Chapter 46: The Original Owner (1/2)

“The Dusk River Sacrament?!” Lu Yun and Qing Han exclaimed at the same time. Seven days later precisely marked the beginning of the ritual. According to Miao, all of the life energy from the ritual’s sacrifices would be diverted to the bronze outer-coffin.

“Everyone finds the Sacrament strange, but it’s hard to imagine it’s all for the sake of the creature inside the coffin,” Qing Han said, a solemn ring to his voice. “There’s definitely foul play at work here!”

“But in that case….” Lu Yun frowned. “The ritual was first established because of the upheaval from that ancient tomb. In that case, is the coffin related to that ancient Dusk tomb?”

“That’s….” That illuminated new paths of potential for Qing Han.

During the outbreak of the ancient Dusk tomb, specters and ghouls had poured out en masse into the Dusk River and shattered the oceanic stronghold on the northern border. As a result, a legion of North Sea monsters invaded the province and caused untold misery.

The river god had then made a personal appearance and used its formidable powers to seal off the ancient tomb. Before departing the world, it had also left behind instructions for the Dusk River Sacrament. From then on, the Sacrament had become an integral part of the province, its inhabitants unfailingly carrying out the ritual every hundred years.

However, it was now plain to see that matters weren’t as they seemed. From the very start, the life essence collected through the ritual was meant as an offering for whatever was inside the bronze outer-coffin.

“What on earth is going on?” Qing Han murmured. He could feel the onset of a pounding headache. If the Sacrament was a dark scheme, then what about the tomb’s uprising, or the river god? Were they all part of a plot hatched by the tomb’s undead residents?

But if so, why had creatures from ancient Dusk tomb come to this burial mound?

“There truly are too many unfathomable mysteries in the immortal world,” sighed Lu Yun. “We have to stop the ritual, in any case. As for this bronze outer-coffin… it belongs to me now!” A smile floated onto his lips. “Whether you’re a dragon, or something else, you’re mine as long as you’re dead!”

“You people stay put.” He slowly squatted down and lowered Qing Han to the ground.

Miao stepped forward, ready to help the envoy.

“Don’t touch me!” the latter cried urgently the moment he saw Miao’s hand draw near.

Miao froze, then awkwardly retracted his hand and mumbled, “Can that be aversion I see on the ugly eyesore’s face? Am I still lacking in beauty?”

“Come and help me up,” Qing Han spoke to Yuying. He sighed with relief when Miao stepped back.

“I already warned you, don’t even think of coveting our Yuying!” Lu Yun snarled.

“I-I just don’t want that guy to touch me!” the boneless Qing Han explained.

“Fine.” Lu Yun shrugged. He’s probably not into animal spirits.

With a nod, Yuying approached Qing Han’s side and gently helped the imperial envoy up.

“If you really want to marry her… hmmmmm, you need to prepare a hefty bridal gift.” The urge to say this suddenly struck Lu Yun for some reason.

His skin immediately prickled from the heat of four pairs of murderous eyes.

“I mean, you can also skip that, if you want.” He ran away with his tail between his legs.

Qing Han sighed softly with relief.

“I will never be wed to you!” Yuying retorted with complete seriousness.

“...” Qing Han rolled his eyes, but offered no response. What was he supposed to say to that?

Standing at the root of the tongue, Lu Yun studied the floating summit in earnest. The peak itself is a resurrection layout, a complete grand influence. Its structure is in stark contrast to the rest of the tomb. It was most likely added afterwards.

There had originally been another resurrection layout in the tomb, one designed to revive Yueshen. But it was later altered, resulting in a transformation into an immortal ghost.

Unless he was mistaken, Miao was the one who’d stolen her opportunity for rebirth. This floating peak had come into existence because of the fox spirit, and its resurrection layout had brought the fox back to life.

However, rather than waking up to a second chance at life, he’d fallen into a deep slumber and encompassed the entire burial mound in his dream world. This was a form of self-preservation. The dream protected his physical body and prevented intruders from approaching the summit, so that his body had ample time to recover.

But one day, everything changed. Five thousand years ago, the arrival of a bronze outer-coffin had pushed him out of the resurrection layout, extending his sleep for another five thousand years.

It seems that whatever’s buried inside the coffin is responsible for the destruction of Truewater City. It sacrificed every living soul as blood offerings. Many conjectures whirled in his mind. The Truewater city lord placed the Portrait of Emptiness on the altar to suppress it and prevent it from activating.

The altar had stirred to life the second he’d taken the painting away, consuming all of the undead hags in the ruins. But these hags were half-dead monsters with no life essence whatsoever, so they were worthless offerings.