Chapter 27: The Hospitable Host
The strike from the Black Armored Giant Scorpion's tail was truly insidious. Even a powerhouse felt his soul tremble, the pain causing him to howl madly, "Aooo~~" He lashed out wildly in all directions, smashing the surrounding icebergs, sending them flying in every direction.
At the same time, a trace of blood trickled from that golden single eye.
"An opportunity." The Black Armored Giant Scorpion was overjoyed.
"Move quickly." The Three-Headed Six-Eyed Golden Qilin, who knew the true nature of the Evil Eye King, roared instead.
"I want you all dead!" The Evil Eye King bellowed in rage, and his bleeding golden single eye suddenly erupted with over a dozen blood-red rays of light.
The Three-Headed Six-Eyed Golden Qilin swiftly darted into the passage, with one of its heads grabbing the Black Armored Giant Scorpion and dragging it directly into the tunnel. These four magical beasts were the last to enter the passage. By the time they charged into the ninth level, they only heard a rumbling sound from the eighth level.
"We've finally entered the ninth level."
Linley, Desri, Fain, and the others had already arrived at this ninth level earlier. When the Three-Headed Six-Eyed Golden Qilin and the Black Armored Giant Scorpion entered, all eleven powerhouses were reunited once more. Everyone looked at each other, smiles appearing on their faces.
"Although we didn't get the divine artifact, it's still very fortunate that we all safely entered the ninth level," Fain said cheerfully.
"Phew, I was really scared just now." Rosalind rarely showed her true feelings. "Luckily, the Evil Eye King's attention was all on Olivier, so we could take the chance to rush in."
"Yes, the Evil Eye King's true strength hasn't really been shown yet. 'Soul Freeze' is just its ordinary attack. To become a king among the Evil Eye race, its power is unfathomable. We really are lucky," the Six-Eyed Golden Qilin also remarked.
Although the Black Armored Giant Scorpion's final strike was powerful, it could at most injure the Evil Eye King, not kill it.
"We're lucky, lucky to have Olivier," Desri said, smiling as he looked at Olivier.
Everyone couldn't help but look at Olivier.
Olivier, however, remained silent. Among this group of powerhouses, Olivier was indeed a man of few words.
"Olivier, how did you manage to be fine after being hit by that 'Soul Freeze'?" the Six-Eyed Golden Qilin asked curiously.
Olivier hesitated for a moment, then squeezed out a few words: "I don't know either."
No one pressed further. Whether he truly didn't know or didn't want to say, it wasn't appropriate to keep asking.
"Everyone, be careful. The danger on this ninth level is probably no less than the eighth," Desri said solemnly. "We can't count on being as lucky every time as we were last time."
Linley and the others nodded.
No one was bothered at all about not getting the divine artifact on the eighth level.
In fact, compared to divine artifacts, the group's true goal was the divine spark. And the divine spark would only appear on the eleventh level. As for the twelfth level, Linley and the others didn't even dare to think about it. According to Beirut and the others, only those who had reached the divine level could survive on the twelfth level.
Reaching the eleventh level as quickly as possible without suffering any losses was what everyone hoped for.
"This ninth level seems quite mysterious too," Linley said, looking around at the ninth level of the Necropolis of the Gods.
Below Linley and the others was a vast, surging blue ocean, with waves rolling endlessly, stretching as far as the eye could see. In this ninth-level world of the Necropolis of the Gods, besides this endless sea, there was only a quiet green island not far away.
"Everyone, be careful. Once we get through this level, we can prepare to enter the eleventh level with peace of mind. This is the last major hurdle before the eleventh level," Tulily said gravely.
Everyone carefully observed their surroundings.
Although they were only on the ninth level now, with the tenth level still to come, Linley and the others knew that in the Necropolis of the Gods, every five levels formed a tier, and the tenth level would actually be much simpler and easier than the sixth through ninth levels.
No one considered the tenth level a major obstacle; they just saw it as a place to rest and prepare.
Just as they hadn't considered the fifth level a major obstacle.
"All around us is an endless ocean." Rosalind frowned. "There aren't any tall buildings. The passage to the tenth level can only be in one place—over there." Rosalind pointed to the distant island.
"The passage to the tenth level should be on the island," Linley nodded to himself.
After all, besides the island, there was only the sea. If the passage were set at the bottom of the boundless sea, how long would it take just to search for it? Linley believed that the lofty Sovereign who arranged this Necropolis of the Gods wouldn't design it that way.
"Let's go," Desri said.
The eleven powerhouses simultaneously flew toward the distant island. Each of them was extremely cautious. As long as they passed this ninth level, then stepping onto the eleventh level to obtain the 'divine spark' would be within reach. No one wanted to fail at this level.
The island was very peaceful. Linley and the other ten powerhouses landed on the sandy beach.
"Whoosh, whoosh~~"
The waves gently lapped against the shore. The beach was covered in gravel, and the water would sometimes surge up to cover the sand, then recede. A sea breeze blew softly. The tall trees, flowers, and grass on the island rustled in the wind.
"Such a peaceful place." A smile appeared on Rosalind's face.
"It's truly beautiful." Linley and his group couldn't sense any danger in this ninth level at all.
"Let's go find the passage," Fain said with a smile.
The eleven powerhouses immediately ventured deeper into the island, beginning a thorough search for the passage to the tenth level. The island's scenery was beautiful, and at its center was a small hill. After searching for a while, the eleven powerhouses climbed this hill.
"We've searched everywhere else on the island. The passage must be on this hill," Linley said, looking up at the winding mountain path.
The path was rugged, but Linley and the others moved quickly, drifting through the forest like the wind. They soon reached the higher part of the hill. But when the eleven powerhouses arrived at the summit of this small hill, they were stunned.
At the center of the island, on top of the hill, beside a short tree, stood a wooden cabin.
In front of the cabin were a stone table and a stone chair.
A handsome youth with fair skin, wearing clothes woven from grass and leaves, and a straw hat, was sitting on the stone chair. He was enjoying a cup of tea with great relish. The scene was serene, but Linley and his group felt a chill in their hearts. Suddenly, a person had appeared on this ninth level.
Without a doubt!
This fair-skinned youth in the straw hat was the creature blocking their way on this ninth level.
"Humans, magical beasts, and a dragonblood warrior?" The youth had light blue eyes. Looking at the eleven powerhouses before him, a hint of elegant smile played on his lips. "Let me introduce myself first. My name is Rui. Don't be nervous, everyone. I mean you no harm. Let's all sit down and chat. There are stone stools over there."
Not far away, there was indeed a row of stone stools, but they were covered in a layer of dust.
"What's the background of this youth?" Linley found it strange.
"Troubled by the dirty stools?" The youth waved his hand, and a gentle breeze swept over, lifting all the stone stools and placing them in front of Linley and the others. The dust on each stool was cleaned off completely. The youth smiled, revealing a bright grin. "There, now you can all sit."
"What trick is this youth playing?" Linley and the others were completely baffled.
From the moment they entered the Necropolis of the Gods until now, Linley and the others had never encountered such a bizarre situation.
Linley and the others exchanged glances.
"Could there be something wrong with these stools?" Linley used his spiritual energy to carefully inspect them, but the stone stools were just ordinary stone stools.
"Sit," the Six-Eyed Golden Qilin said, leaping up and crouching on a stool.
Linley, Desri, and the others also sat down one by one.
"Everyone, let's act according to the situation. If this strange youth pulls any tricks, we must not show any mercy," Desri transmitted to the other powerhouses.
All eleven powerhouses reached a consensus.
"Good, good." The straw-hatted youth 'Rui' was overjoyed. His clear eyes swept over Linley's group, and a mist seemed to appear in his eyes. "It's been so long since I was banished to the Necropolis of the Gods, so long since I've communicated with any other living being."
"Here, it's so quiet, like a land of the dead!"
Rui's eyes held a trace of resentment. "No one else, not a single living being to talk to. Even in that sea... not a single fish, not a single snake. A dead sea! This is a dead sea with no life! On this island, there isn't a single bird, not a single animal! No other life at all! It's just like a cemetery!"
"But thankfully, you've finally come." A smile appeared on Rui's face.
The eleven powerhouses were all inwardly stunned.
"What is this straw-hatted youth up to?"
Rui said cheerfully, "I know very well why you've come to the Necropolis of the Gods. Don't overthink it. I can tell you, I am the exile of the ninth level. But I'm different from the other exiles. I won't kill you."
Linley and the other ten powerhouses felt a wave of confusion.
Won't kill?
"On the condition that you don't try to enter the tenth level," Rui added another sentence.
Rui smiled and said, "I hope you can stay here and chat with me. If you don't enter the tenth level, I won't attack you. Isn't that a win-win situation? When the time is up, I think you'll be able to leave the Necropolis of the Gods naturally."
Stay and chat?
Linley and the other powerhouses were beginning to understand. This straw-hatted youth had such a plan.
Encountering an exile like this on the ninth level was somewhat pleasing to Linley and the others, at least he hadn't started chasing and killing them like the Flame Sovereign. But having all of them stay here to chat with the straw-hatted youth until the ten-year term was up...
That was something Linley and the others couldn't accept.
"How about this: I'll stay and chat with this straw-hatted youth, while the rest of you enter the tenth level. Maybe this straw-hatted youth will agree," Desri suddenly transmitted to the other ten powerhouses. It was clear that Desri was willing to sacrifice himself. After all, the straw-hatted youth in front of them, being able to stay on the ninth level, was definitely not as simple as he appeared.
Linley, Fain, Bebe, and the others all looked at Desri.
"Rui." The Black Armored Giant Scorpion, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. "If I'm willing to stay here and chat with you until the term is up, can you let my other ten friends enter the tenth level?"
The Black Armored Giant Scorpion's sudden offer surprised Linley and the others greatly.
"No." The straw-hatted youth frowned. "I hope you won't force me. If you don't enter the tenth level, I can spare your lives. But once you try to go in, I'll have no choice but to kill you all."
"Hmm?" Linley and the others frowned.
"I've found the passage stairs." Rosalind's delighted voice echoed in the minds of Linley, Fain, and the others. "The stairs to the tenth level are in the woods behind that wooden cabin. From my position, I can see two or three steps and the enveloping black light."
"The passage stairs?" Linley and the others felt a surge of joy in their hearts.
Upon hearing the location of the passage stairs, they couldn't help but occasionally glance in that direction.
"Oh, so you've finally found the passage?" The straw-hatted youth said with a smile. "What's your choice? Fight me, or spend some peaceful time with me?"
"Whoosh."
Linley, Fain, and the other powerhouses all stood up at once.
Desri smiled and said, "Rui, we don't want to fight you. We hope you can make way for us."
The straw-hatted youth 'Rui' still wore a smile.
But deep inside, the anger that had been suppressed for thousands of years surged up again. He fumed inwardly: "These lowly humans are so ungrateful. I originally wanted to trick them into staying with me, then quietly take their souls. But now it seems..."
Linley and the other ten powerhouses were all on high alert, ready to strike at any moment.
"Boom!" Rui's body suddenly exploded, sending grass and leaves flying everywhere.
A streak of silver light shot out from Rui's exploding body, flying directly toward Tulily, who was closest to him.