She Became Rich After Divorce

Chapter 705: The Ancient Tomb

The Dead Forest in Onistead.

The magnificent and mysterious ancient circular altar, with its rough stone carvings, still exuded the imposing aura that once commanded the allegiance of thousands.

Yet, the desolation that surrounded it stood in stark contrast to the vibrancy of this burial ground.

Brushing away the weeds, a rare and massive stone statue slowly came into view, with fist-sized eyes that seemed to pierce through one's soul.

The red crystal glowed ominously under the sunlight, emitting a crimson radiance.

"Oh my god! Is this stone carving really an ancient relic? It looks so lifelike, like a masterpiece of celestial craftsmanship!" exclaimed Martha, Nora's college roommate. Meanwhile, Nora was capturing the scenery on her canvas.

After dropping out of Onistead University, she had enrolled in a second-rate art academy, where her previous outstanding performance quickly earned her the reputation of being an exemplary student in the eyes of the teachers.

This field trip was her first assignment since starting her graduate studies, a chance to impress her classmates and teachers.

She had decided on a theme - seek novelty!

Hearing about the eerie Dead Forest in Onistead, she promptly enlisted a roommate and ventured inside, prepared for whatever lay ahead.

The scenery here was undeniably eerie, markedly different from the outside world, and she immediately settled on the theme of "The Tomb."

As she was listening to the exclamation, Nora paused her brush and looked up.

In that moment, it felt as if she had transcended time and space.

The massive stone serpent sculpture, engraved with two crimson eyes, seemed to lock eyes with her, sending a cold and sinister energy rushing through her body, leaving her mind blank. Her petite frame, surrounded by an overwhelming wave of awe and sorrow.

The dense atmosphere made her once alluring face turn deathly pale, and before she knew it, her stiff legs found themselves moving forward involuntarily.

"This stone carving is a hundred feet long, with a stout bull-like body and only the head resembling that of a serpent. I wonder how long this giant creature's entire body is? It's truly miraculous, beyond comprehension. The scales on its body don't look like stone, more like a blackish-green color," Martha marveled as she touched the stone serpent, feeling an unexpected chill on her palm.

"Martha, is this really just an ancient burial mound?" Nora couldn't believe her eyes, as her fair fingers brushed against the crimson crystal, a sharp, blackish-green sliver cutting her finger, causing drops of blood to swiftly fall to the ground.

"And it has horns!" Nora exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the two tree branch-like stones above the snake's head.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Curiosity led her to gently tug on one of the horns, remarking with admiration, "These ancient people were truly extraordinary! I thought they were added later, but it turns out they are carved from the same stone."

However, Martha didn't share the same view.

With a disdainful pout, she argued, "Look, the snake's head is only this big. How could it be carved from a single stone? If that were the case, the stone would probably be much larger than tree roots." Observing more closely, Nora realized that the snake's body was intact and extended for hundreds of feet, concealed by lush trees and covered in moss.

A deep sense of intuition told her that this stone statue was no ordinary carving. The icy coldness she felt when touching it resembled the snow on mountaintops, bone-chilling and piercing.

Martha quickly finished sketching the front view of the statue and tugged at Nora's arm. "Stop daydreaming. If we don't leave now, we won't make it back today."

"Alright," Nora reluctantly agreed, though her curiosity remained unsatisfied.

"But wait..."

Her tender face lit up with a mysterious smile as she walked toward the lush, waist-high grass and swiftly pulled out a green stalk.

The deep, inky green color, with its strangely mysterious and beautiful patterns, shimmered with a translucent luster, resembling a true work of art. Especially those bright red eyes, as vivid as red beans. Nora saw the tiny creature clearly and was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she screamed, "Snake... ah!"

It was clearly the cold-blooded reptile-a snake! It was also the creature she feared the most.

Martha, with a mischievous grin, seized the snake's vital point, while her other hand wound its body around her arm, toying with it.

The green snake's body resembled a top-quality emerald jade bracelet, accentuating her snow-white skin.

"Take it away, quickly, take it away!" Nora was terrified, sweating profusely, and trembling all over.

Martha, unable to contain her joy, said, "You dare to accompany me into a graveyard, yet you're afraid of a little snake. How pathetic!" "I'm just scared of snakes, okay! You... set it free!" Nora sobbed.

"How can

Such a beautiful and

spiritual creature. Even if we don't take it to the laboratory for study, we can at least take it home as a pet!" Martha gazed at the snake fondly, reluctant to let go.

Nora furrowed her brows, her face twisted in disgust, "You want to take it home as a pet? You're a weirdo!"

"No, not me. You'll take care of it!" Martha declared.

"What?" She almost fainted. How could Martha ask her to take it home and raise it?

"You know my family is nosy, and my mom doesn't like pets. Just help me take care of it!" Martha coaxed.

"I... refuse to take care of it! It's so ugly..."

The scorned little creature raised its

head high, its pair of bright red vertical pupils staring directly at her, its golden, slender forked tongue hissing a warning, exerting a compelling pressure.

Nora faltered. Despite the rejection on her lips, she swallowed the words.

"Fine, let's go! We'll go to your house and get it a nest."

Martha placed the snake into her portable container, leaving only a small gap. The oval head of the snake peeked out, glistening as it gazed into Nora's eyes, bewitchingly brilliant. "You're insane, really planning to keep the snake as a pet!"

Upon hearing those words, the snake's entire body grew several shades darker, emitting a chilling aura.

In the next moment, it wriggled out of the bag and, in the blink of an eye, slithered to Nora's feet and coiled around her smooth legs.

"Ah!" Her scream was deafening. She went pale, trembling and crying.

Martha clicked her tongue, sighed helplessly, and scolded the little snake before it loosened its grip and obediently crawled back into the bag, drifting off to sleep.

For it to come out just once was already an enormous drain. It had only absorbed a trace of spiritual energy, barely enough to rouse it from slumber.

Nora nervously held the bag and returned home. The vast, dark space left her feeling a little desolate.

As usual, she changed her shoes and entered the luxurious villa.

"You're back, Miss?" Mila, around forty years old, prepared a delicious meal with precision and efficiency. They hadn't adapted to the local cuisine since arriving at Onistead, so they hired someone from Akloit.

"Is Mom still not back?" Despite knowing the answer, Nora couldn't help but ask.

Mila lowered her gaze, not daring to meet Nora's expectant eyes. "Madam just came back. She had dinner and then flew to Fustroydor again. She's really busy!"

"I see. Prepare the meal and find me a larger basket."

The atmosphere at home had been strange lately. Nora hadn't seen her mother Malaya, for a long time, and her father hadn't come home either. Sean was as usual, spending his time at the internet café.