Chapter 67: Escape

Inside the Nether Palace, because Liu Zhi had spent nearly eight or nine hours inside the pyramid, it was already night. The golden sunlight that once turned everything to gold had vanished, and a blood-red full moon hung high in the sky.

Yet as Liu Zhi entered the Nether Palace, he noticed that above the blood moon, a pair of eyes had appeared, looking down upon the earth from the heavens.

Startled, Liu Zhi had barely begun to react when he realized those eyes were his own. With a single thought, he could see everything taking place within the Nether Palace through those eyes.

After a moment’s confusion, Liu Zhi understood: this must be a change brought about by the Nether Palace having devoured the divinity of the Feathered Serpent God.

At the same time, he sensed that within the Nether Palace before him, he was like a god. He could go anywhere without moving a step—just a thought, and he could appear wherever he wished.

He could choose to hide or reveal his presence; if he wished to remain unnoticed, even standing beside others, they would not sense him.

Most importantly, so long as he was within the Nether Palace, his life and strength could be replenished and enhanced at any moment.

It was happening even now; his arm was instantly restored to normal. If only he could wield Leif’s Twisted Spine, Liu Zhi might have believed this strengthening had no limits.

Lastly, Liu Zhi sensed that he could control the weather within the Nether Palace. He could summon rain at will, or bring out the sun—even in the dead of night there could be sunlight.

This, he surmised, must be the power inherited from the Feathered Serpent God’s divinity.

Still, Liu Zhi understood that not everything would fit him perfectly. He would need a long time to slowly absorb and transform the Feathered Serpent God's power into his own.

Even if he walked a different path, the road would be his, not that of the Feathered Serpent God.

Just then, Liu Zhi suddenly felt a fluctuation in the Nether Palace’s space. The Corpse Cart, without his command, returned from the real world to this place.

The two giants, one pulling and one pushing, brought a cart filled with corpses to the spot where the pyramid had once stood.

Liu Zhi stood there, watching as the giants pushed the cart before him, piled high with all manner of bodies and body parts.

He recognized them: these were the corpses of those who had died inside the pyramid. He had no idea how the massive Corpse Cart had managed to enter the pyramid.

“Ninety-eight complete corpses collected. Thirty-three incomplete bodies,” the giant at the front reported in a mechanical, lifeless voice.

Liu Zhi frowned, recalling the chaos of the battle. “At least twenty people managed to escape.”

“May…be…not…escaped…the…snake…ate…them,” came Vaidnina’s voice from behind.

Liu Zhi understood. The giant serpent’s lair was now a place he could not reach, and his Corpse Cart could not snatch bodies from the serpent’s jaws. Still, he could not shake a sense of unease—he was certain some had managed to flee.

What Liu Zhi did not know was that, even now, seven or eight native warriors were stealthily swimming in the river he usually avoided.

They had smeared themselves with various substances to lower their body temperature. In the water, they didn’t paddle hard but floated, letting the current carry them away.

Only faint breathing and barely audible whispers could be heard among them.

“Are you sure this will work?” one muttered. “I keep feeling there’s a snake watching me.”

“Quiet. Right now, we’re nothing but logs, understand? Washed-down river logs. The snakes eat only flesh and fruit—wood doesn’t interest them. And if someone is attacked by a snake, don’t make a move, or we’ll all be finished.”

“But—”

“No buts. Lie still, close your eyes, and it’ll be over soon.”

The warrior who suggested the plan promptly shut his eyes, refusing to look or think, imagining himself as a piece of driftwood, letting the current carry him away. Even when the river’s force slammed him against rocks, he made no sound.

But not everyone managed as well. Some cried out in pain when they struck rocks, or became stuck at a bend and had to move to free themselves, pushing back into the main current.

Though these were small movements, they nonetheless caught the attention of some giant serpents.

Slowly, the great snakes slithered from their caves. Some watched from the riverbank, while others slid into the water, gliding at will.

Several times, the warriors felt the serpents’ slippery scales brush against them, leaving them with a sickening sensation.

Yet they dared not move, terrified that any reaction would provoke the serpents. All they could do was clamp their hands over their mouths, forcing themselves to remain calm.

They were nearly free, about to be swept out of the underground serpent tunnels into the open river. The snakes, finding nothing interesting, seemed ready to return to their lairs.

Then, a giant serpent passed beneath one warrior’s feet.

Suddenly, the warrior, unable to hold back, relieved himself, and the warm current struck the serpent’s skin.

The serpent halted its retreat, rising slowly from the water, fixing its gaze on the warrior just about to be swept out by the current.

Goosebumps erupted all over the man’s body; he began to tremble uncontrollably.

The serpent pressed its head down, flicking its tongue up and down across the warrior, even licking him.

Overwhelmed by the stench and horror, the warrior finally lost control, let out a scream, and grabbed the serpent’s tongue.

The snake opened its jaws wide, struck downward, and in a single gulp swallowed the man whole.

Chaos erupted beneath the surface. The other giant serpents swam over.

The remaining warriors, seeing this, began to scream in terror.

The original planner shouted, “Hurry, escape! If we get out, we’ll be safe!” He paddled furiously as he yelled.

But most of the warriors could not outswim the serpents. In the next moment, four more were devoured.

Only three made it out of the underground river, escaping the attack.

Yet the serpents did not relent; they pursued the trio, even onto land.

Clambering from the river, the three survivors ran, shouting for help.

But their pace slowed with every step, and the assistance they desperately hoped for never came.