As they ran, they spun around, firing two shots to impede the Tentacles' advance, but the attack seemed utterly useless. Seeing the swarm closing in fast, a river suddenly appeared before them.

Cai Qingchong yelled, "Everyone, jump into the river! These things are terrified of water!"

Hearing him, they didn't hesitate, tumbling headlong into the water. The Tentacle swarm surged forward to follow, but the moment they touched the water, they dissolved as if ice cream met the sun. In moments, the creatures that had pushed them to the brink of death had vanished into the water.

Fan Debiao stared blankly at the surface, then splashed some water on his face. "Damn it, that was a close shave! I thought I was about to meet Marx for sure. Who knew this water could melt them?"

He turned to Cai Qingchong. "Even very few people know about creatures like the Tentacles, so how did you know they’re afraid of water?"

Cai Qingchong shot Fan Debiao a look, uttered not a word, and walked ashore to find a rock to sit on.

Liu Dashao mused that Cai Qingchong knew a great deal, but why wouldn't he share it?

Liu Dashao and the other three also clambered onto the bank. Fan Debiao exclaimed, "Why is there a river here out of nowhere? This is truly bizarre!"

Liu Dashao found it extremely strange and asked Da Guoguo, "Da Guoguo, why has this river appeared for no reason?"

Da Guoguo shook his head. "I truly don't understand this right now!"

Hearing Da Guoguo’s admission, Liu Dashao grew even more perplexed. He gazed out over the river and suddenly spotted a dark shadow floating on the surface, quickly motioning for Fan Debiao to retrieve it.

Fan Debiao fished the object out and tossed it beside Liu Dashao. "Why are our backpacks in this river?"

Liu Dashao frowned. "Didn't my backpack fall off the cliff when Yinglong attacked? How could it be in the river?"

Da Guoguo sprang up from the rock. "I get it now! The bottom of the cliff wasn't a slab of stone; it was a pool of water."

Liu Dashao considered this. "No, that can't be right. If it was a pool, how could the coffin float on top? It couldn't be made of foam, could it?"

Da Guoguo replied, "We'll only know once we see the coffin." With that, he gestured for the group to swim into the river channel.

Suddenly, Da Guoguo collapsed to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably. Cai Qingchong rushed over to help him up. "Da Guoguo, what's wrong? Are you alright?"

Liu Dashao saw Da Guoguo’s face had turned pale green, and he was clutching his stomach, apparently in too much pain to speak.

Cai Qingchong pulled up Da Guoguo’s shirt and saw a small hole above his navel, apparently gouged out by something, which was steadily oozing blood.

Cai Qingchong's expression instantly changed. He walked over. "A Tentacle got into his stomach. Seeing how badly he’s hurting, it must have damaged his intestines!"

With that, Cai Qingchong snatched the Tianshi Sword from Liu Dashao's hand and sliced across Da Guoguo’s belly. The Tentacle shot out as if seeing a ghost.

Once the creature was removed, Da Guoguo visibly relaxed, but it was clear he needed rest before attempting to swim. Liu Dashao was not one to rush, so he told everyone to stop and rest where they were.

Cai Qingchong returned to his initial rock, closing his eyes to meditate. Despite his severe injury, Da Guoguo couldn't forget his smoke and lit a cigarette over Cai Qingchong’s objections. Liu Dashao looked at them—a collection of tomb-raiding eccentrics—and decided he could only really chat with Fan Debiao. He looked around for him, only to find no sign of the stout man. A cold knot formed in his stomach: where had Fan Debiao vanished? Just then, a shout split the air: "Ah!"

Hearing the cry, Liu Dashao pinpointed the sound to his right and sprinted toward it, flashlight in hand. Da Guoguo and Cai Qingchong followed suit.

As he ran, Liu Dashao scanned the surroundings. It was a natural cavern, with water seeping from both walls. He reflected that the passage they had entered through felt artificially carved, but now it seemed entirely natural. This small, intricate labyrinth was proving complicated indeed.

Rounding a bend ahead, Liu Dashao could see the beam of a flashlight from the other side. He was certain Fan Debiao was in there. He muttered to himself, "That damn fatty, running off at a time like this. Is he so naive as to think there might be treasure in here!"

Liu Dashao slowed his pace as he approached the bend, intending to unleash a torrent of complaints on Fan Debiao. However, what he saw stopped him dead in his tracks. In the flashlight’s beam stood a miniature mountain of gold, perhaps half a meter high, seemingly solid bullion.

Liu Dashao stood gaping, speechless for a long moment. He turned to look at Fan Debiao, whose eyes were now glittering, staring fixedly at something unseen.

Da Guoguo and Cai Qingchong soon caught up. Having seen more of the world, they showed no surprise at the sight.

The four flashlights converged, illuminating the area clearly: a natural cave about the size of half a basketball court. Liu Dashao swept his beam around—besides the gold, there were luminous pearls, bronze swords, jade artifacts, bronze halberds—an inexhaustible trove of funerary objects.

When Liu Dashao shone his light into one corner, he spotted a pile of bones, with several shovels lying nearby. He immediately called Da Guoguo over to look.

Da Guoguo was also startled. He waved the others forward to examine the remains.

They approached the bones slowly. There were five skeletons, each seated, leaning against the wall. Around each neck hung an identical necklace. The pendant consisted of two parts: the top was a hollow bronze cylinder inscribed with characters too faded to read. The lower half appeared to be made of jade—a clawless object, transparent in appearance, yet somehow not quite jade upon closer inspection.

Upon seeing the five skeletal remains, Da Guoguo and Cai Qingchong showed no hesitation, immediately kneeling to perform three kowtows.

"This thing doesn't look very valuable," Fan Debiao said, having caught up to the group and pointing at the pendants. "What are you two doing? Why are you bowing to dead people?"

Da Guoguo stood up and glared at Fan Debiao. "Do you know who these people were? They were tomb robbers, just like us!" He pointed back to the necklaces. "These are called Mojin Talismans. You can't buy them with mere money."

Hearing the words "Mojin Talisman," Liu Dashao sucked in a sharp breath, muttering inwardly, So the Mojin Talisman really does exist in this world!