“Could it be that Zhenwu Dadi, fearing his own Dharma body might become immortal, regain consciousness, and turn into an evil spirit after his death, built the Dragon Platform and relied on the Nine Springs to suppress such an accident?” Meng Qi, having read countless novels in his previous life, had a very vivid imagination.
Jiang Zhiwei rarely looked so serious: “It’s possible.”
The one who had been howling deep inside the tomb might be just such a case!
The thought that the Dharmakaya of one of the ancient Five Emperors had transformed into an evil spirit sent a shiver down Meng Qi and the others’ spines. Such an entity could effortlessly annihilate heaven and earth.
Fortunately, the task wasn’t necessarily related to evil spirits. Moreover, if the mystery of Zhenwu’s disappearance were so simple, it wouldn’t be a chain of missions. Therefore, although Meng Qi’s speculation was quite reasonable, it contradicted the task description. After some discussion, they dismissed it and decided to continue downward to find more clues.
Crossing the Dragon-Subduing Platform and stepping onto the descending staircase, mist rose from the ground, tinged with a faint black hue.
“Cultivation is arduous; having come this far, looking back on past events is truly heart-wrenching,” Jiang Zhiwei said as she noticed ancient seal script on both sides of the passage. The inscriptions resembled “Those who enter shall die; those who exit shall live.”
Meng Qi inhaled slightly: “Could these be remnants left behind when Zhenwu Dadi completed his tomb, traversed the Nine Springs, and proceeded to his place of final rest?”
Jiang Zhiwei nodded gently: “That must be it.”
Since this was a suspected tomb of Zhenwu, the stone tablet at the entrance was most likely inscribed by the Taiyi Heavenly Venerable, and this place was no exception.
“There might be ancient secrets,” Ruan Yushu, holding her Qifeng zither, gazed curiously at the inscriptions on both sides, revealing a rare youthful expression—elegant yet coldly beautiful.
Meng Qi said with some confusion, “But Zhenwu Dadi was one of the supreme deities of ancient times. Shouldn’t every character he casually wrote contain the Great Dao of heaven and earth, possessing the power to create a world? Why do the characters we see appear so ordinary?”
Jiang Zhiwei couldn’t help but laugh: “Do you think these supreme beings can’t control themselves? They can comprehend the Great Dao, swallow the sun and moon, and spit out primordial chaos. A single word from them can stabilize an entire realm or appear utterly mundane, indistinguishable from ordinary red dust.”
“Oh, I thought I could dig out a few characters and exchange them for good deeds or discover some hidden uses…” Meng Qi looked genuinely disappointed.
Jiang Zhiwei bit her lower lip hard, barely managing to suppress her expression.
Ruan Yushu coldly remarked: “Ruining a beautiful scene.”
“Haha,” Meng Qi gave a dry laugh, furrowing his brows. “I feel something’s off. What about you two?”
“I feel the same, but I can’t pinpoint what’s wrong,” Jiang Zhiwei glanced sideways at Meng Qi, then turned her gaze back to Ruan Yushu, sensing no abnormalities.
“We are fine,” Ruan Yushu tightened her grip on the ancient zither, as if slightly caught in a ghost story.
Meng Qi pondered carefully but found nothing amiss, so he whispered, “Then let’s continue forward and witness the legacy of Zhenwu Dadi.”
Descending the staircase deeper into the mist, the faint blackness thickened, barely allowing them to see the inscriptions on both sides.
“…Regrets of a lifetime, nine things left behind. First, I lament the inability to defeat strong enemies. After more than fifty battles, large and small, all ended in stalemates with the Daoist of Heavenly Slaughter, and I remained evenly matched with the Demon Lord.” As Jiang Zhiwei read this section, her emotions surged, imagining the ancient battles of supreme beings with boundless yearning.
Meng Qi listened with great interest: “Who is the Daoist of Heavenly Slaughter?”
He is the leader of the Nine Nether Evil Gods, always mentioned alongside the Demon Lord. He forged a peerless divine sword using his own essence blood and the Abyssal Sea from the deepest layer of the Nine Nether. According to the Sixfold Cycle Master’s appraisal, he is “the foremost in slaughter.”
Meng Qi suddenly realized, “So he’s the master of the Nethersea Sword!”
There were over ten peerless divine treasures, yet the Sixfold Cycle Master’s redemption list only featured ten on the first page. No matter how extensive the catalog, Meng Qi was certain he had reviewed it. He was aware of the Nether Sea Sword, famed as the supreme weapon of slaughter. However, the Sixfold Cycle Master had never annotated the name of that Nine Nether Evil God, which was why he hadn’t made the connection initially.
“Correct,” Jiang Zhiwei’s beautiful eyes sparkled. “At the end of the Mythical Era, after Zhenwu’s disappearance but before the Demon Lord’s demise, the Daoist of Heavenly Slaughter fought against the Demon Phoenix. The heavens trembled and the earth shook. However, restricted by the true phoenix flame, he failed to break out of the Nine Netherworld and retreated into its depths. Later, after great upheavals, the Nine Netherworld withdrew into hiding, and the Daoist of Heavenly Slaughter vanished without a trace. It is said he eventually passed away in meditation.”
Until ten thousand years ago, disciples of the Daoist of Heavenly Slaughter wielding the Nethersea Sword emerged successively. They neither established sects nor relied on noble families, walking solely the path of slaughter. The most renowned among them was the “Seven-Slaughter Daoist,” who ultimately perished at the hands of the Demon Buddha.
Meng Qi’s mind soared with thoughts, captivated by the magnificent transitions from ancient to recent times.
Jiang Zhiwei’s voice softened: “My master often said that in the pursuit of swordsmanship in this world, failing to witness the brilliance of the Human Emperor Sword and the Nethersea Sword would be as regrettable as never reading the complete version of the Seven Sword Techniques of the Tian.”
“A man lives but once; he must see what others have not seen and experience what others have not experienced!” Inspired by her words, Meng Qi’s heart swelled with ambition.
Jiang Zhiwei nodded in agreement, then suddenly paused: “Something feels off.”
“No, nothing seems wrong,” Meng Qi looked at her, then at himself, sensing nothing amiss.
Jiang Zhiwei couldn’t pinpoint the problem either, so she said: “Then let’s move forward quickly.”
The black mist grew thicker, making the inscriptions on both sides increasingly indistinct. Since Meng Qi himself couldn’t recognize the ancient seal script, he could only hurriedly pass by, gripping the Tianzhi Shang tightly.
“Second regret: the incompleteness of Tian, having only seen three forms, failing to grasp its full power, Daoist Zun…”
Hmm, why do I recognize these characters? Meng Qi stopped, somewhat regretfully. Could it be that the text had gained sentience, allowing comprehension upon merely seeing the characters?
The text following Daoist Zun mysteriously vanished, as if its very existence had been erased, leaving no trace. Meng Qi stared in confusion, unable to understand who had done this or why it had been erased. Could it involve some ancient secret?
Was it the living dead who first entered?
Or someone else?
Meng Qi wanted to discuss it but suddenly chuckled bitterly. What was there to discuss when he was alone? He mustn’t let himself go mad!
The black mist churned, completely obscuring the inscriptions on both sides. Meng Qi tightened his grip on Tianzhi Shang, remained vigilant, and stepped cautiously down the stairs.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked through the darkness, and a long spear descended from the heavens, slashing downward like a cleave or a chop, swift as a shadow.
Papapap, the black mist dissipated, and the lightning illuminated a corner of the darkness.
Hmm, why does everything feel so slow now? Compared to the strike Jiang Zhiwei blocked earlier, this was barely faster than “Lightning Sword” Xiao Zhenhai, and the distance was much greater than before.
Wait, Zhiwei?
Where did Zhiwei and the others go?
Meng Qi suddenly realized with alarm, as if a veil lifted from his mind, finally understanding the persistent unease he’d felt all along!
Since stepping onto the staircase and the emergence of the mist, he had begun forgetting those around him—first Master Qi, then the food-loving girl, and finally Zhiwei. Had the lightning spear not struck, awakening a few memories, he might have gradually become one of the living dead!
Meng Qi barely suppressed the storm of terror within his heart and the chill crawling up his spine. He raised “Tianzhi Shang” to block the incoming spear.
The spear’s trajectory was mysterious, like a whip cracking or a cleaver chopping, as if divine punishment had descended, its might undeniable, lightning transforming into a dragon.
This move seemed somewhat familiar. Meng Qi suddenly recalled the form of “Heavenly Thunder Strikes Five Thunderbolts.” This move appeared to be a variation of that technique.
Instinctively, he swung his long blade sideways, each tremble of the blade resembling a transformation into heavenly thunder.
The punishment of thunder was fierce, enough to make the heavens tremble!
This was one of Meng Qi’s usual variations, yet he had never fully grasped the essence of the sword path within it. Now, under pressure, he seemed to sense something.
Striking late but arriving early, Tianzhi Shang surged, blade energy transforming into electric snakes, shattering the black mist along the way, illuminating the deep darkness.
Paa!
Two bolts of lightning collided, exploding into countless lights, like raindrops scattering, the thunderous roar reverberating within their souls.
Meng Qi’s body tilted sideways, nearly falling over. If not for the Undying Seal Art dispersing much of the force, and the Golden Bell Cover and the Eight-Nine Mystical Arts excelling in strength, even with the opponent clearly holding back and slowing down, he wouldn’t have been able to withstand the strike!
Even having already activated the treasure weapon, he barely managed to block!
—There wasn’t enough time left to execute an external technique like “Thunderous Roar of Nine Heavens.”
The figure in wide robes and holding the long spear twisted mid-air, re-entering the darkness. Before vanishing, he cast another cold gaze at Meng Qi.
Meng Qi didn’t waste any time. Seizing the moment the lightning illuminated the darkness, he turned around and found Jiang Zhiwei, Ruan Yushu, Qi Zhengyan, and the others.
Their eyes were lifeless, like zombies, one after another following behind him.
Meng Qi’s demeanor changed, becoming aged and distant, as if he were an ancient land that had endured countless eons. He first used the “Changing Heaven and Earth Art” on himself.
The faint black mist couldn’t suppress him anymore. The golden light surged forth, instantly devouring it, and Meng Qi’s memories fully returned.
Then, he stepped forward, his spirit extending outward, connecting with Jiang Zhiwei, and using the Changing Heaven and Earth Art.
Jiang Zhiwei’s vast and profound inner ocean gently undulated, not like the stillness of the living dead. Feeling this, Meng Qi understood that Jiang Zhiwei was the same as him—if threatened, she might partially recover on her own.
Fine golden specks, like countless carp, filled the ocean, surging upward under the guidance of the Changing Heaven and Earth Art, dispersing the mist.
A little girl, delicate and lovely, sat there stubbornly, hugging a sword taller than herself, her eyes brimming with tears but refusing to let even a single drop fall…
A nimble young girl danced with her sword, her face filled with focus, completely absorbed…
Just as Meng Qi sensed two memories, the mist completely dissipated, and Jiang Zhiwei’s eyes regained their vitality. He quickly withdrew.
Didn’t this feel like an invasion of privacy… Meng Qi couldn’t help but think.
“Are you alright? What about them?” Jiang Zhiwei spoke first with concern.
Meng Qi felt warmth in his heart: “I’m fine. I’ll use the Changing Heaven and Earth Art to awaken them first.”
Before the words had fully faded, the black mist suddenly receded. Meng Qi saw a shadow deep within the darkness staring coldly at the four of them—black robes, a crown fit for a ruler, a thin face, and deep-set eyes.
“Zhenwu Dadi…” As the black mist completely vanished, the sight seemed like an illusion. Meng Qi couldn’t help but hold his breath, whispering to himself.
With the black mist gone, Ruan Yushu shook her head, let out a soft moan, and her eyes gradually regained clarity. She then tightened her grip on the ancient zither and asked, her voice slightly trembling: “Are you all okay?”
“We’re fine. Have you regained your memories?” Seeing Qi Zhengyan similarly recovering, Meng Qi asked.
Ruan Yushu nodded: “Lung Yu Gan.”
Her concise words indicated that her memories had returned.
“The Hun Tian Mirror Art.” Qi Zhengyan’s expression flickered momentarily before quickly returning to normal.
Meng Qi remained somewhat uneasy, fearing there might still be hidden dangers. He used the techniques of the Changing Heaven and Earth Art and the Mind Seal Method to sense their inner oceans—not attempting to awaken them, just sensing.
Their inner oceans showed no mist, undulating normally, with occasional golden lights leaping.
Meng Qi withdrew his spirit, slightly regretful. If he had awakened the little food lover and Master Qi’s memories first, what would he have seen? A world filled with food? Or frustration over his talent?
After enduring this ordeal, his spiritual energy was nearly exhausted. He no longer dared to be careless, so he inserted the Zi Wu Needle and retrieved the “Buddha’s Green Lamp,” restoring it to its original size.
The lamp remained still, warm and steady. Wherever its light reached, no mist or darkness could intrude.
The four grew increasingly cautious, proceeding slowly down the staircase. At the bottom, they saw a tomb—an underground palace hidden within a grave.
A tomb within a tomb?
Looking closely, four ancient seal script characters were inscribed before this grave:
“Zhenwu’s Tomb.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage