218: Tomb of the Sand Sea! Two-Sided Truth! The whole book is finished

Zhang Meng followed closely behind, handsomely pulling down her goggles and jumping into the greyish-white quicksand.

"..."

"Let's go!"

"Go!"

The people around looked at each other.

Gritting their teeth, they adjusted their gear and jumped into the 'quicksand eye' where Wu Tian and the other two had disappeared!

"Nanfeng..."

Wu Xie frowned as he looked at Huo Nanfeng.

He asked softly.

"Are you sure you want to go down too?"

"The burial chamber below could be buried by this sand at any moment. If you go down... you might not be able to come back up!"

"..."

"Hehe..."

Huo Nanfeng smiled slightly.

She turned to look at Wu Xie.

Suddenly, she asked.

"Why do you want to go down?"

"..."

Wu Xie was taken aback.

Then, the smile faded from his face, and he looked at Huo Nanfeng with a serious expression.

"I have my reasons!"

"I don't care about the secret of the ultimate, but..."

Wu Xie said seriously.

"I want to see what the ultimate actually looks like!"

"..."

"Then can you tell me the specific reason?"

Huo Nanfeng chuckled.

She continued to ask Wu Xie.

Wu Xie's brow furrowed.

Then he looked at Huo Nanfeng and shook his head slightly.

"I can't!"

"..."

"That's it!"

Hearing this, Huo Nanfeng broke into a smile and said to Wu Xie.

"You have a reason why you must go down, and I can't talk you out of it. But I also have a reason why I must go down, and similarly, you can't talk me out of it either!"

"Alright!"

"Little Third Master of the Wu Family!"

"In the time you've spent wasting your breath with me up here, we could have already met up with Boss Wu down there!"

"Hurry up!"

"Let's go!"

"..."

"Then let's go!"

Wu Xie nodded, pushed down his goggles, and jumped without hesitation with Wang Meng behind him, plunging into the fine greyish-white quicksand like diving into water.

Once Wu Xie and Wang Meng disappeared into the greyish-white sand vortex.

Huo Nanfeng also pushed down her goggles expressionlessly and leaped.

She also entered the greyish-white sea of sand.

Then came Chen Jie, Zhao Wu... and finally, gritting his teeth, Third Master Xie, who had no choice but to follow.

"..."

*Sshhh...*

*Sshhh!*

The sound of fine quicksand rubbing against clothing rang continuously in Wu Tian's ears. Even with goggles, all Wu Tian could see was darkness.

The only way to find direction was to follow the flow of the quicksand.

Wu Tian held Fatty with his left hand and Zhang Meng with his right.

Following the flow of the quicksand, they slowly sank deeper and deeper underground!

*Rustle, rustle...* The sound of the quicksand rubbing against them was constant!

After some time!

The sound of the quicksand rubbing against Wu Tian and the others' ears gradually lessened.

Then... the three of them simultaneously felt the pressure and friction around them decrease significantly.

A few seconds later... the pressure on the three of them lightened.

At a certain moment!

*Whoosh!*

*Whoosh, whoosh!*

The three bodies instantly broke through the thick layer of quicksand and slid down along with the sand, which had become sparse!

*Thump!*

A muffled sound!

Wu Tian landed first. The place where he landed was soft; as soon as he landed, his body began to sink into the sand beneath him.

Wu Tian's brow furrowed.

He reacted immediately, rolling away from the sand pile!

He rolled onto the hard ground nearby.

Then... before Wu Tian could even look up to check his surroundings.

*Thud!*

*Thump!*

"Ouch!"

"Oh my god..."

After two muffled sounds, Fatty's pained voice was heard.

"Sister Meng!"

"Can you please get up?"

"What kind of lethal weapon is in that big bag of yours? It almost poked a hole right through me!"

"..."

"Huh?"

Zhang Meng was startled.

She quickly scrambled off Fatty.

She reached back and lightly touched her backpack.

Immediately... Zhang Meng's expression became awkward.

"Uh..."

"The thing that poked you just now was probably that ring-shaped weapon I picked up in the corridor earlier!"

"..."

"A weapon?!"

Fatty was instantly shocked!

Like a fish leaping, he rolled off the huge sand pile and over to Wu Tian's side.

Without a word, he stood up.

He frantically felt around his body.

"..."

"Sigh!"

Seeing Fatty's panicked movements and worried that more people would fall from above, Zhang Meng slid down the sand slope to Fatty's side.

She laughingly slapped Fatty.

Rolling her eyes, she said.

"Stop feeling yourself up like that, what the hell are you doing?"

"Alright!"

"You're definitely fine!"

Zhang Meng reached into her backpack and pulled out her ring-shaped weapon, waving it in front of Fatty.

"See this?"

Zhang Meng said with a smile.

"I wrapped this weapon in that Chang You skin from earlier, just so it wouldn't tear my backpack!"

"Alright!"

Zhang Meng put the weapon back and took out a flashlight.

Using the light of the flashlight, she began to observe the space.

"Stop being so dramatic!"

"Hurry up and look around..."

"Find a way to get to the next level!"

"..."

"Yeah!"

Wu Tian nodded.

He then brushed the sand off his clothes, shook the sand out of his shoes, turned on his flashlight, and began to observe the surroundings.

Just as Wu Tian and the others began their observation... one after another, muffled thuds of hitting the sand came from the sand dune behind them.

"Thump!"

"Bang, bang, bang!"

After several muffled sounds.

Wu Xie and the others also successfully flowed out of the sand sea.

"..."

"Ptooey, ptooey!"

"Whoa!"

Wu Xie, who had just landed on the sand dune, immediately spat several times!

"What the hell..."

"Why is this sand bitter?"

"Did it go rancid from being cooped up in this underground space?"

"Dammit!"

"Truly disgusting!"

"..."

"Boss!"

Just as Wu Xie scrambled up from the sand dune, Wang Meng, who had fallen behind him, also slowly stood up. He frowned and tightened the cloth covering his nose and mouth.

He reached out to support Wu Xie.

"Are you okay?"

"..."

"I'm fine!"

Wu Xie shook his head.

"Let's go!"

"Let's not waste time. We'll follow Boss Wu and the others to observe the surroundings."

"Find where the ground is thinnest."

"From the weak point, we'll find a way to break through to the next level!"

"..."

"Okay!"

Wang Meng nodded.

He followed Wu Xie, turning on his flashlight to observe the surroundings.

While Wang Meng and Wu Xie were exploring in another direction.

Zhao Wu, Chen Jie, Huo Nanfeng, and Third Master Xie also slid down from the large hole at the top along with the quicksand one by one.

After taking a moment to adjust and seeing Wu Tian and the others' actions.

They also instinctively began to observe the surroundings closely with their flashlights.

"..."

"Hey..."

"Brother Tian!"

The area Wu Xie was investigating was relatively close to Wu Tian. While carefully tapping the ground, Wu Xie asked Wu Tian.

"I think I felt us passing through a fake tomb space just now!"

"I feel like..."

"We've already passed the fake coffin."

"Now..."

"The stone slab of this layer under our feet should be called the ceiling stone, right?"

"And the one above our heads is the cap stone!"

"..."

"Yes!"

Wu Tian nodded.

"I thought no one noticed."

"I already felt it while we were in the sand sea. The fake coffin here has already collapsed under the weight of the sand over the years. We passed right through it, and by some stroke of luck, Third Master Xie found the cap stone and blew it open!"

"Hehe!"

"That old fellow has pretty good luck!"

"But..."

Wu Xie frowned.

"Are you sure there's a way for us to go down through this layer of stone under our feet?"

"..."

Hearing this, Wu Tian chuckled.

"There isn't!"

"Every layer of stone here was built to be sealed off. Where would there be a natural passage for people?"

"..."

Wu Xie was stunned.

"Then you..."

"It's simple!"

Wu Tian chuckled.

He reached out and patted the large bag on Fatty's back, saying to Wu Xie with a smile.

"Isn't there stuff in here?"

"We have plenty of explosives!"

"Just blast it open!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, an even more shocked expression flashed across Wu Xie's face.

He glanced at Third Master Xie, who was sticking his butt out and tinkering on the ground in the distance, then looked back at Wu Tian.

Suddenly... a look of admiration appeared on Wu Xie's face.

"Badass!"

"Brother Tian!"

"This move of yours is just too... you know!"

"If Third Master Xie finds out, wouldn't he be so angry his lungs would burst?"

"..."

"Eh?"

Wu Tian feigned an innocent expression and said to Wu Xie.

"Lungs bursting? How cruel!"

"But..."

Wu Tian's expression suddenly changed.

He gave Wu Xie a mischievous smile.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Heehee!"

"..."

Wu Xie also gave Wu Tian a mischievous smile.

"Yeah!"

"What does that have to do with us?"

"Workers have their own happiness!"

"Then why don't we let the worker's happiness last a bit longer?"

"Hehe!"

"..."

The group of seven or eight people spent about ten minutes searching between the ceiling stone and the cap stone. Everyone had meticulously checked the ceiling stone layer under their feet.

They had to avoid the area where sand was leaking from above while finding a spot where the ground was thin but the cap stone above was solid.

This indeed took quite a bit of effort.

Moreover... everyone's battery supply was limited in this dark environment.

If they delayed any longer... they might not have enough battery for their flashlights to last until they got out, even if they reached the main burial chamber!

This... added a lot of anxiety to everyone's hearts.

"..."

"Found it?"

After Wu Tian had pulled back his black hood, Third Master Xie stopped hiding and exposed his pale face to everyone's sight.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Third Master Xie frowned.

He asked Zhao Wu in a low voice.

"No."

Zhao Wu didn't want to deal with Third Master Xie at all. He shook his head and walked away from him.

"..."

Third Master Xie choked on his words.

But he didn't say anything.

He only gave Zhao Wu a venomous look, then lowered his head to search elsewhere again.

"..."

Suddenly!

Chen Jie's flashlight beam wavered.

He shouted loudly.

"Brother Tian!"

"Hey, Brother Tian!"

"Come take a look!"

"I've found something!"

"The sound here is wrong when I tap it; it seems very thin!"

"..."

Everyone was startled.

They immediately stopped what they were doing and rushed over to Chen Jie's side.

Seven or eight people were suddenly squeezed into a very small space.

But no matter how crowded it was, everyone still left enough space for Wu Tian, Fatty, and Zhang Meng.

"Whew..."

"Where?"

Wu Tian, walking through the path cleared by the crowd, rubbed his hands and asked Chen Jie.

"..."

"Here!"

Chen Jie chuckled.

He reached out and tapped a section of the stone surface.

"Tap, tap!"

The sound was exceptionally hollow!

It sounded like... the thickness of the stone here really was very thin.

Wu Tian nodded.

Then he reached out and lightly tapped the stone surface himself.

"Tap, tap!"

Hearing the crisp and hollow sound from under his hand, Wu Tian gave a faint smile and then slowly stood up.

He said with a smile.

"Not bad!"

"The ground here is much thinner than in other places!"

"But there's still one problem!"

Wu Tian stood up, stood on his tiptoes, and reached up to touch the stone slab above his head.

"The floor slab being thin is so we can easily open it, but the ceiling slab above must be exceptionally sturdy."

"Otherwise, if the explosion breaks or even collapses the slab above as well!"

"Our danger level below will skyrocket!"

"..."

"Blast... blast it open?"

Suddenly.

Third Master Xie, standing nearby, was a bit dazed.

Then he looked at Wu Tian to confirm once more.

"Boss Wu!"

"Are you sure..."

"About blowing it open?"

"..."

"Ah!"

Wu Xie nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Blow it open!"

"What else are we supposed to do?"

Wu Xie gave a chuckle.

"What's beneath our feet is a stone slab. If we don't use explosives, are you going to pry it open with your bare hands?"

"..."

"But... but!"

Third Master Xie immediately bristled.

"But didn't you tell me before that the explosive you gave me was the only piece our entire team had?"

"You..."

"Are you freaking playing me?!"

Third Master Xie's face flushed red instantly.

"Hey now~"

The smile on Wu Tian's face didn't fade as he gave Third Master Xie a dismissive wave and said with a laugh.

"How can you call this playing you?"

"Think about it!"

"When I told you there was only one piece of explosive, didn't Fatty hand me another one right after?"

"..."

Third Master Xie froze.

"Think again!"

"Fatty has been carrying that bag the whole time. When have I ever looked inside it?"

"So at that time, didn't I naturally assume there was only one piece left?"

"..."

Third Master Xie was completely dumbfounded.

"Then you..."

"..."

"You're wondering why there's more now, right?"

Wu Tian tilted his head and gave Third Master Xie a slight smile.

"It's very simple!"

"I didn't look in the bag before, so I didn't know. But now that I've looked in the bag, don't I know now?"

"Old brother!"

"Don't get hung up on those details!"

"Who cares how many explosives are left? The bottom line is that we need to get down there!"

"..."

Wu Tian's words left Third Master Xie momentarily stunned.

Third Master Xie hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding.

He said in a low voice.

"Yeah!"

"You're right!"

"As long as there are explosives and we can get down, then it's a good thing..."

"..."

"Hey!"

"That's the spirit!"

Wu Tian chuckled, reached out to take the backpack from Fatty, and pulled out another small piece of clay explosive.

After rolling it into a cone shape with his hands, he pressed the pointed end directly against the ground.

"Wait, that's not right..."

Third Master Xie regained his senses and realized something felt off.

No matter how you sliced it... he had been tricked!

And looking at Wu Tian's attitude, he was clearly acting like a shameless rogue!

"You..."

Third Master Xie squeezed his way in front of Wu Tian.

He pointed a finger, just about to start questioning him.

"What's up?"

Wu Tian looked at the encroaching Third Master Xie and suddenly stopped what he was doing.

He asked the latter with great surprise.

"Are you saying you want to come up, set the bomb, and detonate it yourself?"

Third Master Xie was taken aback.

He immediately waved his hands in refusal!

"No..."

"That's not what I meant!"

"..."

"Oh?"

Wu Tian's eyes lit up.

"You mean you don't need any help or concern from the rest of us, and you can handle it all by yourself?"

"Fine!"

With lightning speed, Wu Tian finalized the choice for the person to set and detonate the bomb.

He gave Third Master Xie a satisfied smile.

"No problem!"

He forcefully stuffed the explosive into Third Master Xie's arms and gave him a slight smile.

"It's all yours!"

"Good luck!"

"Don't let us down!"

"..."

Third Master Xie: ... "Damn it!"

"I can't do this, don't talk nonsense, I really can't..."

"I!"

"..."

"It's settled!"

"Brothers, Third Master Xie has volunteered to stay here and help us set and detonate the bomb. What are you all just standing there for?"

"Get out of here, quickly!"

"It's dangerous here!"

"Don't let Third Master Xie's kindness go to waste!"

"Move!"

Smiling, Wu Tian pointed toward a triangular corner between the Ceiling Layer and the Structural Slab.

"That spot is the safest place on this entire level."

"Let's move fast and hide in there!"

"Give Third Master Xie enough space to work!"

"..."

"Got it!"

"No problem!"

"Go, go, go!"

"Hurry up!"

Chen Jie and Zhao Wu exchanged a smile and walked toward the two corners with light steps.

Then Huo Nanfeng nodded without hesitation.

Following closely behind, she also rushed toward the corners.

Then came Wu Tian, Fatty, and the third person.

In just a few seconds... Wu Tian led everyone into the two corners. From the dark and safe corners, they looked at the distant Third Master Xie, who was holding the explosive pack with a look of utter helplessness and confusion, and chuckled.

Wu Tian raised a hand toward him.

"Hurry!"

"Get moving!"

"We're all ready!"

"Hurry it up!"

"Don't worry!"

Wu Tian said with a face full of assurance.

"Set the bomb first, then run over here. I'll leave you plenty of time before the explosion!"

"The bomb definitely won't go off before you get here!"

"Please..."

Wu Tian looked at Third Master Xie with a serious expression and said.

"Trust me!"

Third Master Xie: ... [Warm Reminder: The website will be redesigned soon, which may cause loss of reading progress. Please save your 'Bookshelf' and 'Reading History' in a timely manner (screenshotting is recommended). We apologize for any inconvenience!]

After a few seconds of silence.

Third Master Xie gritted his teeth and accepted Wu Tian's proposal. In those few seconds, he had kept asking himself: Is there any other choice?

The answer was... no choice!

"..."

"Sigh!"

He gave a soft sigh.

Third Master Xie looked at Wu Tian and the group gathered around him and slowly nodded. He reached out and took the clay explosive Wu Tian had rolled, pointed the tip downward, and inserted it into a crack in the rock.

Next... with a look of utter despair, Third Master Xie began connecting the various wiring sets.

After testing each set and finding no issues.

Third Master Xie gave Wu Tian an 'OK' sign and stood up.

He ran quickly toward Wu Tian and the others.

As he ran.

Third Master Xie shouted to everyone.

"Don't rush!"

"Don't be in a hurry!"

"Wait until I get there before you press the detonation button!"

"..."

"What?"

Wu Tian, who was talking to Zhang Meng, was taken aback and subconsciously leaned his body forward.

*Click...*

With that one step.

Wu Tian's right foot stepped directly onto the remote control board not far ahead.

Wu Tian froze.

Third Master Xie, who was running toward them from a distance, also froze.

Then... Third Master Xie's eyes widened, and he ran even faster!

As he ran, he cursed.

"Damn!"

"Wu Tian, you bastard!"

"You lied to me again!"

*Boom!*

A massive explosion instantly echoed through the small space. The enormous shockwave, compressed by the narrow confines, surged directly toward the nearest person, Third Master Xie.

*Bam!*

A huge impact struck.

"Ugh..."

Third Master Xie's expression changed, and his entire body was lifted by the massive shockwave, flying toward Wu Tian and the others.

His thin body was like a kite with a broken string.

Floating rapidly through the air!

"..."

"Eh?"

Wu Tian was stunned.

Seeing the wretched Third Master Xie flying toward them through the air, Wu Tian gave an awkward smile and shouted loudly at him.

"Uh, so..."

"Third Master Xie!"

"If I say I really didn't mean it, and that pressing the remote just now was truly a momentary lapse, would you believe me?"

"..."

Then!

Having finished speaking, Wu Tian reached out against the massive shockwave to pull at the airborne Third Master Xie!

*Grab!*

Wu Tian's right hand grabbed directly onto Third Master Xie's clothes.

"Hehe..."

"Gotcha!"

"..."

*Huff, puff...*

Looking at Wu Tian below him and feeling the impact still hitting him from all directions, Third Master Xie's face darkened.

He opened his mouth and cursed at Wu Tian.

"Would I believe you?"

"Believe my ass!"

"I don't care if you meant it or not, I'm never doing this job again!"

"Next time..."

"Find whoever the hell you want!"

"Don't talk to me anymore!"

"You dog!"

"I'm telling you, I really want to..."

The more Third Master Xie spoke, the angrier he got.

He was just about to struggle and drop from Wu Tian's hand to the ground to have a proper argument with him when... *Rip!*

A sharp tearing sound.

As Third Master Xie's eyes went wide, the section of clothing Wu Tian was holding could no longer bear the weight and tore apart!

"I..."

"Holy crap!"

Third Master Xie's eyes bulged.

He only had time to shout a curse before his entire body slammed into the wall behind him!

*Boom!*

A loud thud!

Third Master Xie hit the wall back-first. The massive force made his eyes nearly pop out of his head!

His internal organs felt a surge of agony.

It felt as if they had been shattered!

*Cough, cough...*

Third Master Xie slowly slid down from the wall.

Coughing, he pointed at Wu Tian and shouted righteously.

"Wu Tian!"

"It's impossible!"

"Even if you kill me, I will never set another explosive again!"

"Seriously!"

"Wu Tian!"

Third Master Xie looked at Wu Tian with gritted teeth and roared.

"Don't push people too far!"

"..."

Half an hour later... on top of the Waist-Blocking Stone... a desperate Third Master Xie was sticking his rear up as he assembled explosives on the stone surface. Every time he raised his head, his gaze toward Wu Tian was filled with deep resentment and bitterness!

"What are you looking at?"

"Hurry up!"

"Set it quickly. Our flashlights are almost out of batteries and you're still dawdling. You think I won't slap you?"

Wu Tian's face darkened.

He pointed at the man's nose and let out a string of curses!

Third Master Xie: ... "Fine!"

"I... I'll just speed up..."

"..."

There was no other way!

When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head!

All that talk about not touching another explosive even if it killed him!

To the current Third Master Xie, those words were just hot air!

Was he kidding?

Why had he run away before?

Why had he listened to Wu Tian and sought a glimmer of life in the sea of sand?

Wasn't it all for the ultimate secret of longevity?

If he died now... wouldn't it be too much of a loss?

"Hey!"

"Old Third!"

"Is it set?"

"Hurry up, I'm about to detonate. Get back here quickly!"

"Move, move, move!"

"Start running!"

Third Master Xie: ... "..."

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

*Boom...*

A violent explosion sounded almost every half hour, causing the sand in this sea of sand to vibrate, collapse, and shift... Just as everyone was getting closer to the underground burial chamber... the sand!

Unbeknownst to them, it had already sealed off everyone's exit!

"..."

*Boom!*

Another half hour later!

When the final explosion echoed underground... the Waist-Blocking Stone was blown through!

At the same time... a hole was also blasted through the ceiling of the burial chamber beneath it!

"..."

"Let's go!"

Wu Tian looked at the large hole beneath his feet, frowned, and nodded to the members of the Nine Gates beside him, speaking softly.

"This hole should lead to the Tomb Cave."

"Let's head in!"

"..."

"Hey!"

Suddenly!

Just then, Wu Xie pulled something from his bag and smiled at Wu Tian.

"Brother Tian, don't be in such a hurry!"

"I still have a procedure to perform!"

"You!"

"Wait a moment!"

"..."

"Oh?"

Wu Tian was taken aback, then looked at Wu Xie and stepped aside to see what he was going to do.

Wu Xie pulled out a candle and lit it.

Then, crouching low, he reached into the exposed tomb passage.

He lowered the candle into the pitch-black passage.

*Flicker, flicker...*

The faint flame swayed slowly in the darkness.

Everyone waited for two minutes, and nothing unusual happened.

Wu Xie finally gave a slight smile.

He waved his hand at the group.

"No problem, everyone can go down now!"

"..."

Wu Tian looked at Wu Xie, stunned.

"That's it?"

"..."

Wu Xie was taken aback and hadn't had time to respond.

Wu Tian pulled a portable air quality detector directly from his backpack.

Then he reached into the tomb and pressed the detection button.

Then... beep!

A soft sound.

The detector in Wu Tian's hand lit up with a green light!

"No problem!"

"Xiao Xie!"

"It's the high-tech era now; things like candles are optional. Look at this gadget of mine—just stick it into the tomb, press a button, and you're done, right?"

"Hehe..."

"Wait!"

Wu Tian smiled slightly at the latter.

"Once we're done here, I'll give you one!"

"Haha!"

Wu Xie was stunned.

Then he looked at the candle in his hand, then at the detector in Wu Tian's hand.

With an embarrassed look, he threw away the candle.

Without a word, he followed Wu Tian into the tomb.

"..."

Shasha... sha!

The tomb was very well-preserved. Because there was a thick layer of sand on the outside acting as both protection and moisture-proofing, the dryness inside the chamber was excellent.

The tomb passage was sturdy.

There were no strange smells either.

Moreover... it was difficult for zombies to form in such a tomb passage.

Step by step... Wu Tian led everyone deep into the passage. Wu Tian's group of three were in the lead, Third Master Xie, Wu Xie, and Huo Nanfeng were in the middle, while Chen Jie and Zhao Wu brought up the rear.

Following the pitch-black tomb passage.

Everyone walked step by step into the depths of the passage.

The passage wasn't narrow, but it wasn't long either!

In less than a minute, everyone had walked through the passage.

They arrived inside a massive burial chamber.

The style of the burial chamber was peculiar, with bronze lamps and statues from the Han Dynasty, and even some iron products made with exceptionally mature forging techniques.

At first glance... the various structures in this tomb seemed perfectly fine.

But upon careful observation, it wasn't hard to notice!

Whether looking at the structure, architectural style, artifacts, or layout of the entire chamber, it felt like... a hodgepodge!

It blended styles from the Spring and Autumn Period, the Han Dynasty, and even the Sixteen Kingdoms!

"Shit..."

Wu Xie was considered an expert.

After he carefully observed the burial chamber.

His eyes widened, and he cursed.

"This tomb... why the hell does it look so wicked?"

"It clearly follows the ritual standards of the Spring and Autumn Period, yet it has the architectural style of the Han Dynasty, and the burial goods are from the era and style of the Sixteen Kingdoms!"

"This is fucking..."

Wu Xie was dumbfounded.

"Is this a stew?"

"..."

"Hehe..."

"Who cares if it's a stew or not!"

"This thing!"

Third Master Xie chuckled.

"Now that we're in the burial chamber, shouldn't we open the coffin?"

"Let's see what's actually inside this coffin!"

"..."

Everyone was stunned, then they all felt a surge of horror. They quickly reached out toward Third Master Xie, who was standing by the coffin as if possessed, about to use tools to open it.

"Shit!"

"Don't move!"

"Third Master Xie, put down that thing in your hand! Do you want to kill us all?"

"Quick!"

"Hold him down!"

"Don't let him open the coffin!"

"Someone, hold him down!"

"..."

Everyone roared as they rushed toward Third Master Xie.

However... no matter how fast they were, they couldn't beat Third Master Xie's movements.

*Crack!*

*Crack...*

Several crisp snaps rang in everyone's ears.

The coffin nails that were firmly driven in suddenly loosened. Then, under everyone's despairing gazes, Third Master Xie, looking frantic, pried it open with force!

*Clunk!*

Rumble... The massive coffin lid was instantly pried up!

Dust billowed everywhere!

The heavy, dull-colored coffin lid slid off the front of the coffin and crashed onto the floor, smashing a pit into the stone.

"Boom!"

The loud noise seemed to strike everyone's nerves.

Everyone felt a jolt in their hearts!

Including Wu Tian.

Everyone else stopped in their tracks and cast questioning looks at Third Master Xie, who was leaning over the coffin.

"..."

"Huh?"

Just then!

Under everyone's gaze, Third Master Xie stood by the coffin with his eyes wide open, staring at the contents and muttering in disbelief.

"This..."

"What on earth is this?"

"Where's the corpse?"

"Where are the gold and silver treasures?"

"Where is the ultimate I wanted? Where is the immortality?"

"Damn it!"

"..."

Third Master Xie's eyes quickly turned blood-red, and he became exasperated looking at the contents of the coffin.

He cursed loudly.

Wu Tian frowned.

Seeing that there was no danger, he walked directly toward the coffin.

Seeing Wu Tian move.

They didn't dare fall behind and followed Wu Tian's lead toward the coffin.

"..."

When he reached the coffin, Wu Tian looked down.

He discovered that the coffin only contained a white porcelain bottle and a yellowed scroll.

Wu Tian was taken aback.

Then, amidst Third Master Xie's broken mumblings, he reached out and took the yellowed scroll.

He handed it to Zhang Meng beside him.

He said with a smile.

"Here!"

"Expert, it's time for your work again!"

"Take a look and see what's written in here!"

"..."

Zhang Meng nodded, took the yellowed scroll from Wu Tian, then carefully unfurled it and began to decipher the contents.

"..."

"It says here..."

"This is the tomb of a Sorcerer named Chunyu Yue from the Qin Dynasty. He loved alchemy and, with the help of a mysterious family, actually refined five Elixirs of Immortality, which are kept in this white porcelain bottle."

"But two of them were eaten by one of Qin Shi Huang's concubines; her name was Yushu!"

"Another was eaten by a eunuch named Zhao Gao!"

"And another was eaten by a general named Meng Yi!"

"There are two left..."

"Both are in this bottle!"

"..."

After hearing Zhang Meng's translation.

Everyone was stunned.

"No..."

"Is that it?"

"That... that's it!"

Zhang Meng glanced at everyone and nodded.

"Sigh..."

Wu Xie was filled with disappointment.

"After all that hard work, this is what we found? The ultimate... what on earth are you?"

"..."

"Everything is for naught!"

Huo Nanfeng's eyes glazed over.

"This isn't the Kingdom of the Queen Mother of the West, nor is it Wang Zanghai's tomb. It's just a Sorcerer's tomb. Even if there are Elixirs of Immortality inside, what's the use?"

"It's too late!"

"Too late!"

"..."

"Immortality?"

Zhao Wu and Chen Jie exchanged a glance, both seeing greed in each other's eyes.

"Immortality?"

"Who wouldn't want that?"

However, just as greed arose in their hearts, Third Master Xie, who had been guarding the coffin, suddenly acted!

*Swish!*

A hand flashed out and grabbed the white porcelain bottle from the coffin!

He raised his hand and pulled out the stopper.

*Pop~*

A rich medicinal fragrance instantly filled the entire space.

"Hahaha..."

"Immortality?"

"The immortality I've dreamed of... you're finally here!"

"Hahaha!"

Third Master Xie didn't hesitate any longer. He poured a pitch-black pill from the bottle and swallowed it without a second thought!

*Gulp!*

The pill was swallowed down with Third Master Xie's saliva.

Third Master Xie burst into loud laughter.

But the others didn't move. They watched the laughing Third Master Xie indifferently, treating him like a guinea pig.

One minute passed!

Five minutes passed... ten minutes!

Just as the light in everyone's eyes began to burn with eagerness again.

"Ah!"

"My eyes!"

"My arms!"

"My head..."

"What's happening?"

"What on earth is going on?"

"Ah!"

Suddenly, Third Master Xie's screams rang out through the burial chamber!

The intense pain made Third Master Xie roll around on the ground.

He screamed in agony!

Blood poured from his seven orifices, and his right leg and left arm twisted and snapped violently!

The ear-piercing sound of bones shattering rang out!

Everyone was shocked.

The greed in their hearts for that white porcelain bottle gradually faded.

Wu Tian frowned.

He reached out and snatched the white porcelain bottle from Third Master Xie's hand, lest he break it while rolling on the floor and lose the very last Elixir of Immortality!

"..."

"Ah!"

"It hurts!"

"It's killing me!"

"Save me!"

"No... kill me... just kill me!"

"The pain!"

"..."

Third Master Xie's screams lasted for half an hour. By the time he finally stopped and curled up motionless on the ground... he was at death's door!

Although everyone could clearly see that his previously wrinkled skin had regained its vitality and his gray hair had turned black in just half an hour.

It seemed his lifespan and vitality had been greatly replenished!

But... every gain comes with a loss!

Third Master Xie had gained eternal life, but what he lost... was the integrity of his body!

Looking down at Third Master Xie, Wu Tian opened his mouth to speak.

Suddenly!

The system's voice rang in Wu Tian's mind.

[Issuing the ultimate Test!]

[The host now has two choices. Choose to be tempered with culture, wisdom, martial power, kindness, and all sorts of beautiful qualities, yet without eternal life... or choose incomplete eternal life on the other side?]

[The two choices lead to two different outcomes.]

[Choose imperfect eternal life: the system will automatically unbind, the host will return to normal life, free of all diseases, and gain immortality!]

[Choose tempering: continue exploring mysteries, your life will be extended, and your various excellent qualities will emerge one by one!]

[Now...]

[Host, make your choice!]

"..."

Hearing the system's voice, Wu Tian looked at the white porcelain bottle in his hand and chuckled.

He chuckled at the system in his mind.

"Is there even a need to consider?"

"I obviously choose..."

"..."

...One year later!

At the very peak of the Himalayas, a young man stood in the howling cold wind with a fat man and a hot, beautiful young woman behind him.

They looked down at the panoramic view of the mountains below.

They looked at the mountain of paleobiological fossils around them.

The woman asked the man.

"Brother Tian!"

"You didn't get immortality; do you really not regret it?"

"..."

"Hehe..."

"No regrets!"

"Roam the world, sing while riding, wander through mountains and rivers, and explore secrets... this is the life I love!"

The young man lit a cigarette at the summit.

He took a deep drag.

"Isn't this..."

"Smoking a Huazi on the summit of Mount Everest..."

"Who else could do that?"

(The End!)

...PS: Thank you, dear readers, for your long companionship. But all good things must come to an end, and our journey together concludes here. Let Xiao Xiao take a heartless rest before setting out again!

The next book!

Be there or be square! ~

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