Eldritch Horror Theatre

No matter how you looked at him, he appeared entirely ordinary—at most, on the same level as Huang Zhixun.

Faced with a Rank gap bordering on a dimensional strike, the strength of the rescue team’s members had been obvious along the way. Sha Ming was naturally included.

However, as mentioned before, taking things for granted was a bad habit true professionals never adopted.

Not to mention that their current location operated on many special rules defying common sense.

So, after the rescue team rushed to forge their bonds and Old Man Huang Zhen clarified his philosophy, Fu Qian decisively chose to carry it forward, thereby unlocking this team’s true potential.

The results were ideal—when Old Man Huang fell victim to a treacherous scheme and sacrificed his life for his cause, leaving everyone helpless in the face of crisis, Brother Sha Ming ultimately stepped forward to turn the tide.

With a casual gesture, he severed the spread of Death.

He didn’t use any overly exaggerated abilities or items, but to some extent, this very fact only better showcased his mastery.

The Family-Visiting Trio had indeed come prepared; they clearly knew far more than they had shown.

And just as Old Man Huang Zhen had demanded that he, a mysterious newcomer, explain everything, now that the momentum of offense and defense has changed, the capable Brother Sha Ming naturally bore the burden of needing to explain a bit more.Most importantly, Fu Qian didn’t even need to ask.

”Sha Ming, what exactly are you hiding from us?”

A moment later, Sha Ming—who hadn’t responded to Fu Qian’s praise and had only returned a meaningful look—faced Old Man Huang Leji’s interrogation.

As the team’s person in charge, the latter showed zero gratitude after his narrow escape. Instead, he fired off a pointed question, clearly realizing the same issue Fu Qian had.

Given the man’s sheer experience, Fu Qian fully believed he had realized it even earlier. He had only waited this long because, even though the spread of Death had been severed, regaining the ability to speak still took a bit of time.

Even now, Old Man Huang still wore a face like a dried corpse and spoke with a voice far hoarser than Sha Ming’s.

”The Blood Lion is indeed down there. He came back this time specifically for the thing right in front of us.”

Facing this furious inquiry, Sha Ming unexpectedly answered in the tone of someone laying all his cards on the table. Meanwhile, his eyes remained locked on Fu Qian to gauge his reaction.

Unfortunately, there was no reaction.

...

Refusing to give his name, unafraid of threats, and completely unresponsive even to earth-shattering secrets—from his first appearance until now, Fu Qian’s lack of cooperation and sheer composure had clearly delivered a profound shock.

”What thing?”

So much so that Old Man Huang Leji, who had also been watching for a reaction, simply gave up trying to pry any valuable information out of him. Instead, he stared straight at Sha Ming to continue his interrogation.

No matter what, the fact that he could ruthlessly kill Huang Zhen moments ago meant absolutely nothing could keep this guy in check anymore.

”Something related to this.”

Fortunately, Sha Ming finally displayed some team spirit. He gestured toward Huang Zhen’s blooming, mangled remains, even speeding up his words a little.

”I only know a little. There is something in this place that has the potential to bestow divinity upon a person.”

”Huang Zhixun came into contact with Him many years ago, but he didn’t answer the summons. However, he regrets it now and sought me out for help.”

The details he revealed perfectly aligned with their previous guesses; the Blood Lion was indeed seeking to cross the Demigod Stage.

”I knew your motives weren’t pure...”

Hearing this confession, Huang Leji unsurprisingly gnashed his teeth.

Paired with his current face, he looked monstrously hideous.

”Is there any point in putting on an act at a time like this? We’re all the same.”

Unfortunately, his emotional display was instantly interrupted by Sha Ming’s cold sneer.

”Weren’t you also planning to follow him in and find a way to take a share of the spoils? In fact, you’ve already succeeded in getting a piece.”

Instantly laying bare the intentions of Huang Leji’s group, Sha Ming didn’t forget to throw in a taunt, pointing a finger at his own chest.

”Huang Zhixun didn’t describe much to me, but the moment this thing was transmitted over, I knew it was connected to that unseen Him.”

”In that desperate situation just now, I could only try to stimulate it and see if it might have any effect.”

”It looks like we’re quite lucky now. At the very least, we have a way to avoid being endlessly implicated.”

...

”So, you people are the ones who created all these things appearing out of nowhere?”

Although the logic sounded smooth, it was still hard to say how much Old Man Huang Leji actually believed Sha Ming’s words.

After a brief silence, Huang Leji didn’t comment directly. Instead, he pointed at their surroundings and abruptly changed the subject.

”No, but I’m worried Huang Zhixun is the one who created them.”

Unwilling to take the blame for everything, Sha Ming firmly denied it.

”We did come in here once yesterday, but we found absolutely nothing. We didn’t encounter a single trace of these structures appearing out of thin air.”

His account clearly lined up with what Miranda had said earlier.

”The reason I think the Blood Lion caused this is simple. Another thing disappeared along with him—a transcendent item that allows someone to enter the Mind World.”

Sha Ming looked as though he had made up his mind, continuing to explain without waiting for Huang Leji to ask.

”Our original plan was to come deep into this place and activate it, attempting to establish a connection with that unseen Higher Existence.”

”Actually, that’s why Huang Zhixun sought me out. Because it’s my item. Though it seems he’s putting it to good use.”

Taking in their surroundings, Sha Ming let out a self-deprecating laugh.

”Are you taking me for a fool?”

Unfortunately, this seemingly sincere confession still failed to win the person in charge’s approval. Old Man Huang suddenly let out a laugh like a quacking duck.

”Even if the first operation failed, would you really feel at ease letting Huang Zhixun carry such an important item by himself?”

”Are you trying to tell me you came here this time simply to do a friend a favor, without expecting anything in return?”

Huang Leji clearly didn’t believe the Blood Lion’s two helpers had pure intentions.

”Of course not.”

Sha Ming actually admitted it openly once again.

”I face the same distress as Huang Zhixun. Even if I said I’d help for free, he wouldn’t believe it.”

”However, after we returned the first time, I didn’t deliberately ask for the item back. That’s because that item has a core condition for its use: it requires three people to activate it together. That’s also why we brought Miranda along this time. It’s just a pity...”

On his equally withered face, Sha Ming actually managed to force out an expression of resentment.

”It seems Huang Zhixun didn’t return empty-handed from his first operation; he just wasn’t willing to share what he found.”

”I am almost certain that this place right before our eyes is the projection of his Mind World, created with the help of that Higher Existence.”

”And what we need to do now is go deeper and find where he’s hiding. That’s our only way out.”