Jia Zhuangyuan, startled, quickly stepped back several paces, fixing a wary gaze on the now wide-open palace doors. A few seconds later, the stone portals ceased sliding, plunging the Hall of Yama into deep, silent blackness.

After a moment of hesitation, Jia Zhuangyuan, clutching his antique, richly patterned dagger, slowly crossed the threshold into the Hall of Yama, the others following close behind.

The instant everyone entered the Hall of Yama, a sudden, dizzying tremor shook the area. Caught completely off guard, they were violently thrown to the ground. Dust, vibrations, and a deafening roar immediately plunged them into panic. The entire Hall of Yama began to spin and sway rapidly, like an over-wound clock, making it impossible for anyone to even stand.

After what felt like an eternity—perhaps a dozen minutes—the surroundings gradually fell silent. When the group finally staggered to their feet, brushing dust from their clothes, they realized that although the shaking had stopped, the view through the open doors showed constantly shifting cliffs outside. They sensed the Hall of Yama was slowly descending, a realization that filled them with astonishment.

Even more surprising was the sudden blaze of light from torches lining both sides of the hall. They now saw that the sanctuary walls were adorned with more than a dozen bronze lamp stands shaped like wolf heads. The walls themselves were carved with ash-grey bas-reliefs, the patterns slightly blurred by the passage of time. At the front of the hall stood a stone altar, upon which rested a single statue: a humanoid figure with a tiger's head.

Jia Zhuangyuan composed himself and approached the altar, closely examining the peculiar statue. Suddenly, he turned back to the group. "This sculpture is a Saber-toothed Tiger."

Young Master Liu frowned, then remarked, "Could the Saber-toothed Tiger also be a totem from another world?"

Cai Qingchong abruptly interjected, "Then what is its relationship to the builders?"

Young Master Liu shook his head, suddenly feeling a rush of confusion in his mind. Many things seemed to churn and flip within his thoughts, almost surfacing to memory before vanishing again.

Just then, a massive boom echoed, followed by a prolonged period of shaking and vibration throughout the Hall of Yama before everything seemed to settle.

Jia Zhuangyuan said, "It seems the Hall of Yama has reached the bottom of the cliff. Perhaps outside, we will find another miraculous place—the Limitless Daoist Repository."

Cai Qingchong shook his head. "If this Limitless Demonic Vault were merely a straightforward passage to the Limitless Daoist Repository, without any danger, it wouldn't be called the Limitless Demonic Vault. Think about it: all the way here, assuming the Guge ruins were the entrance, we encountered Zhongyong puppets, man-eating ants, the Red Moon, and the Shiva Buddha; the Volcanic Lake held a water monster and a plesiosaur; the Netherworld Path had drought demons and map traps. Can this final trial of the Limitless Demonic Vault really let us pass through without any obstacles?"

Young Master Liu argued, "Didn't we encounter the Zhong insects and the Saber-toothed Tiger pack in the Stone Forest? I only managed to pass because I understood ancient Nanzhao Zhong arts, broke the 'Corpse Zhong' to lure the tigers, and understood the language of beasts."

The moment Young Master Liu finished speaking, a sharp, mournful roar echoed from outside the hall, immediately followed by the answering howls of a whole pack of tigers.

He gave Cai Qingchong a wry smile. "It seems you were right. That pack of Saber-toothed Tigers is the guardian of the Hall of Yama, and they certainly aren't letting us go."

At that moment, Fan Debiao suddenly cried out, "A tiger has come in!"

Everyone quickly looked toward the entrance of the Hall of Yama. Indeed, a golden Saber-toothed Tiger stood in the doorway, its eyes burning blood-red. Behind it, several other tigers seemed ready to squeeze their way into the hall.

Yang Weidong, quick as lightning, brought his Type 56 submachine gun to bear. The gun barked, "Tutu," and the tiger let out a tragic shriek, collapsing to the floor. Jia Zhuangyuan immediately yelled, "Don't shoot! Shut the doors quickly!"

But it was too late. A golden shadow flashed like lightning, lunging toward Yang Weidong, who was still holding the submachine gun. Simultaneously, several other golden shadows appeared inside the hall.

Yang Weidong hadn't even managed to bring his muzzle back around when the teeth of the tiger attacking him—sharp and white—were bared, aimed directly at his throat in mid-air.

Just then, Cai Qingchong, standing beside him, roared, and his dagger sliced through the air with blinding speed, flashing a streak of light as it pierced the Saber-toothed Tiger's head. A low growl was heard as the beast twisted in the air, falling onto the floor of the Hall of Yama.

By this point, everyone had reacted. Those with firearms aimed at the few tigers that had breached the entrance and opened fire. The "tutu" of muzzle flashes instantly annihilated the invading tigers and sealed the doorway; any tigers peeking in from outside were also shot dead on the spot.

Saber-toothed Tigers are prehistoric animals, but their intelligence is by no means low. Once the tigers inside and at the entrance were killed, the rest outside dared not approach the door. The group surged forward, swiftly closing the massive stone doors of the Hall of Yama.

Tiger roars echoed faintly from outside. Looking at the fallen corpses of the Saber-toothed Tigers, the terrifying scene they had just endured left everyone shaken. A few tigers might not have been frightening, and the group's modern weaponry could easily dispatch them. But if hundreds of them surrounded them and engaged in close-quarters combat, they would be utterly helpless.

After a moment of silence, Fan Debiao looked up and asked, "Young Master Liu, Elder Jia, what do we do now?"

All eyes turned toward Young Master Liu and Jia Zhuangyuan. Young Master Liu noticed that Jia Zhuangyuan seemed somewhat dazed, staring blankly at the bodies of the fallen Saber-toothed Tigers on the floor.

Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan silent, Young Master Liu smiled slightly. "These Saber-toothed Tigers actually aren't that scary. The fact that our modern weapons could kill them so easily shows they aren't much different from the tigers we see today, just slightly larger."

Just then, Jia Zhuangyuan abruptly interrupted Young Master Liu’s words. "You are all too naive! These Saber-toothed Tigers are indeed a species of feline that lived ten thousand years ago in North America and parts of Europe, long extinct. You can see they are slightly larger than modern wolves, with relatively thin and short limbs, and longer fur, making them resemble hyenas more. However, their lower jaw structure is massive, giving them the ability to crush bone. These creatures weren't expert hunters; they were scavengers."

Saying this, Jia Zhuangyuan nervously glanced again at the wolf carcasses on the ground and continued, "Do you all remember when I used a gun to break open some stones in the Stone Forest, and some human-shaped objects fell out? Those things were actually the desiccated corpses of the ancient Nanzhao people from thousands of years ago. The rock-like material covering them wasn't stone but a substance similar to modern plaster. The ancient Nanzhao barbarians practiced a form of sorcery called 'Corpse Wrapping,' generally used to preserve bodies so they wouldn't decay for millennia. But it was also used to prevent tomb robbing, like what we saw in the Stone Forest. That wasn't a Stone Forest; it was a 'Corpse Forest.' Every giant stone block was a preserved corpse. The method involved wrapping the body in a substance akin to plaster after death. When it was nearly dry, numerous holes would be punched into the exterior, and a type of dormant Zhong insect, activated by sorcery, would be placed inside. This Corpse Wrapping technique not only kept the deceased from decaying but the Zhong insects could also revive under certain conditions to attack those who plundered bodies or tombs."

Finishing his explanation, Jia Zhuangyuan looked at the wolf corpses on the ground with an unusual expression, voicing his concern. "I don't know what medium revives and spreads these Zhong insects. I hope it isn't through these wolf carcasses. I have a bad feeling; these wolves were too easily killed by us. It feels like a trap."

Fan Debiao asked in confusion, "Elder Jia, we don't understand what you’re saying has to do with our current situation. What are Zhong insects, what trap?"

Jia Zhuangyuan offered a bitter smile. "Yunnan has numerous minority groups; there are 17 major settled ethnic groups alone: Yi, Miao, Bai, Hani, Dai, Lisu, Lahu, Wa, Naxi, Jingpo, Blang, Pumi, Achang, Nu, Jino, De'ang, Dulong, and more. There are even more smaller groups. The ancient Nanzhao barbarians are a general term for these peoples. Zhong arts are a form of traditional sorcery among the minority groups, with thousands of variations. There are thousands of types of insect Zhong alone. The methods of applying the Zhong, and the medium that triggers the insect’s activation—each has its own characteristics. We don't know what medium triggered the Zhong insects we encountered in the Stone Forest. I hope it wasn't parasitic implantation—meaning, I hope they weren't residing inside those Nanzhao corpses and then resurrected after being eaten by these giant wolves."

Young Master Liu looked at Jia Zhuangyuan with surprise. "Elder Jia, are you suggesting that these Saber-toothed Tigers might become the medium for the Zhong insects? That they might trigger the revival of those insects?"

Jia Zhuangyuan nodded grimly. Everyone stared at the wolf corpses on the floor, which remained quiet and unchanged. A chill crept down their spines. If what he said was true, and the Zhong insects were triggered and revived within the bodies of these Saber-toothed Tigers, no one could imagine the consequences.

Everyone’s eyes focused on the Saber-toothed Tiger corpses on the floor of the Hall of Yama. Suddenly, all the lamps lining the hall flickered as if running out of oil, and the light inside dimmed considerably.

While everyone's eyes were momentarily blurred by the flickering of the lamps, the corpses on the ground began to change. Their golden fur seemed to stand on end, strand by strand, accompanied by a slight trembling.

Jia Zhuangyuan’s face changed, and he shouted, "Not good!" A dread settled in everyone's hearts. Could the Zhong insects truly be using the tiger corpses as a medium for revival?

What the group witnessed next was even more horrific. The seemingly dead Saber-toothed Tigers slowly staggered to their feet, opening their mouths to reveal rows of stark white teeth.

Someone exclaimed, "Heavens, these Saber-toothed Tigers have resurrected!"

Jia Zhuangyuan shouted loudly, "Everyone retreat! These Saber-toothed Tigers have not resurrected; what has revived are the Nanzhao Zhong insects inside their bodies!"

Hearing him, the group rapidly retreated to a corner of the Hall of Yama, watching the staggering figures of the rising Saber-toothed Tigers with terror.

As they opened their mouths, their throats visibly contracted and spasmed as if gagging. Jia Zhuangyuan nervously told the group, "If I'm correct, the Zhong insects are crawling from the tigers' abdomens toward their open mouths. They are about to emerge. Be careful!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange sound emanated from the mouth of one Saber-toothed Tiger, like something rubbing against its mouth.

Young Master Liu whispered to Jia Zhuangyuan beside him, "Elder Jia, what do we do? We don't know how powerful those Zhong insects are. Being trapped here isn't an option. The Saber-toothed Tigers outside are manageable. Perhaps we should charge out!"

Jia Zhuangyuan’s lips moved, about to say something, when a buzzing sound suddenly erupted. A strange white beetle drilled out of the Saber-toothed Tiger’s mouth. It resembled a round ladybug, covered in a white shell, about the size of a human thumb. It had two thin red antennae on its head and a pair of round, transparent wings that buzzed in flight. Its body was crystalline and transparent, allowing one to faintly see its red internal organs flowing within its cavity like a tiny, flickering flame. After emerging, it circled once in the air and then flew rapidly and directly toward the person opposite it.

Fan Debiao cursed, "Oh, you think I'm easy to bully, do you? I don't believe such a tiny bug can do much." He raised his submachine gun, aimed at the approaching insect, and fired a burst, seemingly intending to swat the bug out of the air with the gun barrel.

In a flash, Jia Zhuangyuan suddenly roared, "Don't touch it! Dodge!"

But it was too late. Fan Debiao’s gun barrel struck the white beetle hard. With a "snap," the insect was knocked to the ground, shook its wings, and took flight again. Then, in a strange motion, it instantly split into four identical beetles, each diving toward the group.

Jia Zhuangyuan stamped his foot in alarm. "Everyone avoid them as much as possible! These things cannot be touched!"

Hearing this, the others quickly scattered, shrinking back and trying to evade the four beetles. Just then, several more such beetles flew out of the mouths of the other Saber-toothed Tigers, hovering in the air as if searching for targets to attack. Soon, they seemed to spot Young Master Liu and the others and sped toward them with their transparent wings beating.

By this time, there were about a dozen such beetles flying in the Hall of Yama, constantly pursuing the group. Everyone dodged and weaved in disarray. Having witnessed the bizarre result of striking the first beetle, no one dared to strike these strange insects.

Suddenly, someone let out a scream, and all the flying beetles instantly darted toward one direction. The group looked quickly and saw Yang Weidong clutching his head, crying out in agony. What horrified them was that flames were already rising from his hair, and his face appeared to be corroded by something—the muscles on his face hissed and rapidly withered away in an instant. The smell of burning flesh immediately filled the Hall of Yama.

Before anyone could process what was happening, all the beetles swarmed onto him. Yang Weidong instantly erupted into a blazing fireball. He thrashed his body, his piercing screams chilling every person present. The fireball crashed to the ground with a 'thud,' leaving a human shape still writhing in the flames. It looked like he wouldn't die immediately.

The sight of a living person being burned alive was too cruel. Everyone averted their gaze, unable and unwilling to watch. Fan Debiao stood open-mouthed, unsure whether to cry or scream.

At this moment, Cai Qingchong, tears welling in his eyes, stepped forward, raised the gun in his hand, and fired at the writhing figure in the flames, teeth clenched. After the volley of gunfire, Yang Weidong's suffering ended; he stopped moving and screaming. The flames continued to burn, and those strange beetles showed no sign of leaving what was once Meng Xingliang's body soon. Jia Zhuangyuan shouted in a low voice, "We must leave here immediately, or when they fly out again, we will all be burned to death."

Fan Debiao looked at Jia Zhuangyuan in utter terror. "But... the outside is full of Saber-toothed Tigers, and this hall is full of those demonic beetles. Where... where can we go?"

Jia Zhuangyuan roared, "Even if there were ten thousand Saber-toothed Tigers outside, I would rather face them than face these terrifying beetles!"

Young Master Liu nodded. "Elder is right. These beetles are impossible to deal with. In comparison, the Saber-toothed Tigers are still biological creatures; charging out gives us a sliver of hope. Staying here against these beetles is a dead end."

Before Young Master Liu finished speaking, two white beetles suddenly flew out of the burning pyre where Yang Weidong lay, rapidly heading toward the group.

At this point, the group had no choice left. They simultaneously bolted toward the entrance of the Hall of Yama, forced open the heavy stone doors, and ran outside.

As they burst out, the incessant buzzing sound followed closely behind, indicating that all the beetles had emerged and were pursuing them relentlessly.

Outside the door was an extremely narrow, deep underground canyon, stretching endlessly between countless towering peaks that looked razor-sharp as if carved by a knife. To their surprise, however, they saw no trace of any Saber-toothed Tigers.

The group could no longer afford to worry about encountering Saber-toothed Tigers; the white beetles chasing them were the far more deadly horror. Setting their sights on a direction, they ran desperately down the canyon.

The towering canyon walls flashed past them in a blur, but the detestable white beetles seemed fixed on them, clinging to their pursuit with constant buzzing.