Chapter Twenty-One: Exploring the Secret Passage, Outsmarting the Mechanisms

Dong Changfeng cast a cold glance at Senior Brother Chen and the others lying on the ground, then turned and headed toward the entrance of the secret passage recorded in the inheritance.

The entrance was hidden behind a massive boulder, surrounded by jagged, grotesque rocks. A chilling wind whistled through the area, emanating a hair-raising aura. The entrance itself was carved with mysterious runes that flickered with a ghostly light, as if it were a gateway to another world.

Taking a deep breath, Dong Changfeng stepped resolutely into the passage.

Inside, the darkness was absolute, thick enough to obscure his own hand. Only the faint light from the occasionally flickering runes on the walls illuminated small patches of the path.

"Hmph, does that brat really think he can get away?" came Senior Brother Chen’s voice from behind, gritted through teeth.

Dong Changfeng sneered. He had known that Chen and his cronies would not give up so easily and had anticipated their pursuit.

"Hurry, chase him! The inheritance must be on him!" another voice chimed in—it was Junior Brother Zhu, his tone laced with panic. It seemed Elder Fang had applied significant pressure on them.

Dong Changfeng quickened his pace. The passage wound and twisted like a labyrinth. He had to find a way out quickly to shake off his pursuers.

Suddenly, a soft "click" echoed, and Dong Changfeng’s heart skipped a beat. *Not good,* he thought.

Before he could react, countless sharp arrows erupted from the slits in the walls, dense as a torrential downpour. Dong Changfeng flashed his body, barely dodging the majority of the barrage, though several arrows grazed him, tearing gashes into his clothes.

"Damn, they're playing for keeps!" Dong Changfeng couldn't help but mutter.

"Swish, swish, swish!" The rain of arrows continued. Dong Changfeng darted and weaved through the narrow passage like a nimble fish, trapped in a perilous dance.

"Chase him! Don't let him escape!" Senior Brother Chen’s voice sounded particularly harsh over the din of the arrows.

"Argh!" A scream rang out—it sounded like Junior Brother Zhu. Dong Changfeng’s heart sank; this passage was indeed riddled with danger.

"Senior Brother Chen, save me..." Junior Brother Zhu’s cries for help grew weaker.

"Useless trash!" Senior Brother Chen cursed, ignoring the plea.

Dong Changfeng’s eyes turned cold. *It seems this Senior Brother Chen isn't such a good bird either,* he thought. He continued to dodge the arrows while searching for an exit.

Suddenly, he felt a chill in his arm...

"Hiss..." A sharp pain shot through his limb. Looking down, Dong Changfeng saw an arrow deeply embedded in his left arm, blood instantly staining his sleeve.

"Damn it, the arrow is poisoned!" His expression changed as a wave of numbness spread from the wound, causing his movements to sluggishly falter.

"Haha, brat, you're finished!" Senior Brother Chen’s wild laughter echoed through the passage. He approached with his remaining men, greed glinting in his eyes. "Hand over the inheritance obediently, and I’ll make it quick!"

"Just you bunch of pathetic losers?" Dong Changfeng gritted his teeth against the pain, a cold smirk playing on his lips. He was no lamb for the slaughter; even if he died, he would drag a few of them down with him!

"If you won't drink the toast of friendship, you'll drink the forfeit of punishment!" Senior Brother Chen’s face darkened. He drew a sharp dagger and lunged at Dong Changfeng.

Dong Changfeng’s eyes sharpened. Forcing a breath of energy, he dodged the attack. He knew he couldn't fight head-on; he had to use his wits. As he parried the attacks from Chen and his men, he scanned his surroundings. Suddenly, his gaze landed on a massive boulder above the passage. It was teetering, looking as if it might fall at any moment.

*That’s the one!* A bold idea flashed through his mind. He feigned weakness, retreating step by step to lure Chen and his men directly beneath the boulder.

"Brat, let's see where you can run now!" Senior Brother Chen laughed triumphantly, thrusting his dagger again.

Just then, Dong Changfeng roared and poured all his remaining strength into shoving the boulder.

"Boom!" With a thunderous crash, the boulder plummeted, burying Senior Brother Chen and his men beneath it.

"Ah..." A chorus of screams rose from beneath the rock, then quickly fell silent.

Dong Changfeng looked at the scene and let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, those troubles were resolved. He pulled the arrow from his arm, bandaged the wound as best he could, and continued deeper into the passage.

Suddenly, he stopped, his eyes fixed on a line of strange runes on the wall ahead. "What... is this?" he murmured.

Dragging his injured arm, Dong Changfeng limped deeper into the passage. It was even deeper and more complex than he had imagined.

Just as he rounded a corner, the sight before him made him gasp. A massive mechanical trap array stood before him, with flames and ice spikes attacking in rhythmic intervals—a combination of hell and a frozen wasteland.

"Damn, what kind of hellhole is this? Going all out, are we?" Dong Changfeng grumbled. This array was far more intense than the earlier arrow rain. The flames were as hot as magma, seeming to melt everything, while the ice spikes were as frigid as ancient permafrost, seemingly capable of freezing the very essence of life. The cycle of heat and cold was enough to make his skin crawl.

Dong Changfeng felt as if he were being tossed into a giant steamer and then thrown into an ice cellar in a relentless loop. Yet, instead of being intimidated, he felt a surge of excitement.

"Come on then, let me see what this trap array is made of!" His eyes glowed with fervor. He carefully observed the rhythm of the mechanism and the trajectories of the fire and ice, searching for a way to break it.

The speed of the array increased, the fire and ice attacking like a storm. Dong Changfeng moved within the cramped space, dancing to dodge the lethal blows. He leaped, rolled, and slid along the ground, every movement precise, narrowly avoiding death.

"Whew... finally found the pattern!" A smile touched his lips. Seizing the right moment, he lunged toward the core of the array, formed a hand seal, and fired a bolt of spiritual energy directly into the control hub.

With a "click," the array ground to a halt. The fire and ice vanished, and the area returned to silence as if nothing had ever happened.

Dong Changfeng exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow. *Good thing my reflexes are quick, or I’d be a shish kebab or an ice sculpture by now.*

Behind the array lay a delicate treasure chest. Dong Changfeng approached and cautiously opened it. Inside, an artifact radiating immense power sat waiting.

"Wow, I’ve struck gold!" he exclaimed, overjoyed. The aura emanating from this object was more powerful than anything he had ever seen. As he reached out and grasped it, a surge of potent energy flooded his body. He felt his strength swell, his form shimmering with light as if he were a god descending to earth.

Dong Changfeng continued onward, but from the depths of the passage came a strange sound, like ghosts wailing—truly hair-raising.

"What is it this time?" He clenched his fists. "Whatever demons or monsters are down here, bring it on!"

Suddenly, he stopped, his body tensing as he sensed a powerful aura surging from the depths of the passage...

"No way, there’s something even stronger?" he muttered to himself.