Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: Inside the Tomb of the True King
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After Chen Shi and Li Tianqing left, Qing Province was in chaos for a while. Some people took advantage of the disorder to play tyrant, bullying men and women, and seizing land. But soon, someone dressed as a Red Horse Bandit killed them.
After that, stories of the Red Horse Bandits spread throughout Qing Province. Whether in the cities or the wilderness, everyone was talking about the Red Horse Bandits, saying they had appeared somewhere and killed some local bully.
For a time, Qing Province actually settled down.
On the second day of the New Year, the Li family's envoy arrived in Qing Province. He discovered that the provincial governor, salt commissioner, and garrison commander had all been killed, and the government offices burned, yet the common folk were living peacefully—better off than when those officials were around.
The envoy investigated and quickly concluded that Li Tianqing and Chen Shi were the Red Horse Bandits.
He immediately activated a Thousand-Li Sound Transmission Talisman to contact the Li family in Quan Province.
"Li Tianqing and Chen Shi have destroyed our forces in Qing Province. The people's hearts have turned; it will be hard to continue planting spirit herbs.
If Li Tianqing returns, capture him at once!"
"Li Tianqing?"
The Li family in Quan Province was shocked upon receiving the news and hurriedly reported it to the family head, Li Xiaozai.
Li Xiaozai's expression changed slightly. He issued an order:
"Immediately detain Li Tianqing's parents! And his grandfather Li Jindou too—detain him!
The matter in Qing Province is no small thing. It concerns not only the lives of several ancestors of the Li family, but also the lives of the ancestors of the other aristocratic clans!
Without enough spirit herbs to extend their lives, if the ancestors of the Thirteen Houses perish, the foundations of our aristocratic clans will suffer nearly half their strength!
Li Xiaozai's mind was in turmoil—the stakes were too high!
The other clans would surely hold the Li family accountable for Li Tianqing's actions!
Who could bear that responsibility?
In any case, he, Li Xiaozai, could not.
Not only him—the entire Li family might not withstand the punishment from the other twelve clans!
The Li family could even be wiped out over this!
"Family Head, there are still spirit herbs left in the medicine fields—they weren't all taken."
The envoy continued,
"Originally, there were 542 spirit herb plants in the fields; now only 433 remain!"
Li Xiaozai breathed a sigh of relief. If Li Tianqing and Chen Shi had looted every last spirit herb, there would be no room for maneuver, and the other clans might declare war on the Li family!
At that moment, the men sent earlier to capture Li Jindou and Li's mother hurried back.
"Reporting to the Family Head, Li Tianqing returned yesterday. He said he was taking his mother to sweep the tombs this morning. They've been gone half a day already."
Li Xiaozai felt a chill in his heart. He urgently asked:
"Where is Li Jindou?"
Li Jindou had vanished without a trace.
His father, however, was still in Quan Province.
Li Xiaozai steadied himself. Li Tianqing's return to Quan Province must have been to fetch his mother and Li Jindou. As for why he didn't take his father—it was because father and son did not get along.
Li's mother had been a laundry maid. Li's father had seen she had some looks and forcibly taken her. He never properly married her. Only after she gave birth to Li Tianqing and Li Jindou found out did he break his son's legs and force him to marry her properly, giving her the status of a concubine.
Once Li's father's legs healed, his temperament didn't change—he continued philandering everywhere.
Though Li's mother now had concubine status, she still suffered. Li's father gave her no money, so she had to keep doing laundry to make ends meet and raise Li Tianqing.
Thus, Li Tianqing had no fondness for this father.
She couldn't be used to threaten him at all.
Li Xiaozai frowned slightly and instructed the envoy to immediately go guard the spirit nurseries. If envoys from other clans arrived, do not clash with them.
He himself hurried to the Li family's forbidden grounds and rang the alarm bell there.
Before long, a young attendant emerged from the forbidden grounds.
"Family Head, the elders request your presence."
Li Xiaozai followed the attendant into the forbidden grounds, his heart heavy.
The Li family was an ancient clan with over six thousand years of history. Li descendants had branched out across Xiniu New Continent like hairs on an ox, but the core lineage remained in Quan Province.
Even within the Quan Province Li core lineage, there were inner and outer branches. The inner branch referred to the Family Head's line and descendants no more than three generations removed.
Beyond three generations, they were outer branch descendants—not as close.
As for those who had left Quan Province, they were even more distant.
Among the Li clan, there would always be a high official in the Western Capital's court entering the cabinet, vying for the position of Grand Secretary. He appeared to be the highest-ranking Li, but within the clan, that official was merely their mouthpiece. True power rested with the Family Head and his line.
The Family Head referred not only to the current one, but to all past Family Heads.
In the Li ancestral hall, the incense had burned unceasingly for over six thousand years. The heroic spirits of past Family Heads absorbed the incense energy and lingered to this day—this was the greatest foundation of an aristocratic clan.
The second greatest foundation was the past Family Heads still alive in the world.
The Li family had four such.
At this moment, the four past Family Heads had been roused by the alarm bell. Each sat in his void realm, quietly listening as Li Xiaozai recounted the Qing Province incident.
The four Family Heads were each silent.
"This matter is our Li family's fault. If the other clans demand accountability, admit the wrong."
The Taizu Patriarch Li Yiran spoke slowly,
"Li Tianqing is the chief culprit. No matter how much of a genius he is, we must give the other clans an explanation.
What is his current cultivation?"
Li Xiaozai replied:
"He should be close to achieving the Primordial Essence.
He is a first-grade Divine Embryo, with astonishing cultivation speed and progress."
The Taizu asked:
"What techniques have been passed to him?"
"The Nancheng Zongyiji."
"The true transmission?"
"Yes, the true transmission."
The four Family Heads frowned. The *Nancheng Zongyiji* was an encyclopedic collection of techniques left by one of their ancestors, Li Zongyi.
"The Yian Tangji was not passed?"
"He is not of the Family Head's line, so it was not."
Taizu Patriarch Li Yiran ordered:
"Find him, reclaim the techniques, and hand him over to the other clans for disposal."
He rose and said to the other three Family Heads,
"This matter also concerns another person, Chen Shi.
Li Tianqing must be punished for his errors, and so must Chen Shi.
What Chen Shi relies on is merely the demon in his brow, and that Creation Little Five from the Western Capital. Creation Little Five ran rampant for a time, even using cloud users to threaten the Western Capital with ill intentions.
In the past, we merely watched him do evil, hoping to find the one who took the innate dao embryo. But now, we must weigh Creation Little Five's strength.
The other three Family Heads understood and rose as well.
If Creation Little Five had real weight, they could continue tolerating Chen Shi.
If Creation Little Five was found wanting, then Chen Shi's death was at hand.
A sacred site like the Great State-Protecting Temple could suppress ninety-nine demons. The Li family's foundations were no weaker—dealing with Chen Shi would be troublesome, but not impossible!
The Taizu smiled:
"It's been a long time since I went out for a stroll.
Last time was eleven years ago, to gauge Chen Yindu's weight."
The family ancestor of the Li house laughed:
"Chen Yindu does have some weight, but he knows when to advance and retreat.
I wonder about Creation Little Five."
They all rose and exited the Li family forbidden grounds.
Li Xiaozai bowed to see them off. Once the four Family Heads departed, he immediately left the grounds and assembled men to capture Li Tianqing, his mother, and grandfather.
Meanwhile, in Xinduo, Chen Shi hesitated for several days. When Sun Yisheng visited again, he finally agreed to go to the Western Capital with him.
"But I want to bring a few people with me to the Western Capital."
Chen Shi said.
Sun Yisheng breathed a sigh of relief and smiled:
"Young Master may bring a few attendants, but not too many.
We're taking the official route—every city has government reception. Too many people, and we can't account for them."
Chen Shi said:
"Don't worry, I'm not bringing many.
Also, don't call me Young Master—I hate that title.
Just call me Chen Shi."
Sun Yisheng had no choice but to agree.
"When does Young Master Chen plan to depart? This official can make preparations in advance."
Chen Shi frowned but reluctantly accepted the address.
"The morning of the sixteenth of the first month."
Sun Yisheng took his leave.
At dinner, Chen Shi said to Black Pot:
"I'm not forgiving Chen Tang. The truth is, I really do need to go to the Western Capital for the exams.
Since Chen Tang arranged the route, I'll take it and save myself the trouble of poring over maps."
Black Pot ate without speaking.
Chen Shi shoveled two bites of rice, feeling his explanation wasn't clear enough. He continued:
"I have no feelings for Chen Tang at all. On the contrary, I even hate him a bit.
He didn't come to Grandpa's funeral and never once came home to see me.
He's no longer my father. In my heart, he's just a stranger."
Black Pot glanced at him, set down his chopsticks, and listened intently.
Chen Shi smiled and said:
"Black Pot, after Grandpa passed, having you by my side makes me feel like you're a real person, not just a dog.
You cook for me, do the laundry, scrub the pots, brew and boil medicine—you take care of me better than Grandpa did. At night, you even tuck me in.
You're my family. Having you is enough.
Besides, I have friends!"
Chen Shi smiled as he explained:
"See, I have Li Tianqing, Hu Feifei, Granny Sha—they're all my friends! And Stone Altar Lady, Granny Zhuang, Xuan Shan—they all treat me well."
Black Pot stood, placing a paw on his shoulder.
Chen Shi met the dog's gaze.
"Woof."
Black Pot said.
Chen Shi said:
"I really don't need family. I've never even met Chen Tang."
"Woof, woof."
Chen Shi looked down:
"You're right. I just want to see him... Eat.
The food's getting cold."
Black Pot sat and ate.
Chen Shi steadied his emotions, thought for a long time, and said:
"Black Pot, you are my family.
No matter if I acknowledge my parents or not, you're the closest one."
The sixteenth of the first month drew near. Chen Shi called Black Pot, roused Stone Altar Lady, and perked up Xuan Shan and Granny Zhuang's spirits. Then he set off with the wooden cart, rumbling toward the Tomb of the True King.
Chen Shi left the cart outside, carried down bundles of incense, lit them first, then carefully entered the Ghost God Domain of the Tomb of the True King.
The Ghost God Domain's power activated. Chen Shi's body swayed with the space. He hurried to the first Tomb Guardian Beast, inserting a bundle of incense at its feet.
He moved swiftly, placing a bundle at each Tomb Guardian Beast's feet until the incense was all placed.
At that moment, the Tomb of the True King's Ghost God Domain fully activated. Tomb Guardian Beasts revived one by one, transforming into colossal divine beasts standing between heaven and earth, guarding the tomb entrance.
Chen Shi was uneasy. He raised the Western King Jade Seal high, his face pale as he watched the Tomb Guardian Beasts.
The Tomb Guardian Beasts absorbed the incense energy and did not attack him.
Chen Shi was overjoyed and put away the jade seal:
"The seal really is useless—bribing these Tomb Guardian Beasts with incense works better!"
In the little shrine, Black-Clothed Xuan Shan was puzzled. He glanced at Granny Zhuang, then at Stone Altar Lady, and whispered doubtfully:
"I clearly saw these divine beasts treating him with utmost respect. Why is Little Ten still so cautious?"
"No manners! Address him as Upper Envoy!"
Stone Altar Lady snapped.
Black-Clothed Xuan Shan was even more baffled. Upper Envoy?
Stone Altar Lady snorted:
"The Upper Envoy is kind-hearted by nature. He feeds incense to these pitiable divine beasts so they won't be forgotten and weaken further.
You're a yokai cultivator. Reaching your current level wasn't easy. But in the True King Era, you'd be no different from them—just a gatekeeper."
Black-Clothed Xuan Shan sat calmly, saying nothing.
Granny Zhuang whispered:
"Xuan Shan, if we team up, we could flip this big-headed woman."
Black-Clothed Xuan Shan did not respond.
His dao heart was serene; he didn't care.
Chen Shi's visit to pay respects to these Tomb Guardian Beasts was aimed at the various techniques recorded on the stone steles.
Previously, he had skimmed them superficially. Now, heading to the Western Capital for exams—a trip of at least half a year, who knew when he'd return.
So he memorized them first to study on the road.
Outside the Tomb of the True King, steles stood like a forest, inscribed with all manner of techniques.
Stone Altar Lady, Granny Zhuang, and Black-Clothed Xuan Shan also viewed them through the little shrine.
As yokai cultivators, these techniques weren't very useful to them, but some spells were extremely practical—they could learn them opportunistically.
It took Chen Shi two days to memorize all the techniques on the stele forest. As he prepared to leave, he glanced ghost-struck toward the Tomb of the True King's portal.
"Back then, Grandpa entered the Tomb of the True King through here to save me. He found the immortal method inside—the Water-Fire Tempering Art."
He steadied himself, unable to resist stepping toward the portal, heart pounding.
The Water-Fire Tempering Art was an immortal method!
Cultivating it could achieve corpse liberation immortality!
Who knew if the Tomb of the True King held methods of the same level—or even higher!
He reached the portal. It creaked open on its own.
A cold wind blew from the tomb, chilling him to shivers.
He steadied his mind and was about to enter when a voice came from behind:
"Holy Envoy, the tomb's seals are complex. Please present the jade seal."
Chen Shi turned. The sheep-horned humanoid Tomb Guardian Beast had shrunk its form—still about three meters tall—and stepped silently behind him.
"Holy Envoy?"
Chen Shi was astonished. He took out the Western King Jade Seal. It flew up, hovering before him.
The sheep-horned humanoid Tomb Guardian Beast bowed and entered the tomb passage first, intoning:
"The tomb is full of seals, traps, and treasures. One misstep means death—even with the seal, you could perish inside.
I will lead the way. Holy Envoy, follow me closely. Do not stray."
Chen Shi hadn't expected it to be so accommodating. He followed and said:
"I
want to learn an immortal method. Could you make an exception?"
The sheep-horned humanoid Tomb Guardian Beast said:
"The tomb does hold immortal methods, but I do not know which ones they are.
Holy Envoy must discern for himself."
Chen Shi looked around. The passage was about three meters high and wide, bottomlessly deep.
Vermilion murals lined the walls, lit by everlasting lamps, with many side chambers large and small.
Large side chambers were the size of rooms; small ones only fist-sized.
Each side chamber enshrined peculiar treasures, linked by strange arrays. Ripples from the treasures constantly swept over Chen Shi's body—they were scanning for friend or foe.
Without the Western King Jade Seal, stepping into the passage would have activated them, blasting any intruder!
However, Chen Shi also saw many side chambers and murals destroyed. Some treasures smashed flat, others shattered to bits, scattered about. Some chambers collapsed, some everlasting lamps twisted and melted.
Besides that, corpses lay strewn about haphazardly.
These corpses were handsome in features, splendidly dressed. Even in death, they emanated immense power, like celestial gods.
The corpses hadn't rotted, but oddly, they all bore the same face.
"This destruction was your grandfather's doing."
The sheep-horned humanoid Tomb Guardian Beast noticed his gaze and said,
"Back then, he forced his way in, killing from outside to inside. We brothers charged into the passage, using the side chambers' layout to fight him.
Those on the ground were his allies—we took them out."
"These are..."
Chen Shi examined the godlike corpses in shock. Suddenly, it struck him—they were Tianji! Talisman God Tianji!
Ahead, the sheep-horned humanoid Tomb Guardian Beast's voice came:
"Holy Envoy, the scriptorium is here."
Chen Shi stepped forward. At that moment, a half-bodied Talisman God Tianji on the ground twitched. Its head rolled half a turn on the floor, saw Chen Shi's face, and spoke:
"Chen Tang!"
The sheep-horned humanoid Tomb Guardian Beast raised a foot to crush it, but Chen Shi hurriedly said:
"Don't kill him!"
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