Volume Two, Chapter 47: Parting Ways

The three great sages each possessed their own unique presence. The Great Sage of the Holy Sun Sect wore attire identical to his followers, the only difference being his golden robe—a color unique to him alone, for he was the Pope. The hats of the Holy Sun Sect all served to conceal the wearer's appearance, so his face was nothing but a field of radiant white light.

The image of the Fire Venom Ancestor, however, was completely different from what Mu had expected. He appeared to be only in his thirties, handsome and graceful, elegant as a jade tree in the wind. His brows and features bore a remarkable resemblance to the Young Lord of the Alliance—indeed, he seemed the matured version of the Young Lord. Yet, in temperament, they were worlds apart; this man exuded an air of scholarly refinement. If Mu had not known his true character, he would have taken him for a gentle and amiable man.

The three sages conversed not, as if some tacit understanding had long been reached. A disciple of Hawk Peak then stepped forward and read aloud the rules for the tomb exploration, a tripartite agreement: no internecine slaughter, each to act within their means, and so on.

But everyone knew in their hearts that this agreement would be null and void the moment they entered the sacred tomb. Not to mention the others—even among the three sages, should a treasure worthy of contention appear, a fierce battle would likely erupt.

With all preparations complete, the disciples of the three sects formed into three lines. At that moment, the three sages simultaneously looked into the distance, where a group of more than a dozen people was flying towards them.

As the newcomers drew near, all were astonished to see that every one of them approached by riding the air. Mu was even more taken aback, for among them were three faces he recognized: they were the three masters who had besieged the teleportation array in the Free City—the master of Grand Feather Sword Dao, the mysterious figure swathed from head to toe, and the black-clad leader of the group known as Thorn.

Yet this time, the leader was not Thorn's chief, but an elderly man with white hair and beard. His face was kindly, his clothing plain, barefoot, a great conical hat strapped to his back, and a hemp rope tied at his waist—he looked every bit the most ordinary old farmer in the world.

At the sight of this man, Sky Pillar was taken aback. “Cloud Elder, to think you are still among the living! By my reckoning, you must be over three thousand years old. For a human cultivator to reach your age is nothing short of a miracle. What brings you here? Do you still hope to find a chance at sainthood in this place?”

Hearing the name “Cloud Elder,” Meng Fang was visibly surprised. Mu quickly asked, “What is it, brother? Do you know this man?”

Meng Fang gave a wry smile. “How could I know him? I’ve only heard tales. They say he was once a figure of great renown, and above all, he was blessed with extraordinary talent. Legend has it he attained the Way at age ten, united his spirit at a hundred, and reached the tribulation stage by a thousand.”

“What!” Mu was utterly shocked. Though humans cultivate faster than demons, to reach the tribulation stage in a thousand years is still a genius one in ten thousand.

Meng Fang continued, “But it seems his talent was exhausted within those thousand years. After his tribulation, he made no further progress, unable to break through the final barrier to sainthood. It was said he had long since ascended, yet here he stands before us.”

From the sky, Cloud Elder let out a hearty laugh. “Brother Sky Pillar, you’ve guessed rightly. This old undying one truly does not wish to die. While I still possess some strength, I wish to make one last attempt. You wouldn’t begrudge a dying man his final hope, would you?”

It seemed the two shared some history.

Indeed, Sky Pillar smiled faintly. “This sacred tomb is unclaimed—there’s no question of granting or denying your wish. But let me be clear: if I discover any of you obstructing us or harming my demonkind, you know my disposition.”

Cloud Elder replied instantly, “Never! I give you my word—should such a thing occur, I will deal with it myself before you need say a word.”

“Good, it’s agreed. Stand aside, all—I will open the tomb.”

With that, he transformed into a great golden-plumed eagle. With a piercing cry, he struck the sacred tomb with a talon. The earth shook as the tomb and a swath of ground were torn open, revealing an entrance beneath the settling dust.

The might of Sky Pillar’s strike filled all present with dread, Fire Venom Ancestor included. His immense, resplendent form and his world-shattering blow were awe-inspiring beyond measure.

Yet none noticed that Sky Pillar’s talon trembled slightly.

With the tomb open, the three sages were first to enter, flying into the darkness below. Thereafter, each group entered in order of rank, with the lowest—Mu and his companions—going in last. In truth, this was a form of protection for them.

Inside the sacred tomb.

Upon crossing the threshold, Mu was immediately assailed by an oppressive, stifling, and chilling aura of dread. The group took out luminous spirit stones to light their way, only to find that those who had entered before had already vanished without a trace.

“What a heavy yin energy!”

Turning, they saw that Cloud Elder’s party had also entered. They paid no heed to Mu’s group, soaring deeper into the tomb.

“The resistance in the air here is peculiar. This tomb is not so simple. Everyone, be on your guard,” Cloud Elder’s voice echoed back, adding to the apprehension in their hearts.

“We should go in as well,” ordered Lu Zihao. Just as they prepared to move, someone called out, “Brothers, I’ll go ahead. Take care, everyone!”

Mu looked over—it was Lone Wind. Without waiting for a response, Lone Wind and his wolf clan brothers strode forward and soon vanished from sight.

“Wait! Lone Wind, the lord instructed that—” Lu Zihao was cut off, for they were already gone.

“Damn it,” Lu Zihao cursed, stamping his foot. “Mad Bull, you and the others follow behind us—we’re going in.”

The wolf clan had not been with Hawk Peak long and had yet to truly integrate, so their lack of belonging was understandable. Besides, wolves are proud by nature; such behavior was not unexpected.

With their departure, only eight remained.

With no other choice, they pressed on, only to discover soon enough that the sacred tomb was a labyrinth. Countless passageways branched in every direction—so many forks and turns that it was impossible to discern the path.

They marked their way as they went, but soon found the marks had vanished. The tomb possessed a power of self-repair; it was, in fact, a magical artifact in its own right.

The thought of such a vast artifact was enough to inspire terror.

After a while, they realized they could no longer find the way back.

As they walked, a rat demon suddenly asked, “If the tomb can repair itself, do you think it might also seal the exit?”

At this, everyone was startled. If such a thing happened, would they not be trapped here forever?

Lu Zihao rapped the rat on the head, scolding, “Don’t talk nonsense. That’s impossible. Even if it repairs itself, it can’t be that fast. By the time it does, we’ll be gone. And if we’re trapped, the great sages will surely rescue us. Stop worrying and focus on the exploration.”

At that, everyone glanced at Meng Fang, nodded repeatedly, and their fears were assuaged.