Descending step by step down the tiered stairs.
The steps were slick with mud and moss, and the profound darkness created a claustrophobic, oppressive feeling. A wave of chilly, damp air blew out from the depths of the passage ahead.
The runic patterns just encountered had set many misleading traps. To see straight through to the genuine path required extraordinary insight, and Xiao Yu had already performed exceptionally well to reach that level. With Xiao Yu's abilities, ordinary traps were simply no match for him.
They walked for what felt like over half an hour, having no idea where they actually were.
The oppressive, deathly aura grew thicker and thicker. Skulls were scattered everywhere on the steps beneath their feet; accidentally stepping on one produced a brittle crunch as it shattered across the floor.
Just then, a series of sharp shrieks echoed out. Numerous grotesque creatures rapidly scurried up the walls lining the staircase, whooshing through the air as they pounced towards Nie Li and Xiao Yu.
These beings reeked of decay, their appearances twisted and terrifying, their limbs like those of spiders clinging to the rock face.
"Those are Corpse Ghosts! Watch out for their toxins!" Nie Li warned.
Xiao Yu's brow furrowed slightly at the sight of these creatures, a flicker of disgust crossing his face. His right hand opened slightly, and a shield of light materialized around him, crackling with faint lightning. The Corpse Ghosts that pounced on it exploded with a series of muffled booms, bursting into greenish, pulpy remains.
The Corpse Ghosts simply could not break through Xiao Yu's light shield defense.
Seeing Xiao Yu's reaction, Nie Li couldn't help but smile wryly. This guy really did have a cleanliness obsession. To deal with these Corpse Ghosts and prevent them from getting close, he'd actually used a Thunder Guardian Stone!
Without a word, Xiao Yu continued stepping down the stairs. Once they reached the bottom, the path opened into a flat expanse.
Right at that moment, more sharp shrieks echoed from behind them – the presences of several sub-god rank beings!
Feeling these auras, Xiao Yu immediately urged, "We need to move, quickly!"
The sub-god rank experts had followed them in!
Xiao Yu shot forward, and Nie Li followed close behind.
They hadn't flown far before triggering numerous mechanisms. Countless bolt-like arrows shot towards their position.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
The mechanism bolts were all deflected and fell to the ground.
None of these bolts could pierce Xiao Yu's light shield.
However, the shield's duration was limited. Xiao Yu intended to use this time to cover as much distance as possible.
As they sprinted desperately, the end of the passage suddenly distorted with a ripple of space-time.
"No good!" Sensing the spatial distortion, Nie Li called out and quickly reached out to grab Xiao Yu.
But he was a split second too late. Xiao Yu dove straight into it. Nie Li hesitated for only an instant – though Xiao Yu could be annoying, he wasn't entirely bad. Nie Li couldn't bring himself to just watch someone die. He seized Xiao Yu's clothing and followed him in.
The two felt as if they were plunging into an endless abyss, falling ceaselessly downward.
"What's happening?" Xiao Yu strained to open his eyes, but the distortion of space-time made it impossible.
Nie Li's right hand gripped Xiao Yu's clothes tightly to keep him from being flung away, but the spatial tearing was too violent, and his right hand began to go numb.
Riiip!
A piece of Xiao Yu's clothing tore off in Nie Li's hand. Feeling his grip slipping, Nie Li forced his eyes open and grabbed with his left hand, catching Xiao Yu's collar, while hooking his right arm around Xiao Yu's waist.
Xiao Yu felt his body plummeting wildly and tried to stop himself, but it was useless. It felt like someone had grabbed his clothes. He realized it must be Nie Li. Suddenly, with another rip, a large chunk of fabric around his waist and abdomen was torn away.
Then he felt his collar gripped tightly, his waist hooked, and a heavy body pressing firmly against him. He immediately began to struggle.
Nie Li frowned. What was this guy doing? He was trying to save him! How ungrateful!
Sensing Xiao Yu about to break free, Nie Li roared in a cold, sharp tone, "Don't move! Do you have a death wish?"
Hearing Nie Li's furious shout, Xiao Yu finally stilled.
Nie Li felt the surrounding space twist and tear at them, frowning. Where exactly were they going to land? This area was filled with the power of deathly laws. An idea struck him, and his body rapidly expanded, transforming into the form of his Spirit Beast – the Tiger Fang Panda.