Chapter 287: The Mystery of Zhenwu’s False Tomb

The Reincarnation Talisman shattered, emitting a faint green light that enveloped Meng Qi entirely, and he vanished from the spot.

Sensing this transformation, Meng Qi felt deeply grateful towards Gu Xiaosang, that bewitching woman. Had she not previously used the Ruins of the Ninth Heaven’s Pearl Gate as an example, he would never have realized that the Reincarnation Talisman could be activated within the Master World. Even if he had known, he would have assumed it would have no significant effect, just like the beginning of every Reincarnation Task. The slightest misstep could attract unwanted attention, bringing endless troubles.

Although Meng Qi did not open the “door” to the Ninth Heaven like Gu Xiaosang did—using the Xuan Nu Sect’s immortal essence and the Heavenly Tablet to forcefully tear open the portal, causing tremors throughout Ye City—the flickering green light might still have attracted attention from nearby Out-of-Sight experts if used within Maoling City.

The surroundings grew dim and shadowy, as if Meng Qi were immersed in chaos. A cold, emotionless voice echoed in his ears: “Choose the world you wish to return to.”

The Shaolin World where Dor Chad perished, the Tianding City World where Yuan Meng left his last letter, the Fengyun Manor World where the Devil’s Grave lay, and the World of the Sword Emperor and Demoness flashed before Meng Qi’s eyes.

Meng Qi made no selection but instead pulled out a piece of black leather from his robe—the key to unlocking “The Mystery of the Death of Zhenwu the Great Emperor”—a partial map of the Zhenwu Doubtful Tomb.

“Will you enter the ‘Zhenwu Doubtful Tomb’ world and initiate the chain task?” The black leather emitted a layer of dim light as the Master of the Sixfold Reincarnation spoke again. A new scene appeared before Meng Qi—a tomb located deep within an underground fissure.

“Yes,” Meng Qi made his choice.

The Master of the Sixfold Reincarnation spoke in a calm, emotionless tone: “This task has already been shared with three other individuals who are also using Reincarnation Talismans. Would you like to summon them?”

“Yes,” Meng Qi exhaled in relief, finally everything going smoothly.

Three streaks of green light simultaneously illuminated the darkness. Jiang Zhiwei in her apricot-yellow dress, Qi Zhengyan in his dark-blue outfit, and Ruan Yushu dressed in snow-white robes appeared together.

They looked well, seemingly having shaken off the shadow of the deadly task.

“This isn’t the Reincarnation Plaza?” Jiang Zhiwei glanced around.

That meant they couldn’t exchange for Virtue Points or useful items.

Meng Qi had anticipated this situation and smiled cheerfully: “Zhiwei, don’t worry. Since this is a suspicious tomb, the enemies are most likely ghosts and undead creatures. My Buddha’s Green Lamp and Heaven’s Wound are already eager.”

Jiang Zhiwei had long grown accustomed to Meng Qi’s strange expressions and chuckled: “I’m not worried about that. I’m just afraid you didn’t prepare enough healing pills.”

As she grew older, now over nineteen, she had become even more radiant and mature, her smile breathtakingly beautiful.

“I’ve already become a Qing Shou Constable. I’ve exchanged my entire three months’ salary for healing and antidote pills.” Meng Qi happily pulled out his official seal.

This was not only specially prepared for the Zhenwu Doubtful Tomb mission, but also because the Master of the Sixfold Reincarnation offered a better discount on pills than on martial arts manuals or treasures. Buying them within the Six Doors organization was also cheaper, making them more cost-effective for earning Virtue Points.

Ruan Yushu suddenly whispered in the Jiangdong dialect: “Qing Shou…”

In the Jiangdong accent, Qing Shou sounded similar to a vulgar term, but in front of a Six Doors Constable, who would dare to point it out directly? Most people switched to the common tongue.

“Hehe,” Meng Qi pretended not to hear.

Meanwhile, Ruan Yushu acted as if she hadn’t spoken at all, solemnly pointing at her ring: “Sister Zhiwei, I’ve prepared enough.”

Qi Zhengyan maintained his usual deadpan expression: “I’m on a journey, so I never lack healing and antidote medicines.”

Perhaps due to the use of the Reincarnation Talisman, the Master of the Sixfold Reincarnation did not urge them to enter the Zhenwu Doubtful Tomb immediately.

“By the way, there’s something…” Meng Qi briefly recounted the events in Yangxia and Maoling, watching his companions expectantly.

Jiang Zhiwei first looked puzzled, then her expression brightened, as if a glow had settled over her face, making her even more beautiful: “Young martial artists, for various reasons, come to Maoling to become pawns? I didn’t receive an ‘invitation’ though. Well, I was in Di Prefecture, about to open the Ninth Orifice. Following the Baiyi River, I can reach Maoling in five days. How could I miss such a grand occasion?”

Like Qingyu of the “Five Emperors’ Blade,” she was eager to spar with martial artists ranked on the Human List. She understood Meng Qi’s intention without him needing to ask and immediately expressed her willingness.

“Wonderful!” Meng Qi felt a warm glow in his heart, delighted.

Ruan Yushu pursed her lips, staring directly at Meng Qi: “You promised that if I opened my Six Orifices, you’d treat me to a feast!”

“Haha,” Meng Qi chuckled awkwardly, having long forgotten that promise.

Jiang Zhiwei covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. How could Ruan Yushu forget about food?

“Since you’re in Jiangdong, I’ll ask Father for permission to visit Maoling,” Ruan Yushu said coolly, as if speaking of something unrelated, “but there might be elders accompanying me.”

Over sixteen years old, she was the beloved jewel of the Ruan family. Though she possessed remarkable strength and a natural gift for music, she had never been permitted to venture far from home. However, since Maoling was located in Jiangdong and not too distant from Langya, she could use the visit as a pretext—with high-ranking escorts accompanying her, ensuring no one would dare to obstruct her journey.

“Wonderful!” Meng Qi sincerely clasped his hands, bowing. Although Ruan Yushu hadn’t said anything, her actions showed her support.

Qi Zhengyan hesitated briefly: “I’ve already passed Shen Prefecture. In another seven days, I should arrive in Maoling. I hope to meet martial artists ranked on the Human List.”

Meng Qi felt this was quite dangerous. Jiang Zhiwei’s strength was beyond worry, and Ruan Yushu had elders with her, so no concern there. Qi Zhengyan’s “Hun Tianbao Mirror” was indeed powerful, but his overall strength was still slightly inferior. However, his “cousin” was well-meaning, and rejecting him would hurt his feelings. Considering Qi Zhengyan also had an Out-of-Sight killing move, Meng Qi finally nodded: “Alright!”

It was time for Senior Qi to spar with true experts and gain experience.

“I opened my mouth orifice a month ago. My Inner World has just begun to form,” Qi Zhengyan sensed Meng Qi’s concern and added.

Only then did Meng Qi ease some of his worries, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for having such loyal and brave companions. Life was worth living for this alone!

For some reason, he vaguely felt that Senior Qi’s confidence had grown stronger than before.

“Oh, by the way, Zhiwei, I also need to ask about adjusting my Inner World,” Meng Qi casually mentioned. Both the Eight-Ninth Divine Art and the Golden Bell Cover contained related content, but they were merely outlines, since everyone’s Inner World differed slightly. Each person followed their own Dao, so martial arts manuals could not provide detailed explanations.

However, major sects and noble families usually had many notes and commentaries—personal experiences of different elders, offering references for future generations, something not found in martial arts manuals.

Jiang Zhiwei smiled lightly: “You’ve already stabilized your seventh orifice. It’s time to consider these matters.”

The group exchanged a few more casual words, catching up on each other’s recent situations before officially starting the task.

“Entering the ‘Jiuxiang’ World to initiate the ‘Zhenwu Doubtful Tomb’ task. You may return after a month or interrupt at any time.”

A brilliant green light enveloped the four figures, and they vanished from the darkness.

…

A vast, undulating mountain range stretched into the distance, as if real dragons were coiled upon the earth.

“Master, the terrain here is truly magnificent,” a young Taoist stood at the entrance of a broken temple, gazing into the distance.

He and his master had journeyed here, resting for the night in a mountain temple. By chance, they discovered the excellent geomancy and terrain.

His master was an elderly Taoist with white hair, holding a Qiankun compass and carrying plum blossom divination sticks, appearing like a true reclusive sage.

“They say the terrain here wasn’t originally like this,” the old Taoist mused, gazing far away.

The young Taoist was startled: “Not naturally formed?”

Could human effort alter the landscape of mountains?

Even the rulers of Jiuxiang throughout history or those who obtained the “Tianyuan” title and dominated the world could only summon anomalies and change the nearby area. How could they affect the entire mountain range?

The old Taoist sighed: “Legend has it that in ancient times, a great figure was buried here, seeking eternal existence after death. Since then, the mountains have resonated, as if alive, shifting year by year until forming the current layout.”

“Master… Master, is this just a myth?” The young Taoist listened in astonishment. Could a mere wisp of posthumous energy really shift mountains? What kind of figure could accomplish that?

The old Taoist’s expression darkened: “Indeed, it’s a myth. Yet, there is indeed a mysterious tomb hidden within these mountains. It is said that the ancestors of the Jiuxiang clans gained benefits from it, allowing each to establish their own immortal paradise and become the de facto rulers of the world. Throughout history, several ‘Tianyuan Emperors’ also gained fortune from entering this tomb, eventually rising to the pinnacle.”

“Really?” The young Taoist was first shocked, then filled with longing: “If I could encounter such a tomb…”

“This is no good omen,” the old Taoist’s expression grew even darker.

“Eh?” The young Taoist was puzzled. Gaining a lucky chance and reaching the peak, wasn’t that considered a good thing?

“Almost all the ancestors of the Jiuxiang clans and these ‘Tianyuan Emperors’ reached near-immortal realms, yet in their twilight years, without exception, they went mad and rushed into these mountains. Some even witnessed them entering the tomb,” the old Taoist’s gaze turned profound, staring at the undulating peaks.

The young Taoist shivered: “Master… Master, how do you know this?”

“My old friend, Huangfu Tao, was one of them,” the old Taoist took a deep breath.

The young Taoist instinctively stepped back. He knew Huangfu Tao—he often saw him as a child, the previous “Tianyuan Emperor,” capable of carrying out divine punishment, regarded as the strongest among all generations!

“The above is only what I know,” the old Taoist’s voice grew heavier. “There may be many others who benefited from the tomb but never revealed it…”

Before he finished speaking, four streaks of light shot across the sky like falling stars, plunging deep into the mountains.

They dragged brilliant tails behind them, descending silently into the mountains. No thunderous explosion followed, only a faint glow spreading outward, revealing the outline of a tomb, before vanishing instantly.

“The tomb has opened…” the old Taoist murmured in shock.

…

When Meng Qi and the other four regained their senses, they found themselves inside a dark stone cave. The ceiling was smoothly arched, clearly not formed naturally.

Before them stretched a wide, deep riverbed, completely dry, its bottom exposed and blood-red, a horrifying sight.

Across the riverbed lay an iron chain bridge, with a stone tablet erected at its head, inscribed with:

“The Boundary of Life and Death.”