The ship slammed into the deep-sea tunnel, currents tightening around it as though it had been swallowed by a giant maw. Chen Wuya leaned against Bai Zhi's shoulder, the Reverse Scale in his palm still scorching hot. Blood ran through his fingers and dripped onto the deck, winding all the way to Mo Feng's hand. His eyelids were heavy and his vision blurred. He could only hear whispers by his ears, as if they came from the seabed—or had sprouted from inside his own mind.
Bai Zhi stared ahead, her hand never leaving the sword hilt. She could feel Chen Wuya's breathing growing weaker, his shoulders sagging slightly. She wanted to speak, yet dared not let herself be distracted. At the end of the spiraling waterway, a point of dim blue light gradually brightened. Then an entire palace emerged.
The Crystal Palace hung above an abyss on the seafloor, built from transparent crystal and coral bone. Flowing light seemed to swim within its walls, as though it were alive. The dragon maiden stood at the bow and raised both hands. The waterway split open into an entrance, and the ship slowly glided beneath a vast archway.
Beyond the gate lay a spacious, empty hall. Its floor was paved with black jade bricks, while its walls were carved with twisting patterns. Those patterns were not still. As people approached, they squirmed faintly, as if breathing.
"Don't touch the walls." The dragon maiden spoke, her voice colder than before. "Those are blood-pattern seals. Touch them, and your life force will be sucked away."
Bai Zhi supported Chen Wuya as they walked inward, placing each step lightly. She glanced back at Mo Feng, who still lay on the ground, and her brows drew tight. He had not awakened since entering the waterway, but