The surge of powerful newcomers made things difficult for Adrian and his group. More competitors meant that claiming any prize would be tougher. And with so many vying for a share, there wouldn’t be enough for everyone.Yet, if this was truly the tomb of an ancient emperor, any treasure inside could bring unimaginable fortune. Even a single artifact from such a figure could greatly boost one’s power and status, given the fearsome reputation of these ancient emperors.Adrian’s gaze sharpened as he sensed a chilling presence in the distance. Moments earlier, he’d caught the aura of an immortal at the perfected Divine Stage. It was a sign that serious players had entered the fray. It likely meant a high-stakes showdown was coming, and Adrian knew that, for now, keeping a low profile would be wise.Turning to Tyron, Adrian suggested, “Maybe we should disguise ourselves to avoid unnecessary trouble.”“Good idea,” Tyron agreed.With a swift motion, Tyron altered his appearance, impressi
Adrian shook his head in mild exasperation, feeling Tyron had underestimated the power of this technique. If humans struggled to detect such "tricks," then the daemons might indeed cause chaos.Only now did Adrian understand how the daemons had remained so elusive. Without grasping the methods behind these hidden techniques, they were nearly impossible to detect.Suddenly, a thunderous boom erupted from afar as someone launched an assault on the barrier. The attacker’s impatience reached a peak as he bellowed, “Damn it!”Adrian watched, mild disbelief on his face, as the person hammered recklessly at the barrier. I was as though he believed he could shatter it by force. Yet, the barrier was formidable and would not yield easily.The barrier shuddered under the relentless assault, seeming almost ready to break. The crowd looked on in astonishment, their eyes widening as they held their breath, shocked that the supposedly impenetrable barrier might actually give way.Then, a deafeni
The crowd erupted in fear as the old man’s words gave voice to a horrifying possibility: blood sacrifice. The realization was overwhelming. Such a method was deeply sinister, and only ancient tombs sealed for millennia demanded a price mortals could barely fathom.Faces marked by shock and unease, everyone cast furtive glances at one another, knowing what a blood sacrifice meant. Someone would need to be offered up, but who? No one was willing to volunteer as it meant certain death. The stronger immortals’ eyes began to narrow, focusing on the weaker ones among them.One of the Divines, a look of icy command on his face, spoke up, “We’ll establish a hierarchy. Those of the lowest level will go forward first. If you survive, count yourself lucky. If not, accept your fate.”Fury stirred among the weaker practitioners, but they were powerless to resist.The Divine’s eyes glinted coldly as he added, “Any objections? Step forward if you do.”A young man stepped out, defiance in his sta
The young man was consumed by rage at the figure's menacing demand, fully aware that only torment and death awaited him. "I refuse! You’ll suffer for this!" he shouted defiantly, launching himself forward.Suddenly, torrents of lightning rained down with a deafening roar. The chaotic destruction was swift, and the young man was obliterated before the horrified onlookers could even react. The terrifying force left no room for resistance or escape. By the time they grasped what had happened, it was too late.A heavy silence followed as the leading Divine glowered, his dissatisfaction palpable. “If you won’t step forward yourselves, I’ll select you,” he growled coldly. “Allies, help me send these feeble souls to the front.”As his voice faded, threads of power emerged in his grasp, and those nearby nodded in agreement, deciding that the weaker ones should serve as the first line of defense. The singled-out individuals tried to resist in terror, but their cries went unheard.“If you
Everyone was filled with shock as they pondered what might come next. The unfolding events hinted at the unfathomable nature of the ancient tomb before them.Suddenly, terrifying bursts of energy erupted from within the tomb. To Adrian, this sight brought a chilling realization. He could clearly sense a terrifying power surging wildly in the depths ahead. Even the slightest misstep could sweep him away like a helpless leaf caught in a violent tide.“Hmm, definitely no ordinary place,” Adrian murmured, glancing at Tyron who was wide-eyed with astonishment.Rumbles echoed ominously as tremors spread across the land, accompanied by an eerie, endless chorus of screams emanating from the tomb. The bone-chilling sound made Adrian's expression grow grim.The cries filled the air, and alarm spread across everyone’s faces. None had anticipated such terrifying sounds. It was as though countless souls had met their end within these walls. Some instinctively wanted to flee, yet the allure of t
The crowd longed for the hidden power to emerge and speak.In the midst of the tension, another Divine could no longer restrain himself. “Hmph! You’re just in the middle Divine Stage. What right do you have to shout so boldly? Do you truly think you’re invincible? Sending these people to their deaths is a crime against humanity.”“Their lives are worth no more than weeds,” the first Divine retorted, his expression turning icy. “You’re also at the middle Divine Stage. Even if we fought, it would be difficult to determine a clear victor. If you wish to die for these people, feel free to step forward. I won’t stop you. But if you don’t want to, then keep quiet. I’m sure everyone wants to see what lies within this ancient tomb.”The opposing Divine’s anger flared at the first Divine’s defiance. “Are you really sure this is the ancient tomb? In such a wicked place, with thunder crashing down from the void, we might all turn to ashes. What purpose does it serve to send these innocent peop
The Divine’s simple statement conveyed his grim resolve. It looked like he was prepared to go down with whoever stood against him.Those around him sneered at his sudden desperation. Moments ago, he had been arrogant and untouchable. Yet now, facing an unseen threat, his bravado had vanished, replaced with fear. The crowd saw this as both pathetic and amusing. When danger wasn’t upon him, he acted as though he were invincible. But now that it was, he showed his true colors.Another powerful expert scoffed. “You’re a disgrace to us. You enjoy beating down others but look at you now. You’re pathetic.”The Divine, filled with killing intent, snapped back, “Shut up! You don’t know anything. You’re just running your mouth.”He lashed out violently, clinging to the belief that he was in the right while everyone else was wrong. But as he raged, a terrifying force suddenly tore through the void, smashing down upon his head.Boom!The impact struck him, and he had no chance to resist. He
Observing the scene, Adrian understood that a powerful treasure likely lay hidden within the mountain range ahead. However, obtaining it would come at a steep cost. To stand out among so many people, one would need extraordinary strength and resilience. Without them, approaching the area would be foolish. This situation hinted at an imminent bloodbath. With a plan forming in his mind, Adrian decided he would strike boldly if the others hesitated to move forward.After witnessing a powerful expert being dealt with effortlessly, everyone fell silent. Though they had a clear path ahead, fear held them back. They all hoped someone else would make the first move and open the way. Everyone exchanged glances, looking at one another to see who would go first.Suddenly, thunder boomed and bolts of divine lightning struck down. A Divine who had ventured too close was instantly reduced to ashes, his soul vanishing from existence with no chance of reincarnation. Seeing this, the crowd was stri