“This… is an Ancient Emperor’s tomb?”
High above Five Phoenix, amidst drifting clouds, three figures hovered like immortals, robes fluttering.
Azure Spirit Holy Lord, clad in cyan, stared at the tomb above the vast sea—divine radiance piercing the heavens, light spilling in all directions. Shock filled his eyes.
“That is indeed the tomb of an Ancient Emperor…”
Tuoba Holy Lord, a miniature ferocious bird perched on his shoulder, suppressed his excitement and exhaled deeply.
He took out a token. The once-dull, unremarkable piece now blazed with boundless light—clearly reacting to the awakened Ancient Emperor’s tomb.
“I never imagined Young Master Lu would relocate this tomb to his newborn High Martial world… what a bold move.”
Tuoba had witnessed it with his own eyes and was filled with awe.
A tomb suspected to belong to an Ancient Emperor—relocated just like that…
Such methods were unfathomable.
This only strengthened Tuoba’s belief that a terrifying supreme being from the Void Heaven stood behind Lu.
Otherwise, how could anyone move a tomb of this magnitude?
“It really is an Emperor’s tomb?”
Azure Spirit Holy Lord was stunned.
Greed flashed in his eyes as he stared at the floating tomb, inhaling sharply.
Countless legends surrounded the Void Heaven. Though fallen, it had once been glorious beyond measure.
Qi Liujia watched the two Holy Lords calmly, saying nothing.
He did not warn them against entering.
Lu had not forbidden it.
Since Lu had instructed him to receive the Holy Lords and allowed them into Five Phoenix, there was no reason to bar them from the tomb.
Once inside Five Phoenix, hiding the tomb’s existence was impossible anyway.
And since Lu had not concealed it, he clearly had no intention of doing so.
Still, as Holy Lords of Derivation Seven sacred grounds, both managed to suppress their excitement.
They descended, appearing before the ice towers floating on the sea.
Inside, the imprisoned Holy Sons and Maidens looked dejected.
Suddenly, they sensed powerful auras outside and looked up—two figures!
“It’s Tuoba Holy Lord and Azure Spirit Holy Lord!”
Excitement surged within the towers. The Holy Lords had come to save them!
Tuoba Holy Lord stood with hands behind his back, brow furrowed.
His son was not among the prisoners.
Azure Spirit Holy Lord frowned as well.
“Holy Lords, save us!”
“This world is cruel and tyrannical—please destroy it!”
“Holy Lords, deliver us from this suffering!”
The Holy Sons and Maidens could no longer contain themselves. Imprisonment had nearly driven them mad.
Tuoba and Azure Spirit’s earlier escape had only deepened their despair.
Thump! Thump!
The Golden Boy and Jade Girl of Black-White Sacred Ground pressed their faces against the ice, crying for help.
Tuoba Holy Lord glanced at them and sighed.
The Black-White Holy Lord’s corpse still drifted coldly in the void.
Black-White Sacred Ground was truly pitiable.
But in Pingyang Heaven, competition was fierce. With their Holy Lord dead, the sacred ground would soon descend into chaos.
Tuoba and Azure Spirit ignored the prisoners’ pleas.
To them, these heirs were insignificant.
“Tuoba Holy Son and Azure Spirit Holy Son must have escaped the towers and entered the tomb.”
Qi Liujia raised a hand, tracing lingering formation fluctuations. His wrinkled face broke into a smile.
“That makes sense…”
Azure Spirit Holy Lord nodded with a smile.
He knew his son well.
“Let’s go. Since that’s the case, we’ll enter the tomb as well…”
The two Holy Lords turned to Qi Liujia.
They treated him with respect—because now, Qi Liujia represented Lu.
Lu had slain a Venerable from the High Martial Buddha Realm and nailed the Black-White Holy Lord to a dead continent. Such dominance shocked them.
They paid no further attention to the ice towers.
Their purpose had been to rescue their sons.
Since Tuoba and Azure Spirit had already escaped and entered the tomb, there was no need for further conflict.
Only those cautious enough reached the level of Holy Lord.
BOOM!
The three moved.
The next instant, waves surged across the sea.
They appeared before the ancient tomb.
The wordless stele towered into the clouds, radiating oppressive might.
Flowing light and rampant spiritual qi.
Ancient formation runes on the palace walls seemed to come alive.
The gates stood open. From the dark passage came faint weeping.
“The tomb of an Ancient Emperor…”
Tuoba Holy Lord stared into the darkness, a chill creeping over him.
An inexplicable sense of crisis gripped him.
The excitement that had drawn them here suddenly cooled.
They stood quietly outside, hesitating—should they step inside?
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
…
Northern County.
Another east wind last night; bells on the door curtain chimed softly.
Tantai Xuan unfolded the letter, his gaze sharpening.
“The ancient tomb has opened…”
He stood and paced the hall.
He had experienced too many immortal opportunities—from Wolong Ridge Secret Realm to this ancient tomb.
Every emergence of a ruin marked great fortune and the beginning of monumental change.
He paced anxiously.
Great Xuan had sent over a thousand Xuanwu Guards, Jiang Li, Lu Jiulian, and many geniuses from the Academy headquarters.
If they all perished inside…
Great Xuan would suffer a devastating blow.
Thus, he ordered constant monitoring of the tomb.
…
Within the ancient tomb.
First palace city.
Deathly silent, only the rhythmic breathing of cultivators remained.
The pink-clad skeleton sat in her rocking chair, turning her bony head. Empty sockets stared at the spiritual-qi clone of Lu.
Lu met her gaze calmly.
“Kekekeke…”
Suddenly—
The skeleton laughed.
Then she unsteadily stood, bones clacking.
She curtsied gracefully to Lu, like a refined lady.
Lu blinked, then nodded slightly.
As though two old friends had bumped into each other on the street and greeted one another.
The scene was bizarre and eerie.
Even Lu couldn’t help but feel it was strange.
Greeting a skeleton… quite the peculiar experience.
After the greeting—
Lu swept his gaze across the meditating cultivators below.
The skeleton seemed to understand. Like a shy maiden, she covered her mouth and giggled softly.
A wisp of ghostfire drifted from her eye socket.
It floated before Lu.
He paused, then let his primordial spirit engulf it.
BOOM!
His mind shook violently.
An ancient scripture unfurled in his thoughts like a heavenly scroll. Each golden character seemed alive, wriggling as though to etch itself into his soul.
But soon, Lu snapped out of the profound state. The scripture vanished from his mind.
“This is an ancient scripture? They’re all trying to comprehend it?”
Lu looked up at the skeleton.
She nodded, ghostfire flickering in her sockets. A sweet, girlish voice emerged.
“Young Master, rest assured—the first palace city is quite safe for natives of the Void Heaven…”
“It is also a screening for tomb entrants.”
“Those who comprehend the third layer of the ancient scripture gain the right to proceed deeper. Those who fail—natives of the Void Heaven lose only their memory of the scripture but may try again. Outsiders who fail… soul annihilation.”
The skeleton explained.
Lu leaned back in his Thousand Blades Chair, tapping the armrest lightly.
“However, even natives who choose to go further may die.”
She added.
“Who created this ancient scripture?”
Lu asked.
“The General.”
The ghostfire danced as though smiling.
“So this isn’t an Emperor’s tomb?”
Lu raised a brow, curious.
“An Emperor’s tomb?”
“If an Ancient Emperor’s tomb truly appeared, it would shake all Nine Heavens. Supremes would descend, ancient orthodoxies that have endured since primordial times would empty their vaults.”
“It would not be this quiet—only attracting small fry.”
The skeleton said.
As expected—not an Emperor’s tomb. Lu had suspected as much and was not surprised.
He found this skeleton—who answered every question—rather interesting.
“So this is a General’s tomb?”
Lu asked.
The skeleton curtsied again.
“Who is the General?”
This time, she remained bowed and silent.
After a moment, she straightened atop the palace tower and gestured invitingly.
“Young Master, the General requests your presence.”
Her eye sockets flickered.
Lu’s eyelid twitched.
Why did that sound so wrong?
Creak…
The gates beneath the first palace city rumbled open.
A terrifying aura surged forth—like an ancient battlefield manifesting before him.
Lu narrowed his eyes.
His spiritual-qi clone moved unhurriedly. The wheels of the Thousand Blades Chair rolled over dusty ground, kicking up particles sealed for countless ages.
He passed through the first palace city into the next.
Atop the tower, the pink-clad skeleton curtsied once more.
Then the gates closed, separating her from Lu.
Between the second palace cities lay a gray, desolate ancient battlefield.
Broken halberds, shattered armor, the bones of strange beasts…
Heavy dust rolled across the cold earth…
As though ancient events lay sealed within.
Lu sat in his Thousand Blades Chair, white robes stark against the bleak battlefield.
Suddenly—
Amidst the rolling dust,
Three figures stood.
Closer inspection revealed three more skeletons—though not mere bones. Dry, withered skin clung to them.
Yet within their frames, radiant energy surged.
They wore different attire: one in war armor, one in commoner clothes, one in daoist robes.
They bowed respectfully to Lu.
Then, as though guiding him, they led the way forward.
Dust rolled across the desolate battlefield.
The tracks left by the wheelchair were slowly buried once more.
As they proceeded—
Killing cries gradually filled Lu’s ears.
…
Creak… creak…
The sound of the wheelchair suddenly rang in Overlord’s ears.
He opened his eyes, light exploding from them, breathing ragged.
Suddenly, the pink skeleton appeared beside him.
Her hollow sockets stared straight at him.
“You have comprehended the third layer of the ancient scripture. You may proceed.”
Ghostfire danced in her eyes.
The next instant, the palace gates flew open.
A tremendous suction force erupted, irresistibly pulling Overlord inside.
His treatment was worlds apart from Lu’s.
Not just Overlord.
One after another, figures awoke.
Some had reached the third layer; some had not.
Those who had were sucked deeper like Overlord.
Those who failed felt dizzy. When they regained clarity, they found themselves outside the tomb on the sea, all memory of the scripture wiped clean.
The expelled cultivators varied in strength—from Golden Core to Nascent Soul, even some who had entered Yin Spirit realm.
Ordinary cultivators and former Human List prodigies alike.
Zhong Nan stood stunned, unable to believe he had been eliminated.
He clutched his head in pain—what was that ancient scripture again?
He could remember nothing.
The expelled were unwilling.
They erupted with aura, churning the sea, and charged back toward the tomb.
Yet this time—
As soon as they entered the dark passage,
Countless yin spirit soldiers charged forth.
Unable to dodge or resist, the cultivators were trampled into bloody paste.
Outside the tomb—
Tuoba and Azure Spirit Holy Lords’ expressions darkened.
Qi Liujia’s wrinkled face twitched.
As expected—tombs from the primordial era were filled with unknown dangers.
…
Outside the Void Heaven.
The Northern Palace Holy Lord, carrying his bronze warship, had fled far.
He exhaled deeply.
Looking back, his gaze seemed to pierce the void, seeing the thick scent of blood beyond Five Phoenix and the Black-White Holy Lord nailed to a dead continent.
That guy… truly pitiful.
The Northern Palace Holy Lord’s mouth twitched.
Good thing he had been prepared and ran fast enough.
That white-robed youth was like a demon god—special physique overwhelmingly powerful, obliterating his body with one punch.
He never wanted to meet that monster again.
“The Void Heaven, silent for so long, is about to cause a storm.”
“Pingyang Heaven, bordering it, will surely be shaken.”
Taking a deep breath, the Northern Palace Holy Lord’s eyes flickered as he calculated.
The tomb’s appearance, the birth of a High Martial world, the mysterious white-robed youth…
Everything carried chilling implications.
“Could it be… the Void Heaven, dormant for eons, is about to make its move?”
His body trembled slightly.
Then, as if remembering something, his expression turned conflicted.
“The white-robed youth appeared in Five Phoenix… does that mean the Ancient Emperor’s tomb is there too?”
His brows furrowed.
The possibility seemed high.
“Should I spread the news? Let some Derivation Nine or Eight Holy Lords from Pingyang Heaven test the waters?”
He sat back on his warship, lost in thought.
After a long while, he shook his head and dismissed the idea.
“No… better not provoke this world for now.”
“The Void Heaven is no kind place. In the primordial era, it was a meat grinder—even Venerables were cannon fodder…”
“Stay back. Observe for now…”
“Besides, that youth slew a Venerable from the Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm. A Derivation Six High Martial—they care about face above all. They won’t let this go. Better not get caught in the storm…”
The Northern Palace Holy Lord exhaled.
Though unwilling, survival sometimes required caution at every step.
He turned to leave with his warship.
Yet suddenly—
His body stiffened.
Before him, a golden lotus bloomed.
Buddha-light shone, Buddhist chants resounded.
A powerful aura spread, making him freeze, pupils contracting.
Far away, a golden lotus platform spun.
Atop it sat a plump, smiling ancient Buddha, speeding toward him.
Behind him followed novice monks, each carrying a tray atop their heads filled with treasures and radiating rich vitality.
This…
Experts from the Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm—led by a Tribulation Realm Venerable of terrifying might!
The Northern Palace Holy Lord’s mouth twitched.
Speak of the devil.
Their efficiency… was frightening.
One Venerable dead, and another already coming for revenge?
No wonder people said: in Pingyang Heaven, you can offend anyone except the Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm.
The smiling Buddha seated alone on the lotus saw him.
His smile widened.
“Northern Palace Holy Lord, long time no see.”
The ancient Buddha said.
The Northern Palace Holy Lord hurriedly stood on his warship and bowed slightly.
“Northern Palace Holy Lord, returning from the Void Heaven?”
The smiling Buddha asked, looking innocent and amiable—yet it made the Holy Lord’s heart pound.
He wanted to deny it, but the Buddha’s deep eyes left him smiling bitterly.
“I greet the Venerable. Indeed, I have just returned from the Void Heaven.”
“Oh?”
The smiling Buddha’s grin grew even wider.
“This monk received a Buddhist decree and is heading to the Void Heaven. Since Holy Lord happens to be coming from there, shall we travel together?”
The Northern Palace Holy Lord’s cheek twitched.
Could he say no?
He opened his mouth—
But the smiling Buddha was already aboard his warship.
Helpless, he could only steer toward the Void Heaven.
Inwardly, he wailed—this bald donkey was hijacking him!
“Venerable, may I ask the purpose of this trip to the Void Heaven?”
He asked carefully after a deep breath.
If this Venerable was here for revenge, he would abandon ship and flee without a word.
“I heard a new High Martial world has been born in the Void Heaven.”
“The Great Venerable said a newborn High Martial is a joyous occasion. He issued a decree for this monk to bring gifts and offer congratulations.”
The smiling Buddha chuckled.
The tense Northern Palace Holy Lord froze.
He stared blankly, doubting his ears.
Bring gifts… to congratulate?
After losing a Venerable, they were sending lavish gifts to celebrate?
This was completely unlike the Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm’s vengeful style!
The Northern Palace Holy Lord grew even more uneasy.
