Feng Wenjun felt his body suddenly sink as he drifted blindly into a pitch-black abyss. The dead silence around him was broken by his own violent heartbeat, and a wave of panic and fear instantly overwhelmed him. His hands trembled as he fumbled in his pocket for his phone, his fingers frantically swiping across the screen from memory until he finally managed to turn on the flashlight.
That faint beam of light desperately tore through the darkness, illuminating his strange and eerie surroundings. Gritting his teeth and fighting the weakness in his legs, he slowly stood up, mechanically brushed the dirt off his clothes, and limped forward into the unknown gloom. Every step felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. The endless darkness ahead seemed like a giant beast with its maw wide open, waiting to swallow him whole. Chilling gusts of wind swept past with a bone-piercing cold that made his heart race frantically, as though it were about to leap out of his throat.
A sudden thought flashed through Feng Wenjun's mind: could this be some ancient and mysterious tomb? He looked around at the lush, thriving vegetation, which clearly had never been touched by human hands. How on earth could they grow so verdant without sunlight? The stories his elders used to tell over tea came rushing back to him like a flood tide.
It seemed the world truly did harbor many unfathomable ancient forests and tombs concealing countless ancient secrets. Thinking of this, his tension eased slightly. His spirits lifted a little, and carrying a mix of apprehension and curiosity, he continued slowly walking deeper into the depths.
Just a few minutes later, Feng Wenjun was struck dumb with astonishment by the sight before him! A dreamlike, breathtaking garden had suddenly appeared in his view, filled with a riot of colorful, exotic flowers and lush plants growing in profusion.
Above the garden, specks of starlight twinkled like a cascading Milky Way, illuminating this mysterious realm. The surrounding stone walls were carved with exquisite patterns that looked so lifelike they seemed to possess their own vitality, glowing under the starlight with a breathtaking and mysterious aura.
Feng Wenjun stared with wide eyes, completely in disbelief. As a child of a prominent family, he had always considered himself well-traveled and knowledgeable, but everything before him far exceeded his understanding, making him feel as though he had instantly stepped into a magical realm of fantasy.
He couldn't help taking a deep breath. The fresh air carried a trace of sweetness that instantly seeped into his heart and refreshed his spirit, making him feel intoxicated. Miraculously, the injuries he had sustained while fighting the robbers completely healed in that very instant, as if he had never been hurt at all. This sudden turn of events made him increasingly convinced that this place was filled with mysterious power.
Curious, Feng Wenjun strolled through the garden like a bumpkin entering the Grand View Garden for the first time, filled with wonder at everything around him. From time to time, he reached out to gently touch the exotic plants beside him, and even pinched his own arm hard to confirm whether this was merely an illusion or a dream. When he reached a huge tree, his gaze was immediately drawn to the plump fruit hanging from the branches, glowing with a mysterious green light.
At that moment, a wave of intense hunger struck him. Without a second thought, he scrambled up the tree using hands and feet, picked several fruits, and shoved them eagerly into his mouth. The moment he swallowed the first one, he instantly felt a powerful surge of energy rapidly gathering in his lower dantian. The force came on so fiercely that it felt as though it was about to burst through his body in an instant. Overcome with agony, he rolled about on the ground, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans poured from his forehead, spattering onto the earth.
Yet just as he reached the brink of despair, a warm, gentle current seemed to descend from the heavens, flowing slowly through his body. Wherever it passed, the violent energy was gradually dispersed to every corner of his frame.
Immediately afterward, he felt his body grow light, as if an invisible force were lifting him up. He actually found himself suspended in mid-air, surrounded by mysterious black and white stripes that exuded an ancient and mighty aura. But this bizarre state did not last long; suddenly, he plummeted straight down from the sky, crashing heavily to the ground. Miraculously, though the plants beneath him were crushed to powder, he himself remained completely unharmed.
Regaining his wits, he dazedly felt his head and face, then instinctively touched his legs and torso. Realizing he really was unhurt, he muttered to himself in astonishment, "Could that be the legendary elixir of immortality?" Composing himself, Feng Wenjun quickly gathered his wits and carefully packed the fallen fruit into his bag one by one. Such miraculous fruit was undoubtedly an extraordinary treasure for him, and he had to take it with him.
Just then, Feng Wenjun noticed that the patterns on the stone walls seemed to be subtly shifting, like living codes quietly whispering some unknown secret to him. He fixed his gaze intently on the stone wall, his eyes revealing intense focus and persistence as he tried to decipher the profound mysteries hidden within.
He keenly perceived that the arrangement and combination of these patterns seemed to follow a certain specific rule. However, when he inquisitively reached out to touch the carvings on the wall, he suddenly felt a mysterious and powerful force blocking his approach, acting like an invisible barrier separating him from the secret.
At this moment, Feng Wenjun's heart was filled with a tangle of doubt and curiosity, prompting him to begin closely observing every minute detail of the great hall, leaving no corner unexamined for potential clues in his quest to find the key to solving the mystery.
While he was fully absorbed in his observation, he inadvertently noticed some strange symbols on the ground that looked ancient and mystical. He crouched down to study them closely, a hint of excitement and tension in his eyes. Suddenly, he heard a faint, almost imperceptible sound, like someone whispering in his ear, yet too indistinct to make out. Feng Wenjun's heart raced instantly, and he looked around vigilantly, but the surroundings were completely empty—there was nothing there.
The mysterious sound gradually faded away as if it had never existed, but a chill crept up Feng Wenjun's spine, making him feel as though a pair of eyes were staring intently at him from the darkness. This place was fraught with mystery and danger; unsure whether he could escape the hall alive, his heart filled with unease and dread.
Yet at that moment, the stubbornness and curiosity deep in Feng Wenjun's bones were thoroughly aroused. He decided to continue exploring the depths of the hall, no matter what unknown dangers lay ahead. Carefully making his way along the wall with utmost caution, he suddenly felt a powerful blast of air rush past him, carrying a biting cold that nearly knocked him off his feet.
He looked back in terror, only to find nothing behind him except endless darkness. Filled with dread, Feng Wenjun had no idea what this sudden gust of air was, nor whether it posed a fatal threat. Overwhelmed by this unknown fear, he instinctively quickened his pace, with only a single thought in mind: to find the exit as quickly as possible and escape this terrifying place.
Deep within the hall, Feng Wenjun finally discovered a tightly closed door. Carved above it were strange and complex symbols resembling ancient spells, radiating a mysterious power. Taking a deep breath, Feng Wenjun stepped forward and pushed against the door with all his might, but it didn't budge an inch, as though sealed by a formidable force. Refusing to give up easily, he calmed his mind to figure out how to open it. Constantly replaying the wall patterns and floor symbols he had seen earlier in his mind, he tried to find the hidden connection between them. Through strenuous effort and experimentation, he finally discovered the method to open the door.
Following the precise sequence he had deduced in his mind, he carefully touched the patterns on the wall. As the final pattern was pressed, a dull rumble echoed out, and the tightly shut door slowly swung open. Feng Wenjun let out a long breath of relief, a trace of comfort crossing his face. Yet the moment he saw the sight beyond the door, his heart pounded wildly once more, and the smile froze instantly on his face.
Behind the door lay a dark, deep passage filled with thick fog, making it impossible to see what lay inside or where it ultimately led. Standing at the threshold, Feng Wenjun felt torn by hesitation and struggle, his feet seemingly nailed to the ground as he momentarily lost the ability to choose. But ultimately, his intense curiosity triumphed over his fear. Gritting his teeth, he decided to enter the passage and continue exploring this mysterious realm.