A mournful wail echoed.
The biting wind tore through the gaps in the vines and the cracks in the walls, emitting a piercing shriek, like the cries of hellish specters.
The smooth stone walls were clearly not a natural formation. Traces of artificial polishing were evident, and even after countless ages of weathering, a series of astonishingly ancient murals remained faintly visible upon them.
These murals instantly brought Mo Yuan back to a memory: the totem paintings she had seen while exploring the ruins in China’s northwestern frontier with her father. Ancient and enigmatic, they chronicled and bore witness to the history of the ancient Chinese empire. Legend whispered that secrets of primordial gods lay hidden within them…
Squeak, squeak, squeak!
Hiss, hiss, hiss!
In a daze, yellowish-grey shadows seemed to flicker through the darkness. A soft thudding sound emanated from the adjacent wall.
Puff!
Suddenly, an ancient carved painting on the vine-entwined stone wall shattered. A bronze-skinned human hand pierced through it.
Thump, thump, thump!
Next to it, a mural depicting a colossal serpent soaring through clouds abruptly exploded.
Before Mo Yuan’s widened eyes, the leftmost painting was effortlessly torn apart, as if it were tofu, by another hand reaching out.
Squeak, squeak, squeak!
Hiss, hiss!
On the vine-covered ground, countless pairs of dark green eyes ignited, their glow sending a shiver of panic through the heart.
These green lights expanded and rose at a visible speed. As their luminescence gradually dimmed, the previously expansive hall was instantly swarmed by innumerable giant rats, each half a person’s height, and massive pythons, stretching over a dozen meters in length.
Though their fur still gleamed with a metallic sheen, these creatures possessed only stark white bone structures where their eyes should be. Within those empty sockets, clusters of eerie green flames burned silently.
Behind them, three humanoid figures stood motionless, like deities, exuding an oppressive aura of immense power. Merely sensing it, Mo Yuan felt her chest tighten, struggling to breathe.
Lin Xuan observed the data for these peculiar monsters before them, and a gasp of astonishment escaped her. ‘The stats here are on an entirely different scale compared to those outside!’ she thought.
‘It’s a good thing I found an experienced female player to guide the way. Otherwise, I might still be foolishly grinding those low-level monsters outside.’
‘What’s the point of constantly harvesting weaklings and minor minions? I’ve finally activated a cheat, so how can I not dominate a dungeon boss? Every time I play these puzzle-solving games, I have to rack my brains to narrowly escape these monster bosses. This time, I’m going to set a precedent! Damn it!’
With that, she swept her sleeve, a faint smile gracing her face, and stepped forward.
“Boundless Heavenly Venerate!”
“Senior, please be careful!”
The worried voice of the female player echoed from behind her at that moment.
“These are very likely the Yellow God, Willow God, and Grey God, from the Twelve Deities of Shamanism!”
The Twelve Deities of Shamanism represented one of history’s most secretive pantheons. Records concerning them were exceedingly scarce.
Unlike other divine systems, these Twelve Deities did not refer to twelve individual gods, but rather twelve distinct races.
Some speculated that the Twelve Deities might be inextricably linked to the very origins of Shamanism, while others suggested they were merely the powerful spirit pets of each generation’s Shamanic Sect Leader. While theories abounded, one point remained undeniable.
These Twelve Deities possessed unfathomable divine power, making them extraordinarily formidable!
Legend had it that the Shamanic Sect, armed with the power of these Twelve Deities, once swept aside all enemies. Each of the twelve races, led by their respective deity, wielded a unique divine ability, like heaven-sent weapons, against which no mortal power could contend.
And presiding over these divine weapons were beings powerful enough to be called terrestrial gods.
These were the “Shamanic Immortals.”
They had forged covenants with the Twelve Deities, ranking among the most powerful Shamans.
Mo Yuan had recognized them the moment these figures emerged from the wall.
Even without prior sight, there was no mistaking them!
The ancient totems of the Twelve Deities carved onto their bodies matched the historical records exactly!
Moreover, the golden battle armor they wore was the unique and supreme symbol of each generation of Shamanic Immortals!
Mo Yuan couldn’t discern which generation of Shamanic Immortals they were, but merely identifying their status was terrifying enough!
Shamanic Immortals! To be granted the title of “Immortal” meant they could not possibly be weak!
Historical battle records had been compared, and a rough estimate placed the combat strength of these Shamanic Immortals at least at the General rank!
Even now, long after their deaths, stripped of their consciousness and severely weakened, they still possessed strength no less than that of a Brigadier General!
Hiss, hiss!
The earth beneath them slowly cracked open. One after another, desiccated corpses, each two meters tall, burrowed out from underground.
Mo Yuan’s entire body trembled at the sight.
“Yellow Corpses!”
In recent years, with the Human Emperor’s absence, various cults had gradually proliferated across China. Some of these, associated with Shamanism, had somehow managed to seize the means to awaken the “Shamanic Corpses” slumbering throughout the land from ancient tombs and ruins.
Among these, the “Yellow Corpses” were the most troublesome. Though devoid of sentience, they could combine with Shamanic secret arts to unleash astonishing destructive power. Even Lieutenant Colonel-level experts often suffered severe injuries from their oversight, and this was merely with incomplete, fragmented Shamanic incantations.
It was unimaginable what terrifying power a complete incantation would unleash!
“Senior! Those Yellow Corpses are immune to many Daoist techniques!”
She couldn’t help but shout.
“We should retreat first!”
This was perfectly normal. All things in the world had their counterparts and weaknesses. Even the most formidable Daoist techniques would encounter secret arts capable of immunizing against most damage.
It wasn’t an issue of individual strength, but rather the fundamental laws of the world itself. No one could truly achieve so-called omnipotence or perfection.
What’s more, behind those terrifying monsters stood three Shamanic Immortals, each possessing at least the strength of a Brigadier General!
These were beings comparable to Earth Immortals. In Mo Yuan’s mind, aside from China’s three pillars, no one could possibly contend with them alone, let alone with her as a burden.
However, in response to her suggestion, the Daoist merely let out a hearty laugh.
“Fear not, fair laywoman, for this humble Daoist is but a trifle!”
Having spoken, they soared into the air, instantly flashing before a Yellow Corpse. Before it could even react, the Daoist’s hand tightened ever so slightly.
Puff!
The Yellow Corpse, capable of withstanding a direct shot from an armor-piercing cannon, shattered like a watermelon.
“Hmph! Audacious fiend! How dare you flaunt such petty tricks before a master!”
“I can tell at a glance that you are not human!”
“Prepare to be subdued!”
What transpired next completely shattered Mo Yuan’s worldview.
Against the Grey Immortal’s ghostly figure, this senior effortlessly seized them with an outstretched hand. The terrifying miasma of the Yellow Immortal, capable of poisoning Lieutenant Colonels, was completely isolated by the senior’s golden aura.
The Willow Immortal’s exceptionally tough body and razor-sharp teeth, which could easily shred mechanical armor, were instantly obliterated by a single slap from the senior.
Slaughter. This was an outright massacre.
Mo Yuan felt her entire perception of the world being reshaped.
“Hmph, take this palm strike!”
Finally, the three Shamanic Immortals launched a combined attack. Their golden divine armor shimmered brilliantly, radiating boundless divine might.
Yet, the senior merely unleashed a casual palm strike. A colossal azure palm reached for the heavens, directly dissipating their divine power. The three Shamanic Immortals were sent stumbling back several steps in succession.
Seeing this, Mo Yuan was utterly dumbfounded!
Under the violent shockwave, the stone wall behind them gradually cracked. The azure palm’s wind swept through.
Boom!
The cracked stone wall instantly crumbled, revealing the scene beyond.
In that instant, Mo Yuan felt every cell in her body freeze. It was as if an invisible hand had gripped her heart, plunging her entire being into an icy stillness…
=͟͟͞͞( ‘ヮ’ 三 ‘ヮ’ =͟͟͞͞)