"Holy crap, what is going on? Didn't they just run into the house? How did they end up in that hellscape?"
"I don't know! How does entering a building teleport you to a place like that? My Archons... black flames, boiling magma... where did Young Master Xingqiu even get this thing?"
"It's from the Jar Shop! Don't you remember? Last night, Young Master Xingqiu and Chongyun were opening jars. When they came out, they mentioned getting some kind of 'portable escape space'."
"Hss."
"I get it now. I've heard stories that many places in Teyvat hide these so-called 'Domains.' They are self-contained worlds. Some say the Adepti who protect Liyue live in Domains like these, hidden from mortal eyes."
"Yeah, I've heard that too. Domains are incredibly rare and dangerous. Many adventurers die in them. Even Vision bearers aren't safe."
"Hss... so this house is actually a Domain entrance? Those people inside... they're dead meat, aren't they?"
Outside the Feiyun Commerce Guild, the crowd stared at the screen in horror. Disbelief was painted on every face.
A dangerous Domain, right in the middle of the city!
Passersby noticed the commotion and crowded around.
"What's happening here?"
"What are you guys watching on that screen?"
"Did I hear someone say 'Domain'?"
"Isn't this the house Young Master Xingqiu said was closed today?"
"What? People ran inside and now they're trapped in a Domain?"
As the newcomers learned the context, their jaws dropped.
"Phew... thank the Archons I listened to the Young Master. If I had rushed in, that would be me on the screen."
"This is terrifying. If they fall, there won't even be ashes left."
"A Domain so dangerous that even Vision bearers hesitate... no wonder Xingqiu warned us."
"But the key point is... you can get this kind of stuff from the Jar Shop?"
"Who is that Shopkeeper? Why is he selling pocket dimensions?"
While the crowd debated the absurdity of the situation, the Feiyun Guild worker turned pale. He realized the gravity of the situation and sprinted into the main guild building.
"Find Young Master Xingqiu! Immediately!" he screamed at a colleague. "We have a crisis!"
Inside the Domain.
Andrei and the other trespassers stood frozen on the floating obsidian platform. Above them, black flames danced ominously. Below them, the magma sea churned, bubbles bursting with wet, sticky pops.
Clatter.
Someone stumbled back in fear, kicking a loose rock off the edge.
Every eye followed the stone as it fell.
It hit a magma bubble.
Hiss.
Instantly, it was vaporized into nothingness.
Andrei's face lost all color. If a rock vanished that fast, a human body wouldn't stand a chance.
"I... I want to go home."
One of the locals collapsed to the ground, trembling violently.
Outside.
"Holy..."
"Did you see that rock? Vaporized instantly. If a person falls..."
"So scary. They won't actually die, will they?"
"Be confident. Remove the 'won't'."
"What are you standing there for?! Go get the Millelith!"
"Right! The Millelith!"
The crowd finally snapped out of their trance. Someone bolted toward the nearest patrol station. This was beyond a simple trespassing case; citizens were in mortal danger.
Inside the Domain.
The group huddled together on the platform, paralyzed by fear.
"It's getting hot."
Suddenly, someone wiped sweat from their forehead and noticed the heat intensifying from behind. They turned around.
"Fire! There's fire!"
Three platforms behind them—identical to the one they stood on—were engulfed in black flames.
Under the intense heat, the floating rocks cracked and crumbled, falling into the magma sea below.
The black fire didn't stop. It jumped to the next platform. Then the next.
It was advancing toward them.
"Ah! That fire is destroying the platforms! If we don't move, we'll fall into the lava!"
"What do we do? Where do we go?!"
Panic set in. They realized this wasn't just a trap; it was a timed puzzle. The floor was literally disappearing behind them.
"But there's no path forward!"
Someone ran in circles frantically.
The next floating platform was ten meters away. Too far to jump. Below was certain death.
They were trapped.
Outside.
"Damn, it's starting?"
"That black fire is destroying the platforms! It's moving closer!"
"There's no path! The gap is huge! They're going to die!"
The crowd watched the screen with bated breath. It was like watching a live execution.
Inside the Domain.
"No... there has to be a mechanism..."
Andrei forced himself to calm down. He scanned the platform desperately. His eyes locked onto a small pedestal on the edge, embedded with a red crystal.
He ran over and slammed his hand onto it.
Click!
A mechanical sound echoed.
From the edge of their platform, a bridge of solid red light materialized, extending across the void to connect with the next platform.
"Run! Go!"
Andrei shouted, his face lit with relief. He sprinted onto the light bridge.
The others scrambled after him, desperate to escape the encroaching flames.
Outside.
"Whoa! I thought they were dead meat!"
"I guess Domains aren't always death traps. If you use your brain, you can survive."
"But this is just the first step. Look at how many platforms are ahead. One mistake and it's over."
The crowd cheered as the group moved, but the tension remained high.
Inside the Domain.
Rumble!
Just as they were crossing, the light bridge shuddered.
A section of the bridge ahead of Andrei suddenly deactivated and vanished.
A massive gap appeared in the middle of the path.
Andrei skid to a halt, teetering on the edge. He looked down at the magma swirling below, his heart pounding against his ribs like a hammer.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. If he had been running just a little faster...
"No... no path again."
Behind him, the survivors froze. The relief of finding the bridge evaporated instantly.
"Jump!"
Andrei gritted his teeth. He eyed the gap. It wasn't impossible.
He crouched, muscles tense, and launched himself across the void.
Thud!
He landed safely on the other side of the broken bridge section, rolling to absorb the impact.
"Hah... hah..."
He gasped for air, safe on the next obsidian platform.
But behind him, on the other side of the gap, the civilians stared at the jump with horror.
"I... my legs are jelly."
One man collapsed, sobbing. "I can't jump that."
"The fire is getting closer!"
Another looked back. The black flames were eating the platform they had just left. The heat was scorching their backs.
"I... I can't get up."
Outside.
"Make way! Make way!"
A squad of Millelith soldiers pushed through the crowd. They had received the report of a "Domain incident."
When they saw the screen, their faces went pale.
"Quick! Use a paper crane to notify Lady Ningguang immediately!" the squad leader barked.
He stared at the screen anxiously. Why is this happening in the middle of the city?
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