"I calculated it!" Jiang Liu said shamelessly, "Don't worry, if I tell a third person, may I be struck by lightning..."
"Hehe... You know such a big secret of mine, do you think I'd let you off the hook?"
Jiang Liu immediately sensed that the fat Taoist priest, who had shown no killing intent, was now radiating an overwhelming killing intent.
Damn it, you've pulled out the tiger's whiskers!
Immediately, the hairs on Jiang Liu's body stood on end, and he said urgently in a hard voice, "I know where the other half is!"
"I also know that it's in the hands of Tu Tian, the seventh greatest bandit in the Northern Region..."
"...The tomb of the Demon Emperor is about to be revealed. I know where the last Demon Emperor of the Eastern Wilderness is buried!"
Duan De was stunned for a moment. Jiang Liu immediately noticed that the fat Taoist's breathing had become more rapid, his fingers trembled involuntarily a few times, and he swallowed hard.
"Hey! Brother, I was just kidding... I've already converted the evil spirits inside this Yin True Water, so you can use it without worry... Haha!" At the same time, he snatched the small black bottle from Jiang Liu's hand and then forced it back into Jiang Liu's hand.
Then he looked at Jiang Liu with a smile, waiting for him to speak.
"Brother Duan, don't worry, I won't lie to you. I just did some calculations, and it's estimated that the tomb will be unearthed in more than three months. Although I've figured out a thing or two—that there are treasures inside—it's not very detailed. Brother Duan, could you tell me about it?"
"Aren't you the diviner Zhou Tian? Can't you figure it out?"
"I can get a general idea, but I can't calculate every single treasure!"
"Okay! Let me tell you..."
It turns out that countless years ago, the last Great Emperor of the Eastern Wilderness Demon Clan achieved unparalleled success, uniting the demon race that had been divided for tens of thousands of years, posing a great threat to the human race of the Eastern Wilderness. One of the Eastern Wilderness's most precious treasures was lost at that time, reportedly stolen by the Demon Emperor. The renowned Immortal Scripture, which shook the Eastern Wilderness, was also dismantled at that time, losing a crucial volume.
"...Later generations have presented evidence suggesting that everything was orchestrated by that demon emperor. It seems the most precious treasure of the Eastern Wilderness, and the most crucial scroll, are both in the demon emperor's tomb! Don't try to fool me, kid..."
Jiang Liu's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Brother Duan, I would never lie to you! You know about Lingxu Cave Heaven, right?"
“Lingxu Grotto-Heaven? That’s one of the six great grotto-heavens of the Yan Kingdom in the Eastern Wilderness. So, is the Demon Emperor’s Tomb related to them?”
"Let's go to Lingxu Cave Heaven first, you'll see when we get there! Brother Duan, you're eating meat, but you have to give your brother a sip of soup too!"
"Don't worry, after we get the treasure, I'll let you choose one after I've finished picking!" Duan De said shamelessly.
Jiang Liu laughed and said, "How about I bestow upon you a scroll of unimportant Daoist techniques, brother? There are still a few months left. If I improve my strength, I can lend you a hand."
"Daoist techniques? Fine, you've already reached the Divine Spring, I'll give you a scroll of the Divine Bridge cultivation method! This is hailed as the strongest basic method in the world..." (Three thousand words omitted here) The unscrupulous Daoist then produced a tattered book.
Chapter 311 Lingxu Cave Heaven
Countless ages ago, the site of Lingxu Cave Heaven was a wasteland. After being cleared away by later generations, it became a blessed land. It can be said that Lingxu Cave Heaven has a long history; if we trace its origins back, this ancient land can be traced back to the prehistoric era.
At this moment, Jiang Liu and his companion had already ventured deep into the endless mountains behind Lingxu Cave.
"Are you sure this is the burial place of the Azure Emperor? This mountain has a certain charm, but to call it the tomb of a great emperor is a long way off!"
Duan De's expertise in geomancy and feng shui is unfathomable. He said that this place does not have the aura of an emperor's burial site, and there is a reason for that.
Jiang Liu looked around. Ancient trees reached the sky, and great mountains and rivers stretched across the landscape. "It's still early! If we could really see the flaws in the mountain formations, then we wouldn't be the only Qing Emperor who proved himself to become an emperor in the post-desolate ancient era."
"That's true. You calculated when the Demon Emperor's Tomb will appear?" After spending several days together, Duan De began to believe Jiang Liu's boastful and exaggerated divination skills.
Whether you believe it or not, you have to believe it! Many of his secrets were revealed by him, making the unscrupulous Taoist feel that Jiang Liu was about to see through him.
"It'll be soon! Sensing when that active volcano will erupt will mark the birth of the Emperor's Tomb!" Jiang Liu pointed to the mountains ahead and said.
The fat Taoist priest gazed into the distance, frowned, and pondered for a long time before saying, "I just used my spiritual eyes to observe that mountain range, and it seems to be quite mysterious. As for the volcanic eruption, we'll only know once we get there! So, let's hurry! Once we pinpoint the location, even if the volcano hasn't erupted yet, I have ways to get in."
Given Duan De's methods, Jiang Liu believed that he might actually be able to sneak into the Demon Emperor's tomb ahead of time.
This primeval ruin is extremely vast and boundless. Lingxu Cave Heaven is only a part of it, and there is still a very large area that has not been cleared.
Walking on these ruins, one can still see some broken walls and remnants among the ancient trees, but they have long since decayed and their origins are unknown. Only the remaining rubble and bricks indicate that this place was once extremely prosperous.
This ruin is now covered by ancient trees, and various rare birds and animals frequently appear there, along with many precious medicinal herbs. Therefore, every year the elders of Lingxu Cave Heaven lead their disciples there for training, which is not only a form of tempering but also broadens the disciples' horizons.
The two did not fly on rainbows, but instead traversed the mountains and forests on foot for secrecy, being extremely cautious. Especially as they ventured deeper, the stronger the savage beasts and ferocious birds that inhabited the area became, making concealment increasingly difficult. Fortunately, the unscrupulous Taoist priest was quite capable, employing a variety of methods to conceal his aura and create illusions, all of which were supreme secret techniques for swindling, deception, and robbery.
"Wait a minute, I'm going to pick that flower!" Duan De said with a smile as he walked towards a dark cave.
Jiang Liu gave a wry smile. This guy wanted to pocket any treasure he saw, leaving nothing behind wherever he went—truly a master skinflint like Zhou Bapi from the novel "Covering the Sky." At the dark cave entrance stood three strange plants, each about the size of a palm. Their stems were snow-white as jade, translucent and crystalline, resembling three small white snakes standing upright. Several white jade leaves hung from them, and at the very top was a radiant white magnolia blossom.
The three plants were peculiar, but clearly extraordinary; they shimmered with a subtle glow, and a faint fragrance wafted on the breeze.
Jiang Liu thought for a moment, then stopped the fat Taoist priest, saying, "Old Duan, don't let a small thing ruin the big picture! We're here to retrieve a valuable treasure; it's best not to leave any openings..."
"Never mind, this 'Jade Snake Orchid' isn't mature yet! We'll dig it up when it's ripe!"
Having traversed several mountains and crossed several rivers, the ancient trees have gradually become scarce, while the dilapidated ancient buildings have become more and more numerous, and the spiritual energy has become increasingly rich, exuding a vibrant vitality, making it even more like a treasure land than the Spirit Ruins Grotto Heaven.
"Watch out! There's a powerful demon ahead!"
"I knew it. If you hadn't noticed, I was ready to kill you!"
Duan De used some kind of supernatural power to envelop himself and Jiang Liu. Then, a centipede with silver wings appeared in their sight. It was as thick as an arm and two meters long. Its whole body was shiny, as if it were cast from silver. It lay quietly among the ruins.
Duan Decai breathed a slight sigh of relief after passing through the centipede's territory.
"Hurry up and leave. This area is teeming with powerful demons. If you lure out one, you'll find a whole horde..."
Along the way, Jiang Liu saw many powerful monsters. There were large birds with arcs of electricity soaring in the sky; there were ferocious beasts with lion heads and covered with blue scales, standing more than ten meters tall, like small mountains in the ruins.
Deep within the ruins, the ancient buildings are densely packed together. Although they have all collapsed and turned into ruins, one can still imagine their former grandeur.
Finally, the two silently entered their destination, where a volcano stood amidst an endless cluster of ancient buildings. Although there were no towering flames or lava in sight, a plume of thick smoke billowed from the crater.
Duan De stood at the crater, his eyes flashing with light. After a long while, he excitedly said, "This is interesting. Now I'm convinced. This place really might be the tomb of an emperor. Jiang Liu, can you figure anything else out?"
Jiang Liu counted on his fingers, then looked around mysteriously and said, "Old Duan, tombs are divided into yin and yang!"
Duan De's expression changed several times after hearing Jiang Liu's words.
He then searched the entire mountain until he saw a deep pool, at which point he froze. After a fierce internal struggle, he finally revealed a look of melancholy and said, "This Yin Tomb is a place of certain death! Unless there is a supreme treasure of the Eastern Wilderness human race, even if an unparalleled expert can break the deadly trap, they cannot hold back the Yin Tomb. It will rush into the Eastern Wilderness and disappear without a trace, like a dragon returning to the sea. As for the Yang Tomb, it must be a flaw deliberately left by the Demon Emperor, leaving the supreme treasure of the demon race and his source of power to his descendants. This is his resting place, and he will not allow outsiders to disturb it. Exposing the Yang Tomb is to cover up the Yin Tomb! Perhaps there are other wonderful uses as well. Yin and Yang, embracing the Tai Chi, are mysterious and profound."
"Is your can lid usable? Why don't we go down and take a look?" Jiang Liu suggested.
"I can't hold on. My strength is still too weak; I can't maintain this for more than a few seconds. Oh, you're confident you can break this sure-kill trap?"
Jiang Liu smiled mysteriously and changed the subject, saying, "Are you sure you can get into the Yang Tomb now? If not, once the volcano erupts and washes the demon tomb out, it will definitely attract the attention of all forces in the Eastern Wilderness and even the entire continent. At that time, you might not even be able to get a sip of soup!"
Duan De snorted coldly. In response to Jiang Liu's doubts about his tomb raiding skills, he immediately said, "It's just the Demon Emperor's tomb. It's no challenge for me. However, I need time. Can you calculate how much time I have left?"
"More than three months!"
That's enough!
The two dived back into the crater, breaking through the outer layer of magma. Duan De was about to crawl into the magma when he saw Jiang Liu following him and asked in surprise, "With your strength, can you withstand the high temperature of the magma?"
"Old Duan! You go first, I'll follow you!"
"You're not pretending to be weak, are you? The more I look at you, the more mysterious you seem... And, in just a few days, you've already built a divine bridge. You're not really some old monster reincarnated, are you?" Duan De stared wide-eyed at Jiang Liu, his eyes shooting out two beams of light as he tried to see through Jiang Liu, but how could he see through him?
Jiang Liu pointed to the fiery red magma layer below and said, "Let's cooperate! I'll provide the key information; you can't expect me to get nothing, can you? If there's any real treasure, you can choose first. Besides, if we cooperate successfully once, I can take you to gamble on stones in the future! Maybe we'll even cut out a monkey!"
"You... what have you figured out this time? Gambling on stones, you're going to the Sacred Stone Market?" The fat Taoist's eyes lit up and he laughed, "Brother Jiang, why are you following me? Be careful if there's any danger!"
Chapter 312 The Demon Emperor's Tomb
This wasn't Jiang Liu's first time entering a volcanic lava field; it was just a sauna for him!
The unscrupulous fat Taoist priest had many treasures. A round, bead-shaped magical artifact emitted a white light that enveloped the two of them, blocking the lava and allowing only a wisp of heat to pass through.
After venturing into the depths of the volcano for an unknown distance, Duan De's face finally lit up with ecstasy, for he witnessed an incredible sight: as he descended deeper into the boiling magma, a magnificent ancient palace, its entire body shimmering with crystal, appeared within the volcanic lava, floating and sinking.
"The Demon Emperor's tomb has finally been found... Hahahaha..."
"The problem now is how we get in. Besides, I think your treasure is about to give out!" Jiang Liu looked at the light shield that was covering the outside, which had already developed cracks, and strands of dark red magma had begun to seep into it.
Several divine runes immediately shot out from Duan De's body, stabilizing the cracks. He said, "Let me think... If we force our way in, it will definitely cause anomalies and attract attention. Therefore, we can only rely on strategy to break the formation set up by the Great Emperor..."
"Thump!"
A sound like a heart pounding violently rang out, emanating from the ancient palace that had been submerged in the lava. This muffled heartbeat startled Duan De.
The ancient palace shone brightly and was crystal clear amidst the lava, exuding an aura of antiquity, while divine rays of light swirled around it.
"Could it be that the Demon Emperor is still alive? This is impossible... How could this be!"
"Don't overthink it, just open this ancient hall and see for yourself."
Duan De shook his head, his brows furrowed, and said in a deep voice, "You don't understand. The Emperor's tomb not only holds great danger, but also all sorts of ominous signs. I'm here to steal treasures, not to die. How can I enter so easily without understanding the situation..."
Jiang Liu rolled his eyes. Although he had been encouraging him, he knew he absolutely could not approach this ancient palace lightly. He was well aware of the immense danger and peril within. Even if he came in his true form, he wouldn't dare venture deep inside.
However, being a possessed soul, he was unafraid of death. That's why, after encountering the unscrupulous Duan De, he used a calculated scheme to lure him into this place and seize the Azure Emperor's treasure.
For Duan De, the Emperor's tomb was an irresistible temptation.
The only way to break the seal on the Demon Emperor's tomb is through Duan De.
Jiang Liu then casually closed his eyes, sat cross-legged in the lava, and began to cultivate.
Facing the Emperor's mausoleum, facing the Emperor's supreme treasure he was about to possess, deep within the magma, in such a perilous place, he actually had the mind to cultivate. Seeing Jiang Liu's state, Duan De was once again certain that Jiang Liu must be an old monster who had cultivated for countless years and reincarnated to cultivate again.
At this moment, Jiang Liu was focused on cultivation, constructing the divine bridge, and searching for his own other shore. Strength is fundamental; otherwise, he would only be working for someone else's benefit.
The "Divine Bridge" cultivation method that Duan De gave him was indeed a genuine text, though not complete, but it was sufficient for Jiang Liu's current cultivation. The profound techniques recorded within possessed an indomitable spirit; even amidst boundless suffering, there was no need to turn back, but rather to break through the constraints with one's own powerful strength.
In order to reach the so-called other shore in the "Covering the Sky" cultivation system, cultivators need to transform their physical bodies and generate a divine vein in the sea of suffering to help them break through the obstacles in order to reach the other side of the sea of suffering.
this
Originally, it was an arduous and lengthy process, step by step, allowing the Sea of Wheels to sublimate, forming the Divine Vein of Heaven and Earth, releasing its endless potential, and reaching the third realm of the Sea of Wheels, "Divine Bridge".
But for Jiang Liu, this divine bridge was far too simple. The path of the human immortals' acupoints in the "Yang Shen" world seemed to have some commonalities. Therefore, his cultivation of the divine bridge progressed by leaps and bounds.
"The next step is to see through the illusions and fog, and continue to search for one's own other shore."
In this process, not only must the body transform, but the spirit must also be sublimated. The spirit and the body become one, breaking through the shackles and transcending the self, so as to return to the source, find the root, and the divine bridge arrives like a rainbow, successfully crossing the sea of suffering. This is the fourth realm of the Wheel of Life, "the other shore".
"It's a pity I don't have the cultivation method for the other shore, otherwise I could have broken through in one fell swoop..."
Jiang Liu slowly opened his eyes and saw Duan De bent over, lying in front of the ancient hall, studying something.
Within the volcanic lava, one can clearly see that the entire ancient palace was forged from five-colored divine jade, as if it had broken through time and space from the ancient past, giving one a sense of the sedimentation of time and the aura of history.