Qin Xuan pointed in a direction, and Old Man Black Corpse conjured an escape technique, whisking him straight toward Hawk's Beak Mountain.
Several dozen li flashed by in the blink of an eye, bringing them to the old pear tree six li west of the city.
Qin Xuan explained, "This medallion only resonates at midnight, the hour of the Rat."
Leaning on his cane, Feng Jiu cast a glance back toward the commandery city. At this moment, he was even more inclined to believe Qin Xuan's words, as he too could feel the subtle connection between the iron plaque and the tomb. Yet waiting until midnight would inevitably invite unnecessary complications.
"Are there traps down there?"
"None. It is a living tomb meant as a refuge."
"If there are treasures, why didn't you take them?"
"This junior certainly wished to, but my cultivation is far too shallow. Even wielding the sword talisman was already pushing my limits."
"You should know my background. The moment I enter a tomb, a mere glance at its surrounding terrain and waterways is enough to deduce the layout of the entire burial chamber. If you dare deceive me, once you step inside, you will never come out again."
"If Senior is uneasy, this junior can lead the way."
Old Man Black Corpse had secluded himself on Mount Tong for many years, yet his cautious nature had not diminished in the slightest. At this moment, Qin Xuan possessed scarcely any magic power, had lost his hundred-treasure pouch, and had no message talismans. His life and death lay within the turn of Feng Jiu's palm.
The only reason he kept the youth alive was the feeling that Geng Zhi's secrets had not yet been fully divulged.
Once they returned to Mount Tong and the sect master took action, guaranteed no secret could remain hidden.
Concealing a venomous, viper-like sneer, Feng Jiu weighed the iron plaque in his hand and carefully reviewed Qin Xuan's words from start to finish. Then, grabbing the youth by the shoulder, he plunged underground.
"Hm?!"
Feng Jiu was startled, and Qin Xuan was equally astonished.
No matter how they traversed the earth beneath, they could not find the tomb's entrance.
"What marvelous craftsmanship! It is the Juetian Sect's spirit-masking grand formation! There truly is treasure here!"
Feng Jiu had an eye for such things and was instantly overjoyed. Taking the iron plaque, he forced out a drop of blood essence and let it fall onto the surface. Relying on the connection forged by this drop of blood, he silently sensed his surroundings. Finally, after the span of a cup of tea, he gripped Qin Xuan and plunged headlong into the false tomb!
The vast, empty palace came into view once more.
Feng Jiu's gaze swept over the tomb, taking in the waterways, terrain, and dragon veins with complete clarity. In his heart, he had already formed a judgment about Qin Xuan's words.
Without needing Qin Xuan to walk ahead, the Xieling Great Elder leaned on his Black Snake Corpse Staff and strode into the depths of the tomb step by step.
Revisiting the familiar grounds, Qin Xuan followed obediently behind.
Before long, they arrived at the main hall and saw the ordinary-looking hanging scroll at the center.
Feng Jiu raised his staff and pointed at the painting. "Is this the treasure you spoke of?"
Qin Xuan nodded. "Geng Zhi once described it as a great fortuitous encounter. But I tried, and I could not take the painting away."
As Qin Xuan spoke, he walked toward the scroll, appearing as if he intended to help Feng Jiu retrieve it.
Feng Jiu frowned slightly, then smirked sinisterly and stepped in front of Qin Xuan. "No need for your hands. It is merely a painting; this old man will take it himself."
Qin Xuan followed behind him, suppressing the surge of emotion in his chest: 'You damned old bastard, you finally took the bait!'
Feng Jiu remained vigilant, keeping a close eye on Qin Xuan's footsteps at all times.
However, Qin Xuan showed not the slightest flaw.
When Feng Jiu looked back at the painting, he felt an inexplicable attraction, an irresistible urge to uncover its secrets.
At last, he reached the center of the hall, with Qin Xuan accompanying him right before the painting.
Suddenly, the scroll hanging in the hall unfurled on its own without any wind!
"Hm? Something is wrong!"
Suspicion flared in Old Man Black Corpse's mind as he sensed that something was amiss. He immediately moved to execute an escape technique.
Yet it was already too late...!
A formless, intangible force surged forth from the painting like an overwhelming tide, binding them both completely! Feng Jiu tried to lift the Black Snake Corpse Staff, only to discover that he could not channel it at all—he could not even twitch a single finger.
A wave of immense dread spread from the depths of his heart.
What... what was this!
Staring at the painting, the Xieling Great Elder circulated his magic power with frantic desperation, yet the harder he tried, the more terrified he became.
Useless! It was all useless!
Even the vast Gui Yin Corpse-Refining Divine Evil within his body had lost all efficacy.
Three centuries of cultivation seemed to vanish in an instant!
In his life, he had roamed Mount Tong unchallenged and slaughtered countless souls, yet never had he encountered something so horrifying.
How could this be possible?!
"Boy, what on earth is this?!"
Expending his soul strength, he sent a divine sense transmission toward Qin Xuan, but Qin Xuan had no ability to respond.
What astonished Feng Jiu even more was that the junior beside him suddenly moved. Forming a sword gesture with his fingers, Qin Xuan rolled over to the side of the hall.
Cold sweat beaded on Qin Xuan's forehead. This old monster was far too cunning, forcing him to stand beneath the painting alongside him.
He had been fraught with worry, fearing that his previous survival could not be repeated, especially since the sword talisman was no longer in his hands.
Yet as things stood now...
The female immortal in the painting seemed not to recognize the sword talisman, but only the sword gesture.
Ignoring the old scoundrel of the Xieling Sect, Qin Xuan bowed respectfully to the scroll and cried out mournfully, "Sword Immortal Sister, this disciple had no intention of offending you! This old demon drove me into a corner, leaving me no choice but to come here to catch a glimpse of your immortal countenance.
"If I have disturbed you, please do not blame me, Sword Immortal Sister!"
Regardless of whether the female immortal in the painting could hear him, Qin Xuan rattled off an apology first.
Hearing Qin Xuan's words, Feng Jiu still could not see any sword immortal, but he was certain that this painting was an extraordinary treasure!
His present predicament was perilous to the extreme.
After a flurry of deliberation, he sent another voice transmission with his soul: "Young friend, you are truly remarkable. This old man can swear an oath upon the Great Dao: if you let me leave, I will hold no grudges against you for what has transpired. I will even recommend you to enter the Juetian Sect to learn unimaginable arts."
Qin Xuan stepped a little farther away and countered, "Isn't Geng Zhi from the Juetian Sect?"
"He merely obtained some of the Juetian Sect's secrets and fled outside; he is being hunted down as we speak."
"What does this Juetian Sect actually do?"
The Xieling Great Elder explained, "The Juetian Sect operates in Zhongzhou, but they possess a powerful background in the Netherworld. They have plundered imperial tombs and excavated dragon mounds; their foundation is terrifyingly profound.
"Young friend, this old man cannot maintain this soul transmission for long. Save me first, and I will discuss it with you in detail!"
A sneer of derision surfaced on Qin Xuan's face. "What a joke. I should save you? What kind of sweet dream are you having, you old fossil? A dignified Core Formation cultivator, countered by a mere Qi Refining junior like me—if I were you, I would simply shatter my own Flowery Pool and die."
Feng Jiu barked in fury, "If I perish here, you will inevitably be targeted by the great powers of the Netherworld, and you will die an agonizing death!"
"Why don't you look in a mirror? You probably don't even believe the rubbish coming out of your own mouth. Besides, I am not afraid of whatever damned great powers you speak of. Even if they come, I'll see you dead first, you vile old fiend!"
"You—!"
Qin Xuan's face turned icy. "Coercing and threatening me the entire way was one thing, but daring to disturb the presence of my Sword Immortal Sister? Dying ten thousand times over wouldn't be enough for you!"
"What sword immortal?! That's utter bullshit!" Old Man Black Corpse raged. "Enlightened cultivators have never shown themselves since Chaotic Antiquity! Stop putting on airs! Release this old man quickly, and there might still be a way out for you...!"
After uttering those words, Feng Jiu realized he could no longer maintain even a soul transmission. An inexplicable feeling of emptiness washed over him, as though the entire world had faded into pale, soundless silence.
What... what was happening?
To his utter horror, the originally blurry painting in the center of the hall gradually became clear.
Within the painting appeared a woman clad in snow-white robes, holding a sword tip-down, her immortal grace beyond all description.
A fleeting glance from the corner of her eyes swept across.
The Xieling Great Elder's mind felt as if it were crushed by an immortal mountain. In an instant, his eyes clouded, and his divine soul plunged into total darkness. Yet amidst that boundless dark, the Xieling Great Elder caught sight of a speck of light.
That light grew brighter and brighter—a silent, soundless flash of sword light that shattered his divine soul, his dao flower, his evil qi, and the vast darkness all at once...!
Plunging into eternal oblivion, only a single thought echoed in his final moments:
"Could she... truly be an enlightened sword immortal...?"
Chapter 58