Chapter 84: The Bone-Eroding Scorpion and the Labyrinth

Lin Feng and his companions started the car and set off once more. At last, as dusk began to settle, they arrived at a mountain hollow, where a yawning pit lay before them, dark as night.

Zheng Xuance stood at the entrance of the pit and said calmly, “This is the entrance. Ten years ago, a group of tomb robbers blasted open this passageway, hoping to strike it rich, but every last one of them was buried here.”

“The things inside are extraordinarily powerful and evil. I poured all my strength into sealing the entrance, but it’s like a phantom lurking in the shadows, always tempting the greedy to plunge in.”

Lin Feng gazed at the ancient tomb, sensing the faint threads of demonic energy seeping out. His brow furrowed.

Click—click—

The sound of guns being cocked echoed. Qian Youyou led her people to surround Lin Feng and his group from behind.

“Thank you for guiding us here. It seems this pit is fraught with danger. Well then, I’ll have to trouble you a bit more—do us one last favor and lead the way!” Qian Youyou’s lips were crimson, curled into a cold smile as she pointed her pistol at Lin Feng and the others.

“You… you’re taking things too far! This is China, not—”

Bang!

A gunshot rang out, and a bullet struck the ground in front of Luo Qiankun, releasing a wisp of smoke.

“Too far? No, this is wisdom! Fools are meant to be used as tools—that’s the truth of this world!” Qian Youyou’s mercenaries stood behind her in perfect order. Twenty well-equipped soldiers, armed with rifles and sidearms, ready for a small-scale ambush.

“Master Lin, to hell with it—let’s fight them!” Luo Qiankun’s forehead bulged with veins in fury.

Yet Lin Feng showed no anger; he chuckled. “Very well.”

“Master Lin!” Luo Qiankun murmured, helpless. Why was Master Lin so meek today, so compliant with Qian Youyou? Could it be he had fallen for this venomous beauty?

Qian Youyou’s lips curled in satisfaction, her expression alluring, but her tone was chilling. “Good, I didn’t expect you to be so obedient. I almost don’t want to kill you now.”

With a wave of her delicate hand, she ordered everyone to enter the pit.

McCus led the team, guns trained on Lin Feng and his companions, forcing them to the front of the group.

Qian Youyou’s mercenaries were highly professional, advancing in an orderly formation, vigilant against one another. They threw flare sticks into the pit, illuminating it as if it were daylight, while their wolf-eye flashlights kept a ten-meter perimeter ahead under constant surveillance.

Confident, Qian Youyou turned to Master Guo. “Master Guo, with such a team, the treasures and spiritual artifacts inside are practically ours for the taking!”

Master Guo nodded slightly, but his gaze remained fixed on Lin Feng. His intuition told him that this man was exceedingly mysterious—perhaps the greatest uncertainty of the day.

At the front of the group, Lin Feng produced three jade talismans, handing one each to Wang Jisheng and the others.

While Wang Jisheng was visibly anxious, Lin Feng remained calm. By the light of the flare sticks, he surveyed the pit’s interior.

Clearly, this was a man-made underground structure, akin to an ancient tomb. The entrance they’d used must be the passage blasted open years ago. The corridor was less than five meters wide, silent and dark, with not a hint of light in the distance. Cold droplets of water dotted the walls.

They walked nearly several thousand meters along the passage, yet nothing changed, as if they’d stepped into a labyrinth.

“What’s going on? Are you deliberately leading us in circles?” Qian Youyou sensed something was wrong and barked sharply.

“This labyrinth was built to prevent intruders. If you think you can solve it, I don’t mind letting you go ahead,” Lin Feng replied.

“Hmph! I’ll give you half an hour more. If we’re not out of this maze by then, I’ll break your legs!” Qian Youyou roared. To her, Lin Feng was now a prisoner, daring to contradict her—a death wish!

But Qian Youyou’s shout rippled through the narrow corridor, its echo spreading like waves, reverberating throughout the maze.

Soon, strange rustling sounds arose from all sides.

“What’s that noise?”

“Stay alert!”

“Miss, it sounds like it’s coming from ahead!”

“Quick, throw a flare!”

Hiss—

A flare stick was thrown dozens of meters ahead, and with the firelight, the scene fifty meters away was revealed.

“My god—”

Hand-sized beetles surged forth in waves! Countless blood-red eyes stared hungrily at the fresh meat nearby—they had not tasted fresh flesh in ages.

Driven by instinct, they scrambled forward in a frenzied rush. Wherever they passed, nothing survived. The sight made one's scalp tingle and legs go weak.

Seeing the swarming insects, Qian Youyou’s skin crawled as she shouted, “Open fire! Don’t let them get through!”

McCus immediately organized his men into a firing web. Lin Feng and his companions moved aside, clearing space for the mercenaries to shoot the beetles.

“My god, Master Lin, what are those things? They’re terrifying!”

“Oh, they’re bone-eating beetles. Just flesh-eating bugs,” Lin Feng replied.

“Just? Master Lin, these flesh-eating bugs are practically—” Wang Jisheng’s legs trembled as he retreated, but casualties had already begun among the mercenaries.

The rushing beetles swarmed over a soldier, biting instantly and tearing off a chunk of flesh. Mouthful after mouthful, thousands of beetles swiftly devoured the man until nothing remained but a pile of bones—even the bones were gnawed away!

“John!” McCus howled. The victim had been his confidant—moments ago, they were chatting and laughing; now, only fragments of bone remained.

“Hold the line! Everyone, full firepower! Don’t let the bugs through!” Qian Youyou shrieked, desperate not to end up in the belly of a beetle.

Wang Jisheng had forgotten to flee—his trousers were soaked, and he was nearly collapsed to the ground.

“All right, time to enter the underground palace,” Lin Feng said, glancing at the near-hysterical Qian Youyou before turning to lead Zheng Xuance down a narrow path.

Luo Qiankun hoisted Wang Jisheng onto his back and followed closely behind.

A mere Eight Trigrams crypt trying to stop Lin Feng? Absurd. From the moment he entered the pit, Lin Feng had already deduced the solution to the maze.

As they moved through the corridor, the gunfire behind them gradually faded. Lin Feng paid no mind to Qian Youyou’s fate.

Soon, the passageway opened up, revealing a vast underground palace before them.

The palace walls were covered in colorful murals. A golden stream circled a massive central altar, its surface shimmering.

Atop the altar stood a statue, three meters tall, with horns atop its head and scales covering its flesh—a humanoid figure presiding over the central platform.

Before the altar, piles of white bones lay scattered.

“Human bones? Has someone performed live sacrifices here?”