Drawing closer, they felt not only the palace’s immense scale but its breathtaking opulence. Forget the gold-and-jade main structure—even the steps beneath their feet gleamed with the warm, milky luster of white jade.

Each step bore enigmatic carvings: floral vines, soaring birds, prowling beasts. Varied in form, each held its own quiet beauty.

Beside the stairs, the railing rippled like ocean waves, seemingly carved from milky-white jade. At every interval, handrails cradled luminous pearls—each as large as a human head!

“So why *can’t* we break them?” Bai Xia muttered. Had Tianzheng not held her back, she’d have nearly hugged those pearls and licked them. But the system’s “indestructible” warning forced her to let go.

Seeing Bai Xia dazzled nearly immobile, Tianzheng scooped her up without a word and strode upward. Speed improved instantly.

Strangely, Bai Xia barely struggled. Was it the earlier “bribe” of that huge sum? Or pure laziness? Only upon reaching the summit gate did she wriggle free and drop to her feet.

The gate was absurdly massive. Bai Xia reckoned even a plane could fly straight through unscathed.

Etched in gold upon the sealed doors stood two monstrous beasts. Left: a colossal head bristling with fangs, four eyes, lion’s body, eagle’s claws. Right: serpentine form, six wings sprouting from its back, three scorpion-tipped tails.

Though mere paintings, they snarled with palpable ferocity.

Bai Xia felt a flicker of familiarity—weren’t these on the goblin lair murals? But far more grotesque now, as if ready to leap free.

Tianzheng beside her looked thoughtful. Bai Xia, about to touch the gate, turned with sudden curiosity: “Hey… when this opens, won’t these beasts jump out and bite me? Or some monster ambush us instantly?”

Fair question. Door guardians were usually dragons, phoenixes, auspicious deities—not these ugly, snarling things. Who puts *this* on a main gate? Definitely not a “normal” person. And per game logic… yeah, ambush felt plausible.

Tianzheng just shrugged. “So? Turn back now?”

Bai Xia shot him a look. *No way.* Even if a boss waited inside, they had to see its face first. Otherwise, all that effort wasted.

She stepped forward, palms pressed to the gate. Zero confidence—it was *that* huge. Failing at the final door after reaching treasure? Crueler than finding nothing.

But fate favored the world’s chosen one. The moment Bai Xia’s fingers brushed the gate—*click*—it swung open softly.

“That easy?” She blinked.

Tianzheng said nothing, but his weapon was already in hand. He’d never stand idle waiting for death.

Then—*whoosh!* A suction force erupted from within, overwhelming, inescapable.

“Eh… eh?!” Bai Xia vanished inside with a pop. The gate slammed shut—*bang!*

“Bai Xia!” Tianzheng jammed his sword into the gap. *Crack!* His newly acquired blade snapped clean in two. He stared at the broken hilt, jaw tight.

Inside the palace—

*Oof!* Bai Xia hit the floor headfirst. Thick carpet softened the impact, but her nose stung bright red, tears welling unbidden.

“Ow, ow, ow… My nose! Why does game pain *hurt*?! Damn it, what happened?!” Rubbing gently, she looked up. *Inside?* She spun around—only a shattered blade fragment lay behind. *Tianzheng’s Silvery Blade… broken?* She froze.

Then, a voice, lightly displeased: “Little one… where *exactly* are you staring?”

Only then did Bai Xia notice the figure lounging on a golden throne at the hall’s end. Towering—over three meters tall. A woman.

Beyond her height, her proportions were flawlessly human. Black gauze skirt clung teasingly. Hair like satin ribbon, skin like pearls, a gemmed crown tilted playfully. Elegant. Alluring.

But Bai Xia’s gaze locked dead on her chest. *Twenty kilos, easy.*

*So jealous… Wait—no! I wanna squeeze them!* Honestly? Worth the trip already.

As Bai Xia stood dazed, the woman murmured, voice honey-soft: “Had enough of the view, little one? Envy’s pointless. You’re clearly blessed by the Goddess of Flat Chests.”

Bai Xia: “…??”

*Did the final-boss-looking lady just say that?!* And why did her first impression feel… quietly shattered?