The passage ahead was filled with a group of people, all with expressions of panic and unease.
They were fleeing in disarray, as if something terrifying was pursuing them from behind.
"What happened?" Yao Zhong inquired.
Among this group were over ten of his trusted subordinates, men who had accompanied him through numerous perilous tombs and were no strangers to grave danger. Yet, even they had turned pale and wore expressions of terror.
A subordinate responded, "Boss Yao, this place is haunted. The walls eat people."
Mian Abe seized the opportunity to mock, "Heh, you tomb raiders are afraid of ghosts too?"
"Be it a demon or a ghost, just eliminate it. You're all powerful Celestial Immortals, what's there to be afraid of?"
The Golden Lion was filled with disdain, considering these cowards to be easily frightened.
What was there to fear? Just fight. At worst, it would be death.
As it spoke, it directly shattered the wall in front of it with a single claw, destroying the murals and inscriptions, unwilling to benefit others.
It had already memorized the treasure technique and did not want anyone else to learn it.
Mian Abe, who hadn't managed to memorize it completely, turned green with anger. He resolved to join forces with Sai Gao and rip out the foolish lion's kidneys once they met.
Yao Zhong lamented the loss but believed there were more valuable things here, so he didn't react much.
He looked at his subordinates and calmly stated, "Either you encountered an illusion, or someone is playing tricks, with malicious intent."
"It's definitely not an illusion. I'm wearing a Illusion-Breaking Bead, which can dispel all illusions."
Someone stated with conviction that everything they encountered was real. He had personally witnessed hundreds of beings from different races being swallowed by the walls, leaving not even a trace.
Furthermore, he hadn't detected any fluctuations of immortal energy, proving it wasn't caused by spells, divine abilities, or formations.
"There must be an unknown expert hidden here," Mian Abe hit the nail on the head.
After all, even Sai Gao had encountered someone who couldn't be easily dealt with. Who knew if it was that guy playing tricks, intending to eliminate them all and monopolize all the fortune here.
"That's right. The opponent's methods are very clever, so they haven't revealed any flaws. Everyone needs to be vigilant and avoid being ambushed by villains," Yao Zhong, uncharacteristically, did not refute Mian Abe's words, agreeing with his assessment.
His expression turned slightly solemn. Being able to devour living beings through the walls without revealing any energy fluctuations meant the opponent was indeed formidable.
However, since the opponent dared not kill openly, their true strength was likely not overwhelmingly powerful, so there was no need to worry too much.
"So many people have died!"
Some of the more timid individuals were on the verge of collapse, their nerves stretched taut.
They recalled Ji Mo's cautionary words heard at the entrance and began to regret their actions.
Although they wished to retreat now, they dared not turn back, fearing they would be inexplicably swallowed by the walls.
Mian Abe, concerned for Sai Gao's safety, immediately turned to leave and rendezvous with Sai Gao.
As long as the "Heart-Ripping Kidney-Snatching Duo" joined forces, they would be able to face anything.
The Golden Lion assumed Mian Abe was seeking fortune and did not want to be left behind, so it also flew deeper into the cave.
However, it was much more cautious than before, not approaching the walls, its four paws not touching the ground. Its entire body was enveloped in flames, wrapped in blazing fire.
"Let's go! There must be an astonishing treasure of the Blue-Blooded people hidden here. If we find it, we'll be rich."
Yao Zhong led his subordinates and also began to move.
He firmly believed that something extraordinary was hidden here.
The others followed suit, huddling together for warmth, and rushed into the depths of the cave as a throng.
Soon, a grand and vast cave dwelling appeared before everyone.
This space was shrouded in mist, a hazy azure. The ground was littered with the scattered bone frames of the Blue-Blooded people, emitting a faint glow.
Everyone showed signs of joy and began to snatch these treasure bones.
There were also unlucky individuals who were too impatient and accidentally touched the residual blue blood, causing their bodies to explode on the spot, resulting in a tragic death.
"What exactly happened? Was it an internal conflict among the Blue-Blooded people, or did a powerful enemy attack, causing all this?"
Although Yao Zhong was a tomb raider, he also had a genuine passion for archaeology and truly wanted to understand what had happened.
Clearly, the Blue-Blooded people had experienced a major upheaval, leading to their eventual decline.
The last reliable record of the Blue-Blooded people in the Immortal Spirit Realm stated that thirteen Blue-Blooded individuals had driven a flying artifact and crossed the starry river, disappearing to an unknown destination, never to be seen again.
"Roar!"
Ahead, a sudden roar was heard.
It was the Golden Lion's voice, indicating it had encountered something.
Following that, the ground trembled with a rumbling sound, and a large amount of rubble began to fall from above.
"Golden Lion, what are you doing? Trying to get us killed? Don't touch anything carelessly. This place is likely filled with various traps. We might all get buried alive," Yao Zhong shouted anxiously, fearing that the foolish lion would trigger some mechanisms or formations, plunging them into peril.
"Someone... someone is secretly touching my backside."
The Golden Lion was both ashamed and enraged, letting out a sky-shattering roar, even unleashing its unique divine ability, the Lion's Roar technique.
It was truly horrifying. Despite being covered in flames, it had been molested, and something had pinched it fiercely.
They say one must not touch a tiger's backside, and even less so the Golden Lion's. Enraged, it exploded with fury.
Of course, what made it most uneasy was that the opponent seemed unfazed by the flames surrounding it.
"Are you kidding me? Who would have such a peculiar fetish to touch you..."
Yao Zhong didn't believe it at all. If you were a beauty, it might be understandable, but a male lion? Who would have such thoughts?
He suspected the Golden Lion had discovered a treasure and intended to eliminate them to hoard it.
The Golden Lion was speechless. It wasn't lying; it had indeed been pinched by some ghostly entity, and the opponent had even injected a strand of soul power, clearly intending to examine its body.
Its instincts told it that it had been treated as prey, and the opponent seemed interested in its body.
"You want to hunt me? I will find you and tear you to shreds."
The Golden Lion was furious. It dispersed its divine sense and began to track the culprit.
It believed the opponent must be hiding nearby, undoubtedly within the cave dwelling.
Bai Jingjing also arrived here. She did not reveal herself, hiding behind a rock, searching for Mian Abe.
She had returned for revenge, intending to kill the hypocrite Mian Abe first, and then settle the score with the Golden Lion.
However, she only heard the Golden Lion's voice and did not see Mian Abe.
"Who on earth has such strange tastes as to touch even a male lion?"
Bai Jingjing felt like laughing. She continued to observe her surroundings, searching for Mian Abe's trace.
She didn't notice a dark shadow appearing on the wall behind her, followed by a dark, clawed hand slowly reaching out.
"Huh, isn't this that girl with the bad temper and small... well, you know. What is she sneakily hiding behind the rock?"
Ji Hanhan also arrived here and immediately spotted Bai Jingjing hiding.
Immediately, his eyes narrowed as he discovered the claw emerging from the wall.
Bai Jingjing was in danger!
There was no time to delay.
Ji Hanhan lunged forward with a single step, reaching out and striking heavily.
*Slap!*
A crisp, elastic sound echoed.
Bai Jingjing's body stiffened, her pupils dilated, and her mind went blank.