Chapter 117: The Imperial Coffin (1/2)

Qing Han nodded, confused. He didn’t understand what Lu Yun was talking about, but it sounded reasonable nevertheless.

“Then... how do you think we should break the formation?” Whether it was made of fire and wood or… whatever, he had no good solution to offer.

“We can simply ask Xuanxi to flood it with the Dusk River if it’s just a formation of fire and wood,” a pensive Lu Yun responded. “But the killing formation is only a symptom, not the root cause of the issue. Even if we were to divert the river, the mountain configuration would just seal it away. The mountain and water will reassert themselves and condemn us to death.”

Qing Han gave up, these principles were too far beyond his grasp. The governor might as well have been giving a dissertation on the laws of the heavens. “So where’s the mountain?”

Inside this vast forest, there wasn’t even a hill to be seen.

“Mountains tower above water!” Lu Yun muttered. “The water configuration is at the Western Extinction Tomb. There must be a big pond over there, while we’re at higher altitude here. Ergo, the mountain configuration is right beneath our feet. Oftentimes, one can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Qing Han was thoroughly lost.

“Aiya, don’t make that face. Once I secure my governorship, I’ll teach you everything I know. We’ll raid every single tomb in the immortal world then, brother!” Lu Yun smiled at Qing Han’s expression.

“Really?” Qing Han’s eyes shone, but he still grumbled, “Who’s your brother? And aren’t you afraid I’ll divulge your secrets? You know, if the clan really came down on me, I won’t be able to withstand the pressure.”

Lu Yun’s skills were truly too outlandish. Excavating ancient tombs were always measured not by if, but rather how many immortal lives would be claimed. In fact, several dao immortals at least would be lost during a full exploration. Similarly, it should’ve been almost impossible to explore the burial mound in Myriad Formation Summit.

Yet Lu Yun had succeeded in doing so as just a mere qi condensation cultivator. He’d come back with not only the Portrait of Emptiness and the Profile of Harmony, but also the bronze outer-coffin that was at the heart of the tomb, while paying what seemed like a negligible price.

Such a fact would shock the entire immortal world, were it to become publicly known.

“It doesn’t matter; I’m the only one left of my sect in any case. If your clan were to acquire the ways of tomb raiding, that would just make it a branch of my sect. And if our teachings can be spread further to reach new heights....” Lu Yun smacked his lips. “Future generations throughout the whole world would remember my name.”

“You’d have to become powerful enough for that. No one will remember a puny golden core ant.” Qing Han rolled his eyes. “If you’re going to impart your knowledge to me, I’ll stay in Dusk Province and never go back. In fact, I’m also fond of showing off.”

Lu Yun couldn’t help but laugh at the young man’s expression, but why did he also feel a sudden urge to kiss his friend’s cheek? This was definitely an instinctive desire, rather than a conscious thought.

Oh my god, is he turning me gay? Lu Yun shuddered violently.

“What’s the matter with you?” Qing Han looked at him with innocent eyes.

“N-n-nothing!” Lu Yun straightened his expression. “If only that fatty Li Youcai were here, his Seal of Mountains and Rivers would come in handy against the mountain’s influence. In fact, we really need a few more helpers here.”

Qing Han thought briefly. “Mo Yi can probably break the Big Dipper Formation back in the northern tomb, while Li Youcai can solve the one here....”

“Precisely,” Lu Yun agreed. There was a limit to how much a single person could do; a team with a well-defined division of labor was crucial during tomb explorations. “But since we’re already inside, we can’t just leave empty-handed. Who knows what else the juba is up to?”

He pondered the issue seriously, then used the Dragonsearch Invocation once more to meticulously consider all possibilities before dispelling the compass made of qi. “Since we can’t brute force our way through the mountain configuration, we’ll have to take an indirect approach!”

Sizzle!

A green flame appeared in his hand.