Zhang Enpu stroked his white beard, which bristled like pine needles under his chin, and said, “This Shihun is certainly not a ghost, but neither is it a human being—it’s essentially a human soul. According to Taoist scriptures, the process of creating a Shihun is extremely mysterious. Maoshan sorcerers use a soul-summoning banner to extract a living person’s soul from their body, then seal it and finally entomb it inside a coffin. Since Shihun exists purely in spiritual form, it doesn’t occupy any physical space inside the coffin. It can only remain there forever, accompanying its deceased master.”
“Good grief! How can these nobles come up with such perverted methods? Even after death they want servants around them—how disgustingly corrupt!” Tian Guoqiang exclaimed in anger.
A vague thought flickered through Liu Dashao’s mind—soul-summoning banner?
“Hey, these chains are wrapped up so tightly—how are we ever going to get them off?” Tian Guoqiang said, staring helplessly at the stone coffin.
Liu Dashao raised the butt of his rifle and said, “Let me give it a try!” With a loud grunt, he swung the rifle’s steel butt hard against the chain. A sharp metallic ‘ding’ rang out as sparks flew. Liu Dashao felt his palms go numb from the shock and staggered back and forth. Yet when he looked down at the chain, aside from a faint scratch, there wasn’t the slightest damage.
Looking at his rifle butt, he saw a visible crack had appeared. This rifle was forged from high-quality steel used by the military, known for its extreme durability. Yet it had cracked from the impact, clearly showing how much tougher the chain on the stone coffin must be.
Liu Dashao stared at the rifle butt in disbelief and muttered, “Even a stubborn old turtle meets its hawk in the sky—this time we’re really outmatched!”
Suddenly, Tian Guoqiang cried out, “Hey, Dashao, look! These chains on the stone coffin seem to form some kind of pattern!”
Liu Dashao squinted hard at the coffin. Tian Guoqiang reminded him not to blink. After staring for about ten seconds, Liu Dashao finally saw it clearly—the chains had indeed changed. What had seemed like tangled vines now formed a strange, eerie pattern.
He suddenly gasped, “A ladle! It’s a ladle!”
Liu Dashao rubbed his aching eyes, and the ladle-shaped pattern vanished. The chains returned to their chaotic, tangled state.
He stared blankly at Zhang Enpu and asked, “Old Taoist, what’s going on? Did I just imagine that?”
“No!” Zhang Enpu shook his head. “This chain is made of Xuan iron, a legendary material known for its extreme hardness. It’s said to be the best material for forging superior weapons. Even a tiny amount of Xuan iron infused into a sword or blade can make it cut through iron like mud.”
“At first, I was wondering why such valuable Xuan iron chains were used to bind this stone coffin. I originally thought they were just randomly wrapped around it, but after your observation, I finally understood—they’re actually the Qisha Weiyang Lock!”
“Qisha Weiyang Lock?”
Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang exchanged confused glances, waiting for Zhang Enpu to continue.
Zhang Enpu said, “This Qisha Weiyang Lock was believed to have disappeared over a thousand years ago. I never expected to see it here today, meaning this ancient tomb must be at least a thousand years old. The Qisha Weiyang Lock is a unique optical illusion, somewhat similar to the three-dimensional science studied by Westerners. At first glance, it seems like there’s nothing special, but the real secret lies hidden within!”
Zhang Enpu gently stroked his white beard, which spread out like pine needles, and said, “The servant soul is certainly not a ghost, but it’s not a human either. In essence, it should be a human’s spirit. According to Taoist scriptures, the process of creating a servant soul is extremely mysterious. The Maoshan sorcerers use a soul-summoning banner to extract a living person’s soul from their body, then they seal the soul and finally store it in a coffin. Since the servant soul exists in a spiritual state, it doesn’t occupy any physical space in the coffin. It can only remain inside, accompanying its deceased master.”
“Damn it, these high-ranking officials and nobles can think of the most perverse methods. Even after death, they still want someone to serve them. It’s utterly corrupt,” Tian Guoqiang said indignantly.
A thought flashed through Liu Dashao’s mind—the soul-summoning banner?
“Hey, these chains are wrapped so tightly. How are we supposed to get them off?” Tian Guoqiang stared at the stone coffin, bewildered.
Liu Dashao raised the butt of his gun and said, “Let me give it a try! Hah!” With a forceful swing, the shovel struck the chain, producing a sharp ‘clang’ and sending sparks flying. The impact numbed Liu Dashao’s hands, and he staggered slightly. But when he looked down at the chain, there was only a faint mark—no real damage at all.
He then examined the gun’s butt, which now had a visible crack. This military-grade gun was made of high-quality steel, incredibly tough, yet it had cracked upon impact. It was clear that the chains on the stone coffin were far stronger than the gun’s butt.
Liu Dashao looked at the shovel in his hand and muttered, “An old turtle meets an eagle—this is hopeless!”
Suddenly, Tian Guoqiang exclaimed, “Hey, Dashao, look! The chains on the stone coffin seem to form some kind of pattern.”
Liu Dashao widened his eyes and carefully examined the stone coffin. Tian Guoqiang reminded him not to blink. After staring at the coffin for about ten seconds, Liu Dashao finally saw it clearly—the chains on the stone coffin had undergone a strange transformation. The previously chaotic, vine-like chains now formed a peculiar pattern.
He suddenly shouted, “A spoon! It’s a spoon!”
Liu Dashao rubbed his swollen eyes, and the spoon pattern disappeared. The chains on the stone coffin returned to their chaotic state.
He stared blankly at Zhang Enpu and asked, “Old Taoist, what’s going on? Is there something wrong with my eyes?”
“No!” Zhang Enpu waved his hand and said, “These chains are made of a rare and extremely hard metal called ‘Xuantie.’ Legend has it that Xuantie is used to forge superior weapons. Even a small amount of Xuantie in a blade can make it cut through iron like mud.”
“At first, I wondered why these Xuantie chains were wrapped around a stone coffin. I thought they were just randomly placed, but after your observation, I finally understood—these chains are actually the ‘Seven Evils Unending Lock!'”
“The Seven Evils Unending Lock?”
Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang exchanged puzzled glances, waiting for Zhang Enpu to continue.
Zhang Enpu explained, “The Seven Evils Unending Lock is said to have disappeared for at least a thousand years. I never expected to see it here today, which means this ancient tomb is at least a thousand years old. The lock is composed of a unique visual illusion, somewhat like the three-dimensional science studied by foreigners. On the surface, it appears to be nothing, but the true mystery lies within!”
“Three-dimensional? Are you saying that people from a thousand years ago knew about this kind of thing?” Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang were dumbfounded, unable to find words to express their astonishment.
Zhang Enpu continued, “Perhaps. We tend to believe that the world is constantly progressing, that people today are smarter and more knowledgeable than those in the past. But often, the reality is different. I once read a report about a sword unearthed from the tomb of the First Emperor of Qin. After national testing, it was discovered that the sword’s unbreakable strength was due to the inclusion of a rare metal element. What shocked scientists was that even with the most advanced scientific methods, they couldn’t isolate this rare metal. So, how did the ancients manage to extract and incorporate it into the sword? Is this progress or regression in civilization?”
Zhang Enpu’s words reminded Liu Dashao of a phrase he had once read in a book: “The development of civilization is like a circle, eventually returning to its origin.”
He thought that perhaps this was what Buddhism referred to as the cycle of reincarnation.
Tian Guoqiang murmured, “Then… how do we unlock this Seven Evils Unending Lock?”
Zhang Enpu replied, “Deciphering mechanisms and formations is the forte of tomb raiders, but as the direct descendant of the Celestial Master Taoist lineage, I can’t let our ancestors down. Although the Seven Evils Unending Lock is extremely intricate and challenging to unlock, I’m willing to give it a try.”
Liu Dashao was increasingly impressed by the lean-faced Zhang Enpu. He reminded him of the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover, and you can’t measure the ocean with a bucket.”
Tian Guoqiang asked skeptically, “Old Taoist Zhang, can you really unlock this Seven Evils Unending Lock?”
Zhang Enpu smiled confidently, “Since I recognized it as the Seven Evils Unending Lock, I can certainly unlock it. Hmm, let me think carefully. The records of past Celestial Masters might have mentioned the method to unlock it.”
With that, Zhang Enpu walked to the side, sat down, and closed his eyes in deep thought.
Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang didn’t dare disturb him and stood silently by. Meanwhile, Bai Erlai simply lay down on the ground and fell asleep.
Time passed minute by minute, and Zhang Enpu seemed to enter a meditative state, as motionless as a monk in deep meditation.
Tian Guoqiang grew impatient, but Liu Dashao quickly pulled him back, saying, “Be patient and wait a little longer!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Enpu suddenly opened his eyes. A confident gleam shone in his pupils as he stood up abruptly and walked to the stone coffin without a word, beginning to unlock it.
The Seven Evils Unending Lock was incredibly complex. Zhang Enpu pulled and twisted the chains, sometimes backtracking, sometimes pausing to think deeply, his brows furrowed in concentration.
Tian Guoqiang whispered to Liu Dashao, “Do you think this old Taoist can really unlock the Seven Evils Unending Lock?”
Liu Dashao replied, “I believe he can. You know, after dealing with the drought demon and the spirit official, I’ve grown more and more impressed by him. He’s like a treasure trove of knowledge, knowing everything there is to know.”
“Dashao, come here!” Zhang Enpu called out joyfully.
Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang walked over. “How is it? Did you unlock it?”
Zhang Enpu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “Just one last step. Guoqiang, go to that corner and pull that chain. Dashao, you go to this corner and pull this chain.”
“Alright, on the count of three, we all pull back together, understood?”
Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang nodded.
“One!”
“Two!”
“Three!”
Everyone pulled their respective chains with all their might, and with a loud clatter, the incredibly tough Xuantie chain actually slid off the stone coffin.
Liu Dashao exclaimed in admiration, “As expected of the head of Taoism! You really have some skills!”
Zhang Enpu rubbed his hands together and smiled modestly, “I’m ashamed! If my father were here to unlock the Seven Evils Unending Lock, he could probably do it in half the time!”
“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s hurry and open the coffin!” Tian Guoqiang said, reaching out to lift the coffin lid, but it wouldn’t budge.
Zhang Enpu crouched down and examined it. “Guoqiang, go over there and push forward with all your strength!”
Tian Guoqiang, half-doubting, walked to the other side of the stone coffin and pushed with all his might. With a dull thud, the coffin lid slowly slid open. Tian Guoqiang asked in surprise, “What’s going on? Why couldn’t I lift it from the side earlier?”
Zhang Enpu pointed to a hidden groove on the coffin’s upper edge and explained, “The coffin lid has a latch mechanism, similar to the back cover of a flashlight.”
Zhang Enpu continued, “Perhaps. We always assume that the world is constantly progressing, that modern people are smarter and more knowledgeable than ancient ones. But reality doesn’t always follow that logic. I once read a report stating that during the excavation of the First Emperor’s mausoleum, an incredibly sharp and durable sword was discovered. National testing revealed that the sword’s resilience came from a rare metallic element. What astonished scientists was that even with the most advanced scientific methods, they couldn’t extract this element. So how did ancient people manage to extract it and infuse it into their swords? Tell me, is that progress or regression of civilization?”
Zhang Enpu’s words reminded Liu Dashao of a sentence he once read in a book: “The development of civilization is like a circle—it always returns to its starting point.”
He thought, perhaps this is what Buddhism means by reincarnation.
Tian Guoqiang murmured, “Then… how can we possibly unlock this Qisha Weiyang Lock?”
Zhang Enpu replied, “Unlocking hidden mechanisms is usually the specialty of tomb raiders. But as a direct descendant of the Celestial Master sect, I can’t afford to disgrace my ancestors. Although this Qisha Weiyang Lock is extremely complicated and difficult to dismantle, I’m willing to give it a try.”
Liu Dashao began to feel increasing admiration for the thin-faced Zhang Enpu, who reminded him of the saying: “You can’t judge a person by appearance, just as you can’t measure the sea with a bushel basket.”
Tian Guoqiang asked doubtfully, “Master Zhang, can you really unlock this Qisha Weiyang Lock?”
Zhang Enpu smiled confidently. “Since I recognized it as the Qisha Weiyang Lock, I’m certain I can unlock it. Let me think… I recall reading in the records of past Celestial Masters that there was mention of the method to dismantle this lock!”
As he spoke, Zhang Enpu walked aside, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes in deep thought.
Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang dared not interrupt, silently waiting nearby, while the white-haired Bailer lay down and fell asleep.
Minute by minute passed. Zhang Enpu seemed to have entered a meditative trance, like a monk in deep meditation, completely motionless.
Tian Guoqiang grew impatient, but Liu Dashao quickly held him back, whispering, “Wait a little longer!”
Just as he finished speaking, Zhang Enpu suddenly opened his eyes. Confidence gleamed in his pupils. He stood up abruptly and walked silently to the stone coffin, beginning to work on the lock.
The Qisha Weiyang Lock was extremely complex. Zhang Enpu pulled and threaded the chains back and forth, sometimes pausing in deep thought, his eyebrows knitted together, his expression serious.
Tian Guoqiang whispered to Liu Dashao, “Do you really think this old Taoist can unlock it?”
Liu Dashao replied, “I believe he can. You know, since we dealt with the Jiangshi and the Lingguan, I’ve come to admire him more and more. He’s like a treasure trove of knowledge—knowing everything, understanding everything!”
“Quick, come over here!” Zhang Enpu joyfully called them.
Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang hurried over. “Have you unlocked it?”
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Zhang Enpu said, “Just one last step. Strongman, go to that corner and hold that chain. Dashao, you go to this corner and grab hold of the chain too.”
“Okay, like this. On the count of three, we all pull back together. Got it?”
Liu Dashao and Tian Guoqiang nodded.
“One!”
“Two!”
“Three!”
Together, they pulled back on the chains. With a loud clinking sound, the incredibly strong Xuan iron chain actually slid off the stone coffin.
Liu Dashao exclaimed in admiration, “No wonder you’re the top Taoist master—truly impressive skills!”
Zhang Enpu smiled while rubbing his hands. “Too kind! Too kind! If my father were here to unlock this Qisha Weiyang Lock, he might have done it in half the time!”
“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s hurry and open the coffin!” Tian Guoqiang said, reaching out to lift the coffin lid—but it wouldn’t budge.
Zhang Enpu crouched down to examine it. “Strongman, go over there and push forward hard!”
Skeptical but obedient, Tian Guoqiang moved to the other side of the stone coffin and pushed with all his might. With a deep rumbling sound, the coffin lid slowly slid open.
“How come? Why couldn’t I lift it from the side earlier?” Tian Guoqiang asked in astonishment.
Zhang Enpu pointed at the hidden groove at the top of the coffin. “This lid uses a snap-lock mechanism, similar to the back cover of a flashlight!”
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