Zhou Lin spoke slowly, his gaze fixed on the ground beneath his feet.
Captain Zhao followed his gaze and saw a raised area at his feet, with two pull rings on it.
"This is the entrance? How did you know? We searched everywhere."
Captain Zhao looked at Zhou Lin in disbelief, a hint of fear in his eyes.
"Who am I? Zhou Lin! What don't I know?"
Zhou Lin smiled, patted his shoulder, and casually walked over to Professor Huo and the metaphysics professor, watching them still studying the talisman.
Captain Zhao quickly called for his men to pull the rings.
*Click...*
As the rings were pulled open, a vast, deep well-like structure was revealed.
Captain Zhao's eyes lit up, and his admiration for Zhou Lin soared.
To know the entrance location without even looking, he was truly a divine being.
"Captain, should we go down? Or wait for Professor Zhou Lin?"
One of the mercenaries whispered, primarily not wanting the Sakura country to get ahead.
"It might be dangerous down there. Let's wait for Professor Zhou Lin and see what he intends."
Captain Zhao actually hoped the Sakura country would go first, so they would have someone to watch out for if anything happened.
"The entrance has been found. Let's go. There's nothing more of value to study here."
Zhou Lin calmly walked to Huo Qi and the metaphysics professor, speaking softly.
Huo Qi and the metaphysics professor glanced at Professor Jingxia beside them. Professor Jingxia looked at Huo Qi and quickly explained his intentions.
"You also said this is a place for international trade, so it's normal for your Great Xia to have a presence. However, this talisman proves nothing, so countries like ours still have a right to participate."
Professor Jingxia was unwilling to give up this opportunity. Even if it was Great Xia, so what? With Eagle Country and Noodle Country behind them, what could they do?
"Alright, but be careful not to drag our Great Xia down."
Huo Qi was known for his stinginess and sharp tongue. He wouldn't let go of this opportunity.
He believed Professor Jingxia felt the same.
Upon hearing this, the Sakura country contingent's faces all changed.
Was this an insult?
But remembering the incident with the dreamlike white wolf, they felt an inexplicable guilt.
In the live broadcast.
"Haha, Professor Huo Qi is amazing! Those words really hit home."
"Exactly, they hit so hard."
"But he's not wrong. Since we entered, all the trouble has been caused by this guy. How do people from Sakura country even live?"
"You people from Great Xia have said enough! It was your Great Xia who framed us first. It's you guys who framed our Sakura country."
"That's right, you're the ones with ulterior motives."
The live broadcast devolved into a war of words once again.
Inside the tomb.
Seeing the Sakura country people following, Zhou Lin made a gesture of invitation.
"Please, you go first."
Zhou Lin gestured, smiling faintly at them.
Jingxia no longer wanted to be the vanguard.
"We are all heavily injured personnel. If we go down, it will delay everyone. Please, you go first."
Jingxia finished speaking and looked meaningfully at Zhou Lin opposite him.
Don't you know who is injured?
But Zhou Lin acted as if he hadn't heard.
"That's a real shame. Next time, you should be more obedient and not act rashly. It will only cause trouble."
Zhou Lin's tone was one of mild reproach as he stepped onto the ladder and began to descend.
Huo Qi and the metaphysics professor followed, along with the others.
Seeing the people from Great Xia descend one by one, suppressing their laughter, Jingxia's heart burned with anger.
He waited until everyone from Great Xia had left, then instructed those carrying equipment to go first, followed by the other professors.
Only he and An Bei remained in the tomb chamber.
"Where is your sorcery? Why was it useless?"
Jingxia's tone was not accusatory, but it carried a hint of displeasure, though not overtly expressed.
"This man is too strong. My sorcery is ineffective against him, and he has already discovered my attempt to harm him. Professor Jingxia, your hopes are likely dashed."
An Bei glared at Zhou Lin with resentment. His hands were still numb and aching, all because of this man.
"Kill him, and your status will rise. Zhou Lin's abilities are evident, and Sakura country also fears him. Moreover, the items and treasures on him, if brought back, will undoubtedly make great contributions to the country."
"You will easily absorb the An Bei family into your grasp."
Jingxia was constantly instigating An Bei to act. If Zhou Lin died, his Taoist arts or magical artifacts would contribute to Sakura country's archaeology in future tomb expeditions, and his own status would skyrocket.
An Bei looked at Jingxia, his gaze darkening. He knew Jingxia's intentions all too well. If it weren't for his father's instructions, he wouldn't have come down with this man.
"So I need your help."
An Bei took a black pill from his person and handed it to him.
Jingxia looked at An Bei's demeanor and understood.
He then took the black pill.
Zhou Lin, Huo Qi, and the metaphysics professors descended, their flashlights illuminating the area.
They entered a side chamber, but this chamber was filled with an eerie atmosphere.
In the center was a coffin, but it was covered in black patterns. These patterns were very strange, as were the walls around it.
On these walls, various talismans were drawn.
A faint odor permeated the air, an unpleasant smell.
"What is that smell?"
The metaphysics professor sniffed, finding it similar to decay. What had rotted?
"Is it because the air circulation here is poor?"
Huo Qi found the smell quite unpleasant, truly nauseating, but still bearable.
The students from the archaeological team behind them took out their masks and put them on, which made them feel more comfortable.
The students busied themselves with cameras and notebooks, beginning to study the walls.
"This talisman is different from the previous one. Why does it look different?"
Huo Qi examined the talismans on the stone walls, noting they seemed more complex.
"This is a specific type of talisman designated by the Demon Country, used to restrain souls. However, the effectiveness of such talismans is not very good, otherwise, they wouldn't have added an extra layer of reinforcement on the coffin."
Zhou Lin's gaze fell upon the coffin, a slight curve forming on his lips.