This incredibly thick layer of ice seemed to freeze time itself, preserving these beautiful young girls at their youthful peak.
Qu Xiangyun couldn't help but reach out, her fingers brushing against the frigid surface.
Through the transparent ice, I could clearly see the faint downy fuzz on the girls' faces.
Were these girls the island's natives?
I was deeply shocked.
Suddenly, I remembered the man who had just dissolved into a pool of blood. Could it be that these girls' bodies also harbored those white worms?
My speculation sent shivers down my spine.
The beautiful girls before me were no longer captivating. No matter how stunning or alluring, they were merely frozen corpses.
They could even transform into venomous insects that would end our lives!
"Ah! This is magnificent! We've entered the underground palace! This must be the 'Cold Ice Coffin' recorded in the ancient texts. What a beautiful masterpiece!"
Professor Guggev, who had been calm and collected, suddenly exclaimed with excitement.
He gazed at the ice-bound girls, his expression one of infatuation, and instinctively stepped forward to touch the ice.
If not for the thick layer of ice, the old man would have likely embraced these girls.
Feeling disgusted, I instinctively took two steps back.
Damn it, why did I feel like he was the most abnormal one among us?
Could this old man have a necrophilia problem?
But then again, who could have created this scene? The island's natives alone couldn't have achieved something like this.
This piqued my curiosity. Suppressing the revulsion in my heart, I questioned the old man.
It took Guggev a while to break free from his peculiar trance. He glanced at me, then at Qu Xiangyun, and finally gave a profound smile.
"Qu Xiangyun, your little boyfriend wants to know about this place. Should I tell him?"
Upon hearing Professor Guggev's words, I knew this matter was directly related to their purpose here. Once I knew, I would be irrevocably bound to them.
Qu Xiangyun's expression tensed. She stepped forward and took my hand.
"My dear, don't worry about who made this. They were just some eccentric fanatics. It's all in the past, let's not bring it up."
Seeing Qu Xiangyun's reaction, it seemed there were things involved that she didn't want me to know. So, I suppressed my curiosity and stopped pressing.
This plaza was quite spacious, but it contained nothing else. One could see its entirety at a glance.
After observing our surroundings, we discovered a corridor made of ice bricks at the far end of the plaza. This should be the path leading deeper inside.
This time, Seville asked me to walk ahead, and the group continued forward.
This corridor, just like the outer area, had beautiful girls frozen within the ice bricks on its walls, floor, and ceiling.
Time seemed to have no effect on them. Their beauty was eternally sealed in this sunless underworld.
"This is magnificent! This is truly the world's most perfect art!"
Professor Guggev was once again lost in his obsession, his eyes glinting with madness. As he walked, he continuously took pictures with his camera.
He seemed afraid of missing a single shot.
I looked at the unhealthy flush on his face and felt my skin crawl.
This old man appeared to be a respectable gentleman, but here, he transformed into someone else entirely.
I unconsciously touched the ice wall and a wave of sadness washed over me.
So many beautiful, vibrant lives.
Forever confined to this place. The people who did this were utter lunatics!
I glanced at Seville again and noticed that this crazy woman was also looking at the girls in the ice wall with keen interest.
What kind of company was this?
Seville was a smiling tiger, ruthless and bloodthirsty when it came down to it, while Hathaway was somewhat neurotic, prone to fits.
I had initially thought Professor Guggev was the most normal among them, but now it seemed he was the most significant, a veritable necrophiliac!
They were all lunatics!
I thought to myself as I walked forward.
After walking for quite some time, we finally reached the end.
At the end of the corridor, there were no other paths, only an ancient and mysterious door.
The door was cast in bronze, three meters tall and over two meters wide.
It was covered in intricate carvings, seemingly telling a story, but they were now blurred and corroded.
I stepped forward, donned my gloves, and cautiously knocked.
A hollow echo came from behind the main door.
I pushed hard again, but the door didn't budge.
Damn it, this door was frozen solid. Forget opening it, we probably couldn't even move it an inch.
"We've finally arrived! Beyond this bronze door lies the divine palace!"
Hathaway and the others behind me were excited.
Seville took out several components from her backpack, and Hathaway and Professor Guggev did the same.
I stood aside, watching them assemble the parts into a strange weapon. Then, with a loud bang, a hole was blasted through the door.
We entered through the opening and found ourselves in a small, empty room. In the center sat a bronze wine vessel containing a verdant liquid.
Seville practically lunged towards it.
"I've finally found you!"