Zhou Lin looked back, gazing at them in confusion.
"They're not dead yet? They're completely still."
The biologist paused, then pointed at the lizard on the ground.
"Want to know? Let's make a bet. If it dies, I'll give you half the money. If you lose, you give me half of your fifty million? What do you say?"
Zhou Lin looked at the biologist's expectant expression.
The biologist's mouth twitched. He remembered the last person who had dealt with Zhou Lin, who ended up losing an arm and all his money, having been completely swindled.
Now, if this guy wanted to bet with him, he might as well just give him the money. It was like willingly walking into a trap.
He decided against it. There was no need to suffer only to end up with nothing. It wasn't worth it.
"Well, if you say it's not dead, then it's not dead. After all, you're always right."
The biologist thought for a moment and decided it was best to keep his mouth shut.
Zhou Lin's plan had failed, and he was instantly unhappy.
"You guys keep watching."
Zhou Lin stopped playing coy and pointed at the lizard.
Everyone looked at the lizard with suspicion.
The viewers in the livestream chat were also watching.
"Why are we staring at a lizard? How long do we have to watch?"
"Who cares? Just watch. Nothing else matters."
"No, something's not right. This lizard is acting strange. It's moving!"
"Damn, it really is moving."
...
Inside the tomb.
The archaeological team, security personnel, and participants watched as the lizard's foot twitched. Its previously vacant eyes began to regain focus.
Its gaze swept around the surroundings.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, it burrowed back into the sand.
Its speed was astonishing.
Elder Tang was momentarily stunned, staring at the scene in disbelief.
It... it was alive?
No, it hadn't even died?
"What... what is happening?"
Elder Tang pointed in disbelief at where the lizard had vanished.
The biologist, historian, Taoist priest, architectural champion, Professor Lin, and the others felt a wave of dread wash over them.
It hadn't died at all.
"Damn it, are they bulletproof?"
The captain thought of his brothers who had died by their claws, and a sense of deep resentment surged within him.
"These things are bulletproof. It won't be easy to deal with them. And... they're coming."
Zhou Lin's expression shifted from its previous demeanor. His gaze fixed on the area ahead.
A small mound of sand appeared beneath the surface, moving at an incredible speed.
"Alert."
The security personnel shouted urgently, shielding the archaeological team and opening fire on the approaching entities.
A deafening barrage of gunfire erupted, and soon, red stains appeared on the ground.
The netizens were shocked.
"Holy crap, what is that thing? It's alive, and there's a whole group of them coming..."
"No way? How is this thing more terrifying than those silver fir trees? What the hell is this, a lizard? It's a demon!"
"Where did Ancestral Dragon get these things from? This is unbelievable. What are they all?"
"What do we do now? These things are unkillable. This is bad. Will Elder Tang and the others be in danger?"
"This is easy. Just pay up. Maybe the big shot will make a move."
Inside the tomb.
Blood seeped from the sand on the ground, creating a bizarre spectacle. After a moment of eerie silence, sand mounds began to move across the surface once more.
The security personnel continued to fire, but their efforts could only maintain a temporary hold. They were steadily retreating.
The archaeology students stood behind their professor, watching the unfolding situation with tense expressions.
Just then—
"Ah..."
A student beside them vanished instantly. Hong Mei quickly looked around, only to see blood appearing nearby. She frantically looked behind her.
She saw mounds of red eyes emerging from the ground, staring at her with murderous intent. Their sharp teeth and claws dripped with blood.
The blood dripped down, drop by drop.
"Professor... Mr. Zhou Lin, help!"
Upon seeing this, Hong Mei's face turned ashen with fear. She cried out urgently.
Everyone was already on edge, and hearing this cry, they quickly turned around. They saw a dense swarm of lizards staring at them menacingly.
This sent shivers down their spines, and a sense of dread filled their hearts.
"Ah..."
"No, don't retreat any further."
The students behind them screamed.
Elder Tang, the biologist, and the historian were aghast at the sight.
In the livestream chat.
"Holy crap, seeing one was bad enough, but seeing this swarm instantly made me feel sick. This is triggering my trypophobia!"
"No, can someone explain? Why are there more coming from behind? Aren't they surrounded?"
"Look closely. It's not just from behind. They're coming from the sides too. The archaeological team and participants are all here. There's no escape!"
"What now? Will the big shot's flames be effective?"
"He has to be angry for that to happen. He's not angry now, so how can he use the Samadhi True Fire?"
...
The dean, along with all the professors and experts, watched this scene with their hearts in their throats, unable to remain seated.
Their gazes were fixed anxiously on the unfolding events.
"This is bad."
One expert said, his face etched with worry.
"What can we do? Are we just going to watch them die in there?"
Another professor looked at the situation with extreme anxiety.
However, one professor remained relatively calm. His hands, resting on the table, clenched into fists. He then looked at the dean.
"How much available funding does our academy have? Perhaps we should use it. Since Zhou Lin likes money, let's use money to hire him."
The dean's eyes lit up at his words, understanding his intention.
He wondered if Elder Tang would have the same idea.
Inside the tomb.
Elder Tang looked at the lizards surrounding them, closing in, and felt a surge of panic.
He then looked at Zhou Lin, standing calmly to the side. Gritting his teeth, he walked over to Zhou Lin's position.
Zhou Lin was currently looking at an electronic display. These creatures liked high temperatures. What if he used ice or frost? Would that be effective?
Zhou Lin recalled the "Ice Frost Art" he had seen before, but he wasn't sure if it could freeze them.
He was caught in a dilemma.