The Spacetime Turbulence lasted for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn before gradually subsiding. The Abyss of Oblivion returned to its normal state—slowly drifting, with danger lurking beneath the stillness—though the sense of spatial fragmentation seemed to have intensified slightly.
Lu Pan remained prone on that mysterious Bronze Mirror Fragment, not daring to move rashly. Only after confirming that the surrounding Energy had completely stabilized did he cautiously sit up, cradle the fragment in his hands, and examine it closely.
The Gear Mark was clear and unmistakable, matching exactly what he had seen on the stone slab and the hem of the Shadow Fiend Guard's uniform. This almost certainly confirmed that this object was deeply connected to the Netherworld Workshop.
A Bronze Mirror Fragment from the Ancient Times, why would it bear the Workshop's mark? Did the Workshop discover it and mark it for research? Or perhaps... the history of the Workshop is far more ancient than imagined, possibly tracing back to the Ancient Times?
He attempted to inject a trace of Soul Power into the fragment.
Unlike the violent reaction when touching the Moon-Erosion Demonic Pattern Stone Slab, injecting Soul Power into the Bronze Mirror Fragment was like a clay ox entering the sea; it elicited no reaction whatsoever. The fragment remained cold, its patterns ancient and simple, with no overflow of Energy fluctuations.
He then tried dripping blood and reciting various incantations—common methods for refinement—but all were useless. This fragment seemed like a mere piece of ordinary iron, possessing nothing special other than its hardness and its immunity to the Spacetime Turbulence.
Lu Pan was not discouraged. The more inert it seemed, the more extraordinary the object must be. The presence of the Workshop mark further proved its value.
He recalled the strange phenomenon of the Clear Light protecting his body when he first touched the fragment. That Clear Light did not seem to be actively emitted by the fragment itself, but rather resembled a... residual Law effect? Was it some ability this fragment once possessed, passively triggered under specific conditions, such as encountering spatial intrusion?
After a moment of contemplation, he decided to take a risk. He manipulated the larger Skull Remnant beneath him—the one he had been resting on had been completely shattered in the Turbulence—and slowly approached a faint, not yet fully healed Spatial Fissure not far away.
When the distance narrowed to a certain range, and the faint cutting force emanating from the Spatial Fissure touched the Bronze Mirror Fragment—
"Buzz!"
The familiar, gentle Clear Light bloomed once more, forming a stable sphere of light approximately one *zhang* in diameter, enveloping both Lu Pan and the fragment. Outside the sphere, the subtle spatial distortion and cutting forces were clearly visible, but inside, it was calm and peaceful.
Indeed! This fragment possessed the miraculous effect of passively resisting spatial forces! Furthermore, its protective range seemed related to the amount of "triggering" Energy infused? Earlier, the Spacetime Turbulence was massive, so it spontaneously generated a stronger shield?
Lu Pan was ecstatic. This was an absolute treasure for exploring Dangerous Lands like the Abyss of Oblivion! With it, many areas he previously dared not venture into might now be accessible!
A thought suddenly struck him: Did the Workshop marking this object mean they were also searching for or researching similar ancient artifacts imbued with Spacetime Law? Did the Workshop's concept of "Law Breaking" include "breaking the shackles of Time and Space"?
This speculation gave him a deeper understanding of the Workshop's fanaticism.
He hesitated no longer and decided to use this Bronze Mirror Fragment to venture deeper into the Abyss of Oblivion, partly to evade pursuit, and partly to see if he could find more clues related to the Workshop.
Guiding the Skull Remnant, Lu Pan began to advance toward the depths of the abyss. With the fragment's protection, he was able to pass through bands of Energy Turbulence and dense areas of Spatial Fissures that he previously considered death traps.
What he saw along the way was bizarre and varied. There were relatively intact clusters of Ancient Times palaces, covered by a gray substance resembling temporal dust, silent and dead; there were massive, mountain-like Skeletons of unknown Gods and Demons, their bones still burning with inextinguishable demonic fire; occasionally, he could also see incomplete, ancient Formation Arrays still operating on their own, exuding a dangerous aura.
He was like a traveler of Time and Space, wandering through the ruins of history.
Several days later, after passing through an area of "metal storms" composed of countless shattered weapons, the scene before him changed dramatically.
Ahead, there was no longer an endless expanse of floating wreckage, but a relatively "intact" landmass. It was a scorched, broken plain, and in the center of the plain stood a majestic yet half-collapsed black giant tower. The style of the giant tower was completely different from any architecture in modern Fengdu, filled with an aura of barbarism and antiquity.
What shook Lu Pan's Mind even more was that at the base of the giant tower, a metal doorway, clearly excavated later and jarringly out of place with the ancient surroundings, was tightly sealed. The doorway was cast from some dull alloy, its surface smooth as a mirror, and in the center, clearly embedded, was a distinct—staring at the visitor like an eye—
Gear Mark!
He found it!
Lu Pan's heart pounded violently. This door, this mark! This place was extremely likely to be a secret outpost, or perhaps a derelict Outpost or laboratory, established by the Netherworld Workshop in the Abyss of Oblivion!
No wonder the Workshop was so difficult to locate; they actually set up their outpost in a deadly place like the Abyss of Oblivion, a place even the Ten Yama Kings were reluctant to enter easily! Utilizing the chaotic Spacetime environment and natural barriers here was enough to shield against most detection and tracking!
Lu Pan suppressed the excitement in his heart and did not approach rashly. He controlled the Skull Remnant and circled the black giant tower from a distance, observing.
Scattered across the scorched plain surrounding the giant tower were some unnatural pieces of debris: broken metal pipelines inscribed with Runes, fragments of shattered vessels resembling cultivation tanks, and even traces of dried, foul-smelling, bizarre liquid.
Evidently, some form of unknown experiment or production activity had taken place here.
The metal doorway was tightly shut, with no guards around, and no discernible Energy fluctuations could be sensed, as if it had long been abandoned. But Lu Pan dared not be careless. The Workshop's methods were mysterious and unpredictable; no one knew what lay behind that door, or if deadly traps had been laid.
He carefully observed the area around the doorway, searching for any possible information. Finally, on the tower wall to the right of the door, he discovered some faint writing, seemingly scratched in haste, using an ancient Netherworld script:
"...'Harmony Plan'... out of control... 'Primordial Code' contamination... evacuation... seal..."
The writing was sloppy, filled with terror and despair.
Harmony Plan? Primordial Code contamination?
Lu Pan had never heard these terms, but the ominous feeling conveyed between the lines sent a chill down his spine. The experiment conducted by the Workshop here seemed to have resulted in some terrible, uncontrolled consequence, forcing them to abandon this outpost and impose a seal?
He turned his gaze back to the tightly sealed metal doorway. The Gear Mark on the door seemed to carry a hint of mockery.
Should he risk entering to investigate the secrets of the Workshop and any potential evidence? Or should he retreat, report the discovery to King Qinguang, and plan carefully?
Lu Pan looked at the Bronze Mirror Fragment in his hand—the one that had saved him several times and also bore the Gear Mark—then looked at the doorway that seemed to lead into an unknown abyss. His gaze gradually became resolute.
He had already come this far; there was no reason to retreat. Perhaps the key to unraveling all the mysteries lay behind this door.
He took a deep breath, guided the Skull Remnant, and slowly approached the metal doorway marked with the Gear.