Chapter 102: What the Hell, Earth Magic Is the First to Be Excluded!

The four stepped over scattered rubble, passed through the collapsed main hall's ruins, and the scene before them suddenly opened up.

This was an altar located at the heart of the temple.

Though all surrounding pavilions had collapsed, the altar remained untouched.

At the altar's center was a circular pool about ten meters in diameter.

The pool did not contain water, but churning, scalding crimson magma.

Behind the magma pool stood a bizarre stone platform, upon which floated a dark red crystal ball.

As the four approached the altar, the interface popped up again with a system prompt.

【Arrived at the Sacrificial Pool!】

【After completing the sacrifice, touch the crystal ball on the stone platform to initiate the final battle. (Current rating: C-rank, drop rate: 30%)】

Han Mengqing walked to the edge of the magma pool, leaned in for a look, and was immediately driven back several steps by the heat.

"Whoa… so it means throwing someone in?"

"That's way too cruel! The guy who designed this dungeon must be a psychopath!"

Han Mengyao stared coldly at the pool and analyzed:

"This is the manifestation of the 'Solitary King's Throne' rule— to gain maximum rewards, you must sacrifice your companions. It's a test of human nature."

Just reading about this rule sent a chill down the spine.

Lin Mo, however, remained calm.

He sat down on a broken stone nearby, "Alright, let's just wait here."

Han Mengqing snapped out of it, glanced at the entrance, and complained:

"No way… why are the Shark Gang so slow?"

"We've reached the boss's door— why hasn't the second team caught up? Did they get lost?"

"Hey sis, should we go guide them?"

Han Mengyao shot her a look as if she were an idiot, her tone icy:

"You go guide them? You think they won't just chop you up on the way?"

"And if you're that bored, drain the water out of your brain and stop thinking up nonsense."

Han Mengqing shrank back, muttering under her breath:

"I just want to clear this faster…"

Han Mengyao looked at Lin Mo, who lounged lazily, and felt a pang of awe.

They were the ones being hunted, yet here they were, complaining that the killers were too slow and ruining their chance at a perfect score.

If the Shark Gang knew this, they'd probably spit blood three pints.

Lin Mo sat with one leg crossed over the other, smiling lightly:

"Don't rush—they'll come. After all, they've bet everything."

Lin Mo knew exactly what was going on.

The Shark Gang had used the intrusion scroll—that meant no turning back.

If they couldn't eliminate us inside this dungeon, once they stepped out, they'd face the wrath of Xu Wenchang and Long Xu Ban—death was their only fate.

So even if they had to throw in lives, they'd flood in.

And for Lin Mo,

this wasn't just about counter-killing.

Sacrificing three evil lives would grant 100% drop rate for Thunder-Fire combo skill materials—this deal was absurdly profitable.

…

Within the dense forest,

a four-man squad moved through it.

The team leader was a burly man with a nose ring.

Behind him followed a tall, thin man, a sturdy shield warrior, and finally, a bowman with shifty eyes.

Suddenly,

they halted.

Before them lay a forest of blood-splattered stone pillars, making their scalps tingle with dread.

"What… what the hell is this?"

The tall man swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

The leader paused, then snapped back to focus: "Forget this—focus on the mission."

The tall man hesitated:

"Boss, Dao Ge was our guild's strongest new recruit—he got taken down too…"

"Idiot!"

The leader cut him off. "Precisely because Dao Ba fell, we got this chance! You should thank them!"

"Didn't you hear the guild master's analysis?"

"Dao Ba's team was wiped because we fixated only on Lin Mo and ignored the others."

"You must understand—none of Long Xu Ban's members are easy to handle!"

At this, the leader smiled confidently:

"But this time is different."

"We're wearing the Thunder-Fire Divine Armor and have used high-grade Frost Resistance Potion."

"Lin Mo is crippled, Han Mengyao is useless—only a shield and a healer left. What can they do against us?"

After hearing this, the other three regained their confidence.

That's right!

All their damage output had been neutralized—how could they lose?

This was the victory of intelligence warfare!

"Leader, brilliant! Guild Master, brilliant!"

The four surged forward with renewed confidence, racing toward the temple.

…

Through the stone forest, they reached the temple.

The sight before them stunned the squad again.

The ground cracked, rubble scattered everywhere…

"This…"

The tall man stared at the ruins, uncertain:

"Boss… I've got a feeling there's a master of Earth magic in their team."

The leader stared at the ruins, his eyelids twitching.

But he quickly steadied himself:

"Who is our guild master? He's eaten more salt than you've eaten rice—how could his analysis be wrong?"

"Don't scare yourself! Move!"

Under the leader's barking orders, they forced themselves inside.

At that moment,

a bone-chilling coldness slammed into them.

The leader spun around.

Han Mengyao emerged from the side, her spear slamming down.

"Absolute Frost Domain!"

Whir—!

Frost erupted, surging toward the four.

"Hmph! So it's Ice magic!"

The leader smirked, a look of perfect anticipation on his face.

The frost swept over their bodies—yet not a single ice crystal formed.

"Hahaha!"

The leader roared with triumph, his face glowing with smugness:

"Didn't expect that, did you? We saw it coming—today… none of you are leaving alive!"

But to his surprise,

Han Mengyao's face showed no panic—no fear at all.

Instead, she seemed to sneer?

Before he could react,

Boom—!!!!

The ground beneath them erupted violently.

The violent shaking threw all four off-balance, locking their bodies rigid.

The next instant,

countless sharp rock spikes burst upward from the earth.

"Aaaahhhhh—!!!"

A piercing scream echoed throughout the temple ruins.

Four men were instantly impaled midair by rock spikes!

This time.

At Lin Mo's direction, the Earth Shield Art demonstrated horrifyingly precise control.

Every rock spike precisely avoided vital areas.

"Meng Qing, don't let them die."

Lin Mo's voice drifted over calmly.

"Got it!"

Han Mengqing responded, swinging her staff.

A green glow enveloped the four men.

"Aaaahhhhh—!!!"

The four, already in unbearable agony, let out even more agonized shrieks.

The captain convulsed violently, blood dripping down his pant legs.

He lifted his head, staring toward the source of the voice.

Lin Mo regarded them with calm indifference.

On either side behind him stood Han Mengqing and Chu Lingxuan.

At this moment,

even if he were the dumbest man alive, he now understood the situation.

His mind flashed back to the chairman's confident analysis before departure.

What the hell did you mean, eliminate Earth first?!

Zhao Tianling, I'll curse your ancestors to hell!!