"Be careful!" exclaimed Lin Yue.

Before they had a chance to catch their breath, a chilling creaking sound suddenly emanated from the walls. Immediately following that, sharp spikes shot out from the walls like arrows leaving their strings, whistling through the air as they hurtled toward them. The spikes glistened with a cold light, reminiscent of the scythe of Death, ready to impale anyone with the slightest misstep.

Shen Jingqi reacted swiftly, his eyes becoming sharp instantly. He grabbed Lin Yue's hand and pulled her forcefully to the side. They quickly sidestepped, moving as nimbly as leopards. The spikes whooshed past their bodies, embedding deeply into the ground with a "thud," kicking up a cloud of dust.

Lin Yue, still shaken, felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest, as if it might burst out. She gasped for air, her hands clutching Shen Jingqi's arm tightly, her eyes filled with terror and unease. She glanced around, hoping to find some clues in the pitch-dark surroundings, but the pervasive mist obscured everything.

At that moment, a low growling sound emanated from within the mist, as if it originated from the depths of Hell, sending shivers down their spines.

Soon after, a terrifying monster emerged from the mist.

It looked bizarre, its body twisted into an unrecognizable shape, as if cobbled together from various monster parts. It had three heads, each gaping wide with bloodthirsty maws, and six eyes flickering with eerie red light, reminiscent of burning ghost fires. Its body was as massive as a hill, causing the ground to quake violently with each step, as if on the verge of collapse.

The monster lunged at them with its bloodthirsty maw, spewing a black flame from its mouth. The flame was intensely hot, distorting the air wherever it reached.

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue quickly scattered, each seeking a place to hide.

While deftly dodging the monster's attacks, Shen Jingqi's mind raced, strategizing a counterattack. He noticed that although the monster's movements were ferocious, it turned rather slowly, like a massive ship—potent but cumbersome in changing direction.

"Got it!" Shen Jingqi thought to himself as an idea rapidly formed in his mind. He decided to use this weakness, luring the monster into attacking and then seizing the opportunity to counterattack. He deliberately taunted the monster by moving left and right, occasionally letting out provocative screams. This completely enraged the monster, which lunged at him repeatedly with unstoppable momentum.

As the monster lunged at him once more, Shen Jingqi seized the moment and swiftly darted to the side. Due to inertia, the monster charged uncontrollably forward, nearly toppling over. Its body wavered unsteadily, and the three heads bumped into each other, producing a loud "bang" sound.

At that moment, Lin Yue seized the opportunity and charged from the side. Holding a spike she'd wrenched from the wall tightly, her gaze was resolute and determined. She leaped high and pierced fiercely into the monster's eye with the spike. The spike promptly plunged into the monster's eye, making it emit a chilling scream that caused the surrounding mist to swirl violently. It struggled frantically, its six eyes flashing with fury, as the three heads flailed wildly and its six thick legs stomped erratically on the ground.

Taking advantage of this, Shen Jingqi dashed forward, his dagger gleaming coldly like a call from Death. He targeted the monster's vulnerable spots, stabbing it multiple times. Finally unable to withstand, the massive creature collapsed with a thud, sending dust flying.

Both Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue heaved a sigh of relief, yet their hearts did not relax in the slightest. They knew this was just a minor challenge in the abyss, and who knew how many more dangers awaited them. This abyss was like a colossal enigma, with each layer shrouded in unknown fear and peril.

They continued groping their way forward in the abyss, each step taken with utmost caution, as if treading on a bottomless chasm. The surrounding environment grew darker, as if enveloped by a vast black curtain. The mist thickened to the point of obscuring their path, making only a few meters ahead faintly visible. Shen Jingqi firmly grasped Lin Yue's hand, his palm drenched in sweat yet still steady and strong, as if this could lend her some strength.

Suddenly, they heard a strange sound. It sounded like someone crying or perhaps a low moan from some monster, indistinct and as if coming from a distant place, but at the same time, seeming right beside them. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue halted, perked up their ears, and listened intently. The sound seemed to originate from a corner ahead, carrying a mysterious and eerie aura.

"Should we go take a look?" Lin Yue asked softly, her voice tinged with hesitation, her gaze revealing a hint of fear. She knew that in this abyss, every unknown corner could harbor great danger.

Shen Jingqi pondered for a moment, his brows furrowed tightly, his gaze shining with determination. He knew that if they wanted to find the key, they had to face these unknown dangers. "Let's take a look, maybe we can find clues to the key."

They cautiously walked toward the source of the sound, each step more careful than the last. The terrain beneath their feet was rugged and uneven, with the occasional sharp stone or protruding tree root underfoot. As they got closer, the sound became clearer, as if an invisible hand were guiding them.

When they reached the corner, they were stunned by the sight before them. A ghostly figure appeared in front of them, clad in a tattered cloak that fluttered in the mist, making a "rustling" sound. Its disheveled hair obscured its face, revealing only a pale chin vaguely.

The ghost slowly lifted its head, revealing a pale face devoid of any color, like a sheet of white paper. Its eyes were hollow, like two bottomless black holes, sending a chill down one's spine.

"Are you... here to find the key?" The ghost's voice was low and hoarse, as if coming from a faraway place, or perhaps echoing from the depths below.

Shen Jingqi's heart tightened, his hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, yet he mustered the courage to say, "Yes, do you know where the key is?" His eyes remained fixed on the ghost, attempting to decipher its expression for clues.

The ghost nodded, its movements stiff as if it were a puppet being manipulated.

"The key is hidden in three different places, each guarded by a powerful Guardian. Be careful, for if you fail, you will be trapped in this abyss forever." With that, the ghostly figure began to blur, the surrounding mist swirling around it, as if intent on engulfing it.

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