Within the flag formation, the group discovered an Ancestral Soul Array composed of tens of thousands of urns. Ma Xiong, worried that the formation might trigger some dangerous change, quickly urged everyone to retreat back into the tower-shaped tomb chamber. It was then they noticed a giant python statue tucked into a corner of the chamber. This statue was identical to the winged snake motif carved on the coffin lid, with the only difference being that the statue was missing a pair of wings. We surmised those wings must be the key to opening something.

Ma Xiong circled the coffin several times, trying to figure out what the serpent carving could unlock. If the wings were indeed the key, where were they now? Since the snake sculpture had appeared so suddenly, the key must be waiting somewhere for them to retrieve it.

Lu Zong remained on the floor, constantly fiddling with the stone carving, likely assessing its value. Liu Quansheng stood behind him in a daze, his thoughts opaque. After a period of contemplation, Ma Xiong pulled Ge Mei and himself toward the area to search for the key.

Ge Mei tilted her head, studying the snake statue. Her bright eyes blinked once, and she suddenly said to Ma Xiong, "Brother Ouyang, since this statue is identical to the carving on the coffin lid, perhaps we should examine that carving for clues."

Hearing Ge Mei’s suggestion, Ma Xiong realized she was right. If the stone carving matched the pattern on the coffin, they might actually find something by scrutinizing the design. With that thought, Ma Xiong immediately moved to the edge of the coffin lid and crouched down to inspect it closely. After scrutinizing it for a long time, Ma Xiong felt something was amiss, though he couldn't quite articulate what it was.

Ge Mei stepped forward and crouched beside him, pointing at the winged snake’s pinions. "Brother Ouyang, do you think this flying snake has any real-world prototype? Can snakes even grow wings?"

Ma Xiong paused in thought before replying, "In many ancient cultures across the world, various animals are often arbitrarily combined. This winged snake is likely a product of fantasy. However, ever since encountering the actual Serpent-Men, I’ve begun to wonder if this flying snake ever truly existed in the real world."

Ge Mei’s lips curved into a slight smile. "I doubt that even if a flying snake did exist, it would look like this. If it truly had wings, they should sprout from the shoulders near the ribs, not from its neck."

Ge Mei’s observation struck Ma Xiong suddenly. He quickly leaned in for another look at the winged snake, rubbing his chin. "Look, the snake is coiled, revealing only its neck, which leaves just enough space for the wings to be depicted in the scene. Ma Xiong looked closely and felt that adding wings to the flying snake made the whole composition overly crowded—it was simply gilding the lily, detracting significantly from the aesthetic balance of the layout." Ge Mei frowned slightly, extending a pale hand to gently cover the wings. After studying them for a moment, her brow smoothed out. "Though I don’t know much about art, I can certainly feel it, just as you said; this snake looks unnatural with those wings attached."

Ma Xiong nodded. "The craftsmanship here is extraordinary. Given the aesthetic sensibilities of the artisan who carved this, they wouldn't commit such a basic error in compositional balance."

"Are you suggesting the layout was deliberately arranged that way by the original artisan?" Ge Mei, being sharp, immediately grasped Ma Xiong’s implication.

Ma Xiong nodded again. "Precisely. The carver intentionally made the wings an incongruous element in the composition. This perhaps indirectly proves that the wings are the key to opening something; moreover, there must be something else they intended to convey."

Ge Mei blinked, following his line of reasoning. "Then what else was he trying to express through the wings?"

At this point, Liu Quansheng, who had been listening quietly from the rear, suddenly spoke up. "To an expert who understands the aesthetics of compositional balance, this winged snake compels one to want to remove the wings."

"Yes, remove them!" Ma Xiong chuckled softly, winking at Ge Mei.

Hearing Liu Quansheng and catching Ma Xiong’s expression, Ge Mei suddenly understood, her excitement bubbling over. "Heh heh, I get it! It’s about taking them off!"

With that realization, she quickly placed both slender palms against the wings of the flying snake, feeling them over. After a moment, a broad smile broke across her face. "They really do come out! These wings seem to be inlaid!"

Ma Xiong wasted no more time. He drew the dagger from his waist, signaling Ge Mei to move her hands.

Ever since sensing the imbalance in the composition, Ma Xiong had vaguely suspected the wings carved on the motif were the key. Now that Ge Mei had moved her hands, the wings were once again clearly visible to him.

The wings were a different color than the snake's body—they were golden, perhaps even real gold. They were fitted so perfectly that they seemed fused with the coffin lid, which is why they had escaped notice earlier. Ma Xiong forcefully inserted his dagger into the seam and slowly began to lever them out. Soon, the wings began to loosen.

Lu Zong walked over just as Ma Xiong was prying the wings, letting out a soft gasp of surprise that the key had been here all along. Moments later, Ma Xiong successfully pried both wings free. Lu Zong snatched one from Ma Xiong’s grip, unafraid of the dirt, and bit down on it. A clear tooth impression immediately appeared on the surface. Staring at the mark, he crowed happily, "Holy cow, it’s real gold! We’re rich! If we fit these wings onto the statue, the treasure will be complete! Maybe if we get it out, it’ll be a national treasure!"

Ma Xiong snatched the wing back from Lu Zong, shooting him a harsh look. "This statue weighs at least a hundred pounds, and once we leave this tomb, the outside is a tourist area teeming with people. How could you possibly carry it out? Our main objective now is to see what this key opens. If we can retrieve the Coiled Dragon Black Gallbladder using this key, that is the true goal of this trip—don't be so short-sighted."

Lu Zong countered, "We certainly want the Coiled Dragon Black Gallbladder, but profiting on the side doesn’t hurt, does it? Even if we can't take the statue, surely we can take these wings."

Ma Xiong waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, enough. Let's first see what this key opens. If we can take the wings out in the end, that’s the best outcome, naturally."

Saying that, Ma Xiong took the wings and walked to the statue, holding them up to the snake’s neck to test the fit. Then, he slowly inserted the wings into the two recesses. Everyone stood behind Ma Xiong, their flashlights all focused on the serpent statue’s neck. They held their breath, their eyes locked on the carving.

But to everyone’s surprise, a full minute passed without the slightest change. No sound was emitted, and the statue remained unaltered. Seeing that inserting the wings seemed to serve no practical function, the group’s spirits sank, disappointment shadowing their faces.

Lu Zong took a sharp breath and cursed, "Damn it, they can’t just lead us on like this! After all that effort, why did nothing happen? Did these ancient people set this up just to waste our time so we’d assemble it perfectly only to haul it out and sell it?"

Ma Xiong felt this couldn't be that simple. He immediately urged everyone to remain calm and first check if anything in the tomb chamber had changed, or if any hidden doors had appeared. Then, Ma Xiong raised his flashlight and began sweeping it around the tomb chamber. Lu Zong, preoccupied with the pure gold wings, plopped down directly in front of the statue, guarding it as if afraid the wings might actually sprout and fly away. The three of us knew the miser was temporarily beyond reasoning, so we could only shake our heads and offer wry smiles.

Ge Mei made a circuit of the chamber alone, shrugging toward Ma Xiong and Liu Quansheng to indicate she had found nothing. Ma Xiong shone his light toward the ceiling but found nothing there either. Liu Quansheng, however, reacted more quickly. He spun around and aimed his flashlight beam into the space where the flag formation had been set up. Instantly, a sharp intake of breath was heard.

Knowing he had seen something, everyone immediately followed his gaze toward the large space.

Liu Quansheng’s flashlight beam pointed directly above the flag formation. There, suspended from the ceiling, was a massive bronze bell! Nothing had been there before; this copper bell must have appeared suddenly, likely descending slowly after we inserted the key into the serpent's neck. This bell was not round but square, covered in intricate, ancient-looking carvings. A thick rope extended from the interior of the bell, suggesting that pulling the rope would ring it.

Lu Zong spat to the side. "What? We stick in a key, and it sends us a bell? Sending a bell is sending off the dead! Damn it, that's truly unlucky!"

Ge Mei tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and turned to Ma Xiong. "Brother Ouyang, what’s the significance of this bell? Is it related to the formation?"

Ma Xiong shook his head. "It probably has nothing to do with the flag formation. The layout combining the formation with the Ancestral Soul Cave already seems perfectly complete; this bronze bell is unlikely to be part of that specific array. I just don’t understand why a large bell would appear. I feel that the appearance of this bell has subtly broken some kind of equilibrium; perhaps we should move closer to inspect it."

Liu Quansheng nodded in agreement. "I also think this bell isn’t just decoration; it must have a purpose. Alright, let’s go in and take a look." Hearing everyone planning to leave the current chamber and enter the inner area, Lu Zong immediately scrambled up, intending to yank the wings out. I quickly intervened, stopping him. "Don't touch those wings yet, or the bell might vanish. Don't worry, leaving the wings inserted here is far safer than carrying them around; they won't fly away."

Lu Zong protested, "I finally got my hands on a treasure; I’m just worried about it. I don't know what wicked soul with ill intent decided to shape this treasure like wings. I keep expecting them to fly off."

Ma Xiong smiled. "Relax. If they do fly off, I guarantee I'll bring them back for you. Hurry up and come over; we're waiting."

Lu Zong shook his head one last time before finally joining the group. Once Lu Zong was back in formation, the four of us stepped forward and walked back into the Ancestral Soul Flag Formation.

Hearing everyone planning to leave the current chamber and enter the inner area, Lu Zong immediately scrambled up, intending to yank the wings out. Ma Xiong quickly intervened, stopping him. "Don't touch those wings yet, or the bell might disappear. Don't worry, leaving the wings inserted here is far safer than carrying them around; they won't fly away."

Lu Zong protested, "I finally got my hands on a treasure; I’m just worried about it. I don't know what wicked soul with ill intent decided to shape this treasure like wings. Ma Xiong kept watching, feeling that this treasure might fly away."

Ma Xiong smiled. "Relax. If they do fly off, I guarantee I'll bring them back for you. Hurry up and come over; we're waiting."

Lu Zong shook his head one last time before finally joining the group. Once Lu Zong was back in formation, the four of us stepped forward and walked back into the Ancestral Soul Flag Formation.