Chapter 332: Playing the Sword Like a Piano

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As the Dragon Wall rotated, a new world unfolded. However, it wasn't a dazzling sight of scattered jewels, but rather absolute darkness. Having arrived, Xu Fengnian resigned himself to the situation. After stumbling, he steadied himself and looked, discerning a corridor roughly ten feet wide. Imperial tombs naturally followed regal specifications. There was still some distance to the ceremonial entrance of the burial chamber, and this journey was clearly fraught with danger. Xu Fengnian would rather die than walk in front; rushing in without geomancers or master engineers to escort them would be no different from suicide. Xu Fengnian was considering discussing with the white-clad fiend whether they should throw the two-faced, four-armed monstrous creature into the corridor to scout ahead. Unexpectedly, this unruly woman, without a word, kicked the red-robed shadow creature into the passage. Then, grabbing Xu Fengnian with one hand, she tossed him in as well. This way, she could observe two tigers fighting while simultaneously probing for secrets—truly killing two birds with one stone.

Xu Fengnian had barely finished cursing under his breath when the most defiled creature extended its arms, ready to fight. With a width of only ten feet, there wasn't enough space for agile movement. Xu Fengnian had to simultaneously guard against hidden dangers in the corridor while engaging in close-quarters combat with it. They say two fists are no match for four hands, and Xu Fengnian, truly encountering a creature with four arms, had nowhere to complain. Perhaps it had no more tricks to hide, as its attacks were far swifter and more vicious than they had been at the river bottom. They pounded on Xu Fengnian like raindrops, and one knee-raise struck directly at his groin. Xu Fengnian was no stoic clay Buddha; he unleashed his full fighting potential. He pressed down on the creature's knee with one hand, letting the beast's other two hands slap around his ears while its remaining hands pushed against his chest. Xu Fengnian, with all his might, delivered a punch to its heart. Both sides slammed fiercely into the wall almost simultaneously, each not forgetting to kick the other, and then, by tacit agreement, used the rebound to deliver an even more vicious blow. Xu Fengnian was flicked on the creature's brow, followed by another dull collision with the wall. The two bounced back and forth like rubber balls, their deadly intent fully displayed in the confined space. The creature's red robe swirled like a crimson bat, specifically targeting Xu Fengnian's groin, seemingly addicted to low blows. Xu Fengnian's damp green robe had already been dried by his surging energy, and he 'rewarded' it with several flicks, each landing on its brow.

They traded blows back and forth. If not for the dark, lightless corridor, such a chaotic brawl would surely have earned cheers from onlookers. One moment, Xu Fengnian was caught by it, its hands gripping his neck; the next, he retaliated by raising an elbow to its chin. Perhaps the next moment, their foreheads would firmly collide. Several times, Xu Fengnian couldn't aim properly, but his punches and palms landed on its chest, which surprisingly felt as soft and yielding as a common woman's. Perhaps it was his preconceived notions, or the nausea he felt towards the face on the back of its skull, but he found it slimy, like a pile of maggots, utterly sickening. The fight continued. Even with the Grand Yellow Court cultivation, Xu Fengnian was bruised and battered, covered in blood. The shadow creature, cultivated by some unknown secret art, had long proven to Xu Fengnian its invulnerability to blades and fire. It took many hits, yet its injuries were minor, which greatly frustrated Xu Fengnian. Making a losing deal was not the Crown Prince's style. Fortunately, despite the disadvantage, this corridor leading to the Qin Imperial Tomb held no other hidden mechanisms. Xu Fengnian and the creature fought for half a *li* without triggering any concealed traps. If he were to die in the same tomb as such a vile monster, Xu Fengnian reckoned he would truly not rest in peace.

The white-clad Luoyang, strolling leisurely behind, suddenly frowned and uttered, "Mountain Collapse." Xu Fengnian, who had some understanding of Feng Shui, immediately changed color. "Mountain Collapse," as the name suggested, meant two mountains merging, destined to crush any living creature between them. No sooner had Luoyang spoken the two words than the corridor, contrary to Xu Fengnian's expectation of arrows shooting from holes, snapped shut in the blink of an eye. He and the creature, forced to put aside their enmity, spread their arms to brace against one wall. Given the meticulous planning of the Qin Imperial Tomb's builders, the trap must have been triggered upon entering the corridor. But to prevent grave robbers from retreating, the "Mountain Collapse" only began in the middle section of the passage. Unable to advance or retreat, the walls closed with lightning speed. Xu Fengnian's vital energy surged, and the creature, too, understood the gravity of the situation. Neither of the two adversaries dared to impede the other at this moment; they pushed outwards with all their might. While a "Mountain Collapse" in a tomb built on the surface might be simple, constructing one like the Qin Imperial Tomb, carved into the riverbed, involved knowledge far beyond imagination. Fortunately, the "Mountain Collapse" did not seal them completely. With the combined immense strength of Xu Fengnian and the creature, they managed to hold a gap open, and the walls then retracted to their original position.

Xu Fengnian breathed a sigh of relief. The leisurely strolling Luoyang coldly declared, "If you don't want to die, then get moving forward!" "Easy for you to say!" The "Mountain Collapse" began again. Xu Fengnian extended his arms, gritting his teeth and holding on. After the immediate danger passed, the creature stomped on the ground. The corridor's floor, made of an unknown stone, yielded only a shallow, several-inch-deep pit under its stomp. Seeing its efforts futile, Xu Fengnian stiffly twisted his neck, unsure if the creature was annoyed or confused. Xu Fengnian wanted to laugh but couldn't. This creature's mind was truly brilliant; it had thought of digging a hole to hide. If the stone had been of ordinary hardness, the three of them could have carved a path underground. Not to mention Luoyang, the fourth greatest master in the world who had long reached the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, even Xu Fengnian and the creature could have slowly advanced. In such a life-and-death situation, a clumsy method was better than none, or just waiting for death. However, the Qin Imperial Tomb's chief architect had clearly anticipated this, making Xu Fengnian curse that eight-hundred-year-old bastard's ancestors eighteen generations back.

The intervals between "Mountain Collapses" grew shorter and shorter, giving Xu Fengnian less and less time to breathe. Yet, there was still no sign of the end. His arms grew increasingly sore and numb. The tomb's air was already murky and heavy with Yin energy. Xu Fengnian had no idea how many "Mountain Collapses" he had blocked, and his vision started to blur, a sensation he hadn't felt since he mastered his blade techniques. This was not a good sign. Luoyang, the fiend more cold-blooded than the creature itself, finally spoke a sensible word: "You go ahead and charge. Use your sword to scout the end. I'll take over." Xu Fengnian gritted his teeth and sprinted forward, while his only perfected sword embryo, Morning Dew, shot swiftly from his sleeve.

This stretch of the journey felt like an eternity. When Xu Fengnian finally reached an open area, his vision suddenly cleared. A vast expanse of dazzling white light assailed his eyes. Raising an arm to shield them, he squinted and finally saw an ancient bronze door, intricately carved with dense inscriptions. After a moment of stupefaction, and once the creature also darted out of the corridor, Xu Fengnian remembered that Luoyang was still inside, undoubtedly struggling. He glanced at the menacing creature, cursed it to "get lost," and then turned back into the corridor. Bracing against the two collapsing "mountains," tons of force repeatedly slammed into his arms like a tolling bell, making Xu Fengnian feel as if his hands would be crippled. Just as Xu Fengnian's eyes turned red and he could no longer hold on, a white figure appeared before him and kicked him out of the corridor. The exhausted Xu Fengnian sat on the ground. Luoyang's expression was calm, but a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, which she wiped away gently. She looked up at the bronze door, brightly illuminated as if by daylight within the cavern. Behind them, the "Mountain Collapse" had completely sealed the passage. After standing up, Xu Fengnian tried to insert a flying sword, but it wouldn't penetrate even a fraction of an inch. Just as a single falling leaf heralds autumn, the Qin Empire of eight centuries ago; no wonder it could unify the world. Li Yishan once said that the contemporary Beiliang saber, considered the pinnacle of forging, was derived from a standard Qin imperial saber, and even most of the devastatingly powerful Liang crossbows were no exception. However, the Qin Empire rose like a comet and fell like one, as if historians deliberately ignored it. Historical records are scarce, only stating that after the Qin Emperor's sudden death, the entire empire was buried with him, and the world fragmented, scattering like deer escaping a cage. Xu Fengnian felt a sense of relief, leaning against the stone wall. He couldn't help but be filled with emotion; if he could survive, then perhaps some astonishing secrets that had puzzled future generations for nearly a thousand years would finally be revealed.

The creature stood at the boundary between light and shadow, separated by a single line. After a moment of hesitation, it took a step forward. Where the light touched, its foot instantly burned fiercely, emitting a pungent, foul odor. It seemed to have lost the sense of pain, ignoring its poor foot, which was almost charred, and fell back into thought.

After the "Mountain Collapse," was this the 'Thunder Pool' they spoke of? Xu Fengnian gave a wry smile, squatting on the boundary between Yin and Yang, and looked up. The dome was inlaid with beads stretching out like a brilliant star-filled sky, shimmering brightly. The left and right stone walls and the floor were covered with small polished glass mirrors, interweaving to create a cavern filled with light. Upon closer inspection, those beads subtly shifted, like the changing constellations of the four seasons, the stars moving across the sky. Xu Fengnian was inwardly shocked. How could these beads be preserved for hundreds of years? It was known that pearls would naturally yellow and deteriorate with age, leading to the saying "old pearls turn yellow." Xu Fengnian had never been accustomed to the common practice of blindly revering the ancient while disparaging the modern, but now, seeing this, he realized it wasn't entirely without reason. Luoyang stood silently beside Xu Fengnian.

Luoyang extended a hand, quickly turning and tracing patterns in the air. It was as if she were meticulously unraveling a mystery. She frowned, seemingly not having found the answer she sought, and asked coolly, "Do you understand the movement of celestial bodies?" Xu Fengnian volunteered: "I've studied a bit of Guo Lao's Astrology, Shu Minqing's Arcane Principles of the Heavens, and Lu Hong's Twenty-Eight Mansions. I can try to deduce it." Luoyang turned her head, and Xu Fengnian met her gaze. Luoyang sneered, "Do you only know how to verbally calculate and deduce?"

Xu Fengnian suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Squatting on the ground, he used his flying sword, Green Plum, to etch patterns on the floor, occasionally looking up to silently memorize the flow of the stars. It started simply, easy to begin, but over time, it became increasingly arduous, like climbing a staircase up a mountain. When the deduction reached an obscure dead end, Xu Fengnian stared blankly at the messy lines on the ground. This task, if given to his second sister Xu Weixiong, known as 'invincible in mental Go calculations,' would have been effortlessly done, far better than Xu Fengnian's desperate attempt. Luoyang watched for a few moments. Seeing Xu Fengnian had no clue, she gave up hope and looked up at the daylight-like brilliance. A moment later, Luoyang said, "The tomb is filled with death energy. You have about two hours left to live."

Xu Fengnian simply plopped onto the ground, shaking his head. "That's definitely not enough time. I'd need two or three days just to get a rough idea." Luoyang sneered, "You only know some trivial, unconventional tricks." Xu Fengnian retorted angrily, "Isn't it because you insisted on entering this tomb!" Luoyang glanced at Xu Fengnian dismissively and simply said two words: "Lend sword." Xu Fengnian asked, "How many?" Luoyang countered, "Do you have thirteen?" Normally, if another woman had asked, Xu Fengnian might have cheekily said, "Doesn't this master have another sword between his legs?" But now, he dared not harbor such rogue thoughts. Twelve swords, arrayed in a line, hovered before Luoyang.

Luoyang flicked a finger, and a sword shot into the light, vanishing in a flash. One sword returned, another entered—the twelve flying swords surged forward one after another. The flying swords circulated endlessly, a dazzling display. Luoyang seemed to be talking to herself: "Not a single bead can be damaged. If the formation is destroyed, the light will explode, leaving no blind spot to hide in. Little Infant will bear the brunt, and you wouldn't last more than a few breaths. Even if I survive, I'm destined not to open that bronze door. Bringing you into the tomb was to use your life to open the gate."

"Little Infant'?" "This shadow creature has such a poetic name?" Xu Fengnian quickly realized and stomped his foot, exclaiming, "Luoyang, explain to me clearly! What do you mean by 'using my life to open the gate'?! Borrow? Can this life be borrowed and returned?" Luoyang calmly said, "You possess purple-gold energy. It is both the best nourishment for Little Infant and the key. If a group like the Zhong Divine Powers had come to the tomb, it would have been a surviving royal descendant of Southern Tang who died." Xu Fengnian thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "In that case, let's just die together in this *Thunder Pool*. If the Zhong family doesn't manage to get in, perhaps centuries from now, our two skeletons will be found and mistaken for a pair of lovers who committed suicide together." Luoyang paid no heed. Luoyang strummed the swords as if playing a zither.

Xu Fengnian watched her intently controlling the swords, back and forth. Huang Baozhuang? The fiend Luoyang? At this moment, the two identities blurred. As a child, Xu Fengnian also wished to become one of those renowned masters, or at the very least, a roaming knight who freely exacted vengeance and lived without restraint. Thus, he often pestered the reclusive old guardians at the *Tide-Listening Pavilion*, hearing many tales of extraordinary encounters, some true, some false. Stories of falling off a cliff, catching a branch to survive, entering a cave to find the remains of a master, then, after kowtowing, receiving one or two secret manuals, and emerging as a dominant first-rate master in the martial arts world. Vengeance exacted, freedom enjoyed—all of which made young Xu Fengnian long to pick a few 'celestial' looking cliffs and jump off them. Later, his second sister enlightened him with a single remark: "With tens of thousands of secret manuals in the *Tide-Listening Pavilion*, where would you go to act so foolishly?"

Xu Fengnian sighed, then turned to the creature's sorrowful face and helplessly said, "We're almost dead. Come on, give this master a more cheerful expression." He expected the request to be nonsensical, but to his surprise, the creature's red robe swirled, and it indeed presented a joyful face towards Xu Fengnian. Xu Fengnian grunted, "Again!" Sorrow to joy. "Again!" The crimson robe spun like a butterfly circling a flower. Xu Fengnian was having a great time playing, and it seemed the creature was also very happy?