After waiting for about another quarter of an hour, they heard the Sand Lizard get to its feet inside, followed by the scrape of claws against the ground. It sounded as though it had moved deeper into the cavern.
"It's time." Lin Taichu took the Fire Tinder handed over by Zhang. "Daoist Master Wang, withdraw with the others first. Wait for me at the wall of fire at Heifeng Pass. I'll join you once I light the fuse."
"I'll stay with you," Daoist Master Wang said.
"No need. Too many people will only slow us down." Lin Taichu blew the Fire Tinder alight. "Once you're out, move the barrels of Fire Oil we hid earlier near the main cave entrance. If the explosion doesn't bring it down, we'll burn it again with the oil."
Daoist Master Wang did not insist further. He led the others swiftly toward the entrance. Their footsteps were light and soon vanished into the darkness.
Lin Taichu took a deep breath, crouched down, and held the Fire Tinder to the main fuse. It began to burn with a hiss, sparks racing along the hemp rope. He watched the sparks travel several steps before getting up and retreating toward the entrance.
He had barely run any distance when a roar suddenly came from behind him. The Sand Lizard! It must have spotted the sparks on the fuse.
Lin Taichu did not dare look back and sprinted outward faster. He could hear the footsteps behind him drawing closer and closer. The Sand Lizard's hisses were not far behind, and its foul stench drifted over on the wind.
He ran desperately, instinctively swinging the Reincarnation Token behind him. Golden light swept over the rock wall, sending fragments of stone flying and temporarily blocking the Sand Lizard's path.
Boom—
The