The Mysterious Resurrection at the Beginning of Infinite Terror

The Main God Space, Day Three.

The high-intensity, highly realistic full-environment simulation training had just come to an end. Everyone, still suffering from the phantom pain of their virtual wounds and mental exhaustion, gathered under the main god's light sphere to rest for a while.

After three consecutive days of intense training, the team honed their newly enhanced abilities and found a new rhythm for teamwork after losing Zhang Jie (as a combatant) and Wang Lin's contract paper.

Zheng Zha's use of "explosion" has become more skillful, and combined with the speed and strength of the vampire count, he has become an undisputed sharp blade.

Wang Lin's mental resonance network is more stable and efficient. Combined with the "Advanced Basic Energy Manipulation", it can not only share information and provide minor assistance, but also carry out precise energy interference or conversion attacks at critical moments.

Chu Xuan, like a highly sophisticated tactical computer, oversees the overall situation. His newly enhanced "Quantum Brain Domain Expansion" allows him to process more battlefield information simultaneously, and he has begun to try to integrate the scattered data fragments analyzed from the Zero Relic Fragment into the tactical model.

The guide 7341-ZJ is like a silent ghost, always following and recording everything. Occasionally, within the scope permitted by the God's Agreement, he will offer one or two cold but accurate suggestions on training plans or tactical loopholes. However, his very existence is a thorn in the team's side that causes a dull ache.

Just as everyone was discussing a certain detail of their coordination, the cold, authoritative voice of the Supreme God suddenly rang in everyone's minds without warning:

[Enter the pillar of light within thirty seconds, target locked, Legend of the Gods and Demons I, initiating teleportation...]

"The Mummy!" Zheng Zha's eyes sharpened; he was naturally familiar with this movie.

Chu Xuan adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting the light of the supreme god: "Ancient Egyptian setting, necromancy, resurrection rituals, large-scale battlefields, and... the crucial Book of the Sun and the Book of the Dead. A comprehensive test of the team's overall abilities. Note that this is very likely a team battle scenario."

"Team fight?" Zhan Lan's expression changed slightly.

"The Supreme God won't let us easily obtain high rewards. The Legend of Gods and Demons world is vast and complex, making it easy for other reincarnation teams to intervene." Chu Xuan quickly analyzed, "Once inside, our primary objectives are: confirm the existence of other teams, obtain the current time and plot progress, and find key plot characters such as O'Connor and Evelyn. Wang Lin, your mental scanning and resonance are crucial for initial information gathering. Zheng Zha, be prepared to deal with any unexpected battles."

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison, quickly checked their equipment, and stepped into the pillar of light.

After the hazy feeling of being half-asleep, the first thing I felt was the dry, scorching smell of sand and wind, and the deafening noise.

Wang Lin opened his eyes and found himself and his teammates in a narrow, dirty, exotic street corner.

The low, ramshackle houses were filled with Arabs in tattered robes and headscarves, Europeans in colonial hats, and dark-skinned laborers. The sounds of hawking, arguing, camel bells, and the faint sounds of military drills in the distance mingled together, creating a chaotic yet vibrant atmosphere.

The scorching sun poured down without any obstruction, baking the ground until it was burning hot.

Cairo. Cairo in the 1920s.

"Ten-player difficulty... There are newcomers this time." Chu Xuan glanced around. In addition to the original nine members of the Central Continent Team (Zheng Zha, Zhan Lan, Ling Dian, Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, Zhao Yingkong, Ming Yanwei, Chu Xuan, Wang Lin) and the guide 7341-ZJ, there were three men and women lying next to him who had just woken up and looked bewildered. Judging from their clothes, they were modern people.

"What kind of hellhole is this?" A young man with dyed yellow hair and wearing a studded leather jacket cursed as he got up. The other two were a thin student wearing glasses and a middle-aged woman who looked like a company employee. Both of them looked terrified.

"Newbies, shut up and listen carefully." Zheng Zha stepped forward, his powerful aura, enhanced by his experience as a veteran, emanating slightly. Combined with his presence, which had faced death many times, it instantly intimidated the three newcomers. "This is the world of Gods and Demons. Simply put, there are mummies, there are curses, and many people will die. If you want to live, listen to me."

The three newcomers were so frightened that they fell silent.

"Main Quest." Chu Xuan looked at the God Watch and read aloud, "Main Quest One: Ensure that the main characters O'Connor, Evelyn, and Jonathan survive until Imhotep is resealed or destroyed. If the quest is successful, each survivor will receive 3000 reward points and one C-rank side quest. If the main character dies, the corresponding reward points will be deducted; those who do not have enough will be eliminated."

"Main Quest Two: Seize or ensure that the Book of the Sun and the Book of the Dead are not used by the enemy to resurrect the fully-formed Imhotep or to carry out large-scale evil rituals. Success will reward the entire party with one B-rank side quest and 5000 reward points. Failure will deduct the corresponding reward points."

"Warning: Another Reincarnation Squad has been detected entering. The current world is in Team Battle mode. Killing a member of the opposing squad will grant you one-tenth of their remaining reward points and a random enhanced C-rank skill or item from the opposing squad. If a member of your team is killed, the opposing team will receive the same reward. Team Battle Victory Determination: After 24 hours, or if more than two-thirds of one squad's members have died, or after the main mission objective has been completed, a comprehensive evaluation will be conducted, and the winning team will receive additional rewards."

It's definitely a team battle! And the mission objectives are clear: protect the protagonist and compete for key items.

"Would the other teams... be the Indian team?" Zhan Lan whispered, the original plot coming to mind.

"The possibility is very high. But the main god might have made drastic changes, so we can't rely entirely on the original work," Wang Lin said in a deep voice. At the same time, his mental energy quietly expanded, and with himself as the center, a mental energy resonance network instantly covered a hundred meters around him. His precise perception flowed like mercury, probing the details of the environment and potential energy fluctuations. After advancing to B- rating and undergoing deep repair, his mental energy detection range, accuracy, and anti-interference ability had all significantly improved. He "saw" the chaotic life magnetic fields of ordinary people on the street, sensed abnormal energy points of varying strengths and weaknesses coming from several directions (possibly local superhumans or reincarnators), and also vaguely caught an extremely obscure but ominous dark aura of death coming from a certain direction deep within the city—that was the direction of Hamunaptra, the place where Imhotep slumbered.

"No obvious hostile mental scans or high-energy clusters were detected. The other party may not have arrived in Cairo yet, or they may have sophisticated methods of concealment," Wang Lin reported. "However, I detected at least three anomalies that differed from the local energy fluctuations, located in the western market area, the port area, and... to the northeast, where there is a strong mixed aura of life and machinery, possibly near British military bases or museums."

"Let's split up and gather intelligence first, confirming plot points and information about the enemy team." Chu Xuan quickly made arrangements. "Zheng Zha, you take Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, and Zhao Yingkong to the West City Market. It's a mixed bag of people there, and they're well-informed. Keep an eye out for rumors about Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead, and whether there have been any 'special figures' or 'strange events' recently. Lingdian, Ming Yanwei, you go to the port area. Use your long-range advantage to observe and watch out for any large-scale landings by unfamiliar ships or suspicious personnel. Wang Lin, Zhan Lan, come with me to the northeast. That's likely where the museum or archaeological association is located, and it's key to contacting the plot characters. Newcomers..." He looked at the three trembling newcomers, "Stay with us, don't wander off, or you'll die and no one will be there to warn you."

"Um...where's the guide?" The blond-haired youth boldly pointed to the guide 7341-ZJ, who had been standing silently to the side.

Guide 7341-ZJ calmly replied, "According to the agreement, guide units will observe and record without interfering with the mission's progress. They will not participate in intelligence gathering or combat unless a specific agreement is triggered or the team encounters a rule-based crisis that they cannot handle. I will be following Chu Xuan's team."

"That's it, let's move out. Maintain mental connection and report any developments immediately. Try to avoid conflict with local forces, but if attacked or if you identify members of the opposing team, you are permitted to use necessary force, but you must assess the risks," Chu Xuan concluded.

The three groups quickly blended into the bustling crowds of Cairo.

Wang Lin, Zhan Lan, and Chu Xuan, along with the three newcomers and their guide 7341-ZJ, headed northeast. The closer they got, the more pronounced the air became, a mixture of historical dust, the musty smell of ancient books, and faint but undeniable fluctuations of antiquity and mysterious power. Finally, they stopped before a grand building with a colonial-style facade, a sign reading "Cairo National Museum." Armed Indian or British soldiers stood guard at the entrance, but checks were lax; many people dressed as scholars and tourists came and went.

"This is it." Chu Xuan observed the building structure and the flow of people. "Evelyn works in here. O'Connor might still be in prison, or he might have already been released. We need to confirm."

"I tried to scan the internal structure with my mental energy, but there was a weak energy field interference inside the building, like some kind of ancient protective or anti-peeping barrier. I can't go too deep, lest I alert them," Zhan Lan said in a low voice.

"No need to scan, just go in." Chu Xuan straightened his collar (he had exchanged for a decent 1920s British suit) and walked straight towards the door, with Wang Lin and the others following closely behind. The three newcomers nervously looked around. The guide, 7341-ZJ, followed silently at the back like a standard attendant.

The museum's interior was spacious and cool, displaying countless ancient Egyptian stone sculptures, coffins, murals, and gold artifacts. Tourists and scholars strolled among them. Chu Xuan, with a clear goal in mind, led the group directly towards the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. His demeanor and attire easily led people to mistake him for a scholar from Europe or a wealthy young man, and coupled with the invisible aura emanating from Wang Lin and Zhan Lan's spiritual power, they encountered no obstacles along the way.

Outside an office piled high with files and archaeological tools, they heard a young woman's clear and excited voice: "...Impossible! Curator! The shape of that keyhole definitely belongs to the tomb of Seti I! I've seen similar descriptions in my father's manuscripts! And those scarab beetle markings can only point to the city of Hamunaptra!"

"Calm down, Miss Evelyn," an elderly, resigned voice rang out. "Hamunata is just a legend, a cursed place. Besides, it's now deep in the desert, with no archaeological value, only endless danger and... tomb raiders."

"No! I have the key! The key I bought on the black market! It must be able to unlock something! We need to organize an expedition!" Evelyn's voice became even more agitated.

Chu Xuan gave Wang Lin a wink. Wang Lin understood and gently knocked on the door.

"Please come in," the old voice said.

Chu Xuan pushed open the door and entered. Inside the office, an elderly curator with gray hair and glasses sat behind a desk, while standing in front of the desk was a young woman wearing a beige dress, glasses, her brown hair tied up, with delicate features but a face full of excitement—Evelyn Carnahan. She was tightly clutching a uniquely shaped metal key in her hand.

Evelyn and the old curator were taken aback when they saw a group of strangers (with different temperaments) enter.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Curator, Miss Carnahan." Chu Xuan spoke in fluent English (he was fluent in the basic languages ​​bestowed upon him by the Supreme God), his tone carrying a scholarly composure. "Please forgive our intrusion. I am Victor Taylor, an archaeology researcher from Trinity College, Cambridge. These are my assistants and students. We have heard some interesting rumors about Hamunaptra, and... a key that may be related to it, so we have come to visit you."

As he spoke, Wang Lin and Zhan Lan's mental energy quietly enveloped Evelyn and the old curator. It wasn't about control or spying, but rather about subtly perceiving their emotions and guiding their shallow thinking, making them more receptive to Chu Xuan's words and lowering their guard.

"Cambridge University?" The old curator looked at Chu Xuan with some suspicion, then glanced at the "assistants" behind him with their different temperaments (especially Ba Wang and Li Shuaixi wearing tactical vests, and the peculiarly present guide). "You're interested in Hamunaptra? It's not exactly a suitable place for academic research."

"On the contrary," Chu Xuan calmly pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses seemingly able to see through people's hearts, "the more forbidden and dangerous a place is, the more historical truths it often hides. We have some... special hypotheses about ancient Egyptian necromancy, especially about the legend of High Priest Imhotep, which need to be verified in the field. And the key in Miss Carnahan's hands may be the key."

Evelyn's eyes lit up, as if she had found a kindred spirit: "You also believe in the legend of Imhotep? You believe in the existence of Hamunaptra?"

"I believe in evidence and logic." Chu Xuan looked at the key in her hand. "May I take a look?"

Perhaps it was Chu Xuan's demeanor and the professionalism in his words, or perhaps it was the influence of Wang Lin and Zhan Lan's mental manipulation, but Evelyn hesitated for a moment before handing over the key. Chu Xuan took it, examined it carefully, and gently stroked the key's intricate patterns with his fingers. At the same time, a miniature scanning device hidden in his sleeve had already recorded the key's structure completely.

"Exquisite craftsmanship, combining ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs with some even more ancient encryption technique." Chu Xuan returned the key to Evelyn. "Miss Carnahan, how far have you progressed in your research on this key? Have you pinpointed its exact location?"

"It's...not entirely certain yet..." Evelyn said somewhat embarrassedly, "but after comparing my father's manuscripts with some rubbings of inscriptions in the museum, I can roughly deduce that it might correspond to an area inside Hamunaptrata, probably beneath the statue of Apollo..."

Just then, Wang Lin's expression suddenly changed. Through their mental connection, he urgently said to Chu Xuan and Zhan Lan, "Something's up! Zheng Zha has sent word that they've spotted suspicious individuals in the market! Four, no, five people, dressed differently from the locals. One of them has a very strong energy reaction, emanating obvious... Buddhist or Holy power fluctuations? They seem to be inquiring about a prisoner named 'O'Connor,' and information about 'The American'! They're very likely another Reincarnation Team! Zheng Zha and the others are secretly monitoring them!"

Almost simultaneously, Zero's voice also rang out in the connection: "Port area, a passenger ship that just docked has been spotted. A group of suspicious passengers, about seven or eight people, disembarked. The leader is a bald man wearing traditional Indian clothing with a cinnabar dot between his eyebrows. His aura... is very strange; there's no sign of life, like a dead man, yet he's filled with powerful spiritual energy. They hired a horse-drawn carriage immediately after disembarking, and their direction... seems to be towards the museum!"

Two teams! And their targets both seem to be the museum, or rather, Evelyn and the key!

Chu Xuan's eyes flashed with data, and he instantly made a judgment: "The enemy has at least two teams, possibly allied, with a clear objective. We must seize the initiative. Miss Evelyn," he turned to Evelyn, who was still immersed in the academic discussion, his tone quickening but remaining calm, "Unfortunately, we don't have much time. A group of people... who harbor ill will towards the power of Hamunaptra and Imhotep, are on their way. They may be hostile to you, for the key, and also to prevent the real archaeological discovery."

"What? Who is it?" Evelyn and the old curator were both startled.

"It's complicated to explain. But please believe me, we're here to protect history and prevent disaster," Chu Xuan said quickly. "We need to leave here immediately and go to a safe place. Also, we need to find someone—a former French Foreign Legion soldier named Richard O'Connor, who should have just been released from prison, or is still in prison. He's the key guide to Hamunaptra, and also... the protector of the important 'sacrifice' in the Imhotep resurrection ritual."

"O'Connor? That madman who got arrested in Hamnata?" The old curator had obviously heard of him.

"He's not crazy, he just saw something he shouldn't have seen," Chu Xuan said to Wang Lin. "Wang Lin, contact Zheng Zha and have them try to contact and 'rescue' O'Connor, bringing him to the designated rendezvous point. At midnight, Ming Yanwei, continue monitoring the group arriving from the port and report their real-time location. Zhan Lan, prepare the mental barrier; we're taking Miss Evelyn and the curator away. Be quick!"

"Who exactly are you people?" Evelyn took a step back, looking at them warily.

Just then, a commotion and screams suddenly erupted on the street outside the museum! Immediately following were the sounds of shattering glass and heavy objects toppling over! Faintly mixed in were inhuman screams and… the sound of chanting scriptures!

"They're here!" Zero's calm voice rang out in the connection. "The group from the port has arrived and clashed with the guards! That bald man... he knocked two soldiers away with his bare hands! He's rushing into the museum! He's incredibly fast!"

"No time to explain! Let's go!" Chu Xuan grabbed the still somewhat dazed Evelyn and shouted at the old curator, "Come on, or you'll die!"

Wang Lin had already deployed his mental shield, enveloping his group, while simultaneously attempting to disrupt any mental probes pointing in their direction. Zhan Lan also erected her mental barrier to cover their swift escape through the back door of the office. Guide 7341-ZJ followed like a ghost, his crimson electronic eyes scanning the chaotic corridor, recording everything.

They had just slipped out of the museum through the back door and run into a side alley when they heard a huge crash and even more screams coming from the direction of the main building! Clearly, the group of "guests" had already broken in.

"Hey Zheng Zha, how's it going on your end?" Chu Xuan asked over the link.

"Found O'Connor! Drinking at the pub outside the prison, damn it, he's dead drunk! We're trying to get him out of here! Two guys are watching us, from that group at the market! A skinny guy with a scimitar, and a woman with snakes wrapped around her! They're testing us!" Zheng Zha's voice was heavy with the panting of a fight.

"Take care of them and get out of here quickly! There might be more than just these people!" Chu Xuan said coldly.

As Wang Lin ran, he spread his mental perception to the fullest extent, wary of attacks that might come from any direction. He could sense the cold, deathly yet powerful mental energy emanating from the bald man in the direction of the museum, like a lighthouse in the darkness. In another direction, from the market, two equally powerful auras erupted: one filled with wild killing intent, the other cold and slippery, accompanied by a hissing sound like a venomous snake.

The prelude to the team battle suddenly unfolded in the most intense way on the bustling streets of Cairo!