Chapter 427: Chapter 423 Collapse Chapter 427: Chapter 423 Collapse Boom—
Dozens of Sprite Ball Bombs, each with a different function, exploded in unison. The dazzling scene was replete with an awe-inspiring aura of death.
The blast wave, mixed with sand and broken stone, darkened the sky like a tsunami, sweeping in every direction.
The earth trembled, and buildings swayed.
The entire underground space was crumbling.
Stone pillars and slabs that secured the underground space were falling apart under the blasting force. Large chunks of rock propelled by the blast scattered everywhere with a whistling sound, like solid cannonballs zooming past.
At this mont, the sight of Fang Xiaocao dragging Taotie to escape had long disappeared. It was now Taotie princess-carrying Fang Xiaocao, running wildly. The ti from the activation of the Sprite Ball Bombs to the explosion was extrely short.
So short that even with Taotie’s speed and all its might sprinting the full one hundred ters, it could only just get past the stairs and onto the first underground level.
However, the rate of collapse in the underground space was far exceeding Taotie’s speed.
The collapse had reached right beneath their feet.
Crack crack crack—
Crash—
Taotie, holding Fang Xiaocao, had just lifted its front foot off the stairs when the stairs behind them began to crack and, in an instant, completely collapsed.
Looking down, the cracks had already spread beneath their feet.
Rocks continuously fell from above.
Taotie knew there was no escaping.
It could only find a way to protect Fang Xiaocao, to prevent Princess Your Highness from getting hurt.
As Taotie continued to sprint with Fang Xiaocao in arms, it constantly scanned its surroundings for terrain that could offer temporary safety. The cracks behind relentlessly pursued, collapsing faster and faster.
Often it was only after Taotie’s front foot had left that the ground behind it fully gave way. Several tis, the collapsing occurred in sync with Taotie lifting its leg.
Beads of cold sweat ford on Taotie’s forehead.
“Damn it, this is too thrilling,” Taotie couldn’t help but exclaim.
Suddenly, Taotie’s eyes lit up.
It saw a familiar place.
This was the spot where it had previously used a terminal to detect a large amount of tal underground.
Based on the topographical analysis, it was highly likely to be right above the vault and also located perfectly in a corner.
Taotie might be brute-force, but it wasn’t brainless—in fact, to have honed such skills in the cutthroat world of Jianghu and to live freely proved its intelligence surpassed that of most people. While brute force was essential to get by in Jianghu, without brains to back it up, one would have long been sched into oblivion.
Knowing it couldn’t outrun the collapse, rather than flee desperately, it was better to choose advantageous terrain to save itself.
As everyone knows, a triangle is the most stable.
If one can’t reach safety during an earthquake, survival chances are much higher if hidden in a corner.
Triangular corners are the last to collapse.
The vault below would most likely not collapse.
At most, it might deform or sink.
This could be deduced from the thickness of the vault’s tal door—it clearly indicated its structural strength.
Such a vault would not only have a tal door but must also have walls of tal of equivalent thickness and quality inside.
To effectively provide protection.
This is widely recognized common knowledge.
Taotie naturally knew this as well.
Silently piecing together this information, Taotie knew this was the perfect advantageous terrain for him to take Fang Xiaocao and save themselves, so he hesitated no more and ran over with her in his arms.
Placing Fang Xiaocao in a corner, Taotie steadied his stance, pressed his hands against the wall, and used his body as a at shield to protect her.
“Princess Your Highness, keep your hands on your head and don’t move. It’ll all be over soon.”
Taotie flashed a grin, comforting Fang Xiaocao.
Fang Xiaocao’s eyes beca moist as she looked at Taotie, knowing what his actions ant. Taotie was putting his own life on the line to give her a chance to survive.
A slight miscalculation with the falling rocks from above could cost Taotie his life.
“Taotie…”
Fang Xiaocao looked at Taotie.
Taotie bared his teeth and chuckled, “Don’t worry, I’m tough to kill.”
Whoosh—
In the midst of talking, the ceiling collapsed again.
But just as Taotie had predicted, even though the ground crumbled, it did not sink or cave in, revealing a layer of unknown tal material beneath the floor tiles.
Seeing this, Taotie knew he’d gambled correctly. The chances of Princess Your Highness surviving had greatly increased – as long as he could withstand the falling debris from above.
Taotie resolutely decided that even in death, he would stand firm and shield the Princess from all the falling pieces.
In tis of crisis, Fang Xiaocao’s mind beca even more clear-headed. After pondering for a mont, she said solemnly, “If you could squat down and hold , not only could you block the stones for , but you’d also reduce your own area of impact. Maybe we could both survive.”
Taotie was stunned, “How did I not think of that?”
Fang Xiaocao rolled her eyes and, facing the teetering stone slabs above, almost commanded, “Because you’re a big lug. Now hurry up and squat down!”
Taotie nodded, imdiately squatting down and holding Fang Xiaocao close. Slling the sweaty scent of Taotie, Fang Xiaocao shook her head helplessly and protectively placed her hands over his head, quietly waiting for the aftermath of the collapse.
Whoosh—
The stone slabs above didn’t keep Fang Xiaocao waiting. Almost as soon as she had held Taotie’s head, the already precarious slabs crumbled down in large fragnts, pelting down like rain, with countless pieces striking Taotie’s back and Fang Xiaocao’s hands.
Pain struck sharply—Fang Xiaocao knew her hand was cut by the falling rocks. She moved her fingers, finding her bones intact; they were rely cut by the stones’ sharp edges.
Boom—
The next second!
A large, hefty stone slab fell.
Brushing past Taotie’s back, it landed heavily on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
If Taotie had not listened to Fang Xiaocao and squatted down to hold her, this slab, a palm’s thickness, would have certainly hit him on the head.
It would have been difficult for Taotie to survive!
Feeling the heavy thud of the slab hitting the ground, both Fang Xiaocao and Taotie were shocked.
Taotie was even more relieved, thankful that he had listened to Fang Xiaocao—otherwise…
The re thought scared him.
Who wants to die if they can live?
Bravery isn’t about seeking death.
Especially when Taotie had a wife and children.
Fang Xiaocao also felt fortunate; her cool head had promptly corrected Taotie—otherwise, she would have lost a capable follower.
Whoosh—
Just then, the underground space collapsed completely, the stone ceiling shattered entirely, and countless pieces of debris, like rain, pelted down on Taotie, burying both him and Fang Xiaocao under the rubble…
As Fang Xiaocao and Taotie were buried, the collapse of the underground space neared its end.
Before losing consciousness, Fang Xiaocao worried about Tom’s safety and prayed silently, “Please, let nothing happen to Tom…”
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