Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

The wind in the Gobi Desert, carrying sand and gravel, stung my face.

But at this moment, it feels incredibly real, even intimate.

Wu Xie slumped down on the leeward side of a rock eroded by the wind, panting heavily.

He greedily inhaled the dry yet free air outside.

The exhaustion from surviving the ordeal, mixed with the relief of being back in the human world, left him speechless for a moment.

He just stared blankly at the Gobi Desert horizon, which was dyed golden red by the setting sun.

Huo Xiuxiu and Xie Yuchen also sat down against the rock, their faces showing undisguised exhaustion.

Huo Xiuxiu checked several abrasions on her body.

Xie Yuchen silently took stock of the few remaining pieces of equipment.

A Ning and Jiang Xun Gu maintained their professional vigilance, quickly observing the surrounding terrain.

Locate potential dangers and suitable rest stops.

Fatty Wang was the most honest of them all; he simply pulled out his water bottle and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

He then took out some compressed biscuits and started eating them.

He mumbled incoherently:

"Damn it, it's finally out."

"I never want to go into this kind of awful place again in my life..."

Hei Xiazi threw the still unconscious Wang Cen onto the sand to the side.

I found a relatively flat rock and sat down.

He took off his sunglasses, wiped them, and put them back on.

I squinted at the sky:

"Look at the sky, we've been struggling down there for at least a day and a night."

"We were lucky; we didn't run directly into a sandstorm."

The live-streaming sphere hovered above the crowd.

The camera captured the Gobi Desert sunset, the exhausted crowd, the unconscious Wang Cen, and the desolate scenery in the distance.

The comments scrolled rapidly:

We're out! It's so good to be alive!

The sunset is so beautiful; compared to what's below, it's like paradise.

Everyone was exhausted.

Old Wang is still dizzy.

The short staff is in the young man's hand!

What's going on next? Is there still a problem with that short staff?

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" did not rest immediately.

The two stood on slightly higher ground, facing the wind, silently surveying the seemingly peaceful Gobi Desert.

Zhang Qiling took the short staff from Zhang Qiling and examined it carefully.

The short staff was as still as any ordinary object at that moment.

Only the faint light slowly flowing within the "Myriad Stones" at the top proves its extraordinary nature.

"The energy level is stable."

"Zhang Qiling" handed the short staff back to Zhang Qiling and gave a brief evaluation.

Zhang Qiling took it and nodded.

I didn't say much.

He simply wrapped the short cane carefully with strips of cloth and carried it on his back.

This thing is too strange; it's safer to seal it away for now.

Just then, Wang Cen, who had been thrown onto the sand, let out a low groan.

Her eyelids twitched, and she slowly woke up.

He was stunned for a few seconds.

It seemed like it hadn't realized where it was.

His memory returned immediately, and his expression changed drastically.

He sat up abruptly, which aggravated the injury in his abdomen, causing him to grimace in pain.

He subconsciously looked around.

I saw the Gobi Desert, the sunset, and the crowds of people, some sitting and some standing.

Finally, his gaze locked onto the object behind Zhang Qiling, which was wrapped in cloth but still revealed the shape of a staff.

Greed, resentment, bitterness...

A variety of emotions flashed through his eyes.

But it was quickly suppressed.

He struggled to get up.

He forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace.

He patted the sand off his body.

He walked towards the crowd.

To be precise, they were walking towards Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling".

"A few, a few..."

Wang Cen's voice was still a little hoarse, with a hint of ingratiation.

"Finally out! Truly...a lucky person, a lucky person indeed!"

No one cares about him.

Wu Xie rolled his eyes.

Fatty Wang continued munching on his biscuits.

Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu inspected the equipment.

Aning and Jiang Xun Gu kept watch over their surroundings.

Black Bear looked at him with a half-smile.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" didn't even lift their eyelids, as if he were invisible.

Wang Cen's smile froze.

But she quickly put on a smile again.

He rubbed his hands together and said cautiously:

"Um... Mr. Zhang, and this... Mr. Qi Ling."

"I was able to escape death this time thanks to the two of you."

"We also have the strong support of Boss Hei, Master Xie, and Young Master Wu."

"Mr. Wang is extremely grateful, extremely grateful!"

He paused.

Observing Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling's" expressions.

The two of them remained expressionless.

One is looking into the distance.

A man bent down, tidying up the strips of cloth wrapped around a short cane.

It was as if they hadn't heard.

Wang Cen gritted his teeth and forced himself to continue:

"Um... I have a favor to ask."

"That short staff... is the 'Scepter of Source'."

"This is of great importance to Mr. Wang and to our Wang family."

"This item is an ancestral relic, related to a secret that our family has been searching for for a thousand years."

"To you, it may just be an antique."

"But for the Wang family, it is their lifeline."

"I wonder...I wonder if the two of you would be willing to part with your possessions?"

"Mr. Wang is willing to pay any price!"

"Money, treasures, information—whatever the Wang family can offer, we will not haggle!"

He spoke very sincerely and adopted an extremely humble attitude.

His eyes were fixed on Zhang Qiling, filled with anticipation and eagerness.

Zhang Qiling finally reacted.

He slowly turned his head.

His gaze fell on Wang Cen's face.

His gaze was calm.

There was no contempt, no anger.

There wasn't even the slightest ripple.

It's like looking at a stone or a grain of sand.

He looked at Wang Cen for two seconds with that calm, almost indifferent gaze.

Then, he said nothing.

He slowly turned back and continued to look at the distant horizon.

Zhang Qiling's movements were almost synchronized.

He also glanced at Wang Cen.

His eyes are exactly the same as Zhang Qiling's.

Calm, indifferent.

It was as if the words spoken by the person in front of him were no different from the sound of the wind or the rolling of sand.

Then, he looked away.

She even turned her body slightly to the side, turning the back of her head towards Wang Cen.

The meaning couldn't be clearer.

ignore.

Utterly ignored.

They couldn't even be bothered to say "no".

He directly expressed the ultimate disgust and rejection through his facial expressions and actions—you are not worthy, don't even think about it, shut up and get lost.

Wang Cen's smile completely vanished.

His face turned pale and then flushed.

Embarrassment, embarrassment, and shame eventually turned into suppressed anger.

He was, after all, one of the leading figures of the Wang family in this generation, and usually wielded considerable influence.

When have I ever been so blatantly ignored and humiliated?

Especially considering that he believed he had already "humbled himself" and "showed his sincerity."

Black Bear chuckled.

He made a clicking sound with his mouth.

"Boss Wang, your skin is thicker than the Gobi Desert, tsk."

"Returning ancestral relics? The very essence of our existence?"

"Who was it downstairs who turned on us the moment they saw the treasure, and even tried to kick us out?"

"And now it's all changed to 'providing tremendous assistance' and 'being extremely grateful'?"

"With your ability to change faces so quickly, even Sichuan opera actors would have to call you their patriarch."

Wu Xie couldn't hold back any longer and sneered:

"Mr. Wang, is your memory not so good?"

"Do I need to remind you what you said in the lobby downstairs?"

"Only the Wang family is qualified to inherit and control this business. Those who know what's good for them should leave."

"Did a dog say that?"

Fatty Wang swallowed the last bite of the biscuit and clapped his hands.

"that is!"

"So all the benefits go to your Wang family, while we're risking our lives to get killed."

"You think you can get something for nothing after you've done it all?"

"Where's your face?"

"In all my years, I've never seen anyone so shameless. This is truly an eye-opener!"

Xie Yuchen remained silent.

She merely gave Wang Cen a cold glance.

The chill in those eyes sent a shiver down Wang Cen's spine.

Huo Xiuxiu turned her head away with a look of disdain.

Ah Ning crossed her arms, her tone flat yet laced with sarcasm:

"Mr. Wang, the foundation of cooperation is integrity."

"Your previous actions have unilaterally destroyed any possibility of cooperation."

Please have some self-respect.

Jiang Xun Gu was even more direct.

He stepped forward half a step.

His hand rested on the hilt of the knife at his waist.

He stared coldly at Wang Cen.

He will act immediately if he makes any unusual move.

Wang Cen's face turned red as everyone teased and berated him.

Their breathing became heavy.

His chest heaved.

He clenched his fist and then relaxed it.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

But look at Jiang Xun Gu, who is eyeing the scene with predatory intent.

Then look at the black bear, who seems to be smiling but not smiling.

Especially those two, Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling," who never even glanced at him from beginning to end.

In the end, the anger that had just begun to rise was forcibly suppressed.

He knew that he had no leverage to turn against them here.

His men were all crippled, and he himself was injured.

The group of people opposite us are no pushovers.

Especially those two surnamed Zhang, they are unfathomable.

Forcing it will only lead to certain death.

He took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.

A stiff smile forced itself onto his face again:

"Yes, yes, yes, Wang was bewitched and blinded by greed before."

"I have offended you greatly, please forgive me, please forgive me..."

"That short staff... since the two Mr. Zhangs are unwilling to part with it, then... then let's leave that matter aside for now."

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming "sincere":

"However, this exploration, though dangerous, has also proven that the secrets of the ancient city of Jingjue are far beyond our imagination."

"I believe that with the abilities of the two Mr. Zhangs, along with everyone else, there will definitely be more opportunities to explore ancient secret realms in the future."

"If there are any similar situations where cooperation is needed again, our Wang family is still willing to provide all the assistance we can."

"Resource sharing and risk sharing, how about it?"

"This time, Wang acted unfairly; next time, he will definitely..."

There won't be a next time.

A cold, calm voice interrupted him.

It is "Zhang Qiling".

He didn't even turn around to look at Wang Cen.

He simply uttered these three words while watching the sun gradually sink below the horizon.

Concise and to the point, resolute and unequivocal.

Zhang Qiling did not speak.

But his slight turn of his body, completely shutting Wang Cen out of his sight, already showed his attitude.

Wang Cen's remaining words were stuck in his throat.

The smile on his face completely vanished.

Only the dough remained, twitching.

Black Bear laughed heartily.

He gave Wang Cen a thumbs up.

Then, with a flick of the wrist, the thumb points downwards:

"Boss Wang, did you hear me?"

There won't be a next time.

"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."

"You're lucky we all made it out alive this time."

"As for the future?"

"Let's each go our own way. You, go find somewhere cool and stay there."

The camera on the floating live-streaming sphere gave a timely close-up of Wang Cen's fascinating face.

Then his gaze swept over Zhang Qiling and the indifferent backs of "Zhang Qiling".

And Hei Xiazi's mocking gesture.

The comments section instantly erupted in laughter:

Hahahahahaha!

Guy: Idiot (expressionless version)

Qi Ling Xiao Ge: Idiot (Simplified Version)

Blackie: You idiot (enhanced voice version)

The Wang family has been slapped in the face!

Want a next time? You can dream about anything!

The disdain is practically overflowing the screen!

Well done! We won't give it to you!

Wang Cen stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay.

His face was a mixture of red and blue.

In the end, he could only squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth:

"well……"

"In that case, I'll take my leave!"

"May we meet again someday, though mountains are high and rivers are long!"

After saying that, he didn't dare to look at the crowd anymore.

They especially dared not look in the direction of Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling".

He dared not even mention his three subordinates whose fates were still unknown.

I endured the pain in my abdomen.

Limping and covered in dust, they walked deeper into the Gobi Desert.

His back view conveyed an indescribable sense of wretchedness and desolation.

Watching Wang Cen disappear into the twilight of the Gobi Desert.

Fatty Wang spat:

"Pah! What a piece of junk!"

"Don't let me see him again!"

"Alright, that annoying guy is gone."

Black Bear claps his hands.

He looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling".

"Dumb man, awaken the spirit, this thing."

He pointed to the short staff on Zhang Qiling's back.

"What are you planning to do with it? Keeping it might be a hassle."

Zhang Qiling paused for a moment, then said:

"Take it with you first."

Zhang Qiling added:

"Useful. Research."

Xie Yuchen frowned:

"This thing is too evil, and the Wang family will definitely not let it go."

"They've been eyeing this short staff for quite some time now."

"If they come, then fight."

Zhang Qiling spoke in a flat tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

Wu Xie also came over.

Looking at the short cane wrapped in strips of cloth, I felt a lingering fear:

"Where did this thing come from?"

"Those things that the ancients created were far too dangerous."

"And that 'source seed'..."

Huo Xiuxiu said:

"When I get back, I'll need to gather some more specialized equipment."

"And there's access to even more secret files."

"Let's see if we can find more information about the 'Original Species' and this short staff."

"The water here is much deeper than we imagined."

"Let's get out of here first."

Ah Ning glanced at the sky.

"The sun is about to set, and the Gobi Desert is dangerous at night."

"We need to find a place to camp, then determine our location and contact the outside world."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The expedition suffered significant losses; the crew and horses were exhausted, and supplies were nearly depleted.

The most urgent task is to return safely.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" did not speak again.

He simply turned around silently, chose a direction, and started walking.

Their silhouettes stretched long against the setting sun over the Gobi Desert.

Calm and resolute.

It seemed that even the strongest sandstorm could not shake it.

Black Bear chuckled and beckoned to the crowd:

"Let's go, guys, it's time to go home!"

"Hey Fatty, is there any food left? Share some with me, I'm starving!"

The group, weary but fulfilled, and burdened with many unsolved mysteries, embarked on their return journey.

The floating live-streaming ball followed them.

His figure blended into the vast Gobi Desert twilight.

The comments section was also filled with emotion and anticipation:

It's over, but it doesn't feel completely over.

The secret of the short staff has not yet been revealed.

The Wang family will definitely cause more trouble.

Looking forward to the next adventure!

Those two guys' backs are killer!

Return home safely!

The underground journey through the ancient city of Jingjue has temporarily come to an end.

But the "Source Heart Staff" held in Zhang Qiling's hand.

The truth hidden behind it is about the "source species," the ancient bloodline, and those crazy experiments.

And the Wang family's unwavering covetousness.

All of this suggests that the storm may have only just begun.