For an entire week, the two of them were still trapped in the illusion array.
It felt as if they would never escape, doomed to live forever in this endless darkness.
Lindsay Windson’s face was filled with panic. “Mr. Shelby, what are we going to do? It’s so dark here, if this continues, I’m going to lose my mind.”
Chris took a deep breath and said, “Lindsay, don’t worry. I’ll get us out of here.”
Even Chris, who had spent a week in this darkness, found himself growing restless.
Meanwhile, inside a grand palace.
Faeryheart scowled and asked, “Emily, did you mess with my array again?”
Emily stuck out her tongue playfully. “Master, I was just playing a little game with Mr. Shelby.”
Faeryheart sighed with exasperation.
Emily was talented, especially in Aetherbinding, but her mischievous nature was often too much to handle.
With a wave of Faeryheart’s hand, the illusion array was dispelled.
In an instant, Chris and Lindsay Windson were blinded by a sudden burst of light.
When their eyes adjusted, they found themselves surrounded by brightness.
Not far from them stood a series of magnificent buildings.
Chris looked around, stunned.
He realized that they had been trapped within a mere hundred-meter radius for an entire week.
“Mr. Shelby!”
A cheerful, mischievous voice rang out.
Chris turned and was shocked to see her. “Emily!”
Of all places, he had not expected to meet Emily here.
In that moment, it all clicked.
The illusion array they had been trapped in-it was her doing.
Chris let out a bitter laugh.
Emily was still the same as ever.
When Chris first met her, she had been a troublemaker, taunting others on the streets in her sports car. If it hadn’t been for her bodyguards, she would’ve been in serious trouble countless times.
And now, here in Aethelgard, she was still causing mischief. This time, he was her target.
Chris walked toward her, his tone exasperated. “Emily, was that illusion array your doing?”
Emily stuck her tongue out again. “Mr. Shelby, I was just having some fun with you.”
Chris took a deep breath, deciding it wasn’t worth arguing with her.
There were more pressing questions to address. Where were they? And why was Emily here?
Chris asked, “Where is this place?”
Emily replied, “Mr. Shelby, this is the Artisans’ Guild…”
Emily’s explanation finally cleared things up.
It turned out that Chris and Lindsay Windson, while on the run, had accidentally wandered onto the grounds of the Artisans’ Guild.
The guild was surrounded by an enormous illusion array, designed to protect and conceal it. Even powerful Aetherbinding practitioners at the Elysium level would find it nearly impossible to escape once trapped inside.
This was why the Artisans’ Guild remained so mysterious in Aethelgard. Many had heard of its name, but few had ever seen it.
Chris was stunned. “Emily, I never expected you to join the Artisans’ Guild.”
Emily puffed up with pride. “Mr. Shelby, I went looking for you, but on the way, I heard that my sister had come to Aethelgard. So, I came here too. That’s when I met my master, and she brought me into the Artisans’ Guild.”
Chris glanced around.
The surroundings were vibrant and lush, filled with blooming flowers.
The Artisans’ Guild, one of the four great Aetherbinding sects, truly lived up to its reputation.
Seeing Chris’s amazement, Emily beamed with pride.
“Mr. Shelby, come on in. I’ll show you around,” Emily offered cheerfully.
Chris didn’t hesitate and followed her, with Lindsay Windson close behind.
Once inside the Artisans’ Guild, Chris felt at ease.
He knew that despite her antics, Emily would never truly harm him.
The guild wasn’t particularly large, but it was filled with vibrant flowers, many of which Chris had never seen before.
The climate within the guild was warm and pleasant, a stark contrast to the frigid cold outside.
Lindsay Windson couldn’t help but exclaim, “Mr. Shelby, this place is so beautiful!”
Chris turned to Emily and asked curiously, “Emily, why is there no one else here besides you?”
Emily pouted. “Aside from my master and me, there’s no one else in the entire Artisans’ Guild.”
“What?”
Chris was dumbfounded.
The Artisans’ Guild, one of the four great Aetherbinding sects in Aethelgard, had only two people? Who would believe that?
Chris asked, “Emily, where’s your master?”
Emily replied, “She’s in seclusion and can’t see you right now.”
Chris was a bit disappointed-he had wanted to meet the legendary Hall Master of the Artisans’ Guild.
For now, though, being within the guild meant they were safe from their pursuers.
Suddenly, Emily grinned mischievously. “Mr. Shelby, let me show you something fun.”
Moments later, Emily led Chris to the top of a towering spire.
The tower was enormous, reaching over a thousand meters high.
From the top, Chris could see the entire surrounding area.
Beyond the guild’s boundaries lay a frozen, snow-covered landscape.
In the distance, Chris noticed a group of Aetherbinding practitioners searching for something.
Lindsay Windson pointed and asked curiously, “Mr. Shelby, aren’t those the people chasing us?”
Chris nodded. “It seems that after more than a month, they still haven’t given up.”
Emily laughed. “Mr. Shelby, don’t worry. As long as you stay in the Artisans’ Guild, they won’t be able to find you.”
The massive illusion array surrounding the guild ensured that Chris and Lindsay Windson had effectively disappeared from their pursuers’ view.
Even after Chris vanished, the hunters continued their search.
Over the past month, thousands of Aetherbinding practitioners had come searching for Chris, all hoping to claim the bounty of sixty thousand Essence Stones.
From the tower, Chris watched as several practitioners approached the guild’s boundaries, only to veer away without realizing it.
He was amazed.
The Artisans’ Guild’s illusion array was truly remarkable-ordinary people wouldn’t even notice it.
“Roar!”
“Roar!”
“Roar!”
Suddenly, a series of roars echoed through the air.
Lindsay Windson asked nervously, “What’s happening?”