The chamber's ceiling cracked open above them, chunks of stone raining down as the destabilized core finally lost all containment, and Wei Liang threw himself sideways, dragging Feng Yao clear of a collapsing support pillar.
"Everyone out," Liu Che shouted, pulling Shen Yue away from the ruined platform. "This whole structure's coming down."
Yin's body lay motionless on the cracked floor, aged and withered, whatever remained of his three centuries finally, fully spent. Bao Chen knelt briefly beside him, checking for any lingering threat, then shook his head grimly.
"He's gone," Bao Chen confirmed. "Actually gone this time."
Wei Liang barely registered the confirmation, his attention locked entirely on the pendant against his chest, cracked deep and spreading, Xu's translucent form flic
