Inadvertently, an endless horde of monsters had surrounded them from all sides.
However, these creatures were utterly unlike any bizarre or heretical beings they had encountered before.
Each monster lacked a true form, appearing only as pitch-black shadows, mere outlines.
The reason they hadn't been discovered initially was because they had all clustered just beyond a ten-meter radius of the duo's current position.
Not a single one moved, nor did they utter a single roar, making it no wonder the two had failed to notice them.
It was only when they finally shifted their gaze from elsewhere to their surroundings that they realized countless monsters now swarmed around them.
These creatures, in a profoundly silent manner, had enveloped them completely, forming a perfect encirclement.
A shiver ran down Jun Ci's spine, his entire back going numb. He pressed himself close to Duan Chen, his voice laced with tension and anxiety.
"What do we do?"
Duan Chen's expression was also exceedingly tense.
Yet, alongside the tension, he possessed a keen observational sense, calmly and steadily surveying their surroundings, desperately seeking an escape route.
These monsters didn't seem to be real, but if they weren't real, the pressure emanating from them was undeniably palpable.
Perhaps... he simply couldn't comprehend the form of these monsters yet.
And they seemed to fear something.
That was why they dared not advance.
But it was also evident that they seemed to crave something.
He had always been a sensitive individual, thus able to perceive the emotions surging within these monsters.
After prolonged observation, Duan Chen finally discovered that the object of the monsters' fear appeared to be located directly beneath him and Jun Ci.
Upon this realization, he immediately patted Jun Ci's shoulder. With their bodies weary, they rose from their original spots.
Subsequently, Duan Chen caught sight of something.
Or rather, a door.
It was a door, albeit a long-ruined one, lying on the ground like a wilted flower. Only about three-fourths of its frame remained, with a quarter inexplicably gone.
The doorframe, made of what felt like ebony, was pitch-black and exuded a potent scent of rubber and burnt material.
However, due to the already noxious atmosphere at the bottom of the cliff, Duan Chen and Jun Ci had failed to notice it initially.
Upon seeing the door, Duan Chen's gaze was drawn to its doorknob.
Although the doorframe was dilapidated, the doorknob remained intact and appeared to be operable.
He gently extended his hand, instinctively grasping the doorknob. Just as he was about to pull it open, Jun Ci, noticing Duan Chen's peculiar state, urgently patted his arm.
The force of the pat was so great that it knocked Duan Chen aside, causing his hand to involuntarily release the doorknob.
As his hand slipped from the doorknob, Duan Chen snapped back to reality, retreating two steps in sheer terror, his eyes fixed on his own hand in astonishment.
He looked up at the doorknob, then at the entire door, which seemed to pose no threat, and swallowed hard.
Seeing Duan Chen's reaction, Jun Ci frowned and asked softly, "Are you alright? Why did you seem possessed just now?"
He hadn't rashly tried to wake Duan Chen, but instead chose to physically push him away from the door.
It had to be said that Jun Ci's actions were correct.
Because, even if he had tried to wake Duan Chen in a different manner, he likely wouldn't have succeeded and might have even hastened the process, causing Duan Chen to open the door instantly.
Duan Chen shook his head slightly, tearing his eyes away from the door. He looked at Jun Ci with a complex expression and asked, "Were you not affected?"
Jun Ci frowned, looking bewildered, and turned his gaze back to the door.
However, after staring for a long time, he still felt no influence whatsoever.
He certainly didn't feel any inexplicable urge to spontaneously open the door.
He shook his head.
"Not at all. Were you affected by this door just now? Could it be that this door is selecting a suitable person to push it open?"
Each door, when opened, was chosen by different individuals.
Earlier, the door guarded by Old Zhang was forced open by Leviathan, a brute force act.
It came at a great cost, even damaging Leviathan's dragon horns, nearly breaking them off.
Yet, very few people noticed this.
Because Leviathan had forced the door open rather than opening it according to the rules, he was severely injured and hadn't reappeared to cause trouble, thus buying humanity a considerable amount of time.
This illustrated that every door's opening was a confluence of opportune moments, favorable conditions, and human involvement.
Otherwise... it would be impossible.
Jun Ci couldn't help but scrutinize Duan Chen from head to toe, his gaze eventually filled with caution and vigilance.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Duan Chen, but he feared that if he wasn't watching, and Duan Chen accidentally opened the door, the consequences would likely be unimaginable.
Duan Chen obediently took two steps back, distancing himself from the door. He held his forehead, feeling something was amiss.
He struggled to speak, saying, "I keep feeling... something is calling me. This door has an incredibly strong pull on me."
What he didn't say was that a voice within him constantly whispered that if he opened this door, he would gain immense power.
Power so great it could overthrow the world.
Power sufficient to defeat the evil gods.
Power that could make Wu Suo Wei submit.
Power that could help him revive his deceased friends.
Power that would allow him to find his parents and understand his origins.
It was the power he had always yearned for...
However, he kept silent, gritting his teeth and suppressing the urge within him.
Duan Chen understood perfectly, thanks to the teachings of Old Zhang and Gao Tiankai, that he had never considered gaining power without earning it.
Perhaps, when he first woke up in the hospital, he was ignorant and indifferent to the world.
But over the years, with the companionship of Old Zhang and Gao Tiankai, Duan Chen had long since learned human empathy and become like a person.
He struggled backward, retreating about three to four meters before speaking again, "Don't let me near that door! I think there's something wrong with it."