The First Immortal of Destiny-Chapter 462: Entering the Tomb_1
Several days later, cultivators from the Profound Moon School and Seven Stars Altar had also arrived at this temporary base. Apart from the Ghost Corpse School, which had several high-ranking members permanently stationed here, the teams dispatched by the other four immortal sects, including the Riverside Sect, were mostly led by Peak Masters and Deputy Sect Masters, commanding ten to several tens of disciples of varying cultivation Realms. Whether they were in the Spirit Sea Realm or the Qi Gathering Realm, most were top talents possessing exceptional aptitude and profound expertise in their respective fields!
Among the many powerful cultivators of similar standing, Meng Sanchi from the Heaven Sword Sect and Xiao Ling’er from the Profound Moon School were also present, giving Shen Mo the illusion of being back at the Tianshan Grand Assembly. Of course, aside from Shen Mo who had already risen to the upper echelons of his sect, the other nine contenders who had participated in the Tianshan Grand Assembly still had a long path ahead. They hadn’t yet achieved a level of brilliance that could outshine the elite disciples accumulated by each sect over many years.
During these past few days, Shen Mo spent most of his time discussing profound mysteries and the Dao, exchanging cultivation experiences with powerful cultivators of similar rank from the various sects, and had reaped considerable benefits.
It wasn’t until he received a message talisman from Sect Master Yuan Qingshi that Shen Mo allowed himself a smile. He then invited Yuxin Sword Master from the Heaven Sword Sect, Deputy Sect Master Chou Jiuyian from the Seven Stars Altar, and Elder Chu Zhen from the Profound Moon School to join him in visiting the high-ranking members of the Ghost Corpse School stationed at the base.
The reason was simple: The Four Great Sects had reached an agreement with the Ghost Corpse School. The Ghost Corpse School had agreed to allow the other Four Great Sects to jointly place a Prohibition during the refining process of the Heavenly Monarch Ghoul. Under normal circumstances, the Ghost Corpse School would control the Heavenly Monarch Ghoul. However, if the moment ever came when they needed to take refuge within its Cave Paradise, the Four Great Sects would activate the agreed-upon restrictive measures.
Shen Mo wasn’t exactly sure how this would be operated... He only knew that this Prohibition arrangement would be divided into four parts, with each sect controlling one. If any three sects reached a consensus, they could collectively activate their respective parts of the Prohibition, thereby paralyzing and immobilizing the Heavenly Monarch Ghoul.
This arrangement, much like the previous decisions made by the Defense Division, generally adhered to the established precedent of the minority deferring to the majority. The distinction, however, lay in the fact that as long as the Ghost Corpse School didn’t act perversely, it would retain autonomous control over the Heavenly Monarch Ghoul for the most part. Only if its strategic decisions led to an irreconcilable conflict with the fundamental interests of the other Four Great Sects would it lose control over the Ghoul, due to the unified action of three of those sects.
With these safeguards in place, the Riverside Sect and the other three sects would no longer need to fear being subjugated, even if they were to relocate their entire sects into the Heavenly Monarch Ghoul’s Blessed Land. Meanwhile, the Ghost Corpse School would gain the full support of the Four Great Sects to successfully excavate the Heavenly Monarch’s tomb and refine its remains into a formidable Ghoul possessing combat power comparable to a quasi-Class V entity. More importantly, should the demonic scourge escalate to an uncontrollable degree, whether it was the Ghost Corpse School, the other Four Great Sects, or even the entire Red Flame Country, all would have a viable path of retreat.
Half a day later, successive streaks of escaping light and figures controlling artifacts flew out from the temporary base, following the Ghost Corpse School cultivators towards the location of the Heavenly Monarch’s tomb. This tomb was situated beneath a majestic mountain range. It was not far from the temporary base; even Qi Gathering Realm cultivators took only the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn to reach the entrance.
"Fellow Daoists, this is the tomb passage leading to the Heavenly Monarch’s tomb. Our sect expended considerable effort to open this path," said the Giant Corpse Master of the Ghost Corpse School to Shen Mo, Yuxin Sword Master, Chou Jiuyian, Elder Chu Zhen, and the others.
SWOOSH!
Shen Mo flicked out a wisp of sword Qi, striking the rocks surrounding the tomb passage. It left only a thumb-sized gash. A section of the rock surface flaked off, revealing a dark, metallic gleam underneath, which quickly weathered and returned to the appearance of ordinary stone.
Shen Mo immediately understood. This unnamed Heavenly Monarch must have used a Great Divine Power to specially refine all the soil and rock in the vicinity when constructing this tomb. For ordinary cultivators, let alone excavating a tomb passage, even digging a pit the size of a human head would require a monumental effort. Even for an expert of Shen Mo’s caliber, carving out an immensely long tomb passage would not be easy. Fortunately, over the years, the Ghost Corpse School had invested significant manpower and resources to excavate a passage leading to the Heavenly Monarch’s tomb much earlier, saving Shen Mo and the others considerable time and effort in this regard.
Soon after, the large party, intent on breaking the Prohibitions, flew into the tomb entrance in succession.
Along the way, Shen Mo observed numerous remnants of mechanisms and damaged Prohibitions... The Ghost Corpse School excelled at tomb raiding and corpse refining, so these outer defenses hadn’t posed much of a challenge to them.
The tomb passage sloped downwards. After an indeterminate period of flight, Shen Mo sensed a brightness ahead, accompanied by a sensation of sudden openness. A brief survey revealed they had emerged into an incredibly vast subterranean cavern. Far above, the cavern ceiling, like a firmament, was inlaid with countless Ming Zhu, forming a grand and majestic panorama of the celestial stars. As time passed, the positions of these ’stars’ constantly shifted, almost perfectly mirroring the movements of the stars in the Outer Realm. Bathed in the light of these Ming Zhu, the ground below featured varied terrain: hills, rivers, plains, and basins. Apart from an all-pervading aura of deathly stillness, it bore a striking resemblance to the Outer Realm. Nestled among these ’mountains’ was a majestic and imposing cultivation mansion, imbued with ancient charm.
"Every mountain and river here is a powerful formation, connected to the external Earthly Aperture Spirit Veins. Once activated, they would operate inexhaustibly for ten thousand generations!"
The Giant Corpse Master gestured, explaining the profound mysteries of this place to the disciples from the other four sects.
"However, aside from this cultivation mansion before you, nearly all other Prohibitions in this area have been dismantled by my sect.
"This mansion is likely where the Heavenly Monarch cultivated during his lifetime! He used his great magical power to relocate it underground, to serve as the core of his tomb.
"The layout within the mansion is similar to the Outer Realm. Each of its pavilions and structures is protected by different Prohibitions according to its function, designed to hinder us tomb explorers!
"Take the Forge Room as an example...
"The moment anyone steps inside, a scene will manifest, showing the Heavenly Monarch forging magic treasures during his lifetime.
"Whoever enters must compete with him in artifact forging techniques. Only by surpassing his skill can this Prohibition be broken!
"Currently, the areas my sect has yet to break through include the Forge Room, Alchemy Room, Flower Garden, Book Collection Tower, Star Observation Deck, and Sword Washing Pool, among others.
"These correspond to challenges in forging magic treasures, refining elixirs, cultivating spiritual plants... divining heavenly secrets, practicing sword techniques...
"There is no fatal danger inside this mansion!
"Fellow Daoists, you may each choose an area to enter and attempt to overcome its challenge.
"Based on my Ghost Corpse School’s millennia of experience excavating the tombs of powerful experts, and over two hundred years of intensive research into this specific site, we have deduced that only by breaking all these Prohibitions one by one will the Heavenly Monarch’s coffin be revealed!"
Previously, Shen Mo had not known the detailed circumstances of the Heavenly Monarch’s tomb. Now, after the Giant Corpse Master’s explanation, he had grasped a significant amount of key information. Yet, doubts arose within him, as he found the very existence of this Heavenly Monarch’s tomb rather peculiar.
