167: Chapter 167 Old Jiang, is this right?

Jiang Hao smiled at the two stunned youths, "So, how about it? Impressive, right?"

Xiao Fan snapped back to reality and nodded vigorously. Beyond the shock in his eyes, a flame of yearning had ignited:

"Impressive... unimaginable power. Is this the view from the heights of the cultivation path..."

Zhang Bo also nodded emphatically, clenching his fist, "One day, I'll be that strong too!"

"Keep it up, you can do it too," Jiang Hao encouraged.

The two already had considerable potential, and now that they had encountered him, their futures were naturally bright.

The attacks from the several Great Sages were powerful, yet the seemingly fragile layer of radiant light merely rippled gently, dissolving all the assaults into nothingness.

Immediately after, a gentle voice emanated from deep within the Ancient Tomb, echoing in everyone's hearts:

"Those at the First Level of the Immortal Platform or above are forbidden entry."

"Violators will be executed."

As the words fell, the several Sages and Great Sages who had attacked simultaneously grunted, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths—they were actually injured by the backlash force!

The entire area fell silent.

The next moment, the lower-level Cultivators erupted into earth-shaking cheers!

"There's actually such a Restriction, fantastic!"

"Excellent, we have a chance too!"

Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo were also dumbfounded, whipping their heads around to look at Jiang Hao.

Zhang Bo stammered, "Old Jiang... how did you guess so accurately?"

This was too miraculous, saying it would happen and then it did!

Jiang Hao stroked his beard with a beaming smile, "Just lucky, a wild guess. Think about it, if you were the tomb's master, leaving behind opportunities, who would you choose to give them to?"

"Young people," the two answered as a matter of course.

"Exactly. Generally, they would choose young people because they are hope. But young people usually aren't at high cultivation levels. Under normal circumstances, they definitely couldn't compete with those established powerhouses. At that point, wouldn't Restrictions have to be imposed?"

"Seems that way." Xiao Fan and the other thought for a moment; it was indeed true.

"That's right." Jiang Hao smiled slightly. This wasn't Jiang Hao talking nonsense; many powerhouses' Legacy sites in this world indeed had such Restrictions.

Just like himself, he also preferred to give opportunities and chances to young people.

High above, several Great Sages steadied themselves, wiped the blood from their lips, their expressions somewhat unpleasant.

Their combined attack not only failed to break the Restriction but instead injured them through rule backlash.

They, several Peak Great Sages, were actually easily injured by a remnant formation.

And in front of countless junior Cultivators, it was truly somewhat embarrassing.

The Great Sage of the Qingming Clan rippled with green light and snorted coldly, "Skillful methods, worthy of an Ancient Emperor, truly formidable."

The Great Sage of Dao Yang Mountain shook his somewhat numb arm and said gruffly:

"If we can't enter, then we can't. My clan isn't without promising youngsters. At the same cultivation level below the Immortal Platform, would the youths of my Dao Yang Mountain lose to others?"

The Great Sage of the Purple Mansion Sect regained his composure and said slowly, "This is also good, showing greater fairness. Let the Disciples rely on their own abilities and luck."

The old woman from the Qingyun Sect also nodded, her hoarse voice transmitting to her own team below, "The Opportunity has arrived. Grasp it well, do not tarnish the prestige of our Qingyun Sect."

These Great Sages quickly adjusted their mindset.

Although they couldn't personally enter to compete for the greatest opportunities, the rules were fair to everyone.

In terms of resources, heritage, and foundation, the young talents they had meticulously nurtured, at the same cultivation level, naturally held an advantage over those Cultivators from among the Loose Cultivators and minor factions.

The ultimate victor would most likely emerge from among their major factions.

Thinking of this, the expressions of the several Great Sages softened considerably, resuming that transcendent, overlooking stance.

In their view, the advantage was still theirs.

As for the vast number of low-level Cultivators and Loose Cultivators, they didn't care what the Great Sages thought.

They only knew they had hope. As long as there was a chance and hope, that was enough.

Even if it was just a little, it was enough to make them happy, to make them fight desperately.

The rule Restrictions prevented those lofty old monsters from entering the fray; this was the greatest Opportunity for them, the little people!

Countless pairs of fervent eyes fixed on the radiant, flowing entrance of the Ancient Tomb. The air was thick with excitement and eagerness.

Under the watchful eyes of all, the radiant light enveloping the tomb rippled like water waves, slowly parting to the sides, revealing a hazy yet stable light gate.

Behind the gate, mist swirled, unclear to see, yet it emitted a unique aura.

The Ancient Emperors Tomb had opened!

The Cultivators at the Transformation Dragon and Dao Palace Realms, who had been waiting for a long time, surged in like a tide.

Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo, protecting Jiang Hao, also moved forward with the flow of people.

The moment they stepped into the passageway, space shifted.

When their vision refocused, they were already in a vast miniature world.

The sky was a soft, radiant light, the ground lush with grass, distant undulating mountains, and the sound of babbling streams.

The air was filled with rich natural spiritual energy; taking a single breath refreshed the spirit.

But beneath the beautiful scenery, danger lurked.

After walking only a few steps, screams suddenly came from ahead.

Several Cultivators triggered hidden formation patterns and were entangled by vines surging from the ground, instantly drained into dried corpses.

On another side, a seemingly ordinary patch of flowers suddenly spewed poisonous mist, enveloping over a dozen Cultivators who fell to the ground screaming, their flesh rotting.

"Be careful! There are traps here!" someone shouted.

The Cultivators immediately became tense, advancing cautiously.

Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo were also fully alert, keeping Jiang Hao protected in the middle.

Jiang Hao, however, walked unhurriedly, looking left and right as if strolling through his own backyard.

When encountering hidden traps, he always happened to slip, or bend down to pick something up, or look up at the clouds in the sky, just avoiding them.

Once or twice could be luck, but three or four times, and both Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo sensed something was off.

"Old Jiang, you..." Zhang Bo couldn't help but ask.

Jiang Hao exclaimed "Aiya!" as if tripped by a stone, staggering a couple of steps to the side, just dodging a burst of Yin Fire shooting from the ground.

After steadying himself, he patted his chest, "Old age, old age, legs and feet aren't as nimble."

Xiao Fan, Zhang Bo: "..."

Old Jiang, is this right? This is a bit outrageous.

Jiang Hao paid no mind, urging the two to advance, telling them not to worry about these details.

"Hurry up, or the treasures will be snatched up."

"Oh, oh, right, right." The two snapped back to reality and hurriedly continued forward.

The three continued onward. After a while, they encountered a fork in the road.

Three paths, looking exactly the same.

Other Cultivators were hesitating; some chose one randomly, others used secret arts to deduce.

Jiang Hao squinted, looked, and muttered, "This old man feels like the grass by the middle path looks greener?"

Xiao Fan and Zhang Bo exchanged a glance.

Zhang Bo whispered, "Xiao Fan, let's trust Old Jiang."

After these past few days together, Zhang Bo felt Old Jiang was very reliable, not the type to act recklessly.

Xiao Fan nodded, "Alright, then we'll take the middle path."

In his heart, he also greatly trusted Jiang Hao.

The three chose the middle path.

After walking for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a stone pavilion appeared ahead. On the stone table inside the pavilion, three weapons were placed.

Lined up were three sheathed short swords, their bodies ancient and simple, with a faint spiritual light flowing within the sheaths. On the table was also a pile of glittering Source Stones.

"They're Spirit Weapons!" Zhang Bo's eyes instantly went wide, his voice trembling with excitement.