Liu Dashao nodded, gripping the crossbow, and glanced down with a hint of fear. He smiled at Liu Dashao and said, “The claw of this lift crossbow is still nailed under the beam. Press the red button above and slowly lean down; it will gradually release the line and lower you. Don’t worry, this device was specially crafted by a master of hidden mechanisms from the folk. It’s very sturdy. Once you’re down, tell them not to touch the coffin yet, wait for me to come down.”
Liu Dashao nodded, feeling a bit dizzy as he looked down. Steeling himself, he closed his eyes and pressed the red button, then slowly lowered his feet. Fortunately, the lift crossbow indeed began to release the line, and Liu Dashao leaned out, suspended in mid-air, slowly descending.
When his feet finally touched the solid ground of the palace, Liu Dashao opened his eyes and pressed a white button. The lift crossbow began to retract the line, ascending back to the beam where Jia Zhuangyuan was.
By now, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had ceased. Liu Dashao turned and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive green coffin that had landed on the ground, looking somewhat bewildered.
Liu Dashao quickly walked over and said, “Senior Jia said to wait for him to come down and not to touch the coffin yet.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Fan Debiao, with a look of terror, added, “I’m really scared of this stuff. I still remember that old mummy from Bodhisattva Mountain. What if we open it and some ancient corpse crawls out? Damn, just thinking about it makes my heart race.”
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice rang out, “Fan Debiao, you look so big and strong, but who knew you’d be such a coward.”
Everyone looked up and saw Jia Zhuangyuan nearing the ground.
Fan Debiao, blushing, retorted, “I’m not a coward. I’m just naturally afraid of gods and ghosts. If you ask me to fight on the battlefield, I, Fan Debiao, would never hesitate.”
Jia Zhuangyuan landed and, ignoring Fan Debiao, walked over to the green coffin, joining the others in carefully examining it.
The coffin was about half a person’s height, and its length and width could easily fit three or four burly men like Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. It was entirely made of green stone, devoid of any patterns, carvings, or inscriptions, except for a single seam in the middle.
After observing the coffin for a while, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin appear? Why is it so massive? Who could be inside?”
Jia Zhuangyuan tapped the stone coffin with his finger, then shook his head and said, “This isn’t a coffin; it’s a sarcophagus. The coffin is the inner part, and the sarcophagus is the outer layer that encases it. In ancient times, burial practices were strictly hierarchical. The size and number of sarcophagi varied according to rank. For example, the emperor’s sarcophagus would have four layers: the innermost layer, called ‘Heaven,’ was covered with rhinoceros and water buffalo hide; the second layer, ‘Earth,’ was made of elm wood; the third layer, ‘Subordinate,’ and the outermost layer, ‘Great Coffin,’ which is the sarcophagus. The empress’s outer sarcophagus usually had two layers, often made of catalpa wood, hence it was also called the ‘Catalpa Palace.’ Other officials had varying numbers of outer sarcophagi depending on their rank. Additionally, the thickness of the sarcophagus was strictly regulated from the emperor down to commoners: the emperor’s great coffin was eight inches thick, a minister’s was six inches, and a commoner’s was only four inches, with no outer sarcophagus. We won’t go into all the details here. Judging by this sarcophagus, its occupant must have been of imperial or quasi-imperial status.”
“What does quasi-imperial mean?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan explained, “Quasi-imperial refers to the crown prince or other highly favored members of the royal family, such as princes, or certain high-ranking officials specially approved by the emperor.”
Cai Qingchong then said, “Senior Jia, are you saying that this sarcophagus must contain a very important figure?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded, “Exactly. What puzzles me is that, as one of the Nine Heavens Cities, why would the core palace of the Heavy Water City contain the sarcophagus of such a significant figure, and why was it locked in the palace’s dome with an extremely rare astrological mechanism?”
Cai Qingchong said, “No matter what, let’s just open it and see. That should clear things up.” The others agreed, thinking it was the only way to solve the mystery.
Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan hesitate, Liu Dashao had a thought and asked, “Senior Jia, are you certain that this highest-level sarcophagus burial system is only used for quasi-imperial figures and not for other things?”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at him with a strange expression, then lowered his head in thought before nodding, “Now that you mention it, I recall something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains in Sichuan. Inside the underground palace, we found an imperial sarcophagus. When we opened it, instead of an ancient corpse, there was a strange, massive skeleton, not humanoid but resembling some kind of animal. If the theory that this sarcophagus doesn’t contain human remains holds, then perhaps my confusion would be resolved.”
Liu Dashao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him another strange look, seemingly puzzled by the question he had just asked. However, he didn’t pursue it further. Instead, he placed his backpack on the ground, opened it, and took out several items.
Everyone looked at these items with curiosity. There was a small hammer, an axe, a steel rod with a flat, pointed end, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black donkey hoof used in dealing with spirits in haunted houses, and a pair of gloves made from some kind of furry animal hide.
Seeing everyone’s surprised looks, Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled awkwardly, “These are tools from my past underground work. I brought them along in case they might be needed.”
The group was clearly intrigued, wondering how Jia Zhuangyuan would use these items.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the furry gloves, then skillfully assembled the pipes of varying thicknesses, attaching the axe and tightening it, transforming it into a long axe. Seeing everyone watching him, he explained, “This is a folding axe, designed for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deer hide, which is tightly woven to protect against any corpse poison on or inside the sarcophagus.” He then pointed to the other items on the ground, “This steel rod is called a pry bar, of course, it’s been modified for prying open coffins. The small hammer is for tapping the pry bar, and the black donkey hoof is in case we encounter a corpse transformation when opening the coffin.”
Everyone finally understood that these were the tools Jia Zhuangyuan had prepared for opening the sarcophagus.
Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “We still can’t be sure what’s inside this sarcophagus. Everyone, stand back a bit; I need to get to work. And please keep an eye out for me. If something like a corpse demon jumps out, you’ll have to fight it to the death.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, stepping back a few paces to give Jia Zhuangyuan space to work.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath, then picked up the pry bar and forcefully pried open the seam of the green stone coffin. Everyone tensely raised their guns, aiming at the coffin. At that moment, each person was wondering: What could be inside this stone coffin?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan opened a crack in the coffin, and a wisp of black smoke emerged. Fan Debiao was the first to bolt, running back while shouting, “Damn it! That’s a Japanese poison gas bomb!”
Cai Qingchong, however, stood still, laughing uncontrollably. After a while, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just a common mold found in ancient tombs. This mold is lighter than ordinary dust and has been living in an airtight environment for a long time. When it encounters airflow, it naturally gets blown out!”
Liu Dashao stood by, secretly amused. Fan Debiao, looking dejected, walked back to the stone door, like a child who had just been scolded by his parents, ready to endure whatever came next. After a thorough inspection, Jia Zhuangyuan found no signs of tampering with the inner coffin and, together with the others, gradually widened the crack using flashlight beams. As the light shone into the long-sealed stone coffin, Jia Zhuangyuan took out a pair of white gloves from his backpack, put them on, and gently touched the inner coffin. Gradually, he cleaned a corner of the inner coffin, and everyone crowded around. Liu Dashao and Cai Qingchong shone their flashlights on it, revealing densely packed seal script incantations that converged towards the center of the inner coffin. When the dust in the center was wiped away, a large, gold-painted character “敕” (Chì) was revealed. Liu Dashao’s flashlight fell to the ground, and Jia Zhuangyuan was also stunned. They both exclaimed in unison, “The Daoist’s first sacred artifact, the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees!”
Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong exchanged glances, both puzzled, “What kind of coffin is this?” Liu Dashao stepped forward, admiring the massive sarcophagus, and said, “This is a legendary Daoist artifact, specifically used to suppress evil beings like drought demons and purple-gold corpses! I’ve only heard about it from my master; this is the first time I’ve seen it. I doubt there are more than two in existence! The Classic of Mountains and Seas also mentions it, but only briefly. It’s said that one was used to suppress Chi You’s corpse after his death, but back then, the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees was just a black nanmu sarcophagus. After Daoism obtained another nanmu sarcophagus and engraved it, placing a Bagua demon-repelling mirror inside, this one became significantly more valuable than the previous one. Most importantly, the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees must be made from a single piece of ten-thousand-year-old nanmu wood!”
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but take a closer look. At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly said something very practical, “Now, should we open the sarcophagus?”
“Do you think there’s really a purple-gold corpse inside? Could it really be as sinister as Dashao says?” Yang Weidong, standing nearby, thought for a moment, feeling a bit creeped out.
“Who knows? If demons and monsters stir up trouble, we, the people, will rise up and destroy them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat, in this world, who’s afraid of whom? It’s not the people who fear zombies, but zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, showing off his fat, as if he alone would handle the purple-gold corpse king if it appeared.
“Firmly support Comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said with mock seriousness.
“Go to hell! You old fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat, cursing.
“Ha ha ha ha,” everyone laughed together.
After laughing for a while, they all turned their attention to Jia Zhuangyuan. After a long moment of consideration, he nodded and said, “Open it!”
With that, Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong pried open the coffin lid. Liu Dashao prepared in advance, while Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao stood guard with their guns. Jia Zhuangyuan gently inserted a specially designed tomb-raiding tool into the seam of the coffin lid, fiddled with it for a moment, then gave it a light push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion popped up from the coffin lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled, gently pulled out the protrusion, and with a loud “bang,” the coffin lid flew off, knocking Cai Qingchong over. The hundred-pound coffin lid then slammed into the wall behind them. Liu Dashao was stunned. Despite his thin appearance, Cai Qingchong was a skilled martial artist, yet he was easily knocked over by the coffin lid. At that moment, thick black smoke began to pour out of the massive sarcophagus. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face turned pale, and from the depths of his heart, he shouted three words, “Purple-gold corpse!”
Hearing this, Liu Dashao nearly collapsed on the spot. What the hell was going on? This purple-gold corpse seemed even more formidable than the drought demon king Zhang Enpu had dealt with! Then, a creaking sound, like peeling paint, came from the sarcophagus, followed by a heart-wrenching roar. Liu Dashao was certain this was not a sound a human could make. He steeled himself, “Damn it! Let’s fight!”
Jia Zhuangyuan, disregarding the others, quickly rushed to Cai Qingchong, who was covered in blood and unconscious. He dragged Cai Qingchong to the wall and checked his injuries. At that moment, with another ear-splitting roar, a tall zombie suddenly sat up from the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees.
Seeing the zombie, Liu Dashao’s courage was instantly doused. The thing looked somewhat humanoid, wearing a robe adorned with a hundred flowers and a three-pronged purple-gold crown on its head, but its face was a hideous black, with several black fangs protruding from its mouth! It was utterly disgusting.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to keep himself alert, then rolled forward, positioning himself in front of the zombie. He pulled out a silver demon-repelling mirror from his bag and, using the flashlight’s beam, aimed it at the zombie. The zombie, as if electrocuted, began to howl wildly. After what felt like an eternity, Jia Zhuangyuan had quietly flanked the zombie from behind. Taking advantage of the zombie’s distraction, he swiftly pulled out a short rope covered in talismans from his sleeve and expertly wrapped it around the zombie. The zombie was immobilized. Meanwhile, Liu Dashao used his other hand to help, flicking his wrist to send several small objects flying towards the zombie. Each object that hit the zombie elicited a howl. One of the objects landed near Fan Debiao, who, upon closer inspection, saw it was a copper coin from the Wanli era. He swallowed hard and pocketed the coin.
The zombie’s roars continued. Looking down at the unconscious and severely injured Cai Qingchong in his arms, Fan Debiao’s anger boiled over. He turned, grabbed an entrenching tool, and swung it at the zombie. As he got closer, Fan Debiao felt the zombie’s beastly howl, which was a shock to his psyche. Even the tigers and lions in Beijing Zoo’s Lion and Tiger Mountain were nothing compared to this thing! At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan, while tying the Immortal-Binding Rope around the zombie, shouted to Fan Debiao, “Fatty! Be careful! This is the real deal, the Purple-Gold Corpse King! If it touches you, you’re either dead or crippled for life!”
“To hell with it! I want to see what this Xinjiang old bastard is capable of!” Fan Debiao retorted, gripping the entrenching tool with both hands and slashing at the Purple-Gold Corpse King’s chest. The corpse king wasn’t exactly invulnerable, but its body was unnaturally rigid! Fan Debiao’s swing caused the entrenching tool to slip off the corpse king’s chest and wedge into its armpit, nearly dragging Fan Debiao into the coffin. Having learned his lesson, Fan Debiao retreated to the corner, watching how the others would handle the corpse king. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan seemed about to subdue the corpse king, the fierce creature suddenly burst with energy, snapping the steel chain Jia Zhuangyuan had tied around it. Jia Zhuangyuan spat in frustration, muttering, “Damn it! My Immortal-Binding Rope is made of steel!”
In the blink of an eye, the Purple-Gold Corpse King leaped out of the coffin. Except for the fallen Cai Qingchong, everyone instinctively took a step back. The corpse king bared its fangs, arms outstretched, and began hopping around the confined space, chasing the group. Jia Zhuangyuan, now the de facto leader, shouted as he ran, “Let’s get out of here!” Fan Debiao, who had been standing near the palace entrance, suddenly realized the door had silently closed! They were now trapped, with no choice but to fight the corpse king. As the old northeasterners would say, it was time to ‘fight to the death’! The group exchanged forced smiles, brandished their weapons, and shouted as they dodged the corpse king’s pursuit. The creature stood over two meters tall, and the group could barely defend themselves, let alone drag the severely injured Cai Qingchong. The pressure was immense, and their stamina was rapidly depleting. Liu Dashao, slightly slower, was grazed by the corpse king’s sharp claws, causing excruciating pain. Blood gushed out, soaking his already sweat-drenched back. The mix of smells made Liu Dashao numb to the disgust. He threw Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid, preparing for a final showdown with the black-faced, fanged monster. At that moment, the already dim light grew even darker as Liu Dashao’s flashlight died. Everyone exclaimed in alarm, realizing that the remaining flashlights could go out at any moment. If Liu Dashao’s prediction came true, they would be at a severe disadvantage.
Liu Dashao nodded, gripping the crossbow, and glanced down with a hint of fear. He smiled at Liu Dashao and said, “The claw of this lifting crossbow is still nailed under the beam. Press the red button above, and slowly lean down. It will gradually release the line and lower you. Don’t worry, this device was specially crafted by a master of hidden mechanisms from the folk. It’s very sturdy. Once you’re down, tell them not to touch the coffin yet. Wait for me to come down.”
Liu Dashao nodded, feeling slightly dizzy as he looked down. Steeling himself, he closed his eyes and pressed the red button, then slowly lowered his feet. Fortunately, the lifting crossbow indeed began to release the line, and Liu Dashao leaned out, suspended in mid-air, slowly descending.
When his feet finally touched the solid ground of the palace, Liu Dashao opened his eyes and pressed the white button. The lifting crossbow retracted the line, ascending back to the beam where Jia Zhuangyuan was.
At this moment, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had ceased. Liu Dashao turned around and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive green coffin that had landed on the ground, looking at it with uncertainty.
Liu Dashao hurried over and said, “Senior Jia said to wait for him before touching the coffin.”
Everyone quickly nodded. Fan Debiao, with a look of terror, added, “I’m terrified of these things. I still remember the old mummy from Bodhisattva Mountain. What if we open it and some ancient corpse crawls out? Damn, just thinking about it makes my heart race.”
Just then, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice rang out, “Fan Debiao, you’re such a big, strong guy, but you’re really a coward.”
Everyone looked up and saw Jia Zhuangyuan nearing the ground.
Fan Debiao, blushing, retorted, “I’m not a coward. I’m just naturally afraid of gods and ghosts. If you send me to battle, I, Fan Debiao, won’t hesitate.”
Jia Zhuangyuan landed and ignored Fan Debiao, walking over to the green coffin to examine it closely with the others.
The coffin was half a person’s height, and its length and width could easily fit three or four burly men like Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. It was made entirely of green stone, with no patterns, carvings, or inscriptions, except for a single seam in the middle.
After observing the coffin for a while, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin appear? Why is it so huge? Who could be inside?”
Jia Zhuangyuan tapped the stone coffin with his finger, then shook his head and said, “This isn’t a coffin; it’s a sarcophagus. The coffin is the inner part, and the sarcophagus is the outer layer that encases it. In ancient times, burial practices were strictly hierarchical. The size and number of sarcophagi varied depending on the person’s status. For example, the emperor’s sarcophagus would have four layers: the innermost layer, called ‘Heaven,’ was covered with rhinoceros and water buffalo hide; the second layer, called ‘Earth,’ was made of linden wood; the third layer, called ‘Subordinate,’ and the fourth layer, called ‘Great Coffin,’ was the outermost sarcophagus. The empress’s outer sarcophagus usually had two layers, often made of catalpa wood, hence it was called the ‘Catalpa Palace.’ Other officials had varying numbers of outer sarcophagi depending on their rank. The thickness of the sarcophagus was also strictly regulated: the emperor’s great coffin was eight inches thick, a minister’s was six inches, and a commoner’s was only four inches, with no outer sarcophagus. We won’t go into all the details here. Judging by this sarcophagus, its owner must have been of imperial or near-imperial status.”
“What does ‘near-imperial’ mean?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan explained, “Near-imperial refers to the crown prince, highly favored members of the royal family, such as princes, or certain high-ranking officials specially approved by the emperor.”
At this point, Cai Qingchong chimed in, “Senior Jia, are you saying that this sarcophagus must contain a very important person?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded, “Exactly. What’s puzzling is that in the core palace of the City of Heavy Water, one of the Nine Heavens Cities, why would there be a sarcophagus of such a significant figure, and why was it locked with an extremely rare celestial mechanism on the palace’s dome?”
Cai Qingchong said, “No need to overthink it. Let’s just open it and see.” The others agreed, thinking it was the only way to solve the mystery.
Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan hesitate, Liu Dashao had a thought and asked, “Senior Jia, are you certain that this highest-level burial system is only used for near-imperial figures, and not for other things?”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at him with a strange expression, then lowered his head in thought before nodding, “Now that you mention it, I recall something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains of Sichuan. Inside the tomb, we found an imperial coffin. When we opened it, instead of an ancient corpse, there was a strange, massive skeleton—not human, but resembling some kind of animal. If the theory that this sarcophagus doesn’t contain human remains holds, then perhaps my confusion would be resolved.”
Liu Dashao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him another odd look, seemingly puzzled by the question he had just asked. However, he didn’t press further. Instead, he set his backpack on the ground, opened it, and took out several items.
Everyone was somewhat surprised by the strange assortment of tools: a small hammer, an axe, a flat-tipped steel rod, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black donkey hoof used in dealing with spirits in haunted houses, and a pair of gloves made from some kind of furry animal hide.
Seeing everyone’s surprised expressions, Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled awkwardly, “These are tools from my past underground work. I brought them along in case they’d be useful.”
The group was clearly intrigued, curious about how Jia Zhuangyuan would use these items.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the furry gloves, then skillfully connected the pipes of varying thicknesses, attaching the axe head and tightening it, transforming it into a long-handled axe. Seeing everyone watching him, he explained, “This is a folding axe, designed for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deerskin, which is tightly woven to protect against any corpse poison on or inside the sarcophagus.” He then pointed to the other items on the ground, “This steel rod is a crowbar, modified for prying open coffins. The small hammer is for tapping the crowbar, and the black donkey hoof is in case we encounter a corpse transformation upon opening the coffin.”
Everyone finally understood that these were the tools Jia Zhuangyuan had prepared for opening the coffin.
Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “We’re still not sure what’s inside this sarcophagus. Everyone, stand back. I’ll get to work. Please keep an eye out for me. If something like a corpse demon jumps out, you’ll need to fight it off with everything you’ve got.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, stepping back a few paces to give Jia Zhuangyuan space to work.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath, then picked up the crowbar and forcefully pried open the seam of the green stone coffin. Everyone tensely raised their guns, aiming at the coffin. At that moment, each person was wondering: What could be inside this stone coffin?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan opened a crack in the coffin, and a wisp of black smoke emerged. Fan Debiao was the first to bolt, running back while shouting, “Damn it! That’s a Japanese poison gas bomb!”
Cai Qingchong, however, stood still, laughing uncontrollably. After a while, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just a common mold found in ancient tombs. This mold is lighter than ordinary dust and has been living in an airtight environment for a long time. When it encounters airflow, it naturally gets blown out!”
Liu Dashao stood to the side, quietly chuckling. Fan Debiao, looking dejected, walked over to the stone door, like a child who had just been scolded by his parents, resigned to his fate. After a thorough inspection, Jia Zhuangyuan found no signs of tampering with the inner coffin. Together with the others, he gradually widened the crack using the light from their flashlights. As the beams of light entered the long-sealed stone coffin, Jia Zhuangyuan took out a pair of white gloves from his backpack, put them on, and gently touched the inner coffin. Gradually, he wiped clean a corner of the inner coffin, and everyone crowded around. Liu Dashao and Cai Qingchong shone their flashlights on it, revealing densely carved talismanic inscriptions that converged toward the center of the inner coffin. When the dust in the center was wiped away, a massive, gold-lacquered character “敕” (Chi) was revealed. Liu Dashao’s flashlight fell to the ground, and Jia Zhuangyuan was equally stunned. Both exclaimed simultaneously, “The Daoist’s first sacred artifact, the True Hundred Chi Coffin for Suppressing Corpses!”
Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong exchanged glances, both puzzled, “What kind of coffin is this?” Liu Dashao stepped forward, admiring the massive sarcophagus, and explained, “This is a legendary Daoist artifact, specifically designed to suppress evil entities like drought demons and purple-gold corpses! I’ve only heard about it from my master. This is the first time I’ve seen it. I doubt there are more than two in existence! The Classic of Mountains and Seas also mentions it, but only briefly. It’s said that one was used to suppress the corpse of Chi You after his death, but at that time, the True Hundred Chi Coffin was just a black nanmu sarcophagus. After Daoism obtained another nanmu sarcophagus and carved it with inscriptions, placing a Bagua demon-revealing mirror inside, this one became far more valuable than the previous one. Most importantly, the True Hundred Chi Coffin must be made from a single, ten-thousand-year-old nanmu tree!”
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but take a closer look. At this moment, Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly said something very practical, “Now, should we open the coffin?”
“Do you really think there’s a purple-gold corpse inside? It can’t be as terrifying as Dashao said, right?” Yang Weidong, standing nearby, thought for a moment, feeling a chill run down his spine.
“Who knows? If demons and monsters rise, we, the people, will rise to destroy them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat, who in this world fears whom? It’s not the people who fear zombies, but zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, revealing his flabby body, as if he were ready to take on the Purple-Gold Corpse King single-handedly.
“Firmly support Comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said with mock seriousness.
“Go to hell, you old fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat, cursing.
“Ha ha ha ha!” Everyone burst into laughter.
After laughing for a while, everyone turned their attention back to Jia Zhuangyuan. After a long moment of consideration, he nodded and said, “Open it!”
With that, Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong pried open the coffin lid. Liu Dashao prepared in advance, while Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao stood guard with their guns, ready to assist. Jia Zhuangyuan gently inserted a specially designed tomb-raiding tool into the seam of the coffin lid, fiddled with it for a moment, then gave it a light push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion suddenly popped up from the coffin lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled, gently pulled out the protrusion, and with a loud “bang,” the coffin lid flew off, knocking Cai Qingchong to the ground. The heavy coffin lid, weighing hundreds of pounds, crashed into the wall behind them. Liu Dashao was stunned. Despite his thin appearance, Cai Qingchong was a skilled martial artist, yet he was easily knocked down by the coffin lid. At that moment, thick black smoke began to pour out of the massive sarcophagus. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face turned pale, and from the depths of his heart, he shouted three words: “Purple-Gold Corpse!”
Hearing this, Liu Dashao nearly collapsed on the spot. What the hell was going on? This Purple-Gold Corpse seemed even more formidable than the Drought Demon King that Zhang Enpu had dealt with years ago! Just then, a creaking sound, like peeling paint, came from the sarcophagus, followed by a heart-wrenching roar. Liu Dashao was certain that this was not a sound any human could make. He steeled himself, thinking, “Damn it! Let’s fight!”
Jia Zhuangyuan, disregarding the others, quickly rushed to Cai Qingchong, who was lying on the ground, bloodied and unconscious. He dragged Cai Qingchong to the wall to check his injuries. At that moment, with another ear-piercing scream, a tall zombie suddenly sat up from the True Hundred Chi Coffin.
At the sight of the zombie, Liu Dashao’s courage was instantly doused. The creature looked somewhat humanoid, dressed in a robe adorned with a hundred flowers, wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown, but its face was a hideous black, with several black fangs protruding from its mouth. It was utterly repulsive.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to keep himself alert, then rolled to the front of the zombie. He pulled out a silver demon-revealing mirror from his bag and, using the flashlight’s beam, aimed it at the zombie. The zombie, as if electrocuted, began to howl wildly. After what felt like an eternity, Jia Zhuangyuan had quietly flanked the zombie from behind. Taking advantage of its distraction, he swiftly pulled out a short rope covered in talismans from his sleeve and expertly wrapped it around the zombie. The zombie was immobilized. Meanwhile, Liu Dashao used his free hand to throw several small objects at the zombie, each one causing it to howl in pain. One of the objects landed near Fan Debiao, who picked it up and realized it was a copper coin from the Wanli era. He swallowed hard and pocketed the coin.
The zombie’s roars continued. Looking down at the unconscious and severely injured Cai Qingchong in his arms, Fan Debiao’s anger boiled over. He turned, grabbed a shovel, and charged at the zombie. As he approached, the zombie’s beastly howl struck fear into his heart. Even the tigers and lions in the Beijing Zoo’s Lion and Tiger Mountain were nothing compared to this creature! Jia Zhuangyuan, while tying the rope around the zombie, shouted to Fan Debiao, “Fatty! Be careful! This is the real Purple-Gold Corpse King! If it touches you, you’re either dead or crippled for life!”
“To hell with it! I’ll see what this Xinjiang bastard is made of!” Fan Debiao roared, gripping the shovel with both hands and slashing at the Purple-Gold Corpse King’s chest. The zombie wasn’t exactly invulnerable, but its body was incredibly rigid. Fan Debiao’s shovel slipped off its chest and lodged into its armpit, nearly dragging him into the coffin. Having learned his lesson, Fan Debiao retreated to the corner, watching how the others would handle the Corpse King. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan seemed about to subdue it, the ferocious Corpse King suddenly burst with strength, snapping the steel rope Jia Zhuangyuan had tied around it. Jia Zhuangyuan spat in frustration, muttering, “Damn it! My rope was made of steel!”
In the blink of an eye, the Purple-Gold Corpse King leaped out of the coffin. Everyone except the fallen Cai Qingchong instinctively stepped back. The Corpse King, baring its fangs and extending its arms, began hopping around the confined space, chasing after the group. Jia Zhuangyuan, now the de facto leader, shouted as he ran, “Let’s get out of here!” Fan Debiao, who had been standing near the palace entrance, suddenly realized that the door had quietly closed! They were now trapped, with no choice but to fight the Corpse King to the death. As the old northeasterners would say, it was time to “fight to the bitter end!” Everyone exchanged forced smiles, brandished their weapons, and began shouting as they dodged the Corpse King’s pursuit. The Corpse King stood over two meters tall, and the group could barely hold their own, just managing to avoid injury. Dragging the severely injured Cai Qingchong only added to their burden. Their stamina was rapidly depleting. Liu Dashao, slightly slower, was grazed by the Corpse King’s sharp claws, causing searing pain. Blood gushed out, mixing with the sweat on his back. The combined smells made Liu Dashao numb to the disgust. He threw Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid, preparing for a final showdown with the black-faced, fanged monster. At that moment, the already dim light from Liu Dashao’s flashlight flickered and died, plunging the room into deeper darkness. Everyone gasped, realizing that the remaining flashlights could go out at any moment. If Liu Dashao’s prediction was correct, they would be at a severe disadvantage.
Liu Dashao nodded, gripping the crossbow, and glanced down with a hint of fear. He smiled and said to Liu Dashao, “The claws of this lift crossbow are still nailed under the beam. Press the red button above and slowly lean down; it will gradually release the line and lower you. Don’t worry, this device was specially crafted by a master of hidden mechanisms from the folk. It’s very sturdy. Once you’re down, tell them not to touch the coffin until I come down.”
Liu Dashao nodded, feeling a bit dizzy as he looked down. He steeled himself, closed his eyes, and pressed the red button, then slowly lowered his feet. Fortunately, the lift crossbow indeed began to release the line gradually. Liu Dashao leaned out, suspended in mid-air, and slowly descended.
When his feet touched the solid ground of the palace, Liu Dashao opened his eyes and pressed a white button. The lift crossbow retracted the line and ascended back to the beam where Jia Zhuangyuan was.
By then, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had ceased. Liu Dashao turned and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive green coffin that had landed on the ground, looking at it with uncertainty.
Liu Dashao hurried over and said, “Senior Jia said to wait for him before touching the coffin.”
Everyone nodded quickly. Fan Debiao, looking particularly frightened, added, “I’m terrified of these things. I still remember the old mummy from Bodhisattva Mountain. What if we open it and some ancient corpse crawls out? Damn, just thinking about it makes my heart race.”
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice rang out, “Fan Debiao, you’re such a big, strong guy, but you’re really a coward.”
Everyone looked up and saw Jia Zhuangyuan nearing the ground.
Fan Debiao, red-faced, retorted, “I’m not a coward. I’m just naturally afraid of gods and ghosts. But if it’s a fight, I, Fan Debiao, won’t hesitate.”
Jia Zhuangyuan landed and ignored Fan Debiao, walking over to the green coffin to examine it closely with the others.
The coffin was about half a person’s height, and its length and width could easily fit three or four burly men like Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. It was made entirely of green stone, with no patterns, carvings, or inscriptions, except for a single seam in the middle.
After observing the coffin for a while, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin appear? Why is it so huge? Who could be inside?”
Jia Zhuangyuan tapped the stone coffin with his finger, then shook his head and said, “This isn’t just a coffin; it’s a sarcophagus. The coffin is the inner part, and the sarcophagus is the outer layer that encases it. In ancient times, burial practices were strictly hierarchical. The size and number of sarcophagi varied by rank. For example, the emperor’s sarcophagus had four layers: the innermost layer was called ‘Heaven,’ covered with rhinoceros and water buffalo hide; the second layer was ‘Earth,’ made of linden wood; the third was ‘Belonging,’ and the fourth was the ‘Great Coffin,’ the outermost sarcophagus. Empresses usually had two layers, often made of catalpa wood, hence their sarcophagi were called ‘Catalpa Palaces.’ Other officials had varying numbers of outer sarcophagi depending on their rank. The thickness of the sarcophagi was also strictly regulated: the emperor’s great coffin was eight inches thick, a minister’s six inches, and commoners were only allowed four inches, with no outer sarcophagus. We won’t go into all the details here. Judging by this sarcophagus, its owner must have been of imperial or near-imperial status.”
“What’s ‘near-imperial status’?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan explained, “Near-imperial status refers to crown princes, highly favored royal family members like princes, or certain high-ranking officials specially approved by the emperor.”
Cai Qingchong chimed in, “Senior Jia, are you saying that this sarcophagus must contain a very important figure?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded, “Exactly. What puzzles me is why, in the core palace of the City of Heavy Water, one of the Nine Heavens Cities, there would be a sarcophagus of such a significant figure, and why it was locked in the palace dome with an extremely rare celestial mechanism?”
Cai Qingchong said, “Why overthink it? Let’s just open it and see.” The others agreed, thinking it was the only way to solve the mystery.
Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan hesitate, Liu Dashao had a thought and asked, “Senior Jia, are you certain that this highest-level sarcophagus burial system is only for near-imperial figures and not for other things?”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at him with a strange expression, then lowered his head in thought before nodding, “Now that you mention it, I recall something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains in Sichuan. Inside the underground palace, we found an imperial sarcophagus. When we opened it, instead of an ancient corpse, there was a strange, massive skeleton, not human but resembling some kind of animal. If it’s possible that this sarcophagus doesn’t contain human remains, then perhaps my confusion would be resolved.”
Liu Dashao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him another strange look, seemingly puzzled by the question he had just asked. But he didn’t press further. Instead, he placed his backpack on the ground, opened it, and took out several items.
Everyone was intrigued by the strange assortment: a small hammer, an axe, a steel rod with a flat, pointed end, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black donkey hoof used in dealing with spirits in haunted houses, and a pair of furry gloves made from some unknown animal’s hide.
Seeing everyone’s surprised looks, Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled awkwardly, “These are tools from my past underground work. I brought them along in case they’d be useful.”
The group was clearly fascinated, wondering how Jia Zhuangyuan would use these items.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the furry gloves, then skillfully connected the pipes of varying thicknesses, attaching the axe head and tightening it, transforming it into a long axe. Seeing everyone watching, he explained, “This is a folding axe, designed for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deerskin, which is tightly woven to protect against corpse poison on or inside the sarcophagus.” He then pointed to the other items on the ground, “This steel rod is a pry bar, modified for coffin opening. The small hammer is for tapping the pry bar, and the black donkey hoof is in case we encounter a corpse transformation upon opening the coffin.”
Everyone finally understood that these were tools Jia Zhuangyuan had prepared for opening the coffin.
Jia Zhuangyuan added, “We can’t be sure what’s inside the sarcophagus. Everyone, stand back and keep watch. If something like a corpse demon jumps out, you’ll need to fight it to the death.”
Everyone nodded, indicating they were ready, and stepped back to give Jia Zhuangyuan space to work.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath, then used the pry bar to forcefully open the seam of the green stone coffin. Everyone tensely raised their guns, aiming at the coffin. Each person was silently wondering: What could be inside this stone coffin?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan opened a crack in the coffin, and a wisp of black smoke emerged. Fan Debiao was the first to bolt, running back while shouting, “Damn it! That’s a Japanese poison gas bomb!”
Cai Qingchong, however, stood still, laughing uncontrollably. After a while, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just a common mold found in ancient tombs. This mold is lighter than ordinary dust and has been living in an airless, sealed environment. When exposed to air, it naturally gets blown out!”
Liu Dashao chuckled quietly from the side. Fan Debiao, dejected, walked to the stone door, looking like a child who had just been scolded by his parents, resigned to his fate. After a thorough inspection, Jia Zhuangyuan found no signs of tampering with the inner coffin. Together with the others, he gradually widened the crack using flashlight beams. As the light illuminated the long-sealed coffin, Jia Zhuangyuan took out a pair of white gloves from his backpack and gently wiped the inner coffin. Gradually, a corner of the inner coffin was cleaned, and everyone crowded around. Liu Dashao and Cai Qingchong shone their flashlights on it, revealing densely carved talismanic inscriptions that converged toward the center of the inner coffin. When the dust at the center was wiped away, a massive gilded character “敕” (imperial decree) was revealed. Liu Dashao’s flashlight fell to the ground, and Jia Zhuangyuan was equally stunned. Both exclaimed in unison, “The Daoist’s foremost artifact, the Zheng Yi Bai Chi Zhen Shi Coffin!”
Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong exchanged glances, both puzzled, “What kind of coffin is this?” Liu Dashao stepped forward, admiring the massive sarcophagus, and explained, “This is a legendary Daoist artifact, specifically designed to suppress evil entities like drought demons and purple-gold corpses! I’ve only heard about it from my master; this is the first time I’ve seen it. There are probably no more than two in existence! The Shan Hai Jing also mentions it, but only briefly. It’s said that one was used to suppress Chi You’s corpse after his death, but back then, the Zheng Yi Bai Chi Zhen Shi Coffin was just a black nanmu sarcophagus. After Daoism acquired another nanmu sarcophagus and engraved it, placing a Bagua demon-repelling mirror inside, this one became far more potent. Most importantly, the Zheng Yi Bai Chi Zhen Shi Coffin must be made from a single piece of ten-thousand-year-old nanmu!”
Hearing this, everyone took a closer look. Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly asked a very practical question, “Now, should we open the coffin?”
“Do you think there’s really a purple-gold corpse inside? Could it really be as sinister as Liu Dashao says?” Yang Weidong pondered, feeling a chill run down his spine.
“Who knows? If demons stir up trouble, we, the people, will rise to destroy them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat—who’s afraid of whom in this world? It’s not the people who fear zombies, but zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, his fat jiggling, as if he were ready to take on the purple-gold corpse king single-handedly.
“Firmly support Comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said with mock seriousness.
“Go to hell, you old fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat, cursing.
Everyone burst into laughter.
After a while, they all turned their attention to Jia Zhuangyuan. After a long moment of consideration, he nodded and said, “Open it!”
Without delay, Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong pried open the coffin lid. Liu Dashao prepared in advance, while Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao stood guard with their guns. Jia Zhuangyuan gently inserted a specially designed tomb-raiding tool into the seam of the coffin lid, fiddled with it for a moment, then gave it a light push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion popped up from the coffin lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled, gently pulled out the protrusion, and with a loud “bang,” the coffin lid flew off, knocking Cai Qingchong over. The hundred-pound lid crashed into the wall behind them. Liu Dashao was stunned. Despite his lean appearance, Cai Qingchong was a skilled martial artist, yet he was easily sent flying by the coffin lid. At that moment, thick black smoke began to pour out of the massive sarcophagus. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face turned pale, and he shouted from the depths of his heart, “Purple-gold corpse!”
Liu Dashao nearly collapsed on the spot. What the hell was this? The purple-gold corpse seemed even more formidable than the drought demon king Zhang Enpu had dealt with! Then, a creaking sound, like peeling paint, came from the sarcophagus, followed by a heart-wrenching roar that Liu Dashao was certain no human could produce. He steeled himself, “Damn it! Let’s fight!”
Jia Zhuangyuan, ignoring the others, quickly rushed to Cai Qingchong, who was covered in blood and unconscious. He dragged Cai Qingchong to the wall to check his injuries. At that moment, another ear-splitting scream echoed, and a tall, imposing zombie suddenly sat up from the Zheng Yi Bai Chi Zhen Shi Coffin.
At the sight of the zombie, Liu Dashao’s courage was instantly doused. The creature looked somewhat humanoid, dressed in a hundred-flower red robe and wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown, but its face was a hideous black, with several black fangs protruding from its mouth. It was utterly repulsive.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to stay alert, then rolled forward to position himself in front of the zombie. He pulled out a silver demon-repelling mirror from his bag and aimed it at the zombie under the flashlight’s beam. The zombie reacted as if electrocuted, howling madly. After what felt like an eternity, Jia Zhuangyuan had quietly flanked the zombie from behind. Seizing the moment, he swiftly pulled out a short rope covered in talismans from his sleeve and expertly wrapped it around the zombie. The zombie was immobilized. Liu Dashao, using his free hand, threw several small objects at the zombie, each causing it to howl in pain. One of the objects landed near Fan Debiao, who picked it up and saw it was a copper coin from the Wanli era. He swallowed hard and pocketed the coin.
The zombie’s roars continued. Looking down at the unconscious, severely injured Cai Qingchong in his arms, Fan Debiao’s anger flared. He grabbed a shovel and charged at the zombie. Up close, the zombie’s beastly howls were overwhelming, more terrifying than any lion or tiger he’d encountered at the Beijing Zoo. Jia Zhuangyuan, while tying the immortal-binding rope around the zombie, warned Fan Debiao, “Fatty! Be careful! This is the real deal—a purple-gold corpse king! If it touches you, you’re done for!”
“To hell with it! Let’s see what this Xinjiang bastard can do!” Fan Debiao shouted, gripping the shovel with both hands and slashing at the purple-gold corpse king’s chest. The corpse king wasn’t exactly invulnerable, but its body was unnaturally rigid. Fan Debiao’s shovel slipped off its chest and lodged into its armpit, nearly dragging him into the coffin. After this close call, Fan Debiao retreated to the corner, watching how the others handled the corpse king. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan seemed about to subdue it, the fierce corpse king suddenly burst with strength, snapping the steel chains Jia Zhuangyuan had bound it with. Jia Zhuangyuan spat in frustration, muttering, “Damn it! My immortal-binding rope was made of steel!”
In a flash, the purple-gold corpse king leaped out of the coffin. Everyone except the fallen Cai Qingchong instinctively stepped back. The corpse king bared its fangs, arms outstretched, and began hopping around the confined space, chasing the group. Jia Zhuangyuan, now the de facto leader, shouted as he ran, “Let’s get out of here!” Fan Debiao, who had been standing near the palace entrance, suddenly realized the door had silently closed. They were trapped. The only option was to fight the corpse king to the death—what old northeasterners called “deadlock.” Everyone exchanged forced smiles, brandished their weapons, and shouted as they dodged the corpse king’s pursuit. The corpse king stood over two meters tall, making it nearly impossible to fend off. Just avoiding injury was a miracle, and dragging the severely injured Cai Qingchong added to the pressure. Their stamina was waning. Liu Dashao, slightly slower, was grazed by the corpse king’s claws, causing excruciating pain. Blood gushed out, soaking his already sweat-drenched back. The mix of smells made him numb to the disgust. He hurled Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid, ready to face the black-faced, fanged monster in a final stand. At that moment, the already dim light from Liu Dashao’s flashlight flickered and died, plunging them into deeper darkness. Everyone gasped, realizing that the remaining flashlights might fail at any moment. If Liu Dashao’s prediction was correct, they would be at a severe disadvantage.
By then, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had stopped. Liu Dashao turned around and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive bluish stone coffin that had landed. They looked somewhat bewildered.
Liu Dashao quickly walked over and said, “Master Jia said to wait for him and not touch the coffin for now.”
Everyone nodded quickly. Fan Debiao, with a terrified expression, said, “Man, I hate this stuff. I still remember vividly that old mummy back at Buddha Mountain. What if we open this thing and some ancient corpse crawls out? Just thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach.”
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice echoed down, “Fan Debiao, you big, tough guy—never thought you’d be such a scaredy-cat.”
Everyone looked up and saw Jia Zhuangyuan nearing the ground.
Fan Debiao blushed and retorted, “I’m not scared—I was just born afraid of ghosts and spirits. But if it’s a battlefield, I’ll never flinch, I swear!”
Once Jia Zhuangyuan landed, he ignored Fan Debiao and walked straight to the stone coffin, carefully examining it with the others.
The coffin stood about half a person tall, and its length and width could easily fit three or four men the size of Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. Made entirely of bluish stone, it bore no patterns, carvings, or inscriptions—except for a single seam down the middle.
After a moment, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin even appear? And why is it so huge? Who could possibly be inside?”
Liu Dashao nodded, gripping the crossbow, and glanced down with a hint of fear. He smiled and said to Liu Dashao, “The claw of this lifting crossbow is still nailed under the beam. Press the red button above, slowly lean down, and it will gradually lower you. Don’t worry, this device was specially crafted by a master of hidden mechanisms from the folk. It’s very sturdy. Once you’re down, tell them not to touch the coffin until I descend.”
Liu Dashao nodded, feeling slightly dizzy as he looked down. Summoning his courage, he closed his eyes and pressed the red button, then slowly lowered his feet. Fortunately, the lifting crossbow indeed began to release the line gradually. Liu Dashao leaned out, suspended in mid-air, and slowly descended.
When his feet finally touched the solid ground of the palace, Liu Dashao opened his eyes and pressed a white button. The lifting crossbow retracted the line, ascending back to the beam where Jia Zhuangyuan was.
At this moment, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had ceased. Liu Dashao turned around and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive green coffin that had landed on the ground, looking somewhat bewildered.
Liu Dashao quickly walked over and said to them, “Senior Jia said to wait for him to come down and not to touch the coffin yet.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Fan Debiao, with a look of terror, added, “I’m really scared of this stuff. I still remember the old mummy from Bodhisattva Mountain. What if we open it and a corpse crawls out? Damn, just thinking about it makes my heart race.”
Just then, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice rang out, “Fan Debiao, you look big and strong, but you’re really a coward.”
Everyone looked up and saw that Jia Zhuangyuan was almost on the ground.
Fan Debiao, blushing, retorted, “I’m not a coward. I’m just naturally afraid of ghosts and spirits. If it were a battle, I, Fan Debiao, wouldn’t hesitate.”
Jia Zhuangyuan landed and ignored Fan Debiao, walking over to the green coffin to examine it carefully with the others.
The coffin was about half a person’s height, and its length and width could easily fit three or four burly men like Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. It was made entirely of green stone, with no patterns, carvings, or inscriptions, except for a single seam in the middle.
After observing the coffin for a while, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin appear? Why is it so huge? Who could be inside?”
Jia Zhuangyuan tapped the stone coffin with his finger, then shook his head and said, “This isn’t a coffin; it’s a sarcophagus. The coffin is the inner part, and the sarcophagus is the outer layer that encases it. In ancient times, burial practices were strictly hierarchical. The size and number of sarcophagi varied by rank. For example, the emperor’s sarcophagus would have four layers: the innermost layer, called ‘Heaven,’ was covered with rhinoceros and water buffalo hide; the second layer, ‘Earth,’ was made of catalpa wood; the third layer, ‘Shu,’ and the fourth layer, ‘Great Coffin,’ which was the outermost sarcophagus. The empress’s outer sarcophagus usually had two layers, often made of catalpa wood, hence it was also called the ‘Catalpa Palace.’ Other officials had varying numbers of outer sarcophagi depending on their rank. Additionally, the thickness of the sarcophagus was strictly regulated: the emperor’s great coffin was eight inches thick, a minister’s was six inches, and a commoner’s was only four inches, with no outer sarcophagus. We won’t go into all the details here. Judging by this sarcophagus, its owner must have been of imperial or near-imperial status.”
“What does ‘near-imperial status’ mean?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan explained, “Near-imperial status refers to the crown prince, highly favored members of the royal family like princes, or certain high-ranking officials specially approved by the emperor.”
Cai Qingchong chimed in, “Senior Jia, are you saying that this sarcophagus must contain a very important person?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded, “Exactly. What puzzles me is why such a significant sarcophagus would appear in the core palace of the City of Heavy Water, one of the Nine Heavens Cities, and why it was locked in the palace dome with an extremely rare astrological mechanism.”
Cai Qingchong said, “Let’s not overthink it. Why don’t we just open it and see?” The others agreed, thinking it was the only way to solve the mystery.
Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan hesitate, Liu Dashao had a thought and asked, “Senior Jia, are you certain that this highest-level sarcophagus is only used for near-imperial figures and not for something else?”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at him with a strange expression, then lowered his head in thought before nodding, “Now that you mention it, I recall something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains in Sichuan. Inside the tomb, we found an imperial sarcophagus. When we opened it, instead of an ancient corpse, there was a strange, massive skeleton—not human, but resembling some kind of animal. If it’s possible that this sarcophagus doesn’t contain human remains, then perhaps my confusion would be resolved.”
Liu Dashao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him a curious look, seemingly puzzled by the question, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he placed his backpack on the ground, opened it, and took out several items.
Everyone was intrigued by the strange assortment: a small hammer, an axe, a steel rod with a flat, pointed end, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black donkey hoof used in dealing with spirits in haunted houses, and a pair of furry gloves made from some unknown animal’s hide.
Seeing everyone’s surprised looks, Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled awkwardly, “These are tools from my past underground work. I brought them along in case we needed them.”
The group was clearly fascinated, wondering how Jia Zhuangyuan would use these items.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the furry gloves, then skillfully connected the pipes of varying thicknesses, attaching the axe head and tightening it, transforming it into a long axe. Seeing everyone watching him, he explained, “This is a folding axe, designed for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deer hide, which is tightly woven to protect against corpse poison on or inside the sarcophagus.” He then pointed to the other items on the ground, “This steel rod is called a pry bar, modified for prying open coffins. The small hammer is for tapping the pry bar, and the black donkey hoof is in case we encounter a corpse transformation upon opening the coffin.”
Everyone now understood that these were tools Jia Zhuangyuan had prepared for opening the coffin.
Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “We can’t be sure what’s inside the sarcophagus. Everyone, stand back and keep watch. If something like a corpse demon jumps out, you’ll have to fight it with everything you’ve got.”
Everyone nodded, signaling they were ready, and stepped back to give Jia Zhuangyuan space to work.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath, then used the pry bar to forcefully open a seam in the green stone coffin. Everyone tensely raised their guns, aiming at the coffin. At this moment, each person was wondering: What could be inside this stone coffin?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan opened a gap in the coffin, and a wisp of black smoke emerged. Fan Debiao was the first to bolt, running back while shouting, “Damn it! It’s a Japanese poison gas bomb!”
Cai Qingchong, however, stood still, chuckling. After laughing, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just a common mold found in ancient tombs. This mold is lighter than ordinary dust and has been living in an airtight environment for a long time. When it encounters airflow, it naturally gets blown out!”
Liu Dashao stood by, secretly amused. Fan Debiao, crestfallen, returned to the stone door, looking like a child who had just been scolded by his parents, ready to endure whatever came next. After a thorough inspection, Jia Zhuangyuan found no signs of tampering with the inner coffin and, with the help of the group, gradually widened the gap using flashlight beams. As the light shone into the long-sealed coffin, Jia Zhuangyuan took out a pair of white gloves from his backpack, put them on, and gently wiped the inner coffin. Gradually, a corner of the inner coffin was cleaned, and everyone crowded around. Liu Dashao and Cai Qingchong shone their flashlights on it, revealing densely carved talismanic inscriptions that converged towards the center of the inner coffin. When the dust in the center was wiped away, a large, gilded character “敕” (Chi) was revealed. Liu Dashao’s flashlight fell to the ground, and Jia Zhuangyuan was equally stunned. Both exclaimed simultaneously, “The Daoist’s first sacred artifact, the ‘Zheng Yi Bai Chi Zhen Shi Guan’ (The Coffin of a Hundred Decrees to Suppress Corpses)!”
Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong exchanged glances, both puzzled, “What kind of coffin is this?” Liu Dashao stepped forward, admiring the massive sarcophagus, and explained, “This is a legendary Daoist artifact, specifically designed to suppress evil entities like drought demons and purple-gold corpses! I’ve only heard about it from my master; this is the first time I’ve seen it. It’s said that there are no more than two of these in existence! The ‘Shan Hai Jing’ (Classic of Mountains and Seas) also mentions it briefly, stating that one was used to suppress the corpse of Chi You after his death. However, the original ‘Zheng Yi Bai Chi Zhen Shi Guan’ was just a black nanmu coffin. After Daoism obtained another nanmu coffin and added carvings and a Bagua mirror inside, this one became significantly more powerful. Most importantly, the coffin must be made from a single piece of ten-thousand-year-old nanmu wood!”
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but take a closer look. At this moment, Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly asked a very practical question, “Now, should we open the coffin?”
“Do you think there’s really a purple-gold corpse inside? Could it be as terrifying as Dashao said?” Yang Weidong pondered, feeling a bit creeped out.
“Who knows? If demons stir up trouble, we, the people, will rise to destroy them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat, who in this world fears whom? It’s not the people who fear zombies, but zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, showing off his ample flesh, as if he alone could handle the purple-gold corpse king if it appeared.
“I firmly support Comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said with mock seriousness.
“Go to hell! You old-fashioned fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat, cursing.
“Ha ha ha ha,” everyone laughed together.
After laughing for a while, everyone turned their attention to Jia Zhuangyuan. After a long moment of consideration, he nodded and said, “Open it!”
With that, Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong pried open the coffin lid. Liu Dashao prepared in advance, while Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao stood guard with their guns. Jia Zhuangyuan gently inserted a specially designed tomb-raiding tool into the seam of the coffin lid, fiddled with it a couple of times, then gave it a light push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion popped up on the coffin lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled, gently pulled out the protrusion, and with a loud “bang,” the coffin lid flew off, knocking Cai Qingchong over. The hundred-pound coffin lid crashed into the wall behind them. Liu Dashao was stunned. Despite his thin appearance, Cai Qingchong was a skilled martial artist, yet he was easily sent flying by the coffin lid. At that moment, thick black smoke began to pour out of the massive sarcophagus. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face turned pale, and from the depths of his heart, he shouted three words: “Purple-gold corpse!”
Hearing this, Liu Dashao nearly collapsed on the spot. What on earth was going on? This purple-gold corpse seemed even more formidable than the drought demon king that Zhang Enpu had dealt with years ago! Then, a creaking sound came from the sarcophagus, resembling the sound of peeling paint, followed by a heart-wrenching roar that Liu Dashao was certain no human could produce. He steeled himself, thinking, “Damn it! Let’s fight!”
Jia Zhuangyuan, disregarding the others, quickly rushed to Cai Qingchong, who was covered in blood and unconscious. He dragged Cai Qingchong to the wall to check his injuries. At that moment, with another ear-splitting scream, a tall zombie suddenly sat up from the ‘Zheng Yi Bai Chi Zhen Shi Guan.’
At the sight of the zombie, Liu Dashao’s courage was instantly doused. The creature looked somewhat human, dressed in a hundred-flower red robe and wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown, but its face was a hideous black with several black fangs protruding from its mouth. It was utterly repulsive.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to stay alert, then rolled forward to position himself in front of the zombie. He pulled out a silver demon-repelling mirror from his bag and, using the flashlight’s beam, aimed it at the zombie. The zombie reacted as if electrocuted, howling in agony. After what felt like an eternity, Jia Zhuangyuan had quietly flanked the zombie and, taking advantage of its distraction, swiftly wrapped a short rope covered in talismans around its body. The zombie was immobilized. Liu Dashao, with his free hand, threw several small objects at the zombie, each causing it to howl in pain. One of the objects landed near Fan Debiao, who picked it up and saw it was a copper coin from the Wanli era. He swallowed hard and pocketed the coin.
The zombie’s roars continued. Looking down at the unconscious, severely injured Cai Qingchong in his arms, Fan Debiao’s anger boiled over. He grabbed a shovel and charged at the zombie. As he approached, the zombie’s beastly howls struck fear into his heart. Even the tigers and lions in the Beijing Zoo’s Lion and Tiger Mountain were nothing compared to this creature! Jia Zhuangyuan, while tying the rope around the zombie, warned Fan Debiao, “Fatty! Be careful! This is the real deal—a purple-gold corpse king! If it touches you, you’re either dead or crippled for life!”
“To hell with it! I want to see what this Xinjiang old bastard is capable of!” Fan Debiao shouted, gripping the shovel with both hands and slashing at the purple-gold corpse king’s chest. The corpse king wasn’t exactly invulnerable, but its body was incredibly rigid. Fan Debiao’s shovel slipped off its chest and lodged into its armpit, nearly dragging him into the coffin. Having learned his lesson, Fan Debiao retreated to the corner, watching how the others would handle the corpse king. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan seemed about to subdue it, the fierce corpse king suddenly burst with strength, snapping the steel rope Jia Zhuangyuan had tied around it. Jia Zhuangyuan spat in frustration, muttering, “Damn it! My rope was made of steel!”
In the blink of an eye, the purple-gold corpse king leaped out of the coffin. Everyone except the fallen Cai Qingchong instinctively stepped back. The corpse king bared its fangs, extended its arms, and began hopping around the confined space, chasing the group. Jia Zhuangyuan, now the de facto leader, shouted as he ran, “Let’s get out of here!” Fan Debiao, who had been standing near the palace entrance, suddenly realized that the door had quietly closed. They were trapped. Their only option was to fight the corpse king head-on, or in northeastern slang, ‘die hard.’ Everyone exchanged forced smiles, brandished their weapons, and shouted as they dodged the corpse king’s pursuit. The corpse king stood over two meters tall, and the group could barely fend it off. Avoiding injury was a miracle, and dragging the severely injured Cai Qingchong added to their burden. Their stamina was rapidly depleting. Liu Dashao, slightly slower, was scratched by the corpse king’s sharp claws. The excruciating pain was unbearable, and blood gushed out, soaking his already sweat-drenched back. The mix of smells made Liu Dashao numb to the disgust. He threw Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid, ready to fight the black-faced, fanged creature to the death. At that moment, the already dim light grew even darker as Liu Dashao’s flashlight died. Everyone exclaimed in alarm, realizing that the remaining flashlights could go out at any moment. If Liu Dashao’s prediction came true, they would be at a severe disadvantage.
“What do you mean by ‘near-imperial’?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan replied, “That would be someone like a crown prince, a royal family member greatly favored by the emperor—like a prince—or even a high-ranking official specially approved by the emperor.”
At this, Cai Qingchong asked, “Master Jia, are you saying this coffin definitely contains someone extremely important?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded. “Exactly. But what puzzles me is, why would a high-ranking noble or even imperial figure be buried inside the core palace of this submerged city, locked in place by such a rare astrological locking mechanism on the palace ceiling?”
Cai Qingchong said, “Well then, why don’t we just open the coffin and find out?” Others agreed, thinking it the only way to solve the mystery.
Liu Dashao noticed Jia Zhuangyuan hesitating. Suddenly, something came to mind, and he asked, “Master Jia, are you absolutely sure this highest-grade burial style was only used for human remains, and not for other purposes?”
Jia Zhuangyuan gave him a strange look, then thought for a moment and nodded. “Now that you mention it, I remember something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains of Sichuan. Inside, we found an imperial coffin. When we opened it, instead of a corpse, there was a strange, massive skeleton—not human, but something animal-like. If this coffin might not contain human remains either, it might explain some of my doubts.”
Liu Dashao smiled faintly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him another puzzled look, as if surprised by his question, but said nothing further. Instead, he took off his backpack and opened it, pulling out several strange tools: a small hammer, an axe, a flat-tipped steel rod, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black object used in haunted houses to ward off evil spirits—a donkey’s hoof—and a pair of fuzzy gloves made from some unknown animal hide.
Seeing the tools, everyone looked surprised. Jia Zhuangyuan, slightly embarrassed, chuckled and said, “These are tools from my old underground work. I brought them just in case.”
Everyone became curious about how he would use them.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the fuzzy gloves, then skillfully connected several pipes into a long shaft, attaching the axe to the end and tightening it into a long-handled axe. As everyone watched, he explained, “This is a folding axe for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deer hide, which is dense enough to protect against corpse toxins. The steel rod is a modified crowbar for opening coffins, the hammer is for tapping the crowbar, and the donkey hoof is for dealing with any corpse transformations.”
Everyone finally understood—these were all tools Jia Zhuangyuan had brought specifically for opening the coffin.
Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “We still don’t know what’s inside this coffin. Everyone step back a bit—I’m about to get to work. And keep watch—just in case something like a corpse spirit jumps out, you’ll have to shoot it dead.”
Everyone nodded, stepped back, and gave Jia Zhuangyuan space.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath and began prying open the stone coffin with the crowbar. Everyone tensed, raising their guns toward the coffin. Each person silently wondered: what could possibly be inside?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan pried open a gap, and a wisp of black smoke drifted out. Immediately, Fan Debiao took off running backward, shouting, “Oh no! This must be poison gas from the Japanese devils!”
Cai Qingchong stood still, laughing out loud. After calming down, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just common mold found in ancient tombs. It’s lighter than dust, surviving in sealed, airless environments for centuries. When exposed to air, it gets stirred up naturally.”
Liu Dashao nodded, gripping the crossbow tightly as he glanced down with a hint of fear. He smiled at Liu Dashao and said, “The claw of this lifting crossbow is still anchored beneath the beam. Press the red button above and slowly lean down; it will gradually release the line and lower you. Don’t worry, this device was specially crafted by a master of hidden mechanisms from the folk. It’s very sturdy. Once you’re down, tell them not to touch the coffin until I arrive.”
Liu Dashao nodded, feeling slightly dizzy as he looked down. Summoning his courage, he closed his eyes and pressed the red button, then slowly lowered his feet. Fortunately, the lifting crossbow indeed began to release the line, and Liu Dashao leaned forward, suspended in mid-air, slowly descending.
When his feet finally touched the solid ground of the palace, Liu Dashao opened his eyes and pressed the white button. The lifting crossbow retracted the line, ascending back to the beam where Jia Zhuangyuan stood.
By now, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had ceased. Liu Dashao turned and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive green coffin that had landed on the ground, staring at it in confusion.
Liu Dashao hurried over and said, “Senior Jia said to wait for him before touching the coffin.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Fan Debiao, looking particularly frightened, added, “I’m terrified of this stuff. I still remember that old mummy from Bodhisattva Mountain. What if we open it and some ancient corpse crawls out? Damn, just thinking about it makes my heart race.”
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice rang out, “Fan Debiao, you’re such a big, strong guy, but you’re really a coward.”
Everyone looked up and saw Jia Zhuangyuan nearing the ground.
Fan Debiao, his face red, retorted, “I’m not a coward. I’m just naturally afraid of ghosts and spirits. If you ask me to fight on the battlefield, I, Fan Debiao, won’t hesitate.”
Jia Zhuangyuan landed and ignored Fan Debiao, walking over to the green coffin to examine it closely with the others.
The coffin was half a person’s height, and its length and width could easily fit three or four burly men like Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. It was made entirely of green stone, devoid of any patterns, carvings, or inscriptions, except for a single seam in the middle.
After observing the coffin for a while, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin appear? Why is it so massive? Who could be inside?”
Jia Zhuangyuan tapped the stone coffin with his finger, then shook his head and said, “This isn’t just a coffin; it’s a sarcophagus. The coffin is the inner part, and the sarcophagus is the outer layer that encases it. In ancient times, burial customs were strictly hierarchical. The size and number of sarcophagi varied by rank. For example, the emperor’s sarcophagus would have four layers: the innermost layer, called ‘Heaven,’ was covered with rhinoceros and water buffalo hide; the second layer, ‘Earth,’ was made of basswood; the third, ‘Subordinate,’ and the fourth, ‘Great Coffin,’ which was the outermost sarcophagus. Empresses usually had two layers, often made of catalpa wood, hence their sarcophagi were called ‘Catalpa Palaces.’ Other officials had varying numbers of outer sarcophagi depending on their rank. Additionally, the thickness of the sarcophagus was strictly regulated: the emperor’s great coffin was eight inches thick, a minister’s six inches, and commoners’ coffins were only four inches thick, with no outer sarcophagus. Given this sarcophagus, its owner must have been of imperial or near-imperial status.”
“What’s ‘near-imperial’?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan explained, “Near-imperial refers to the crown prince, highly favored members of the royal family like princes, or certain high-ranking officials specially approved by the emperor.”
At this point, Cai Qingchong chimed in, “Senior Jia, are you saying that this sarcophagus must contain a significant figure?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded, “Exactly. What’s puzzling is that in the core palace of the City of Heavy Water, one of the Nine Heavens Cities, why would there be a sarcophagus of such a prominent figure, and why was it locked in the palace’s dome with an extremely rare astrological mechanism?”
Cai Qingchong said, “Let’s not overthink it. Why don’t we just open it and see?” The others agreed, seeing this as the only way to unravel the mystery.
Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan hesitate, Liu Dashao had a thought and asked, “Senior Jia, are you certain that this highest level of burial sarcophagus is only used for near-imperial figures and not for other things?”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at him with a strange expression, then lowered his head in thought before nodding, “Now that you mention it, I recall something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains of Sichuan. Inside the tomb’s underground palace, we found an imperial sarcophagus. When we opened it, instead of an ancient corpse, there was a strange, massive skeleton—not human, but resembling some kind of animal. If it’s possible that this sarcophagus doesn’t contain human remains, then perhaps my confusion would be resolved.”
Liu Dashao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him another strange look, seemingly puzzled by the question he had just asked. However, he didn’t press further. Instead, he set his backpack on the ground, opened it, and pulled out several items.
Everyone was surprised by the odd assortment: a small hammer, an axe, a steel rod with a flat, pointed end, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black donkey hoof used in dealing with spirits in haunted houses, and a pair of furry gloves made from some unknown animal’s hide.
Seeing everyone’s curious gazes, Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled awkwardly, “These are tools from my days working underground. I brought them along in case they’d be useful.”
The group was clearly intrigued, wondering how Jia Zhuangyuan would use these items.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the furry gloves, then skillfully connected the pipes of different thicknesses, attaching the axe head and tightening it, transforming it into a long axe. Seeing everyone watching, he explained, “This is a folding axe, designed for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deerskin, which is tightly woven to protect against corpse poison on or inside the sarcophagus.” He then pointed to the other items on the ground, “This steel rod is called a pry bar, modified for prying open coffins. The small hammer is for tapping the pry bar, and the black donkey hoof is in case we encounter a corpse transformation upon opening the coffin.”
Everyone finally understood that these were tools Jia Zhuangyuan had prepared for opening the sarcophagus.
Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “We still don’t know what’s inside this sarcophagus, so everyone, stand back. I’ll get to work. Please keep watch; if something like a corpse demon jumps out, you’ll need to fight it off with everything you’ve got.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, stepping back to give Jia Zhuangyuan space to work.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath, then picked up the pry bar and forcefully pried open the seam of the green stone coffin. The group tensely raised their guns, aiming at the coffin. Each person was silently wondering: What could be inside this stone coffin?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan opened a crack in the coffin, and a wisp of black smoke emerged. Fan Debiao was the first to bolt, running back while shouting, “Damn it! That’s a Japanese poison gas bomb!”
Cai Qingchong, however, stood still, laughing uncontrollably. After a while, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just a common mold found in ancient tombs. This mold is lighter than ordinary dust and has been living in an airtight environment for a long time. When exposed to airflow, it naturally gets blown out!”
Liu Dashao stood to the side, quietly chuckling. Fan Debiao, looking dejected, returned to the stone door, resembling a child who had just been scolded by his parents, resigned to his fate. After a thorough inspection, Jia Zhuangyuan found no signs of tampering with the inner coffin. Together with the group, he gradually widened the gap using the flashlight’s beam. As the light penetrated the long-sealed stone coffin, Jia Zhuangyuan pulled out a pair of white gloves from his backpack, put them on, and gently touched the inner coffin. Gradually, he cleaned a corner of the inner coffin, and the group crowded around. Liu Dashao and Cai Qingchong shone their flashlights on it, revealing densely carved talismanic inscriptions that converged toward the center of the inner coffin. When the dust in the center was wiped away, a massive, gold-painted “敕” (imperial decree) character was revealed. Liu Dashao’s flashlight fell to the ground, and Jia Zhuangyuan was equally stunned. Both exclaimed in unison, “The Daoist’s foremost artifact, the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees!”
Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong exchanged glances, both puzzled, “What kind of coffin is this?” Liu Dashao stepped forward, admiring the massive sarcophagus, and explained, “This is a legendary Daoist artifact, specifically designed to suppress evil entities like drought demons and purple-gold corpses! I’ve only heard about it from my master; this is my first time seeing it. I doubt there are more than two in existence! The Classic of Mountains and Seas also briefly mentions it, stating that one was used to suppress Chi You’s corpse after his death. However, the original Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees was just a black nanmu sarcophagus. After Daoism obtained another nanmu sarcophagus and engraved it, placing a Bagua demon-repelling mirror inside, this version became far more potent. Most importantly, the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees must be made from a single piece of ten-thousand-year-old nanmu wood!”
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but take a closer look. At this moment, Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly asked a very practical question, “Now, should we open the sarcophagus?”
“Do you think there’s really a purple-gold corpse inside? Could it really be as terrifying as Dashao said?” Yang Weidong, standing nearby, pondered, feeling a chill run down his spine.
“Who knows? If demons and monsters stir up trouble, we, the people, will rise to destroy them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat—who in this world fears whom? It’s not the people who fear zombies; it’s the zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, revealing his ample physique, as if he alone could handle the Purple-Gold Corpse King if it appeared.
“Firmly support Comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said with mock seriousness.
“Go to hell, you old fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat, cursing.
“Ha ha ha ha!” Everyone burst into laughter.
After laughing for a while, they all turned their attention back to Jia Zhuangyuan. After a long moment of consideration, he nodded and said, “Open it!”
Without delay, Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong pried open the coffin lid. Liu Dashao prepared in advance, while Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao stood guard with their guns. Jia Zhuangyuan gently inserted a specially designed tomb-raiding tool into the seam of the coffin lid, fiddled with it for a moment, then gave it a light push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion popped up from the coffin lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled softly, pulled out the protrusion, and with a loud “clang,” the coffin lid flew off, knocking Cai Qingchong over. The hundred-pound lid crashed into the wall behind them. Liu Dashao stood frozen in place. Despite his lean appearance, Cai Qingchong was a skilled martial artist, yet he was easily sent flying by the coffin lid. At that moment, thick black smoke began to pour out of the massive sarcophagus. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face turned pale, and from the depths of his heart, he uttered three words: “Purple-Gold Corpse!”
Hearing this, Liu Dashao nearly collapsed on the spot. What the hell was going on? This Purple-Gold Corpse seemed even more formidable than the Drought Demon King that Zhang Enpu had dealt with! Then, a creaking sound, like peeling paint, emanated from the sarcophagus, followed by a heart-wrenching roar. Liu Dashao was certain this was not a sound any human could make. He steeled himself, thinking, “Damn it! Let’s fight!”
Jia Zhuangyuan, ignoring the others, quickly rushed to Cai Qingchong, who was covered in blood and unconscious. He dragged Cai Qingchong to the wall to assess his injuries. At that moment, another ear-splitting howl erupted, and a tall, imposing zombie suddenly sat up from the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees.
Upon seeing the zombie, Liu Dashao’s courage was instantly doused. The creature looked somewhat humanoid, draped in a red robe adorned with flowers, wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown, but its face was a hideous black, with several black fangs protruding from its mouth. It was utterly repulsive.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to stay alert, then rolled to the front of the zombie. He pulled out a silver demon-repelling mirror from his bag and shone the flashlight through it at the zombie. As expected, the zombie reacted as if electrocuted, letting out a series of agonized howls. After what felt like an eternity, Jia Zhuangyuan had quietly flanked the zombie from behind. Seizing the moment, he swiftly unfurled a short rope covered in talismans from his sleeve and expertly wrapped it around the zombie. The zombie was immobilized. Meanwhile, Liu Dashao used his free hand to hurl small objects at the zombie, each one eliciting a howl of pain. One of these objects landed near Fan Debiao, who picked it up and saw it was a copper coin from the Wanli era. He swallowed hard and pocketed the coin.
The zombie’s roars continued. Looking down at the unconscious, severely injured Cai Qingchong in his arms, Fan Debiao’s anger boiled over. He turned, grabbed an entrenching tool, and charged at the zombie. As he approached, the zombie’s beastly howls struck fear into his heart. Even the tigers and lions at the Beijing Zoo were nothing compared to this creature! Jia Zhuangyuan, while tying the Immortal-Binding Rope around the zombie, shouted to Fan Debiao, “Fatty! Be careful! This is the real deal—the Purple-Gold Corpse King! If it touches you, you’re done for!”
“To hell with it! Let’s see what this Xinjiang bastard can do!” Fan Debiao roared, gripping the entrenching tool with both hands and slashing at the Purple-Gold Corpse King’s chest. The corpse king wasn’t exactly invulnerable, but its body was unnaturally rigid. Fan Debiao’s swing caused the tool to slip, skewering the corpse king’s armpit instead. Fan Debiao nearly fell into the coffin himself. After this close call, he retreated to the corner, watching how the others handled the corpse king. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan seemed about to subdue it, the ferocious corpse king suddenly burst free, snapping the steel chains Jia Zhuangyuan had bound it with. Jia Zhuangyuan spat in frustration, muttering, “Damn it! My Immortal-Binding Rope was made of steel!”
In the blink of an eye, the Purple-Gold Corpse King leaped out of the coffin. Everyone except the fallen Cai Qingchong instinctively stepped back. The corpse king bared its fangs, arms outstretched, and began hopping after the group in the confined space. Jia Zhuangyuan, now the de facto leader, shouted as he ran, “Let’s get out of here!” Fan Debiao, who had been standing near the palace entrance, suddenly realized the door had silently closed. They were trapped. Their only option was to fight the corpse king to the death—or as the old northeasterners would say, “死磕” (die hard)! The group exchanged forced smiles, brandished their weapons, and began shouting as they dodged the corpse king’s pursuit. The creature stood over two meters tall, making it nearly impossible to fend off. Just avoiding injury was a miracle, and they still had to drag the severely wounded Cai Qingchong. The pressure was immense, and their stamina was dwindling. Liu Dashao, slightly slower, was grazed by the corpse king’s claws. The searing pain was unbearable, and blood gushed out, soaking his already sweat-drenched back. The mingling scents made him numb to the nausea. He hurled Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid, preparing for a final stand against the black-faced, fanged monster. At that moment, the already dim light grew even darker as Liu Dashao’s flashlight died. Everyone exclaimed in alarm, realizing that the remaining flashlights could fail at any moment. If Liu Dashao’s prediction came true, they would be at a severe disadvantage.
Liu Dashao nodded, gripping the crossbow, and glanced down with a hint of fear. He smiled and said to Liu Dashao, “The grappling hook of this lift crossbow is still nailed under the beam. Press the red button above and slowly lean down; it will gradually release the line and lower you. Don’t worry, this device was specially crafted by a master of hidden mechanisms from the folk, and it’s very sturdy. Once you’re down, tell them not to touch the coffin yet, wait for me to come down.”
Liu Dashao nodded, feeling a bit dizzy as he looked down. He steeled himself, closed his eyes, and pressed the red button, then slowly lowered his feet. Fortunately, the lift crossbow indeed began to release the line, and Liu Dashao leaned out, suspended in mid-air, slowly descending.
When his feet finally touched the solid ground of the palace, Liu Dashao opened his eyes and pressed the white button. The lift crossbow retracted the line and ascended back to the beam where Jia Zhuangyuan was.
By now, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had ceased. Liu Dashao turned around and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive green coffin that had landed on the ground, looking somewhat bewildered.
Liu Dashao quickly walked over and said, “Senior Jia said to wait for him to come down and not to touch the coffin yet.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Fan Debiao, with a look of terror, added, “I’m really scared of this stuff. I still remember that old mummy from Bodhisattva Mountain. What if we open it and some ancient corpse crawls out? Damn, just thinking about it makes my heart race.”
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice rang out, “Fan Debiao, you look so big and strong, but who would’ve thought you’re such a coward.”
Everyone looked up and saw that Jia Zhuangyuan was almost on the ground.
Fan Debiao, blushing, retorted, “I’m not a coward. I’m just naturally afraid of gods and ghosts. If you ask me to go into battle, I, Fan Debiao, would never hesitate.”
Jia Zhuangyuan landed on the ground and ignored Fan Debiao. Instead, he walked over to the green coffin and began to examine it carefully with the others.
The coffin was about half a person’s height, and its length and width could easily fit three or four burly men like Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. It was made entirely of green stone, with no patterns, carvings, or inscriptions, except for a single seam in the middle.
After observing the coffin for a while, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin appear? Why is it so huge? Who could be inside?”
Jia Zhuangyuan tapped on the stone coffin with his finger, then shook his head and said, “This isn’t a coffin; it’s a sarcophagus. The coffin is the inner part, and the sarcophagus is the outer layer that encases the coffin. In ancient times, the burial system was strictly hierarchical. The size and number of sarcophagi varied depending on the rank. For example, the emperor’s sarcophagus would have four layers: the innermost layer was called ‘Heaven,’ covered with rhinoceros and water buffalo hide; the second layer was called ‘Earth,’ made of linden wood; the third layer was called ‘Subordinate,’ and the fourth layer was called ‘Great Coffin,’ which was the outermost sarcophagus. The empress’s outer sarcophagus usually had two layers, often made of catalpa wood, hence it was also called ‘Catalpa Palace.’ Other officials had different numbers of outer sarcophagi depending on their rank. Additionally, the thickness of the sarcophagus was strictly regulated from the emperor down to the common people: the emperor’s great coffin was eight inches thick, a minister’s was six inches, and a commoner’s was only four inches, with no outer sarcophagus. We won’t go into all the details here. Judging by this sarcophagus, the person inside must have been of emperor-level or quasi-emperor-level status.”
“What is quasi-emperor-level?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan explained, “Quasi-emperor-level refers to the crown prince or other highly favored members of the royal family, like princes, or certain high-ranking officials specially approved by the emperor.”
Cai Qingchong then said, “Senior Jia, are you saying that this sarcophagus must contain a very important person?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded, “Exactly. What puzzles me is that in the core palace of the City of Heavy Water, one of the Nine Heavens Cities, why would there be a sarcophagus of such a significant figure, and why was it locked in the palace’s dome with an extremely rare astrological mechanism?”
Cai Qingchong said, “Let’s not overthink it. Why don’t we just open it and see?” The others agreed, thinking it was the only way to solve the mystery.
Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan hesitate, Liu Dashao had a thought and asked, “Senior Jia, are you certain that this highest-level sarcophagus burial system is only used for quasi-emperor-level figures, and not for something else?”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at him with a strange expression, then lowered his head in thought before nodding, “Now that you mention it, I do recall something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains in Sichuan. Inside the underground palace, we found an emperor-level coffin. When we opened it, instead of an ancient corpse, there was a strange, massive skeleton, not humanoid, but resembling some kind of animal. If the theory that this sarcophagus doesn’t contain human remains holds, then perhaps my confusion would be resolved.”
Liu Dashao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him another strange look, seemingly puzzled by the question he had just asked. However, he didn’t press further. Instead, he placed his backpack on the ground, opened it, and took out several items.
Everyone looked at these items with curiosity. There was a small hammer, an axe, a steel rod with a flat, pointed end, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black donkey hoof used in tombs to ward off evil spirits, and a pair of furry gloves made from some unknown animal’s fur.
Seeing everyone’s surprised expressions, Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled awkwardly, “These are tools from my previous underground work. I brought them along just in case.”
The group was clearly intrigued, wondering how Jia Zhuangyuan would use these items.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the furry gloves, then skillfully connected the pipes of varying thicknesses, attached the axe, and tightened it, transforming it into a long axe. Seeing everyone watching, he explained, “This is a folding axe, designed for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deerskin, which is tightly woven to protect against any corpse poison on or inside the sarcophagus.” He then pointed to the other items on the ground, “This steel rod is called a pry bar, modified for prying open coffins. The small hammer is for tapping the pry bar, and the black donkey hoof is for dealing with any corpse transformations upon opening the coffin.”
Everyone finally understood that these were tools prepared by Jia Zhuangyuan for opening the coffin.
Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “We still can’t be sure what’s inside the sarcophagus. Everyone, stand back. I need to get to work. Please keep watch; if something like a corpse demon jumps out, you’ll need to fight it off.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, stepping back a few paces to give Jia Zhuangyuan space to work.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath, then picked up the pry bar and forcefully pried open the seam of the green stone coffin. Everyone tensely raised their guns, aiming at the coffin. At that moment, each person was wondering: What could be inside this stone coffin?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan opened a crack in the coffin, and a wisp of black smoke emerged. Fan Debiao was the first to bolt, running back while shouting, “Damn it! It’s a Japanese poison gas bomb!”
Cai Qingchong, however, stood still, laughing heartily. After a while, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just a common mold found in ancient tombs. This mold is lighter than ordinary dust and has been living in an airtight environment for a long time. When it encounters airflow, it naturally gets blown out!”
Liu Dashao stood to the side, quietly chuckling. Fan Debiao, crestfallen, walked back to the stone door, looking like a child who had just been scolded by his parents, resigned to his fate. After a thorough inspection, Jia Zhuangyuan found no signs of tampering with the inner coffin. Together with the others, he gradually widened the crack using the light from their flashlights. As the beams of light shone into the long-sealed stone coffin, Jia Zhuangyuan took out a pair of white gloves from his backpack, put them on, and gently touched the inner coffin. Gradually, he cleaned a corner of the inner coffin, and everyone crowded around. Liu Dashao and Cai Qingchong shone their flashlights on it, revealing densely packed seal script incantations that converged towards the center of the inner coffin. When they wiped away the dust in the center, a massive gilded character “敕” (Chi) was revealed. Liu Dashao’s flashlight fell to the ground, and Jia Zhuangyuan was equally stunned. They both exclaimed in unison, “The Daoist’s first sacred artifact, the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees!”
Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong exchanged glances, both puzzled, “What kind of coffin is this?” Liu Dashao stepped forward, admiring the massive sarcophagus, and explained, “This is a legendary Daoist artifact, specifically designed to suppress evil entities like drought demons and purple-gold corpses! I’ve only heard about it from my master; this is the first time I’ve seen it. There are probably no more than two of these in existence! The ‘Classic of Mountains and Seas’ also mentions it, but only briefly. It’s said that one was used to suppress Chi You’s corpse after his death, but back then, the ‘Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees’ was just a black nanmu coffin. After Daoism obtained another nanmu coffin and engraved it with incantations, placing a Bagua demon-revealing mirror inside, this one became far more valuable than the previous one. Most importantly, the coffin of the ‘Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees’ must be made from a single piece of ten-thousand-year-old nanmu wood!”
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but take a closer look. At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly said something very practical, “Now, should we open the coffin?”
“Do you really think there’s a purple-gold corpse inside? It can’t be as terrifying as Dashao said, right?” Yang Weidong pondered, feeling a bit creeped out.
“Who knows? If demons and monsters stir up trouble, we, the people, will rise up and destroy them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat, who in this world is afraid of whom? It’s not the people who fear zombies, but the zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, showing off his ample flesh, as if he alone could handle the Purple-Gold Corpse King if it appeared.
“Firmly support Comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said with mock seriousness.
“Go to hell, you old fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat out, cursing.
“Ha ha ha ha!” Everyone burst into laughter.
After laughing for a while, everyone turned their attention back to Jia Zhuangyuan. After a long moment of consideration, he nodded and said, “Open it!”
With that, Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong pried open the coffin lid. Liu Dashao prepared in advance, while Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao stood guard with their guns. Jia Zhuangyuan gently inserted a specially designed tomb-raiding tool into the seam of the coffin lid, fiddled with it for a moment, then gave it a light push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion popped up on the coffin lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled, gently pulled out the protrusion, and with a loud “bang,” the coffin lid flew off, knocking over Cai Qingchong. The heavy coffin lid, weighing over a hundred pounds, crashed into the wall behind them. Liu Dashao was stunned. Despite his thin appearance, Cai Qingchong was a skilled martial artist, yet he was easily sent flying by the coffin lid. At that moment, thick black smoke began to pour out of the massive sarcophagus. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face turned pale, and he shouted from the depths of his heart, “Purple-Gold Corpse!”
Hearing this, Liu Dashao nearly collapsed on the spot. What the hell was going on? This Purple-Gold Corpse seemed even more formidable than the Drought Demon King that Zhang Enpu had dealt with! Then, a creaking sound, like peeling paint, came from the sarcophagus, followed by a heart-wrenching roar. Liu Dashao was certain that this was not a sound any human could make. He steeled himself, “Damn it! Let’s fight!”
Jia Zhuangyuan, disregarding the others, quickly rushed to Cai Qingchong, who was covered in blood and unconscious. He dragged Cai Qingchong to the wall to check his injuries. At that moment, with another ear-splitting scream, a tall zombie suddenly sat up from the ‘Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Decrees.’
Upon seeing the zombie, Liu Dashao’s courage was instantly doused. The creature looked somewhat humanoid, wearing a red robe adorned with flowers and a three-pronged purple-gold crown on its head. However, its face was a hideous black, with several black fangs protruding from its mouth. It was utterly repulsive.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to stay alert, then rolled to the front of the zombie. He pulled out a silver demon-revealing mirror from his bag and aimed it at the zombie under the flashlight’s beam. The zombie reacted as if electrocuted, letting out a series of agonized howls. After what felt like an eternity, Jia Zhuangyuan had quietly maneuvered behind the zombie. Taking advantage of its distraction, he swiftly pulled out a short rope covered in talismans from his sleeve and expertly wrapped it around the zombie. The zombie was immobilized. Meanwhile, Liu Dashao used his free hand to throw several small objects at the zombie, each one eliciting a howl of pain. One of these objects landed near Fan Debiao, who picked it up and saw it was a copper coin from the Wanli era. He swallowed hard and pocketed the coin.
The zombie’s roars continued. Looking down at the unconscious and severely injured Cai Qingchong in his arms, Fan Debiao’s anger flared. He grabbed an entrenching tool and charged at the zombie. As he approached, the zombie’s beastly howls struck fear into his heart. Even the tigers and lions at the Beijing Zoo were nothing compared to this creature! Jia Zhuangyuan, while tying the rope around the zombie, shouted to Fan Debiao, “Fatty! Be careful! This is the real Purple-Gold Corpse King! If it touches you, you’re done for!”
“To hell with it! Let’s see what this Xinjiang bastard can do!” Fan Debiao yelled, gripping the entrenching tool and slashing at the Purple-Gold Corpse King’s chest. The zombie’s body was incredibly tough; the tool merely slid off its chest and lodged into its armpit, nearly dragging Fan Debiao into the coffin. After this close call, Fan Debiao retreated to the corner, watching how the others would handle the Corpse King. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan seemed about to subdue it, the fierce Corpse King suddenly burst free, snapping the steel rope Jia Zhuangyuan had tied around it. Jia Zhuangyuan spat in frustration, “Damn it! My rope was made of steel!”
In the blink of an eye, the Purple-Gold Corpse King leaped out of the coffin. Everyone except the fallen Cai Qingchong instinctively stepped back. The Corpse King bared its fangs, extended its arms, and began hopping around the confined space, chasing after the group. Jia Zhuangyuan, now the de facto leader, shouted as he ran, “Let’s get out of here!” Fan Debiao, who had been standing near the palace entrance, suddenly realized that the door had silently closed. They were trapped. Their only option was to fight the Corpse King to the death. As the old northeasterners would say, it was time to ‘die hard’! The group exchanged forced smiles, brandished their weapons, and began shouting as they dodged the Corpse King’s pursuit. The Corpse King stood over two meters tall, and the group could barely hold their own, let alone avoid injury while dragging the severely injured Cai Qingchong. The pressure was immense, and their stamina was quickly depleting. Liu Dashao, slightly slower, was slashed by the Corpse King’s sharp claws. The searing pain was unbearable, and blood gushed out, soaking his already sweat-drenched back. The mix of smells made Liu Dashao numb to the disgust. He threw Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid, preparing for a final showdown with the black-faced, fanged monster. At that moment, the already dim light from Liu Dashao’s flashlight flickered and died. Everyone exclaimed in alarm, realizing that their remaining flashlights could go out at any moment. If that happened, they would be at a severe disadvantage.
Hearing this, everyone stared in awe. Then, Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent, suddenly asked practically, “So… should we open the coffin?”
“You really think there’s a Purple Gold Corpse inside?” Yang Weidong asked, feeling a chill.
“Who knows? If demons rise, the people will rise to fight them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat—who’s really afraid of whom? It’s not the people who fear zombies—it’s the zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, showing off his fat belly as if to say he’d take on the Purple Gold Corpse King alone.
“Absolutely support comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said solemnly.
“Go to hell! You old fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat.
Everyone burst into laughter.
After a while, they all turned to Jia Zhuangyuan. He thought for a long time, then nodded. “Open the coffin!”
Without hesitation, Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong began prying open the lid. Liu Dashao prepared himself, while Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao stood guard with their guns. Jia Zhuangyuan carefully inserted his specialized tomb-raiding tool into the coffin seam, twisted it twice, and gave a gentle push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion suddenly popped up from the lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled, gently pulled it out, and with a loud “clang,” the lid flew off, knocking Cai Qingchong down. The heavy lid crashed against the wall behind them. Liu Dashao stood frozen. Cai Qingchong, though thin, was actually a martial artist—but he was easily thrown by the lid. Then, thick black smoke poured from the coffin. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face changed drastically. In his heart, he screamed three words: “Purple Gold Corpse!”
Liu Dashao nodded, gripping the crossbow, and glanced down with a hint of fear. He smiled and said to Liu Dashao, “The claw of this lift crossbow is still nailed under the beam. Press the red button above and slowly lean down; it will gradually release the line and lower you. Don’t worry, this device was specially crafted by a master of hidden mechanisms from the folk; it’s very sturdy. Once you’re down, tell them not to touch the coffin until I come down.”
Liu Dashao nodded, feeling dizzy as he looked down. Steeling himself, he closed his eyes and pressed the red button, then slowly lowered his feet. Fortunately, the lift crossbow indeed began to release the line gradually. Liu Dashao leaned out, suspended in mid-air, and slowly descended.
When his feet finally touched the solid ground of the palace, Liu Dashao opened his eyes and pressed the white button. The lift crossbow retracted the line and ascended back to the beam where Jia Zhuangyuan was.
By then, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had ceased. Liu Dashao turned around and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive green coffin that had landed on the ground, looking at it with uncertainty.
Liu Dashao hurried over and said to them, “Senior Jia said to wait for him to come down and not to touch the coffin yet.”
Everyone nodded quickly. Fan Debiao, with a look of terror, added, “I’m terrified of this stuff. I still remember that old mummy from Bodhisattva Mountain. What if we open it and some ancient corpse crawls out? Damn, just thinking about it makes my heart race.”
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice rang out, “Fan Debiao, you look so big and strong, but who would have thought you’re such a coward.”
Everyone looked up and saw that Jia Zhuangyuan was almost on the ground.
Fan Debiao, blushing, retorted, “I’m not a coward; I’m just naturally afraid of gods and ghosts. If you ask me to fight on the battlefield, I, Fan Debiao, would never hesitate.”
Jia Zhuangyuan landed and ignored Fan Debiao, walking over to the green coffin to examine it carefully with the others.
The coffin was half a person’s height, and its length and width could easily fit three or four burly men like Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. It was made entirely of green stone, with no patterns, carvings, or inscriptions, except for a single seam in the middle.
After observing the coffin for a while, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin appear? Why is it so huge? Who could be inside?”
Jia Zhuangyuan tapped the stone coffin with his finger and shook his head, saying, “This isn’t a coffin; it’s a sarcophagus. The coffin is the inner part, and the sarcophagus is the outer layer that encases it. In ancient times, burial practices were strictly hierarchical. The size and number of sarcophagi varied according to rank. For example, the emperor’s sarcophagus would have four layers: the innermost layer, called ‘Heaven,’ was covered with rhinoceros and water buffalo hide; the second layer, called ‘Earth,’ was made of basswood; the third layer, called ‘Subordinate,’ and the fourth layer, called ‘Great Coffin,’ was the outermost sarcophagus. Empresses usually had two outer sarcophagi, often made of catalpa wood, hence their sarcophagi were called ‘Catalpa Palaces.’ Other officials had varying numbers of outer sarcophagi depending on their rank. The thickness of the sarcophagi was also strictly regulated: the emperor’s great coffin was eight inches thick, a minister’s was six inches, and commoners’ coffins were only four inches thick, with no sarcophagus. We won’t go into all the details here. Judging by this sarcophagus, its owner must have been of imperial or near-imperial status.”
“What does ‘near-imperial’ mean?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan explained, “Near-imperial refers to the crown prince or other highly favored members of the royal family, like princes, or certain high-ranking officials specially approved by the emperor.”
At this point, Cai Qingchong chimed in, “Senior Jia, are you saying that this sarcophagus must contain a very important person?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded, “Exactly. What puzzles me is that in the core palace of the City of Heavy Water, one of the Nine Heavens Cities, why would there be a sarcophagus of such a significant figure, and why was it locked in the palace dome with an extremely rare celestial mechanism?”
Cai Qingchong said, “Let’s not overthink it. Why don’t we just open it and see?” The others agreed, thinking it was the only way to solve the mystery.
Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan hesitate, Liu Dashao had a thought and asked, “Senior Jia, are you certain that this highest-level burial system is only used for near-imperial figures and not for other things?”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at him with a strange expression, then lowered his head in thought before nodding, “Now that you mention it, I recall something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains in Sichuan. In the underground palace, we found an imperial sarcophagus. When we opened it, instead of an ancient corpse, there was a strange, massive skeleton—not human, but resembling some kind of animal. If the idea that this sarcophagus doesn’t contain human remains holds, then perhaps my confusion would be resolved.”
Liu Dashao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him another strange look, seemingly puzzled by the question he had just asked. However, he didn’t press further. Instead, he set his backpack on the ground, opened it, and took out several items.
Everyone was surprised by the odd assortment: a small hammer, an axe, a steel rod with a flat, pointed end, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black donkey hoof used in dealing with spirits in tombs, and a pair of gloves made from some kind of furry animal hide.
Seeing everyone’s surprised looks, Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled awkwardly, “These are tools from my past underground work. I brought them along in case we needed them.”
The group was clearly intrigued, wondering how Jia Zhuangyuan would use these items.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the furry gloves, then skillfully assembled the pipes of varying thicknesses, attaching the axe head and tightening it, transforming it into a long axe. Seeing everyone watching him, he explained, “This is a folding axe, designed for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deerskin, which is tightly woven to protect against any corpse poison on or inside the sarcophagus.” He then pointed to the other items on the ground, “This steel rod is a pry bar, modified for prying open coffins. The small hammer is for striking the pry bar, and the black donkey hoof is in case we encounter a corpse transformation upon opening the coffin.”
Everyone finally understood that these were all tools Jia Zhuangyuan had prepared for opening the coffin.
Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “Now, we can’t be sure what’s inside this sarcophagus. Everyone, stand back and keep watch for me. If something like a corpse demon jumps out, you’ll need to fight it with everything you’ve got.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, stepping back a few paces to give Jia Zhuangyuan space to work.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath, then picked up the pry bar and forcefully pried open the seam of the green stone coffin. The group tensely raised their guns, aiming at the coffin. Each person was silently wondering: What could be inside this stone coffin?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan opened a crack in the coffin, and a wisp of black smoke emerged. Fan Debiao was the first to bolt, running back while shouting, “Damn it! That’s a Japanese poison gas bomb!”
Cai Qingchong, however, stood still, chuckling. After a good laugh, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just a common mold found in ancient tombs. This mold is lighter than ordinary dust and has been living in an airtight environment for a long time. When it encounters airflow, it naturally gets blown out!”
Liu Dashao stood by, secretly amused. Fan Debiao, crestfallen, returned to the stone door, looking like a child who had just been scolded by his parents, resigned to his fate. After a thorough inspection, Jia Zhuangyuan found no signs of tampering with the inner coffin and, together with the group, gradually widened the crack using the flashlight beams. As the light shone into the long-sealed stone coffin, Jia Zhuangyuan took out a pair of white gloves from his backpack, put them on, and gently touched the inner coffin. Gradually, he cleaned a corner of the inner coffin, and the group crowded around. Liu Dashao and Cai Qingchong shone their flashlights on it, revealing densely packed seal script incantations that converged toward the center of the inner coffin. When the dust in the center was wiped away, a massive, gilded “敕” (Chi) character was revealed. Liu Dashao’s flashlight fell to the ground, and Jia Zhuangyuan was equally stunned. Both exclaimed simultaneously, “The Taoist First Sacred Artifact, the Zheng Yi Bai Chi Corpse Suppression Coffin!”
Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong exchanged glances, both puzzled, “What kind of coffin is this?” Liu Dashao stepped forward, admiring the massive sarcophagus, and explained, “This is a legendary Taoist artifact, specifically designed to suppress evil entities like drought demons and purple-gold corpses! I’ve only heard about it from my master; this is the first time I’ve seen it. I believe there are no more than two of these in existence! The ‘Classic of Mountains and Seas’ also mentions it, but only briefly. It’s said that one was used to suppress the corpse of Chi You after his death, but at that time, the ‘Zheng Yi Bai Chi Corpse Suppression Coffin’ was just a black nanmu sarcophagus. After Taoism obtained another nanmu sarcophagus and engraved it with incantations, placing a Bagua demon-revealing mirror inside, this one became far more valuable than the previous one. Most importantly, the ‘Zheng Yi Bai Chi Corpse Suppression Coffin’ must be made from a single piece of ten-thousand-year-old nanmu wood!”
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but take a closer look. At this moment, Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly said something very practical, “Now, should we open the sarcophagus?”
“Do you really think there’s a purple-gold corpse inside? Could it really be as sinister as Dashao said?” Yang Weidong, standing nearby, thought for a moment, feeling a bit creeped out.
“Who knows? If demons and monsters stir up trouble, we, the people, will rise up and destroy them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat, who in this world should fear whom? It’s not the people who fear zombies, but the zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, revealing his ample flesh, as if he were ready to take on the purple-gold corpse king single-handedly.
“Firmly support Comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said with mock seriousness.
“Go to hell, you old fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat, cursing.
“Ha ha ha ha,” everyone laughed together.
After a good laugh, they all turned their attention to Jia Zhuangyuan. After a long moment of consideration, Jia Zhuangyuan nodded and said, “Open it!”
No sooner said than done. Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong pried open the coffin lid, while Liu Dashao prepared in advance. Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao, on high alert, held their guns ready to assist. Jia Zhuangyuan gently inserted a specially designed tomb-raiding tool into the seam of the coffin lid, fiddled with it a bit, then gave it a slight push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion suddenly popped up on the coffin lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled softly, pulled out the protrusion, and with a loud “bang,” the coffin lid flew off, knocking Cai Qingchong over. The heavy coffin lid, weighing hundreds of pounds, crashed into the wall behind them. Liu Dashao was stunned. Despite his lean appearance, Cai Qingchong was a skilled martial artist, yet he was easily sent flying by the coffin lid. At that moment, thick black smoke began to pour out of the massive sarcophagus. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face turned pale, and from the depths of his heart, he shouted three words, “Purple-gold corpse!”
Hearing this, Liu Dashao nearly collapsed on the spot. What the hell was going on? This purple-gold corpse seemed even more formidable than the drought demon king Zhang Enpu had dealt with years ago! Then, a creaking sound, like peeling paint, came from the sarcophagus, followed by a heart-wrenching roar. Liu Dashao was certain this was no human sound. He steeled himself, thinking, “Damn it! Let’s fight!”
Jia Zhuangyuan, disregarding the others, quickly rushed to Cai Qingchong, who was covered in blood and unconscious. He dragged Cai Qingchong to the wall to check his injuries. At that moment, with another ear-splitting scream, a tall zombie suddenly sat up from the ‘Zheng Yi Bai Chi Corpse Suppression Coffin.’
At the sight of the zombie, Liu Dashao’s courage was instantly doused. The creature looked somewhat human, dressed in a hundred-flower red robe and wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown, but its face was a hideous black, with several black fangs protruding from its mouth. It was utterly repulsive.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to stay alert, then rolled to the front of the zombie. He pulled out a silver demon-revealing mirror from his bag and, using the flashlight, aimed it at the zombie. As if electrocuted, the zombie let out a frantic wail. This standoff lasted for an unknown period. Meanwhile, Jia Zhuangyuan had quietly flanked the zombie and, taking it by surprise, whipped out a short rope covered in talismans from his sleeve, skillfully wrapping it around the zombie. The zombie was immobilized. Liu Dashao, with his other hand, threw several small objects at the zombie, each causing it to howl in pain. One of these objects landed near Fan Debiao, who picked it up and saw it was a copper coin from the Wanli era. He swallowed hard and pocketed the coin.
The zombie’s roars continued. Looking down at the unconscious and severely injured Cai Qingchong in his arms, Fan Debiao’s anger boiled over. He turned, grabbed an entrenching tool, and charged at the zombie. Up close, Fan Debiao felt the zombie’s beastly howl, a shock to his psyche. Even the tigers and lions in Beijing Zoo’s Lion and Tiger Mountain were nothing compared to this creature! As Jia Zhuangyuan tied the immortal-binding rope around the zombie, he warned Fan Debiao, “Fatty! Be careful! This is the real deal, the Purple-gold Corpse King! If he touches you, you’re either dead or crippled for life!”
“To hell with that! I want to see what this Xinjiang old bastard is capable of!” Fan Debiao shouted, gripping the entrenching tool with both hands and slashing at the Purple-gold Corpse King’s chest. The corpse king wasn’t exactly invulnerable, but its body was incredibly rigid! Fan Debiao’s swing caused the tool to slip off the corpse king’s chest and wedge into its armpit, nearly dragging Fan Debiao into the coffin. Having learned his lesson, Fan Debiao retreated to the corner, watching how the others would handle the corpse king. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan seemed about to subdue it, the fierce corpse king suddenly burst with energy, snapping the steel chain Jia Zhuangyuan had tied around it. Jia Zhuangyuan spat in frustration, muttering, “Damn it! My immortal-binding rope was made of steel!”
In a flash, the Purple-gold Corpse King leaped out of the coffin. Except for the fallen Cai Qingchong, everyone instinctively stepped back. The corpse king, baring its fangs and extending its arms, began hopping around the confined space, chasing the group. Jia Zhuangyuan, now the de facto leader, shouted as he ran, “Let’s get out of here!” Fan Debiao, who had been standing near the palace door, suddenly realized it had quietly closed! The group was now trapped, with no choice but to fight the corpse king. In the words of old northeasterners, it was a ‘death match’! The group exchanged forced smiles, brandished their weapons, and shouted as they dodged the corpse king’s pursuit. The corpse king stood over two meters tall, and the group could barely hold their own, lucky to escape unscathed while dragging the severely injured Cai Qingchong. The pressure was immense, and their stamina was draining fast. Liu Dashao, a step too slow, was slashed by the corpse king’s sharp claws. The searing pain was unbearable, and blood gushed out, soaking his already sweat-drenched back. The mix of smells made Liu Dashao numb to the disgust. He threw Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid, preparing for a final showdown with the black-faced, fanged creature. At that moment, the already dim light grew even darker as Liu Dashao’s flashlight died. Everyone exclaimed, “Not good!” They all knew that the remaining flashlights might go out at any moment. If Liu Dashao’s prediction came true, they would be at a severe disadvantage.
Ignoring others, Jia Zhuangyuan rushed to Cai Qingchong, who was bleeding and unconscious. He dragged him to the wall and checked his injuries. Then, another scream echoed. A tall, powerful corpse suddenly sat up from the Zheng Yibai Chi Zhen Shi Guan.
At the sight of the corpse, Liu Dashao’s courage nearly vanished. It looked somewhat human, wearing a red floral robe and a three-pronged crown, but its face was pitch-black, with several black fangs visible—utterly disgusting.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to stay alert. He rolled forward, dodging to the front of the corpse, then pulled out a silver demon-reflecting mirror from his bag. Using the flashlight, he aimed the mirror at the corpse. The creature writhed in pain, howling like it had been electrocuted. As they held this stalemate, Jia Zhuangyuan quietly crept behind the corpse. Seizing the moment, he whipped out a short rope covered in talismans, skillfully wrapping it around the creature. The corpse struggled but couldn’t move. Liu Dashao joined in, flicking his wrist. Several small objects flew toward the corpse, each strike causing it to scream. One landed near Fan Debiao, who saw it was a Ming Dynasty coin. He swallowed hard and pocketed it.
The corpse’s screams echoed. Seeing Cai Qingchong unconscious and badly injured, Fan Debiao’s anger boiled. He grabbed a spade and swung it at the corpse. As he approached, the creature’s beastly roar shook his soul—more terrifying than any tiger or lion at Beijing Zoo. Jia Zhuangyuan shouted, “Watch out, fatty! This is the real Purple Gold Corpse King! If it touches you, you’ll wish you were dead!”
“Damn it! Let’s see how tough this Xinjiang freak really is!” Fan Debiao roared, swinging the spade at the creature’s chest. But the corpse was as hard as steel. The spade slipped on impact, sliding into the armpit area, nearly pulling Fan Debiao into the coffin. Shocked, Fan Debiao retreated to the corner, watching others fight. Jia Zhuangyuan was nearly restraining it when the creature suddenly tensed and snapped the chain. Jia Zhuangyuan spat, muttering, “Damn! That was steel!”
Liu Dashao nodded, gripping the crossbow tightly, and glanced down with a hint of fear. He smiled at Liu Dashao and said, “The claws of this lifting crossbow are still nailed under the beam. Press the red button above, slowly lean down, and it will gradually lower you. Don’t worry, this device was specially crafted by a master of hidden mechanisms. It’s very sturdy. Once you’re down, tell them not to touch the coffin until I arrive.”
Liu Dashao nodded, feeling slightly dizzy as he looked down. He steeled himself, closed his eyes, and pressed the red button, slowly lowering his feet. Fortunately, the crossbow began to release the line smoothly, and Liu Dashao leaned out, suspended in mid-air, gradually descending.
When his feet finally touched the solid ground of the palace, Liu Dashao opened his eyes and pressed the white button. The crossbow began to retract the line, ascending back to the beam where Jia Zhuangyuan stood.
By now, the mechanical “clicking” sounds had ceased. Liu Dashao turned and saw Fan Debiao and the others gathered around the massive green coffin that had landed on the ground, staring at it in confusion.
Liu Dashao hurried over and said, “Senior Jia said to wait for him before touching the coffin.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Fan Debiao, looking particularly frightened, added, “I’m terrified of this kind of thing. I still remember the old mummy from Bodhisattva Mountain. What if we open it and a corpse crawls out? Damn, just thinking about it makes my heart race.”
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan’s voice rang out, “Fan Debiao, you’re such a big, strong guy, but you’re really a coward.”
Everyone looked up and saw Jia Zhuangyuan nearing the ground.
Fan Debiao, his face red, retorted, “I’m not a coward. I’m just naturally afraid of ghosts and spirits. But if it’s a fight, I, Fan Debiao, won’t hesitate.”
Jia Zhuangyuan landed and ignored Fan Debiao, walking over to the green coffin to examine it closely with the others.
The coffin was half a person’s height, and its length and width could easily fit three or four men like Fan Debiao or Yang Weidong. It was made entirely of green stone, with no patterns, carvings, or inscriptions, except for a single seam in the middle.
After a moment of observation, Liu Dashao asked, “How did this coffin appear? Why is it so massive? Who could be inside?”
Jia Zhuangyuan tapped the stone coffin with his finger and shook his head, “This isn’t just a coffin; it’s a sarcophagus. The inner coffin is the actual coffin, and the outer layer is the sarcophagus. In ancient times, burial practices were strictly hierarchical. The size and number of sarcophagi varied by rank. For example, the emperor’s sarcophagus would have four layers: the innermost layer, called ‘Heaven,’ was covered with rhinoceros and water buffalo hide; the second layer, ‘Earth,’ was made of linden wood; the third, ‘Subordinate,’ and the fourth, ‘Great Coffin,’ which was the outermost sarcophagus. Empresses usually had two layers, often made of catalpa wood, hence their sarcophagi were called ‘Catalpa Palaces.’ Other officials had varying numbers of outer sarcophagi depending on their rank. The thickness of the sarcophagus was also strictly regulated: the emperor’s great coffin was eight inches thick, a minister’s was six inches, and commoners’ coffins were only four inches thick, with no sarcophagus. Given the size of this sarcophagus, its owner must have been of imperial or near-imperial status.”
“What’s ‘near-imperial status’?” Liu Dashao asked curiously.
Jia Zhuangyuan explained, “Near-imperial status refers to the crown prince, highly favored members of the royal family like princes, or certain high-ranking officials specially approved by the emperor.”
Cai Qingchong chimed in, “Senior Jia, are you saying that this sarcophagus must contain a very important person?”
Jia Zhuangyuan nodded, “Exactly. What’s puzzling is why such a significant sarcophagus would appear in the core palace of the City of Heavy Water, one of the Nine Heavens Cities, and why it was locked with an extremely rare celestial mechanism on the palace’s dome.”
Cai Qingchong said, “Let’s not overthink it. Why don’t we just open it and see?” The others agreed, thinking it was the only way to solve the mystery.
Seeing Jia Zhuangyuan hesitate, Liu Dashao recalled something and asked, “Senior Jia, are you certain that this highest-level burial system is only used for near-imperial figures and not for other things?”
Jia Zhuangyuan gave him a strange look, then lowered his head in thought before nodding, “Now that you mention it, I do remember something. Sixteen years ago, I and a few companions discovered an unknown ancient tomb in the Longquan Mountains of Sichuan. Inside the tomb, we found an imperial coffin. When we opened it, instead of an ancient corpse, we found a strange, massive skeleton—not human, but resembling some kind of animal. If it’s possible that this sarcophagus doesn’t contain human remains, then perhaps my confusion would be resolved.”
Liu Dashao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Jia Zhuangyuan gave him another strange look, seemingly puzzled by the question, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he set his backpack on the ground, opened it, and pulled out several items.
The items were quite peculiar: a small hammer, an axe, a flat-tipped steel rod, several pipes of varying thicknesses, a black donkey hoof used in tombs to ward off evil spirits, and a pair of gloves made from some kind of furry animal hide.
Seeing everyone’s surprised expressions, Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled awkwardly, “These are tools from my past underground work. I brought them in case we needed them.”
The group was clearly intrigued, wondering how Jia Zhuangyuan would use these items.
Jia Zhuangyuan first put on the furry gloves, then skillfully connected the pipes of varying thicknesses, attaching the axe head and tightening it, transforming it into a long axe. Seeing everyone watching, he explained, “This is a folding axe, designed for easy carrying. The gloves are made of deer hide, which is tightly woven to protect against any corpse poison on or inside the sarcophagus.” He then pointed to the other items on the ground, “This steel rod is a modified crowbar, used to pry open coffins. The small hammer is for tapping the crowbar, and the black donkey hoof is in case we encounter a corpse that’s come to life.”
Everyone finally understood—these were tools Jia Zhuangyuan had prepared for opening the coffin.
Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “We still don’t know what’s inside this sarcophagus. Everyone, stand back while I work. And please keep watch. If something like a corpse demon jumps out, you’ll need to fight it off.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, stepping back to give Jia Zhuangyuan space to work.
Jia Zhuangyuan took a deep breath, then picked up the crowbar and forcefully pried open the seam of the green stone coffin. The group tensed, raising their guns and aiming at the coffin. Everyone was wondering: What could be inside this stone coffin?
Slowly, Jia Zhuangyuan opened a crack in the coffin, and a wisp of black smoke emerged. Fan Debiao was the first to bolt, running back while shouting, “Damn it! That’s a Japanese poison gas bomb!”
Cai Qingchong, however, stood still, laughing uncontrollably. After a while, he said, “That’s not poison! It’s just a common mold found in ancient tombs. This mold is lighter than ordinary dust and has been living in an airtight environment for a long time. When it encounters airflow, it naturally gets blown out!”
Liu Dashao stood to the side, quietly chuckling. Fan Debiao, looking dejected, walked back to the stone door, resembling a child who had just been scolded by his parents, resigned to his fate. After a thorough inspection, Jia Zhuangyuan found no signs of tampering with the inner coffin. Together with the others, he gradually widened the crack using the light from their flashlights. As the beams of light entered the long-sealed stone coffin, Jia Zhuangyuan pulled out a pair of white gloves from his backpack, put them on, and gently touched the inner coffin. Gradually, he cleaned a corner of the inner coffin, and the group crowded around. Liu Dashao and Cai Qingchong shone their flashlights on it, revealing densely carved talismanic inscriptions that converged toward the center of the inner coffin. When the dust in the center was wiped away, a massive gilded character “敕” (Chì) was revealed. Liu Dashao’s flashlight fell to the ground, and Jia Zhuangyuan was equally stunned. They both exclaimed in unison, “The Daoist’s first sacred artifact, the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Edicts!”
Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong exchanged glances, both puzzled, “What kind of coffin is this?” Liu Dashao stepped forward, admiring the massive sarcophagus, and explained, “This is a legendary Daoist artifact, specifically designed to suppress evil entities like drought demons and purple-gold corpses! I’ve only heard about it from my master. This is the first time I’ve seen it. It’s said that there are no more than two of these in existence! The Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas) also mentions it, but only briefly. It’s said that one was used to suppress the corpse of Chi You after his death, but at that time, the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Edicts was just a black nanmu coffin. After Daoism obtained another nanmu coffin and engraved it with talismans, placing a Bagua demon-revealing mirror inside, this one became far more powerful. Most importantly, the coffin must be made from a single piece of ten-thousand-year-old nanmu wood!”
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but take a closer look. Jia Zhuangyuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly said something very practical, “Now, should we open the coffin?”
“Do you think there’s really a purple-gold corpse inside? Could it really be as terrifying as Liu Dashao said?” Yang Weidong pondered, feeling a chill run down his spine.
“Who knows? If demons and monsters stir up trouble, we, the people, will rise to destroy them! The east wind blows, the war drums beat, who in this world is afraid of whom? It’s not the people who fear zombies, but zombies who fear the people!” Fan Debiao puffed out his chest, his fat jiggling, as if he were ready to take on the purple-gold corpse king single-handedly.
“Firmly support Comrade Fan Debiao!” Liu Dashao said with mock seriousness.
“Screw you, you old fortune-teller!” Fan Debiao spat, cursing.
“Ha ha ha ha!” Everyone burst into laughter.
After laughing for a while, they all turned their attention to Jia Zhuangyuan. After a long moment of consideration, he nodded and said, “Open it!”
Without delay, Jia Zhuangyuan and Cai Qingchong began prying open the coffin lid. Liu Dashao prepared in advance, while Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao stood guard with their guns. Jia Zhuangyuan gently inserted a specially designed tomb-raiding tool into the seam of the coffin lid, fiddled with it for a moment, then gave it a light push. With a dull “thud,” a round protrusion popped up from the lid. Jia Zhuangyuan chuckled, gently pulled out the protrusion, and with a loud “clang,” the coffin lid flew off, knocking Cai Qingchong over. The heavy lid, weighing over a hundred pounds, crashed into the wall behind them. Liu Dashao was stunned. Cai Qingchong, though thin, was a skilled martial artist, yet he was easily sent flying by the coffin lid. At that moment, thick black smoke began to pour out of the massive sarcophagus. Jia Zhuangyuan’s face turned pale, and from the depths of his heart, he shouted three words: “Purple-Gold Corpse!”
Hearing this, Liu Dashao nearly collapsed on the spot. What the hell was going on? This purple-gold corpse seemed even more terrifying than the drought demon king Zhang Enpu had dealt with! A creaking sound, like peeling paint, came from the sarcophagus, followed by a heart-wrenching roar that Liu Dashao was certain no human could produce. He steeled himself, thinking, “Damn it! Let’s fight!”
Jia Zhuangyuan, ignoring the others, quickly ran to Cai Qingchong, who was covered in blood and unconscious. He dragged Cai Qingchong to the wall to check his injuries. At that moment, with another ear-splitting roar, a tall, imposing zombie suddenly sat up from the Zhen Shi Coffin of the Hundred Edicts.
At the sight of the zombie, Liu Dashao’s courage was instantly doused. The thing looked somewhat human, dressed in a red robe adorned with flowers, wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown, but its face was a hideous black, with several black fangs protruding from its mouth. It was utterly repulsive.
In this critical moment, Liu Dashao bit his tongue to stay alert, then rolled to the front of the zombie. He pulled out a silver demon-revealing mirror from his bag and aimed it at the zombie using the flashlight’s beam. The zombie, as if electrocuted, began to howl wildly. After what felt like an eternity, Jia Zhuangyuan had quietly flanked the zombie from behind. Seizing the moment, he swiftly pulled out a short rope covered in talismans from his sleeve and expertly wrapped it around the zombie. The zombie was immobilized. Liu Dashao, with his free hand, threw several small objects at the zombie, each one causing it to howl in pain. One of the objects landed near Fan Debiao, who picked it up and saw it was a copper coin from the Wanli era. He swallowed hard and pocketed the coin.
The zombie’s roars continued. Looking down at the unconscious, severely injured Cai Qingchong in his arms, Fan Debiao’s anger boiled over. He grabbed a shovel and charged at the zombie. As he got closer, the zombie’s beastly howls struck fear into his heart—even the tigers and lions at the Beijing Zoo were nothing compared to this thing! Jia Zhuangyuan, while tying the rope around the zombie, shouted to Fan Debiao, “Fatty! Be careful! This is the real deal, the Purple-Gold Corpse King! If it touches you, you’re done for!”
“Screw that! I’ll show this Xinjiang bastard what’s what!” Fan Debiao yelled, gripping the shovel with both hands and slashing at the Purple-Gold Corpse King’s chest. The corpse king wasn’t exactly invulnerable, but its body was unnaturally rigid. Fan Debiao’s shovel slipped off its chest and lodged into its armpit, nearly dragging Fan Debiao into the coffin. After this close call, Fan Debiao retreated to the corner, watching how the others would handle the corpse king. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan seemed about to subdue it, the fierce corpse king suddenly burst with strength, snapping the steel rope Jia Zhuangyuan had tied around it. Jia Zhuangyuan spat in frustration, muttering, “Damn it! My rope was made of steel!”
In the blink of an eye, the Purple-Gold Corpse King leaped out of the coffin. Everyone except the unconscious Cai Qingchong instinctively stepped back. The corpse king bared its fangs, arms outstretched, and began hopping around the confined space, chasing the group. Jia Zhuangyuan, now the de facto leader, shouted as he ran, “Let’s get out of here!” Fan Debiao, who had been standing near the palace entrance, suddenly realized the door had quietly closed. They were trapped. Their only option was to fight the corpse king. As the old northeasterners would say, it was time to “fight to the death!” The group exchanged forced smiles, brandished their weapons, and began shouting as they dodged the corpse king’s pursuit. The corpse king stood over two meters tall, and the group could barely defend themselves, let alone fight back. Dragging the severely injured Cai Qingchong only added to their burden. Their strength was waning. Liu Dashao, slightly slower, was grazed by the corpse king’s claws, and searing pain shot through him. Blood gushed out, soaking his already sweat-drenched back. The mix of blood and sweat made him numb to the disgust. He threw Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid, preparing for a final showdown with the black-faced, fanged monster. At that moment, the already dim light grew even darker as Liu Dashao’s flashlight died. Everyone gasped in alarm. They all knew that the remaining flashlights could go out at any moment. If that happened, they would be at a severe disadvantage.
They exchanged grim smiles, brandished their weapons, and dodged the Corpse King’s attacks. Standing over two meters tall, it was unstoppable. They could barely avoid injury while dragging the wounded Cai Qingchong. Liu Dashao, slightly slower, was clawed by the creature. Blood gushed from his wound, soaking into his sweat-drenched back. The stench overwhelmed him, but he threw Cai Qingchong onto the coffin lid and prepared to fight the black-faced monster.
Just then, Liu Dashao’s flashlight died, plunging the room into even darker shadows. Everyone cried, “No!” They knew the remaining flashlights might fail at any moment. If Liu Dashao was right, they’d be at a total disadvantage.
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