Chapter 1 An Unexpected Encounter

Before Yu Qingqiu and the others stood a massive and towering stone door.

The door was covered in dust and was larger than any gate they had encountered before. It was engraved with extremely intricate and complex continuous patterns of Pan Chi (coiled dragon)纹, spiraling and magnificent.

It gave a universal sense of historical weight, as if one could glimpse a thousand years of secrets through the cracks of the door.

It's just that they didn't know what the words "Do not microwave" written on the door meant.

"This is it."

Yu Qingqiu took a deep breath, carefully observed the stone door, and after finding no problems,

He reached out and took two grappling hooks tied with iron chains and ropes from his subordinate.

He first stepped on the ground, then kicked off the wall, his figure fluttered up, passing in front of the stone door. With one hand each, he passed the grappling hooks through the two ring handles on the stone door, looped them several times,

And finally landed back in place.

Yu Qingqiu threw the rope to his subordinate, and indifferently uttered a word, "Pull."

The Tiqi quickly divided into two teams, each holding an iron chain, and pulled back with all their might.

The stone gate made a harsh and ear-piercing rubbing sound, as if hundreds of years of accumulated dust was rustling down, shimmering like a flying waterfall under the light of the fire.

The stone door slowly opened, and a bone-chilling chill came over them.

With the light of the torches, everyone could vaguely see that this was an underground palace.

The underground palace covered a huge area. The ground was composed of square bluestone slabs pieced together seamlessly.

Ancient and simple beams that several people could hug stood tall and upright, supporting a hemispherical dome. Four candlesticks hung on each beam, and small and stable orange-yellow candlelight shone in the candlesticks.

The sound of gurgling water came from afar. With the help of the candlelight, everyone could see a bright silver stream of mercury surrounding the entire underground palace.

Combined with the uneven bluestone slabs in the depths of the underground palace, it created a landscape of mountains standing tall and rivers and seas.

In the middle of the underground palace, at the confluence of the mercury streams, stood a Mayan-style stone pyramid. The top of the tower was shrouded in darkness.

They could only see thick iron chains extending from the beams, all reaching towards the top of the pyramid, as if locking something.

"Using mercury as rivers, streams, and seas, with mechanical contraptions for irrigation, above are astronomical phenomena, and below are geographical features. Using mermaid oil as candles, they will burn for a long time..."

A complex expression appeared on Yu Qingqiu's face.

Isn't this Sima Qian's description of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin?! Did you really think I haven't read history books?

The Wude Guard Tiqi's expression changed slightly, and he whispered, "Lord Yu, could this be the First Emperor..."

Yu Qingqiu replied indifferently, "No."

He didn't explain the reason, but his tone was extremely certain.

The Tiqi felt a little relieved, mustered their courage, and slowly stepped into the underground palace side by side.

According to the compass, the cage holding the auspicious beast should be nearby...

Squeak—

The teeth-aching sound rang again, and a certain stone door opposite the underground palace was slowly pulled open.

The Wude Guard Tiqi shuddered and raised their crossbows, pointing them at the direction of the sound.

"...So, if there's no time to slowly steep tea with hot water, you can eat the tea leaves first and then chug hot water to quickly steep the tea in your stomach..."

Song Jie's rambling voice sounded from behind the door. Gongyang Han, with an impatient expression, led the White Lotus Sect members out of the door.

His first glance swept across the scene of the underground palace,

And his second glance saw the Wude Guard Tiqi on the opposite side of the underground palace, across the river of mercury, holding torches and staring at them.

Both sides had just passed through a long tunnel, traveled a long distance to get here, and never expected to meet at this time and place.

For a time, they stared at each other, and the entire underground palace was silent, with only the sound of the mercury stream flowing.

"Fate, it's wonderful."

Song Jie muttered in a low voice, took the lead in breaking the silence, and shouted loudly to the Tiqi on the opposite side: "Brothers, it's not easy for everyone to get here, so let's not fight and kill each other, right?

How about we have a mountain song duet?"

What responded to him was a volley of crossbow arrows.

The underground palace was huge, and the two sides were extremely far apart. Even if the Wude Guard Tiqi used powerful crossbows to throw arrows high, they were just at the end of their strength when they landed.

Gongyang Han's expression was hideous and resolute. He made a hand gesture and summoned a gale, easily blowing away the arrows in the sky.

The white-browed old man silently pulled out his short blade, let out a turbid breath, and his hunched and short body slowly straightened his back.

The desperate White Lotus Sect members on both sides also understood that it was time for a deadly battle. They took out their weapons and formed a battle formation to prepare for the enemy.

Thump thump thump thump!

The Wude Guard Tiqi had solemn expressions. They stepped on the bluestone ground, crossed the river of mercury, and charged towards the White Lotus Sect members on the opposite side.

Behind them, several flying swords rose into the sky, followed the Wude Guard Tiqi's attack, swooped down, and tore apart the protective formation formed by the White Lotus Sect members.

Just as the two sides were about to fight together, the iron chains tied to the pyramid in the middle of the underground palace vibrated, and a hoarse and low voice sounded from the top of the pyramid.

"Who... has broken into my tomb..."