Chapter 240: Lion Dance Palace

As soon as Li Huowang spoke, everyone sprang into action. Armed with various weapons, they swiftly followed him, rushing towards the light source above.

At this moment, Li Huowang was acutely aware of his surroundings, keeping a close eye on the hidden Han Fu while hurrying towards the exit as quickly as possible. When Han Fu suddenly vanished into the darkness, the surrounding shadows instantly became extremely perilous in the eyes of Li Huowang and his group. Since the two-headed Taoist had already recognized his identity as Xinsu, he certainly wouldn't give up without a fight! Companions who were reliable moments ago instantly transformed into formidable enemies. When it comes to dealing with their own kind, humans are always more adept than malevolent spirits!

There were no great philanthropists in this wretched place; everyone was a psychologically twisted lunatic, barely better than beasts.

Gradually, the distant light drew nearer, dispelling the darkness that had clung to them like a shadow. Instantly, everyone felt a profound sense of relief. Casting aside their heavy mood, everyone rushed towards the dazzling light with eager anticipation, as if to embrace it.

However, gradually, their running slowed to a jog, then a walk, until finally, everyone's footsteps came to a complete halt. Each person stared with terror and despair at the increasingly clear "sunlight" before them. The light was not pure; it contained many impurities, mingled with countless human hands and feet. A jade plaque hung above the cluster of light, with three large characters neatly inscribed: "Lion Dance Palace!"

That was no sunlight from an exit at all! It was the Lion Dance's main base: the Lion Dance Palace! The light was also formed by a group of previous Lion Dancers gathering together, their internal luminescence shimmering in unison! The so-called exit Han Fu had just mentioned was a complete fabrication! The two-headed Taoist had harbored malicious intentions from the very beginning!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~ Hearing the commotion, strange, gigantic faces continuously righted themselves, blocking the light source. These massive, lifeless faces were arranged side by side, eventually forming a terrifying wall of faces before Li Huowang. Each giant face, as wide as a round table, stared at Li Huowang with lantern-sized eyes. The almost tangible pressure made everyone gasp for breath. This was no longer just one or two; there were at least dozens, if not hundreds, of Lion Dancers here! Li Huowang had killed two before, so he naturally understood the power they represented.

At Li Huowang's urgent cry of "Run!", almost everyone immediately turned and fled into the endless darkness.

Glancing at the overwhelming number of Lion Dancers crawling from the distant ceiling, walls, and ground, Li Huowang knew that simply fleeing wouldn't work. Someone had to cover their retreat! With this thought, Li Huowang instantly stopped. Once the others had run a good distance, he raised his sword with one hand and swung it towards himself. However, the very next moment, a figure emerged from the shadows, interrupting Li Huowang. He held a copper coin sword, its tip covered with three yellow talismans, and thrust it directly towards Li Huowang's waist.

"Clang!" The yellow talismans scattered as the two swords clashed, sending sparks flying. The figure was indeed Han Fu! As soon as they engaged, the opponent showed no desire to prolong the fight. Han Fu's two faces, one large and one small, both smiled sinisterly. With a stamp of his black cloth-shoed feet on the ground, he instantly retreated into the darkness. Before Li Huowang could understand his opponent's intentions, an alarm blared in his mind. He swiftly dove forward, dodging the white tassels flying from the direction of the Lion Dancers. It turned out that Han Fu had no intention of directly engaging Li Huowang. He was merely trying to continuously interfere with him, intending to let the Lion Dancers do the actual fighting.

By now, his objective had been achieved. The Lion Dancers were already very close to Li Huowang. Their massive, round faces peeled open, revealing gaping, blood-red mouths filled with six rows of teeth, as they lunged towards him. Li Huowang's left foot hadn't fully healed, and in terms of speed, he couldn't possibly outrun these monstrous entities, whether they were human or something else. Glancing back at the darkness and realizing the others were gone, a grim determination filled Li Huowang's heart. He pulled a flint from his pocket and pressed it against his skin.

Just at this critical moment, a familiar drumbeat suddenly erupted. A red figure, moving on all fours, rushed to his side. Its beast-like head, formed by a red veil, suddenly opened its jaws, bit Li Huowang's neck, and galloped into the darkness behind them. Bai Lingmiao, moving on all fours, was exceptionally agile; carrying Li Huowang in her mouth didn't hinder her retreat speed at all. With her help, Li Huowang swiftly moved away from the Lion Dancers behind them. The Lion Dancers' white tassels flew towards them, attempting to block their path, but Li Huowang countered them one by one with the teeth he pulled from his mouth. The cost was that he had only a few teeth left on one side of his mouth.

Just as he escaped one danger, a new one emerged. From the ground where Li Huowang was being dragged backward, a copper coin sword, tipped with talismans, burst forth, stabbing diagonally towards his back. Just as it was about to strike Li Huowang, who had shown no reaction until then, he suddenly flipped his hand, gripped the hilt with both hands, and plunged his long sword directly into the ground. From the peculiar sensation transmitted through the sword hilt, Li Huowang knew he had struck Han Fu. The killing intent in his eyes intensified. Was Han Fu trying to ambush him again? Did he truly believe the same trick would work a second time?

After thrusting forcefully again and then violently pulling it out, crimson blood emerged from the earth along with the long sword. A pained groan echoed from underground. However, from that bloody wound, the copper coin sword, completely enveloped in blood and carrying several talismans, stabbed out once more. Li Huowang had just raised his sword to block the surprise attack, but to his astonishment, Han Fu's peculiar incantation echoed from within the soil: "Om she da sa li guang zun she!"

No sooner had the words fallen than the copper coin sword, wrapped in red string, instantly scattered into individual coins. It easily evaded Li Huowang's long sword, then mixed with talismans and reformed itself. The sharp-edged copper coins, bearing several yellow talismans, stabbed directly into Li Huowang's waist. As more force was applied, the talismans were forcibly driven into his body. The intense pain made Li Huowang roar. He no longer chose to parry, but instead furiously plunged his long sword into the ground, completely adopting a life-for-life stance.

As they rapidly retreated, their blood intermingled. Soon after, Han Fu, still underground, could no longer hold on and swiftly retracted his sword. Having finally repelled Han Fu, Bai Lingmiao continued to drag Li Huowang, twisting, turning, and frantically running through various caverns and grottoes. She couldn't stop now; the Lion Dancers behind them were still in hot pursuit. Compared to the ambushing Han Fu, these creatures were clearly far more deadly!