The vast, boundless desert sea was perpetually shrouded in yellow sand, with the scorching sun overhead.
The crystalline grains of sand trembled slightly.
A lizard rolled its eyes, spotted a camel caravan not far away, and quietly slipped away.
The leader of the camel caravan had white hair and a youthful complexion.
He stroked his long goatee while observing the compass in his other hand.
Suddenly, the compass needle came to an abrupt halt.
The old man yanked the reins, his simple yet voluminous robes billowing as he lightly dismounted.
His followers also dismounted from their camels, all dressed in light white robes and wearing caps with horizontal hairpins.
In the desert, wearing such clothes would be suicidal for ordinary people, but this group was different.
They came from the Tai Xu Sect, one of the four great sects of the Lan Realm.
“Elder Xi, is this the place where the immortal tomb will emerge?”
A man came up beside the old man, handed him a goatskin waterskin, and asked.
“Wu Yu,” Elder Xi nodded.
“The Prophetic Compass has protected our Tai Xu Sect for centuries; its guidance will not be wrong.”
“Your disciple was too forward.”
The young man called Wu Yu cupped his hands and began waiting patiently beside Elder Xi.
Time passed minute by minute.
Even the disciples with lower cultivation began to feel the sand trembling.
It’s here.
A sharp glint flashed in Elder Xi’s murky eyes.
He raised his hand and shouted, “Form the Black Tortoise Formation!”
The moment the words fell, spiritual light bloomed everywhere.
The Tai Xu disciples flung out their life-bound artifacts.
Their positions had been rehearsed countless times, aligning with the flow of heaven and earth.
In no time, a vast azure light barrier formed, shielding everyone.
But just as the formation solidified, the ground shook violently.
Boom!
Blinding sand and dust shot up, blotting out the sun.
The rising sand cascaded like a waterfall, and yellow dust slammed against the azure light, obscuring everyone’s vision.
Seeing this, Elder Xi swept his sleeve, calming the wind and sand before him.
He had intended to gaze upon the grandeur of the immortal tomb, but instead saw a rainbow divine light drifting in from the north.
“Ha ha ha ha ha! Old Ghost Xi, still alive and well!”
With a boisterous laugh, the rainbow touched down.
From it stepped a burly man with a full beard, wearing a short-sleeved linen shirt with his chest exposed.
His hair was a mess, but he too wore a hairpin representing his sect.
This was one of the four great sects, the Nine Suns Orthodox.
They focused on raw physical power, and most of their disciples were passionate, free-spirited, and straightforward.
“Old Ghost Xi, still alive and well?”
“Zhang Zhenren, you’re still alive too?”
“Ha! Good!”
Zhang Zhenren pulled a gourd from his belt, took a swig of wine, and then sprayed a mouthful of spiritual energy.
An even more magnificent rainbow rose up, isolating the wind and sand while also protecting the Nine Suns disciples behind him.
The two sects had long-standing grievances.
Though they engaged in constant open and covert strife, for now they only waited.
As they waited, figures began appearing from all corners of the sky, their spiritual senses intertwining.
Friendly sects grouped together.
By the time they gathered around the immortal tomb, several major factions had formed.
“There are truly countless heroes in this world.”
Seeing the crowd of at least a thousand, Zhang Zhenren was taken aback.
“This vast desert cuts off all life. For each person to reach this place alone is also fate.”
Elder Xi stroked his white beard and commented.
About a quarter of an hour later, the yellow sand flowed away.
A majestic ancient immortal tomb, with its inverted landmass, shot up from beneath the endless desert into the sky.
Misty energy roiled the clouds, and in an instant the sky darkened.
A few raindrops melted into the sand underfoot, then more followed.
A heavy downpour came, bringing a touch of coolness to the scorching desert.
Stones stacked with exquisite skill emanated a heavy, majestic presence.
Crack!
A flash of lightning, beautiful yet cruel, struck the tomb’s body.
That strike fully activated the ancient, cryptic runes carved into the tomb.
Light flowed, the runes flickered, and an overwhelming, boundless pressure spread out, sweeping across the entire sand sea.
Within the Tai Xu Sect, many disciples with shallow cultivation felt their legs go weak.
They uncontrollably fell to their knees, their spiritual energy in chaos.
If Elder Xi hadn’t acted, the Black Tortoise Formation would have collapsed in a second.
The normally cheerful Zhang Zhenren’s expression changed drastically.
His usually calm face turned completely solemn.
He retracted his aura and struggled to maintain the rainbow divine light.
It lasted only half a second, yet felt as long as an eternity.
After the pressure passed, a rift in space appeared in midair.
Within it, colorful treasures shimmered endlessly, emitting a dazzling, tempting lure.
The ancient tomb, dormant for eons, had finally appeared.
Everyone knew that within it lay ancient immortal techniques, heaven-defying spiritual medicines, and supreme artifacts—a world-altering opportunity.
Elder Xi turned his gaze to his pale-faced disciples and sighed inwardly.
“Zhang Kuang, the immortal tomb has appeared. Everyone wants a piece of the flesh. Why don’t our two sects join forces and enter, beating back these mongrels first?”
“Ha! Old Ghost Xi, your idea sounds good. But if they all attack us, I wonder how long this batch of Tai Xu disciples can hold out.”
“Zhang Kuang, since you’re unwilling to cooperate, then we each rely on our own skills. Please!”
“Please!”
Zhang Zhenren made a gesture of yielding but didn’t budge.
Elder Xi did the same, as did the rogue cultivators present.
Though the immortal tomb held great fortune, it also harbored immense danger: ancient prohibitions, slumbering beasts…
No one knew what lay inside.
As everyone hesitated, a black figure soared into the air and was the first to rush into the spatial rift.
“It’s Zhao Jiahao of the Freedom Sect!” a knowledgeable rogue cultivator exclaimed.
“What guts! A real man acts like this.”
Zhang Zhenren laughed heartily.
The rainbow divine light swept up the Nine Suns Orthodox disciples, and they followed close behind.
Looking at the terrified expressions of the Nine Suns disciples in midair, Elder Xi remained silent.
He raised his hand and ordered, “For this trip to the immortal tomb, we have specially requested the sect founder’s Prophetic Compass. Our opportunities will only be many. Everyone, stay calm.”
Hearing this, the murmurs within the Black Tortoise Formation quickly died down.
The Tai Xu disciples now looked at the rogue cultivators with some pity.
It was good to have backing.
Another quarter of an hour passed.
Elder Xi swept his spiritual sense over the few remaining people—all weak cultivators hoping for a cheap gain.
He nodded and said, “Disperse the Black Tortoise Formation. Form the Vermilion Bird Formation. Enter the immortal tomb!”
The positions of the artifacts shifted without any hesitation.
Soon, a firebird spread its wings, carrying the Tai Xu disciples into the rift.
Inside the immortal tomb.
Xi Bing was stunned to see the dense crowd of figures.
“We’ve been waiting for you. You finally came in.”
Zhang Zhenren crossed his arms, his expression grim.
“What’s this?”
“Go take a look up front.”
The tight crowd made Xi Bing uncomfortable.
He was about to use a spell to teleport ahead, but Zhang Zhenren turned and elbowed him, interrupting his movement.
“Zhang Kuang, what’s the meaning of this?”
“You absolutely cannot cast spells here. Take your time and go see for yourself. Look at the tragic state of those who used magic.”
Zhang Kuang shook his head and silently stepped back a few paces to make room.
Xi Bing turned to his disciples and said, “Everyone stay put. Look after yourselves. Do not start any conflicts.”
After saying this, he pushed into the crowd.
Even without using spells, his physical strength from cultivation was enough to let him shove through.
The rogue cultivators wanted to get angry, but when they saw his Tai Xu Sect robes, they swallowed their irritation.
Soon, Xi Bing reached the front.
Seeing the scene before him, he felt only absurdity.
Between two pillars carved with dragons and phoenixes stood a high platform.
On the platform, a stone coffin covered in dust was bound by thick chains.
In front of the stone coffin on the high platform, a group of people was dancing gracefully, forming a triangular formation.
At the head was the one the rogue cultivators called Zhao Jiahao.
He bowed his head, swayed his body, and crossed his feet.
Sometimes he crashed his head to the ground, sometimes he undulated his whole body.
His expression was indifferent, and those behind him mimicked his movements.
It was eerie to the extreme.
Xi Bing narrowed his eyes and quietly withdrew to where the Tai Xu disciples gathered.
Learning the rule of the immortal tomb—that spells were prohibited—the people dispersed to search for clues around the main hall.
“This place’s prohibition doesn’t suppress cultivation, only spells. Could brute force break the situation?”
Xi Bing looked around and stroked his beard.
“Hey, that makes sense!”
Zhang Kuang jumped to his feet.
“If we need strength, I’ve got the most. If you have a way to get us out, the Nine Suns Orthodox can offer anything you want—name your price.”
“This is just a speculation…”
Xi Bing fell silent again.
He really couldn’t accept that this brute had been outdoing him in strength for over a decade.
“How boring. Old Ghost Xi, don’t you have your sect’s treasure? Why not use it?”
“Have you forgotten the prohibition here?”
“Do you really think I’m that stupid? That thing belongs to your sect founder. He was a true immortal. This place is just the bones of a corpse in a coffin. What’s there to fear?”
“You… that’s not unreasonable.”
Xi Bing was momentarily speechless but had to admit, “Then I’ll trouble Brother Zhang to protect me while I perform the ritual.”
“Easy, easy. Hurry it up. This damn place is stifling me to death!”
Xi Bing shook his head and smiled wryly.
He turned to gather his disciples.
After looking around, he decided on his lead disciple.
“Wu Yu, this is the Eternal Strength Pill. If you suffer under the prohibition, it will keep your body from tiring for six hours.”
Xi Bing said, taking out the Prophetic Compass.
Once Wu Yu had taken the pill, he said sternly, “Stare at the compass. Gather your energy and focus your mind. Do not resist.”
True to his status as Xi Bing’s top disciple, Wu Yu understood immediately.
In no time, his mind had sunk into the compass, and his body sat cross-legged on the spot.
Seeing the compass needle tremble slightly, Xi Bing’s face lit up with joy.
Now we’re saved.
“Damn it! I knew you could do it!”
Zhang Kuang saw Xi Bing smile and slapped him on the back, nearly knocking the Prophetic Compass out of his hand.
“You brute!”
Xi Bing’s beard bristled.
He was about to scold, but then remembered he needed Zhang Kuang’s strength to open the path, so he suppressed his murderous intent and called over another Tai Xu disciple.
An hour later, many rogue cultivators who had been searching for clues returned.
Seeing the Tai Xu disciples all sitting in meditation, they were first startled, then asked around.
Some were tricked into handing over elixirs and treasures for the secret, and then they too crossed their arms and stood around with an air of profound mystery, waiting for the next gullible soul.
Each time someone returned, the rogue cultivators would swarm them.
Finally, all the Tai Xu disciples collapsed into a meditative state, cooperating with Xi Bing to drive the compass needle through the compass.
“Rise!”
With a never-ending inclination for spectating, the rogue cultivators watched Xi Bing’s actions.
Half of them hoped he could lead them out of trouble, while the other half secretly wished he would join Zhao Jiahao’s dancing army.
But the compass emitted a black light symbolizing Tai Xu, seemingly blocking the prohibition from falling.
Elder Xi showed no sign of discomfort.
Holding the compass, he completed thirty-six steps.
The rogue cultivators parted as he walked and closed back up behind him.
Xi Bing turned around and made a single-handed gesture, issuing an order.
“Guide!”
As his words fell, the compass needle began spinning nonstop.
Everyone crowded around to see the result, and those who came late jumped up to get a look.
Finally, the compass needle stopped in a certain direction.
Following the compass’s guidance, everyone looked and gasped in unison.
The needle pointed unerringly and firmly at the stone coffin.
“Elder Xi, what does this mean?”
“Yes, Elder Xi, please explain!”
“Elder Xi…”
Once someone spoke out, the rogue cultivators chattered like a flock of crows.
“Shut up!”
“Quiet—”
Just as Xi Bing was about to scold, he heard a melodious female voice.
He froze as if struck by lightning.
Zhang Kuang, who focused on physical cultivation and had sharper hearing, immediately looked as if he had just received death news.
“Hey! Did you say that?”
A male rogue cultivator questioned a seductively dressed female cultivator from the Joy Union Sect.
The woman covered her mouth, shook her head frantically in denial, and pointed repeatedly at the stone coffin.
“You mean… that?!”
The man’s face filled with terror, and his voice became hesitant.
Realizing he understood, the Joy Union cultivator found a kindred spirit and nodded like a chicken pecking rice.
“Ah! That was my voice?”
It spoke again.
This time everyone heard clearly.
The source of the voice was from inside the stone coffin.
Think about it: after all the plotting and painstaking effort to enter this ancient immortal tomb, there was only this vast, endless main hall.
In the center of the hall, inside a stone coffin that had endured unknown ages, someone suddenly started talking, and in front of the coffin, a group of dancers never stopped moving.
It was hair-raising.
“Hey? Is anyone there? Anyone? Open the door for me! This is false imprisonment—an illegal act, do you know that?”
Thump thump thump!
Thump thump thump!
Everyone felt the knocking from inside the coffin strike right at their hearts.
Gradually, even their own heartbeats no longer felt like their own.
“Is anyone there? Hey! I’m going to be late for work! Stop messing with me, okay!”
The mysterious voice sounded again, as if infected by anxiety.
Xi Bing’s breathing grew heavy.
If this continued, everyone’s heart would burst from the strain.
Realizing this, Xi Bing decided he could not wait to die.
He quickly stretched out his foot and kicked Zhang Kuang hard in the calf.
Then he tilted his head toward the stone coffin, wrinkles squeezing together, his white beard flying—no trace of an immortal’s demeanor remained.
After decades as rivals, Zhang Kuang immediately understood Xi Bing’s intention: He wants me to open the coffin.
As expected of my old rival! What guts!
Rather than scare himself to death here, he might as well take a gamble.
Having made up his mind, Zhang Kuang roughly pushed aside the paralyzed rogue cultivators, stepped over the yellow, unidentified liquid on the ground, and walked straight toward the stone coffin.
Today I’m going to see what the hell is inside!
He jumped onto the ten-meter-high platform, hooked his fingers around the thick chains, gritted his teeth, craned his neck, and flexed his arms, beginning to exert force.