"Hmm, that entrance may seem like just one, but it's actually composed of countless portals. The moment you step in, a split second can shift everything—you're likely to emerge in a completely different place. If you're not careful, even an entire army could be separated and scattered into small isolated groups, completely losing their formation and strength. For the unprepared, it's a deadly trap."
The Paper Craftsman's eyes gleamed shrewdly as he clicked his tongue in amazement.
"That entrance is likely formed from a spatial disarray array. Setting something like that up is no small feat. This pyramid tomb is definitely not as simple as it looks," said the Decomposer.
They looked around, finding themselves inside a secret chamber.
It wasn't small—spanning over thirty meters in diameter. The chamber was empty, except for a single statue. Other than that, there was nothing else.
"A statue of the Pharaoh."
Yi Tianxing's gaze fell on the stone figure—decked in royal regalia, wielding a scepter that symbolized sovereignty, and wearing a golden crown encrusted with a large gemstone that looked like a priceless treasure.
The Pharaoh's eyes stared forward with an almost heaven-defying arrogance.
"Look, there's writing on the wall!"
The Paper Artisan's sharp eyes caught sight of an inscription behind the statue. Though the text was an ancient Egyptian script, its meaning was somehow perfectly comprehensible:
"Those who kneel shall live. The defiant shall die!!"
The Decomposer's pupils contracted as he slowly read the inscription aloud.
"This Pharaoh is ridiculously self-important, thinking he can demand we kneel—and that refusal means death. Who does he think he is?" the Paper Craftsman snorted with a mocking laugh.
"He wants me to kneel? Can he even withstand it?"
Yi Tianxing sneered.
As the Emperor of the Great Yi Dynasty, his kneeling bore the full weight of imperial fate. No one could withstand the pressure of such a mountain-like destiny—to accept his kneel would be to invite calamity. Even offering a kneel would cost Yi Tianxing dearly, a sacrifice of his own fate.
For a ruler of a fate-bound dynasty, kneeling was a degradation of identity and strength.
No matter the potential rewards, Yi Tianxing would never kneel.
"Just a statue. You dare demand I kneel? I'll reduce you to ashes."
The Decomposer sneered.
He waved his hand toward the Pharaoh's statue, and a layer of silver-white light instantly enveloped it. Under the divine light, the statue began to disintegrate at visible speed, crumbling into powder.
In seconds, a black stone appeared in his hand.
Netherstone (地阶上品) – A high-grade earth-tier material that connects to the underworld. It can hide a person's vitality, allowing one to remain undetected among the dead. Also accelerates the gathering of extreme yin energy.
"Such a rare material used just to make a statue... This Pharaoh was truly wealthy," the Decomposer said with a grin. For once, this wasn't a commission—it was his reward.
BOOM!
The moment the statue disintegrated, a pitch-black hole emerged where it once stood. From that hole surged a pungent sulfurous stench, followed by a torrent of black fire that engulfed the entire chamber.
The fire raged with violent energy, and its explosive bursts amplified its destructive power exponentially.
Hellfire Lava Flames (地狱熔岩火) – Originating from lava hell realms, these flames burn not only flesh but also the soul.
"Why is this legendary fire emerging here?!" the Paper Craftsman cried, pale-faced.
He was currently in paper-man avatar form, highly flammable. While normal fire posed little threat, this hellfire was another matter entirely—it was his natural nemesis.
"I am the Fire God. I suppress all flames."
Yi Tianxing remained calm. With a thought, the Fire God dwelling in his Fire God Life Aperture opened its eyes and let out a roar, manifesting in full behind him—a majestic flame-wreathed deity standing on fire dragons, flanked by fire serpents, its visage nearly identical to Yi Tianxing himself but exuding overwhelming aggression.
Fire God Life Aperture – Supreme dominion over all fire-related phenomena.
With the Fire God's arrival, a three-meter-wide ring of flame-free space instantly formed around Yi Tianxing.
Even the hellfire was forced back by the fire god's innate authority over flames. Then the Fire God opened its mouth and began devouring the infernal flames, absorbing not just the fire but the fire law and Dao within it.
Thanks to the Bodhi Seed and Primordial Purple Qi, this absorption led to a rapid breakthrough in understanding.
Hellfire (地狱之火) – Now birthed within the Fire God Life Aperture, it is currently weak but growing stronger.
"Such a powerful life aperture—it actually manifests a Fire God. This is among the peak of fire-type apertures," the Decomposer murmured in awe.
"You really saved me this time, Yi Daoist. If that fire had hit me, I would've been done for," the Paper Craftsman smiled gratefully.
This was the benefit of alliance—alone, such fire would have meant death.
"But what I'm curious about... is where this hole leads. To emit such powerful hellfire—this lava can't come from any ordinary place."
Yi Tianxing's gaze turned sharp. Through his fire-god senses, he felt many dangerous life forces lurking deep below, violent and savage, as though a devastating eruption was imminent.
ROAR!!
The next moment, a bloodcurdling roar echoed out. From the hole, a fire-wreathed figure burst forth.
It was a demon—with curved horns, a red-flamed body, bat-like wings, and a stench of sulfur.
Hellfire Demon (地狱炎魔) – Demonic entity from hell realms. Wields hellfire, brings ruin, burns flesh and devours souls.
It wielded a blood-red iron chain with barbed hooks, glowing menacingly.
The demon looked straight at Yi Tianxing and the Fire God behind him. Without a word, it lashed its chain forward—the flames around it forming a demonic dragon, roaring toward them.
"Let me handle this. Disintegrate!!"
The Decomposer stepped forward and released a burst of silver-white decomposition light, which instantly disintegrated the incoming chain.
The chain crumbled into crimson essence ore, clattering harmlessly to the floor.
No weapon, no artifact, could stand before the Decomposer 's power.
And at the same time, Yi Tianxing's hand thrust forward, a bronze war spear appearing.
Emperor's Creation Hand – Heaven-Piercing Spear (天帝造化手·破天矛) – A supreme spear imbued with the pure will of destruction.
The spear pierced straight through the demon's chest, obliterating its vitality.
The entire encounter lasted just seconds. A Nascent Soul-level Hellfire Demon was slain on the spot.
"Impressive... Taking down a Nascent Soul demon like it was nothing. But... what do you think is at the bottom of that pit? Will more of those things crawl out?" the Paper Craftsman said cautiously.