Fang Ming and the other two quickly reached the fourth level. To their surprise, this level held no anticipated dangers. Instead, a vast collection of items was neatly arranged on stone platforms, creating a visually striking scene.
"Are these all... burial objects?" Fang Ming asked, astonished.
Zheng Zhu Liu approached a porcelain jar and examined it with a thumb-sized magnifying glass.
"These items are from the Ming Dynasty at the latest. Each one could be worth millions, or even more, if taken out."
Zheng Zhu Liu sighed, his thoughts drifting to the reason he brought so many men inside – for these very treasures. Yet, after all he had been through, he found himself indifferent to such riches.
"They're all that valuable?" Fang Ming's interest was piqued. Having lived a life of poverty, he was now witnessing an abundance of treasures firsthand, and more importantly, he could take them with him.
"You can take some. It's a reasonable conclusion to this adventure."
Fang Ming moved from one item to another, noting their neat arrangement, unlike the chaotic piles he'd seen in movies.
"Sixth Master, do you have any recommendations? Which items are easy to take and valuable?"
Overwhelmed by the sheer quantity, Fang Ming sought help from the professional.
"Let me see," Zheng Zhu Liu stepped forward, using his magnifying glass to examine each small object.
"This Three Dragon Coiling Phoenix Bracelet is an imperial artifact from the Tang Dynasty, worth around forty million. This Nine Carp Moon-Covering Bowl is a Ming Dynasty piece, valued at about fifty million..."
Zheng Zhu Liu pointed out several high-value items, causing Fang Ming's heart to race. If he could just take these few, he'd be rich overnight!
After Zheng Zhu Liu's explanation, Fang Ming scanned the multitude of treasures, even venturing deeper into the collection.
"What are you looking for?" Zheng Zhu Liu inquired, confused. Were these treasures not valuable enough?
"I'm looking for something like a bag to put these things in." Although the items weren't large, there were many of them. Besides, even if he didn't take everything, carrying them around would be a hassle.
Zheng Zhu Liu understood. Indeed, such a collection would require a container.
"I'll help you look too," Zheng Zhu Liu joined the search, while Qing Mian stood by, expressionless. He didn't know what to do, having no appreciation for these artifacts, preferring the simplicity of preparing a meal.
Soon, Zheng Zhu Liu called out, "Fang Ming, hurry! I found a bag."
Fang Ming rushed over to Zheng Zhu Liu, weaving through the stone platforms.
"Look, this is quite something," Zheng Zhu Liu said, holding up a gold-grey backpack.
The backpack was oval, about fifty centimeters long and twenty centimeters wide, with long ropes at both ends. It was a common style of backpack used by ancient travelers.
Fang Ming took the backpack and touched it.
"Why does it feel so soft?" he asked, surprised. It felt like fur, but how could fur have been preserved for so long?
Zheng Zhu Liu gave him a look of knowing superiority. "This is a style of backpack used for rapid marches. It's specially treated to be wear-resistant and durable. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be damaged even after seven or eight years of exposure to the elements."
"Moreover," Zheng Zhu Liu paused, full of emotion, "if I'm not mistaken, this backpack is made primarily from mammoth hide, with the inner lining woven with gold threads to maintain its shape. The shoulder straps are made of Hetian warm jade. Setting aside its craftsmanship, the materials alone are worth tens of millions!"
"That expensive?!" Fang Ming exclaimed. "How much could this backpack sell for?"
Zheng Zhu Liu held up two fingers.
"Twenty million?" Fang Ming guessed.
Zheng Zhu Liu shook his head.
"...Could it be two hundred million?" Fang Ming asked uncertainly, his expression shocked.
"That's right. This backpack would fetch at least two hundred million."
Zheng Zhu Liu sighed. "You're lucky to have stumbled upon such a treasure. In the past, I might have even considered taking it myself."
"Heh heh," Fang Ming chuckled, slinging the backpack over his arm (he was still in his Sha Zhong form, so it could only be tied to his arm). He then ran back and packed the valuable items Zheng Zhu Liu had mentioned, along with his own diary.
"A great haul!"
Fang Ming was satisfied. Seeing Qing Mian still standing by, he called out,
"Qing Mian, let's go!"
The three of them set off again, finding the passage to the next level and entering it.
Soon, they reached the fifth level.
However, the scene on the fifth level left them stunned.
"Buns, fresh buns..."
"Tanghulu, sweet tanghulu..."
...
On a wide street, a continuous stream of people moved back and forth. They were dressed in ancient attire, their faces pale, their movements stiff. However, it was clear they were not Sha Zhong!
"What's going on?"
Fang Ming and the others hesitated, sensing that something was amiss. They stopped at the entrance of the passage, observing the street before them.
Zheng Zhu Liu had never encountered such a scene before. When Fang Ming asked him, he could only shake his head helplessly.
"We'll have to go in to find out," Zheng Zhu Liu said.
"Alright."
Fang Ming reverted to human form, slung the backpack over his back, and the three of them cautiously entered the street, observing the movements of the people.
But as soon as they entered the sight of these ancient figures, everyone instantly stopped what they were doing and stared at the three of them.
"Living people!" "Living people!"... the people on the street mechanically spoke.
Then, one by one, they surrounded them, wielding various weapons. Most absurdly, an old woman charged forward brandishing a broom.
"Careful!" Fang Ming warned. Qing Mian vanished instantly, followed by crisp chopping sounds. The surrounding figures stiffened, then split into two halves.
The cuts were smooth, without a trace of blood.
Fang Ming and Zheng Zhu Liu looked closely and discovered that inside these people were intricate mechanical parts!
"Legendary Lu Ban puppets!" Zheng Zhu Liu exclaimed, recognizing what they were.
"You mean, robots?" Fang Ming asked curiously.
Zheng Zhu Liu nodded.
"You could say that. These figures are ancient robots, and their operation is remarkable. A single Lu Ban puppet can only function for a short time, but if they are in a group, they can operate indefinitely."
"I've only read about them in ancient texts. I never expected to see real Lu Ban puppets today."
The principle behind the Lu Ban puppets was that the interaction between them drove each other's limbs, generating kinetic energy and forming a continuous cycle, achieving the purpose of "perpetual motion."
Of course, the actual mechanics were more complex. Perpetual motion machines didn't truly exist. Zheng Zhu Liu didn't fully grasp the specifics, only the general idea.
"They're not very strong," Fang Ming commented, watching Qing Mian dispatch them with ease.
Zheng Zhu Liu's face darkened. These puppets were designed to deal with ordinary tomb raiders, not the likes of these non-human beings.
Given their numbers, immunity to pain, and inexhaustible stamina, these Lu Ban puppets would be more than enough to contend with an army of ten thousand.
Yet, they were being effortlessly dismantled by Qing Mian, their rigid bodies yielding like tofu under his long saber.
"Want some sunflower seeds?" Fang Ming, pulling a handful from who-knows-where, offered them to Zheng Zhu Liu.
"Where did you get those?" Zheng Zhu Liu was bewildered.
"Over there," Fang Ming pointed towards a wooden basket filled with sunflower seeds by the side of the street.
Zheng Zhu Liu, astonished that sunflower seeds could be preserved for millennia, hurried over to examine them.
He picked up a handful. They were indeed ordinary sunflower seeds, but how could they have lasted so long?
"How is this possible?" Zheng Zhu Liu found it incredible. Not just the seeds, but everything on this street was perfectly preserved.
Fang Ming also couldn't figure it out, but his philosophy was not to overthink things he couldn't understand. He wasn't a detective.
Half an hour later, Qing Mian approached Fang Ming. All the Lu Ban puppets in the vicinity had been eliminated.
"They've all been dealt with," Qing Mian stated coolly.
"You're amazing!" Fang Ming praised sincerely. Facing so many enemies, even if they were weak, it would have taken him hours.
"A minor feat," Qing Mian replied with his usual aloofness.
"Let's go to the sixth level," Fang Ming tossed aside the sunflower seeds he was holding and started to move.
Suddenly, his vision darkened. When it cleared, he was bewildered by the scene before him.
"Buns, hot steaming buns..."
"Tanghulu, not sweet, no charge..."
...
Everything around them had reverted to the moment they first entered!
What was happening?
The three of them stood on the street. The Lu Ban puppets immediately spotted them and lunged forward. Even the old woman with the broom charged at them again.
Seeing this, Qing Mian instantly entered his mirror dimension, and a new round of slaughter began.
But Fang Ming's heart was unsettled. The sunflower seeds in his mouth no longer tasted good.
"Fang Ming, can these Lu Ban puppets respawn infinitely?" Zheng Zhu Liu asked, approaching Fang Ming with a hint of tension.
Fang Ming nodded. It was obvious that something in this street was influencing the situation.
Fang Ming's gaze fell upon the basket of sunflower seeds. He and Zheng Zhu Liu had each taken a handful earlier. Normally, there should be a noticeable gap, but looking now, there was no sign of depletion; the basket was full again!
Was it an illusion?
This was Fang Ming's first thought, but the taste of the seeds in his mouth was undeniable, so it couldn't be an illusion.
Discarding this possibility, Fang Ming began to consider other options.
He finally pulled out his diary and opened it.
"The three of us entered a peculiar street filled with Lu Ban puppets. Every time all the puppets are killed, the time here resets, delaying our progress."
Time reversal!
Zheng Zhu Liu saw Fang Ming take out his diary. Though he didn't know what was written in it, it seemed to provide answers whenever Fang Ming produced it.
"Did you find the cause?" Zheng Zhu Liu asked.
"I did." Fang Ming briefly explained the situation.
"Time reversal?" Zheng Zhu Liu was astonished. This was the first time he had encountered such a bizarre phenomenon.
"While Qing Mian is busy eliminating the puppets, let's search the surrounding streets for clues to stop the time reversal," Fang Ming instructed.
"No problem."
The two of them hurried deeper into the street, Zheng Zhu Liu following closely behind Fang Ming as they searched for clues.