Chapter 311 - Golemization of the Lungs (1)

"Be careful, there's danger ahead."

Cassius warned them. The fountain below was teeming with countless white scarabs. They were capable of spraying highly corrosive liquid, and were known to hold grudges. Once one’s body was stained with their pheromones, they would be hunted forever. During his last time-travel, he had been pursued for four to five hours.

Moreover, these scarab swarms were not as simple as they appeared. A high-ranking Blood Race member had once fallen prey to them. He had been terrified, as if he had encountered a natural predator. In the end, he had been corroded to death and his energy drained.

The three stood on the edge of the cave wall, observing the dim, hollow environment inside, before glancing at a nearby flight of steps.

The rectangular stone slab, three meters long and two meters wide, was large enough for the three of them to descend in single file. However, to be cautious, Cassius and his two companions decided to go down one at a time, keeping some distance between them.

Cassius took the lead, lightly leaping to the end of the passage.

His feet landed solidly on a suspended step. It was sturdy, as though the stone slab had been carved as one with the entire cave wall, showing no signs of loosening or falling.

Taking a shallow breath, he began to accelerate. He lightly pushed off with his toes and leaped to the next step. His tattered cloak fluttered behind him, rolling like the surging waves of the sea at night.

Cassius swiftly descended the steps along the cave wall. He was much more composed and confident than during his last time-travel. His strength had grown since then, and even if he were to fall, he could use his hands to slow himself down and land at the bottom unharmed.

The trio descended quickly, and the temperature around them began to plummet. Cassius and his companions clearly felt the temperature drop as their skin began to tingle. After nearly a hundred quick jumps, the temperature had dropped by twenty to thirty degrees compared to the top.

It was as cold as winter. The warm air from their nostrils turned into faint white mist, like two winding serpents. The uneven cave walls also began to show traces of frost.

The sudden drop in temperature made both Feng Liusi and Cassius uncomfortable. Only Saint Feinan seemed to feel better than ever. After all, his Covert Martial Art, Ten Thousand Cold True Art, was ice-cold in nature.

His training had taken place in the stormy canyons of the northern ice fields. The chill in the cavity's depths was nothing to him. He could endure temperatures as low as minus fifty degrees without trouble.

Two minutes later, they finally reached the bottom. The scene was exactly as Cassius remembered. Five massive openings lined the cave wall, while the center had a plaza-like area paved with rough, white stone slabs. A gray-white fountain stood in the center of the plaza, where pale water continuously cycled through a pool.

Cassius didn't act rashly, but instead pulled out a map. During his last time-travel, he had wandered blindly through like a headless fly, but this time, he had gathered critical information.

For instance, the five massive tunnels at the bottom each led to a different important area on the first floor of the Akaba ruins. Starting from the tunnel directly in front of Cassius and moving clockwise, they were: the Earth Rock Zone, the Fire Spark Zone, the Wind Separation Zone, the Water Vortex Zone, and lastly, Ouroboros.

In his previous time-travel journey, Cassius had gotten lost after entering the ruins, unable to determine which area was which. However, he was now certain that the place where he had obtained the Rune of Wisdom was likely the Ouroboros Zone, which symbolized immortality and the mind.

"Our path starts from the Fire Spark Zone. After crossing one-third of it, we'll enter the Wind Separation Zone. The entrance to the tunnel we need is located there..."

Cassius pointed to a dark entrance, but just as he was about to continue, he noticed something moving out of the corner of his eye. Upon closer inspection, he saw seven to eight scarabs crawling aimlessly across the plaza, seemingly having left the fountain.

They were about the size of a thumb, with white shells, resembling larger versions of ladybugs.

When he recognized the scarabs, Cassius had initially wanted to lead Feng Liusi and Saint Feinan into the Fire Spark Zone to avoid unnecessary trouble. Yet, for some reason, he found himself unable to look away from the insects. His heart started to race, as a deep, primal desire surfaced from the depths of his subconscious.

His body reacted instinctively, as if the scarabs were irresistible. Though they were just bugs, his brain told him they were a delicacy. It felt like a bear spotting honey, or a dog finding...

The inexplicable urge made him itch with discomfort.

Taking a deep breath, Cassius spoke to the other two.

"Wait for me a moment..."

He stepped forward and snatched a white scarab at lightning speed.

"..."

Saliva began to involuntarily pool in Cassius's mouth.

He frowned. He hadn't felt this way during his last time-travel. So, after ruling out possibilities, he concluded it must either be the influence of the Rune of Wisdom, or... the Golem Covert Martial Arts!

With a mere thought, a miniature golem's life magnetic field activated, enveloping his hand. The scarab, which had been struggling fiercely, suddenly went limp. It was as though it had encountered a predator as its life force was rapidly drained by the Golem Covert Martial Arts. Streams of energy flowed into Cassius' body.

"This... feels different... It’s a very special life vibration energy..."

Cassius immediately sensed the difference. The life vibration energy of this scarab was unlike that of the many dark creatures or mutated beasts he had encountered before. Though the amount was small, it left a refreshing, cool sensation in his body. It felt deeply nourishing.

As his life energy stirred within his body, Cassius' lungs began to emit a faint glow. It seemed that after modifying his kidneys, his body was now preparing to transform his lungs.

"This..."

A trace of confusion appeared in Cassius' eyes. Could these scarabs have a special effect on the Golem Covert Martial Arts and speed up the body's evolution and transformation? Were these scarabs part of the golem's diet?

Cassius knew from the Book of the Devil that the Golem was divided into several stages: juvenile, evolution, adult, and peak. His current transformation was in the evolution stage, having already completed modifications to his heart, blood vessels, muscles, and kidneys. All that remained was the transformation of his lungs and bones...

Once all modifications were complete, Cassius could fully transform into a miniature golem. Once he condensed his Qi, he might even reach the level of an adult golem.

According to the Book of the Devil, that would be the dark ultimate form. Though it was unclear how it would compare to the combat power of Covert Martial Art Practitioners, it was said that he would have a terrifyingly powerful physique, perhaps even rivaling the peak of combat artists or the legendary Holy Fist.

Cassius' thoughts raced as he suddenly sensed movement from the fountain in the distance. The water in the gray-white pool churned and frothed as cold air emanated from its spout.

Something was about to emerge. Weighing the risks in his mind, Cassius quickly made a decision.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He dashed forward, his Golem Covert Martial Art running at full capacity. His heartbeat, breath, and blood circulation synchronized perfectly as his muscles swelled and hardened, taking on a rocky, white hue. Cassius's body grew to over two meters in height as he fully entered his golem state and activated his life magnetic field to its peak.