102: Chapter 102 Nighttime Investigation of the Imperial Tomb, Mystery of the Emperor's Corpse

Night was deep, three hundred miles east of Tiandu City, in the restricted area of the Imperial Mausoleum.

This place was the resting place for the successive Human Emperors of the Human Emperor Palace, as well as some nobles and clan members who had made significant contributions to the Human Race. It occupied a vast area, with strict Restrictions, guarded by elite armored soldiers year-round, and enveloped by powerful Formations. Ordinary Cultivators, even Nascent Soul True Monarchs, would never dare to trespass without permission.

However, at this moment, three ghost-like figures quietly appeared on the periphery of the Imperial Mausoleum, beneath the towering, massive archway engraved with countless defensive runes and Imperial Dragon Qi. They were none other than Lin Wan, Sword Master Jian Wuming, and Fairy Yaoxi.

"The Imperial Mausoleum... could it be the hideout of the 'Void Church'?" Sword Master Jian Wuming frowned slightly, looking at the solemn and majestic mausoleum ahead that faintly exuded an aura of deathly silence, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes. The Imperial Mausoleum was a vital location for the Human Race, protected by Imperial Dragon Qi and the will of successive Human Emperors. Logically, it should be one of the places hardest to erode by sinister forces like 'the end'.

"This was also my initial doubt." Lin Wan's gaze was like lightning, and the faint golden line of the 'Eye of Samsara' between his brows flickered, scanning the entire Imperial Mausoleum area. "But based on my sensing of 'Reincarnation' and 'the end' after refining that fragment, combined with Senior Xing Shu's celestial calculations, and the records in the Alliance's intelligence regarding several 'imperceptible' anomalies in the Imperial Mausoleum over the past hundred years—for instance, occasionally at midnight, guards would faint for no reason and have blurred memories upon waking; deep within the mausoleum, extremely faint whispers that did not sound human could sometimes be heard; the circulation of Imperial Dragon Qi would show extremely brief, almost imperceptible stagnation in certain areas... All signs indicate that this place likely hides some extremely obscure 'foreign object' that might even be using Imperial Dragon Qi and dead Yin Qi as a cover."

"Furthermore," Lin Wan paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "the most dangerous place is often the safest. Who would have thought that the Imperial Mausoleum, which symbolizes the orthodoxy of the Human Race and is protected by Imperial Dragon Qi, would be chosen as a lair by evil forces like the 'Void Church'?"

Fairy Yaoxi nodded slightly: "Elder Lin makes sense. Although Imperial Dragon Qi can suppress evil, it is not impossible if it is twisted and utilized by special means, or if some 'foreign object' that does not rely on Yin Qi, but instead takes 'dead silence' and 'the end' as its Origin, is bred and lurking under its protection. The power of 'the end' is inherently adept at eroding, assimilating, and twisting all 'existence'."

"Since we are here, let us go in and find out." Sword Master Jian Wuming hesitated no longer, Sword Intent appearing in his eyes. "If there are truly evil spirits hiding here, desecrating the former Emperors, their crime deserves death!"

The three spoke no more, each using their own methods to conceal their figures, avoiding the patrolling armored soldiers and the visible Formation detections. Like three formless breezes, they quietly passed through the archway and entered the interior of the Imperial Mausoleum.

Upon entering the mausoleum, a dense, solemn, and cold sensation carrying a faint scent of sandalwood and the aura of time rushed towards them. Under their feet was a level Spirit Path paved with "Soul-Suppressing Stones", and on both sides stood huge stone statues of various Auspicious Beasts and civil and military officials, which appeared exceptionally majestic in the dim moonlight, yet also exuded a hint of indescribable eeriness.

The further they went, the higher the specifications of the tombs, the more magnificent the architecture, and the richer the Imperial Dragon Qi, which faintly formed an invisible pressure, deterring all disrespectful Souls. But under this vast and majestic Dragon Qi, Lin Wan's "Eye of Samsara" keenly captured traces of extremely obscure, cold, and "ending"-filled abnormal fluctuations that had merged perfectly with the surrounding dead Yin Qi and the Yin power of the earth veins.

"There is indeed a problem." Lin Wan thought to himself and transmitted his voice to Sword Master Jian Wuming and Fairy Yaoxi: "Follow me, the source of the fluctuation seems to be in the 'Imperial Mausoleum District' at the deepest part."

The three walked along the Spirit Path, quickly sneaking towards the deepest part of the mausoleum. Along the way, they encountered several teams of patrolling tomb guards, all of whom were above the Golden Core stage, and some even had Nascent Soul Cultivators leading them, but they were all easily avoided by the three.

Finally, they arrived at the core area of the mausoleum—the Imperial Mausoleum District. Here, the Human Emperors with the most outstanding cultivation and achievements from the Human Emperor Palace were buried. Their tombs were no longer simple mounds, but "Underground Palaces" that were grand in scale, like underground palaces. Each underground palace was equipped with extremely powerful Restrictions, connected to the great Formation of the Imperial Mausoleum, and ordinary people could not approach them at all.

And the obscure "ending" fluctuation that Lin Wan sensed seemed to originate from... the very center of the Imperial Mausoleum District, the largest scale, and the most magnificent underground palace where the founding ancestor of the Human Emperor Palace, the "Holy Emperor" whose cultivation was said to have touched upon the Void Refining stage—the "Holy Emperor Tianwu" was buried!

"Holy Emperor Tianwu's Mausoleum?" Sword Master Jian Wuming and Fairy Yaoxi's expressions became serious. Holy Emperor Tianwu was the founder of the Human Emperor Palace and held an irreplaceable and lofty status in the history of the Human Race. His mausoleum was the place where the Luck of the Human Race converged and Imperial Dragon Qi was the most abundant! If this place was eroded by "the end", it would be an unimaginable blow and desecration to the entire Human Race and the Luck of the entire Tiannan Continent!

"The fluctuation indeed originates from deep within this underground palace." Lin Wan investigated carefully with the "Eye of Samsara", the faint golden line between his brows shining slightly. "Moreover, this 'ending' fluctuation is not an external erosion, but rather seems to be... emanating from the very core 'coffin' inside the underground palace! Although it is extremely faint and has been covered and twisted by layers of Imperial Dragon Qi and the underground palace's Restrictions, its essence cannot be hidden from the sensing of 'Reincarnation'."

"Could it be... that something has gone wrong with the remains of Holy Emperor Tianwu?!" A trace of shock flashed in Fairy Yaoxi's beautiful eyes. If there is a change in the Emperor's corpse, this is a hundred times more serious than an enemy invading the Imperial Mausoleum! Once it spreads, it will surely shake the Foundation of the Human Emperor Palace and trigger a great turmoil in the Human Race and even the entire Central Plains!

"Go in and see, and we will know." Sword Master Jian Wuming said in a deep voice, his eyes filled with killing intent. If there is really a change in the Emperor's corpse, and it is eroded or utilized by "the end", then it is an irreconcilable enmity. Even if the other party is the remains of a Holy Emperor, it should be destroyed to avoid causing a great disaster.

The three arrived at the entrance of the "Holy Emperor Tianwu's Mausoleum" underground palace. The entrance was a huge tomb gate ten zhang high, carved from "Dragon-Suppressing Jade". On the gate were carved reliefs of nine dragons guarding the mountains and rivers, and there were layers of powerful Imperial Restrictions flowing, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

"The underground palace Restriction was set by the Holy Emperor himself, and it is connected to the entire Imperial Mausoleum Formation and even the Human Race's Luck in Tiandu City. Forcing it open will surely alert the tomb guards and may even trigger the backlash of Imperial Dragon Qi." Fairy Yaoxi frowned. Even though she was under the tutelage of a Void Refining expert, she felt tricky dealing with such Restrictions involving the Human Race's Luck and the majesty of the Holy Emperor.

"It's fine, I might have a way." Lin Wan stepped forward, and the "Eye of Samsara" between his brows suddenly opened. A faint golden divine light that seemed to be able to "reflect" the essence of all Laws shone on the tomb gate's Restrictions. Under the insight of the "Eye of Samsara", the seemingly seamless and unbreakable Imperial Restrictions, their operation Laws, energy nodes, and even their connection methods with the outside Formation and Luck, were all clearly presented in his "eyes" like peeling silk.

"So that's how it is... Using Imperial Dragon Qi as a base, integrating the Yin power of the earth veins, constructing a Yin and Yang cycle, and using the 'Mountains and Rivers' Law that the Holy Emperor comprehended during his lifetime as a guide, connecting the Human Race's Luck to form a protection that is almost a 'Domain'... Truly exquisite. However..."

Chaos and emerald light flowed in Lin Wan's eyes, and his hands began to form seals rapidly. A trace of strange power containing the Dao rhyme of "Reincarnation" flowed from his fingertips, like the most skillful carving knife, beginning to perform extremely subtle "adjustments" and "guidance" at the energy flow nodes and the gaps in the Law connections of the Restriction, without destroying the overall structure, yet capable of "deceiving" and "bypassing" the core of the Restriction in a short period of time.

This was a method of breaking the Restriction that he performed by using the "Eye of Samsara" to perceive its essence, and then using his own "Reincarnation" Dao rhyme to simulate and guide the power of the Restriction.

It was far more sophisticated than breaking it with brute force, but also riskier; the slightest carelessness would trigger a full-scale backlash from the Restriction.

However, Lin Wan's comprehension of "Reincarnation" and his extremely precise control over power allowed him to accomplish all of this without mishap.

"Hum..." The Imperial Restriction on the tomb door dimmed slightly, and a trace of extremely fleeting, almost imperceptible stagnation appeared in its flow.

Just at the moment this stagnation appeared— "Open!" Lin Wan gave a low shout, his hands slamming onto the tomb door.

A gentle yet irresistible force of Chaotic Reincarnation surged out, and he pushed lightly along the fleeting gap that had been "adjusted"!

"Click... click-clack..." The incredibly heavy "Dragon Suppressing Jade" tomb door emitted a low grinding sound and slowly opened inward, revealing a gap wide enough for only one person to pass through!

Behind the door, thick Yin Qi and Death Qi, mixed with Imperial Dragon Qi that was purer yet colder and seemingly devoid of "vitality," rushed forward like a cold tide accumulated over ten thousand years!

"Go!" Lin Wan took the first step and flashed inside.

Sword Master Jian Wuming and Fairy Yaoxi followed closely behind.

The three entered the underground palace, and the tomb door behind them silently and slowly closed, returning to its original state as if it had never been opened.

The interior of the underground palace was extremely vast, illuminated dimly by night-luminescent pearls and eternal lamps.

A straight divine path paved with "star gold" led into the depths.

On both sides of the divine path stood even more exquisite stone statues and murals, depicting the life and achievements of Holy Emperor Tianwu.

The air was filled with thick Yin Qi, Death Qi, and that lingering, cold, and Soul-freezing "the end" fluctuation.

The source was at the end of the divine path, inside the largest and most majestic giant coffin made of "Burial Heaven Divine Crystal"—the resting coffin of Holy Emperor Tianwu!

"Such heavy Death Qi and Yin malicious energy! This is absolutely not the aura a normal imperial tomb should have!" Sword Master Jian Wuming's expression was grave, his hand already resting on his sword hilt.

He could feel that the aura emanating from the coffin, while still retaining a portion of the grand and imposing Imperial Dragon Qi, had its core already corrupted and replaced by a colder, more "the end" force that shared the same Origin as "the end"!

It was as if the one sleeping in the coffin was not a revered Holy Emperor of the Human Race, but a... soon-to-awaken... Evil Emperor filled with ominousness and destruction!

"Be careful, something... in the coffin has awakened." Fairy Yaoxi's "Purifying Immortal Light" faintly appeared around her, her gaze locked tightly onto the huge "Burial Heaven Divine Crystal" coffin.

It seemed as if to confirm her words.

"Thump... thump-thump..." A low, slow, yet seemingly rhythmic heartbeat with a strange cadence clearly emanated from the huge "Burial Heaven Divine Crystal" coffin!

Each heartbeat caused the entire underground palace to tremble slightly, and the Death Qi, Yin Qi, and the cold "the end" fluctuation permeating the air surged violently in response!

"Thump!" The heartbeat suddenly intensified!

The heavy coffin lid, made of "Burial Heaven Divine Crystal" and supposedly invulnerable to all techniques and indestructible, shuddered violently and was lifted... by a crack!

A terrifying aura, so thick it could not be dissolved, intertwined with dark gold and pitch black, exuding decay, decline, death, and yet carrying a strange "Imperial" majesty, surged out from the coffin like a volcanic eruption!

"How many years has it been... finally... fresh... blood food... has been delivered to my door..." A dry, hoarse voice, filled with endless deathly silence and greed, yet carrying a chilling "Imperial" majesty like grinding metal, slowly sounded from the coffin.

Immediately after, a pale, withered hand, covered in strange dark golden patterns, with sharp, hook-like nails, and exuding a cold aura of death and decay, slowly... stretched out from the gap in the coffin lid and rested on the edge of the coffin.

The Imperial Corpse... has awakened!

Moreover, it is an... Evil Corpse, eroded and mutated by the power of "the end"!

"Not good! Retreat quickly!" Sword Master Jian Wuming shouted sharply, his long sword already drawn.

A fierce, unparalleled Sword Qi slashed fiercely towards the coffin, attempting to prevent the complete awakening of the Evil Corpse inside!

Fairy Yaoxi also attacked at the same time.

With a light wave of her jade hand, a cool, pure "Purifying Immortal Light," which seemed capable of purifying all filth in the world, rushed towards the coffin like a waterfall!

However, facing the joint attack of two Late Stage Soul Transformation powerhouses (Sword Master Jian Wuming was touching the threshold of Void Refining), the existence in the coffin seemed completely indifferent.

"Ants... dare to disturb... my slumber?" The dry, hoarse voice carried a trace of mockery and brutality.

The pale hand resting on the edge of the coffin just casually... gripped toward the incoming Sword Qi and Immortal Light.

"Puff!" "Puff!" The fierce Sword Qi and pure Immortal Light, the moment they touched that hand, seemed to hit an invisible wall and suddenly stagnated.

Then, as if forcibly eroded and disintegrated by a more overbearing and "the end" force, they instantly scattered and vanished, without even causing a ripple!

"What?!" Sword Master Jian Wuming and Fairy Yaoxi's expressions changed drastically.

Although they had not used their full strength, the attack just now was enough to threaten a Late Stage Soul Transformation Cultivator! To think it was resolved so casually by the opponent?!

The strength of this Evil Corpse in the coffin was probably... far beyond their estimation!

It was at least Peak Soul Transformation, and perhaps even... touched the level of Void Refining!

Moreover, the essence of its power was filled with "the end" and "death," and it seemed to have an extremely strong suppression and erosion effect on the techniques and Divine Abilities of living beings!

"Hehehe... not bad blood food... Late Stage Soul Transformation... and another... little fellow... with a more peculiar taste..." The "gaze" of the Evil Corpse in the coffin seemed to pass through the gap in the lid and land on Lin Wan.

Its voice carried a trace of indescribable... greed and excitement.

"On your body... there is the scent of 'Reincarnation'... and... the 'life' aura that I detest... and even a trace of... the 'Mirror' fragment that is familiar yet makes me hate it..."

"Truly... a perfect... sacrifice!"

"Boom—!" The coffin lid was completely blown away!

A withered Imperial Corpse, wearing a tattered dark golden Imperial robe that still showed its former glory, wearing a flat-topped crown, its face withered like a skeleton, and two clusters of dark golden flames filled with brutal, greedy, and destructive desires burning in its eye sockets—slowly... sat up from the coffin!

Around its body, a terrifying corpse aura, dark golden and containing the Origins of "the end" and "death," rose into the sky like wolf smoke, instantly filling the entire underground palace!

Its aura had reached... Peak Soul Transformation!

Moreover, it was a special kind of Peak, more strange, more dangerous, and with stronger suppression against living beings, after being eroded and mutated by the power of "the end"!

"I... Tianwu... today... return to the human world!"

"I shall use your blood... to reignite... my Imperial Flame! I shall use the living beings of this world... to sacrifice for... my rebirth!"

"Ants... kneel! Tremble! And then... become my... first stepping stone to reach the Peak again!"

"Roar—!!!" A roar filled with endless brutal, greedy, and destructive will erupted from the mouth of the "Tianwu Evil Corpse," shaking the entire underground palace until it trembled!

Its withered palm reached out toward the three of them, grabbing fiercely through the air!

"Imperial Dao—Claw of Myriad Spirits' Annihilation!"

Five huge claw shadows, intertwined with dark gold and pitch black, seemingly capable of crushing stars and annihilating all spirits, tore through the space, carrying the death will of ending everything, and descended upon the three of them!

The power was so strong that it had completely surpassed the Soul Transformation level and touched... the threshold of Void Refining!

The battle instantly entered the most dangerous situation!