CHAPTER 364: CHAPTER 296: COMPLETE LOSS (ADDITIONAL 1/3 FOR JADE PENDANT)

Another big boss?

In this instance, besides Wei Zhe, the biggest traitor, there are actually other players in the evil camp?

Hidden so deeply, never revealing themselves until now?

Zhou Shijie’s words shocked everyone present.

Hu Jiayao stepped forward, grabbed Zhou Shijie by the collar, and lifted him up, "Where’s the stronghold you mentioned? Lead the way now; I’ll take out that nest completely!"

Zhou Shijie was trembling with fear, unable to speak.

Yang Mingzhong couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up: "Ah Yao, for this matter, I think we should follow the plan."

Reminded by Yang Mingzhong, Hu Jiayao realized his rashness, put Zhou Shijie down, and turned to look at the guild leader, awaiting instructions.

Wen Nan glanced at the fully brightened sky and quickly made arrangements:

"Time is of the essence, we’ll split into two groups——

"Minmin and Ah Yao, escort Senior Sister Wu Qing and the others to the designated location for the ceremony.

"Zhi’en and I will escort Zhou Shijie to the stronghold he mentioned and dig out that big boss. Yang Mingzhong, take the unconscious Li Fang to the blood donation vehicle, guard Li Fang, and use the Thousand Threads on Zhou Shijie, along with Erin, to provide backup for us from the rear."

Hearing this arrangement, everyone had no objections except Yu Shujun, who coldly looked at Wen Nan, "I disagree with separating."

Clearly, Yu Shujun was referring to arranging himself and Wen Nan in two different directions, which he could not accept.

Wen Nan looked at him and earnestly explained, "Ensuring the smooth progress of the queen’s ceremony is our most important mission, and you are the only one who can take on this responsibility."

Yu Shujun admitted this matter was important, but at the same time, he thought that going into the enemy’s stronghold didn’t necessarily require Wen Nan himself; Ah Yao could go instead.

Thinking of this, Yu Shujun couldn’t help but glance in Hu Jiayao’s direction.

Wen Nan’s face revealed a bit of helplessness, with an expression that seemed to say: Do you really think Ah Yao has the brains for this task?

Confidence wavered in Yu Shujun’s eyes.

Wen Nan shook his head, his gaze briefly resting on Yu Shujun’s hand.

Yu Shujun recalled the small box with a crown symbol that Wen Nan had handed to him by the corridor railing earlier, and something dawned on him, making him reluctantly agree to the arrangement.

Everyone reached a consensus and began heading towards their respective destinations.

Mo Yu, holding the Little Silver Sword, pressed it against Zhou Shijie’s neck, escorting him forward while Wen Nan and Yin Zhi’en followed behind. Not far behind them trailed the blood donation vehicle.

The red beam, symbolizing the ceremony site, became increasingly distant. Just as it was about to disappear from their view, they stopped by an isolated pile of trash.

Zhou Shijie skillfully touched a round protrusion by the trash heap, pressed it down, and an underground tunnel immediately opened.

Guan Ailin, sitting in the driver’s seat of the blood donation vehicle, leaned out the window, about to shout to Wen Nan, asking if she should park the vehicle and go down with him into the tunnel to ensure his safety.

At that moment, there were "click-clack" sounds from the ground, as if some mechanism had been activated. The ground under Wen Nan and the others formed a circular depression with a ten-meter radius.

Wen Nan looked at the depression enclosing them and then at Zhou Shijie.

Mo Yu pressed the silver sword closer to Zhou Shijie’s neck, "What’s going on? Are you betraying us?"

Zhou Shijie shook his head frantically, "I don’t know either! I always enter the stronghold through this side passage and have never encountered this kind of ground collapse before. Let’s get out of here—"

As Zhou Shijie spoke, he tried to jump out of the circular depression, but as soon as he lifted his leg, the entire circular ground beneath their feet dropped swiftly like an uncontrolled elevator.

In an instant, everyone fell into a deep pit nearly twenty meters underground.

A loud crash echoed in their ears as the ground hit, causing a cloud of dust and making their chests tremble.

Along with the thud, there were "clack" sounds of metal slots being engaged.

When the dust settled, they found themselves trapped in a large birdcage-like metal cage.

Yin Zhi’en walked slowly to the edge of the cage, reached out, and pulled hard on the metal bars, testing their solidity and whether they could break out.

After a few tries, confirming the trap’s strength, Zhi’en withdrew.

Mo Yu glared furiously at Zhou Shijie, his right hand changing to grip the silver longsword, pressing harder against Zhou Shijie’s neck, causing it to bleed, "You led us into a trap on purpose?!"

"No, no! I’m not lying to you! I always enter the stronghold through this trash heap, really! Believe me!"

Mo Yu’s anger didn’t diminish, "I’ve encountered similar entrances meeting with Boss Wei, but never seen such traps! You still say you’re not lying!"

Zhou Shijie cried in fear, unable to defend himself, "It’s true! I don’t know why it turned out like this this time! I had never seen this metal cage either!"

Wen Nan stood silent, watching Mo Yu, then Zhou Shijie, and finally Zhi’en.

With the sword at Zhou Shijie’s throat, he wailed in fear. Mo Yu still didn’t believe him and wanted to press further, but Guan Ailin got down from the blood donation vehicle.

"Jiu!" Guan Ailin called out anxiously, "We seem to have a big problem."

Mo Yu turned to look at Guan Ailin, wanting to say they already knew they were in big trouble when they fell into the metal cage trap.

But before he could, Yang Mingzhong dragged out Li Fang.

Pale-faced, Li Fang, upon seeing Wen Nan, instinctively wanted to rush over but was held back by Yang Mingzhong after just one step.

Frustrated, Li Fang had to stay put, her eyes reddening with urgency, her voice trembling as she called out, "Ye Jiu! Help me! The ceremony is about to start, and I must get there. If I’m late, everything will be lost!"

Wen Nan seemed calm but followed up with her, "Lost everything? What do you mean?"

Growing more anxious, Li Fang dropped a bombshell: "I’m Wu Qing! I’m the queen! The one being taken to the ceremony is an imposter!"