The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang

Chapter 29

I recounted what I knew and heard, but these were all hearsay, and I didn't know if they were true or false. There are countless charlatans in the martial arts world who use their skills and appearance to swindle money, so it's fine not to believe the rumors.

The courtesan shook her head. "Tenglong, perhaps the words of fortune tellers are unreliable, but my star is the White Tiger."

"What?" Although I don't believe in fate, hearing it from the courtesan herself still startled me. The White Tiger Star is considered a very inauspicious and terrifying omen in folklore.

"Tenglong, your body was reforged by me. You are the first person who can live in the world without a soul, but unfortunately you are destined for the fate of Sirius."

Sirius's fate? I was a little skeptical. Besides, I didn't believe in fortune tellers. What did fate matter? My fate was in my own hands. Although I thought that way, I still wanted to know what Sirius's fate meant. "Courtesan, this is the first time I've heard of Sirius's fate. Can you explain it to me?"

The courtesan looked astonished, thinking I would be shocked. After hearing what I said, she realized I didn't understand what Sirius's fate was. Her eyes held a hint of resentment as she said, "Sirius's fate is that you cannot have any women you like, otherwise they will all die."

This time I heard it clearly: "Those destined to be alone are doomed to die." Could there really be such an ironclad rule? I was somewhat skeptical. "If that's true, then I can only change my fate."

"You're not angry with me?"

Why should I blame you?

"Tenglong, you don't know this, but Sirius's fate was caused by the White Tiger's collision, and your fate was also created by me. Facing you..."

I reached out and patted the courtesan on the shoulder, interrupting her. "I should be thanking you. How could I blame you? If you hadn't rebuilt my body, I would be dead long ago. Regardless of whether my future fate is real or not, at least you gave me life."

I said these words in the hope that she wouldn't blame herself. Actually, I've been an orphan since I was a child. Apart from the eldest brother, the know-it-all, and Princess Jenny and others, I don't have any other friends. This tomb raiding is fraught with danger. I just wanted to see what the Heavenly Dragon's treasure was all about. My feelings about life and friends have become somewhat blurred.

The courtesan knew that my words came from the heart and were not hypocritical at all, but she still shook her head and then pretended to be mysterious, "Tenglong, I have already opened up the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian for your rebuilt body. In a moment, I will teach you three sword techniques. From today onwards, you are no longer an ordinary person."

The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian? Three moves of swordsmanship? I was confused by the first few sentences, but I understood the last one. Could she be hiding some secret?

The courtesan knew I didn't believe her, perhaps because she thought I was slow-witted and dull. "The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian is where Qi flows. There are two variations: it moves like water in a boat, vast and boundless, endlessly generating life."

Seeing my blank expression, the courtesan sighed, "Tenglong, you want power, don't you?"

"How did you know?" Ever since I witnessed Lucy's battle with the Black Serpent, my pursuit of power has become even stronger, but I have never told anyone about it. How could she know?

The courtesan didn't answer my question, but simply pointed below. The sky was now clear, and there was a flowerbed. Wasn't that the very flowerbed I had visited before, with its endless blooms and breathtaking beauty? Suddenly, a zither melody began to play, as soothing and refreshing as flowing water. If I hadn't seen the woman's face, I would have thought the zither player was Lucy.

I was astonished to discover that the person playing the zither was actually the courtesan. Suddenly, a hearty and unrestrained laugh rang out. The newcomer was a middle-aged man with a burly, brute-like build. He was drinking wildly from a wine jar in one hand and wielding a large sword horizontally in the other. After drinking half a jar, he began to wield his sword, the sword flashing and the music flowing with the lyrics. Suddenly, the single sword in the brute's hand transformed into energy, causing a cacophony of ghostly cries and divine roars. It was as powerful as a swan, capable of splitting a mountain in two. The sword's shadow even seemed to cleave the earth in two! Just as I was still in shock, the zither music began to play wildly, surging and rising. The world darkened, and the sword seemed to create a black pulse. The brute shook the single sword in his hand, causing everything in the world to tremble. Even standing in the sky, I could feel the powerful, murderous aura rushing towards me. I opened my eyes wide, afraid of missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Then, the single sword fell, radiating light, and my vision went blank. I lost consciousness.

"Tenglong, Tenglong, wake up, wake up..." I vaguely heard someone calling me while I was unconscious, and it seemed like they were shaking me.

"What happened to me?" I slowly opened my eyes, my forehead covered in cold sweat. I only vaguely remembered seeing a pair of blood-red eyes, then a flash of white light, and then I passed out.

The courtesan kept patting her chest, seemingly out of breath. "You scared me half to death just now. I thought..." She took two deep breaths. "Luckily, you don't have a soul, otherwise even a celestial being couldn't save you."

I sat up straight and smiled. That last stab really brought me to the brink of death. If it weren't for the courtesan shaking me and calling out, I probably wouldn't have made it back. "Courtesan, what kind of sword technique did that demon use...?" As for the brute's identity, I didn't need to ask to know who he was. To be able to play the zither, drink wine, and wield a sword with the courtesan, I don't think there could be anyone else but him.

"The Three Knives of Avici Hell".

"Three Slashes of Avici Hell? What a strange name," I muttered to myself, still trembling with fear. I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. This swordsmanship was terrifying...

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (Side Story): The Dragon's Treasure, Chapter 52: The Demon Blade

Chapter word count: 2118 Update time: 08-04-08 17:01

"The Three Blades of Avici is the ultimate sword technique. If you can master it, ghosts will wail and gods will howl, and the heavens and earth will tremble. However, it is a very evil sword technique and it is easy to become possessed by demons."

The courtesan's candid confession revealed her deep attachment to this sword technique; perhaps it was the only thing that could make her feel its reality, allowing her to transfer it onto me and fulfill her final wish.

If a consciousness can make a dream so realistic and even kill, one can imagine how terrifying the power of those three strikes was. If I hadn't instinctively blocked it, I would have fallen to the ground by the black pulse of the second strike. By the third strike, the courtesan pulled me up, otherwise I would have died again.

Ultimate swordsmanship, absolute power, has its unspeakable secret: one can easily be controlled by it if you're not careful. Just now, I saw the demon's eyes turn red, a truly terrifying sight, like a devil.

Still reeling from the fear, the marks of the three cuts were deeply etched into my mind. If you ask what in this world can be remembered, it is experience, a life-or-death experience. It is almost impossible to forget it for the rest of your life.

"It's a pretty good power, but unfortunately I don't have magical energy, so I can't cultivate or use it." I concealed my desire for power, but my boss's words still hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew that without power, I could only strive to be a rich person.

The courtesan laughed, "You're right. You don't have demonic source power. For cultivators today, demonic source power is a symbol of their foundation. But you're a little different. You don't have a soul or a body, yet you can still retain consciousness. This shows that you are extraordinary."

I agree with what the courtesan said, but what does that prove? I've also wondered if it was just good luck that allowed me to stay in this world and meet the courtesan.

"All living beings cultivate by first using demonic energy, while immortal cultivators cultivate by first using true energy. This is an age-old law that cannot be changed. However, miracles can happen. Cultivating with qi will become one of the myths, and you happen to possess this ability."

"Cultivating with Qi?" I didn't understand what she was talking about at all; I was completely baffled.

The courtesan pondered for a moment, realizing that continuing like this wasn't a solution. How could he be so stupid? Was it a lack of comprehension, or was he simply terrified? However, his reaction upon seeing those three slashes demonstrated genius-level insight.

Little did she know that I had never even been to school. She tried to explain professional terminology to me, but it would take her a year and a half to make any sense. All I felt was a vague impulse, an instinctive reaction, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.

The courtesan, sensing my reaction, seemed to understand. She grabbed my hand and ran back. I was puzzled. Wasn't there light ahead? Why were we running towards darkness? I wanted to ask, but after running for a while, I was out of breath. I don't know how many turns we made or how long we ran, but suddenly I saw a bright red light in front of me. "What's that?"

A chill ran through him. "This...this is absolutely not a sight fit for the human world." Beneath him lay a massive crater, at least four or five hundred meters in circumference. The crater was ablaze with fiery red light, like a raging torrent of molten rock, churning and bubbling. Huge spherical bubbles spewed out like an exploding pot. Even more terrifying was the group of monstrous demons writhing in the scorching molten rock. Their bodies were dry and black, and they howled and struggled like zombies, their claws outstretched. The sight sent shivers down his spine.

If it weren't for the many strange and bizarre things I encountered along the way, I probably would have been scared to death on the spot! Among the swarms of zombies as numerous as ants, there were also many unknown monsters. Judging from their appearance, they didn't seem to be human demons. Could they be biological mutations? The temperature in Iwae River was unimaginable, yet they were still able to struggle within it. What on earth was going on?

A wave of heat blew in, making my breath quicken. A soft humming sound came from somewhere, as if something was vibrating. Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw a knife, a single blade standing in the center of the Yanjiang River. Zombies, demons, and other creatures were howling and screaming at it. Only when they noticed me and the courtesan did they turn around and bar their fangs at us.

The single-edged sword stood in the rocky river, half of its blade and hilt protruding, its surface a deep crimson, gleaming with a powerful, unyielding strength. The blade was about fifteen centimeters wide, its tip submerged in the river, obscuring its exact length. The blade itself remained unsharpened, giving it a mysterious and eerie quality. A colorful aura emanated from the sword, creating a half-meter radius around it that kept everything at bay. What was going on? It was truly sinister.

"This sword is called the Demon Sword; it is the host of death."

"A host of death?" I wonder why the courtesan brought me here. Just looking at the crater and the rocky river before me is breathtaking, as if we've arrived at the core of a volcano, where the intense heat and density could erupt at any moment. What's perplexing is that there are unknown creatures, zombies, and demons in the rocky river, and a single sword is stuck in it. A demonic sword? A host of death? Judging from the terrifying scene before me, it probably isn't a good sword either.

The courtesan pointed to the single-edged sword in the Yanjiang River, saying, "It is named the Demon Sword, but it is an ominous object. It is said that anyone who obtains this sword will have their fate devoured by it and become a deadly host in the refinement process. And these people in the pit are its former owners."

Sure enough, I wasn't wrong. It really is an evil knife. "How did it get here? Such an evil weapon should be destroyed."

"This blade possesses spirituality, yet it is supremely evil. No one knows its origin, until it was later suppressed here by the Great Golden God..."

Suddenly, I felt a powerful killing intent rushing towards me. I quickly reached out and pulled the courtesan into my arms. In a flash, a heat wave swept past like a tsunami, burning the dark space a deep red. We gasped. It was really too close. If we had been a step slower, we would probably have been reduced to ashes.

I felt her body go limp against me. Just now, when I hugged her, my hands landed right on her breasts. The feeling made me feel burning hot. For some reason, the courtesan leaned against me like a lamb, without any struggle. Her heavy breathing and rapid heartbeat accelerated my body temperature. A surge of heat rose in my lower abdomen, pressing between us. I let out a low growl, like winter snow meeting the sun. Just as I was about to thrust forward, a chilling murderous aura suddenly swept over me again. I instinctively dodged and regained my senses. I loosened my grip, and the courtesan collapsed limply. I quickly caught her.

"You damned devil, daring to take advantage of someone's unpreparedness. Just wait and see how I deal with you."

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (Extra Chapter): The Dragon's Treasure - Chapter 53 - Additional Functions

Chapter word count: 2691 Update time: 08-04-08 17:01

"Courtesan, what's wrong?" I supported her with both hands. Her face was flushed, her eyes were slightly closed, and she was panting heavily. She didn't seem to be injured or possessed. Why was her whole body so weak? She couldn't even stand up steadily.

The courtesan opened her slightly closed eyes, her chest heaving, her face growing increasingly red, and her expression showing obvious discomfort. Could it be due to lack of oxygen? Beside the rocky river with its intense heat, a normal person would have already collapsed from poisoning, yet she hadn't shown any signs of discomfort just now. Why was that?

The courtesan broke free of my hands and crawled desperately on the ground, as if she had seen a demon, constantly striving and resisting with all her might. Strange? Why was she doing this? Was I the demon? I stepped forward to help her up, but she panicked and cried out, "No, Tenglong, please don't come any closer."

I was startled by the courtesan's reaction as soon as I stretched out my hands. She was crying! What was wrong? I panicked. Had something happened? Had it reminded her of a painful memory? "Courtesan, don't cry. What's wrong?"

The courtesan lay on the ground, trying her best to calm herself down. Her eyes were filled with confusion, and the blush on her face gradually faded. Her lips were half-open and half-closed as she kept panting. She turned to look at me. At this moment, I was completely at a loss. What was wrong?

"Tenglong, don't come any closer." The courtesan took a deep breath, and I could only stand by, completely baffled by her strange expression and actions.

After a long while, the courtesan opened her eyes again and carefully examined my body. As her gaze moved, was there something wrong with me? Apart from being completely naked, there seemed to be nothing amiss. When her eyes were fixed on my lower abdomen, I felt incredibly embarrassed. The intense heat I had felt earlier had made me erect, and although I had regained my senses and calmed myself down, it was still stubbornly erect. I quickly turned my body to the side, and the courtesan seemed to notice something as well. Her already rosy face flushed even more.

The courtesan shifted her gaze, reaching out to smooth her slightly disheveled long hair. "Tenglong, when I was rebuilding your body, in order to give you the power to protect yourself, I secretly injected my essence, spirit, and energy into your body. I used the Qi-enhancing boat technique to open up the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian for you, giving you an additional function: resistance to falls and blows, and the ability for your body to repair itself. I never expected that my lewdness would unexpectedly grant your body another function."

"What function?" Seeing the courtesan's serious expression, it didn't seem like she was joking. She guessed that this function wasn't anything good, but it was better to have a clear understanding of her own abilities. Could it be related to what had just happened?

"Do you remember when I told you about Sirius's fate?"

As mentioned before, Sirius is born from the clash of the White Tiger and cannot have the woman he loves, otherwise he will kill her. This is Sirius's fate, destined to be lonely for life. I recounted what I had heard. Could this function be related to it?

The courtesan nodded. "Very good. You can memorize something after hearing it only once." Her eyes showed approval, and I figured she probably didn't ask that question just to praise me.

"Your body is different from ordinary people, especially women. As long as they are touched and approached, your body will exude a kind of seductive and bewitching love, making women fascinated and unable to extricate themselves. This is the function of love."

The function of love? I was a little confused. Was it a good thing or a bad thing? Suddenly I remembered the danger I had just encountered. As soon as I hugged the courtesan, I felt her body go limp and she had no ability to resist at all. Could it be that she was bewitched by this function of love?

"How could this be?" This unexpected function should be a great joy for a man, but I felt a little confused. If this is really the case, wouldn't I be in great danger?

The courtesan was unaware of my thoughts. Originally, this was a good thing, but it was due to the fate of Sirius. This ability went against fate and the ethics of heaven and earth. If it was not handled properly, I don't know how many innocent women would be implicated. I'm afraid the world would be plunged into another bloodbath. Thinking of the scene just now, I almost succumbed to the sea of desire. The courtesan had a hidden murderous intent and her eyes never left me.

I didn't know what the courtesan was thinking. The atmosphere seemed a bit off, tense and a little scary. "Since that's the case, it's an ominous thing in the world. What's the use of keeping it? Do it! I don't want to become a sinner for all time." After saying that, I closed my eyes.

The courtesan was startled, her face changing drastically. I had hit the nail on the head. She reached out to stab my heart, but seeing that I had closed my eyes and was waiting to die, and hadn't seen what had just happened, she changed her mind: So be it. He's willing to die rather than live a wretched life, and his sincerity comes from the heart. He doesn't seem like a hypocrite. It's fate. Everything depends on your destiny.

I had no idea that my sighs had saved my life. After a long silence, I opened my eyes. "Tenglong, your body has just been fully repaired and is currently in a high-performance, dangerous period. Therefore, you need to restrain yourself as much as possible. After the break-in period, I believe it will be of some help to you." The courtesan had already stood up. Without looking at me, she walked straight to the pit and stared at the demon sword stuck in the rocky river.

I stepped forward and, having learned from my previous experience, stopped two steps away from the courtesan. The murderous aura emanating from the demon sword could actually penetrate more than two hundred meters. Could it be that weapons with soul consciousness truly exist in this world?

"Tenglong, if you want power, you must obtain this sword."

I shook my head. This idea was utterly insane. Since this sword was called a demon sword and could devour its master's life, I was probably no exception. The evil spirits, zombies, and monsters in the pit were proof enough. Even if this sword possessed incredible power, it couldn't even cross the Yanjiang River in front of me, let alone the countless evil spirits, zombies, and monsters in the pit. How easy would it be to take this sword? Judging from the situation in the pit, these dead hosts must be protecting this sword.

When the courtesan saw me shake my head, she knew I was confused about the knife, so she didn't mention it again. "Tenglong, the Three Knives of Avici Hell were created by a demon. If you encounter him one day, you must be careful and never be careless."

"If I find the demon, how can I prove your identity?" Although I saw the demon's appearance in the courtesan's consciousness, he doesn't know me. How can he believe my one-sided story? It would be best to have a jade pendant or some kind of letter as a token. That way, he will understand naturally. Since he and the courtesan had feelings for each other first, as long as I can prove the courtesan's identity, I believe he will not make things difficult for me.

"The Three Slashes of Avici Hell: You must remember the names of these three slashes. The first slash is called 'Ghosts Cry and Gods Howl,' and the second slash is called 'Heaven Sorrows and Earth Suffers.' As long as you can use these three slashes, that will be the best proof."

What? Three strikes? That means we'll have to fight! I was taken aback, torn between my own and her lover's kindness. How could I possibly harm her? "Oh, why isn't there a name for the third strike?"

The courtesan, knowing my predicament, shook her head. "You can't beat him, so you don't need to worry. If you don't go all out, you'll be the one lying down."

In the courtesan's eyes I saw trust, that unwavering belief. Perhaps this is the true meaning of love. I smiled and said, "Not necessarily."

The courtesan looked at me with a complex expression in her eyes. "You and he are so alike." I didn't reply, but just stared at the demon sword. At that moment, a strange thought surged in my mind: defeat the demon and reunite him with the courtesan.

"The third cut of the Avici Pass has no name."

"No name?" I turned around in surprise. What was going on? If you could create this sword technique, you should be able to give it a name.

"The Three Slashes of Avici Blade is an impromptu sword technique. Back then, the demon, amidst the music and intoxication, casually unleashed three slashes, and afterwards did not remember them. The ultimate sword technique can only be broken through at the very tip of a line, but this sword intent is buried in my consciousness."

"If you don't remember, even if I use three strikes, how can you recognize me?" I was completely bewildered; wouldn't this be pointless?

The courtesan looked at me for a long time, sighed, and uttered a sentence that left me scratching my head: "Why must we have known each other before we meet?"

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (Side Story): The Dragon's Treasure - Chapter Fifty-Four: Sudden Change

Chapter word count: 2197 Update time: 08-04-08 17:01

What are these words? They sound a bit like poetry.

The courtesan didn't want to talk about that anymore and shifted the topic to power. "Tenglong, you must remember that the human body cultivates through Qi, which is divided into six meridians. I have already opened the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian for you. This is the gateway to Qi manifestation. As for the other five meridians, you can only rely on your own cultivation."

"Of the six meridians, I only know two: the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. One is Yin and the other is Yang, circulating left and right, complementing the formation of heaven and earth."

The topic of power is what interests me most. I remember every word the courtesan said. Sirius's fate and the demons both require absolute power to overcome. Thinking of Lucy and the boss, what other terrifying monsters are hidden in the Heavenly Dragon Treasure? What will tomorrow bring? All of this is unknown.

"Why are there only two meridians among the six meridians?" After hearing what the courtesan said, isn't this incomplete? An incomplete mental cultivation method, no matter how you cultivate it, will not be able to reach the ultimate state, let alone with so many meridians missing.

"The Six Meridians, literally speaking, should be divided into six types of meridians. I only know the two most basic ones: the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. If you can master these two meridians, you will be considered a first-rate master in this world. If you can obtain the help of this demonic sword, you will be even more powerful."

The courtesan looked at me, knew what I was thinking, and smiled, "Don't underestimate the fact that there are only two meridians in the six meridians. I have cultivated for countless years to achieve this. I'm afraid it's impossible for a normal human to cultivate even one meridian. But you are truly a miracle. You have opened up one meridian without any cultivation. You are unique in the world."

"Could it be that you also cultivate through Qi?" Only after asking this question did I realize my own foolishness. If the person who guides Qi is not cultivating through Qi, how could they possibly be doing the work for someone else?

The courtesan did not nod. "I used true energy to sustain my life, with demonic energy as my foundation, and absorbed the essence of the sun and moon to cultivate. As far as I know, pure energy practitioners are those who cultivate without true energy or demonic energy. Their power is astonishing. Moreover, you have an unusual physique and pure energy within you. Given time, your future is limitless."

All these polite words have left my mind in a mess. What I really want to know are some concrete things: "So, where are the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian located in the human body? How are they used and cultivated?"