After leaving the town that had returned to peace, Zhang Yue and his companions continued their journey along an unknown road. The scenery along the way grew increasingly desolate; the vast expanse of land seemed swallowed by endless darkness—barren, devoid of life, and wrapped in a deathly stillness. A fierce gale swept howling across the plains, kicking up a storm of dust that blurred the boundary between earth and sky, as if this land itself were heralding the even harsher trials awaiting them.
One day, amidst a stretch of desolate ruins, they discovered a dilapidated temple. The temple's walls were mottled, the ravages of time carved as deeply into its surface as if by knife and axe, leaving the structure seemingly teetering on the verge of collapse under the erosion of the years. The temple gates were tightly shut, yet a mysterious aura seeped faintly through the cracks—a wispy, thread-like presence that seemed to be gently calling out to them.
"This place feels rather strange. Should we go in and take a look?" Shorty asked with some hesitation. His voice trembled slightly, sounding exceptionally clear in the empty and silent environment. His eyes were filled with unease and fear, as though he had a premonition of unknown dangers lurking behind those doors.
Chapter 104