Collection Hiromi

Chapitre 31

Upon hearing what I said, the burly man suddenly realized, slapped his thigh, and exclaimed, "That's right! How come I didn't think of that? A word from you gentlemen is worth more than ten years of studying!"

The pheasant chuckled sinisterly, "Hehehe... Let's not talk about whether there is a Heavenly Dragon Treasure or not. Let's take a piece of wood first. If there really is no treasure or we can't find the treasure, we can take a few pieces of wood back and sell them to the Sword Saint to forge swords. We'll still make a fortune."

"Hahaha..." We chuckled wickedly, exchanged a glance, and understood each other perfectly.

Princess Jenny, watching us from a short distance away, said with a puzzled look, "What's wrong with them? Their laughter seems a bit strange."

The eldest brother shook his head without saying a word, sighing inwardly: It seems they've fallen into the same trap again.

Lucy, Lian, Sally, and Xin couldn't understand either, so they each shouldered their gear and prepared to set off.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (Side Story): The Dragon's Treasure - Chapter Fifty-Eight: Sword Heart

Chapter word count: 2301 Update time: 08-04-12 16:10

Princess Jenny saw that everyone had already shouldered their equipment and everything was ready, so she waved and called out, "Let's begin! Everyone follow behind." With that, she took the lead and walked ahead.

Following yesterday's arrangements, we looked out for each other. Princess Jenny led the way, with the leader assisting from the side. Me, Know-It-All, Meng Nan, Shan Ji, Sally, Xin, and others walked in the middle of the group, while Lucy was responsible for our safety and naturally joined us in the middle. Lian's job was mainly to bring up the rear. With that assignment completed, we began to move forward.

Of course, we couldn't walk in this terrifying Triassic period. Since the area was so vast and the vegetation so distinct, we each rode on a leopard and began our adventure. The leopards were extremely fast, agile, and possessed considerable attack power, so riding on one was relatively safe.

Princess Jenny explained that the reason they didn't use flying magic was because across the chasm lay a pristine ecosystem inhabited by wild beasts and birds that would have existed in the Triassic period. The area was also shrouded in darkness during the day, as if a large cloud had blocked out the forest, leaving it damp and dark. This terrain and environment were ideal for insects, so everyone carried insect repellent with them for immediate use. We were already applying the repellent to our bodies and legs, which wasn't a problem for us roughnecks, but Lucy frowned. Aside from the pungent smell, the repellent made her feel uncomfortable. Who dared disobey Princess Jenny's orders? Besides, it was a matter of life and death.

Speaking of Princess Jenny, she was the first to apply the medicine to her body and legs. It's surprising that such a noble princess would do something so bold. Judging from the situation, she must be away from home all year round. I wonder: could she also be in our business? Could she be a colleague?

I didn't dare hesitate. I remembered that strange red-threaded worm and that white spider; just thinking about them made me nauseous. I quickly rubbed it on myself. Speaking of the strange red-threaded worm, I subtly inquired about Lucy and the others' experience that day. Although I was a little nervous, I couldn't just say to their faces, "Wow... Lucy, you have a great figure." If I did, they'd probably beat me to a pulp.

Lucy just smiled. Seeing that I took the initiative to talk to her, she didn't notice my expression, so it seemed like there was no problem. I remembered what the courtesan once said about me having an additional function of love. It's better to stay away. If we really run into each other, that would be troublesome.

Although I had been awake for several days, I firmly believed in the dream and that it was definitely not as they described. I could feel the flow of internal energy within my body, traveling from the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian back to my chest, into my lungs and heart, and then flowing to the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian on my right hand. Strangely, the energy could not advance any further at this point, like seawater suddenly encountering an obstruction and surging with waves. I could only try to reverse and rush back several times, which made my chest ache, my face flushed, and my vision blurred. Lucy asked in surprise, "Are you feeling unwell? Why do you look so pale?"

I quickly lowered my head, took a few deep breaths to catch my breath, and said, "It's nothing, I just felt a little stuffy for a moment, so my face was a little hot, but I'm fine now."

Seeing my smile, Lucy's strange expression disappeared, and she started talking to me about the strange sights here. Just then, Pheasant rode up on a patterned leopard and greeted Lucy. I saw my chance, so I pretended to look left and right, slowing down and falling behind. Right now, there were too many things I didn't understand and couldn't figure out, so I started talking to Lian. Lian was a quiet person; perhaps he didn't have many friends, so he rarely spoke more than once a year, at least that's what I thought.

"Lian, have you ever heard of a skill that involves cultivating one's inner energy?"

Lian looked at me strangely. Although he didn't want to talk, he knew I had something to ask him when he saw me walking at the same level as him. He just didn't know what I would say. When I mentioned cultivating with Qi, Lian looked blank. I thought to myself: Just as I thought, even the boss doesn't know, let alone Lian.

"I've never heard of it. All I know is that the foundation of cultivation is demonic energy."

"What about cultivating with a sword?" I pressed on, and since Lian had finally shown interest and started talking, I wasn't about to let him shut up now.

Lian didn't look at me, but shook her head and said, "As far as I know, sword cultivation is the lowest of all cultivation methods. In the past few hundred years, not a single true swordsman has appeared. It can be said that sword cultivation has been abandoned by the world and has entered the bottom of the hierarchy. It has almost disappeared without a trace."

"Oh!" I think I understand now. No wonder the courtesan said that cultivating the spirit with qi would become one of the myths. Since it is a myth, no one can know the truth. It is just a legend. He should know something about the rampant demon sword!

Lian shook her head again and didn't say anything more.

I also felt that I wouldn't get any answers from asking. Since the Demon Blade was suppressed by the Great Luo Golden God, that was centuries ago. Perhaps the Demon Scripture and Holy Codex wouldn't even record it. Thinking about this, I felt much better. As the boss always said: "Since we're here, let's make the best of it. We'll talk about it when things get tough."

All I can talk about for now is other things, but I saw something strange. I remember that Lian only had a silver-white sword. How come the sword on her body has changed? Judging from the rough craftsmanship of the hilt, it can't be the original silver-iron product. Could it be made from the heart of the Sleepless Tree?

The Sleepless Tree, its heartwood entirely white, like snow-white jade, perfectly matched the hilt of the sword Lian carried. However, the scabbard remained unchanged. I suddenly recalled the square piece of wood in Shanji's equipment bag, and the massive tree that dozens of people would have to encircle. It seemed they must have taken action against it. I just didn't know how they managed to bring down such a large Sleepless Tree. It seemed only Lian's swordsmanship possessed such power. But upon closer reflection, if an iron sword could bring down the Sleepless Tree, wouldn't the heartwood be neither as hard nor as sharp as iron? I was completely baffled.

When the topic of strength, especially swordsmanship, came up, Lian frowned and began to talk big. His expression just now really startled me. It seems that Lian isn't silent; he's just only interested in strength and swordsmanship. For a swordsman, what could be more tempting than that?

Lian said, "Swords forged from silver and iron are unlikely to have any spirit, and are generally considered to be of a much lower level in the field of swordsmanship. The Sleepless Tree is different. It is a tree of life, absorbing the essence of the earth's veins and the sun and moon. It is a conscious entity. For a swordsman, the sword heart is a treasure that many people dream of."

"Kenshin?"

Lian smiled and said, "You don't understand. For a master, a duel doesn't involve weapons clashing; the outcome is decided in a single moment."

"Oh!" I understand now. I remember that the demon sword also has a soul. During the duel, my finger struck its chest. It was only because the difference in strength was so great that such a situation occurred.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (Side Story): The Dragon's Treasure - Chapter 59: The Forest of Hell

Chapter word count: 2227 Update time: 08-04-16 17:24

Kenshin must be similar to a sword spirit, right? Having come to this conclusion, I understand most of it now. But how do you control Kenshin and sword spirits? I remember clearly obtaining the demon sword, but unexpectedly, the sword spirit killed me. As for why I didn't die, I have no idea. If I have another chance, I must ask it clearly when we meet again.

Lian shook his head. He didn't know either; he'd probably only heard about it. Generally, those who possess a sword heart must have a relatively high level of power. Lian guessed, saying, "A sword heart should refer to the connection between a person and a sword, not power gained through a contract. So how is a sword heart cultivated? It should be when one's own abilities and cultivation reach a certain level, possessing a spiritual weapon of the same attribute, and connecting with it spiritually, thus generating a sword heart. And after that…"

Lian fell into deep thought but didn't continue the conversation for a long time. It seems that Lian has done a lot of research and has a good understanding of swordsmanship. If I'm not mistaken, sword heart and sword soul are actually the same thing. It's about learning by analogy. Even if you haven't eaten pork, you've at least seen pigs run.

Before our conversation was over, the leader yelled for everyone to stop. It turned out we had crossed the lawn and woods and arrived at the chasm that Princess Jenny had pointed out last night. I rode my leopard forward, looked down, and gasped. This chasm was really deep; I couldn't see the bottom. It was like a cliff, all dark and gloomy. If I fell in, it would probably be like falling from the sky to the ground.

The chasm stretched endlessly, dividing the entire valley in two. Strangely, just as the leader had said, the opposite valley was equally dark, even in the daytime. It seemed that although it wasn't dark enough to light torches, one's line of sight was no more than ten meters. Dark clouds filled the sky above the valley, like the prelude to an impending storm, making the scene look extremely eerie.

The chasm was about twenty meters wide, with perfectly smooth walls, almost as if it had been cut straight up and down. Suddenly, I remembered a scene I had seen in the courtesan's consciousness: flowers, playing the zither, drinking wine, and wielding a sword. I was stunned. Was this the mark left by the third cut of the Avici Hell, created by the demon himself? Although the years had passed, the mark before me had not been swallowed up by time. Recalling the third cut of the Avici Hell was truly terrifying.

"Tenglong, Tenglong, what are you doing? Everyone's gone, hurry up and catch up." The eldest brother kept urging him from the log bridge.

"Oh, coming right away." I snapped out of my daze and rode the patterned leopard onto the log bridge. The log bridge was actually just a single log across the two ends of the ditch. It seemed that the boss had already built the bridge using the Sleepless Tree before we arrived, which is why we could pass through without any obstacles.

I looked back at this paradise that once held so many memories for me, and silently prayed, "House Queen, may you have a safe journey to heaven. I will come back to see you."

A wave of emotion washed over me, and I felt a lump in my throat, as if I wanted to cry. I rode my leopard and shouted, then charged into the hellish forest without looking back to catch up with the group.

As soon as I entered the dim woods, I felt a chilly wind. Strangely, this place seemed different from the other side. Heaven was scorching hot during the day and cold at night, while Hell was cool during the day, making me feel goosebumps all over. I really wondered what it would be like at night.

Although it was dark, as I expected, the visibility was indeed only about ten meters. The environment here was completely different from the other side. This place was like a forest, completely chaotic and disorderly, and it was obvious that it was a place where wild animals often roamed.

The heartwood of the sleepless tree here is black, formed by huge branches that have been broken horizontally by some unknown force. The breaks are clearly visible. Strange? How could this be? The same valley, yet two completely opposite extremes arise from a chasm. How strange! Princess Jenny also looked puzzled. What's going on?

Since there was no road here, and apart from towering trees, the rest was all weeds, which were taller than a person and extremely sharp, it was a bit difficult for the leader to clear the way. If it were just the leader, Princess Jenny, Lian, Lucy, and the others, it would be much easier; they could simply use their flying magic to step on the tree branches. But at this moment, we had become a burden.

Even with the leader leading the way, they hadn't gone far before the three of them—Know-It-All, Mighty Man, and Chicken—had already been cut by the sharp grass blades, howling in pain. This couldn't go on, so the leader decided that they had to fly. It didn't matter if they moved slowly; the important thing was to avoid any casualties. So Princess Jenny took out a map and checked the direction. I never expected there to be a map from the Triassic period. Later, Chicken explained that the leader had scouted the way beforehand and then brought Princess Jenny in to draw the map. That's when I finally understood.

Before we could discuss the plan in detail, the leopard suddenly roared, and Princess Jenny's expression changed drastically. "Something's wrong! Quick, everyone take one person up the tree branch!"

No sooner said than done, the leader grabbed the muscular man and, with a single push, leaped onto a tree branch. Before we could even react, I felt someone grab my hand, and then my body was up in mid-air on the branch. Lian also grabbed the pheasant and the know-it-all. By the time I could see clearly, everyone was on the branch. In that instant, the grass, as tall as a person, moved. A sharp "crack," "crack," "crack" sound rang out, and all ten leopards on the ground were impaled by the grass. The know-it-all turned pale and exclaimed in shock, "This...this grass, it can actually move!"

Ten leopards were pierced by countless blades of grass. If it were a human, the scene would have been horrific. The leopards vanished instantly. Princess Jenny shouted, "Hurry up! Everyone, follow me and Instructor Henry. Don't get separated!"

I turned around and saw that it was Lucy who had helped me. Seeing her rosy face, I was shocked: Oh no, the power of love.

Just as I was about to tell her to let go, my vision blurred, and she was suddenly holding me in one arm, darting back and forth between the tree branches. I looked away and saw that Lucy had no other reaction except for a slight blush on her face. My tense heart finally calmed down. There was no time to think anymore. The grass blades under the tree attacked us like arrows. The sheer number of blades launched at the same time was an incredible display of power and force, like raindrops falling from the sky, leaving no gaps and making it impossible to dodge.

At this moment, the leader waved his hand, casting out a protective net-like shield that trapped everyone inside. The leader shouted, "Quick! Follow me and charge out!"

A rain of grass blades flew straight towards them. The leader was startled and dragged himself and the net away. The rain of grass blades only lasted for a moment before being blocked by the protective shield. The leader's speed was unimaginable. With a "whoosh," he was out of the range of the rain of grass blades.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (Side Story): The Dragon's Treasure of Heaven, Chapter Sixty: Death Valley

Chapter word count: 2721 Update time: 08-04-16 17:25

Leaving the territory of the Grass Leaf Sword Rain, ahead lay a swamp, extremely damp. The trees were withered and beginning to sink, and the stench of decay was palpable. Piles of animal bones lay on the rotting ground, indicating that they had died there.

The rain of blades of grass had already startled us, and before we could recover, another trap appeared before us. I glanced at the leader, who waved to signal everyone to be careful. Then we each ate a leaf or two that smelled of decay and continued on our way.

The swamp is quite wide, and flying over it is obviously much safer than before. As long as we don't fall in, we won't be in any danger. It seems like we've covered half the distance, but we still can't see the end. I remember the boss saying last night that the swamp is full of spiders, with webs in the sky and wells in the ground below, making it impossible for you to escape.

Everyone had been very careful, constantly looking around. Just then, a giant net was cast down from the sky. This white net was many times larger than the leader's net from before. The net was transparent, and if it weren't for the fact that white was more noticeable in the dim light, it probably wouldn't have been noticed even if it landed right above their heads. The pheasant shouted, "There's a net from the sky!"

I saw countless spiders crawling on the web. Weren't those white spiders? Seeing them reminded me of my encounter in the wisteria vine. These spiders have very hard teeth, and their saliva is a high-temperature source and highly venomous. Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine. I was afraid that people might not know the situation and would deal with them carelessly, so I reminded them: "These white spiders are highly venomous, are a high-temperature source species, and are afraid of water."

Upon hearing the fear of water, the leader immediately reacted, casting a spell with one hand. A faint blue light appeared, and ripples spread across the ground. "Water Release: Azure Dragon Ascends to Heaven!" A water dragon rose from the ground. The white spiders above, upon seeing the water, panicked as if they had seen death itself. The water dragon rose rapidly, breaking through the Heavenly Net, and water dripped down like raindrops. A series of cannon shots rang out in the sky. Without pausing, the leader shouted, "Go!" and flew ahead. It was better to leave this dangerous place quickly. "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" Several figures flashed by, speeding through the forest.

Just then, Xin screamed, startling us so much that we turned around immediately. We saw Xin hanging upside down, her feet entangled in a vine. The vine was actually blooming, and flowers began to crawl towards Xin one after another. Know-it-all turned pale with fright, and I felt a surge of fear too; I had never seen anything like it before. Suddenly, the eldest brother shouted, "Everyone be careful! That's a man-eating flower..."

Before the leader could finish speaking, Sally was also entangled in the vines. The flowers bloomed more and more, and she was about to die beneath them. Lucy threw me out, and before I could understand what was going on, I felt someone catch me. In the blink of an eye, Lucy had her harp in her hands, and a series of frenzied, heavy notes, completely devoid of gentleness and beauty, resonated deeply. "Shadow of the Harp!" A series of sonic blades flew out in the blink of an eye, shattering the flowers. Although the sonic blades were powerful, the flowers grew faster and faster. Lucy frowned and played a series of heavy notes. Several sonic blades struck the vines around Xin and Sally's ankles. The sound of breaking vines echoed, and Xin and Sally were about to fall into the swamp. With their weight, they would sink completely in the mud that had accumulated over centuries.

Lucy couldn't spare a moment, and the vines were still putting up a stubborn resistance, with their numbers increasing. Princess Jenny called for the giant bird in time, and just as Xin and Sally were about to fall into the mud, the giant bird swooped down and caught them. I patted my chest; the scene before me was terrifying. Then, a cry of alarm came from the giant bird, and two muddy hands reached out and grabbed the bird tightly. No matter how hard the bird flapped its wings, it couldn't move an inch. Instead, it was pulled down little by little by the muddy hands, bird and people alike.

The situation was extremely critical. Lian didn't care about anything else. She tossed Shanji and Baishitong into the air, and with a flash of her sword, the two muddy hands were severed and disappeared. Lian's hands instantly grabbed Shanji and Baishitong again. This series of actions only happened in an instant, but it made us hold our breath.

"What a fast sword!" I kept praising.

At this moment, Pheasant and Know-It-All looked like dead pigs. They were so scared that they almost wet themselves and couldn't utter a single word.

People were leading each other along; this couldn't go on. They had no choice but to take a gamble. Princess Jenny reached out and summoned all the large flying birds, shouting, "Everyone, get on the flying birds!"

A person and a bird flew through the hellish forest, with countless vines wrapping around them. Lucy played a soft zither tune, and the gentle moon shone brightly. The deathly silence of the forest was filled with the sound of strings. Before her was a world of ice flowers. I knew that Lucy had used the powerful zither technique, Ice Zither Blood, which had a wide-area destructive effect. However, this skill also had a self-inflicted damage effect.

As the final string section played, the hellish forest beside us transformed into a frozen world, with a breathtaking expanse of ice crystals as we looked back.

Princess Jenny waved her hand, and all the large birds landed on the ground. I quickly stepped forward, grabbed Lucy's hand, and asked with concern, "Lucy, are you alright?"

Lucy looked at me with her bright eyes and laughed, "It's okay. Look at you, you look so nervous, it's quite scary."

I realized my lapse in composure and quickly stopped. It seemed this time was different from the last. Could it be that Lucy's piano skills had improved even further? I tried to hide my embarrassment and looked around. Suddenly, the know-it-all exclaimed, "Oh my god... how can there be so many dead bones?"

Upon closer inspection, they found a large number of human bones on the ground. The area was shrouded in mist, and the mountain of bones was a truly horrifying sight. It was the first time that the pheasant had ever seen so many human bones, and he was terrified. He stammered, "Boss... we should get out of this hellhole quickly! If the zombies turn into zombies, we're doomed."

Upon hearing the word "zombie resurrection," the know-it-all turned ashen with fright. The leader stepped forward, picked up the skull, examined it, and asked, "Have you ever heard of dead people's bones turning into zombies?"

Yes! Corpse transformation should refer to corpses, at least that's the rumor in the martial arts world. I've never heard of dead people's bones turning into something. Thinking of this, I felt much calmer, but we still couldn't be careless. Meng Nan and Shan Ji, carrying their guns, followed the group into the pile of dead people's bones. Stepping on those bones that had weathered the years, there was a series of crisp cracking sounds. Bai Shi Tong put his hands together and kept muttering: "Dead people, don't blame me. I won't step on your bones. I'll burn more incense for you one day."

When the know-it-all stops nagging, it's fine, but once he starts, everyone gets a creepy feeling.

"Boss, I saw a huge cave entrance." Chicken had somehow appeared at the front and was shouting in a low voice. He looked as if he was afraid of disturbing some monster, but if you looked closely, you could see that Chicken's eyes were fixed on the skeletons on the ground, as if he was looking for something.

Sure enough, there was a wall of a mountain in front of them, with a large hole in the wall. It was pitch black inside and they couldn't see anything. The leader called on everyone to light torches and go inside. The hole was indeed very large, but when ten people lit torches together, it was like a big fireball, illuminating the inside of the hole. Looking into the depths, it seemed to be a passage.

There are many crater pits on the ground, which look like the remains of wild animals. They were not buried. Could it be a sky burial? Or are they the remains of animals that were eaten and left behind?

"Look, this canyon is called Death Valley. And those skeletons outside the cave that look so much like humans, they were orcs in their previous lives. No wonder they are so strong."

Princess Jenny's words puzzled me. How did she know? As the firelight illuminated the cave walls, many unknown symbols appeared. "What are these?" I asked.

The eldest brother exclaimed in surprise, "It's writing?"

"Yes, writing! Writing that predates even the earliest known script, oracle bone script."

The eldest brother pondered for a moment and then asked, "This is the first time I've seen this kind of writing. What does it say?"

When it came to words, everyone was completely baffled. It seemed that only Princess Jenny had a slight understanding. She looked very focused, and everyone was waiting for the answer.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (Side Story): The Dragon's Treasure - Chapter Sixty-One: The City of Death

Chapter word count: 2206 Update time: 08-04-21 17:27

After looking for a long time, Princess Jenny's expression changed several times, and it seemed that the situation was not good. The writing on the cave wall was already somewhat blurred and incomplete to read, and Princess Jenny was constantly deep in thought. None of us spoke, but raised our torches high, hoping to find more up there.

Princess Jenny nodded, pointed to the first row of symbols, and said, "Look, these horizontal strokes are even earlier than the earliest oracle bone script discovered by humans. We all know that oracle bone script appeared in the time of human ancestors, the ape-descent, while the marks left on the cave walls are Triassic script. It can be imagined that humans existed before the Jurassic period when dinosaurs ruled the world, although these humans were somewhat different from the apes of the ape-descent era."

I have absolutely no interest in this anthropological research. Pheasant, Manly Man, and Know-It-All are just like me, completely oblivious to all this. But if we don't move forward, with just our few broken guns, let alone get out, we'll probably be torn to pieces if there are any ferocious beasts or monsters inside.

Aside from us, they were quite interested. Our leader is very knowledgeable and talented, of course, he can't be compared to us. He wants to know about everything in the world, and we should support him. Just imagine that in the near future, when we go tomb raiding, at least our leader can explain things to us, such as whether there are any records of where the treasure is buried in these texts.

Lian and Lucy are just cultivators. As Princess Jenny's bodyguards, they must have witnessed and heard so much that they would be infected, just like a virus. Once infected, there is basically no cure.

As for Xin and Sally, needless to say, as personal maids, they need to know what their master likes and dislikes. Of course, according to historical research, servants without some skills and hobbies would probably be replaced after only three days by their master's side. What surprised me was that the two of them could actually fly. I remember their reaction in the Hell Forest earlier. I was overthinking it. I thought they were just ordinary people like us. It seems I underestimated the people of the Empire.

Although I wasn't interested, and seeing that we couldn't leave anytime soon, I decided to listen to what Princess Jenny was saying to pass the time. As I mentioned before, it was written language, but I didn't pay attention to what it was called. While I was listening, Princess Jenny was talking about the customs of the orcs, such as hunting together and sharing food. Judging from the traces of animal bones left behind, there probably wasn't a source of fire at that time. So, they regarded the fire of the Sleepless Tree as a kind of divine fire, and worshipped and offered sacrifices to it. It was a sacred place, so they didn't go into the other half of the valley.

Next, Princess Jenny fell silent, her brows furrowed as if deep in thought. Then, she took the torch and stepped forward to examine it closely, exclaiming in surprise, "This passage leads to the City of Death!"