Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

Zhu Feifei and the Queen of Jingjue slowly stepped into the temple, and a distant and ancient aura wafted over them. A faint scent of incense filled the air, making them feel as if they had been transported back a thousand years.

“Your Majesty, this place is much more impressive than the cemetery we just visited!” Zhu Feifei wiped his nose with his sleeve and sniffed the air with feigned profundity. “I can detect eight parts mystery and two parts tension in this incense smell.”

The Queen of Jingjue frowned and glanced at him: "Can't you smell any danger at all?"

Zhu Feifei waved his hand and said righteously, "What dangers haven't we experts seen! Look at this building, it's probably an early masterpiece of our eastern craftsmen, their skills are more reliable than today's decoration companies."

The Queen sighed: "Alright, keep talking nonsense."

The temple's interior is magnificent, with broad stone pillars supporting the dome, and murals carved on the surrounding walls telling the story of the rise and fall of the ancient Jingjue Kingdom. In the murals, the jade stone symbolizing the "Heart of the Desert" shines brightly, while the person holding the jade stone disappears into the vast desert, followed by countless worshippers.

“These paintings are much more impressive than the promotional posters for the barbershop near my house,” Zhu Feifei said, pointing to the figures in the murals. “This guy’s hairstyle is also quite interesting; he looks like Old Li from the next village.”

"Shut up! These are the kings of the ancient Jingjue Kingdom, the incarnations of gods." The Queen of Jingjue's tone turned cold. "Do not blaspheme our ancestors."

"Oh, I was wrong." Zhu Feifei scratched her head. "But what do you think, should we pray to them first? The deity in this painting might just bless us with wealth!"

"Shut up."

The two continued forward, entering the central area of ​​the temple. It was an open space with smooth black stone slabs on the ground, and an altar stood in the center.

On the altar, a crystal ball, sparkling and translucent, rests quietly, emitting a soft light, as if every ray of light is shrouded in mystery.

Zhu Feifei's eyes lit up instantly. She rushed to the altar, rubbing her fingers together, and said, "This crystal ball is something special! Look, isn't this the legendary 'Heart of the Desert'? Will taking it automatically open a treasure chest and drop out some gold coins or something?"

Queen Jingjue ignored him, carefully examining the crystal ball, her brows furrowing slightly: "That's not right. According to records, the 'Heart of the Desert' is a piece of jade shaped like a heart, and this crystal ball is merely a key to some kind of trial."

"A key? Well... shall we try it? How will we know if we don't touch it?" Zhu Feifei smiled like a cat that had just stolen some cream. "I, Old Pig, don't usually like to use my brain, but my intuition is always right."

"You can touch it, but if anything happens, don't call me to save you."

Zhu Feifei chuckled and reached out to touch the crystal ball. The moment she touched it, the crystal ball suddenly emitted a blinding light!

"Oh my god, is this thing running a fever?" Zhu Feifei quickly pulled her hand away, but found that her palm seemed to be stuck, and she couldn't break free no matter what she did.

"Welcome to the Trial Grounds of the 'Heart of the Desert'!" An aged and majestic voice echoed in the temple. "Only those who pass the trial can obtain the true 'Heart of the Desert'."

Zhu Feifei swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Ah... is this trial free? If you charge, you need to get an invoice."

The aged voice ignored him, only coldly snorting, "I hope your strength is as strong as your nonsense."

Before the words were finished, the ground beneath their feet suddenly trembled violently, the ground cracked open, and Zhu Feifei and Queen Jingjue fell down instantly.

The two of them fell heavily to the ground. Zhu Feifei got up, dusted herself off, and rubbed her backside, complaining, "A trial is fine, but did you have to throw me on the backside? This treatment is way too hardcore!"

Looking up, they found themselves in a vast underground space. In the center stood a massive arena, surrounded by endless darkness. Above the arena, a majestic figure appeared.

It was a giant over two meters tall, his body bulging with muscles and veins. He wielded a massive axe, his eyes blazing, his voice booming: "Challenger, are you ready?"

Zhu Feifei immediately forced a smile and shouted, "I, Old Pig... no, Zhu Feifei, am ready! Come on, fighting is my specialty!"

The Queen of Jingjue stood to the side, sighing helplessly, "Can't you be quiet for a second? This is so embarrassing."

"Just kidding! I call this my aura, to intimidate him halfway!" Zhu Feifei said confidently. "Besides, watch me take care of him in no time."

The giant stared coldly at him, brandishing his giant axe and charging straight at him! Zhu Feifei quickly drew his nine-toothed rake, and the two clashed weapons, producing a deafening roar and sparks flying everywhere.

"Ouch, how can this guy be so strong!" Zhu Feifei felt her hands go numb and almost dropped the rake. "Your Majesty, has this person drunk some kind of magic potion?!"

The Queen of Jingjue stood below the arena and said coldly, "You ask me? Who should I ask?"

The giant's attacks were fierce, each move deadly. While struggling to defend, Zhu Feifei relentlessly teased, "Brother! Your muscles are really tough! Are you fighting so hard because you failed your exams a few times?"

The giant didn't answer, but simply swung his axe. Zhu Feifei barely dodged with a backflip, but a piece of his trousers was sliced ​​off by the axe's force. He looked down and shouted, "Your Majesty! He shredded my trousers! My heroic image is completely ruined!"

The Queen of Jingjue couldn't help but chuckle, but immediately regained her composure: "Concentrate! If you keep acting recklessly, you'll lose your life."

Zhu Feifei gritted his teeth, gripped his rake tightly, and fought back, but the giant's strength clearly exceeded his limits. He began to retreat frequently, his strength gradually failing him.

"Your Majesty, I...I really can't hold on much longer! Please help me think of a solution!"

Seeing this, the Queen of Jingjue took out a jade talisman from her waist, squeezed it hard, and the jade talisman turned into a white light that enveloped Zhu Feifei. He immediately felt his strength surge and his fatigue vanish.

"This feels amazing! Your Majesty, this talisman is truly impressive!" Zhu Feifei laughed heartily, brandishing his nine-toothed rake as he charged towards the giant. "Watch how I deal with you!"

Sparks flew across the arena as the battle intensified...

Zhu Feifei felt as if he had eaten ten oxen, his body brimming with boundless energy. He suddenly leaped up, his nine-toothed rake whistling as it cleaved the giant.

The giant raised his massive axe to block, and the two collided with a deafening clang. Zhu Feifei used the momentum to flip and land, laughing triumphantly, "Brother! This move is called 'Flying Dragon Probing Claw,' come at me again if you're not satisfied!"

The giant snorted coldly, gripped his giant axe with both hands, and slammed it down onto the ground! The arena trembled immediately, cracks spreading out like a spider web, and Zhu Feifei stumbled and almost fell.

"Ouch! This thing is making such a big commotion, is this some kind of earthquake version of 'cucumber smashing'?" Zhu Feifei muttered as she jumped into the crack.

The Queen of Jingjue, standing on the sidelines, couldn't help but remind her, "Stop talking nonsense! Focus, or you'll be smashed into cucumber puree!"

Zhu Feifei barely managed to steady himself and changed tactics. He suddenly pulled out a shiny marble, muttering, "Take this! Zhu's unique secret technique, 'Blinding Your Dog Eyes Marble'!"

Zhu Feifei flung the marble with her rake, aiming straight for the giant's face. However, the giant simply raised his hand to block it, and the marble bounced back, flying directly towards Zhu Feifei!

"Ouch! Murdering your own brother!" Zhu Feifei quickly shrank his neck, and the marble grazed his head, hitting a stone pillar on the arena. The pillar immediately shattered, and the fragments scattered everywhere.

The giant seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack. He swung his giant axe with the force of a torrent, leaving Zhu Feifei with almost nowhere to hide. While desperately dodging, Zhu Feifei cursed, "Brother! This is a duel, not sabotage! Do you think the construction team will know about this?"

The giant chuckled coldly, then swung his massive axe down in a head-on strike. Zhu Feifei quickly parried with her rake. The axe and rake collided, sparks flying, and Zhu Feifei was forced back several steps by the impact.

"My goodness, what did you eat to grow up with such strength! Did you drink milk every day when you were a kid and also chew on iron pots?"

Seeing this, the Queen of Jingjue's eyes flashed with anxiety: "Zhu Feifei, you can't withstand his strength head-on! Stop just talking tough and quickly find an opening!"

"Okay! I'll do as you say!" Zhu Feifei, quick-witted, changed his strategy. Instead of confronting the giant head-on, he circled around it.

The giant, as expected, fell for the attack, swinging his axe several times but missing his target, roaring in fury. Taking advantage of the situation, Zhu Feifei swung her rake, specifically targeting the giant's knees and elbows, stabbing them repeatedly: "Big guy! I bet you forgot your meds today, you're as sluggish as a wooden stake!"

The giant was enraged. He roared to the sky, and his whole body began to glow with a dazzling red light, enveloping the entire arena in scorching energy.

Queen Jingjue's expression changed drastically: "Oh no! He's unleashing his ultimate skill!"

"What skill? Heating up a roast pig?" Zhu Feifei looked down at herself in horror. "I don't want to become a roast suckling pig!"

The giant stomped his foot on the ground, causing countless magma-like cracks to erupt beneath him. He leaped into the air, raising his giant axe and slamming it down at Zhu Feifei!

"Your Majesty! Help!" Zhu Feifei instinctively closed his eyes, bracing for his doom. But the next second, the voice of the Ringwraith Xiaobai rang in his mind: "Idiot! The nine-bead bracelet! Use it!"

Zhu Feifei suddenly opened his eyes, the nine-bead bracelet on his wrist radiating dazzling golden light. He raised his palm and roared at the giant, "Nine-bead bracelet, give me a cheat code!"

A golden light formed a barrier in front of him, and the giant axe slammed into it, creating a deafening explosion. The arena was blasted into dust, but Zhu Feifei stood unharmed.

"Wow, this feels so good!" Zhu Feifei patted her chest triumphantly. "I, Zhu Feifei, really have the protagonist's halo; I'm invincible!"

The giant stared wide-eyed, seemingly unable to comprehend why his attack had failed. Just as he was about to attack again, he noticed the red light around him gradually fading, and his movements slowing down.

The Queen of Jingjue watched the changes in the center of the arena, her eyes flashing: "He has exhausted his energy! Quick! Defeat him now!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Feifei grinned and said, "I, Old Pig, have been prepared for this for a long time!"

He leaped high into the air, raised his nine-toothed rake, and brought it down on the giant with all his might. The rake, gleaming with golden light, struck the giant squarely in the chest. The giant let out a deafening roar, then transformed into a streak of white light and vanished from the arena.

Silence returned to the arena, with only Zhu Feifei panting heavily. He patted his chest and slumped to the ground: "I told you, I've seen it all! Your Majesty, what do you think? Are you impressed?"

The Queen of Jingjue stood aside and said coldly, "Don't be so smug, look at the altar!"

The two turned their gaze to the center of the arena and discovered a piece of jade emitting a pale green light on the previously bare ground. The jade was shaped like a heart, and was none other than the legendary "Heart of the Desert".

Zhu Feifei's eyes lit up instantly: "Your Majesty! We've struck it rich!"

Queen Jingjue shook her head, her expression grave: "Don't be too happy yet. This is just the beginning of the trial; the real danger is yet to come..."

Deep within the temple, a deep rumble echoed, as if an ancient behemoth was awakening...