Ye Qiu stared at the dark cave for a moment, an inexplicable sense of unease stirring in his chest.
“Let’s go in—everyone, stay cautious.”
Elder Longbrow spoke, then started toward the cave.
“I’ll take the lead,” Ye Qiu said, drawing the Emperor Sword Chixiao and gripping it tightly as he stepped up to the cave entrance.
Inside, it was pitch black, a void where no hand could be seen in front of one’s face, utterly silent and lifeless.
Ye Qiu proceeded carefully, shining a flashlight around to check for danger before taking his first step inside.
Instantly, the temperature plummeted, sending a chill across his skin.
Ye Qiu led the way, with Elder Longbrow and Shuisheng following behind, the trio advancing slowly through the cave.
After about ten minutes, the ground beneath their feet grew softer.
At first, Ye Qiu didn’t pay much attention, but as the yin energy thickened, he slowed his pace.
Crunch!
Suddenly, a sharp sound came from underfoot.
Ye Qiu stopped immediately, shining his flashlight downward, and saw a skull staring back at him.
Sweeping the light across the nearby ground, he was startled to find it covered in a thick layer of white ash.
Ye Qiu crouched, scooped up a handful of the ash, and sniffed it.
The next second, his face twisted in shock.
“Little brat, what are you doing?” Elder Longbrow’s voice came from behind.
Ye Qiu turned, extending his hand toward Elder Longbrow and opening his palm.
“What’s this? Lime?” Elder Longbrow asked, puzzled.
Ye Qiu shook his head, his voice grave, “Bone ash!”
“Holy—!”
Elder Longbrow let out a startled yelp, shining his flashlight on the ground. The bone ash was at least a foot thick.
“How many people had to die to leave behind such a thick layer of ash?” Elder Longbrow’s face was full of astonishment.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this place. Stay sharp—we can’t afford to mess up at the last step,” Ye Qiu warned.
“Mm.”
The trio pressed on.
After a while, the bone ash gave way to countless scattered skeletons.
Hundreds, at least.
They littered the ground.
Not one was intact—some missing arms, others legs, and a few without heads…
It was clear these people had died gruesome deaths.
Among them were several whose waists had been severed by a sharp blade, reminiscent of the legendary punishment of being cut in half.
Hiss!
Elder Longbrow sucked in a cold breath, “This place looks like a mass grave.”
Ye Qiu said, “Let’s not worry about that for now—keep moving.”
“Wait,” Elder Longbrow called out, stopping Ye Qiu. He then bowed respectfully to the skeletons on the ground, saying, “Infinite Heavenly Venerable! This poor Taoist passes through here today and disturbs you all. My apologies, please forgive me!”
Shuisheng chuckled, “Uncle Master, what’s the point of bowing to these bones? They can’t understand you.”
“Do you even know what ‘respect for the dead’ means?”
Elder Longbrow glared at Shuisheng, “No matter who they were or what status they held in life, today we’re walking over their remains. Shouldn’t we show them some respect?”
“Besides, some things are better believed than dismissed.”
Just as Elder Longbrow finished speaking, a gust of yin wind swept through.
“Wooo—”
The eerie wind howled, and the skeletons rattled with strange noises, as if responding to his words.
Shuisheng shrank back, falling silent.
Ye Qiu continued forward. Perhaps because the bones were so ancient, they turned to dust with the lightest step.
Ten minutes later.
“Clank, clank…”
Suddenly, the sound of iron chains echoed from ahead, accompanied by a heavy wave of yin energy.
“Little brat, we’re probably nearing the cave’s end. Be careful,” Elder Longbrow warned again.
Ye Qiu nodded slightly, tightening his grip on the Emperor Sword.
After another hundred metres or so, the trio finally emerged from the dark cave.
Light flooded their vision.
They now stood in a massive stone chamber, its walls carved with numerous square niches, each holding an ever-burning lamp.
One, two, three, four…
Ninety-nine in total!
“Clank, clank…”
The sound of rattling chains came from above.
The three looked up, their faces paling.
Three zhang above them hung a pitch-black coffin.
It was more than twice the size of an ordinary coffin, suspended by four iron chains anchored to its corners, the other ends embedded in the stone walls.
It dangled silently in the air!
As the yin wind blew, the chains swayed slightly, producing the chilling “clank, clank” sound that sent shivers down their spines.
“Uncle Master, where’s the Heavenly Master’s Sword?” Shuisheng asked.
“It should be here. Search around,” Elder Longbrow instructed, “Don’t touch anything carelessly. Once we find the sword, we leave immediately.”
“Mm,” Shuisheng nodded, trailing behind Ye Qiu as they began their search.
Elder Longbrow glanced up at the suspended coffin, unease gnawing at him.
A moment later.
“Old man, come look at this,” Ye Qiu called.
Elder Longbrow hurried over to Ye Qiu’s side, asking, “What’d you find?”
“Look there.”
Ye Qiu pointed at the stone wall.
Elder Longbrow looked up and saw a carved figure on the wall—a Taoist in robes, holding a whisk, wearing a purple-gold crown, and carrying a peachwood sword on his back, exuding an air of celestial grace.
“It’s the Patriarch’s portrait.”
Elder Longbrow pointed at Heavenly Master Zhang’s image and erupted, “Damn your grandmother, all you know is how to screw with me!”
“What else are you good for besides messing with me?”
“Don’t think I’m scared of you just because you ascended to immortality. You’re so great, huh? Bet you didn’t expect I’d slap you one day!”
Elder Longbrow stepped forward and smacked the portrait.
“Crack!”
A corner of the image broke off, revealing a line of text in Elder Longbrow’s view.
“Longbrow, as a descendant, you dare disrespect this Heavenly Master. Are you trying to betray your master and destroy your lineage?”
Thud!
Elder Longbrow dropped to his knees in terror, kowtowing frantically to the portrait while pleading, “Sorry, Patriarch! It’s Longbrow’s insolence—please forgive me!”
Crack!
The entire portrait shattered, revealing four more characters.
“The sword is in the coffin!”
The Heavenly Master’s Sword was inside the coffin?
Elder Longbrow leapt up, staring at the suspended coffin and said, “Little brat, cut the chains—I’m getting that sword.”
Ye Qiu suggested, “Why don’t I just lift the lid and grab the sword for you?”
“Right, why didn’t I think of that?” Elder Longbrow grinned, “Little brat, thanks for the trouble.”
Clang!
Just then, the airborne coffin jolted violently, as if some terrifying entity within had awakened.
