The staircase stretched downward into an abyss so deep that even Yun Lintian's divine senses could not penetrate its depths. The air grew colder with each step, the ice beneath their feet thickening until it gleamed like polished crystal.
Xia Nongyue's breath misted in the frigid air as she walked beside Yun Lintian, her golden eyes reflecting the dim light. "This place... it feels alive," she murmured.
Yun Lintian nodded. "The Abyss's energy lingers here. Be careful."
The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The walls were no longer just ice—they were frozen memories. Faces of the palace guards were embedded within, their expressions locked in eternal terror.
Linlin shivered, pressing closer to Yun Lintian's shoulder. "Big Brother Yun... they're watching us."
Indeed, the eyes of the frozen figures seemed to follow their movements.
