Chapter 28: A Thousand-Year Secret! Killing Without Blood!
“Han Li… who are you exactly?”
Meeting Han Li’s gaze…
Shirley Yang felt restless and uneasy, a sense of awkwardness…
It was as if she had no clothes on, her secrets laid bare, even the ones in her heart!
As the descendant, and perhaps the only descendant, of the Zaklama prophet!
She knew.
What was it that drew her father to the Ghost Cave tribe culture, to the point that he relentlessly searched for the ancient city of Jingjue?
Even she…
She was drawn here for the same reason!
The Eye of Dust!
She had known about her lineage through her grandfather, Partridge Whistle’s, notes, a long time ago—
More than three thousand years ago, they migrated from a tribe in Europe to the Zaklama Mountains.
There, they stumbled upon a bottomless cave, called “Ghost Cave” by everyone!
The tribe’s great priest, through a mysterious divination, discovered that in the distant east, there was a divine artifact known as the “Jade Eye,” said to be able to see through the truth of any cave.
This “Jade Eye” was the Eye of Dust!
However, at the time, it had fallen into the Central Plains and was called ‘Phoenix Gall,’ a treasure possessed by the emperor.
It was impossible to obtain, so the great priest instructed the tribe’s artisans to meticulously craft a jade eyeball.
They hoped that through the power of the gods, the jade eyeball could pierce through the truth of the bottomless cave, to determine if it was a sign of good fortune or a harbinger of evil.
They failed to see the secrets at the bottom of the cave, but it instead brought about an unforeseen disaster!
A dangerous type of snake appeared near the tribe, they were numerous, and each snake had a peculiar eye on its head, incredibly poisonous!
Two holy leaders of the Zaklama tribe, led the warriors of their people to defeat the mother snake and the black snake.
They threw their bodies into the Ghost Cave!
After that, the Zaklama tribe members developed an eyeball-like red mark on their backs.
When they reached forty years of age, their blood gradually became thick, and their breathing became increasingly difficult.
Finally, when they passed away, their blood turned yellow.
The most troublesome part was that this eyeball-like red mark was passed down to their descendants!
To avoid this terrifying disease, under the leadership of a new holy leader, the Zaklama people left this place.
Later.
New tribes migrated, and they also discovered the bottomless Ghost Cave.
The difference was that they obtained the Serpent God’s Eye and mastered its secrets.
They believed that as long as they continuously offered living sacrifices to the Serpent God’s remains in the Ghost Cave, their tribe members would be resurrected in the imaginary space where the Serpent God was buried!
Later, this group was called the ‘Ghost Cave tribe’ and established an ancient magic kingdom!
The Serpent God’s Eye, also became the most precious treasure of the magic kingdom, with its own name: Eye of Dust!
To offer sacrifices, the rule of the magic kingdom was destined to be tyrannical!
King Gesar and Master Padmasambhava, ultimately overthrew and destroyed the magic kingdom.
A portion of the descendants of the magic kingdom, fled to the Western Regions and eventually established the ancient city of Jingjue!
Therefore!
To break the curse that had been passed down through generations!
Yang’s father began to research the Ghost Cave tribe, searching for the ancient city of Jingjue, hoping to find clues about the Eye of Dust!
That’s how Yang’s father felt!
And that’s how she, Shirley Yang, felt!
Only!
This biggest secret in her heart.
She had not revealed even a word of it to Professor Chen!
How did Han Li know?!
The bonfire occasionally crackled with a popping sound.
Han Li’s eyes were downcast, the pupils under his brows, half-hidden, illuminated by the flames on his face.
The boy’s face looked pale, revealing a coldness and detachment!
It was as if his heart did not exist in this world!
Shirley Yang suddenly felt a little dazed…
Han Li was clearly right in front of her, yet he seemed like a mirage, far away!
“If you’re not willing to explain, then why bother caring about who I am?”
Han Li spoke softly, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you find the ancient city of Jingjue. Afterwards, we’ll go our separate ways, each relying on our own abilities.”
The Eye of Dust!
He naturally needed it too!
Such a wondrous artifact was destined to help him obtain the inheritance of Han Tianzun!
Shirley Yang’s brows furrowed slightly, she didn’t say anything.
Before leaving, she took one last deep look at Han Li…
Recalling the various strange things Han Li had shown…
He understood Ghost Cave script, was unafraid of heat or cold, even could perform illusions, control fire beetles, was fearless of sandstorms, seemed able to see things normal people couldn’t, and possessed incredible agility…
All these strange abilities were gathered in one person!
Han Li’s secrets, probably far surpassed hers!
The night passed without incident.
The next day, the weather cooperated!
Everyone saw the rising sun, the sandstorms outside gradually subsided!
“What are you doing?!”
“You’re going to be punished by the heavens for doing this!”
An Li Man, not fully awake from his sleep.
Seeing the archaeological team excavating the giant-eyed statue, immediately shouted in excitement!
“Old brother, don’t worry, we’re doing scientific archaeology!”
“You’re going to anger the gods!”
An Li Man and the archaeological team argued incessantly!
“Whoosh!”
Suddenly, the giant eye of the statue, as if shedding tears, dropped a clump of something, making a sound like sand.
“Hey, what is that?!”
“Ants, huge ants!”
“There’s one here, there’s one here!”
…
Seeing the ants scattered across the ground, Hao Ai Guo stomped one to death with his foot.
“Not good, let’s go!”
Shirley Yang, upon seeing the ants, with their enormous heads, jet-black bodies, and crimson tails, her face paled with fear.
“These are desert army ants, they can gnaw a person down to bone!”
She recognized them!
Making everyone exchange glances…
They realized that the skeleton they found last night, had been devoured by these army ants!
In an instant!
Everyone’s heart skipped a beat!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Just then!
The calm surface of the sand, suddenly, like a fountain, erupted with countless sand mounds, spewing out the ants!
One hundred!
One thousand!
Ten thousand!
The dense army ants, instantly, like a crimson tide, submerged the yellow sand desert!
“They ate everything, they ate everything!”
An Li Man cried out in despair!
They saw a tall, yellow-furred sheep huddled in a corner, avoiding the sandstorm…
In the blink of an eye, it became a skeleton, clattering to the ground!
No flesh and blood remained!
“Run!”
“Ahhh!”
“My hand… my hand…”
…