In Qin Shi Huang's enraged roar, the black mist within the bronze coffin gradually coalesced into a human form.
Previously, Huo Ban had been in a hazy, chaotic state while absorbing souls to recover his strength.
During his sealing, he had managed to digest those souls and restore his power to a certain extent.
Now, Huo Ban's true appearance was revealed before everyone's eyes.
He stood six feet tall, appearing quite short compared to Qin Shi Huang, but his arms were muscular, making him look more burly and robust. His face was marred by over a dozen knife scars, giving him a ferocious appearance.
Most unusual was that Huo Ban was blind in one eye. In the empty socket, a verdant green bead was embedded.
The bead exuded an unusual, malevolent aura.
"That is..."
Lin Zhitong suddenly recalled the Imperial Preceptor's objective upon entering the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor—the Sui Hou Pearl!
She had not expected the Sui Hou Pearl to be with Huo Ban!
With his true form revealed, Huo Ban let his arms hang loosely and yawned lazily.
"Good things take time."
He uttered four words, as if comforting himself.
However, these words were a profound insult to Qin Shi Huang.
Had Huo Ban truly believed his schemes and tricks could still succeed after reaching this point?
"Huo Ban!!"
Qin Shi Huang roared, "You have immense audacity!"
Huo Ban glanced at Qin Shi Huang from afar, a look of annoyance on his face: Da Feng Novel Network
"I miscalculated after all."
Huo Ban had not anticipated Yan Shouyi possessing the secret texts of Longhu Mountain, nor had he expected a woman with the aura of a true dragon to enter the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor today.
Otherwise, things would not have become so troublesome. Yan Shouyi would have been possessed by Huo Ban unknowingly, and Qin Shi Huang would have been helplessly enraged within Zhi Luo Palace, unable to retaliate.
Yet, this did not mean Huo Ban was careless; it was simply that his predictions had limitations due to the era.
Two thousand years ago, Huo Ban could never have imagined that a prestigious sect would accept a disciple from an evil folk cult, let alone pass down the secret texts of Longhu Mountain to Yan Shouyi.
He also could not have imagined that in two thousand years, women's status would be so high, to the point where women could possess the aura of a true dragon.
Miscalculation, such a miscalculation!
Huo Ban was filled with vexation but not despair.
He raised his head, his eyes burning as he fixed them on Qin Shi Huang, "Although the previous plan has gone awry, it is not irrecoverable. As long as..."
"As long as I kill all of you, the plan can continue as usual, and I, Huo Ban, will eventually achieve the path to eternal life!"
An unholy light erupted from the Sui Hou Pearl, and a strong sense of crisis spread through everyone's hearts.
Long Feicheng sensed the danger and silently retreated behind everyone, not forgetting to remind Liang Yinqiu and the others:
"We ordinary people should stay back and definitely don't get involved. Otherwise, when gods fight, mortals suffer!"
Liang Yinqiu looked at Long Feicheng with confusion, "Don't you know Daoist magic too?"
"Mine is all amateur stuff, good enough to show off in front of you, but in front of true masters, I'd be annihilated in an instant!"
Long Feicheng inadvertently spoke his true thoughts, earning an eye-roll from Xia Qi.
So, this guy had been showing off all along?
However, what Long Feicheng said was not wrong. When gods fight, ordinary people like them must not be caught in the crossfire.
Therefore, everyone retreated, and the group of people present became clearly delineated.
Hiding at the very back were the "ordinary people" led by Long Feicheng;
Standing on the middle tier were Lin Zhitong, Agong, Luo Ning, and the others;
Standing at the very front, bearing all the pressure, was only one person: Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng!
Facing the formidable Huo Ban, Qin Shi Huang showed no fear on his face.
He was calm and collected, just as he had been during his conquest of the Six States, unmoved even when faced with a million troops.
Only then did the others understand why Qin Shi Huang was the greatest emperor of all time.
They could only stand behind him now, looking up to him, not daring to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
"Huo Ban."
Qin Shi Huang's expression was grim, and dark mist emerged from beneath his feet. "How I trusted you back then, yet this is how you repay me! ... Enough, enough, I will personally slay you today!"
As his words fell, Qin Shi Huang suddenly floated into the air, his sleeves billowing, soaring into the sky towards Huo Ban!
Huo Ban sneered and, without retreating, charged towards Qin Shi Huang!
Their collision caused the earth to shake and the mercury river to boil, stirring up wave after wave of churning tides!
The luminous pearls embedded in the dome, due to their struggle, fell one after another, like a meteor shower!
"Quick, find cover!"
Wang Jiwang shouted back.
Liang Yinqiu and the others quickly found a shelter, but upon looking back, they found someone missing.
"Where is Long Feicheng?" Wang Jiwang called out.
"Over there!" Luo Ning pointed in a direction and shouted.
Long Feicheng was seen bent over, covering his head, picking up the luminous pearls that had fallen to the ground!
Luminous pearls kept falling from the sky, smashing into him fiercely, causing him to cry out in pain, yet he still gritted his teeth and picked them up.
Everyone was speechless.
An egg thrown from the thirtieth floor would be enough to kill an adult.
And now, it wasn't eggs falling, but luminous pearls!
This fellow Long Feicheng, who valued money over his life, dared to brave the falling pearls to pick up treasures!
Agong, with a flicker of impatience, rushed out and dragged Long Feicheng back.
By the time he returned, Long Feicheng's trousers were stuffed full, and he was cradling a pile of them, with some still falling as he walked.
His face was bruised, as if he had just been beaten, but he was smiling exceptionally happily:
"Hahaha! I'm rich, I'm rich!!"
"I really don't know what to say about you," Zhao Yiyao shook her head.
Just then, someone realized, "What about Mr. Yan?"
Everyone was taken aback.
Indeed, Huo Ban had appeared, but why hadn't Mr. Yan come out yet?
By the time everyone thought of Yan Shouyi, Lin Zhitong, with the help of Tao Hua Ying, had already flown towards the bronze coffin again.
Upon landing, Lin Zhitong took three steps at once, rushing to the side of the bronze coffin.
Just as she was about to peer inside, a figure suddenly sat up in the bronze coffin—it was Yan Shouyi!
Their gazes met, and Lin Zhitong immediately stopped, her eyes locking with his.
"I..."
"I..."
They both spoke in unison, but then stopped.
"You..."
"You..."
They fell silent again.
Yan Shouyi smiled, pulled Lin Zhitong into his arms with one hand, and held her tightly.
"You did it," Yan Shouyi said softly.
Lin Zhitong buried her face deeply in Yan Shouyi's embrace and said in a low voice, "I have something to tell you."
"What a coincidence, I have something to tell you too."
Yan Shouyi gently stroked Lin Zhitong's hair, his tone infinitely tender.