Lu Zong stared at the rampaging skeletons, feeling an unprecedented surge of fury. The thought of the missing Han Chong ignited a blaze of anger in his chest. He lunged forward, striking out with his fists, each blow connecting squarely with the skulls of the skeletons. With a sharp crack, they shattered, inevitably collapsing into lifeless piles on the ground.

By the time he had dispatched the last of the skeletal horde, his own arms were slick with blood. He licked the wounded salt from his skin, then offered a dismissive sneer. "Hurry up and follow me. We're going to save Han Chong."

The others could only stare at Lu Zong, astonished by his ferocity. Could this truly be the power of love?

There was no time for discussion; they followed him silently.

When they saw Lu Zong deliberately squeeze into the giant ear opening, a shiver ran down their spines. It was utterly bizarre. Was the main tomb chamber really situated inside an ear canal?

Still, none of them voiced their questions, instead walking in to see what trick Lu Zong was up to.

The moment they passed through the massive ear, their eyes snapped open. The dreary, cramped passage was gone, replaced by a crystalline, luminous paradise.

They were all stunned into silence, simply gazing at the spectacle around them. Crystals as tall as ancient trees stretched before them, and diamonds the size of fingers were piled on the ground, glittering brilliantly. Just as they were absorbing the sheer joy of the atmosphere, Lu Zong’s loud shout pierced the air: "Han Chong! Where are you?"

"Lu Zong, is that you? Lu Zong, I'm here, I'm here!" Han Chong’s voice echoed from all directions.

It was necessary to say the voice came from around them, because Han Chong’s voice truly emanated from everywhere—it was impossible to pinpoint a direction, only faintly hearing it rise from beneath their feet and somewhere else distant.

He took a few more steps and called out again, "Han Chong, is that you? Where are you?"

Han Chong suddenly cried out, "Lu Zong, save me quickly! I see the Queen, and her subjects!"

At these words, everyone froze, completely unprepared to encounter royalty. They felt like a husband whose wife was still inside the carriage just before the city gates opened.

Inevitably, the sound continued to swirl from every quarter. Lu Zong declared, "It seems the structure here mimics the architectural principles we saw before—trying to disorient us with sound. Here’s the plan: the four of us each take a direction, and we listen to see which side the sound is strongest. Then we head that way, alright?"

Ma Xiong surveyed the surroundings, filled with openings, and conceded, "That’s as good a plan as any." He instinctively moved to a corner, awaiting Lu Zong’s instructions.

Once everyone was positioned, Lu Zong shouted, "Han Chong, where are you? Where are you? We are coming to save you!"

But Han Chong offered no reply, as if all their movements were being monitored by the enemy. The worst part was they didn't even know who their enemy was. The Queen? Unlikely. The Shaman? Weren't they all dead, with the remnants remaining outside?

Han Chong, where are you? This time his voice was louder, jarring their ears slightly. Still, no response from Han Chong.

Suddenly, a strange voice boomed: "Bold thieves! How dare you trespass in my palace? What crime is worthy of your punishment?"

They were paralyzed with shock, staring around the vast room, only then noticing its strangeness. Aside from the floor piled high with crystals, nothing else was visible; it was a blinding, white expanse, as if they were submerged in thick fog. They stood frozen, watching.

Ma Xiong roared, "Who are you? Why have you kidnapped Han Chong? Will you please give her back to us?"

Silence descended upon the hall again, leaving only the resonance of Ma Xiong’s voice hanging in the air.

After a moment, the speaker finally replied, "Kidnapped? Hmph? Kidnapped? Did I kidnap you? Isn't it you who kidnapped me first?"

Lu Zong suddenly understood the implication: digging him out from underground. Yes, that was it. He spoke quickly with apologies, "My apologies. Perhaps our human intellect is somewhat underdeveloped; we assumed that since you left the mortal realm, you were without thought."

"Hmph. Death? What is death? Why must there be death?" A tragic, yet commanding female voice echoed through the hall, its sheer dominance vibrating in everyone’s core, like a horror story slowly unfolding within their minds.

Then Han Chong’s voice broke through: "Lu Zong, save me! I don't want to become a living corpse! Save me!"

Lu Zong anxiously called out, "Queen, I know I have been disrespectful, but I beg you, release my companion. I don't want you to harm her."

The Queen laughed heartily. "You men are all faithless deceivers. Even if I spare her today, you will surely betray her tomorrow. Why not let her stay with me now? I guarantee her safety."

Lu Zong grew frantic. "Queen, I know your power. I implore you to release Han Chong. If you are angry, I will submit to anything. Han Chong is a girl, after all."

Ma Xiong and the others listened, bewildered. What was happening? How could Lu Zong believe the Queen was actually alive? Yet, they all felt a suffocating pressure; frankly, that female voice alone held an immense, terrifying authority.

The female voice continued, now with a sharper edge of cruelty: "Very well. Are you willing to trade your life for hers?"

Lu Zong replied without hesitation, "I am. I will sacrifice my life if necessary."

The female voice erupted into laughter. "What a passionate man! Then offer me your heart, and I will let you pass."

Lu Zong’s expression grew grim, and the faces of the others darkened with solemnity. Ma Xiong knew this bookworm Lu Zong would actually offer his heart for Han Chong. He quickly tried to diffuse the situation. "Say, beautiful lady, can you find another way to demonstrate your affection? Demanding a life—isn't that treating life like a joke?"

The voice spoke slowly, without haste. "I despise sweet talk from men the most." Immediately, Ma Xiong's mouth turned violently red and swollen. He lost his footing, stumbled, and fell, clutching his face.

Lu Zong and Fatty rushed over to check Ma Xiong’s injury. On his face was a swollen, crimson handprint, as if he had just been violently slapped. Lu Zong murmured curiously, "I thought I saw a white shadow flash past you just now, and then you went down. It was incredibly fast."

The female voice cackled. "A lesson for you, to teach you to keep your mouth shut."

Ma Xiong spat out a curse, "Damn it, if I ever catch you, I’ll make sure you live the rest of your life as a widow!" He had intended to say something far more gruesome, but the words tumbled out as that instead.

"Live as a widow?" Do I fear living as a widow? Ha! I’ve been living as one for ages. Ah, you little brat, you are merely stalling for time. It’s your turn now, Lu Zong, to offer your life."

Lu Zong’s expression tightened. He then knelt in the center of the hall. "But we keep our word. If I offer my heart, you will safely escort the rest of them outside the cavern. Do you agree to these terms?"

The Queen roared with laughter. "You certainly know how to negotiate! We agreed only to release Han Chong, yet you become greedy."

Lu Zong stated, "I won't argue, but I still request that you send these friends of mine safely outside the cave. I brought them in, and I wish for them to leave safely. All fault lies with me; punishing only me is enough."

Fatty could hold back no longer and cursed, "Hey, Queen, how can you be so heartless? You’ve lived on Lu Zong’s land—oh, not eaten, but you’ve resided here for over a decade! Don't you feel any gratitude for Lu Zong's kindness to you? Even if your heart were stone, it should have melted by now, yet you seek to kill your great benefactor."

As soon as Fatty finished speaking, five handprints appeared on his cheek. Lu Zong clearly saw the white shadow flash past Fatty, pause briefly, and then Fatty collapsed before the shadow vanished.

However, one detail struck Lu Zong as particularly strange: during the split second the shadow paused near him, due to residual visual momentum, he thought he glimpsed the Queen’s face—and physique—resembling Han Chong.

He pondered: Could that white shadow actually be Han Chong?

At that moment, Han Chong’s scream echoed: "Ah, no!"

Lu Zong snapped back to attention. "Don't, don't touch Han Chong! I’ll get my heart out now!"

Saying this, he pulled a dagger from his pocket and drove it straight toward his chest.

Everyone screamed. Lu Zong’s heart nearly stopped as the blade plunged toward him. But just one centimeter from piercing his heart, the white shadow reappeared, snatched the dagger from Lu Zong’s hand, and tossed it aside.

This time, however, the figure did not retreat. It stood directly before Lu Zong, gazing at him with unexpected tenderness.

Lu Zong was stunned by the sight. He looked at the Queen, but this figure was clearly not the desiccated corpse of the 'Loulan Beauty' he had excavated before; she looked more like a maid. Yet, her flowing robes, white silk ribbons, gently billowed in the non-existent wind, and she drifted away with them.

A voice drifted down from above: "It has been a long time since I’ve seen such devotion. Haha, good luck to you young men."

As the voice faded, they heard the sound of massive stone gates opening. They turned sharply toward the source and saw, directly ahead of them, a stone door slowly sliding open. Han Chong lay unconscious inside. They charged forward at a hundred-meter-dash pace, rushing in to embrace her.