Multiple Personalities

Crane Immortal's face changed; he didn't expect this. "No, I can't stay here. I still have my mission, I must leave this place," he said.

The Guardian Spirit sneered: "It's not up to you. Once selected by the Divine Artifact, you cannot escape. The three of you are already controlled by the Divine Artifact and can't leave this cave."

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue's hearts sank; they didn't expect things to turn out this way. "Are we really trapped here for life?" Lin Yue said in despair.

Crane Immortal clenched his fist and said, "No, there must be a way."

Just then, the ground of the cave began to tremble, rocks falling from the cave ceiling. The Guardian Spirit's voice echoed again: "Time is running out, the Divine Artifact is about to initiate the final seal. You either accept your fate and become Guardians, or be buried here forever."

Shen Jingqi looked at Crane Immortal and said, "Crane Immortal, we can't give up like this. Maybe we can find a way to break the control."

Crane Immortal nodded, and a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. "Fine, let's find a way together."

They started searching for clues in the cave, hoping to find a way to break the control of the Divine Artifact. The cave walls were carved with various patterns and inscriptions, which they studied intently, hoping to find some hints.

However, time ticked by and they found nothing. The tremors of the cave grew more intense, stones fell more frequently, as if doomsday was approaching.

"What now? Time's running out," Lin Yue said anxiously.

At this moment, Crane Immortal noticed that the mystical orb on the stone platform was glowing more fiercely. He moved forward, his heart stirring, attempting once more to approach the orb. This time, he wasn't repelled, but felt a powerful force drawing him in.

"Perhaps the answer lies within this orb," Crane Immortal said, reaching out slowly to touch the orb.

At the moment his hand touched the orb, a surge of information flooded into his mind. He saw the past of the Divine Artifact, the secrets it once guarded, and the responsibilities that came with becoming a Guardian.

"So, it was all destined," Crane Immortal murmured.

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue gathered around, anxiously asking, "What did you find?"

Crane Immortal took a deep breath and said, "This Divine Artifact holds a major secret that, if leaked, would bring great disaster to the world. Becoming a Guardian is the only way to preserve this secret. However, once you become a Guardian, you can never leave."

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue fell silent, knowing that Crane Immortal faced a difficult choice.

"Crane Immortal, you can't stay here. Together, we can find another way," Lin Yue said.

Crane Immortal shook his head and said, "There's no time. The Guardian Spirit is right; we're running out of time. I must make a choice."

At that moment, the tremors in the cave reached their peak. The ground heaved violently, like a small boat on a raging sea, making it hard to stand still. Stones rained down from the cave top, hitting the rock walls around them with a thud that was both dull and terrifying. The entire cave seemed like an enraged beast, ready to devour everything and collapse at any second.

The Guardian Spirit's urgent and hollow voice urged in their ears: "Make a decision quickly, or everything will be destroyed. There's not much time left, and every second of hesitation could lead to eternal damnation!"

Crane Immortal looked at Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. "You guys should go, I'll stay here and become the Guardian. I hope you can take the story of this place out, letting future generations know that some secrets must be guarded forever."

Tears streamed down Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue's faces, flowing freely down their cheeks. They clutched each other's hands, gripping so tightly their fingers turned white. They didn't want to leave Crane Immortal, the one who stood by them in peril, giving help and guidance. But they also knew this was the only way.

"Crane Immortal, take care," Shen Jingqi said, his voice choked. He tried to steady himself, but his trembling lips betrayed his inner torment. "We'll find a way to save you, no matter what difficulties we face, we won't give up."

Lin Yue was already sobbing, crying, "Crane Immortal, you must stay safe. We will definitely come back."

Crane Immortal nodded, a hint of comfort in his gaze. He reached out again, the hand imbued with the weight of ages, slowly touching the orb. A dazzling light flashed, like the rays of a rising sun, blinding them. His body gradually turned transparent, like morning mist dissipating under the sunlight.

"Goodbye, my friends," Crane Immortal said softly, the voice traversing time and space, filled with endless longing and reluctance. Then, his figure slowly disappeared into the light, leaving only a faint echo in the cave.

With Crane Immortal's disappearance, the tremors in the cave gradually ceased. The once tumultuous cave seemed to be soothed by an invisible hand, returning to calm. A light appeared on the stone walls, soft yet mysterious, like a passage to an unknown world. A faint exit was visible in the light, appearing to call out to them.

"Let's go," Shen Jingqi said, taking Lin Yue's hand, his grip warm and firm, as if passing on a resolute belief. Though his gaze was filled with concern for Crane Immortal, it held more determination for the future.

They walked toward the light; when they stepped out, they found themselves back in the area where they initially entered the mist. The mist still enveloped the surroundings as if it were all a dream.

But they knew, it had all been real. Crane Immortal's disappearance and the cave's secrets weighed heavily on their hearts like a stone.

Shen Jingqi frowned, anxiety in his gaze: "Lin Yue, we have to find a way to rescue Crane Immortal. But now we know nothing about this place, not even what the secret is; how can we save him?"

Lin Yue bit her lip, pondering for a moment before saying: "We must first understand what this secret is. Maybe on our way back, or in places we've explored before, we can find some clues."

They decided to return to the places they had previously explored, searching for possible clues. They proceeded carefully along the path in their memory. The surrounding mist seemed to be alive, at times thick, and at times thin, placing them in a dreamlike world.

As they walked, they came upon a fork in the road. Here were three roads, each hidden within the mist, with no end in sight.