Chapter Forty-Five: The Second Strange Bone

Gu Sha's blade was pressed against Tang Shanshan’s neck.
“Who are you?”
Yet Tang Shanshan showed not the slightest fear. She still did not answer Gu Sha’s question. On her delicate face, however, was a strange, twisted smile. She sneered, “You extraordinary people are truly annoying—like lingering ghosts, you come in waves, one after another. Never learning your lesson, all rushing to your deaths…”
Gu Sha’s pupils narrowed. Without hesitation, he swung his blade at Tang Shanshan’s neck.
At that very instant,
A surge of icy cold erupted, flooding the steel corridor. A thick layer of frost rapidly formed along the walls and floor.
A chilling, uncanny sound echoed, accompanied by a palpable murderous intent. From the far end of the passage, a barrage of ice spikes—dense as a meteor shower—hurtled toward Gu Sha.
As Gu Sha raised his blade to finish Tang Shanshan, a series of sharp cracks resounded. His arm was instantly encased in solid ice, freezing him in place. At the same time, his feet were trapped in a block of ice, as if sealed in concrete.
Tang Shanshan, still wearing her mocking smile, slipped nimbly away from Gu Sha’s blade, retreating with ease.
A storm of ice spikes whistled toward him, accompanied by an overwhelming, terrifying cold that swept over like a tidal wave.
Gu Sha summoned all his strength,
Shattering the ice that bound him. He swung his Tang blade swiftly, cleaving through the ice spikes. The ground was soon littered with shards of ice, and the intense chill seemed to freeze the very air. Even the blade itself was coated in thick frost.
A beastly hiss
Echoed through the passage.
A massive white python, as thick as a barrel, appeared. Wherever it slithered, the cold intensified, and the corridor began to freeze solid behind it.
Tang Shanshan calmly walked toward the white python and stopped beside it.
The python showed no intention of attacking her.
Gu Sha frowned, realizing Tang Shanshan and the python were allies. No wonder so many extraordinary people had been sent by the Barrier—several had reached the research institute, but none had returned. No one would have expected someone to be working with the white python.
There had to be a trap!
Sure enough,
Suddenly, the floor beneath Gu Sha’s feet cracked open, revealing a deep, dark pit.
Gu Sha reacted instantly, stabbing his Tang blade into the wall and hanging suspended in the air. He swung himself clear of the pit, landing safely.
But as he touched down,
Iron walls dropped simultaneously before and behind him, sealing him in a small space. The steel walls began converging rapidly toward the center. At the same time, the freezing force returned, threatening to immobilize him.
“Hmph!”
Gu Sha snorted.
He stomped, shattering the ice at his feet, then raised his fist and slammed it into the oncoming steel wall.
With a deafening crash,
The several-ton wall collapsed under his punch.
Tang Shanshan, standing by the python, was briefly stunned, then ordered, “Eat him!”
In that moment,
The white python lunged at Gu Sha, mouth agape, spraying countless ice spikes.
Gu Sha sneered, charging forward.
His feet left deep prints in the steel floor as he spun his Tang blade, slicing the ice spikes apart. Ice shards flew, embedding themselves in the steel walls with a constant metallic ring.
In no time,
Gu Sha reached the python.
A flicker of fear—almost human—appeared in the serpent’s eyes. It twisted, aiming to coil around him.
But Gu Sha gave it no chance. He leaped, bringing his blade down on the python’s head.
With a metallic clang and a shower of sparks, the ice atop its head absorbed the blow.
At the same time, the serpent lashed out at Gu Sha.
“Damn it!”
Gu Sha cursed, hurling his Tang blade at the retreating Tang Shanshan. The blade pierced her chest, pinning her to the wall.
Without hesitation,
Gu Sha clenched his fist and smashed it into the python’s tail.
The white serpent emitted a piercing scream, struggling to escape.
Gu Sha was relentless. He grabbed its tail, yanked it into the air, then aimed a powerful punch at its head.
With a thunderous impact,
The python’s skull shattered, though its body still writhed.
Gu Sha rushed forward, retrieved his Tang blade, and Tang Shanshan’s corpse dropped to the ground, blood pooling beneath her.
He ignored the body,
Blade in hand, approached the twitching serpent. He plunged his blade into its hide, swiftly skinning it. He stopped only when he reached the center and discovered a translucent, gleaming alien bone.
Gu Sha tossed the bone into his backpack and strode ahead, dragging his blade.
Meanwhile,
In the laboratory, Liu Ping—watching the monitors—was beside himself with rage, smashing equipment. When he saw Gu Sha slay the white python, panic flashed across his face.
But as he watched Gu Sha extract the transparent bone from the serpent, confusion took over.
“What’s so special about that bone?”
“Forget it. I’ll think about that later. Right now, I need to deal with this extraordinary intruder!” Liu Ping narrowed his eyes in thought, then hurried to the lab.
“Everyone, come here!” Liu Ping shouted.
The researchers, tense and nervous, gathered around him.
Liu Ping scanned the dozen or so scientists, a cold smile playing on his lips. “I have good news for you: that extraordinary person has forced his way in.”
Some researchers couldn’t help but show a hint of joy.
Liu Ping sneered, “Oh, are you happy? Think again. I’m going to kill that extraordinary intruder.
And all of you will help me put on a little performance. Anyone object?”
None of the researchers dared protest,
But their faces betrayed a range of emotions.
Liu Ping said sternly, “Don’t get your hopes up. Even if that extraordinary person gets in, I can kill you all whenever I like. For example—”
Liu Ping pointed at one of the researchers.
Suddenly, with a loud bang,
The researcher’s head exploded.
The others recoiled in terror, scrambling backward.
“Anyone else unwilling to cooperate?” Liu Ping asked with a smile.
Everyone shook their heads frantically.
Liu Ping smirked, “Now, all of you, get moving. Within three minutes, I want this lab spotless!”
(End of chapter)