Chapter 1493: Anomaly

“Ah…” Netherworld screamed as something approached her, causing her body to crack apart like porcelain, as if it might shatter at any moment.

“Roar!” Sanzang bellowed, his entire body wracked with agony. His limbs tore from his torso, his organs splitting apart—his form was collapsing entirely.

A glowing orb flew toward Netherworld, seeking to enter her body.

At the same time, another luminous entity rushed toward Sanzang, making his bones creak and snap, shattering one after another.

In the distance, Shi Hao felt a chill run down his spine. At this moment, he cared for nothing else, no longer fearing that the two might discover his secrets. With a metallic *clang*, he drew the Great Luo Sword Embryo.

Of course, he believed the two had no time to pay attention to him—they were already overwhelmed, unable to spare a thought for anything else.

*Clang!*

Simultaneously, Shi Hao summoned the Dark Immortal Gold Cauldron and sealed himself inside. The immortal herb, ever more slippery, had already hidden within.

*Swoosh!*

Just before sealing the cauldron, Shi Hao slashed forward with his sword, attempting to block the approaching entity.

It was another glowing orb. He didn’t know what it contained, but he absolutely refused to let it near him.

“It hurts so much!” Netherworld shrieked, her beautiful face contorted in pain as her body split apart, finally disintegrating.

Sanzang suffered the same fate—his body was torn asunder, limbs separating, blood splattering everywhere. The scene was gruesome.

Then, a sudden change occurred. The orbs shot straight toward their foreheads, unstoppable, piercing into their skulls in an instant.

*Boom!*

Their skulls glowed, the radiance spreading throughout their bodies like a rising sun, illuminating every inch of their forms.

The sound of bones shifting and snapping echoed loudly. The two Golden Undertakers, whose bodies had been torn apart, now began to heal, their bones reconnecting—an eerie sight.

The light from the box had torn them apart, yet now, with an orb entering each of their skulls, it seemed intent on repairing them.

“This feels… good!”

Sanzang murmured. For them, it was like alternating between ice and fire—the change was too sudden, too abrupt.

“Quick! As the Burial King instructed—leave your physical body!” Netherworld hissed, snapping him out of his daze.

The sensation of comfort was intoxicating, making the Golden Undertakers lose themselves. It wasn’t just physical relief—it was a deep, soul-deep relaxation.

Sanzang jolted awake, breaking free with a cold sweat.

At this moment, his body was being repaired, his flesh mending, his severed limbs regrowing.

*Swoosh!*

*Swoosh!*

Two streaks of light shot upward—Netherworld and Sanzang’s souls, tearing free from their bodies, leaving their skulls to hover in midair.

They watched silently as their physical forms underwent metamorphosis, nourished by some mysterious substance. Given time, they would surely undergo nirvana, becoming indestructible.

“Is this… are we transforming into Burial Kings?” Netherworld gasped in delight, recalling the legends.

“Stay focused!” Sanzang warned.

They stared at their skulls, where a hazy glow pulsed, making them appear both mystical and sinister. A powerful life force surged from within, its essence far surpassing the rest of their bodies.

From afar, Shi Hao watched in shock. Was some unnatural change truly about to occur?

But he had no time to dwell on it—his own crisis had arrived. A glowing orb was approaching, intent on invading his body.

Earlier, his sword strike had missed, proving ineffective. The orb had followed him into the cauldron, rendering the sealed lid useless.

Unlike the others, his body remained unharmed—they had been injured by the ancient artifact’s proximity, torn apart by its power.

*What is this thing?*

Shi Hao slashed at the orb. *Swoosh!* This time, he struck true, splitting it in two.

Yet, to his astonishment, it quickly reformed, darting straight for his forehead, aiming to enter his skull.

*Boom!*

Enraged, Shi Hao erupted with radiant light, unleashing multiple treasure arts in a combined assault against the orb.

But to his dismay, even when shattered into hundreds of strands, the orb refused to relent, still surging toward his head.

*Bang!*

He swung his other hand, smashing the rotten wooden box against the fragmented light. It scattered once more—but soon, it coalesced again, lunging for his skull.

*What kind of cursed thing is this?*

No method seemed to work permanently. It could always reassemble, as if possessing an undying body!

Cold sweat dripped down Shi Hao’s forehead. He knew he had to stop this—if the worst came to pass, if some unnatural change occurred… *who would he become?*

He fought with everything he had, even if destroying the light proved futile. He had to delay its invasion.

At the same time, he glanced toward the distance—what were those two doing now?

Netherworld and Sanzang’s souls had left their bodies, hovering midair as their skulls turned crystalline.

Shi Hao froze. *Were they trying to escape the transformation this way?*

“Our bodies are growing stronger!” Netherworld’s voice rang out.

“No! I’m being pulled back into my skull!” Sanzang cried in alarm.

In the end, both Golden Undertakers’ souls were dragged back into their skulls—a terrifying turn of events that sent chills down their spines.

They had taken precautions, hoping to strengthen their bodies first while keeping their souls detached, observing the changes from safety.

But now, it seemed impossible.

Even the Burial King’s guidance had failed them.

“Will we truly change if we re-enter our skulls?” Netherworld’s face paled.

“Impossible! This is our first encounter with the ancient artifact—no ill omen will befall us!” Sanzang shook his head, trying to reassure himself.

*Swoosh!*

The next moment, they were sucked back into their skulls, powerless to resist.

Shi Hao shuddered, witnessing it all. The outcome was horrifying.

*Were they still themselves? Were they even alive?*

The two Golden Undertakers sat cross-legged, eyes closed, their bodies glowing as a powerful vitality enveloped them like cocoons.

“Get out!” Shi Hao roared.

He stowed the cauldron and sword—they were useless. No matter how many times he destroyed the light, it would always reform.

He had even tried awakening the sword’s latent power, summoning the image of the figure seated upon the copper coffin amidst the bleeding ancient burial ground—but it failed.

Only the sword’s radiant brilliance had manifested, unable to halt the inevitable.

*Swoosh!*

Finally, hundreds of divine rays surged into Shi Hao’s body, racing toward his skull, forming an orb that sought to fuse with his soul.

*What in the world is this thing?!*

Shi Hao resisted with all his might, but the light was relentless, dissolving into liquid radiance that sought to permeate his entire soul.

“Get away from me!”

For the first time, Shi Hao felt true desperation. His scalp prickled—though unharmed, he knew he had to stop this at all costs.

Yet, he was powerless. The light was on the verge of merging with his soul.

Then, he saw Netherworld and Sanzang nearby. Their eyes snapped open—and they *nodded* at him.

It was beyond eerie.

Moments ago, they had been struggling. Now, they seemed at peace, their smiles serene.

To Shi Hao, nothing could be more terrifying.

Then, they closed their eyes again, as if meditating, experiencing something profound.

*What kind of origin place is this?!* Shi Hao wanted to scream. *Is this how Burial Kings are born?!*

“Ah—!”

Shi Hao howled, channeling every ounce of his power. His three immortal auras erupted, manifesting as three grand Dao flowers blooming above his head.

Within two of them sat miniature figures—one seemingly from the distant past, exuding overwhelming might, causing the orb to tremble. The other, from the present, was equally transcendent, its gaze sharp as lightning.

But both were restrained.

The ancient figure bore a cycle mark, binding itself, while the present one was ensnared by a strand of primordial energy.

Yet, they struggled, entering Shi Hao’s skull!

And it worked—the orb hesitated, retreating to linger at his brow.

*Clang!*

Shi Hao summoned the Great Luo Sword Embryo, now shrunk to an inch in length, appearing within his forehead.

The two miniature figures roared in unison, and the sword blazed with light. The vision of the ancient burial ground reappeared—blood flowing, a copper coffin floating upon it, a humanoid figure seated atop.

*Boom!*

The moment this image manifested, the orb shattered, truly destroyed this time, leaving only the faintest mark on Shi Hao’s brow.

As silence returned, Shi Hao collapsed, drenched in sweat, utterly drained.

He still didn’t know what that light had been—but he knew one thing: *it could not be allowed to merge with his soul.*

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted. The box on the altar trembled violently, causing the entire hall to crack. Outside, the ancient cavern shook, fissures spreading like spiderwebs.

A tremendous force enveloped Shi Hao, Netherworld, and Sanzang.

The immortal herb, hidden within Shi Hao’s body, trembled in terror. Recalling ancient legends, it felt a fear that pierced its very soul.

“Netherworld! Sanzang! Are you alright?” Shi Hao called out.

They did not answer, their eyes still shut.

*Boom!*

A beam of light erupted from the box, tearing through space, opening a radiant passage—and hurling them inside.