Chapter 187: The Real Me Is Here!
CREAK! CREAK!
Heavy footsteps and chewing sounds echoed from the passage, making them all the more spine-chilling in the gloomy, terrifying tomb chamber.
Huang Ning’s face turned pale as she trembled, hiding behind a bodyguard.
Master Feng, however, took a step forward. He drew his Compass and watched the passage warily.
THUD!
A foot slammed down, creating a small pit in the hard floor. The newcomer was a tall figure completely clad in tattered armor. Most shockingly, he held a thick, rust-streaked Long Spear. Impaled on it was the very same giant python from before, still writhing and wailing.
THUD!
He planted the Long Spear into the ground. Then, with one hand, he ripped off a chunk of the snake’s flesh and began chewing it vigorously, producing a sickening, crunching sound.
This horrifying scene made Huang Ning’s face turn ashen, and a wave of nausea rose in her throat.
"What is that thing?" a bodyguard yelled out, his voice tinged with terror. The giant python had been frightening enough, but now this snake-eating monster had appeared.
Because the creature was encased in armor, they couldn’t make out its appearance. Master Feng’s expression, however, turned extremely grave.
"Who are you?!" Master Feng clenched his teeth, struggling to control the Compass in his hands, for its needle was spinning wildly.
"Who am I?" The figure paused, its voice cold and hoarse. "Who... exactly am I?"
Muttering to itself, the creature suddenly shook its arm. The giant python on its Long Spear instantly exploded into a spray of minced flesh that splattered everywhere.
"Ah!" Huang Ning screamed, then quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. She had seen the monstrous being staring intently at her. It even seemed to... lick its lips.
"Such wonderful, fresh blood," the hoarse voice rasped as the figure began to walk toward Huang Ning.
"All of you, run! I’ll hold it off!" a bodyguard roared, his eyes fierce as he charged forward to block the monster.
Before Huang Ning and the others could even react, the monster opened its mouth. A cloud of green mist shot toward the bodyguard. The man only had time for a single, horrifying scream before he melted into a pool of pus and blood, leaving not even a sliver of bone behind.
"This is bad! It’s Corpse Poison!" Master Feng’s face fell. He stumbled back two steps, staring at the monster in horror. "It’s a Zombie!"
"How can a Zombie talk?" Huang Ning asked, her voice trembling.
For a moment, Master Feng was speechless.
However, Lin Mu slowly began to speak. "It’s nothing but a beast whose Divine Soul is being controlled by another. It doesn’t even qualify as a Zombie."
At Lin Mu’s words, everyone turned to look at him.
The creature also cocked its head to inspect Lin Mu. As if suddenly remembering something, it said in its cold voice, "So it was you who severed my arm. To think you’d dare to return!"
As soon as it finished speaking, the creature let out a low growl and thrust the Long Spear in its hand toward Lin Mu.
Lin Mu’s expression remained unchanged. He simply raised a hand and threw a punch.
THUD!
His fist smashed into the Long Spear, knocking the tip slightly aside. Lin Mu instantly took two steps forward, his fists a blur.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The monster retreated step by step, letting out furious roars.
BANG!
With one final punch from Lin Mu, the Long Spear in the monster’s hand snapped in two.
"You’re courting death!" Enraged, the monster gripped the two halves of the broken spear. It ignored Lin Mu and charged toward Master Feng and the others.
"You dare!" Master Feng shouted. He bit his finger and smeared the blood across his Compass. "Limitless Heaven and Earth, lend me the power of the cosmos! Swiftly, as the law dictates! Decree!"
As Master Feng’s last word fell, the Compass erupted in a brilliant light. A golden beam shot out, expanding in all directions.
"Hmph?" The monster sounded surprised, but then it scoffed and smashed the two pieces of the broken spear downward.
BOOM!
The golden light vanished, and the broken spear turned to dust.
However, the monster’s attack didn’t stop. It raised its hands and lunged, claws outstretched, for Master Feng.
"I’ll give you my life!" A grim light flashed in Master Feng’s eyes. His robes billowed as he circulated True Qi through his chest, then swung his arm out to meet the attack.
RIP!
An arm flew into the air in a spray of fresh blood. The monster had torn off one of Master Feng’s arms.
"Master Feng!" Huang Ning cried out, her face pale with shock and her heart filled with dread.
"Miss Huang, go quickly! I’ll hold this beast off! We can’t let it escape to harm the world!" Although Master Feng was gravely injured and his face was deathly pale, his eyes shone with resolve.
"Young man," Master Feng said, turning his firm gaze to Lin Mu, "I’m entrusting you to get Miss Huang and the others out of here. Today, I am determined to perish with this beast!"
"Master Feng, you..." Huang Ning’s eyes were red, but she finally spoke with resolve. "Don’t worry. When I get back, I will set up a memorial tablet for you for a lifetime of worship. I will also take good care of your family!"
After speaking, Huang Ning, protected by the other bodyguard, began to back away slowly toward the exit.
"Lin... you there. Get me out of here, and I’ll pay you!" Huang Ning knew Lin Mu was strong; with his protection, her chances of escape were much higher.
However, Lin Mu paid no attention to the scheming, ruthlessly pragmatic woman. Instead, he took a step forward to stand before Master Feng.
"Master, your concern for the common people is truly touching," Lin Mu said. "But do you really think you can perish together with it? Even if you die, it won’t let anyone else go."
Master Feng’s expression shifted, but he remained silent.
It was Huang Ning who snorted coldly. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying that even if Master Feng gambles with his life, he’s still no match for this beast?"
Lin Mu’s gaze fell upon Huang Ning. "I don’t know about the others, but I can guarantee that its true target is you."
Huang Ning’s face paled, a flash of panic in her eyes. "You... Don’t talk nonsense."
Lin Mu didn’t miss that flicker of panic. He said indifferently, "Because this thing that has undergone a corpse transformation is your ancestor. You share the same bloodline. If it consumes your essence and blood, its power will surge."
Huang Ning pointed at Lin Mu. "You’re spouting nonsense!" But her voice was laced with extreme terror. She could feel it—the monster’s gaze on her was filled with excitement and greed.
"Then, young friend, what should we do now?" Master Feng asked humbly.
"The feng shui of this place has been altered, creating a battle between the dragon and the tiger," Lin Mu explained. "The person who arranged this is sitting back, waiting to reap the rewards. But he didn’t anticipate one thing."
A mysterious and powerful aura began to emanate from Lin Mu’s body.
"That I am here."
Lin Mu slowly raised his hand, as if grasping something from the air.
"All I have to do is kill them all, and this whole scheme will fall apart on its own!"