened his eyes, unable to believe what was happening before him. He tried to move his fingers, only to find they were bound by invisible chains, completely immobile.

"What's happening?" Renault's voice carried a hint of terror and confusion. He looked at Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu, hoping for answers from them. However, Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu were equally bewildered; they had no idea what was happening.

The surroundings seemed normal; a gentle breeze brushed by, leaves rustling, and birds chirping faintly in the distance. Yet, underneath this seemingly normal scene lay an unknown eeriness.

Shen Jingqi noticed that their shadows on the ground continued to move slowly, shifting angles with the fading sunset. This indicated that light wasn't halted, nor was time truly frozen, at least in this physical world.

"Then why can't we move?" This thought spun in Shen Jingqi's mind like an uncontrollable vortex. A strong sense of doubt and unease rose within him, stronger than ever before. He knew this situation couldn't be explained by natural phenomena; it had to be some unknown force at work, beyond their comprehension and imagination.

Li Baiyu also sensed this strange change. Usually carefree, he now seemed exceptionally serious. He attempted to break free from this constraint, his brows tightly furrowed, eyes shut tight, and all his strength seemed gathered. However, when he suddenly exerted force, he realized his inner strength seemed sealed, unable to be unleashed. He opened his eyes in shock, a hint of panic flashing across them.

"What should we do?" Li Baiyu's voice carried a hint of urgency and helplessness. Though he usually bantered with Shen Jingqi, in this moment of crisis, he knew deep down that Shen Jingqi was always the wisest and the leader among the three. His eyes were filled with trust and expectation towards Shen Jingqi.

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath, striving to remain calm. He told himself, panic and despair wouldn't solve anything; only calmness and logic could find a way out. He carefully observed everything around him, attempting to find any possible clues or breakthroughs.

He first noticed the ground; apart from their shadows, there was nothing else unusual. Then, his gaze swept towards the distant trees and structures; everything appeared normal, as if only the three of them were bound by this eerie power. He furrowed his brow, becoming even more puzzled.

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew through, bringing the scent of flowers from afar. Shen Jingqi suddenly stiffened, his thoughts disrupted by this breeze. He suddenly realized this breeze was normal, unaffected by that bizarre power. What did this mean? Did it mean this power was not omnipresent but had some specific range or limitation?

An idea sparked in his mind, and he immediately shared his discovery with Li Baiyu and Renault.

Upon hearing this, Li Baiyu's eyes shone with a hint of realization, seeming to grasp the significance of this discovery.

Meanwhile, Renault was staring in horror at his wristwatch.

It was an old watch that had accompanied him for years, the case polished bright and the strap loosened from frequent wear.

But what made it stand out was not the traces of time, but the second hand that had suddenly stopped moving.

Renault's eyes widened, nearly bulging from their sockets, unable to believe what was happening before him.

The second hand was frozen in place, like it was tightly gripped by an invisible hand, unable to budge.