A chilly underground wind crept through the cracks in the stone, carrying the damp, earthy stench of soil. The moment it brushed past Lin Chen's shoulder, the spiritual power gathered at his fingertips trembled faintly. The Game Pattern that had suddenly appeared on the rock wall still lingered in his vision. Its crisscrossing lines resembled a living chess game, glowing with a faint cyan light in the darkness and outlining this deep, secluded abyss with stark clarity.
He withdrew his extended divine sense, planting both feet firmly on the uneven bluestone ground as his gaze swept over the surroundings. This underground space was far more vast than he had imagined. Above them stretched a towering black rock ceiling, from which countless stalactites hung. Cold droplets clung to their tips, and their steady dripping echoed through the silence as though someone in the darkness were tapping out a rhythm. Dark-green, slick moss covered the rock walls on either side, while tiny ghostly gleams occasionally flashed from the cracks, concealing unknown creatures within.
The cultivators following behind him also composed themselves. Their casual chatter from the journey had completely ceased, and every face bore a heavier expression. They had entered this underground maze abyss more than half a day ago, initially following clues recorded in ancient texts in search of an ancient ruin. None of them had expected to encounter such a bizarre Game Pattern midway through their journey. Those lines were clearly no ordinary formation markings. The Dao essence flowing across them was obscure and ancient, faintly carrying a grim aura of complete control that instinctively filled them with apprehension.
"Little Brother Lin, that Game Pattern just now... did you see anything unusual?" A middle-aged cultivator in a gray robe stepped forward slowly and asked in a lowered voice. He was