Chapter 65: The Mummy's Brain

Before their eyes, they beheld an endless expanse of dark starry sky.

Floating within this void were numerous stone platforms, each supporting a small half-circular chamber atop them.

The Longevity Daoist and his two companions had descended first and stood on a platform ahead. A considerable gap separated their platform from where Chen Luo and the others were positioned, with no bridge or iron chains spanning the darkness; it seemed impossible to cross.

Most crucially, the entrance tunnel through which they arrived had vanished entirely, cutting off any means of retreat.

This revelation sent waves of panic among the young individuals.

“Stay absolutely still; this place is extremely dangerous. One misstep and you’re doomed,” Changqing Daoist promptly warned upon seeing them descend.

“Uncle-Master, are you certain this is a tomb?” Douglas and his three fellow disciples, gazing at the dark starry expanse before them, felt their legs trembling uncontrollably.

The scene unfolding before them defied their understanding completely. Moreover, the aura emanating from the small chambers behind them constantly reminded them of the immense peril lurking here.

If this truly was a tomb,

they couldn’t fathom what kind of entity could have constructed such a vast necropolis.

“Maintain your composure and avoid looking around indiscriminately!”

Before Changqing Daoist could respond, Daoist Heartflame, standing nearby, couldn’t contain himself anymore.

With his angry outburst, Douglas and the others instantly snapped back to their senses.

“First, take everything out of the chest and spread it on the ground,” the Jade Bamboo Fairy also chimed in with a reminder.

Hearing her voice, everyone quickly sprang into action. Having tasks at hand diverted their attention, reducing their fear significantly.

Chen Luo stood to the side.

Having not participated in earlier rehearsals, he was unfamiliar with these black iron pieces and thus found himself idle.

Meanwhile, his internal external brains became exceptionally active, as if returning home.

“‘At a fifteen-degree angle from the floating platform, there are purple spirit stones.’

“‘Behind and to the right, blue light flickers, possibly indicating cultivation techniques.’

“‘The material of the floor tiles beneath is unknown, likely related to equipment forging.’”

Thought after thought continuously flashed through Chen Luo’s mind.

This made his mindset distinctly different from the others; instead of fear, he felt intrigued and began observing the surroundings more closely.

They were on a small island suspended amidst the dark expanse of space. The floor consisted of grayish-green square tiles seamlessly fitted together, resembling a vast mirror from afar. Upon closer inspection, one would notice intricate patterns etched onto the mirror-like surface.

It resembled some sort of formation, but it was too intricate; despite observing for a while, Chen Luo couldn’t fully comprehend it.

Behind the platform stood a stone hut, its structure suggesting it might have been used as a secluded chamber for cultivation retreats.

However, now within that seclusion lay corpses.

“So this truly is a tomb.”

Curious, Chen Luo approached cautiously.

Earlier, he had tested and confirmed that the platform itself was safe. Beyond it, however, safety could not be guaranteed - likely why Longevity Daoist warned them against recklessness.

Leaving the stone platform’s perimeter would most probably trigger the formation, with unpredictable consequences.

“Just how many platforms and tombs are there?”

Chen Luo turned to gaze at the seemingly endless array of platforms stretching behind him.

Each platform housed a mausoleum, and if all contained deceased individuals, the sheer number was staggering. No wonder Longevity Daoist referred to this place as the Great Mausoleum.

Meanwhile, Longevity Daoist and his companions were setting up something akin to interconnected black metal plates, which appeared to activate only when linked together. After exploring the platform, Chen Luo returned to the entrance of the initial mausoleum.

He cautiously pushed at one of the mausoleum doors, surprised when it actually opened.

‘No defenses whatsoever?’

Chen Luo glanced back at the busy group, recalling the records of the Great Mausoleum shown to him by Longevity Daoist the previous night, which reassured him slightly.

Lowering his head, he stepped inside the entrance of the mausoleum.

The interior was not spacious, roughly five square meters, with smooth walls all around. Traces of oil lamps could be seen on both sides, but they were long extinguished.

In the center sat a shriveled and hunched corpse, cross-legged.

It was unclear how many years had passed, yet the body remained intact, even its clothing undamaged.

Chen Luo approached and retrieved from his robes a pair of specialized grave digger gloves, which he carefully put on.

This plan to loot corpses had been devised before arriving here. As a precaution against potential dangers, he had also inscribed an immortal script onto the gloves.

Upon contact, the familiar interface appeared:

‘Detected dead person’s brainwave signal: Degradation Rate 99%. Read Now?’

Strangely, this time there was a brief moment of lag while reading the degradation rate, but it quickly returned to normal. Chen Luo didn’t dwell on it.

‘It really works!’

Feeling the information from the panel, Chen Luo’s spirits lifted, and without hesitation, he immediately chose to extract.

Instantly, a thread of gray energy flowed from the mummy’s body into his own.

In that moment, Chen Luo felt a heavy pressure on his mind, and blood abruptly streamed from his nostrils.

Overload!

Since becoming a qi refiner, Chen Luo’s capacity for controlling external brains had significantly increased. With ordinary human brains, he estimated he could manage around three hundred.

However, upon integrating the mummy’s brain, the count surged past its limit, threatening to burst his sea of consciousness.

‘Abandon ten traveler brains.’

Sensing the danger, Chen Luo promptly selected ‘Clear Space’.

The effect was immediate.

After abandoning ten traveler brains, the pressure eased considerably, but it still couldn’t accommodate the mummy’s brain. Left with no choice, Chen Luo continued to relinquish more.

‘Abandon another ten!’

“Continue.”

Only after discarding fifty brains did the overwhelming sensation finally dissipate, replaced by an unprecedented clarity.

To Chen Luo, the entire Great Mausoleum now felt less unfamiliar, akin to returning home. This sensation occurred even without fully utilizing the dry corpse’s brain.

“W-What?! What are you doing?” At the entrance of the mausoleum, Xie Shuang, who had just finished setting up the formation, watched in disbelief as Chen Luo rummaged through corpses within the tomb. His worldview was completely shattered.

They had approached this place with extreme caution, afraid to even glance around carelessly. Yet here was Elder Brother Chen, boldly going hands-on! No wonder Uncle-Master Changqing took him under his wing; such dedication to corpses clearly marked him as a natural talent for grave-robbing!

“When visiting someone else’s territory, it’s only proper to greet the host. There’s no need to be alarmed,” Chen Luo responded calmly. He had already adjusted to the changes brought by the dry corpse’s brain and discreetly evaporated the blood from his nose using spiritual energy. Nonchalantly, he tucked away the deer-hide gloves into his robe. He planned to find a safe location outside before examining the abilities of this newly acquired brain.

Although uncertain about the grave owner’s background during their lifetime, based on the current reaction, they were undoubtedly not an ordinary figure.

This was truly a massive gain.

With this thought, his gaze instinctively turned towards the platform where Longevity Daoist and the others stood.

Upon it lay another tomb.

Inside, there should be yet another deceased mummified corpse.

“These individuals were likely cultivators before their deaths. With so many here, if I could extract all their brains, wouldn’t that catapult me to unimaginable heights?”

Of course, such thoughts remained merely fantasies.

Aside from the question of whether he could handle the consequences, the mausoleum’s formations alone would surely cost him his life. This had been thoroughly tested by Longevity Daoist over the past decades; the safe zone extended only as far as the platforms, and venturing beyond meant certain death!

His second disciple had perished precisely in this manner.

While Chen Luo’s mind wandered, Longevity Daoist and the others finally completed the formation setup.

Buzz!!

As soon as the formation took shape, the intricate patterns on the ground, previously unnoticed, lit up instantly.

“It worked! The key to activating the passage indeed lies in timing,” exclaimed Longevity Daoist excitedly.