After searching the entire Ancient Tomb, sunlight streaming through the large hole at the top of the central plaza indicated that it was likely morning outside.
Lin Shan had originally intended to use a grappling hook to climb directly out of the large hole Lei Zhenzi had opened, but he considered that he still had to carry a large bundle of antiques.
If he fell during the climb, it didn't matter what happened to him, but if the antiques were damaged, he would be heartbroken.
It was safer to go out through the regular tomb-raiding tunnel .
...
On his way back, passing by the arrow trap, he cautiously tested it again. As expected, the designer of this Ancient Tomb was truly a scumbag!
Each time he passed, a fixed number of arrow volleys were fired, and after he passed for a period, the arrow count reset.
It fully exploited the tomb raiders' false assumption that the arrows had run out.
"Just how many arrows are stored in the back of this tomb passage?"
Lin Shan cursed the Ancient Tomb designer, who had been dead for who knows how many centuries, while once again marveling at how cunning those five tomb raiders were.
To be able to escape safely with the Buddha statue and the golden bell, despite the double hindrance of the Corpse King's pursuit and the tomb's mechanisms, they were truly impressive individuals.
"It's a pity for such talented people to be subordinates of Wu Yuanwai. Once I sell these antiques and make a fortune, I'll recruit these five brothers to specialize in helping me with... cough... archaeology."
Lin Shan had always been thick-skinned, believing that such talented individuals should have better leadership to guide them, so that more cultural relics could be unearthed, contributing to the study of ancient history, customs, and humanities.
...
The light ahead grew brighter and brighter. After walking through the bumpy tomb-raiding tunnel, Lin Shan, burdened with the large bundle, finally exited the Ancient Tomb.
Suddenly back in the sunlight, Lin Shan uncomfortably shielded his eyes with his hand. He then suddenly saw a familiar figure near a bush not far from the tomb-raiding tunnel.
"Ooh-ooh-ooh!"
That singing and dancing figure!
...
"Brother Chicken little! You're still alive! Ah, no, it's great that you're alright."
"Ooh-ooh-ooh! Ooh-ooh-ooh!"
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Having experienced "life and death together" last night, Lin Shan had developed a deep affection for Brother Chicken little. He couldn't help but put down his burden and step forward to embrace Brother Chicken little.
However, Brother Chicken little was acting very strangely, continuously squawking at the nearby bush.
"Hmm?"
Lin Shan glanced at the bush and noticed something subtly amiss.
Stopping his steps, Lin Shan stared intently at the spot for a long time, then let out a hearty laugh.
"Which friend is playing such a joke on me? Why don't you show yourself!"
While he spoke, his body tensed up, and his right hand secretly gripped his blade's hilt.
"Rustle rustle~"
A black-clad figure rose from the bush. Perhaps seeing that he had been discovered and that hiding would not allow for a sneak attack, he simply walked out openly.
"Soldier 21, I didn't expect you, at such a young age, to be so cautious, even leaving a chicken to stand guard for you at the entrance."
Taking off his mask, a hideous face crossed by a saber scar appeared before Lin Shan's eyes.
"Scarface!"
Lin Shan couldn't help but shout. He hadn't expected that after barely escaping the Ancient Tomb, Scarface would be waiting for him at the entrance!
If Brother Chicken little hadn't warned him, he would have been carrying antiques, humming a song, completely unaware as he passed the bush, defenseless...
Lin Shan couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
He had almost brushed shoulders with death!
Turning to look around again, Brother Chicken little had already vanished. Lin Shan secretly felt lucky to be alive and thanked Brother Chicken little for saving his life once again.
He drew his ring-pommel saber and slowly pointed it at Scarface.
...
At this moment, Scarface also drew his steel saber. This saber was, of course, acquired after the escort mission and then exchanged from Nightingale for 20 contribution points. After all, he didn't trust sabers bought on the market and preferred internal consumption within the organization.
But his heart was also extremely heavy now. After all, he and Lin Shan were both in the Qi-Exchange Realm. The original plan was perfect: Lin Shan would die in the tomb, and that would be the end of it. But he never expected him to come out after just one night.
Scarface even suspected that this kid might have just stayed in the tomb-raiding tunnel all night and never actually went inside.
However, seeing Lin Shan emerge carrying a large, bulging package, he had to admit that this kid was very bold and meticulous, even leaving a pet to warn him as a backup at the entrance.
He was indeed his lifelong formidable enemy!
...
For a moment, the atmosphere outside the entrance was tense. Neither side spoke, holding their blades and confronting each other.
A quarter of an hour later, one figure moved first, swinging his steel saber and charging forward.
Lin Shan looked at the charging Scarface, but his mood was not as tense as before.
After experiencing so many days of trials and tribulations, and even witnessing cultivators fighting last night, he felt that he and Scarface were no longer on the same level. Since Scarface hadn't successfully ambushed him, what was there to fear in a one-on-one fight, especially when they were in the same Realm?
"Kill!"
Their blades clashed, chopping, hacking, stabbing, parrying, lifting, and cleaving. Each move was filled with savagery and violence.
Because he wasn't as tense as before, Lin Shan, relying on his years of sword practice instinct, incorporated the muscle memory of "Qingfeng Swordplay" into each move.
He had originally chosen the ring-pommel saber because it was essentially a long sword designed for slashing from horseback. Aside from being single- edged and longer, it was basically no different from a sword, making it effortless to perform swordplay.
Scarface was also battle-hardened, having been an assassin for many years, and he had no shortage of instances where an assassination failed and turned into a direct confrontation.
The scar on his face was from a failed assassination attempt, carved onto his face by an enemy, but he later brutally cut that person into a human stick in a direct fight.
After the last silver escort mission in the valley, he had spent 200 contribution points at the Nightingale branch to exchange for the inner sect martial art he had long dreamed of.
Three Forms of Overlord Blade!
Now, his blade techniques were proficient, and he was no longer an ignorant fool. If Lin Shan were to judge his strength based on their previous encounter in the valley, he would definitely lose miserably.
...
At this moment, after dozens of exchanges with Scarface, Lin Shan had already noticed something was wrong. Scarface seemed to be attacking, but he was actually holding back. It was as if he had been building momentum, and the pressure on Lin Shan was growing. The next strike would undoubtedly be earth-shattering.
Seeing Lin Shan's expression gradually turn to surprise and doubt, Scarface's lips curled into a ferocious grin.
"If you're still the same as you were a few days ago, with no progress, then just obediently accept your death!"
"Three Forms of Overlord Blade, Heavenfall!"
Scarface, having accumulated power to his peak, surged in momentum, moving like a nimble dragon. His entire body's Meridians throbbed, his True Qi boiled, and he poured his essence, qi, and spirit into this single strike, launching it suddenly downwards.
"Slash!"
"Holy crap!"
Lin Shan couldn't help but curse inwardly. If you have a trump card, just use it. Why are you shouting so loudly? It's making my eardrums numb and painful.
But, to be fair, this synchronized combination of words and actions could indeed create immense psychological pressure on an opponent. Lin Shan knew he couldn't take this blow, but the problem was that Scarface had planned it for a long time; he couldn't dodge it, and he couldn't avoid taking it.
"Clang!"
A crisp clash echoed through the mountains. Lin Shan was directly pushed back several steps. He felt his right wrist stiff and numb, and his internal organs were wracked with a sharp pain. A mouthful of rebellious blood surged to his throat, but he forcibly swallowed it down.
The Innate True Qi within his body circulated slightly, suppressing the cramping pain in his Meridians, and a coolness spread through his limbs. Lin Shan knew this was the healing effect of Innate True Qi at work.
He raised his ring-pommel saber and found that the blade had a chip in it.
Across from him, Scarface's momentum did not decrease after the strike; instead, it increased. His True Qi circulated wildly through his body. He once again followed a peculiar meridian path, raising his blade and closing in.
"Second Form, Earth-rending!"
It was this feeling again; there was no way to dodge it. Lin Shan coughed up blood in distress.
He had no choice but to gather his True Qi and meet Scarface's attack again.
"Clang!"
This time, Lin Shan was directly sent flying, landing three meters away in a parabolic arc.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Lin Shan, enduring the sharp pain, quickly scrambled to his feet, finally unable to hold back the blood coughing from the corner of his mouth. He could feel that his internal Meridians were subtly damaged, and his Innate True Qi was rapidly circulating to heal his injuries.
He saw Scarface running towards him, dragging his blade, giving him no chance to catch his breath.
He even lacked the villainous habit of talking too much, as seen in novels, instead concentrating all his momentum into a single point.
"Third Form—"
"Screw it! Enhance for me!"
Lin Shan finally couldn't hold back. He directly opened the enhancement panel of his ring-pommel saber, which had two large chips and was on the verge of being scrapped. Gritting his teeth, he unhesitatingly chose to "Enhance!" in the midst of battle.
A blinding white light appeared between the two of them. The ring-pommel saber in his hand, starting from the hilt, was enveloped in a circle of blue electric light that spread upwards, passing over the grip, the guard, the Reid, the spine, the edge, and the tip.
Wherever the blue light passed, the wooden texture of the hilt became more matte, the thick part of the spine condensed and shrank, grooves suddenly appeared in the broad parts of the blade, the chips on the edge recovered as new, and the sharp tip of the blade pulsed with cold light.
A brand new treasured blade emerged!
[Kunwu Blade]
Quality: Divine Weapon
Description: Three feet long, forged from ten thousand refined steel, crafted by Grandmaster Ouye Zi. It can cut through gold and jade, and slice through iron as if it were mud.
Enhancement Required: 4 points
...
Lin Shan completely ignored the transparent panel after the enhancement, regardless of what the description said, and directly swung his blade to meet the attack.
At this moment, Scarface was already half a step away from him, and the blade in his hand was almost upon him.
"Third Form, Overturn the Sea!"
"Ding!"
An extremely crisp blade hum, like a blessing of Heavenly dew dropping from the Nine Heavens, echoed long in the mountains. Trees swayed and danced, and shallow grasses rustled.
Even the wild geese flying overhead couldn't help but echo with a long cry!
Scarface looked blankly at the broken blade in his hand.
This scene felt familiar!