Chapter 2365: Tortoise Shell

Before the Golden Gate,

Having already deciphered its mechanism, they quickly mastered the method to open it and jointly pushed the Golden Gate ajar.

Just as they were opening the Golden Gate to the ninth level, the Tianmu Butterfly pressed its body against a stone pillar in the grand hall. Under the cover of the vibrations from the opening gate, a faint, illusory divine light flickered across its wings, and the Tianmu Butterfly vanished into thin air.

Wutu Immortal and Meishan Yuanjun, completely unaware, were both fixated on the Golden Gate. As soon as it opened, a golden stream of light energy flew out from the crack.

"Such pure Geng Jin energy!" Wutu Immortal reached out and grasped it, exclaiming in admiration.

As the Golden Gate fully opened, they saw more than a dozen streams of Geng Jin energy continuously swirling on the ninth level of the golden pagoda. This level had no golden pillars, only an open golden coffin.

As expected, the golden coffin was empty. However, judging from the residual Geng Jin energy, the inheritance was likely sealed within the golden coffin using extremely pure Geng Jin, which must have been refined with some secret art, making it different from the common Geng Jin found in the cultivation world. Both the Geng Jin and the inheritance had now been taken.

"They really stripped it clean; nothing was left," Meishan Yuanjun said indignantly. Unwilling to give up, they thoroughly searched the ninth level. Only the golden coffin, tainted with Geng Jin energy, had any discernible value.

"I fear other places have also been dug three feet deep and emptied," Meishan Yuanjun remarked.

Qin Sang nodded, "I just saw a Bat Stele earlier, and what was beneath it was also taken." The scope of this tomb was vast, and those floating mountains might have contained treasures. However, the first person to open the tomb clearly showed no mercy. If it weren't located in the North Pole Icefield, where the 'six-day ancient qi' was too dense, the entire tomb might have been occupied and used as a blessed land or a cave abode.

Having no other choice, they turned and descended to the lower levels.

As they passed the eighth level, the Tianmu Butterfly quietly returned to his sleeve. Qin Sang retracted his hand into his robe and felt an object land in his palm, emitting a cool sensation. The object was oval, smooth to the touch, and slightly convex. On its back, intricate intersecting patterns could be clearly felt. It was, in fact, a turtle shell. The turtle shell was smaller than Qin Sang's palm and showed no supernatural qualities when held. Qin Sang rubbed it a few times before putting it away.

After leaving the golden pagoda, Wutu Immortal suggested dividing the entire tomb into three areas, with each of them taking one to search independently. Any lost treasures found would belong to the finder. Qin Sang and Meishan Yuanjun had no objections. They immediately divided the areas and went their separate ways.

They searched floating mountain after floating mountain, and indeed, all were thoroughly cleaned out. By the time Qin Sang returned to the golden pagoda, Wutu Immortal and Meishan Yuanjun were already waiting there. After exchanging notes, both demons wore expressions of helplessness, feeling both resentment and envy. The tomb's original treasures must have been extremely abundant. If they had obtained them, their future cultivation would be worry-free; it would not be an exaggeration to call it a heaven-defying opportunity to change their destiny. They had just missed out on it.

Wutu Immortal proposed, "Although it has been emptied, this tomb is so vast. To abandon it here would be a great pity. Why don't we jointly seal this place and then carefully consider if there's any way we can utilize it in the future?"

Compared to before, the hostility between the two demons had significantly decreased. Meishan Yuanjun did not deliberately contradict Wutu Immortal and agreed, "There is more than one entrance to the tomb. Why don't we modify the array formation to leave only one entrance, and then divide the key into three parts, with each of us keeping one?" If they could indeed utilize this abandoned tomb in the future to gain great returns, their shared custody of the keys would bind their interests together.

Qin Sang looked at Meishan Yuanjun, then at Wutu Immortal, and smiled, "It would naturally be excellent if you two fellow Daoists can put aside your grievances."

Meishan Yuanjun glanced at Wutu Immortal, "We two originally kept to ourselves, and any resentment between us arose because of this tomb." Now that the treasures were gone, there was no mortal enmity between them. It was better to each take a step back, let bygones be bygones, and perhaps even become allies. This was also why they could accept Qin Sang so easily. The higher one's cultivation, the more one cherishes their life and reputation. Who would be foolish enough to make enemies for no reason?

With a consensus reached, Qin Sang and the two demons immediately began their work. Qin Sang, disguised as a fierce demon who had not yet left the icefield, could not appear too proficient in array formations. He primarily followed the two demons' instructions. From his observation, Meishan Yuanjun's mastery of array formations was quite profound. The demon race's array formations were very different from those Qin Sang had learned, possessing distinct characteristics that greatly interested him. As the saying goes, "Misfortune is what fortune depends upon." This trip should allow him to witness many novelties.

Meishan Yuanjun and Wutu Immortal took a full ten days to finalize the method of modification. While they were altering the grand formation, Qin Sang asked Wutu Immortal about the tomb's origin. By this point, there was no need for concealment. Wutu Immortal revealed the truth, recounting a legend: "The legend of this tomb has been circulating for a long time. It is said that a great saint, who for unknown reasons perished, left their inheritance within this tomb, awaiting a destined individual. However, no one knew the tomb's location. This legend resurfaces every millennium, claiming to have found clues to the tomb, attracting treasure seekers to the icefield, but eventually, all such clues were proven false. Until recently, new clues to the tomb appeared, which the old hag and I were the first to obtain. We found these clues to be quite credible and followed them all the way here. Now that I think about it, they must have circulated after the tomb opened for some unknown reason..."

As he spoke, Wutu Immortal recalled something and smiled, "It is said that the great saint emerged from the North Pole Icefield. Thus, there were early conjectures that the saint would place their tomb within the icefield, and it turned out to be true. Perhaps that great saint even has some connection to Fellow Daoist Mingyue!"

On a snow-capped mountain, white snow lay thick, and the cold wind was biting. Suddenly, a beam of white light descended onto the mountain peak, revealing several figures.

By now, the tomb had been sealed. Meishan Yuanjun gracefully turned her hand, revealing a plum blossom in her palm, which then split into three. She gave one to Qin Sang and one to Wutu Immortal. The plum blossoms served as keys; only when the three blossoms were reunited could the tomb be opened.

"Fellow Daoist Mingyue, will you not return to my mountain with me?" Wutu Immortal sent a mental message, having just learned that Qin Sang intended to stay. This greatly disappointed him, as he had originally planned to vigorously recruit Qin Sang.

"The matter occurred suddenly, and I have some trivial matters yet to attend to. I will definitely head south to Wutu Mountain to pay my respects in a few days!" Qin Sang said sincerely.

Seeing that Qin Sang's mind was made up, Wutu Immortal could not press further. "It's a deal then! I shall prepare for your visit and eagerly await your esteemed presence!"

"Farewell!"

"Until we meet again!"

Wutu Immortal and Meishan Yuanjun immediately took their leave, leading the group of demons away through the air, leaving only Qin Sang behind. Not until their escaping lights vanished into the horizon did Qin Sang withdraw his gaze and look upwards. Above his head was a clear blue sky, but Qin Sang knew that a hidden gate lay there. Even with only one plum blossom in hand, he could enter and exit freely.

With a flick of his sleeve, Qin Sang took out the turtle shell and held it before him. Earlier, he had refrained from trying to activate the turtle shell, fearing it might cause an anomaly in the tomb. Learning that this tomb might be a Demon Saint's resting place, Qin Sang regarded the turtle shell with even greater importance. In ancient times, people believed the patterns on turtle shells possessed inherent mystical properties, and human sages would use them for divination. Qin Sang focused intently, but the patterns alone revealed no clues. His spiritual sense detected nothing unusual; it seemed to be just an ordinary turtle shell.

Once he confirmed the two demons had departed, Qin Sang activated the plum blossom in his hand. Simultaneously, the Tianmu Butterfly flew out of his dantian, scattering illusory divine light, and transformed into a streak of light, entering the tomb's interior the next moment.

In an instant, he arrived before the golden pagoda. Qin Sang broke through the golden membrane and ascended to the eighth level of the pagoda, his gaze landing on the golden pillar to his right. The turtle shell had been retrieved from beneath that golden pillar. At the base of this golden pillar, there was a hidden space that even Qin Sang hadn't noticed; it was the Tianmu Butterfly that discovered it. Without knowing the secret, even breaking the golden pillar wouldn't have revealed the turtle shell.

"What profound meaning did the tomb's owner have in hiding the turtle shell here?" Qin Sang held the turtle shell in his right hand, lost in thought, trying to fathom the tomb owner's intent. Since the tomb's owner left an inheritance, it implied a desire for the legacy to continue. Yet, hiding the turtle shell near the ninth-level gate, in the most easily overlooked spot, was truly odd. Could this also be a test for future generations?

Earlier, Qin Sang had infused his true essence into the turtle shell, but it showed no reaction. He originally thought he was in the wrong place, but trying it here yielded the same result. If it were just an ordinary turtle shell, why would a Demon Saint deliberately hide it here?

"Could it be..." A thought struck Qin Sang. He activated his Azure Luan Demonic Lightning, and the green lightning flowed along the patterns of the turtle shell, slowly seeping in.

The next moment, the turtle shell's surface suddenly turned black. Then, the entire shell melted into a black ray of light, which shot towards Qin Sang. Qin Sang was startled, but fortunately, he wasn't entirely unprepared. His Bright Mountain Armor immediately materialized, and he formed several barriers in front of himself. However, these barriers were useless; the black ray passed through them as if they were nonexistent, instantly disappearing into Qin Sang's body.

A sudden anomaly occurred, and Qin Sang's expression changed slightly. He meticulously checked his entire body but felt no physical abnormalities, except for... He raised his left hand, and there was now a black dot the size of a bean on his wrist, resembling a mole. Qin Sang was certain this black mole hadn't been there before; it must have been an imprint left by the black ray transformed from the turtle shell. However, he could no longer sense the turtle shell or any unusual power, only this mole. He tried various powers, but none could expel the black mole from his body. At most, he could make it temporarily disappear, only for it to reappear shortly, as if it were firmly bound to him.

"What in the world is this thing?" Qin Sang's expression darkened. Although he felt no discomfort, how could he be at ease with something inexplicable remaining inside his body?

Qin Sang tried various methods, all to no avail. With a last shred of hope, he summoned Zhuque. Upon learning the situation, Zhuque pecked at Qin Sang's wrist a few times but also didn't know the origin of the black mole. Qin Sang took Zhuque on a tour around the tomb, attempting to find an external explanation. The creature, however, not only offered no help but gloated and mocked Qin Sang for a good while, before Qin Sang stuffed it back.

Before the tomb's exit, Qin Sang looked at the black mole on his wrist, sighed helplessly, and left the tomb. He glanced around, preparing to find a place for secluded cultivation. Soon after, Qin Sang found a tranquil spot, created a cave abode, and sat down in the lotus position. Since he couldn't remove the black mole, Qin Sang decided to let it remain in his body and tried to sense the secrets hidden within it. He was extremely patient, battling repeatedly without discouragement, completely unaware of the passage of time.

While Qin Sang was focused on 'fighting' the black mole, three large birds flew over the icefield. These three large birds looked similar, with robust builds and wingspans of several tens of zhang. A single flap of their wings could carry them far away, their speed astonishing. The demon beasts below could only see a blurred shadow. Their bodies were covered in iron-hard black feathers, yet each wore a blood-red cloak, emanating a sense of solemnity and lethal intent as they flew.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three streaks of blood-red light descended from the sky, and the three large birds transformed into three burly men. Their cloaks remained on their backs, fitting perfectly whether in their demonic or human forms. They landed above a patch of snow. The burly man in the middle was clearly the leader of the three demons. He raised a hand and pointed, and a silent void appeared beneath his feet. The three demons dropped into the ground, landing precisely within an underground palace. If Qin Sang and Wutu Immortal had been there, they would have recognized that this underground palace was also a false tomb of a Demon Saint's mausoleum. However, this false tomb was one of the entrances to the true mausoleum.

The leading burly man seemed very familiar with the place. His cloak billowed behind him, and from beneath it, a dozen blood-red shadows shot out, emitting strange shrieks as they darted towards various parts of the underground palace. Immediately, a grand formation was activated. The three demons stood within the formation. They saw the spiritual light flicker once, then suddenly extinguish, and they were still in the same spot, their expressions changing drastically.

"Big Brother! Someone has tampered with this place!" the burly man on the left exclaimed.

"Not here! It's the Demon Saint's Mausoleum! It seems someone else has entered since we left and even tampered with the mausoleum's grand formation!" The leading burly man said coldly, "Let's go!"

The three demons shot into the sky and circled for a while at high altitude, seemingly performing some secret technique. They finally determined a direction and flew away, soon arriving above a snow-capped mountain. The three demons landed on the mountaintop, looking up. The leading burly man took out several iron feathers and scattered them into the sky. The iron feathers collided, making clanging sounds, and simultaneously burst forth with grey light. Immediately, strange lights and shadows emerged within the grey light, faintly revealing the outline of an array formation. Within the grand formation, the invisible portal was particularly conspicuous.

"Tricks of a minor skill!" The leading burly man sneered, his face full of disdain. How could a grand formation be so easily altered? The opponent could only sever the connections between other entrances and the mausoleum. He conjured a spiritual blade, only slightly larger than a dagger. The spiritual blade did not strike the existing door but instead opened another one beside it, proving that the three demons understood this array formation very well.

"Big Brother, wait! What if..." His companion tried to stop him but was a step too late. The leading burly man ripped open a crack and said with murderous intent, "No matter who's inside, kill them all!"

"Yes!"

The three demons flashed inside. Seeing the tomb empty, the leading burly man snorted, "They must have tough lives!" The three demons went straight to the golden pagoda, broke through the golden membrane, and quickly ascended to the ninth level. The leading burly man carefully took out a treasure mirror, murmured a few incantations, and the mirror slowly rose, its light illuminating the entire hall.

"None?" The leading burly man frowned and activated the treasure mirror to return to the eighth level.

The burly man next to him was overjoyed, pointing to one of the golden pillars, "Big Brother! Here!"

The three demons hurriedly took action to move the golden pillar aside. When they opened the hidden space, they were instantly aghast, looking at each other, their eyes reflecting alarm and fear.

"Impossible! How can it be empty!"