Chapter 290: Chapter 285 Desert Temple
"Good, everyone is here!"
However, just after he uttered these words, Chen Pingchuan instantly sensed something was wrong. The voices sounded strange. If they were both on the same sand worm, their pronunciation shouldn’t be like this. Despite the heavy sandstorm, Chen Pingchuan forced his eyes open to observe their positions.
Indeed, on the back of the sand worm, he only saw four figures.
"Porcupine, Great Fierce Bear, where are you two?" he yelled. "Tell me the truth!"
Porcupine and Great Fierce Bear had just seen their comrades’ efforts pay off and were about to return when a sand worm suddenly surged out from the smoke. It moved with incredible speed, instantly appearing behind the sand worm they were on.
"Watch out!" Chen Pingchuan screamed.
Porcupine and Great Fierce Bear tried to dodge, but it was too late.
The massive jaws of the sand worm bit down, instantly tearing Porcupine’s body to shreds. Blood splattered across Great Fierce Bear’s face.
"No!"
Great Fierce Bear let out a heart-wrenching roar. His eyes turned red as he recklessly prepared to pounce on the sand worm. However, the creature struck again. Its thick tail swept across Great Fierce Bear, sending him flying several meters before he crashed heavily into a stone pillar.
Great Fierce Bear fell to the ground with blood gushing from his mouth. His gaze gradually dimmed as the last of his life faded away.
Aboard their sand worm, Chen Pingchuan and the others witnessed the scene, their hearts suddenly filled with sorrow and helplessness. Even though I know this is just a simulation, these flesh-and-blood people still move me deeply.
"Go, quickly!" Chen Pingchuan yelled, gritting his teeth. "We can’t let their sacrifice be in vain!"
He drove the sand worm to continue weaving through the stone forest, rushing toward the distant horizon. The three other sand worms relentlessly pursued them from behind. Under Chen Pingchuan’s command, his mount exerted all its strength, darting left and right through the stone forest. Each time it narrowly brushed past a stone pillar, it sent shards and sand flying into the air.
Everyone clung tightly to the sand worm’s back, their hearts full of grief and resolve. Liu Yaowu gripped his mechanical arm so hard his knuckles turned white, his eyes fixed intently on their pursuers. Lilia’s face was pale, a mixture of sweat and sand caked on her cheeks, but she forced herself to stay focused, trying to muster another shred of telekinesis to hinder the sand worms. Wei Hao lay limp to one side, gasping heavily, his hands trembling as he maintained a weak gravitational field. Lu Jiaojiao bit her lip, her eyes filled with anger and sadness, her hand clutching a dagger as if waiting for one last chance to strike back.
Just as they were about to sink into despair, a faint light suddenly appeared ahead, standing out starkly in the dim stone forest.
"Huh?"
"What is that?"
A thought stirred in Chen Pingchuan’s mind, and he directed the sand worm toward the light. As they drew closer, a magnificent and grand Divine Hall gradually came into view. Its walls were covered with ancient and mysterious runes that emitted a faint golden glow. Gigantic stone pillars supported a towering dome, as if narrating its former splendor and glory.
"Quick, let’s get inside to hide!" Chen Pingchuan shouted.
The sand worm quickly carried them to the entrance of the Divine Hall. But just as it was about to charge through the doors, its entire body suddenly exploded into fragments with a loud BANG!
The force of the explosion threw everyone to the ground in a disheveled heap. The three giant sand worms that had been relentlessly following them suddenly halted. They did not advance a single step further. Instead, the three massive creatures let out a great, mournful wail before quickly turning and burrowing back into the earth.
"Boss, what should we do?" Liu Yaowu asked, gritting his teeth. "If there’s no other way, we fight them! It’s just three stinking bugs. The worst that can happen is we die. I don’t know what’s wrong with the world; it’s suddenly become a nest for bugs!"
Chen Pingchuan dusted himself off without a word. This left Liu Yaowu feeling a bit awkward. To be honest, I could never actually fight those things to the death. But during the chase, everyone else played a part. I was the only useless one. I’m afraid Chen Pingchuan will hold it against me and I’ll end up dying a pointless death.
Sensing Chen Pingchuan’s cold attitude, he fell silent. Some things only need to be said once. The final decision still depends on the person in charge.
Chen Pingchuan gazed into the distance, looking at the suddenly silent stone forest and the spot where the sand worms had vanished. He clenched his fists tightly.
You all deserve to die. One day, I will annihilate your entire species!
After making this silent vow, Chen Pingchuan turned his head to survey the eerie place. He wasn’t the least bit saddened by the death of the sand worm he had been symbiotic with. After all, a tool should know its place as a tool.
"Boss, do you know what this place is?" Lu Jiaojiao asked. The dilapidated stone walls and pillars gave her a sense of oppression, and the earlier scene had left her deeply shaken, causing her to display an uncharacteristically vulnerable demeanor.
"No idea," Chen Pingchuan replied flatly before taking the lead and entering the massive Divine Hall.
The moment he stepped inside, a gust of decaying air washed over him. The runes on the walls were fragmented by the ravages of time, and the massive stone pillars were riddled with cracks, looking as if they might collapse at any moment.
Directly ahead in the great hall stood a giant statue, its height nearly touching the dome, like a colossus guarding the Divine Hall. The lines of the sculpture were strong and powerful, every texture intricately carved, showcasing the superb craftsmanship of its creators. Despite the wear of ages, its majesty and solemnity were still apparent, as if narrating the greatness of the figure it depicted.
Chen Pingchuan looked up at the mighty statue, a sense of familiarity stirring within him. Sunlight streamed through gaps in the ceiling, casting a mysterious halo over the sculpture. The initially blurry details grew clearer in the interplay of light and shadow.
They soon realized the statue depicted a warrior clad in armor and holding a long sword. The warrior’s face was resolute, his eyes deep and sharp, seemingly able to penetrate time and space to gaze directly into their souls.
"This... who is this? No, which Divine Spirit could possess such an aura?" Liu Yaowu couldn’t help but murmur, his voice tinged with a slight tremble from both fear of the unknown and awe for the magnificent statue.
Lilia’s mouth was slightly agape, her eyes full of astonishment. She seemed to want to say something but ultimately only let out a soft sigh, which sounded exceptionally clear in the tranquil and mysterious Divine Hall.
Wei Hao, however, cautiously scanned their surroundings. Although drawn in by the statue, he never once relaxed his vigilance. He’d had a feeling something was off about this place, and he was about to find out he was right.