That faint golden light appeared exceptionally striking at the bottom of the pitch-black lake.

Zhou Huai's heartbeat inexplicably began to race wildly.

No way, no way?

Could that 【Pendulum of Life】, capable of reviving the dead, have been found by himself just like that?

Controlling Gandalf, he hesitated no longer and plunged headfirst into the clear lake water.

"Plop!"

The icy lake water instantly enveloped him.

However, the depth of this lake far exceeded Zhou Huai's expectations.

He descended all the way, the surrounding light growing dimmer and the water pressure increasing.

After descending nearly fifty meters, he finally reached the bottom of the lake.

And the source of that cluster of golden light finally presented itself clearly before his eyes.

That was a golden pendulum clock with an archaic design.

It was inserted at an angle into the soft mud at the bottom of the lake, its entire body forged from some unknown golden metal.

Having soaked in the pitch-black underwater for who knows how many years, it showed not the slightest trace of corrosion.

Upon the clock face, there were no scales representing time.

Replacing them were some complex and mysterious golden runes that Zhou Huai had never seen before.

At the center of the clock face, a slender pendulum was swinging left and right at a constant frequency, ignoring the resistance of the water.

Every swing was completely silent, yet it seemed to reach a certain resonance with Zhou Huai's heartbeat.

In an instant, only four large characters remained in Zhou Huai's mind.

Pendulum of Life!

Th-This is that legendary Divine Artifact?

It was found by himself just like that so easily?

A strong sense of unreality surged within Zhou Huai's heart.

This was simply too smooth.

Smooth to an excessive degree.

First, those exotic beasts used a nearly brutal method to guide the way for him.

Then, he happened to find this small island.

The Divine Artifact just lay quietly at the bottom of the lake, waiting for him to come and take it.

The entire process felt as if the ruins were actively delivering this Divine Artifact into his hands.

Although his heart was filled with concerns and doubts.

But with the Divine Artifact right before his eyes, how could there be any reason not to take it?

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf to slowly step forward.

He reached out his hand and cautiously grasped the icy clock body.

The feeling upon touching it was unexpectedly light.

With a slight exertion of force, he easily pulled the over-one-meter-long Pendulum of Life out of the silt at the bottom of the lake.

With a thought in Zhou Huai's mind, he immediately attempted to check the attributes of this Divine Artifact.

The next second, a virtual panel unfolded before his eyes.

【Item: Pendulum of Life】

【Type: Unknown】

【Attributes: Unknown】

Zhou Huai's brow furrowed.

Aside from a name, the rest turned out to be completely unknown.

Could it be that some special appraisal scroll was needed to view its true attributes?

For some unknown reason.

A trace of minor disappointment suddenly surged in Zhou Huai's heart.

Although the item's name was indeed displayed as the Pendulum of Life.

Yet this thing didn't seem to possess the prestige of a Divine Artifact as he had imagined.

It even felt inferior to a Legendary-grade equipment.

Forget it.

Regardless of how it was, being able to find it was ultimately a good thing.

As for its specific function, he would wait until after going out to hand it over to those professionals in the military to study.

His mission this time could be considered completed ahead of schedule.

Thinking of this, Zhou Huai subconsciously wanted to put this Pendulum of Life into his Spatial Ring.

However, the System transmitted an icy prompt tone.

【Ding! This item cannot be stored!】

Zhou Huai let out a soft "Eh".

This was the first time he had encountered something that could not be stored in the Spatial Ring.

Could this be the difference between a Divine Artifact and ordinary equipment?

In that case, things were going to be a bit tricky.

If he just carried a golden pendulum clock over a meter long and strolled around in the ruins like this.

That would simply be too flashy.

Once seen by that Thor, or other countries' SS-Rank Experts.

I'm afraid it would be very difficult for him to safely bring it out again.

Now he could only take it one step at a time.

Carrying the Pendulum of Life, Zhou Huai's body rapidly floated upward.

"Splash——!"

He leaped out of the freshwater lake and lightly landed on the shore.

Gazing at the boundless sea before him, Zhou Huai was troubled once again.

This damned ruin didn't have any coordinates or maps at all.

After twisting and turning so many times.

He long ago didn't know how to go back.

Just as he was pondering.

"Rustle…"

"Rustle…"

Dense, scalp-numbing frictional sounds simultaneously resounded from the jungle behind him and the surrounding seawater!

Zhou Huai abruptly turned his head.

He saw that the calm sea surface was violently churning up once again!

Countless densely packed marine exotic beasts, like a black tide, swarmed frantically toward the small island where he was located!

Zhou Huai's brow twitched.

No way?

Could these fellows be here to escort him back?

Is this providing a chauffeured ride?

That was simply too considerate.

However, this time Zhou Huai had clearly guessed wrong.

Because those exotic beasts crawling out from the sea did not stay on the shore like before.

They swarmed up the beach in throngs, their crimson eyes burning with bloodthirsty madness and greed.

They emitted sharp roars toward Gandalf.

"Roar——!"

Zhou Huai instantly felt that something was amiss.

Without the slightest hesitation, he slammed the 【Eternal Judgment】 in his hand heavily against the ground!

"【Arcane Barrier】!"

"Hum——!"

A semi-transparent magical barrier instantly enveloped him.

Almost the instant the barrier formed, a heavily armored behemoth slammed fiercely into it!

"Boom!"

With a loud crash!

The sturdy 【Arcane Barrier】 shook violently.

As for that heavily armored behemoth, it was repelled repeatedly by the immense counter-shock force, letting out a painful wail.

However, its attack was like a signal.

In a split second, all the exotic beasts in all directions launched a fearless charge toward Gandalf's location as if they had gone mad!

Countless spells, sharp claws, and fangs poured down frantically onto the 【Arcane Barrier】 like a violent storm!

The clanging sounds were endless!

...

Meanwhile.

On another island countless nautical miles away from this small island.

Thor was suspended mid-air, letting out bursts of unbridled, wild laughter.

In his hand, he likewise held a golden pendulum clock.

The style and size of that pendulum clock, and even the mysterious runes inscribed upon it, were identical to the one in Gandalf's hand!

"To think I would find the Divine Artifact so quickly!"

Looking at the Pendulum of Life in his hand, Thor made no effort to conceal the smugness and arrogance on his face.

"It's simply too easy!"

"It seems the Goddess of Fortune is on my side after all!"

"I, Thor, am indeed the man destined by heaven!"

"Hahaha!"