Chapter 308: The Mystery of the Ancient Tomb

Everyone couldn’t help but gasp in alarm and quickly scattered in all directions. The giant serpent plummeted from the air, landing exactly where the group had stood moments before. Its multicolored body bore numerous wounds, with blood oozing from them.

After hitting the ground, the serpent raised its head, its blood-red eyes glaring at the tree from which it had fallen. Its body undulated with each tense coil, its mouth gaping wide open, and its long tongue flickered rapidly, hissing loudly. At that moment, everyone saw a pair of strange large birds emerge from the dense canopy of the towering trees. Letting out a piercing cry, the birds gracefully spread their wings and descended from the heights.

As the two birds soared through the air, Jia Zhuangyuan couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment: “It’s a Fenghuang! It’s really the Fenghuang!”

As the birds neared the ground, they gently folded their magnificent wings and landed not far from the giant serpent. Everyone was overwhelmed with excitement, forgetting the danger they were in, standing frozen in awe as they beheld the legendary birds of ancient Chinese mythology up close.

One of the birds was slightly smaller, standing about six feet tall, while the other was somewhat larger, nearly ten feet in height. They had long, slender necks, their backs arched like they were wearing turtle shells. Their beaks were long, sharp, and golden yellow. Their feathers were brilliantly red, resembling flickering flames, interspersed with long, multicolored plumes. Their tails were raised high, split like fish tails, long and slender like a peacock’s, predominantly deep purple with streaks of multicolored hues. Their long legs resembled those of cranes, and as they landed, they slowly strode toward the giant serpent. Their gait was proud and dignified, heads held high, their feathers constantly shimmering like magical flames radiating brilliant, multicolored light—an absolutely wondrous sight.

The two Fenghuang, with their long, elegant eyes, ignored the onlookers entirely, their gaze fixed intently on the giant serpent ahead. Together, they opened their slender beaks and let out a ringing “Qiang Qiang” cry, advancing step by step toward the serpent. The serpent, in turn, rapidly flicked its tongue in and out, its coiled body taut like a bowstring. Its two blood-red eyes bulged wide, as if they might burst with blood.

Just as it seemed a bizarre battle between the multicolored serpent and the mystical Fenghuang was about to erupt, Jia Zhuangyuan quietly urged the group: “Now that the divine Fenghuang has appeared to confront the serpent, we should leave quickly. Though the Fenghuang is a legendary divine bird, it doesn’t mean it won’t harm us. We should seize this opportunity and make our escape.”

Although everyone longed to witness the Fenghuang battling the serpent, they all understood the wisdom in Jia Zhuangyuan’s words. Reluctantly, they took a few last glances at the majestic, divine birds before retreating silently behind trees and leaving the dangerous area.

As they walked, the group chatted excitedly about the legendary creatures, the Azure Dragon and the Fenghuang, expressing their amazement. Only Jia Zhuangyuan seemed indifferent, walking silently with a gloomy expression, lost in thought. He spoke little and, whenever he did, only urged everyone to hurry along.

Liu Dashao noticed this and deliberately quickened his pace to catch up with Jia, who was leading the way. He drew his dagger and walked beside him, cutting through the underbrush. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Master Jia, you seem troubled ever since seeing the Fenghuang. Would you like to talk about it?” Jia’s expression darkened, and he remained silent, continuously probing the undergrowth ahead with the military spade he had borrowed from Fan Debiao.

Feeling rebuffed, Liu Dashao didn’t press further and simply walked beside him in silence.

Suddenly, Jia Zhuangyuan murmured to Liu Dashao, “Dashao, do you think the Dragon and Fenghuang really existed in ancient times?”

Liu Dashao hesitated for a moment before replying, “I think they must have. Otherwise, how could ancient texts describe them in such detail?”

Jia Zhuangyuan fell into thought before asking again, “Then do you think what we’ve seen—the Dragon and Fenghuang—are the same mythical creatures described in ancient records?”

Liu Dashao looked puzzled and replied, “I believe so. What we saw looked exactly like the creatures described in the old texts.”

Jia nodded and said, “I know that. What I mean is, where exactly are we now—inside the Earth’s core or in another dimension? Could these Dragon and Fenghuang be creatures from another world?”

Liu Dashao looked at Jia in confusion. He had thought Jia had long accepted the existence of another dimension. Perplexed, he said, “Master Jia, I still don’t quite understand what you mean.”

Jia continued, “The Dragon and Fenghuang have always been considered mythical creatures, never truly accepted by modern humans. Most people think they were composites of various animals and birds imagined by ancient people. But today, we have seen real, living Dragon and Fenghuang. For some reason, I feel something is off. Who is the master or creator of this ‘Ninety-Nine Heavens’? Is this place Earth or another dimension? And are the Dragon and Fenghuang we saw real creatures, or were they created by the master of this realm?”

Liu Dashao stared at Jia Zhuangyuan in shock, especially at his last words. He stammered, “Master Jia, are you saying… that the Dragon and Fenghuang were man-made?”

Jia smiled bitterly. “I’m just speculating. Think about it—accounts of the Dragon and Fenghuang have been passed down since the Yellow Emperor’s time, but there has never been a unified, definitive description of either. Many believe the Fenghuang was a composite of various birds and animals imagined by ancient people. Yet today, we saw a Fenghuang that exactly matches those descriptions. How can we explain that? There are two possibilities. One: the Fenghuang did exist in ancient times, whether from another dimension or from Earth itself. Two: what we saw today were creatures artificially created based on ancient Earth descriptions. For example, perhaps the creator was Zhang Daoling, a human from another dimension. He founded Taoism, constructed the ‘Ninety-Nine Heavens,’ and even created the Dragon and Fenghuang.”

Liu Dashao listened in disbelief at Jia’s words.

Jia smiled slightly at Liu’s confused expression and added with a touch of self-mockery, “Don’t think my theory is either right or wrong. You’ve seen my current appearance, haven’t you? In fact, I used to be taller and more handsome than you are now, but someone changed everything about me. So, if someone can create any creature based on descriptions, I wouldn’t find it surprising at all.”

With that, he continued swinging his spade through the underbrush, walking forward. Liu Dashao stared at his retreating back, suddenly feeling that Jia Zhuangyuan must have had an even more extraordinary experience than his own journey to the Golden City.

At that moment, Cai Qingchong patted Liu Dashao on the shoulder from behind and said, “Dashao, what are you thinking about? Why did you suddenly stop? Did you sense something wrong again?”

Liu Dashao quickly snapped out of his thoughts, shook his head, and smiled. “No, nothing really. I just slightly twisted my ankle. It’s fine.” With that, he hurried forward to catch up with Jia Zhuangyuan, resuming his position at the front. Jia glanced at Liu but remained silent.

Still curious, Liu asked again, “Master Jia, would you mind telling me about your experience? If, as you suspect, the Dragon and Fenghuang were man-made, do you think that might affect our current mission in any way?”

Everyone was startled and quickly scattered in all directions. The giant serpent fell from the air onto the spot where they had just stood. Its multicolored body now bore numerous wounds, and blood was seeping out.

As the serpent landed, it raised its head, its blood-red eyes glaring at the tree from which it had fallen. Its body arched repeatedly, its mouth wide open, and its long tongue hissed rapidly. Then, everyone saw a pair of extraordinary large birds emerge from the dense canopy of the tree. With a cry, they gracefully spread their wings and descended from the tree.

As these two birds flew through the air, Jia Zhuangyuan couldn’t help but exclaim in awe, “Phoenixes! They are truly phoenixes!”

The two birds approached the ground, gently folding their beautiful wings, and landed not far from the giant serpent. At this moment, everyone was overwhelmed with excitement, forgetting their perilous situation. They stood still, gazing at these two most mythical birds from ancient Chinese legends.

One of the birds was smaller, about six feet tall, while the other was slightly larger, about ten feet tall. They had long, slender necks, and their backs were arched as if covered with a turtle shell. Their beaks were long, sharp, and golden, and their feathers were a dazzling red, fluffed up like flames, with multicolored long feathers interspersed. Their tails were raised high, forked like a fish’s tail, resembling a peacock’s, slender and vibrant, mostly deep purple, also with multicolored feathers. Their legs were long, and their posture was crane-like. After landing, they slowly approached the serpent, walking with an arrogant gait, heads held high, looking exceptionally noble. Their feathers constantly quivered, like a magical flame, emitting a radiant, multicolored light, incredibly mystical.

The phoenixes’ long, beautiful eyes ignored the onlookers, focusing intently on the serpent ahead. They opened their slender beaks and emitted a “clanging” cry, step by step advancing toward the serpent. The serpent, in turn, rapidly flicked its tongue, its body arched like a taut bowstring. Its blood-red eyes widened as if they were about to bleed.

As a bizarre battle between the multicolored serpent and the mythical phoenixes seemed imminent, Jia Zhuangyuan whispered to everyone, “While the phoenixes are dealing with the serpent, let’s make our escape. Although phoenixes are legendary birds, it doesn’t mean they won’t harm us. It’s best to slip away now.”

Although everyone wanted to see how the phoenixes would handle the serpent, they knew Jia Zhuangyuan was right. Reluctantly, they took a few more glances at the noble and magical phoenixes, then quietly retreated behind the tree and left the dangerous area.

Along the way, everyone chattered excitedly about the legendary creatures, the dragon and the phoenix, marveling at the encounter. Only Jia Zhuangyuan seemed somewhat indifferent, even a bit sullen, as if preoccupied. He spoke little, and when he did, it was only to urge everyone to hurry.

Liu Dashao noticed this and deliberately quickened his pace to catch up with Jia Zhuangyuan, who was leading the way. He drew his dagger and walked alongside him, clearing the path through the weeds. In a low voice, he asked, “Uncle Jia, you seem troubled since we saw the phoenixes. Can you share what’s on your mind?” Jia Zhuangyuan’s face was gloomy, and he remained silent, continuously swinging the entrenching tool he had borrowed from Fan Debiao, testing the grass ahead.

Feeling it was pointless to press further, Liu Dashao stopped asking and simply walked alongside him.

Suddenly, Jia Zhuangyuan quietly said to Liu Dashao, “Dashao, do you think dragons and phoenixes really existed on Earth in ancient times?”

Liu Dashao was taken aback and replied, “I think they must have existed. Otherwise, why would ancient texts have such detailed descriptions?”

Jia Zhuangyuan pondered for a moment and then asked, “Do you think the dragons and phoenixes we saw today are the same mythical creatures described in those ancient texts?”

Liu Dashao looked at him, puzzled, and said, “They should be. The dragons and phoenixes we saw are exactly as described in the ancient texts.”

Jia Zhuangyuan nodded and said, “I know that. What I mean is, are we currently on Earth’s core or in another dimension? Could these dragons and phoenixes be creatures from another dimension?”

Liu Dashao looked at Jia Zhuangyuan strangely, thinking to himself that Jia Zhuangyuan had already accepted the existence of other dimensions. Why was he suddenly questioning this? He said, perplexed, “Uncle Jia, I still don’t understand what you mean.”

Jia Zhuangyuan said, “Dragons and phoenixes, as mythical creatures from ancient times, have never been truly believed by modern humans. Most think they are combinations of various animals and birds. But today, we saw real, physical dragons and phoenixes. For some reason, I feel there’s something off. Who is the master or creator of these Ninety-Nine Heavens? Is this place Earth or another dimension? And are the dragons and phoenixes we saw real creatures, or were they created by the master of the Ninety-Nine Heavens?”

Liu Dashao looked at Jia Zhuangyuan in shock, almost finding it unbelievable, especially his last statement. He stammered, “Uncle Jia, are you saying… are you saying these dragons and phoenixes were artificially created?”

Jia Zhuangyuan smiled wryly and said, “It’s just a guess. Think about it. The ancient texts about dragons and phoenixes have been passed down since the time of the Yellow Emperor, but there’s no unified description of their true form. For example, the phoenix is said to have a rooster’s head, a snake’s neck, a crane’s body, a turtle’s back, and a peacock’s tail. The male’s cry is ‘ji ji,’ the female’s is ‘zu zu,’ and together they cry ‘qiang qiang.’ Why this legend? Modern people think it’s a synthesis of various animals and birds. But today, we saw a phoenix that exactly matches that description. How do you explain that? There are two possibilities. First, phoenixes did exist in ancient times, whether from another dimension or originally from Earth. Second, the dragons and phoenixes we saw today were artificially created based on the descriptions in ancient texts. For example, the creator could be Zhang Daoling, a human from another dimension who founded Taoism and created the Ninety-Nine Heavens, and also created these dragons and phoenixes.”

Liu Dashao listened to Jia Zhuangyuan’s words, feeling incredulous.

Jia Zhuangyuan smiled, looking at Liu Dashao’s bewildered expression, and said somewhat self-mockingly, “Don’t think my view is necessarily right or wrong. You see my current physical state, right? I used to be taller and more handsome than you, but someone changed everything about my body. So, I’m not at all surprised that someone could create any living being based on descriptions.”

With that, he continued forward, swinging the entrenching tool to clear the weeds. Liu Dashao stared at his back, suddenly feeling that Jia Zhuangyuan must have had even more extraordinary experiences than his own in the Golden Ancient City.

At that moment, Cai Qingchong tapped Liu Dashao on the shoulder from behind and said, “Dashao, what are you thinking about? Why did you suddenly stop? Did you sense something wrong again?”

Liu Dashao quickly snapped out of it, shook his head, and smiled, saying, “No, I wasn’t thinking about anything, and I didn’t sense anything wrong. I just twisted my foot a bit, but it’s fine.” With that, he hurried to catch up with Jia Zhuangyuan and continued walking ahead with him. Jia Zhuangyuan glanced at Liu Dashao but remained silent.

Liu Dashao, still curious, asked, “Uncle Jia, can you tell us about your experience? If, based on your judgment, these dragons and phoenixes were artificially created, do you think there’s anything wrong with our mission?”

Jia Zhuangyuan didn’t look at him but gazed at the grass ahead, his eyes somewhat distant, and quietly asked, “Have you heard of the Nine Mounds Warring States Tomb in Xiangfan, Hubei?”

Liu Dashao was momentarily stunned but quickly replied, “Yes, I’ve heard of it. It’s said to be the tomb of a general from the Warring States period of Chu.” The Nine Mounds Warring States Tomb is located between the Dahong Mountain and the Tongbai Mountain in northern Hubei Province, along an ancient transportation route known as the “Suizao Corridor.” Between this corridor and Zaoyang City to the north, there is a north-south low ridge, on which there are nine giant “mound-shaped” earth piles, locally called the “Nine Mounds.” For years, among the local people, there has been a legendary story: it is said that there was a brave and invincible general of Chu who achieved numerous military feats but was mistakenly killed by the King of Chu due to a baseless military coup. After the truth came to light, the King of Chu deeply regretted his mistake and, to make amends, bestowed a golden head upon the general and ordered the overnight construction of nine tombs, burying the golden head in one of them to confuse future generations and prevent theft. The legend of the Nine Mounds Tomb has long been a subject of interest for domestic archaeological experts, as from an archaeological perspective, the artificial earth piles on a natural ridge could very well be the burial mounds of ancient tombs, and the large scale and number of the Nine Mounds suggest they might be the graves of important ancient nobles. However, all this is based on ancient legends, and without blind excavation, the true identity of these oddly shaped mounds remains uncertain. It wasn’t until 2002, when the construction of the expressway connecting Xiaogan and Xiangfan began, that the city archaeological team, to provide accurate cultural relic protection information, reported to the provincial and national authorities and organized a group of professional archaeologists to conduct an on-site survey of a mound locally known as “Eagle’s Nest.” They obtained detailed information about the ancient tomb and eventually carried out a rescue excavation. The archaeological findings, of course, shocked the world, uncovering countless artifacts from the Warring States period, but the identity of the tomb’s owner remains a mystery to this day, leaving endless speculation and confusion.

Jia Zhuangyuan nodded woodenly and said, “This tomb complex will eventually be excavated by the state, and it will astonish the world.”

Everyone was startled and quickly scattered in all directions. The giant serpent plummeted from the air, landing precisely where they had just stood. Its multicolored body now bore numerous wounds, with blood seeping out.

Upon hitting the ground, the serpent raised its head, its blood-red eyes glaring at the tree from which it had fallen. Its body coiled and uncoiled, its mouth gaping wide, and its long forked tongue hissed rapidly. Then, everyone saw a pair of extraordinary large birds emerge from the dense canopy of the tree. With a melodious cry, they gracefully spread their wings and descended.

As the two birds flew through the air, Jia Zhuangyuan couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment, “Phoenixes! They are truly phoenixes!”

The two magnificent birds approached the ground, gently folding their beautiful wings and landing not far from the serpent. Everyone was overwhelmed with excitement, forgetting their perilous situation and standing still, gazing at these most mythical birds of ancient Chinese legend up close.

One of the phoenixes was smaller, about six feet tall, while the other was slightly larger, around ten feet tall. They had long, slender necks and backs that arched like a turtle’s shell. Their beaks were long, sharp, and golden, and their feathers were a dazzling red, fluffed up like flames, interspersed with iridescent long feathers. Their tails were raised high, forked like a fish’s tail, resembling a peacock’s, predominantly deep purple with iridescent hues. Their legs were tall, and their posture was crane-like. After landing, they slowly approached the serpent, walking with an arrogant gait, heads held high, exuding an air of nobility. Their feathers constantly shimmered, like a magical flame emitting a spectrum of colors, utterly enchanting.

The phoenixes’ long, beautiful eyes ignored the onlookers, focusing intently on the serpent ahead. They opened their slender beaks and emitted a resonant “clang clang” sound, step by step advancing towards the serpent. The serpent, in turn, rapidly flicked its tongue, its body taut like a bowstring. Its blood-red eyes widened, seemingly on the verge of bleeding.

As a bizarre battle between the multicolored serpent and the mythical phoenixes seemed imminent, Jia Zhuangyuan whispered to the group, “While the phoenixes deal with the serpent, let’s make our escape. These are legendary birds, but that doesn’t mean they won’t harm us. It’s best we slip away now.”

Though everyone was eager to witness how the phoenixes would handle the serpent, they knew Jia Zhuangyuan was right. Reluctantly, they took a few last glances at the noble and magical phoenixes, then quietly retreated behind the tree, leaving the dangerous scene behind.

As they walked away, everyone chattered excitedly about the legendary creatures, the dragon and the phoenix, marveling at the encounter. Only Jia Zhuangyuan seemed unimpressed, somewhat sullen and preoccupied, speaking little and urging everyone to hurry.

Liu Dashao noticed this and deliberately quickened his pace to catch up with Jia Zhuangyuan, who was leading the way. Drawing his dagger, he walked alongside him, clearing the path through the underbrush. He whispered, “Elder Jia, you seem troubled since we saw the phoenixes. Can you share what’s on your mind?” Jia Zhuangyuan’s expression was gloomy, and he remained silent, continuously swinging the entrenching tool he had borrowed from Fan Debiao, testing the grass ahead.

Feeling it was pointless, Liu Dashao stopped asking and simply walked beside him.

Suddenly, Jia Zhuangyuan quietly said to Liu Dashao, “Dashao, do you think dragons and phoenixes truly existed on Earth in ancient times?”

Liu Dashao was taken aback, then replied, “I believe they must have existed. Otherwise, why would ancient texts describe them in such detail?”

Jia Zhuangyuan pondered for a moment, then asked, “Do you think the dragons and phoenixes we saw today are the same as those described in the ancient texts?”

Liu Dashao looked at him, puzzled, and said, “They should be. The dragons and phoenixes we saw match the descriptions perfectly.”

Jia Zhuangyuan nodded and said, “I know that. What I mean is, are we currently on Earth’s core or in a different dimension? Could these dragons and phoenixes be creatures from another dimension?”

Liu Dashao looked at Jia Zhuangyuan in surprise, thinking that Jia had already accepted the existence of other dimensions. Why was he suddenly questioning it? He said, perplexed, “Elder Jia, I still don’t understand what you’re getting at.”

Jia Zhuangyuan said, “Dragons and phoenixes, as ancient mythical creatures, have never been truly believed by modern humans. Most think they are composites of various animals and birds. But today, we saw real, physical dragons and phoenixes. For some reason, I feel there’s something off. Who is the master or creator of these Ninety-Nine Heavens? Is this place Earth or another dimension? And are the dragons and phoenixes we saw real creatures, or were they created by the master of the Ninety-Nine Heavens?”

Liu Dashao looked at Jia Zhuangyuan in astonishment, almost finding it unbelievable, especially his last statement. He stammered, “Elder Jia, are you saying… are you saying these dragons and phoenixes were artificially created?”

Jia Zhuangyuan smiled bitterly and said, “It’s just a guess. Think about it. The descriptions of dragons and phoenixes have varied since the time of the Yellow Emperor, with no unified image. For example, the phoenix is said to have a rooster’s head, a green crest, a snake’s neck, a crane’s body, a turtle’s back, and a peacock’s tail. The male’s call is ‘ji ji,’ the female’s ‘zu zu,’ and together they ‘clang clang.’ Modern people think these descriptions are composites of various animals and birds. But today, we saw phoenixes that match these descriptions exactly. How do you explain that? There are two possibilities. First, phoenixes did exist in ancient times, whether from another dimension or originally from Earth. Second, the dragons and phoenixes we saw today were artificially created based on ancient Earth descriptions. For example, the creator could be Zhang Daoling, a human from another dimension who founded Taoism and created the Ninety-Nine Heavens, and who also created these dragons and phoenixes.”

Liu Dashao listened to Jia Zhuangyuan’s words, feeling incredulous.

Jia Zhuangyuan smiled, seeing Liu Dashao’s bewildered expression, and said self-deprecatingly, “Don’t think my view is necessarily right or wrong. Look at my body now. I used to be taller and more handsome than you, but someone changed everything about me. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone could create any creature based on descriptions.”

With that, he continued forward, swinging the entrenching tool to clear the path. Liu Dashao stared at his back, suddenly feeling that Jia Zhuangyuan must have had even more extraordinary experiences than his own in the Golden Ancient City.

At that moment, Cai Qingchong tapped Liu Dashao on the shoulder from behind and said, “Dashao, what are you thinking about? Why did you suddenly stop? Did you sense something wrong again?”

Liu Dashao quickly snapped out of it, shook his head, and smiled, saying, “No, nothing. I just twisted my foot a bit. It’s fine.” With that, he hurried to catch up with Jia Zhuangyuan, continuing to walk alongside him. Jia Zhuangyuan glanced at Liu Dashao but remained silent.

Liu Dashao couldn’t let it go and asked, “Elder Jia, can you tell us about your experience? If, based on your judgment, these dragons and phoenixes were artificially created, do you think it poses any issues for our current mission?”

Jia Zhuangyuan didn’t look at him but gazed at the grass ahead, his eyes distant, and softly asked, “Have you heard of the Nine Mounds of the Warring States period in Xiangfan, Hubei?”

Liu Dashao was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, “Yes, it’s said to be the tomb of a general from the Chu state during the Warring States period.” The Nine Mounds of the Warring States period are located between the Dahong Mountains and the Tongbai Mountains in northern Hubei Province, along an ancient transportation route known as the “Suizao Corridor.” Between this corridor and Zaoyang City to the north lies a low ridge running north-south, with nine massive “mound-shaped” earth piles spanning 3000 meters. Locals call them the “Nine Mounds.” For years, a fascinating legend has circulated among the locals: it’s said that a valiant general of Chu, invincible and highly decorated, was mistakenly executed by the Chu king due to a baseless military coup. After the truth came to light, the Chu king deeply regretted his decision and, to make amends, bestowed a golden head upon the general and ordered the overnight construction of nine tombs, burying the golden head in one of them to confuse future generations and prevent theft. The Nine Mounds have long been a subject of interest for domestic archaeologists, as the artificial earth piles on a natural ridge could well be ancient tomb mounds. The scale and number of the Nine Mounds suggest they might be the burial sites of significant ancient nobility. However, all this remains speculative, based on age-old legends, as blind excavation is prohibited, leaving the true identity of these peculiar mounds undetermined. It wasn’t until 2002, when the construction of the Xiaogan-Xiangfan expressway began, that the municipal archaeological team, seeking accurate cultural heritage protection information, obtained approval from provincial and national authorities to conduct a field survey of one of the mounds, locally known as “Eagle’s Nest.” The survey yielded detailed tomb information, leading to a salvage excavation. The archaeological findings, of course, astonished the world, uncovering countless artifacts from the Warring States period, but the identity of the tomb’s occupant remains a mystery to this day, leaving endless speculation and confusion.

Jia Zhuangyuan nodded woodenly and said, “This tomb complex will eventually be excavated by the state, and it will shock the world.”

Jia Zhuangyuan nodded expressionlessly and said, “This tomb complex will eventually be excavated by the state, and when it is, it will shake the world.”