The artistic creation, initially a solo indulgence for Hei Yanjing, quickly escalated into a trio's revelry as Hei Yanjing produced more crayons.
Fatty, almost instantly, joined the activity, showcasing his extraordinary artistic flair by sketching the outline of a bikini on the skeleton in a few strokes.
Although Wu Tianzhen verbally chastised Fatty for being perverted, the moment he picked up a green crayon and added a hat to the skull of the damaged skeleton, he instantly abandoned his previous reservations and was having a blast.
They even attempted to pull Zhang Qiling, who was perched on the cauldron, down for a group activity, but the stoic Zhang Qiling mercilessly refused.
It wasn't entirely about preserving a shred of dignity for the skeleton, but primarily because—
Zhang Qiling peered into the cauldron, and at the bottom of the empty vessel, he saw a deep, dark cavity.
He could already hear the rustling sound of something climbing up from below, growing closer and more intense.
The Black Gold Ancient Blade slowly rotated, and fierce blade energy gradually accumulated around them, coalescing into a massive ball of malevolent aura.
And just as Zhang Qiling finished gathering his strength, preparing to blast the thing's head off with a single strike—
The creature, as if sensing the threat of the blade energy, hesitated at the edge of the opening. A growing sense of apprehension began to take over, and it actually feigned a strategic retreat!
Zhang Qiling: ...Like a middle schooler.
Speechless for a moment, he decisively spun around and retreated, falling like an eagle from a cliff edge.
"Hei—!"
"Boom—"
Almost the instant his voice fell, a deafening roar followed!
Hei Yanjing, who had somehow discarded his crayons and reached the giant cauldron, delivered a precise sidekick to the center of the cauldron's side!
Under this kick, the heavy and tall cauldron actually tilted and overturned with a piercing friction sound. After sliding across the bluestone floor for a moment, it collapsed with a heavy thud, raising a cloud of dust!
And at the very moment the giant cauldron crashed down, a speck of white at the opening froze in alarm.
As Zhang Qiling backflipped down, the Black Gold Blade in his hand shot out like a piercing arrow the moment his toes touched the ground!
With a "clang," the blade was already deeply embedded in the wall. Something struggled violently with the vibration, but due to its entire body being prone on the ground, it was forced to stop.
All of this happened in mere seconds. Wu Tianzhen and Fatty hadn't even reacted yet. They looked over, but their hands hadn't caught up with their thoughts, and they slowly drew two more lines on the first unlucky skeleton.
Zhang Qiling walked over, bent down, and pulled out the blade.
The thing that had been lurking furtively inside the cave was, in fact, another merman skeleton. It was now impaled through its cranial cavity by the Black Gold Ancient Blade, clutching the severed fragments of its skull and emitting clicking, crying sounds.
...Probably crying.
Wu Tianzhen guessed, thinking, perhaps it was also defending itself.
...After all, the skeleton beneath their feet, now gaudily decorated, looked quite agitated, its already unstable ribs rattling as if complaining that its highly anticipated teammate had surrendered without even a struggle.
Well, whatever the case.
Wu Tianzhen: ...So why do those two have such perfect chemistry?!
The two who shared perfect chemistry didn't notice the shock in Xiao Wu's pupils. Hei Yanjing slowly walked to the exposed opening and looked down. With the darkness no longer obstructing the view and the skeleton no longer guarding it, the opening was now completely visible.
It wasn't as deep as they had imagined, appearing to be just a small shelter, likely with little room left after accommodating two skeletons.
Hei Yanjing soon lost interest and focused on coloring another newly arrived skeleton pink.
This time, Zhang Qiling also refused Hei Yanjing's artistic invitation. However, unexpectedly, Wu Tianzhen also put down his crayons, looking listless, as if he had developed some new worries like a little puppy.
"What's wrong?"
His mind was a mess, but Xiao Wu was too embarrassed to say what he was contemplating. So, facing Zhang Qiling's rare concern, he changed the subject—
"Xiao Ge, look, I just discovered," Wu Tianzhen pointed to the wall he had been studying intently, suddenly regaining his spirit, "this palace must have experienced a fire, and a significant one at that!"
"These scorched marks on the wall are proof of the fire!"
Following the direction he pointed, Zhang Qiling indeed saw a faint black layer on the wall, which had been inconspicuous in the darkness of the space.
...A fire?
But the external walls of this palace complex were clean, without any black stains. Did this fire only occur internally and not affect the outside?
As Zhang Qiling pondered, he suddenly heard Fatty yelp and jump high, his voice like scalding pig skin, filled with heart-wrenching grief.
For some reason, Fatty, cursing, darted to Zhang Qiling's side, his eyes scanning left and right with a serious expression.
"Xiao Ge, something's wrong!" He rubbed his arm vigorously, and when he let go, a large patch of scorched marks was revealed!
"Damn it! What is there in this place that could have scalded me so badly!"
"What the hell was going on just now," Fatty paused his guessing, and then his tone took on a hint of realization and terror, "Damn it, Tianzhen just said this place had a fire..."
"Could this be some kind of ghostly space that accumulates resentment, recreating the scene to burn us all to death?!"
Zhang Qiling remained silent. He concentrated his senses, feeling as if something was moving at high speed around him.
Just then, Hei Yanjing, who had finished tying up the two skeletons and was strolling over, suddenly kicked out—
There was seemingly nothing but air in that spot, but with his kick, a wail like something being struck was heard!
Following that was a sizzling sound. Hei Yanjing lowered his leg and looked at his foot. A scorched mark had appeared on the thick sole of his shoe, and the pungent smell of burning rubber wafted out.
"Wow~" he commented emotionlessly.
And the moment he kicked it away, Zhang Qiling's flashlight beam followed—
As the beam passed through the air, it was as if it were blocked by an invisible air wall, suddenly breaking!
And just after the beam broke, a bizarre human silhouette was cast on the wall!!
...The thing on the outer wall didn't emerge from the stone bricks at all, but was a solid entity that could block light but was completely transparent to them!!