165: Chapter 165 Genghis Khan's Mausoleum: The True Face of Mount Lu

But no one knew exactly how this team member had ended up like that.

After all, Professor Zhou and the member had been face-to-face just moments before, separated by no more than a meter or two.

If even Professor Zhou didn't know, how could they?

Then, just as everyone was about to collect the member's body and decide on their next move...

Another accident occurred.

Beneath the sand, some giant creature seemed to be wriggling continuously.

These creatures came from all directions, seemingly intending to surround the group and devour them one by one.

In an instant, almost everyone was scared out of their wits.

Fortunately, to prevent being attacked by the creatures under the sand, everyone rushed onto the pickup truck.

At that time, Professor Zhou and Professor Yang were sitting in the driver and passenger seats.

Everyone had only one thought in their minds—escape this place!

So Professor Zhou immediately started the engine, preparing to drive the pickup away from this place.

But just as it started, the vehicle felt like it was being rammed by a beast; it shook violently, making 'bang bang bang' sounds.

And at that moment, Professor Zhou saw a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life.

Though it was just a hasty glimpse, Professor Zhou would never dare forget it.

It was a blood-red creature whose name he didn't know.

Professor Zhou only remembered that the creature was as thick as a water bucket and possessed immense strength.

In the panic, Professor Zhou started the engine and drove the pickup, wanting to leave this place.

But... as the saying goes, 'storms come without warning,' or 'when it rains, it pours.'

The pickup got stuck in the sand; no matter how hard Professor Zhou floored the gas, the truck remained trapped and couldn't get out.

At that moment, everyone thought they might end up like that team member, about to be buried in this desert.

But just then,

Professor Zhou and Professor Yang witnessed an extremely miraculous sight.

On a sand dune in front of the pickup truck...

Under the moonlight, a pure White Camel emitting a holy radiance appeared!

Professor Zhou and Professor Yang were frantic with worry; they didn't think twice.

They turned the steering wheel and floored the gas toward the White Camel on the distant slope.

In the blink of an eye, the pickup was free.

Professor Zhou drove the pickup, speeding wildly through the desert.

They didn't stop until the pickup ran out of diesel and ground to a halt.

The next morning, Professor Zhou took the Archaeological Team to the military camp stationed on the border of the Ordos Desert and informed the local person in charge.

With instructions from above, the army sent a squad of soldiers and a military truck to carry them back to the Aise Grottoes.

The body... the tents... were all gone.

Everything they had left behind, from equipment to daily utensils, had vanished.

The only thing left was a pile of unburnt campfire embers.

And the mess left behind at the site.

After the incident, they were all removed from their posts and investigated; it took a long time before their status was restored.

This event became a knot in the hearts of Professor Zhou and Professor Yang that could not be erased.

...

As Professor Zhou finished speaking,

Looking at the crackling campfire in front of them, which occasionally spat out sparks, everyone felt a sudden chill run down their spines.

The expressions on their faces became somewhat abnormal.

The expression on the elderly Professor Zhou's face shifted, becoming solemn.

He scanned the crowd and spoke slowly:

"I know this archaeological journey is bound to be full of dangers, and we could lose our lives at any time!"

"And tonight is the last stop before we enter the Aise Grottoes!"

"If anyone wants to leave now, I won't blame you!"

Surprisingly, after he said this, the expressions on everyone's faces became incredibly resolute at the same time.

"Professor, don't worry! Being able to come and search for the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is the luckiest thing in my life! No matter how many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, they won't stop us!"

Miao Feng clenched his fists, his eyes shining brightly.

The others also nodded heavily.

Professor Zhou scanned the group; unexpectedly, not a single person chose to give up.

For a moment, Professor Zhou couldn't help but let out a long sigh, his face filled with relief.

Meanwhile,

Sitting to the side, Ye Xiao fell into deep thought after hearing the story.

The history of this world had countless unfilled historical gaps compared to Earth.

Ye Xiao keenly realized that this eerie red creature was very likely the legendary Mongolian Blood Worms from his previous life on Earth.

And finding the Mongolian Blood Worms was equivalent to finding the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan.

Because the Mongolian Blood Worms existed... to guard the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan!

"It seems this trip will be worth it!"

Ye Xiao smiled and thought to himself.

Immediately, Ye Xiao went back to his tent, put away his backpack, and prepared to rest.

Ye Xiao couldn't forget the divination he performed before the trip.

The Hexagram of Extreme Yin, an Omen of Great Disaster!

So Ye Xiao had to be ready at all times, with the best equipment to face the coming danger.

"Mongolian Blood Worms... I'll finally get to see their true face!"

...

The next morning

As soon as the sky began to brighten, the Archaeological Team members got up impatiently, packed up briefly, and set off again.

It was still nearly three hundred kilometers to the Aise Grottoes, about a three-hour journey.

So just as the sun rose above the horizon, the silhouette of the Aise Grottoes appeared in their field of vision.

"Look... those are the Aise Grottoes!"

Someone shouted, drawing everyone's attention.

On the distant horizon, countless stone towers nearly weathered away by wind and sand stood tall, along with some strangely shaped buildings.

Seeing this, everyone's eyes lit up.

"We've arrived, we've reached the Aise Grottoes!"

When the truck reached the grottoes, everyone eagerly got out, ready to experience the desert atmosphere remaining in these ruins.

They seemed to have forgotten about the eerie Ancient Corpse Professor Zhou mentioned last night, putting it all out of their minds.

After twenty years, Professor Zhou was revisiting the old place.

He couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental.

He looked at the forest of stone towers and the domed buildings.

Aside from the more severe signs of weathering, the Aise Grottoes didn't seem to have changed much from his memory.

"Professor Zhou, are there clues to the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan in these Aise Grottoes?"

In the team, Miao Feng looked at the stone towers ahead with some doubt.

Hearing this, Professor Zhou pointed to the distance beyond the stone towers and said:

"This is only the outskirts of the Aise Grottoes. This is where Genghis Khan operated during his campaign against Western Xia, and it's also a place where he was worshipped!"

"That small red hill in the distance is our true destination!"

Immediately, Professor Zhou called out to a nearby team member and said:

"We'll rest for a moment, then put on our gear and prepare to head to that small hill in the distance!"

"There are many hollows under the sand ahead; don't drive the military pickup any further!"

The soldiers from the two squads nodded, assigned soldiers to guard the pickup, and the rest followed Professor Zhou toward the red hill in the distance.

...