Chapter 7: Hidden Agendas

"Damn it, it's the Guardians of the Dead! Run!" Seeing the stone statues coming to life, Kama couldn't help but exclaim. Although the Guardians of the Dead were not particularly powerful, they were immune to most incantations and magic. Unless Kama possessed the strength of a High Priest, his spells were useless against them.

Relying solely on the mummy warriors he summoned and the three rune warriors by his side, there was no way to withstand so many Guardians. Without a second thought, Kama turned and fled.

Zhang Xiao, hiding in a dark corner, watched the situation unfold and felt a chill. Each of these stone statues, which Kama called Guardians of the Dead, possessed strength comparable to the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Not only were they numerous, but they charged forward without any fear of death. If he were to be surrounded, even he couldn't guarantee he could break through easily.

A rune warrior suddenly erupted with a blue light, his bronze armor shimmering as he slashed at a nearby Guardian. Kama shouted urgently, "No!" But it was too late; the sharp scimitar split the Guardian in two.

"Boom!" The split Guardian let out a muffled explosion. A violent shockwave sent the rune warrior flying, and before he could get up, he was torn to pieces by the other Guardians rushing forward.

Zhang Xiao, watching from the shadows, saw his expression change. Self-destruction! He hadn't expected these Guardians to be capable of such a feat. While their power didn't match that of a true Nascent Soul cultivator, if so many were to detonate at once, even a master at the Fusion stage would surely perish.

Fortunately, the Guardians hadn't noticed Zhang Xiao, choosing instead to pursue Kama and his group. Zhang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Young Master, let’s head to that tall tower. I heard the guard dog say that the God of Death, Anubis, once stole something from the Sun God and hid it there. Since the guards have been lured away, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Hei Zi whispered to Zhang Xiao.

Zhang Xiao was undeniably tempted. He didn't know what the "Sun God" was, but it was certainly the supreme deity of Ancient Egypt, and an item worth stealing by Anubis had to be a treasure.

However, Zhang Xiao shook his head. "No. Whatever treasure is inside is secondary. My goal is the Water of Rebirth. I won't waste time on anything else until I find it."

Hei Zi sounded dejected. "Fine, Young Master, you're the boss. But where are we going to find the Water of Rebirth? This place is huge; how long will it take?" Zhang Xiao’s eyes gleamed as he looked in the direction Kama had fled. "Don't worry, I know who can help me find it."

"Boom, boom, boom!" Hearing the constant explosions behind him, Kama felt his heart sink. His mummy warriors had been blown to bits by the Guardians' self-destructs, and he only had enough materials left to summon five more. If he ran out of materials, he and his three remaining rune warriors would be pulverized by these living bombs.

"My Lord, look! The stone door is right ahead!" one of the rune warriors shouted, pointing at the stone wall.

Kama’s eyes lit up, and he quickened his pace. Looking at the carvings of Anubis and Osiris on the wall, he exclaimed, "Excellent, this is it! Hurry and block those Guardians. I need time to open this damn door!"

Kama waved his hand, summoning five more mummies. He didn't care what lay beyond the door; he just needed time. The mummies fired off bandages, sealing the path and waiting for the Guardians. Just as everyone stared at the path, a massive explosion erupted outside, and Zhang Xiao appeared, running out in a flustered state.

As he ran, Zhang Xiao threw out various magical artifacts. Whenever they neared the Guardians, he would trigger them to self-destruct. To break through, he was sparing no expense, using artifacts from his bone ring as grenades, pouring his spiritual energy into them to force a detonation. Hei Zi watched, lamenting the waste.

These were, at minimum, fourth-grade artifacts. Only someone with Zhang Xiao's vast wealth could afford such extravagance. When Kama saw Zhang Xiao, his eyes brightened. He commanded the mummies to assist Zhang Xiao while waving his skull staff and chanting an ancient incantation toward the wall.

With the mummies' help, the pressure on Zhang Xiao eased. "Young Master, throw fewer of those! Why not give me one? I don't have a single treasure on me," Hei Zi whined, his eyes fixed greedily on the sixth-grade artifacts Zhang Xiao was tossing.

"Shut up and keep your aura hidden. If you ruin this, I’ll pickle you in alcohol," Zhang Xiao snapped. Hei Zi retreated into the pocket, aggrieved.

"Oh master who rules life and death, open this sealed path! Guide your servant to the road of life!" Kama’s voice rose, and his staff emitted a ghostly green light that struck the stone wall.

"Boom!" The scene on the wall changed. The image of Anubis seemed to come alive, tearing open the space in front of him to reveal a pitch-black passage. Kama shouted to Zhang Xiao, "Quick! Don't worry about the Guardians; the door will close soon!"

Kama didn't want to lose this powerful assistant. Though Zhang Xiao hadn't met him at the River of the Underworld as planned, his appearance reignited Kama's hope.

Zhang Xiao used his Heavenly Demon Phantom technique, turning into a streak of cold light and diving into the passage with such speed that Kama’s group was left stunned. Once they all entered, the stone door began to close rapidly.

Within a single breath, it was sealed shut. Both Kama and Zhang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. It hadn't been easy; the number of artifacts he’d sacrificed could have been traded for a high-value spirit crystal. He looked ahead at the dark, unknown tunnel.

"Oh, mysterious Easterner! I didn't expect to see you here. What a stroke of luck! Thank you for saving us," Kama said, approaching Zhang Xiao with a face full of sincere, gentle warmth. Had Zhang Xiao not known Kama's true nature, he might have been fooled by the old man's benign facade.

However, this was exactly what Zhang Xiao needed. He stood up, embraced Kama warmly, and laughed. "The sage you directed me to told me the Water of Rebirth was here. I never expected to run into you—it must be fate!"

Kama’s smile deepened. The two exchanged pleasantries like long-lost friends, though both were plotting against each other, waiting to see who would ultimately outmaneuver whom.

When Zhang Xiao mentioned the Water of Rebirth, Kama’s expression turned troubled. "The Water of Rebirth is the supreme treasure of the Cult of Anubis. It is in this palace, but it's kept in a very dangerous place." He emphasized the danger. Zhang Xiao immediately replied, "Please, guide me, Prophet. I am willing to go alone so as not to burden you."

Kama put on a look of reluctance, as if making a difficult decision. "No, you’ve already used so many treasures to save me. It’s my turn to repay you. Let’s go together; consider it a debt repaid."

Zhang Xiao’s mouth twitched. *What a hypocritical old man,* he thought. *I've seen thick-skinned people, but none like this.* Still, he replied, "Thank you so much! Your kindness is the greatest I have ever seen."

He forced down his nausea to deliver the flattering words, which clearly pleased Kama.

The trio followed the map deeper into the tunnel. Zhang Xiao realized this was a secret passage leading to the tower Hei Zi had mentioned. The top of the tower held all the treasures left behind by Anubis, but it was heavily guarded, forcing them to take this hidden route. Zhang Xiao felt relieved; if he had listened to Hei Zi earlier, he would surely have been surrounded by the Guardians of the Dead.