Under the observation of the Innate Yin-Yang Eyes, the old man in front of him was clearly nothing more than a paper figure—yes, a finely crafted, lifelike paper figure. The paper used was high-grade ceremonial paper, and the materials were extraordinarily rare. One could sense the spiritual light emanating from it. Yet, no matter how lifelike, it was, at its core, still just a paper figure.
It was a paper figure incarnation—or rather, a paper figure avatar.
Inside the paper figure was a powerful force. In terms of actual combat strength, it might not be any weaker than a Dharma Phase Realm expert. Coupled with the eerie and unpredictable nature of paper figures, it would likely be even more troublesome to deal with.
"That's right. What you're seeing is my paper body. The Paper Figure Crafter in the black market—that's me. The Pharaoh's tomb is far too dangerous, and I never intended to have my true body enter it. Sometimes, survival is the foundation of the future. If I die in there, then no matter how great the treasure is, it's all meaningless. Besides, the paper avatar is part of our unique craft. Not using it would be a waste," the paper figure said with a smile.
There wasn't the slightest hint of shame on his face. Having a paper figure avatar was a unique talent of the Paper Figure Crafters. No one could say a word against it. You couldn't even call it cowardly—it was simply ability, an enviable one at that.
"Indeed, it's a talent of your own. No one can criticize that. Besides, it's much safer. If I had this ability, I'd use paper avatars to scout tombs too. No one knows how many traps and dangers lie within. If I die, that's the end. But if a clone dies, I can always start over. Life has no do-overs, so being cautious is no crime," Yi Tianxing replied with a smile.
He truly admired this ability.
As long as the paper figure wasn't destroyed, one essentially had unlimited retries. That's why Paper Figure Crafters, once in hiding, were rarely provoked. Who knew if you'd be facing an entire army of paper soldiers?
"Agreed," the Decomposer chimed in, also smiling.
No one would be foolish enough to ask a Paper Crafter not to use their paper figures.
"We three meeting here is fated. We've gotten along well so far. The Pharaoh's tomb is mysterious and filled with unknown dangers. Going in alone would be too risky. Why don't we form a temporary alliance? We'll split any treasures we find equally. That way, we can watch each other's backs," the Paper Crafter suggested.
Though they weren't close, forming a temporary alliance to explore the tomb seemed like a smart move. It increased everyone's chances of survival.
"No objections from me," Yi Tianxing agreed with a smile.
Given the situation, teaming up was one of the best options available. Though even alone, he wouldn't be afraid.
"Agreed!" the Decomposer of the Yuling race nodded.
This kind of arrangement benefited all sides. No one had a reason to refuse. Survival came first before treasure hunting.
Not only Yi Tianxing's group—across the desert, other races also began forming alliances, preparing to explore the tomb together. Everyone understood the risks of going in alone. While allies might not be trustworthy, having more people around was always better than going solo.
Swish, swish—!
Suddenly, as groups began forming alliances and approaching the pyramid, a sharp rustling echoed in their ears—like the sound of white bone sand shifting beneath their feet. It sent chills down the spine.
"There's something in the desert," said the Decomposer, narrowing his eyes.
They saw the white sand shifting—something was lurking beneath it, now awakened and beginning to stir.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Boom!
Suddenly, depressions formed in the sand, and from below emerged golden insects, each the size of a thumb. Their golden glow was dazzling, like miniature suns. Even in the darkness of the underground space, they shone so brightly that the surrounding gloom seemed to fade.
One after another, they emerged—countless in number. Like a tidal wave, they burst forth from the sands, covering the desert in the blink of an eye. Wherever the eye could see, it was a sea of gold.
"Sacred Scarabs! Golden Light Sacred Scarabs!" the Decomposer exclaimed, his face darkening.
"Legend says the Pharaoh favored Sacred Scarabs as tomb guardians. They're terrifying creatures—invulnerable, capable of burrowing into flesh and devouring bones. Their reproduction is frighteningly fast. As long as they have enough flesh to feed on, they can lay and hatch more larvae at an astonishing rate. Even the larvae grow rapidly. Their reproductive capacity is monstrous."
"But what's worse—these aren't ordinary Sacred Scarabs. These are Golden Light Sacred Scarabs. They can resist most divine arts, even devour magical power. To most cultivators, they're a nightmare. They can fly, and upon death, they explode into Death Sacred Flame that ignites enemies. This flame feeds off vitality and won't stop burning until the victim dies."
His words were filled with dread—these were terrifying life forms indeed.
Unaffected by spells or divine arts, exploding upon death, and impossible to crush easily—these bugs were like little golden tanks.
One or two weren't a big deal. But now, the entire desert was crawling with them. Worse, they were as tough as metal and hard to kill.
That was why the Pharaoh had chosen them as tomb guardians.
"Run! Once these Golden Light Sacred Scarabs awaken, they attack anything alive without hesitation!" the Paper Crafter shouted, immediately sprinting toward the pyramid.
"Go!" Yi Tianxing followed without hesitation.
They had just reached the tomb—he wasn't about to get entangled with a swarm of killer bugs.
But not everyone chose to flee.
A blue-haired alien woman, upon seeing the incoming swarm, sneered in disdain. "Just some bugs? Freeze them."
She produced a blue mirror in her hand, unleashing a blinding ray of light.
Ice Moon Mirror – Frost Soul Light!
The freezing light swept across the desert, turning the sand beneath into solid ice. Its power rivaled any divine art, with a wide area of effect. Everything caught in the light would be frozen.
Yet when the light touched the scarabs, it was blocked by their golden glow, fading into nothing. The freezing energy had no effect on them.
The scarabs surged forward with renewed fury, their attention fixed entirely on the woman.
"Impossible! How could my Frost Soul Light be useless on mere bugs!? No—Frost Armor! Eternal Ice Body!"
Panic overtook her face as she summoned a crystalline shield of ice around her body, encasing herself like a frozen sculpture.
But the next moment, she was engulfed by the swarm.
Then came the crunching—like biting into crisp ice. Crunch. Crunch.
Her screams echoed through the air.
Moments later, the scarabs scattered.
Nothing remained but a mound of white bone sand.
She had been completely devoured—vanished without a trace.
"Such terrifying scarabs..." Yi Tianxing glanced back, stunned.
That alien woman had been at least Dharma Phase level. She had even unleashed her domain. But none of it mattered. The scarabs tore through it like it was nothing. Either her power wasn't enough, or these creatures were just too monstrous.
The pyramid loomed ahead.
Its entrance—an open gate—stood silently. Beyond it was only darkness, like the gaping maw of a beast, ready to swallow all who entered.
But there was no choice. The golden scarabs were coming. To stay outside was to die.
Above, below—the sky and earth were swarming with scarabs.
"Go! We were going in anyway—better now than never!"
"Stay out here and we're dead. Move!"
"Don't let them get close! Once they reach you, it's over!"
The crowd surged forward in a panic, pouring into the pyramid. There was no time for hesitation.
Yi Tianxing, the Decomposer, and the Paper Crafter entered together.
The moment they stepped inside, they all felt a sudden chill, as though some ominous force brushed against their souls—hair standing on end.
In the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a sealed chamber.
"Something's not right... This entrance isn't just a door—it's made of countless vortexes, constantly shifting," Yi Tianxing said, his voice grim.