PCJ – Chapter 426 Magical Treasure

Mud and sand rained down from the tomb ceiling like a sudden downpour.

From the collapsed mound of earth, a towering figure burst forth. Its entire body was coated in thick layers of mud, making it resemble a clay statue. With each step it took, clumps of dirt fell off its form.

Thud!

The creature had barely taken a step when its head slammed into the tomb ceiling. Although the cave was relatively high—over two meters tall, allowing ordinary people to walk through without stooping—the creature was enormous, standing at least two or three meters tall. Its upright posture caused it to hit the roof repeatedly.

With a loud crash, the ceiling, fragile as tofu, broke apart under the creature’s impact, and soil cascaded down in waves.

“Roar! Roar!”

Agitated by the repeated blows to its head, the creature let out a ferocious roar.

As it moved forward, its head struck the ceiling again and again, causing sections of the tomb to collapse. Yet, the creature pressed on without hindrance. After several collisions, it learned to crouch slightly, just enough to navigate through the cave.

As more mud fell from its body, parts of its true form became visible. Long black fur covered its frame, while its skin was as dark as ink, gleaming with a metallic sheen that made it appear as if forged from iron.

If Zhang Jiaohua had been present, he might have exclaimed in shock, recognizing the creature. Wasn’t this the same formidable ghostly being encountered by Chengdao and the Old Taoist at the Great Furnace Fort? Who would have thought it would now appear in the tomb cave beneath Luoa Pool?

The cave stretched several miles from the entrance to the collapsed section. Under normal circumstances, it would take around ten minutes of running to escape. But chaos had erupted among the group.

Despite their experience as tomb raiders, He Shouye and Long Wuyi’s men were not accustomed to facing life-threatening situations. They had barely run far when the sounds of pursuit grew louder behind them. Though none had yet glimpsed the creature, its presence was clear, sending shivers through the group.

In their desperation, the men knew only one rule: you didn’t need to outrun the monster; you just needed to outrun someone else. Initially, no one dared to challenge He Shouye and Long Wuyi for the lead. Guarded by Sun Lei and Yang Jinlong, the two bosses were safely at the front.

But as the ghostly creature’s roars intensified, panic took over, and the group devolved into a frenzied stampede.

Sun Lei and Yang Jinlong remained steadfast, shielding their employers and leading them toward the cave’s exit. However, the men in the rear turned on each other, pushing and shoving in a desperate bid to escape.

“Fourth Master, we can’t hold out much longer. We need to pick up the pace,” Sun Lei urged anxiously.

He Shouye and Long Wuyi, seasoned and agile despite their age, ran with the speed of younger men.

But the creature was far faster. Initially, it ran upright on two legs, but its head kept colliding with the ceiling, leaving it howling in pain. Finally, it dropped to all fours, moving like a beast. This shift in posture made it exponentially faster, allowing it to close the gap with terrifying speed.

A blood-curdling scream pierced the air.

The creature pounced on the slowest runner, its claws sinking into the victim’s shoulders. Opening its maw, it bit down on the poor man’s neck.

Crunch!

The victim’s neck snapped, sending a jet of blood spraying onto the cave ceiling, painting it red.

Discarding the lifeless body, the creature resumed its pursuit.

The remaining runners, now reduced to ten or so, pushed themselves to their limits, adrenaline propelling them faster than ever before. But no matter how they strained, human speed was no match for the beast. Within seconds, two more fell victim to its relentless chase.

He Shouye bellowed, “Stop running! Listen to me! If we keep this up, the ghost will pick us off one by one before we reach the exit. We need to band together and fight it off. That’s our only chance to survive!”

“Easy for you to say!” someone shouted bitterly. “You’re up front, safe, while the rest of us sacrifice ourselves for you. How convenient!”

“Shut up!” He Shouye snapped. “This isn’t about saving me. It’s about saving all of us. I swear I’ll lead the charge alongside Brother Long. If we all fight together, we might stand a chance. But if we don’t, none of us will leave this cave alive!”

The men hesitated, doubt etched on their faces.

“You have my word!” He Shouye declared, his tone firm. “Brother Long and I will take the lead. We fight together, or we die alone. Make your choice!”

Reluctantly, the group agreed, stopping in their tracks and turning to face the approaching creature.

“Let’s go!” He Shouye shouted, grabbing a sturdy wooden stick from the debris.

With grim determination, the survivors prepared to confront the creature, placing their slim hopes in the talismans of White Immortal and Master Wang.

The ghost roared again, its blood-soaked figure looming in the shadows. Its eyes glowed like lanterns, locking onto the group as it charged.

Thwack!

He Shouye struck the creature’s head with his makeshift weapon. Though it staggered momentarily, the creature roared in fury and lunged forward again.

The ensuing battle was chaotic. Talismans crackled, spells flew, and the air filled with the shouts of desperate men. Finally, Master Wang unleashed a last-resort artifact, a black wooden shard, which transformed into a brilliant sword light.

The ghost froze as the sword light cleaved through it, splitting it in two.

As the creature’s remains crumpled, silence fell over the survivors. They stared in awe at Master Wang’s artifact, now faded and lifeless.

“Such power…” White Immortal murmured.

Master Wang sighed. “A treasure passed down through generations, now gone. But at least we’re alive.”

He Shouye and Long Wuyi exchanged weary smiles, their relief tempered by the cost of survival. Behind them, Sun Lei and Yang Jinlong began the grim task of gathering the bodies for a proper cleansing ritual.

As the flames consumed the remains, no one noticed the shadowy shapes of black cats slipping out of the cave, vanishing into the night.