120: Giant Xie Emperor - Mutated Creature
The massive tail of a colossal scorpion whipped through the air, striking the chamber walls with such force that debris began to fall. The entire structure trembled violently. Suddenly, the ground split open with a great fissure, and a jet-black scorpion, the size of a fighter jet, raised its grotesque head and emerged from beneath the earth.
Witnessing this, Soras and his mercenaries were filled with terror. Just as they prepared to flee, Mu Tou spoke leisurely, “Brother Gu, this creature looks formidable. Fighting it here might collapse the entire pyramid.”
Gu Feng nodded. “I’ve already sensed it. This pyramid is under a strange energy suppression that normally prevents the use of spatial teleportation magic. But now, the suppression has weakened enough that we should be able to teleport out instantly.”
He waved his hand and drew a six-pointed star on the ground with his wand, chanting incantations as the star glowed with golden light. Soras and the others gaped in disbelief at Gu Feng’s actions, unsure if he was sane. Several mercenaries urged, “Boss, let’s go now! If we wait any longer, it’ll be too late!”
At this perilous moment, Soras had a sudden insight. “It’s too late to run now. Seeing how calm they are, it seems they have a way out.” He turned to Li Yun, “Mr. Li, are these the bodyguards you hired?”
Li Yun chuckled but said nothing.
Soras continued, “They’re confident they can get us out!”
Still silent, Li Yun was interrupted by Mu Tou, who interjected, “We can get out, but whether we take you with us—that’s another matter.” He paused deliberately.
Soras quickly replied, “If you can get us out, I’ll pay you one million dollars!” He was clever enough to say “we” instead of “I,” implying that the mercenaries should come along as well.
One million dollars used to be a considerable sum for Mu Tou, but now, with a net worth of several tens of millions, it barely tempted him.
Seeing Mu Tou seemingly unmoved, Soras turned to Li Yun again, “Mr. Li, after all, we have some acquaintance...” When bribery failed, he tried to appeal to sentiment.
Unexpectedly, Li Yun responded, “I can’t serve as his landlord. He’s my master.”
“Master?” Soras was puzzled. Judging by their vast age difference, he couldn’t fathom what kind of master that was.
Yet, with the monstrous creature about to burst through the ground, Soras steeled himself. “Sir, as long as you can get us safely to the surface, name your price!”
At such a critical moment, even if Mu Tou demanded a hundred million dollars, he would likely agree to save his life. But Mu Tou pondered for a moment and said, “It’s not about the money. How about this—you promise me one condition.”
Soras brightened. “Good! What condition? Speak!”
Mu Tou shook his head. “I haven’t decided yet. But you must promise not to shirk or refuse as long as it’s within your power.”
Soras quickly nodded, “No problem. You saved my life; I’ll agree to any condition!”
---
“Alright, everyone, step inside!” Gu Feng said.
Looking down, they saw Mu Tou had drawn a six-pointed star glowing with golden light on the floor.
Mu Tou glanced at Soras with a smile. “I’m sure after you see our methods, you won’t dare deny it. Step into the six-pointed star!”
Li Yun trusted Mu Tou implicitly and was the first to step inside. The only remaining student of Professor Qin hesitated, realizing he couldn’t escape alone, and followed suit. However, the mercenary wielding a flamethrower scoffed, “Hilarious! You think you can escape with this nonsense? Do you take us for magicians?”
Mu Tou smiled calmly, “If you don’t believe it, you don’t have to step in.” Then he entered the magic circle.
The mercenary sneered but followed when he saw his leader go in, muttering, “What kind of people are these, drawing some...”
Before he could finish, a flash of golden light enveloped him. Suddenly, he felt as if falling through clouds, and the scenery shifted drastically. They had instantly teleported outside the pyramid.
The mercenary’s mouth fell open in disbelief. “This… this…”
Soras was equally astonished but forced himself to remain calm. “Amazing! Sir, who exactly are you?”
Mu Tou smiled faintly. “My name is Chen Mu, or you can call me Mr. Mu.”
Soras laughed. “Oh, Mr. Mu, you’re remarkable. But we said you’d get us safely to the surface, and it seems we’re still underwater!”
Mu Tou chuckled lightly. “Mr. Soras, rest assured, until I make my condition known, nothing will threaten your life!”
Soras was elated. That statement was essentially a guarantee of safety. Seeing such a display of power from them, he was certain of survival.
As for Mu Tou and the others, their teleportation outside the pyramid was not an escape but a strategic blockade to intercept someone—or something—and uncover the truth behind this place.
Soon, a small green figure dashed out from the pyramid’s entrance, followed by four lion-like beasts—the same lion beasts and green creature they had encountered inside.
The green figure noticed Mu Tou and company, paused briefly, and approached them.
He babbled incomprehensibly, but Mu Tou and the others understood. The green figure was asking, “Which guild are you from, and what is your purpose here?”
Gu Feng frowned. “You… are a goblin?”
The green figure shook his head solemnly. “I’m not a goblin… Oh wait, I am a goblin, but not an ordinary one. I am the greatest and noblest goblin in history. Surely you’ve heard of me—I am Shate, the weapon expert of the Tribunal Guild.”
Striking a self-important pose, the goblin awaited their astonished and admiring reactions. Instead, Mu Tou and Gu Feng exchanged looks, seeing only vanity, not greatness or nobility.
Shate waited long for praise that never came. Waving his hands angrily, he exclaimed, “Heavens! You’re not from the Trading Space? You don’t know the renown of Lord Shate? Oh well, you’ll be begging me to craft your weapons soon enough, and then you’ll see how great and magnificent I am.”
Mu Tou and the others broke into a sweat… After a moment, Mu Tou cleared his throat and asked, “Oh, Lord Shate, we saw you rush out so hastily. Is something wrong inside?”
At the mention, the goblin’s expression turned tense. “Ah! I almost forgot. I must complain to the Guild Alliance about the Anubis Guild. What kind of training ground is this? Even the Scorpion Emperor broke free. Don’t they maintain their facilities?”
Just as he spoke, the entire pyramid began to tremble, as if something was tearing it apart. The space itself started to destabilize.
Zi Gui’s face darkened. “This is bad. The pyramid’s energy system is malfunctioning. The space’s waterproof shield might collapse.”
Mu Tou’s expression hardened as he told Soras and the others, “Return to the submarine immediately. Don’t wait for us; surface directly!”
Soras was relieved. He had no patience for the goblin’s endless chatter, and though he knew these two groups were likely aliens or possessed supernatural abilities from rumors, survival was paramount. He gathered Professor Qin’s student and Li Yun and headed toward the submarine.
The goblin grimaced, “The energy system isn’t the problem. We should run and let the Anubis Guild handle it.”
Mu Tou was intrigued. “You’re afraid of the Scorpion Emperor? What level of monster is that?”
The goblin straightened his neck proudly. “Afraid? I am a noble, great weapons expert—a once-in-a-lifetime genius goblin. How could I fight that savage Scorpion Emperor?”
Lowering his voice, he added, “The Scorpion Emperor is probably an S-class monster. The lion beasts I brought are only B-class biochemical war beasts. How could they possibly defeat it?”
At that moment, the pyramid was overturned by a tremendous force, crushing four old American bombers parked nearby into wreckage.
The goblin’s eyes widened in shock. After a long pause, he burst into tears, “Damn it… it destroyed my flying machines… It’s over! Great goblin Shate will never return to the Tribunal Guild. I’m doomed to die alone on this uncivilized planet—poor me, just bought my twelfth concubine!”
Seeing him beat his chest in despair, Mu Tou wanted to ask how he traveled between planes in those old planes, but sensing the goblin’s distress, he refrained, instead warning, “Great Lord Shate, the Scorpion Emperor has emerged. It looks like it’s coming for you!”
Nothing was more precious than a goblin’s life. Hearing Mu Tou, the goblin shouted, “Brothers, hold on! I’m retreating first…”
With that, he bolted.
Mu Tou reached out to grab him but the goblin vanished without a trace.
Startled, Mu Tou tried to probe with his divine sense, only to hear the plane system alert: “Beep… Non-native mutated creature detected. Hidden plane mission—Mysterious clue found. Please eliminate the mutated creature…”
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