Our surroundings were still silent and calm as we started climbing up the steep slope. The higher we went, the lower the temperature was. The temperature had been negative 200 degrees on the plains. Now that we had reached an altitude of 1,000 meters, the temperature had dropped by about one degree.

"If the temperature continues declining at this rate, when we reach the peak, the temperature would surpass the absolute lowest temperature possible," said Dodo.

"If it gets lower than negative 273 degrees, it will be beyond our suit's ability to withstand," said Zhang Bao'er.

"That's not possible. Lower than that and all particles will stop moving altogether. Nothing can be colder than that. Our mere appearance has changed the activity level on this planet, so that will never happen," said Old Du.

We continued climbing up the slope. As the journey dragged on, it felt like we were climbing a mountain without end. After about three more hours, I heard an odd sound coming from the vehicles. A few minutes later, a series of zapping sounds rang out as the vehicles stopped moving.

"The off-road vehicles can't go further. It's negative 250 degrees here....