After Su Xi and Zhang Liao's stalling, Gu Qingzhou finally activated his iron sword. He didn't know why the Golden Scaled Scorpion had paused, but he seized the opportunity, immediately driving his iron sword to shoot out.
The iron sword was like lightning, appearing above the Golden Scaled Scorpion's head in the blink of an eye.
With a "swoosh," the iron sword directly plunged into the Golden Scaled Scorpion's head. Like the scorching sun meeting ice and snow, it easily pierced through, then cleaved the Golden Scaled Scorpion in half.
The two halves of the Golden Scaled Scorpion's massive body fell to the ground, and instantly, a foul stench permeated the air.
Having succeeded, the iron sword emitted an excited hum, hovering and dancing above Gu Qingzhou's head as if seeking praise.
Gu Qingzhou looked at the Golden Scaled Scorpion's corpse on the ground, his heart filled with excitement. The life-saving means his grandfather had given him was truly extraordinary. It could even deal with a Golden Scaled Scorpion King whose cultivation was close to Golden Core. His confidence in the subsequent actions grew even stronger.
"This ancient tomb has already undergone mutation. To avoid further complications, let's quickly proceed to the next level," Gu Qingzhou said, temporarily sheathing his iron sword and commanding Su Xi and the other person.
Zhang Liao cast a reluctant glance back at the Golden Scaled Scorpion King and unwillingly followed Gu Qingzhou.
Even though the Golden Scaled Scorpion King was dead, the secret technique he had accidentally obtained could be used to feed his own demonic beasts with the corpses of high-level demonic beasts, thus rapidly improving their strength.
Having suffered so many losses on this trip to the ancient tomb, he naturally had to recover his strength as quickly as possible. Otherwise, his strength would surely be greatly diminished in the future.
Su Xi had no lingering thoughts about the Golden Scaled Scorpion, as she knew that the Golden Scaled Scorpion King, apart from its outer shell, had essentially become useless.
The unassuming fire-poking stick in her hand had become noticeably heavier. She harbored some anticipation in her heart, wondering what changes had occurred to the fire-poking stick.
While she was contemplating, the group had already reached the third level.
The third-level tomb was even smaller than the previous ones, shaped into a small plaza. At intervals across the plaza stood staggered, well-arranged high platforms. On each platform sat a night-luminescent pearl the size of a hen's egg, illuminating the plaza.
In the center of the small plaza hung a massive stone coffin. The four corners of the stone coffin were suspended in mid-air by iron chains as thick as a baby's arm. Every side of the stone coffin was carved with ghoul-head patterns.
The ghoul heads were lifelike, ferocious, and terrifying. At their eye sockets, red light continuously emanated, giving them a seductive and eerie appearance.
"What is this?" Zhang Liao had never seen such a peculiar burial method and was momentarily unsure of the situation.
Gu Qingzhou looked at the stone coffin before him without fear, but with a hint of excitement.
According to records, the Ghost Spirit Grass he needed was inside the stone coffin. As long as he refined the Ghost Spirit Grass into a pill with other medicinal ingredients, he could form a Golden Core.
After all, his aptitude was poor, and his current cultivation was entirely built upon pills. However, long-term consumption of medicine had long since rendered his body resistant, and ordinary pills could no longer improve his cultivation. Only precious pills like the one before him could bring about a breakthrough.
Thinking of the better days ahead, Gu Qingzhou couldn't help but urge them on, "What we need is inside the coffin. You two, open the coffin."
Su Xi and Zhang Liao exchanged glances, neither making a move.
This tomb was so bizarre, and the strength in each of the previous two levels had been greater. Now, at the third level, there must be danger.
Moreover, the stone coffin's peculiar design undoubtedly contained immense peril. It was impossible to know what dangers lay within if they rashly opened it.
Gu Qingzhou, seeing that neither of them moved, immediately understood.
He chuckled softly, his finger tracing his iron sword, filled with menace, "Do you really think you have a choice now? I'll give you a chance to live. I only need one of you to open the coffin."
With his words, he shifted the conflict to a matter between Su Xi and Zhang Liao. After all, Su Xi and Zhang Liao joining forces could pose a threat to him, so he didn't want to take that risk.
Hearing this, Zhang Liao looked at Su Xi, a threatening glint in his eyes, "You open it."
Since strength dictated everything, he naturally didn't want to die. Su Xi, without a doubt, became the best person to be used as a tool. After all, a mere Qi Refining stage cannon fodder should be utilized at this moment.
Su Xi looked at Zhang Liao and asked seriously, "Are you threatening me?"
"What, I can't?" Zhang Liao was extremely displeased with Su Xi's attitude. The aura of his Foundation Establishment stage suddenly surged forth, intending to force Su Xi to submit.
The pressure of the Foundation Establishment stage descended upon Su Xi like a giant mountain.
Zhang Liao initially intended to make Su Xi suffer a bit, but he found that Su Xi on the opposite side showed no reaction at all. In fact, her eyes were filled with mockery and a hint of disdain.
What was going on?
He refused to believe that a mere Qi Refining stage trash like Su Xi could withstand his pressure. Gritting his teeth, he intensified the pressure. Yet, Su Xi remained unaffected.
Su Xi blinked her large eyes, looking at Zhang Liao, whose face had turned red, and asked earnestly, "Are you constipated?"
Hearing Su Xi's mockery, Zhang Liao became furious on the spot. He had lived for so long only to be provoked by a woman in the Qi Refining stage.
He raised his fist and grabbed directly at Su Xi, intending to throw her away.
But as his hand touched Su Xi, he found that Su Xi's figure had vanished, and he himself had instantly appeared above the stone coffin.
And because his previous movement was too forceful, he had lost his balance. He couldn't control his body at all and fell directly onto the stone coffin.
Watching Zhang Liao land on the stone coffin, Su Xi emerged from the darkness, smiling at the bewildered Zhang Liao.
Lin Qing's substitute talisman was truly effective, helping her solve the problem with ease.
Zhang Liao, feeling weightless, touched the stone coffin with his hands, which sent shivers of cold sweat down his spine, turning his face ashen. However, after waiting for a long time, the stone coffin showed no reaction, appearing to be quite normal.
Seeing this, Zhang Liao's face broke into a smile. Fortunately, he was unharmed.
Gu Qingzhou, seeing that Zhang Liao was fine, ignored Su Xi beside him and urged, "What are you still dawdling for? Hurry and open it."
Although Zhang Liao was inwardly displeased, under Gu Qingzhou's gaze, he could only steel himself and slowly push open the stone coffin.
With a "creak!", the stone rubbed against stone, and the coffin slowly opened.
Everyone listened to the grating sound, then held their breath, their gazes fixed on the opening, eager to know what lay within.
Soon, Zhang Liao pushed the stone coffin open. However, apart from a flash of red light, the surroundings remained eerily quiet, with nothing happening.
Zhang Liao suddenly turned back and beckoned to the other two with a smile, "Wow, there are so many treasures here, hurry up!"
With that, Zhang Liao impatiently jumped into the stone coffin, emitting excited cries.
Gu Qingzhou, seeing this, worried that the treasures would be snatched away and rushed towards the center of the plaza, eager to obtain the treasures he had long desired.
Su Xi, facing all this, did not approach but instead took a few steps back.
She felt a sense of unease, unwilling to take risks so easily.