Old Tang looked at the tattoo on Zhou Lin's back with great excitement, his gaze shifting from shock to warmth and even a touch of elation.
"We just don't know, so we're waiting for you to tell us. Could you explain why you're all so excited?"
The Wolf King was a man of few words, but his curiosity had been piqued. His tone was more animated than before.
The Taoist priest, the Olympic champion, the gymnastics champion, the biologist, and the students behind them all waited for Old Tang to continue.
"Not many people have seen the Nine Dragon Pulling Coffin. Even if one can perfectly replicate it, it's something that most people cannot 'bear.' And there's a rather miraculous legend associated with it."
"The Nine Dragon Pulling Coffin of Great Xia is a symbol. Only people of Great Xia are qualified to possess this symbol. It is said that these individuals are chosen people, and they must be from Great Xia."
"Furthermore, those who possess this tattoo are exceptionally talented, vastly different from ordinary people. What you just witnessed was an ability, not something due to genetics."
Old Tang looked at Zhou Lin with such warmth that it was as if he were looking at an ancestor, almost to the point of kneeling in his excitement.
This legend of the Nine Dragon Pulling Coffin was only known within archaeological circles, and very few truly understood its secrets. He had only heard of it before and thought he would never witness it in his lifetime. But unexpectedly, it had actually appeared before him.
Excellent, truly excellent. His life had not been lived in vain. This time, let's see how those Western countries continue to show off... Haha...
As Old Tang explained with great emotion, the others looked at him with growing excitement. They hadn't expected such a connection.
"Could this be just a legend? Not necessarily true?"
The Olympic champion's face changed drastically upon hearing this, his heart filled with shock. He hadn't realized such secrets existed within archaeology.
"No, this must be true, not false. Otherwise, how would you explain our journey here? How would you explain it?"
Old Tang knew the news was hard to accept, but that was the reality of the situation, and no one could explain it away.
Old Tang's words successfully dispelled everyone's hesitation. Indeed, if he weren't exceptionally talented, how could he have dealt with the Forbidden Woman, the giant octopus, and the other creatures they had encountered? Who could explain it?
Thinking of this, the archaeology professor and his team, the security personnel behind them, the Taoist priest, the Olympic champion, the gymnastics champion, the Wolf King, the historian, and others looked at Zhou Lin with great astonishment. Their previous dissatisfaction and doubt had transformed into respect and apprehension.
Damn it, what had they just done? What had they done to Zhou Lin? This was simply a grave offense.
Zhou Lin looked at their expressions and listened to Old Tang's explanation, and he couldn't help but give a thumbs-up to the system in his heart. It had so easily resolved his predicament. Would he be able to use any skill from now on? And have a valid reason for it?
"Uh, Mr. Zhou Lin, I apologize. It was all a misunderstanding. Please don't take it to heart." The Taoist priest was the first to speak, his face still showing a hint of embarrassment and considerable nervousness. He hoped Zhou Lin wouldn't hold a grudge.
"Ahem... I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to, so please don't take it to heart." The Wolf King echoed the sentiment.
"We apologize, Mr. Zhou Lin. We are all patriots, and we cherish the history and culture of Great Xia. We couldn't just ignore it. Please don't be offended."
"Yes, yes, it was all a misunderstanding. We deeply apologize for your performance just now, and we also ask that you don't hold a grudge."
"Ahem, sorry. You should have explained earlier, and there wouldn't have been any misunderstanding. Sorry." The rest of the archaeological team, the Olympic champion, and the gymnastics champion also apologized one after another.
Zhou Lin looked at their expressions and a smile played on his lips.
"Ahem, it's alright. Misunderstandings are inevitable. So, Old Tang, can you see about my money... can it be increased a bit more? My reputation is also very important."
"This is a great injustice to me..." Zhou Lin's eyes instantly welled up with tears at his words, his expression conveying utter grievance.
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll give you another twenty million." Old Tang's mouth twitched. Seeing Zhou Lin's wronged expression, he quickly said.
The other archaeological team members and security personnel behind him were too embarrassed to watch. Do exceptionally talented people all love money? Or are they so direct about wanting money, and so righteously so?
Old Tang suddenly realized a problem. Although Zhou Lin was exceptionally talented, his knowledge of history and culture wasn't innate. He was a novelist. Could there be a powerful family or organization behind him that knew so much? Old Tang looked at Professor Lin with a sudden shock.
"Professor Lin, while Zhou Lin is exceptionally talented, his knowledge isn't innate. Someone who knows as much as the archaeological team could only be..." The rest of the sentence remained unspoken, but Zhou Lin's meaning was clear.
"You mean... Zhou Lin might be from a tomb-robbing family? If he's from a tomb-robbing family, then it makes sense." Professor Lin had also considered this possibility. Although not through official channels, the theoretical knowledge of tomb-robbing was still highly valued. If that were the case, Zhou Lin's knowledge would be understandable.
"It's just... if it's really tomb-robbing, then for this archaeological expedition..." Professor Lin had his own concerns.
"No, regardless of Zhou Lin's identity, if he is chosen by the Nine Dragon Pulling Coffin, he will definitely not be ordinary. I can be sure of that..." Old Tang might not trust Zhou Lin, but he had absolute faith in the Nine Dragon Pulling Coffin.
Zhou Lin overheard their conversation, but he didn't care. The original owner was a novelist with a clean family background. Even if they said he was a tomb robber, no one could find any evidence. He was a law-abiding citizen; who could say anything bad about him?
Now that the problem was resolved, the archaeology professor reopened the live broadcast. But the moment it was opened, the number of viewers had increased severalfold compared to before, easily reaching fifty million. As Zhou Lin's handsome face appeared on camera, his clothes were tattered, but his body had returned to its previous state. The green skin had vanished. The bullet comments in the live stream went wild.
"Holy crap, boss, are you from Great Xia? What was that just now?"
"Boss, are you a shape-shifting little green man?"
"Boss, what's going on? Your appearance just now was very much like a Western hero. Do you have any connection with Eagle Country?"