217

The lid of the sarcophagus slowly moved away, revealing an empty coffin inside, with only a ball of white mist rolling and surging in it, emitting a palpitating breath.

Mark's heart trembled, and he felt the energy fluctuations from the same source as the holy stone. He slowly stretched the fragments in his hand to the sarcophagus, trying to return the energy to the fragments.

The goblin suddenly screamed excitedly, jumped into the sarcophagus, and disappeared in the white mist. The moment its thin body touched the white mist, it disappeared like melted ice and snow, leaving no trace.

The air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur, mixed with the smell of damp soil, making it difficult to breathe. The white mist in the sarcophagus quickly shrank and eventually disappeared, and the sarcophagus returned to calm again, as if nothing had happened.

The black jade coffin reflected a cold light under the light column, like a sleeping giant, lying quietly on the high platform.

The surrounding air also calmed down.

Mark and Albert looked at each other, and both saw shock and confusion in each other's eyes. Mark opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he didn't know what to say. He looked at the empty sarcophagus, and then at Albert, his eyes full of questions.

Albert frowned, his eyes deep, as if he was thinking about something. He reached out and touched his chin, and the stubble on his fingertips was a little prickly. He looked at the sarcophagus, and then at the runes on the platform, and his heart was full of doubts.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, and the runes on the platform began to flash, emitting dazzling light. The light became more and more intense, like the sun at noon, which made people unable to open their eyes. The amplitude of the ground shaking became larger and larger, as if it would collapse at any time.

Albert realized that the situation was not good, and shouted: "No, hurry up!" He pulled Mark up and ran in the direction he came from.

"Hurry!" Albert urged, he grabbed Mark's arm tightly and ran forward with all his strength. His steps staggered and he almost fell.

Mark followed Albert and stumbled forward. He felt the ground shaking violently under his feet, as if it would crack at any time. The stone wall above his head kept dropping rubble, making a loud "boom boom" sound, as if the end of the world was coming.

"This way!" Albert pointed in a direction and shouted.

"Yeah!" Mark responded, quickening his pace. The two ran towards the direction of the portal, their figures looking particularly small in the flickering light, like two small boats struggling in the stormy waves. Albert tugged at Mark and almost made him hit a tilted stone pillar.

"Be careful!" Albert shouted, sweat beads oozing from his forehead and sliding down his angular cheeks. He turned his head and looked behind him. The rune light on the high platform was more dazzling, and the vibration was more violent. The stones above his head fell, and the entire tomb seemed to collapse at any time.

"Where is the portal?" Mark asked breathlessly, feeling his lungs burning and his throat dry. He tightly grasped the slate in his hand, which still emitted a soft glow, but this glow was insignificant under the violent vibration of the tomb and the strong light of the runes.

"It's right in front! Faster!" Albert said anxiously, pulling Mark's arm harder, and his speed did not slow down at all.

The gravel kept falling from the top of their heads, hitting their shoulders and backs, bringing waves of pain. The two ran for a distance, turned a corner, and finally saw the portal in front of them flashing with a light blue light.

The light of the portal flickered, and it seemed to be affected by the vibration of the tomb and became a little unstable.

"Quick! Let's go in!" Mark shouted, pointing at the portal, with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Albert did not speak, but just quickened his pace and rushed towards the portal with Mark. The ground behind them began to collapse, making a huge roar and raising dust all over the sky.

Just as they were about to reach the portal, a huge rock fell from the top of their heads and hit Mark directly. Albert was quick-witted and pushed Mark away, but he was hit by the rock and groaned.

"Albert!" Mark shouted in horror, watching Albert being knocked to the ground by the rock.

He ran over and helped Albert up. "How are you?" he asked anxiously, his voice trembling. Albert covered his chest, his face was pale, and a trace of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

"I... I'm fine..." He said with difficulty, breathing rapidly.

"Don't talk, let's go!" Mark helped Albert and tried to pull him up.

Albert shook his head and pointed at the portal. "You... you go first... I... I'll be there soon..."

"No! I can't leave you!" Mark refused firmly, pulling Albert hard and trying to help him up.