Chapter 9

1

It seemed that the sandstorm was still going strong. Mareu Tian checked the time and realized that they wouldn't make it in time for the next change, which according to their calculations was happening in two days. They decided to temporarily stay in the cabin.

"Do you think this sandstorm has anything to do with the pyramid?" Xiang, supported by his brother Hong, leaned against the wall. He seemed fine, being able to recover so quickly even after bleeding from his seven orifices was quite extraordinary.

"I heard strange sounds in the sandstorm," Qing's voice entered everyone's minds. Her tone seemed a bit off.

"Qing, are there other people?" Guffy automatically assumed there were other people around, and she became very cautious. She didn't want to be discovered by the locals.

"There shouldn't be. Qing is a Sound Magic user, much more sensitive to sound than us. Perhaps it's the sound from the pyramid," Mareu Tian analyzed reasonably.

"Qing, can you make out what it is?"

"I can't distinguish it. It doesn't sound like human voices."

"Beasts? Usually, beasts don't appear within human inhabited areas."

"Hong, you are still too young. In theory, that's correct, but if the beasts are too powerful or there aren't many people around, they might appear," Guffy wrote two big characters on a piece of paper, "fool," and mischievously stuck it to Hong's forehead.

"Brother, I've been labeled as a 'fool,' does that mean I will become one?" Hong, having witnessed the power of Guffy's spells, was afraid that these two words would affect his intelligence.

"Oh, you're such a fool. These are just ordinary words," Xiang slapped his own forehead, regretting bringing his silly brother along.

Guffy laughed happily, tearing off the note from Hong's forehead and sticking it onto her own. She said, "Look, it's just an ordinary word."

"You scared me."

"Alright, if the sandstorm is indeed related to the pyramid, we're in trouble."

"Are you afraid the pyramid will prevent us from entering? But the ancestors of the author of that book have entered for hundreds of generations. The pyramid might not reject us!"

"The pyramid must be undergoing changes. The sandstorm won't end until the changes are complete."

"If that's the case, we don't need to investigate further. Let's just rest!" Guffy lay on the floor to sleep. She believed that the sandstorm would stop once the changes in the pyramid were complete, and since they had no means to stop the pyramid's changes, they could only wait.

2

Two hours later, the sandstorm slowly subsided, but there were still gusts of wind blowing dust outside the cabin.

"Cough, cough, I really hate this kind of weather."

"Guffy, it seems like you come from a country with a mild climate!"

"Hong, how many times have I told you not to ask others about their origins?"

"I was just guessing."

Guffy didn't mind, she said, "It's alright, there are countless countries with mild climates."

"We need to pick up the pace and reach the pyramid before sunset. There will be caravans on this route, and caravans don't travel after sunset." Mareu Tian looked around. The sandstorm had passed, and indeed there were caravans passing through this route. It was dangerous for anyone to travel in the desert at night.

As dusk approached, they continued to trek on the desert, leaving a trail of footprints on the sand which were soon covered by a gentle breeze.

"Rotamar Pyramid!"

Mareu Tian and Guffy stood by the edge of a cliff, right in front of them was the golden peak of the Rotamar Pyramid, just below this cliff.

Looking down from the cliff, although it wasn't a bottomless abyss, Hong's heart raced as he saw the real pyramid for the first time. The Rotamar Pyramid wasn't the grandest pyramid, but according to Mareu Tian's description and the portrayal in the book, this pyramid had an irresistibly mysterious allure.

"This location is closer if we use Entrance No. 10," Mareutian said, pulling out the old tattered book and studying the surroundings under the twilight. The description of the environment in the book matched that of Entrance No. 10.

"Entrance No. 10 is indeed close, as it is just beneath the cliff," Guffy pointed at the description of Entrance No. 10 in the book.

"Huh? Do we have to climb down?" Hong looked at the steepness of the cliff and felt his heart pounding.

"You can also jump down, but if there is quicksand or sandstorms below, then good luck to you," Mareutian patted Hong's shoulder and looked at the gusts of wind and sand below, seemingly very unsafe.

"Brother, I regret bringing you out here. It's embarrassing," Xiang took out the climbing equipment from his backpack and skillfully put it on.

"Isn't it rare for your older brother to not be like this on his first adventure?"

"Uh..." Xiang was at a loss for words, recalling how awkward his first adventure was several years ago.

The seven of them slowly climbed down the cliff step by step in the sunset.

"Be careful of the sandstorms!" Guffy had just reached the ground when a gust of wind and sand hit his face, causing him excruciating pain.

Qing's face veil seemed more secure, not feeling the sensation of the sandstorms on her face.

"Qing, have you always liked wearing a face veil?"

"She has never taken it off," Guffy caught Qing and gently placed her on the ground. Guffy, who had a dark face, appeared like a competent knight, guarding his princess.

"What a mysterious sister."

"That's just how she is. She doesn't like showing her face, maybe because of some scars."

"Are you telling the truth, Fei?"

"Nonsense, and don't call me sister."

"Calling you sister sounds more affectionate!" Hong was just a cheerful boy when it came to getting along with others.

"Captain, I think we need to set up a camp outside," Xiang packed up his equipment, and he also had a large tent.

Mareutian looked at the sky, setting up a tent did make sense, but after considering it in his mind, he said, "No need, a tent would be too conspicuous. We'll go down immediately."

"But captain, we've been walking for a whole day, everyone must be tired. Going into the pyramid is quite dangerous, we can't do it without enough energy."

Mareutian thought that Xiang was right and asked Guffy and Qing, "Do you think we need to rest?"

"I don't mind. As adventurers, our stamina shouldn't be that bad," Guffy stretched his joints, preparing to leave immediately.

Qing shook her head to indicate that she didn't need rest.

"Brother, don't forget we rested in the cabin for a long time," Xiang said.

"Your brother was just injured by the pyramid, so have some understanding," Mareutian said gently.

"Brother, you rest, we'll come find you when we find the entrance."

"Alright, be careful."

The six of them split up to search for the entrance. Xiang sat alone on the edge of the cliff, feeling the bone-chilling desert wind as night fell. That's how the weather was in October.