American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

Edkin, who had been searching high and low for gold and silver treasures, looked disappointed and muttered to himself in a strange tone, "This is... a cabinet?"

The object was square and rectangular, with its brown lacquer peeling off to reveal the grayish-yellow wood grain underneath, clearly showing signs of having withstood the ravages of time.

The two cabinet doors are decorated with simple carved scroll patterns, and the brass handles are covered with scratches. It looks like just an old-fashioned wardrobe.

However, Zhu Mingyao's eyes suddenly lit up as he locked onto the rusty lock of the wardrobe.

There, a short, golden reed stalk gleamed faintly.

Chapter 479

"It's the seal of that clown demon from back then."

Beverly recognized the place where she had narrowly escaped death. She glanced around with emotion, bent down to pick up a broken stone fragment, blew away the dust, and revealed a blurry pattern drawn with mineral pigments.

“Indian shamans used the abundant ley line energy here to set up altars in an attempt to imprison it forever and protect the nearby land from its evil power.”

“It certainly looks like a treasure trove. No wonder this mermaid… well, the anglerfish made the same choice.” Holger, carrying an axe, grimaced as he stepped on a nearby rock, wiping the dirt off his feet.

Fishy-smelling slime, fine marks left by scales, eerie blue fluorescence... various traces remain on the surrounding ground, indicating that this is the place where the monster usually lurks.

In contrast, the old-fashioned wardrobe seemed so ordinary, as if it had been casually moved from some old lady's bedroom, completely out of place with the strange background around it.

But it is precisely because of this ordinariness that it is so extraordinary. After all, even a fool would know that a fish monster that runs around naked with its tail dragging along every day would not need such high-end furniture.

“I can’t identify anything about this thing.” Edkin’s lips moved quickly, and after a lot of effort, he shook his head in frustration.

“No need to bother anymore.” Zhu Mingyao stared at the golden reed stalk on the keyhole.

"I can roughly guess what it is."

He reached down from his waist and a golden object appeared in his hand.

The crystal-yellow amber wriggled and flowed like a living creature, and the six reed pipes of varying lengths emitted bursts of sobbing, like the natural wind blowing across the mountains and fields.

The broken panpipe transformed into a stream of light and slowly flew out, piecing itself together with the reed. A layer of serene mountain and water atmosphere spread out, and the sacred object of the ancient demigod finally returned to its original form.

The gentle yet profound psychic energy waves reverberated throughout the cave, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere, as if transporting people back to an ancient Greek temple from thousands of years ago.

But time has passed, glory has faded, and the worship of Pan, the god of shepherds, has been interrupted for a thousand years. Beneath that lofty and sacred exterior, no matter how powerful the sacred artifacts are, they cannot conceal that extreme weakness.

Therefore, it can at most be considered a precious collectible for personal research, and it is probably impossible for it to be used in combat.

However, given its current location, it is clear that it has another function.

"Squeaky..."

The seven panpipes transformed into a jade-green and golden key, turning gently as if manipulated by someone. The rusty wardrobe keyhole emitted an old, mechanical clicking sound, and the two patina-covered wooden doors slowly opened, bit by bit.

"This is……?"

Everyone except Zhu Mingyao gasped in unison, taking a collective breath.

The reason was that what appeared before them was neither clothing nor treasure collected by a monster.

Inside what appeared to be an ordinary wardrobe, a massive vortex swirled, with faint, boundless light emanating from its center.

The fine, colorful rays of light intertwine, like a skilled embroiderer weaving a vivid picture in an instant.

Amidst vast expanses of verdant forests, snow-capped peaks stand tall, and a wide river flows gently by, with ice floes of all sizes colliding in the water, their crisp sounds seemingly reaching the ears of everyone present.

"Wow!" Simon suddenly exclaimed excitedly, waving his wand and casting several detection spells.

"That's a small demiplane; there must be something good inside."

His teammates were also invigorated. Even if they hadn't eaten pork, they had seen pigs run. Classic plots like treasure hunting and adventure involuntarily came to mind.

After a moment of fantasizing, the group all seemed eager to try, and couldn't help but turn their gazes to Zhu Mingyao.

While we may have wonderful dreams, at least everyone remembers who was in charge.

"Why don't we stay behind to guard the area and gather our strength before exploring?"

Edkin tentatively offered a suggestion, and he was quite open-minded. Since his team didn't belong to any organization, they would have to cooperate with others if they wanted to conduct a comprehensive search.

As the saying goes, those who see it get a share. Since I am fortunate enough to be one of the discoverers, I will get a share of whatever I gain in the end.

“That makes sense…” Unlike everyone else’s jubilation, Zhu Mingyao remained unusually calm, even to the point of being overly rational.

"I'll stay here to keep watch. You all go and notify the Chinese Chamber of Commerce as quickly as possible, and ask them to send a large number of powerful people."

The assignment was perfectly reasonable, and none of the people who were in the midst of their excitement objected. Only the most senior and meticulous bard felt a little strange.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely pass on the message and I'll be back soon." Edkin smiled without any sign of anything amiss, and subtly pulled his companion away.

However, he had only taken one small step when he could no longer move forward.

—A hazy, ethereal light and shadow unfolded silently, as if the vast starry sky had enveloped this space.

The spectacular sight of countless stars of different colors embedded in the sky emerged like a reflection, or like shredded cloth being torn on a loom, instantly turning into large, chaotic shadows.

Before the shadows, a slender, petite figure stood quietly.

"Carrie" looked completely bewildered, her small mouth slightly agape in deep confusion.

"Why...why are you looking at me like that?"

However, all that responded to her was the rising flames of the giant axe, the resounding notes of the adamantine strings, the flashes of lightning from the staff, and a wary, alert face.

Shoulder-length blonde hair floated and trembled in the air against gravity, as if dancing with the waves, with strands of clear starlight weaving into a soft carpet that protected her feet.

Seemingly oblivious to the changes in herself, "Carrie" grew increasingly panicked, "What happened...?"

The next moment, the light in the girl's eyes faded quickly, and a hazy, ethereal shape gradually rose behind her.

"You have a keen sense of crisis, but unfortunately it's a little too late."

A deep, magnetic voice rang in her ears, and faint blue light formed countless intricate arcane runes, interlocking and stacking together. In a mechanically beautiful transformation, they instantly coalesced into a woman wearing an ancient long dress.

Her clothes fluttered, exuding a powerful and mysterious aura. The energy fluctuations were enough to make any rational person tense up, but everyone's eyes were still fixed on something else.

From the center of the mysterious phantom's brow, a fine, crystalline substance flowed out, like shards of glass after a mirror has shattered. The light refracted, and a figure with an indistinct appearance drifted in.

"Luckily, we had this unexpectedly found arcane ghost as cover, otherwise you probably would have discovered us much earlier."

"Heh, is this what you call possession? That's quite creative." Zhu Mingyao chuckled coldly. "So that's why you tried to bring them along earlier, to keep me from escaping?"

"Please forgive me, I'm getting old, so I have to be more cautious. But it seems unnecessary now." The figure was composed and took his veiled sarcasm as a joke.

Chapter 480 Throw yourself into a trap?

"On the way to find the target, I happened to run into an acquaintance and realized that they were in danger, so I righteously helped them."

After resolving the problem, they suddenly discovered that what they had been searching for for months was right in front of them—a classic plot reminiscent of a fairytale adventure.

Zhu Mingyao clasped his hands together, and drew out a three-foot peachwood staff with dragon patterns from his palms. A peaceful and serene golden light moved along the straight lines of the staff, outlining a divine blade with lotus-shaped edges.

"Thank you for the compliment. Unlike those companions who sit high on the altar and are born into nobility, I am a pitiful person who has been wandering in the mortal world for hundreds of years and has worked hard step by step. The way of thinking of people today is not much different from that of those back then."

The mysterious newcomer, with a chaotic appearance, smiled reservedly. With a slight tremor, an extremely violent force was generated, greedily devouring the possessing entity. The powerful arcane ghost was swallowed whole without any resistance.

Her features gradually became clearer: a noble and aloof mature face, with skin as white as snow and deep, dark eyes bearing some Scandinavian features.

The woman exuded an undeniable aura of authority, like a medieval queen who had stepped out of an oil painting.

"Since you've been chasing me for so long, you must already know what's hidden inside the door?"

"The dying god Pan..." A series of spiritual talismans suddenly appeared beside Zhu Mingyao, methodically constructing multiple defensive lines to tightly protect his side.

“To allow one…” He paused slightly, glanced to the side, gave a cold snort, and continued, “…is it that two ancient demon gods laid a trap? Should I feel honored for that?”

With the added advantage of modern technology from the state apparatus, the speed of information flow far exceeds the sum of the past thousands of years of human society. Despite only having faced off once, the identities and information of the members of the Shadow of the Old Days have already been largely uncovered.

The real name of the woman before us has been sealed into history, but her deeds have been transformed into folk legends over a long period of time, and are familiar to ordinary people.

"Your Majesty, the Black Witch King, I once read your 'War Chronicles' as a childhood book. But I wonder what your identity is today?" Zhu Mingyao's curiosity was tinged with genuine concern.

"Is she the wicked queen who plotted to murder Snow White? Or the kind fairy who helped Cinderella?" As he questioned her, a clear, ethereal light wafted and danced, and the oppressive pressure suddenly eased slightly.

"You don't need to bother testing me anymore. I am indeed different from the despicable nature of demons like Valak. I don't particularly like intrigue, killing, and destruction. Sometimes, I might even help ordinary people out of amusement..."

But at least for now, everyone shares the same goal!

On the road to restoring glory and even climbing to higher positions, you obstructing stumbling blocks must be removed!

The elegant woman flatly rejected the suggestive probing, her expression indifferent.

"Your progress is indeed beyond my expectations, but unfortunately it's not enough for me to weigh the pros and cons yet."

Even so, she was quite amazed. The young man's strength had increased since before, and he was only one step away from posing a real threat to her.

If it's just a simple vegetable bun, it's bound to be trampled flat, but if it's a porcupine covered in sharp quills, you have to think twice.

"Let's get back to the topic at hand. You see, this space is quite large, and I am a delicate lady. Would you kind young friends please go in and help me search, as gentlemen would?"

"Searching? I think it's about using people as scapegoats!" Zhu Mingyao revealed a mocking smile of sudden realization.

Even a wrecked ship has some nails, and a dying beast often retains the strength for a final blow, let alone a being that holds a place in mythology. Who can guarantee that Pan didn't have the ability to take someone down with him in his dying moments?

The other party's meaning was clear: they wanted him to act as a suicide squad to clear landmines.

"It's so pleasant to talk to smart people. If we cooperate well, although you will still die, we will spare your lovely druid girl and a few teammates."

The woman spoke softly and gracefully, her words, even those containing a hidden threat, sounded as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Haha, do I look like a pure-hearted young man who would sacrifice himself for a girl?" Ignoring the other party's misunderstanding of the relationship between the group, Zhu Mingyao just smiled contemptuously, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Sorry, but I've always believed that you have to take control of your own destiny. You want me to be cannon fodder? You'll have to see if you have the ability!"

As soon as he finished speaking, strange lights and colors suddenly appeared, and clusters of thunder suddenly erupted from Zhu Mingyao's body, like lightning tearing through dark clouds in a storm, making the surrounding air buzz.

"Divine skills abound, fury and might are rampant. Slaying demons and monsters, lightning and stars fly!"

His figure seemed to resonate with the elements of heaven and earth at this moment, with dazzling silver-white lightning crackling around him like thousands of sharp arrows shooting towards the enemy without any blind spots!

Sensing the sharp power of the energy that could annihilate all alien systems, the noble woman's fake smile vanished instantly. She gently raised her arm and held her palm up in front of her.

Her slender fingers were delicate and white, just like those of all pampered ladies in high society, with nothing unusual about them except for their health and beauty.

But with such a casual gesture, the endless current scattered into sparks as if it had hit a transparent city wall, leaving not even a trace on the skin, only causing the large, ancient gemstone bracelet to sway gently.

“I’ve said it before, why waste words on those mere mortals? They’ve been away from the teachings of the gods for too long and have forgotten the majesty of the immortals!”

Suddenly, azure waves surged forth from the void, transforming into towering tidal waves that crashed down, cutting off Zhu Mingyao as he rapidly retreated.