"Fortunately, the boss still has a trick up his sleeve, otherwise, we'd really be at a disadvantage."
"Did you see that, you cowards from Eagle Country? Look at yourselves, this is what you can't learn."
"What's so great about your Great Xia? You just killed a bunch of birds."
"Exactly, just a bunch of birds, how is that impressive?"
"Oh my, we won against these birds, but it seems your professor couldn't even defeat one, what a loser. And there was something about the construction industry, which wasn't explained clearly either."
"Isn't that the truth? It's utterly laughable."
...
Inside the tomb.
Zhou Lin had just dealt with a batch of partridges and, hearing the commotion above, felt a strange unease. He suddenly looked up and noticed the 'Duàn Lóng Shí' (Dragon-Severing Stone) beginning to descend rapidly.
"The Duàn Lóng Shí is starting to descend, get out quickly, hurry!"
Zhou Lin shouted.
Captain Bai, the metaphysics professor, Guo Liang, and the others saw this and their faces changed instantly.
Their footsteps quickened considerably.
Guo Liang and the metaphysics professor beside him were already panting, their breath coming in ragged gasps.
Their pace had picked up significantly, and thankfully, the mercenaries were there to support them, otherwise...
"Fifty meters left, hurry!"
Zhou Lin himself was unconcerned; it would be a matter of moments for him. But for them, this was fatal.
From an initial sprint, they transitioned to bending over, the distance closing rapidly, but the Duàn Lóng Shí above was approaching them just as swiftly.
Zhou Lin narrowed his eyes and, reaching the edge first, braced himself with both hands, lifting the massive stone high above.
The others, feeling the height increase, quickly looked over and saw Zhou Lin holding it up.
"Zhou Lin..."
The metaphysics professor was greatly shocked by Zhou Lin's actions.
He knew Zhou Lin was strong, but the Duàn Lóng Shí had already reached such a height; its weight was beyond description.
"Go now, quickly!"
Zhou Lin's voice was strained. If not for his bronze skin and iron bones, his own bones would have been crushed by now.
Captain Bai, Guo Liang, and the metaphysics professor, seeing Zhou Lin's struggle, could only do their best to escape the tomb as quickly as possible.
Survival was the best repayment they could offer him.
"We're out, hurry!"
Guo Liang shouted, looking at the situation around them.
Behind them, the remaining mercenaries, Summer, and Gale, were all panting heavily.
Zhou Lin, ensuring they had all safely exited, was about to deal with the Duàn Lóng Shí in his hands when he suddenly noticed the ground beneath his feet slowly sinking.
Not just their position, but even the areas where the mercenaries and the archaeological team stood had begun to turn into mud and sand.
"What's happening?"
"Damn it, it was bluestone brick ground earlier, how did it turn into mud and sand?"
"I remember that too."
The students, watching their feet sink into the earth, began to feel a chill of fear.
"Everyone, don't move around for now. The more you struggle, the faster you'll sink."
Captain Bai quickly spoke to comfort the students who were starting to panic.
"Metaphysics professor, take three steps forward, quickly."
Zhou Lin's body was also beginning to sink, the ground beneath his feet slowly giving way.
But his greatest concern now was for the professor and the others.
The metaphysics professor followed the instruction, straining to lift his feet and taking steps to the positions Zhou Lin indicated.
When he stepped onto the third spot, his feet felt somewhat steadier.
"Captain Bai, take five steps forward. Those behind you need to align with the positions of the Big Dipper, quickly."
Zhou Lin, now only his upper torso visible, shouted instructions to them.
The students behind them began to recall the principles of the I Ching that the metaphysics professor had shown them earlier.
Based on their corresponding positions, they started searching for the Big Dipper's alignment.
The group searched in various directions for the Big Dipper's positions and, after successfully finding them, stood in a particular spot, afraid to move.
"What about you?"
The metaphysics professor, pulling Guo Liang over, looked worriedly at Zhou Lin, whose chest was now barely visible.
"You just need to be careful yourselves."
After saying this, Zhou Lin's body plummeted rapidly, and the Duàn Lóng Shí crashed down onto the ground with a deafening roar.
Boom...
A thunderous sound echoed, accompanied by a cloud of dust. The metaphysics professor's mind reeled.
The surroundings fell silent.
Their hearts sank to the bottom.
Captain Bai, Guo Liang, and the other students were stunned by the scene. The entire space was eerily quiet.
Were their eyes deceiving them? How could Professor Zhou Lin have fallen in there?
Wasn't he incredibly capable?
Where had he gone?
"Zhou Lin..."
The metaphysics professor, seeing this, was the first to speak, about to rush forward, but Guo Liang stopped him. Rushing forward now would be suicidal.
"Calm down. No one wants Zhou Lin to be in trouble, but if you go now, you'll lose your life."
Guo Liang said, holding him back.
"Yes, Professor, going there won't help anything."
Captain Bai, though also heartbroken, had to comfort the metaphysics professor.
In the livestream.
"Big shot Zhou Lin won't be in trouble, right?"
"He'll be fine. He's been through so much before, and he was okay, wasn't he? Don't worry."
"But... why hasn't he come out yet? Doesn't this Duàn Lóng Shí have other exits?"
"Are you guys crazy? What did we say before? That was Zhou Lin himself who said it. This is the Duàn Lóng Shí, something no one can break through. Your Great Xia professor is already dead."
"Don't deceive yourselves anymore, don't hold onto hope. Even if he's not dead, there's no air in there, won't he suffocate?"
"Screw you, shut your mouth. Say one more word, and your professor will die in there too. No one is getting out."
"Our boss is dead, and you won't live either. Without Big Shot Zhou Lin, you will all die in here."
...
In the Dean's conference room.
"Holy crap, where's Zhou Lin? How did he disappear?"
Professor Hu couldn't sit still any longer and stood up abruptly.
"He must be in there? But I don't believe Zhou Lin would die like this."
Professor Wen was very certain.
"Don't worry. Zhou Lin has so much money; he wouldn't give it up. He's probably hiding somewhere. With his abilities, a mere Duàn Lóng Shí wouldn't be able to take his life."
The Dean added, but the worry in his eyes was evident.
Inside the tomb.
"Metaphysics professor, please don't be too sad. No one wanted Zhou Lin to get into trouble."
"Now, we should think about how to get out of here."