In the dim palace, an oppressive tension hung heavy in the air. The flickering torches on the walls stretched everyone's shadows into distorted shapes, making them feel exceptionally small and helpless in this seemingly endless corridor. Zhang Yue's black martial arts attire was now soaked with dust and sweat, clinging tightly to his slightly trembling body caused by excessive tension. His features remained handsome, but his sword-like brows were locked in a deep frown, and his deep eyes were filled with solemnity and focus as they stared fixedly at the intricate, maze-like mechanism control hub before him.
"This mechanism... is proving to be quite troublesome." Zhang Yue muttered to himself, a trace of imperceptible fatigue and surprise hidden in his voice. He slowly reached out and gently touched the ancient-feeling control hub. The moment his fingertips made contact, an icy sensation rushed through him, as if warning him of the difficulty of cracking it.
Huowu stood nearby. Her red dress, though still vibrant, was stained with a fair amount of dust, making her look somewhat disheveled. She held her Flame Whip, the flames upon it flickering uneasily in response to her anxiety. "Zhang Yue, can you actually disable this damn mechanism or not?" Urgency laced her voice, and her pretty face was painted with worry. Her usually lively almond eyes were now filled with panic.
Chapter 163