Steadying himself, Shen Jingqi saw the full extent of the laboratory.

Various instruments and equipment were cluttered about, covered in dust and cobwebs, as if they had been abandoned for a long time. Strange charts and photographs hung on the walls, their lines and symbols incomprehensible, and the expressions of the people in the photos were bizarre, as if they were sneering at them.

"Let's split up and see if there's any information about the experiment," Xu An said, a hint of tension in his eyes but more so a sense of determination.

Shen Jingqi nodded, saying, "Okay, you be careful." His hands were clenched tightly as his gaze swept around the laboratory, missing no corner.

The two started searching for clues in the laboratory. Shen Jingqi walked cautiously, each step light, fearing to disturb something. He approached a filing cabinet, dust covering it, gently blew off the dust, and then tried to open the cabinet door. With a creak, the door opened, revealing it was filled with files and documents.

Excitedly, he picked up a document, but after just a few glances, his face turned serious. The document recorded some detailed processes of the experiment, processes fraught with danger and uncertainty, as if playing a game with death. Moreover, the document mentioned a mysterious force, one that seemed to be able to change everything but was accompanied by enormous risks.

"Xu An, come take a look at this!" Shen Jingqi shouted, his voice full of surprise and tension.

Hearing the shout, Xu An quickly came over. He took the document, scrutinizing it, his brow growing tighter. "It appears this experiment is much more complex and dangerous than we imagined," he said, a trace of worry in his eyes.

It turned out this mysterious experiment was to study a force capable of controlling human consciousness. Throughout the experiment, they utilized advanced equipment and special methods to perform a series of modifications and training on the test subjects. Cong Nanxue was one such subject, displaying extraordinary abilities during the experiment, but also triggering some uncontrollable consequences. The experiment seemed to have opened a passage to another unknown world, and the force that dragged Shen Jingqi into the abyss likely leaked from there.

"So that's it... Is it possible that Cong Nanxue's soul being trapped in the painting is also related to this experiment?" Shen Jingqi murmured to himself, his eyes full of confusion and worry.

Xu An nodded, saying, "It's very possible. These documents also mention some key locations and people. Maybe if we follow these clues, we can find a way to rescue Cong Nanxue."

As they continued to inspect the documents, they discovered a mention of a secret room hidden deep within the laboratory. It's said to contain the core materials and equipment of the experiment. If they could find that room, perhaps all mysteries could be solved.

"Let's find that secret room; maybe the key to saving Cong Nanxue is there," Shen Jingqi said resolutely, his eyes shining with a glimmer of hope.

The two of them cautiously made their way down the dim corridor towards the depths of the laboratory. The surrounding air seemed especially cold, and they could feel a pair of invisible eyes watching them from the darkness. With every step, their heartbeat quickened, and the fear in their hearts grew stronger.

Suddenly, a deep growl sounded ahead, like a beast's roar. Their bodies froze instantly, staring tensely in the direction of the sound. A massive, grotesque monster slowly emerged from the darkness, its eyes glowing red, revealing sharp teeth, emitting a nauseating odor.

"Wha...what is that?" Shen Jingqi said in terror, his legs trembling involuntarily.

Xu An gripped his defensive tool tightly, saying, "Don't panic, let's slowly back away and see if we can bypass it."

They cautiously retreated, their eyes locked on the monster. Just when they thought they were about to escape it, the monster suddenly roared and lunged at them. Quickly turning, they fled down the narrow corridor, dodging left and right.

"This isn't working; we need to find a way to shake it off," Xu An shouted.

Just then, they noticed a small room nearby, its door ajar. Without time to think, they rushed into the room, shutting the door. The monster outside pounded on the door furiously, creating thunderous bangs.

"We're safe for now, but this won't last," Shen Jingqi panted.

Xu An glanced around the room, noticing some old equipment and files. He quickly leafed through the documents, his eyes lighting up: "There are some documents about the monster here; it turns out it was a mutant creature from an experimental failure, sensitive to sound and light. We can use this weakness to shake it off."

Following the method in the documents, they turned off the room's lights and created some strange sounds. The monster, hearing the noise, became agitated and, after pacing outside for a while, finally left.

Just as Shen Jingqi and Xu An breathed a sigh of relief, a sharp alarm suddenly blared in the laboratory, piercing their ears like a sharp blade. The lights began to flicker erratically, threatening to go out at any moment.

"The door's locked! We're trapped!" Shen Jingqi shouted.

Xu An searched for other exits, saying, "Let's keep looking; there must be another way out."

As they searched, Shen Jingqi discovered a staircase leading underground. The stairway was dark, leading into what seemed like an endless abyss.

"Xu An, there's a staircase here; should we go down?" Shen Jingqi hesitated, his gaze a mix of fear and curiosity.

Xu An pondered for a moment, saying, "Let's go down; maybe the exit is below, but we must be careful."

Cautiously, they descended the staircase, which creaked ominously as if it might collapse at any moment. Reaching the bottom, they found a massive room filled with strange machines. These machines flickered with eerie light, emitting a buzzing sound.

In the center of the room was a large glass container filled with green liquid, inside of which floated a blurry figure. Approaching for a closer look, Shen Jingqi and Xu An inhaled sharply; the figure bore a resemblance to Cong Nanxue.

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