Chapter 64: Descending into the Tomb

Just as Chen Luo had guessed, after traveling for some distance, the carriage indeed stopped at the spot where he had previously filled the tunnel.

“More grave robbers have been here to inspect the entrance and even blocked the passage we left behind.”

Ahead, Longevity Daoist and his companions disembarked from the carriage and immediately noticed the buried tunnel that Chen Luo had concealed.

Xin Huo-shangren crouched down and probed around the covered entrance, seemingly estimating the time since it was sealed.

Behind them, Chen Luo appeared stunned.

So, this tunnel was originally dug by Longevity Daoist and his group. Their technique looked remarkably similar to seasoned tomb raiders! One could only wonder if they belonged to the Southern or Northern schools.

“The rumors of spirit stones persist; it’s not surprising that others come seeking their fortune,” observed Longevity Daoist, unaware that Chen Luo had filled in the tunnel. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to mind either.

After quickly confirming their position, Longevity Daoist retrieved a wooden figure from the carriage. He placed a talisman drawn by Jade Bamboo Fairy on its forehead and then reached around to imprint pre-drawn immortal script onto the back of the figure’s head. Simultaneously, he opened a compartment near its chest, inserted a spirit stone inside, and closed it securely.

The wooden figure wobbled briefly before steadying itself. It then grabbed the shovel prepared nearby and began digging frantically.

In no time, the tunnel that Chen Luo had sealed was reopened.

“This is an advanced version of the machinery arts—a most efficient, spiritual-energy-saving wooden automaton,” Daoist Heartflame casually explained to his disciples.

“Don’t underestimate this tunnel; finding it required immense effort.”

“We know, we know—our ears have grown calluses from hearing it so often.” The young disciples looked visibly impatient, having heard this tale countless times.

“You little rascals!” Daoist Heartflame swiftly slapped one of them, clearly indicating the speaker was his own disciple.

“Is there any issue?” Chen Luo asked, puzzled.

“I almost forgot about Junior Brother Chen.” The speaking disciple immediately perked up and started explaining.

“This tunnel took Master and the others thirty years to locate precisely—it’s a gap within the Great Mausoleum. If you dig elsewhere, the mausoleum’s formation would deceive you, leading your efforts astray.”

“Almost forgot about Junior Brother Chen,” continued the disciple.

“We’ve been here numerous times, and each visit, Master Uncle Xin Huo explains these details to us. Initially, it was quite intriguing, but after hearing it so often, we’d rather not waste our time anymore.”

The disciple speaking was Xie Shuang, the final disciple of the Jade Bamboo Fairy and the only female cultivator among the young group. The remaining four were rough, burly men—disciples of Daoist Heartflame, just like Chen Luo, all at the first level of Qi Refinement. The one who got struck earlier was Daoist Heartflame’s eldest disciple.

“A gap in the Great Mausoleum?” Chen Luo glanced at the tunnel and then surveyed the surroundings.

Despite careful observation, he couldn’t detect any signs of a formation nearby.

“That’s right! I heard from Uncle-Master Changqing that due to its immense age, parts of the mausoleum’s formation have become dysfunctional over geological shifts. This gap emerged precisely because of such changes,” Xie Shuang explained with a smile.

“I see,” said Chen Luo, shifting his focus towards Longevity Daoist and the others.

His external minds promptly sprang into action.

‘Cracked white crystal stones found at positions due west and southeast, likely indicating the foundation of the formation.’

Indeed, one of these external minds had identified the issue and even located two suspected foundation points of the formation.

“All right, let’s descend one by one.”

On the other side, the wooden figure swung its shovel vigorously, reopening the tunnel.

The three cultivators jumped down through the hole, followed swiftly by Chen Luo. Meanwhile, Xie Shuang and the four remaining disciples returned to their carriages to retrieve items as instructed by their master.

Upon descending, they found themselves back in the same preparation chamber.

Chen Luo glanced around but noticed no significant changes; even the unreadable skull lay quietly in its corner.

“Over here, shift three inches to the side.”

After reaching the bottom, Changqing Daoist, Jade Bamboo Fairy, and Master Uncle Xin Huo became more focused, dividing tasks among themselves. They began measuring various corners of the tomb chamber separately.

The wooden figure had also moved aside the opened stone coffin.

It possessed remarkable strength, making it an excellent worker.

“That’s a tomb raider’s skull.” Seeing Chen Luo stare at the nearby skull, Xie Shuang and the others gathered around after setting down their belongings. Changqing Daoist and his companions were busy, momentarily unable to attend to their disciples.

“A tomb raider?”

Chen Luo finally understood why he couldn’t read anything from this skull—it belonged to an ordinary person.

“Hasn’t Uncle-Master Longevity told you?” Xie Shuang looked at Chen Luo curiously. As Longevity Daoist’s direct disciple, it was surprising that he didn’t know what his teacher did before entering the path of cultivation.

“Told me what?”

Inadvertently, Chen Luo glanced at Longevity Daoist, who was diligently analyzing the formation’s orientation nearby. With his ethereal and ascetic appearance,

“Before Uncle-Master Longevity embarked on the cultivation path, he was the most renowned Tomb-Prospecting Official in our Yue Kingdom, having explored countless grand tombs. After becoming a cultivator, he further refined his skills. Now, with just a glance at any tomb, he can discern its general layout. He has an innate sensitivity to formations, which my master says is truly blessed by the heavens.”

Xie Shuang discreetly glanced back, then leaned close to Chen Luo’s ear, quietly revealing some secrets about their uncle-master.

“Huh?” Chen Luo was momentarily stunned.

He took another look at Longevity Daoist, with his white hair and beard, clad in a simple green robe, and suddenly felt something seemed off. The illusion of immortal cultivation shattered instantly.

Whenever reading stories or listening to tales, immortals were portrayed as aloof beings, untouched by worldly affairs. Yet here, they formed a group digging graves and creating tunnels like common thieves.

Especially concerning was the Jade Bamboo Fairy, a ‘celestial maiden,’ still swinging her pickaxe diligently nearby. Chen Luo felt as if his inner beliefs were shattering before his eyes.

‘It must be due to the Land of Lost Spirituality. Being at Qi Refinement stages one and two is simply too low. Once we enter the true world of immortal cultivation, things will surely improve.’

“The Great Mausoleum beneath our feet was also discovered by Uncle-Master Changqing. Initially, some tomb raiders accidentally breached it, causing spiritual energy leakage. After detecting this, Uncle-Master Changqing, along with my master and Master Uncle Xin Huo, spent over a hundred years investigating. Eventually, they managed to bypass the superficial fake mausoleum and found the genuine entrance.”

This time, speaking was Doude, Daoist Heartflame’s eldest disciple. He appeared honest and straightforward, with a slightly dark complexion and sturdy build. If not for his daoist robes, no one would associate him with being a cultivator; he seemed more like a seasoned farmer.

BOOM!!

As they chatted casually, a sudden loud noise echoed from the direction of the dig site. Moments later, they heard the voices of Longevity Daoist and the others.

“It’s open! Hurry over here, all of you.”

Chen Luo and the group swiftly ran towards the sound, only to find that where the stone coffin once stood, a new hole had mysteriously appeared. This tunnel descended diagonally at a forty-five-degree angle.

The wooden toolman had vanished, likely having fallen down.

At the forefront, Longevity Daoist leaped first into the tomb.

“Don’t forget to bring everything with you.”

Behind him, Jade Bamboo Fairy followed suit, while Daoist Heartflame was the last to enter. Just before descending, he reminded his disciple:

“Got it,” Doude promptly responded.

Quickly, they lifted the chest and proceeded. Chen Luo glanced inside, noticing it contained numerous black iron plates inscribed with immortal script written by Longevity Daoist. Along the edges were traces of talisman markings, indicating these items were jointly crafted by Longevity Daoist, Jade Bamboo Fairy, and Daoist Heartflame.

“These are path guides, used to activate the passageway,” Doude explained, seeing Chen Luo’s curiosity as they carried the chest.

As they spoke, the group swiftly caught up.

Upon entering the tunnel, Chen Luo felt a sudden lightness; his clothes floated effortlessly, and even the chest brought by Doude and others hovered in mid-air. It seemed gravity had disappeared within this area.

“Is this a tomb?!” Chen Luo exclaimed, astonished by the sight before him.

He wasn’t alone; Xie Shuang and the others accompanying him were equally stunned, suggesting it was their first time venturing down here as well.