The moment Ian stepped into the square burial chamber, a faint "ka-cha" sound came from the stone slab beneath his feet.
"Ah, classic," he smirked, glancing down at the sunken flagstones before looking up to survey the surroundings. The walls were riddled with countless holes, a sight that would give anyone trypophobia.
It felt as if countless pairs of eyes were peering out from the darkness, watching him.
Inside... were Scarabs.
"Excellent!"
Ian was naturally thrilled.
He wasn't an archaeologist or a tomb raider but a potions master. To him, the holes weren't a terrifying spectacle but a treasure trove brimming with potion ingredients.
That was exactly why Ian, as a Potions Master, didn't feel any fear. On the contrary, he was delighted. Ancient resources were so abundant here... scarabs were an extremely rare species in later generations.
Especially for advanced potions.
"Quick! Come on! My babies!"
Ian knew exactly what to do. He chose to approach the central sarcophagus, the one inlaid with turquoise, which was a clear sign that the deceased within was of noble status.
Scarabs were traps designed to guard tombs.
And sure enough...
The moment Ian's foot began to move...
'Hōng lóng lóng—...!'
A spine-chilling rustling sound came from the holes in the walls, and it felt as if tens of thousands of tiny metal claws were scraping against stone. The next second, a pitch-black tide of insects erupted outward.
Bronze beetles, each the size of a fist, emerged. Their shells gleamed with a cold metallic sheen. Their mouthparts were as sharp as blades, and when their six legs moved, they produced a teeth-grinding clicking sound.
"Zzzzzz~" The beetles let out shrill cries as they surged from all directions like a flood, instantly covering the entire floor of the tomb chamber and charging toward Ian like a berserk horde!
However, when faced with a scene that would have made any tomb raider's liver and gallbladder shatter in terror, Ian's eyes lit up. The corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably, and his heart overflowed with joy.
"Yes, that's it! Come on, come on, get into my cauldron." Ian calmly pulled out his wand and, channeling his magic power, gave it a gentle wave.
"Soporifus Totalus".
This was an advanced charm derived from the Stunning Spell, possessing the effect of a group Stupefy. It worked not only on humans but also had a remarkably potent effect on all living creatures.
The charm rose into the air, instantly transforming into a pale violet mist that enveloped the entire tomb chamber.
The beetles charging at the front suddenly staggered, their six legs tangling. Then, with a series of clatter-clatter sounds, they collapsed to the ground, their carapaces opening and closing slightly as if drunk. The swarm behind them hadn't even realized what was happening before they crashed into their fallen comrades, one after another, and tumbled to the ground as well.
Lying on their backs, unable to move, or rather, having lost the ability to move at all, all the bronze beetles had fallen into a deep slumber. In a matter of seconds, the once-furious insect swarm had transformed into a "drunken" carpet.
A few still twitched their legs, but they posed no threat; after all, living bronze beetles in slumber were far more potent than their dried counterparts.
Ian's spell could put them to sleep until their next life. When he needed them, he could remove the sleep spell and process them immediately, preserving their potency.
"Perfect."
Ian nodded in satisfaction, crouched down, and carefully examined the stunned bronze beetles. He casually picked one up and inspected its shell.
A professional look shone in his eyes.
"This one's big. It should be potent." As he spoke, he carefully placed the bronze beetle into the pouch of potion ingredients he carried with him.
Then, he picked up another bronze beetle and shook his head. "This one's underdeveloped, but it'll do."
With that said, Ian stuffed it into the pouch as well.
Then, he turned over an especially plump bronze beetle.
"Wow! A top-grade 'Lunar Eclipse Beetle,' its abdomen has a natural rune! Once used in a potion, it can briefly conceal one's presence!"
The more Ian picked, the more excited he became. He even started humming a little tune. Like someone choosing crabs at a marketplace, he sorted the scarabs by type and stuffed them into different crystal vials.
"This one's perfect for the Iron Skin potion..."
"This one's ideal for the Poison Resistance formula..."
"This one... huh? A mutant breed?"
Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a bronze beetle that was clearly different.
Its shell was not bronze but a deep, dark red, and a pattern resembling the Eye of Horus was faintly visible across its back.
"A bronze beetle king blessed by Horus?!" Ian sucked in a cold breath. "This thing went extinct in later generations! One of these could be traded for an entire shop in Diagon Alley!"
He carefully stored the "insect king" in a gold-trimmed crystal vial, thoughtfully adding a sprig of Moonlight Grass and a substance that enhances the beetle's vitality.
"There, there, don't die on me. You're a rare specimen." Ian's movements were practiced and methodical, as if performing a delicate surgery. As he collected the bronze beetle, he kept a close eye on his surroundings. After gathering all the bronze beetles from the ground, he lingered, his gaze fixed on the holes in the wall.
The inside of the holes was unusually smooth, as if things frequently moved in and out of them. Ian lightly explored them with his fingers, feeling their depth and direction.
He discovered that these holes weren't simple cavities but were connected to a complex ventilation system. Perhaps the bronze beetle required this airflow to survive.
Of course, Ian wasn't interested in researching them further; after all, he wasn't a magical entomologist. His only interest in these bronze beetles was to take them back as potion ingredients.
"Since I'm already here... I might as well make the most of it and leave no regrets." His gaze fell on the holes in the wall, and a bold idea formed in his mind.
Rubbing his hands together, he walked straight to the nearest hole and reached inside to rummage around. "I don't care about antiques, but I can't let good potion ingredients go to waste."
Ian was always good at making excuses for himself. His fingers probed the hole for a moment before quickly pulling out a handful of sticky insect eggs.
"Bronze beetle eggs! Perfectly fresh!" Ian's eyes gleamed. "These are far more valuable than adult beetles. This can be refined into the base of a 'Rejuvenation' potion!"
Of course, the so-called "Rejuvenation" potion wasn't an immortality potion.
Admittedly, it did extend lifespan slightly, but its main effect was to allow the elderly to regain a youthful appearance.
However, the potion couldn't reverse the body's internal functions; it only restored the outer layer of skin. Ian had been continuously exploring ways to enhance the potion's formula.
If he could find a method to rejuvenate internal organs as well, a relatively inexpensive version of the long-life, ageless potion could pose a formidable challenge to the original version, which required the Philosopher's Stone for its manufacture.
It might even replace it entirely.
It would be like choosing a thousand-pound smartphone over a ten-thousand-pound flip Nokia, those who needed it would naturally know which to choose.
Seeing that many nearby holes still contained bronze beetle eggs, Ian didn't hesitate. He emptied several more holes, gathering every egg he could find and storing them in a specially made preservation pouch.
A Potions Master traveling outside would always have such comprehensive containers and equipment prepared.
While he was busy working inside the pharaoh's tomb, he discovered something else.
A glowing fungus was stuck to the walls of the cavities.
"Is this the 'River Styx Luminescent Fungus'?" Ian's voice trembled. "An extinct ingredient from legend used to brew the 'Communication With Dead Potion'!"
He dug through the holes in the walls like a treasure hunter, not even sparing the insect droppings in the crevices; after all, bronze beetle excrement was a top-tier alchemy catalyst.
Only after confirming that there was no more value to be squeezed out did Ian finally stop, still reluctant to let go. He looked at his bulging pouch and let out a satisfied sigh.
"This trip was a huge success." Now, only the turquoise-inlaid sarcophagus remained in the center of the tomb. Ian brushed the dust from his hands and approached it.
His fingertips gently traced the hieroglyphs carved into the lid.
[Those who disturb the Pharaoh's slumber shall be devoured by a thousand worms.]
This was one of the most common anti-tomb-robbing measures in ancient Egypt.
There truly was a curse attached to the sarcophagus as well. But a childish little curse like this was nothing to legendary Ian.
"I've already been devoured, thanks."
He offered the coffin an utterly insincere apology, then used his wand to cleanse the curse. Immediately after, he slammed his palm against the lid!
BANG!
The heavy stone lid was blasted straight off and smashed into the wall, splitting into two pieces.
Inside the sarcophagus lay a mummy wrapped in bandages, its hands crossed over its chest, silent.
In its palm was a sheet of thin gold about the size of a palm.
...the Cursed Gold Foil!!
Just as Ian reached out to take it, the mummy suddenly opened its eyes!
"I knew it."
Ian rolled his eyes. He pulled out a small bottle of Corpse Dissolving Potion from his pouch with his other hand and splashed it directly onto the mummy's face.
...Sizzle!
The mummy let out a silent scream as its bandages rapidly decayed into ashes.
"Do you even know how valuable I am? You thought you could scare me?" Ian casually picked up the gold foil, brushing off non-existent dust.
"Done."
He weighed the 'Cursed Gold Foil' in his hand. The thin gold sheet glowed with an eerie red light under the torch's flame.
Logically speaking, once a normal person obtained the target item, they would immediately leave this gloomy pyramid. But a Potions Master's way of thinking was obviously different.
"Since I'm already here..."
Ian said the same thing as always. He scanned the surroundings, his eyes gleaming with excitement in the darkness.
"If I don't clean this place out, wouldn't that be a loss?"
After obtaining the cursed gold foil, Ian didn't leave right away. Instead, he began wandering through the pyramid tomb as if he were there to stock up on supplies rather than rob a grave.
Of course, nobles always liked to bury themselves with countless goods.
Ian wasn't interested in gold or jewels, though.
He was only interested in supernatural things.
In one burial corridor, at the corner, several black scorpions the size of fists stood guard, their venomous tails raised high.
They were "Death God Guard Scorpions" raised by the pharaoh.
It was said that a single drop of their venom could kill an elephant in ten seconds.
"Another good find!" Ian's eyes lit up. He pulled a specially made glass jar from his pouch. "Exactly what I need for the main ingredient of the Highly Toxic Neutralizing Agent."
He snapped his fingers, and a strand of silver-gray magic power coiled around the scorpions like a silken thread. The ferocious, venomous creatures froze as if under a petrification spell, obediently lining up and crawling into the jar.
The last Scorpion King attempted to resist, but Ian gently pinched its tail with tweezers and lifted it upside down.
"Oho, this venom sac is so full it's about to overflow."
He shook the scorpion with satisfaction. "Enough to brew three batches of All-Toxins Immunity potion."
Ancient resources were far more abundant here than in later eras. These creatures had nearly gone extinct in the modern age, surviving only through artificial methods. Yet everyone knew that artificially grown specimens could never match the potency of their wild counterparts.
It was the same reason why Dragons raised in captivity couldn't defeat their wild counterparts.
"Da-da-da~"
The young wizard wandered through the pyramid.
After passing through a narrow corridor, he stumbled upon a stone chamber filled with jars and bottles. This was clearly a mummification workshop, with shelves lined with various preservation potions.
"Naquet Resin, Knuts Dragon Salt... and a complete record of organ preservation techniques?" Ian leafed through the papyrus scrolls as if he'd struck gold. "These recipes were lost to the ages!"
Without hesitating, he stuffed every potion formula into his pouch and even took the preservative ingredients piled in the corner.
When he found a jar containing a perfectly preserved "Pharaoh's liver," he whistled with delight.
"A perfect medicinal primer for heart disease healing potions!"
There was a reason the practice of eating mummies became popular in Europe for a time. The Wizarding World indeed had a tradition of using parts of mummies in potions.
'Some wizard must have passed this knowledge to the Muggle world, sparking the wave of history buffs who later dismissed it as foolish. Of course, eating mummies normally would never produce potion effects.'
"Even Diagon Alley probably doesn't have a collection as complete as mine right now."
Ian continued his plundering.
The pharaoh's resting place truly contained countless treasures. But what delighted Ian most was a hidden chamber behind a mural.
He pushed open a concealed door, revealing a fully equipped ancient alchemy laboratory.
A bronze distiller.
An obsidian mortar.
Gem-inlaid scales.
Every tool bore the mark of the Eye of Horus.
The thick tome resting on the worktable was the most eye-catching of all.
The Book of the Living.
Its cover was inlaid with complex constellation patterns in gold.
"A legendary magical book, famous even in myths."
The Book of the Living is one of the most important books in ancient Egyptian mythology. It represented proof that the pharaoh had been acknowledged by the gods, similar to a "Divine Codex."
Alongside the Book of the Dead, it was considered one of the two greatest treasures of ancient Egypt.
While the latter governed resurrection, the Book of the Living symbolized the "Power of the Sun" and the "Principles of Death." Both texts had been lost to time for centuries, yet Ian had managed to rediscover them in antiquity through illicit means.
"This is incredible." Ian carefully stored the Book of the Living, his voice brimming with excitement.
"Ancient Egypt's alchemical system and magic are truly unique."
Many charms in later generations had been influenced by ancient Egyptian magical theory.
This proves just how extraordinary their magic really was.
Without hesitation, Ian stuffed the entire scripture into his purse and packed up the tools on the workbench.
When he tried to haul away the bronze furnace, which was half as tall as a man, it suddenly began to hum in protest.
"Oh? A sentient alchemy tool?" Ian became even happier. "Then I definitely have to take you."
At the deepest level of the pyramid, Ian discovered a hidden, sealed chamber filled with wards.
The walls were adorned with all kinds of cursed objects:
A pale bronze mirror that drank blood.
A burial shroud covered in eyes.
A holy grail that continuously seeped black water.
There were so many things.
By the time Ian finally stepped out of the pyramid, his pouch was nearly overflowing. It was stuffed with rare materials and ancient secret texts.
Outside, the horizon had already begun to pale into the white of dawn.
"One target achieved, plus a bonus pile of rare materials... Not a bad start to this Egypt trip."
Ian's figure quickly vanished down the road to his next destination.
He was going to "borrow" the River Styx oar from Anubis.
(End of Chapter)
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