Zhang Chen, upon hearing the words, immediately felt displeased, thinking that Zhong Xiang was shirking work and lacking sense: "What are you afraid of about the ninth rank? It’s not like you haven’t fought against ninth-rank beings before!"
"This is not an ordinary ninth-rank, but an exotic species passed down from ancient times, naturally mastering a divine technique called: Short-sightedness. This divine technique specifically targets souls, not to mention me, even tenth-rank beings dare not let their souls emerge when facing it. Yang God experts don’t dare to manifest their Yang God before this creature, so tell me, what should I be afraid of?" Zhong Xiang ran frantically.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen raised an eyebrow, never expecting such a terrifying presence inside the Empress Tomb.
"Buy me some time, I’ll set up the Nine Bends Yellow River Array. Once I set up the array, even if that exotic beast catches up, it won’t be an issue." Zhang Chen shouted at Zhong Xiang’s fleeing figure.
"You’re dreaming! There’s no way I can hold off that old creature."
Zhong Xiang shouted in exasperation.
Unfortunately, Zhong Xiang underestimated Zhang Chen’s methods. As Zhang Chen’s mind moved, a wall of water appeared in front, directly blocking Zhong Xiang’s path. In that short pause, Zhang Chen had caught up, grabbed Zhong Xiang, and with a casual flick, threw him back towards the swarm of rodents behind them using the flowing water.
"Zhang Chen, damn you! I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!" Zhong Xiang cursed in anger, overwhelmed by the rodents at that instant, then suddenly burst into flames, turning into a fiery magma giant, striking at the attacking rodents.
Zhang Chen didn’t dare delay. In the next moment, the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array appeared, transforming into runes to suppress the void. After ten breaths, the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array was set up, and Zhang Chen looked towards the struggling Zhong Xiang: "My array is ready, come in quickly and lead those rodents here."
A glance revealed tens of thousands of entry-level rodents fighting against Zhong Xiang. Although Zhong Xiang’s flames were powerful, the rodent horde recklessly rushed forward, completely undeterred by Zhong Xiang’s abilities.
At this moment, Zhong Xiang turned his head to glance at Zhang Chen without speaking, continuing to struggle amid the rodent beast tide.
"He’s trying to force out his potential and break his seal during this opportunity," Zhang Chen instantly perceived Zhong Xiang’s intention with a single glance.
Unfortunately, Zhang Chen did not dare to venture out. The sheer number of rodents was overwhelming, and all of them were entry-level; he simply couldn’t handle them.
"It’s a pity my Beast Taming Technique level is too low, barely at the second rank. If I had enough points to upgrade the Beast Taming Technique, trifling rodents would be nothing," Zhang Chen muttered to himself.
But he had run out of experience points.
Finally, at a particular moment, Zhong Xiang’s body shattered and then transformed into a ball of flame; the body then reformed and turned into a stone, falling to the ground. Having lost their target, the rodent swarm surged towards Zhang Chen in a grand tide.
"Just some rodents, no matter how many come, they die." Zhang Chen stood within the array, welcoming the rodent swarm without fear. The operation of the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array caused the rodents, upon entering the array, to lose their cultivation, dropping from third and fourth ranks to merely second rank.
Second rank was perfectly within his Beast Control sector. As Zhang Chen’s mind moved, all the rodents gathered into a mound within the Nine Bends Yellow River Array and then turned to attack their own kind.
With the rodent tide being swallowed up by Zhang Chen, a deeper presence within the tomb seemed to sense something amiss, emitting a ’squeak’ before all the beast tides retreated, revealing a pure white mouse emerging against the tide from the depths of the cave.
The mouse was only the size of a fist, but it glittered like jade, exuding a light akin to gemstones.
Soon, all the rodents in the passage vanished entirely, leaving only the silver-white mouse standing before the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, examining Zhang Chen’s array with a shrewd glimmer in its eyes, pacing back and forth, unwilling to enter.
"Kid, your talisman array is impressive. Hand over the array, and I’ll spare your life." The jade-like mouse examined the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array, its eyes revealing a burning desire, clearly recognizing the array’s origin.
"This must be the first real trouble I’ve encountered since my cultivation journey!" Zhang Chen eyed the mouse outside the array, sensing the ancient and eerie aura it radiated.
He possessed the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array, yet the mouse refused to enter, leaving him at a loss.
However, Zhang Chen remained unphased, for he had anticipated this scenario from the moment he decided to excavate the tomb:
"Soul Hook skill!"
As Zhang Chen’s thoughts moved, the Soul Hook skill activated:
[Target: Mighty Mouse]
[Information: Forcefully existing through a secret technique.]
[Capturable]
Seeing the possibility of capturing the soul, Zhang Chen relaxed, his eyes locked onto the mouse, contemplating whether he could negotiate its retreat. If he could persuade the mouse to withdraw, it would be resolved, utilizing the mouse as a guardian of the tomb against other invaders, thereby also protecting the tomb.
If the mouse refused to retreat and insisted on a confrontation, Zhang Chen didn’t mind pulling its soul into the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array, making it suffer a bit.
"I’m offering you a choice. My interest lies only in the Princess’s creation within this tomb. If you choose to retreat, it’ll end here. Otherwise..." Zhang Chen’s eyes turned cold: "Although your cultivation is formidable, escaping calamity would be difficult. How unfortunate for your life."