Master Longbrow saw the three glowing characters “Inheritance Two” on the stone and noticed Ye Qiu holding a wooden box. He immediately understood and cursed in anger.
“You little brat, tricking us by saying there was danger while you came here to find treasures. Shameless.”
While speaking, Master Longbrow quickly snatched the wooden box from Ye Qiu’s hand and opened it to find it empty. He asked, “Little brat, have you obtained the inheritance?”
Ye Qiu smiled and said, “What do you think?”
“What is the inheritance? Hurry up and show it to this old Taoist,” Master Longbrow urged.
Ye Qiu said, “A book on alchemy, filled with methods for refining pills.”
Master Longbrow, expecting some extraordinary treasure, heard it was an alchemy book and his anger instantly faded. He said, “Little brat, I won’t hold this against you, but when you refine pills in the future, you must give me a few.”
“No problem,” Ye Qiu agreed readily.
Master Longbrow said, “There should be plenty more treasures in this sage’s tomb. Come, let’s go ahead and see.”
“Wait a moment,” Ye Qiu said. He quickly took out paper and a pen, wrote two sentences, placed them in the wooden box, and put the box back in its original spot.
Master Longbrow grinned and said, “You little brat, you’re really wicked. When those people outside come in and open the box to see what you wrote, they’ll probably be so angry they’ll spit blood.”
Ye Qiu gave a slight smile and said, “I’m also looking forward to their expressions when they open the box. Let’s go.”
The group continued forward.
The peach grove was vast, and it took them a full half hour to emerge from it.
Looking ahead, they saw nine massive mountain ranges, like nine thousand-foot dragons, layered and majestic.
At the centre of the nine ranges was a small peak, about a thousand metres high.
This peak was entirely purple, barren of any vegetation, resembling a seated general surrounded by the nine ranges.
“What a prime piece of feng shui land,” Master Longbrow exclaimed. “The nine peaks are like nine dragon veins, encircling the purple mountain, forming a pattern of nine dragons guarding a pearl. That purple mountain is the dragon’s lair. In the mortal world, such a place would give rise to a true dragon emperor.”
“If I’m not mistaken, that purple mountain is likely the sage’s tomb.”
“There must be peerless treasures inside.”
Master Longbrow, full of excitement, said, “No time to waste, let’s go treasure hunting.”
The group arrived at the foot of the purple mountain.
As expected, there was a cave at the base, flanked by two strangely shaped stone statues.
They had deer antlers, lion bodies, and human faces.
About three zhang tall.
Their limbs were robust, mouths gaping wide, looking ferocious like two demon kings from hell.
Just one glance sent chills down the spine.
“These are tomb-guarding beasts,” Master Longbrow, knowledgeable from experience, identified them at once.
“Master, what are tomb-guarding beasts?” Green萝 asked.
Master Longbrow explained, “Tomb-guarding beasts are monstrous statues placed in tombs, some with human faces and lion bodies, others with beast faces and human bodies.”
“In simple terms, their purpose is to ward off ghosts and protect the soul of the deceased from disturbance.”
“In the mortal world, such beasts are only found in imperial or noble tombs.”
“But ones this large, this is the first time I’ve seen them.”
Ye Qiu, curious, approached the two beasts and examined them.
Suddenly, he noticed two yellowed talismans attached to the heels of the beasts, resembling corpse-suppressing charms.
Ye Qiu reached out to touch one.
“Don’t touch the talisman,” Master Longbrow warned.
“Why not?” Ye Qiu asked, puzzled.
Master Longbrow said, “If you remove it, they’ll come to life.”
“You’re fooling who? How can stone statues come to life?” Ye Qiu didn’t believe him and tore off the talisman.
“I told you, little brat, why don’t you listen?” Master Longbrow said, annoyed.
Ye Qiu replied, “Old man, didn’t you say it would come to life? Why’s there no movement?”
Master Longbrow said, “Better safe than sorry. If it really comes to life, we’ll be in trouble… Oh no.”
Master Longbrow suddenly shouted, pointing at the beast’s face, saying, “I just saw its eyes move.”
At this, the others looked up at the beast’s eyes, preparing to act.
They stared for half a minute.
The beast’s eyes didn’t move.
Seeing their tense expressions, Master Longbrow laughed and said, “I didn’t expect you lot, with such high cultivation, to be so timid. I was just joking, and look how scared you are.”
Ye Qiu glared at him and said, “If you dare trick us again, I’ll whip you with my divine lash.”
Fairy Hundred Flowers and Green萝 also shot Master Longbrow a glare.
“Hey, don’t get mad… Huh?” Master Longbrow let out a surprised sound, saying seriously, “Little brat, the beast’s eyes really moved this time.”
“Move your sister. Still trying to fool me? I think you’re asking for a beating,” Ye Qiu said, pulling out his divine lash.
Fairy Hundred Flowers also clenched her fists, ready to teach him a lesson.
“I swear I didn’t lie, the beast’s eyes really moved…”
Before Master Longbrow could finish, a roar echoed in their ears.
“Roar.”
The tomb-guarding beast let out a deafening bellow.
Ye Qiu and the others’ faces changed as they looked up at the beast.
At that moment, the beast truly came to life, its body glowing, roaring from its mouth, and its two front hooves raised high, exuding overwhelming divine might.
Its bell-like eyes looked down at Ye Qiu and the others, as if gazing at mere ants.
“Roar.”
The beast roared again, as if saying to Ye Qiu and the others, “You weak insects, why aren’t you kneeling before me?”
Ye Qiu and the others were shocked.
Wasn’t this just a stone statue? How did it come to life?
Seeing their lack of reaction, the beast seemed angered and brought its front hooves down.
Its movements appeared slow, but the aura was terrifying, like a mountain crashing down, suffocating Ye Qiu and the others.
“This beast’s strength surpasses the Cave Heaven realm,” Fairy Hundred Flowers exclaimed.
Master Longbrow urgently shouted, “Little brat, put the talisman back.”
Ye Qiu, lightning-fast, stuck the talisman back on the beast’s heel. Instantly, the beast seemed frozen, its descending hooves halted mid-air, its body motionless.
The powerful aura also vanished.
It was as if the scene had never happened.
Master Longbrow said to Ye Qiu, “I told you not to ignore my advice. Now you see how powerful these tomb-guarding beasts are.”
“Let’s go,” Ye Qiu said, entering the cave without further words.
Fairy Hundred Flowers and the others followed closely, entering the cave. From afar, they saw three glowing characters ahead.
“Inheritance Three.”
