Chapter 024: Insect Devouring

Wang Bo nodded unceremoniously. The reason he had come to Hamunaptra was precisely to prevent Imhotep from being resurrected.

There is no denying this.

"To be honest, if it weren't for my arrival, this princess would have foolishly recited the incantation and resurrected Imhotep, and then Egypt would have been visited by the ten plagues."

"Ten plagues, you mean the ten great plagues." Evelyn exclaimed.

"That's right." Wang Bo nodded.

"So, this Imhotep was subjected to the most terrible punishment in Egypt, the Curse of the Scarab!"

O'Connell asked, "What is the Curse of the Scarab?"

Suppressing the horror in her heart, Evelyn explained to O'Connell: "The Curse of the Scarab is the most cruel punishment in Egypt. It involves placing a living person into a coffin and then pouring scarab beetles inside. In this way, the scarabs will devour every inch of the person's flesh."

O'Connor said awkwardly, "It sounds terrifying."

The mere mention of this punishment is enough to make one's hair stand on end.

"Indeed, it is terrifying. I have never heard of anyone being subjected to the punishment of being devoured by insects. Only a crime like killing the Pharaoh would make the ancient Egyptians take the risk of carrying out such a punishment."

"Risk, why is it a risk?" O'Connell was confused.

"Because those subjected to the insect-devouring punishment suffer not only in body but also in soul, tormented day and night. Once resurrected, Egypt would be visited by the ten plagues, so the ancient Egyptians would not resort to such a punishment unless absolutely necessary."

O'Connell sighed at this, remarking, "Truly terrifying."

Jonathan nodded in profound agreement. "Indeed, it is terrifying."

Laura asked worriedly, "Then what about the curse you're under?"

Everyone's eyes converged on Wang Bo as if by tacit agreement.

Wang Bo said calmly, "Don't worry, with this here, I'll be fine." He pointed to the Golden Sun Scripture.

Evelyn suddenly realized, "That's right, the Solar Gold Scripture records all the spells and incantations of Egypt. There must be a way to break the curse in it."

She began leafing through the Golden Sun Scripture, but Wang Bo knew all too well that the spells recorded within were as vast as smoke—finding the one to lift the curse was not something that could be done in a short while.

"Found it, this is it!" Evelyn said delightedly.

Wang Bo: ...

Hmm, good thing I didn't say anything just now.

Evelyn had Wang Bo sit in front of her. Then, holding the Golden Sun Sutra, she chanted the incantation in the purest ancient Egyptian: “Under the gaze of the gods, all unclean things shall eventually dissipate. Begone, begone!”

The next second, Wang Bo saw a golden light strike his body.

His own skin took on a golden glow.

At the same time, under the illumination of the golden light, a plume of black smoke emerged from his mouth and nose, eventually vanishing without a trace.

“It seems my curse has been lifted.” Wang Bo stood up, flexing his hands and feet as he spoke.

"Yes, without a doubt."

Jonathan walked over and touched Wang Bo's body. Wang Bo unhesitatingly brushed his hand away, but Jonathan didn't mind and exclaimed in amazement, "You just glowed with golden light."

"I know." Wang Bo nodded.

“It looks just like a person made of pure gold.”

“Really?”

He suddenly thought of something and turned to his sister, saying, "Evelyn, does the Golden Sun Scripture record any spell that can turn stone into gold? If it does, we'll be rich."

Evelyn closed the Book of the Sun and shot him a glare. "Don't even think about it."

O'Connell said, "Rather than using magic to turn things into gold, I would prefer to find gold."

"Don't worry, we will find it," Wang Bo said with certainty.

If he wanted to live comfortably in this world, he had to find the gold in Hamunaptra; only with enough gold could he live a comfortable life.

But before that, Wang Bo pulled Laura over. "Evelyn, give Laura one too. I suspect she's also been cursed."

Jonathan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "Didn't you say the curse would only find you?"

"Yes, the curse of the box will only find me alone, but don't forget—Hamunaptra also has a curse. Anyone who disturbs the pharaoh's slumber will come to no good end."

Evelyn was startled; if not for Wang Bo's reminder, she would have almost forgotten that Hamunaptra did indeed have a similar curse.

"It looks like I'll have to do it too." O'Connell was unwilling to die a miserable death outside after finding the gold.

Jonathan quickly raised his hand, "Me too, me too."

Evelyn indicated that there was no problem, opened the Golden Book of the Sun, and cast a spell at Laura.

Like Wang Bo, Laura, after being hit by the spell, had black smoke billowing from her mouth and nose.

"Thank you," Laura said, extremely grateful.

"You're welcome."

“This time it's me.” Jonathan quickly sat down and urged, “Evelyn, hurry up, hurry up.”

Evelyn nodded and chanted the spell again.

Strangely enough, after Jonathan was hit by the spell, his whole body emitted a golden light, but no smoke came out of his mouth or nose.

Wang Bo looked as if he had expected as much.

This guy wasn't cursed—he definitely took advantage of Evelyn.

"Strange, why didn't I emit black smoke? Could it be that the spell failed?" Jonathan asked nervously.

Evelyn also found it strange. "Wait a moment, let me try again."

Evelyn chanted the incantation once more, but the result was the same as before.

Jonathan felt a flutter of panic. Could it be that because he had been too greedy, the pharaohs were unwilling to forgive him, and thus there was simply no way to break the curse.

In that case, I'm as good as dead, aren't I?

"What is going on?" Evelyn couldn't help but turn to look at Wang Bo, her intuition telling her that this man should know something.

Wang Bo said calmly, "No smoke coming out means this guy isn't cursed."

"Not cursed? How is that possible? I also went down into the ancient tomb and disturbed the Pharaoh's rest," Jonathan said, somewhat incredulous. "You must have missed something."

Wang Bo said, "If I'm not mistaken, not only you, but O'Connell and Evelyn are also not cursed."

"How is that possible?" Jonathan did not believe it.

O'Connell pushed Jonathan aside and sat down opposite Evelyn. "We'll find out if it's true or not by testing it."

Evelyn nodded and chanted the incantation once more.

Sure enough, just like Jonathan, no black smoke emerged from O'Connell's mouth or nose.

Evelyn, refusing to believe it, cast the spell on herself, but the result remained unchanged.