"Tian Zhen, what are you doing?"
Seeing Wu Tian Zhen's gaze fixed on the ceiling, Professor Chen's heart skipped a beat. This guy was hinting at something.
"Professor Chen, how do you think this tomb chamber, its ceiling, was constructed?" Wu Tian Zhen suddenly asked.
"It should be a dome. The arch shape alleviates the pressure of the seawater, making it more stable," Professor Chen replied after a glance.
Wu Tian Zhen rubbed his head. "I think it's constructed using the methods of an underground palace on land, creating a grid – what they call seven horizontal and eight vertical lines. This is very stable, so we can dig a hole anywhere. We'll just go straight through the top."
Wu Tian Zhen's words left Professor Chen stunned. He had asked him to find the entrance to the tomb, and instead, he was teaching them how to dig a tomb-robbing hole!
Fatty, however, sat beside Wu Tian Zhen. "Tian Zhen, that's impressive. Your ability to talk nonsense is even better than mine, and you make it sound so convincing."
Fatty quipped. Wu Tian Zhen glanced at him. "I'm relying on architectural knowledge, Fatty. Don't spout nonsense if you don't understand."
Fatty pouted. "Brother Wu, if you dig a hole, won't seawater rush in and drown us?" Shirley Yang looked at Wu Tian Zhen, finding his method unreliable. No, it was utterly unreliable. It not only damaged the tomb but also posed a life-threatening risk.
"That's why we need to time it precisely, to dig when the tide is out. That way, we can safely enter the next tomb chamber," Wu Tian Zhen explained. Professor Chen quickly waved his hands. "Unwise, unwise. If the seawater backflows, the cultural relics inside, and the entire tomb chamber will collapse. Besides, we don't know how to determine the ebb and flow of the tide."
Professor Chen spoke, and the others nodded. "Brother Wu, your method is feasible, but it's quite dangerous, so we will not adopt it," Shirley Yang stated directly. She hadn't found her father and lifted her curse yet. How could she follow Wu Tian Zhen in doing something foolish now?
"That's right. Our expert team is stuck here and cannot proceed. We will not use your method," one of the expert team members said, his face serious, as if he would never use it, even if it meant death.
Seeing this, Wu Tian Zhen didn't say much more. It was the only practical method he could think of. If they relied on finding mechanisms, they might die from other traps before even finding the tomb door mechanism.
After the expert team rejected Wu Tian Zhen's idea, everyone resumed searching the surroundings for mechanisms. Wu Tian Zhen, however, looked at Fatty. "Let's give it a try. Otherwise, searching for mechanisms here is like finding a needle in a haystack."
Fatty nodded. "It's a one-in-nine chance of survival anyway. Life is precious." Fatty said, and the two walked towards another area.
At this moment, Zhang Tian and the others were unaware that the expert team had arrived at their previous location. Four people and a fox stood before a large door. Since entering this underwater tomb, Zhang Tian himself didn't know how many tomb doors or mechanisms he had passed.
"This pattern should be the pattern of the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace," Zhang Qilin remarked, looking at the pattern above.
"Holy cow, my second brother spoke for the first time at a tomb door. Boss, record this quickly; it's a historic moment!" Fatty said from the side.
Zhang Tian glared at him and looked at Zhang Qilin. "I remember there were two doors in my previous memories. After passing through this one, we should encounter those two doors, and then I don't know what happens next," Zhang Qilin said. Zhang Tian didn't say much. At the time, Wu Sansheng, to conceal himself and complete his mission, had used the corpse worm pill to incapacitate everyone. It was already quite good that Zhang Qilin had these memories.
"Fatty, it seems this is the last door. After entering, it should be the gate of life and death," Zhang Tian said. Fatty blinked. "Boss, the gate of life and death? What are you looking at me for? You're not thinking of using Fatty to be a meat shield, are you?" Fatty shuddered. That wouldn't do; it would mean death.
"What are you thinking? I'm just asking if you're scared," Zhang Tian said. Fatty patted his chest. "Hmph, who do you think I am, Wang Kaixuan? I'm not afraid of anything! I do what others don't dare to do, and I do what others can do!" Fatty said with pride.
"Clap clap clap clap!"
"Good! Uncle Fatty, well said!" The little fox clapped its little paws from the side.
"Oh, I almost forgot about you." His gaze fell on the little fox, which had been slacking off.
"What! Tuan Tuan only performs, not sells herself!" The little fox, seeing Zhang Tian look over, quickly hid behind Zhang Qilin. 138 Reading Network
"What, why do you like hiding behind him? I'm just asking if you want to go in with us," Zhang Tian said speechlessly. This fox seemed to have fixated on that young man, constantly sticking to his back.
"Hmph, my mother said, if you can't be a beautiful little fox, be a brave little fox. Tuan Tuan is very brave!" The little fox raised its tail, very seriously.
"Alright, all of you are just blowhards." Zhang Tian looked at the two of them, a bit speechless. They were all talk now, but they'd be the first to run later.
Zhang Qilin, however, was staring intently at the model. He had a feeling that what he was looking for was inside.
"Boss, the patterns on this door are like half a model. To truly see the model pattern, we probably need to go inside," Hu Bayi said. Zhang Tian nodded. "Since we're here, let's look for clues. Moreover, I think there will likely be some alchemy jade pendants or cultivation technique jade pendants inside. Since Wang Canghai used this place as a secret base, he must have left some things behind."
Zhang Tian said, and Hu Bayi and Fatty both nodded. "Then Fatty will open the door." Fatty spat on his hands and then pushed the large door open with force.
Inside was another long corridor, its end unseen. The surroundings were somewhat cold. Zhang Tian didn't pay much attention, as these were all normal occurrences.
"This tomb passage is quite long, but there seems to be light ahead." Fatty pointed not far away. About a hundred meters ahead, there was an opening with a very bright light. Several people quickened their pace.
With the sea goblins and sea monsters removed, the dangers inside had been greatly reduced. Only mechanisms remained. As for the gate of life and death, Zhang Tian felt it shouldn't be too difficult, especially since the malevolent spirits had dissipated. Unless, within the gate of life and death, there was a white-haired zombie.
Soon, they arrived at the source of the light. It was a small space with strange mineral stones on the walls emitting light. In front of them, two doors appeared. On the doors were written the characters "Life" and "Death" in bold.
Well, they had indeed encountered the gate of life and death. And in such a desolate place. However, Zhang Tian knew clearly that if they could pass this gate, they would likely enter the uppermost tomb chamber, the location of the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace model.
"Boss, is this the death-calling gate? It looks strange," Fatty said, swallowing as he looked at the two doors.
"Fatty, if it were you, which one would you choose?" Zhang Tian asked Fatty.
"The gate of life, of course. Fatty would definitely choose the gate of life. The gate of life is what everyone desires!" Fatty answered almost without hesitation, without even thinking.
Zhang Tian slapped his forehead. It had to be you.