When the White Fur Drought Corpse died, Zhang Tian noticed its unusually large belly.
He had guessed it might contain something, and a search confirmed it.
In the original storyline, Wu Tianzhen had missed two side chambers.
It was no wonder they couldn't find them, or didn't go. Even if they had, they might not have been able to defeat the White Fur Drought Corpse.
Moreover, it was hidden within its belly, making it a miracle they found it.
"It seems the things hidden in the side chambers are even more significant than the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace model, otherwise the key wouldn't be hidden inside the Drought Corpse's belly."
Zhang Tian mused, and then suddenly seemed to recall something.
Consider that Wang Canghai had been constantly seeking the secret to longevity.
And this place was one of his secret bases, filled with demonic beasts, female ghosts, countless mechanisms, secret arts, and even curses.
In this context, it was a certainty that Wang Canghai would have cultivated.
And if he cultivated and sought the secret arts of longevity, combining the two, Zhang Tian had a bold conjecture.
Was it possible he could refine pills?
In ancient times, Qin Shi Huang sought the elixir of immortality, sending Xu Fu on voyages to find it.
Though it was a legend, in this world, Zhang Tian felt anything was possible.
After all, Zhang Qilin, in a sense, had already achieved eternal life.
With this thought, Zhang Tian's curiosity about the side chambers grew even stronger.
If there were elixirs, their strength might be further enhanced.
If there was a cultivation technique for alchemy, it would be an immense fortune.
Regardless, Zhang Tian intended to investigate.
"It stinks, this thing corrodes so fast."
Fatty waved a hand in front of his nose, looking disgusted.
Looking down, indeed, the White Fur Drought Corpse they had just killed had already rotted away.
Only bones remained.
Without further delay, Zhang Tian's gaze turned to the passage beneath the ancient mirror.
This should lead to the next tomb chamber.
Looking at the key in his hand, Zhang Tian didn't know where the side chamber was, and it seemed he would have to explore.
"We're going in. From when we arrived until now, besides these stone talismans, we haven't found anything else."
Zhang Tian said, feeling somewhat dejected.
Such a large and dangerous place, yet nothing else was found, it was absurd.
Hu Bayi nodded. This underwater tomb sounded impressive, but they hadn't found a single thing.
"This consort desires this mirror."
Suddenly, in Fatty's ear, the Consort's voice echoed.
Fatty looked at the huge mirror, then at the stone talismans in his backpack.
Good heavens, even a donkey wouldn't dare to do this.
Did she take him for a donkey to be used?
He felt displeased, but thinking of the evening, Fatty shivered.
"Uh, boss, can this mirror be taken down? Fatty thinks it would make a nice dressing table mirror later."
Fatty rubbed his cheek, feeling rather glum.
If not for the Consort wanting it, no dog would have taken this mirror.
"If you can carry it, then take it."
Zhang Tian waved his hand, indifferent.
This mirror was of no use to him; it could be used to nurture ghosts. The Consort likely fancied it, which was why she had Fatty carry it.
Zhang Tian wasn't particularly interested.
Fatty nodded, looked around, and finally took the mirror down.
The mirror was like a coffin, which Fatty strapped to his back.
For a moment, Zhang Tian almost thought Fatty was carrying a coffin.
Seeing Fatty with the mirror on his back, Zhang Tian had no choice but to carry the stone talismans himself, while Little Turtle perched on his backpack.
After picking up the array stone talismans from the ground, Zhang Tian and the others descended into the tomb passage.
Zhang Tian estimated they were now several hundred meters underwater.
This highlighted how vast the tomb was.
"Old Hu, give it a try, see if you can use the Dragon Seeking Technique to find the hidden tomb chamber."
Zhang Tian didn't intend to go to the Red Tree Bronze Bell just yet; he wanted to investigate the suspended tomb chamber.
He thought that he needed to find the side chamber before Wu Tianzhen reached the Heavenly Palace tomb chamber.
With that in mind, Hu Bayi took out his compass and confidently began his geomancy.
Meanwhile, in the tomb chamber above.
The expert team and Wu Tianzhen's group had already surveyed the surroundings.
Wu Tianzhen greatly admired Professor Chen for daring to descend despite his age.
Moreover, in just over ten minutes, he had learned a great deal from Professor Chen's explanations.
"Look, on this porcelain, there's a model of a building."
Suddenly, a female student exclaimed.
Everyone looked over.
"This must be a model of some building; it looks so magnificent."
Professor Chen gazed at the model, speaking softly.
"This model was likely built for an emperor. If it had truly been constructed, how grand would it have been?"
Shirley Yang now had a new appreciation for tombs and the wisdom of the ancients.
"Professor Chen, do you know where these models are from?"
Wu Tianzhen asked.
"Tianzhen, you're like lighting a candle under a lamp, stating the obvious,"
"If Professor Chen knew what this was, would he need to infer?"
Fatty grumbled from the side.
Wu Tianzhen smiled and didn't retort.
"Right, Ah Ning deliberately separated from us shortly after entering. We don't know where she is now, and we must find her quickly."
Wu Tianzhen said, and the others nodded and stood up.
"Professor Chen, let's go. The tomb chamber is vast, and we can't waste time here."
Wu Tianzhen urged, and Professor Chen nodded. The group then began photographing the surroundings.
Professor Chen even took notes of what had happened.
Finally, they proceeded towards the Golden Nanmu Wood coffin.
As the mechanism was activated, the expert team and Wu Tianzhen's group all fell into the ear chamber on the next level.
After falling into the water, Wang Fatty and his companions were the first to emerge.
Since the White Fur Drought Corpse was dead, everyone was unharmed.
"This is another ear chamber?"
"My dear grandma, Fatty was bewitched by the little ghosts, leading him in circles."
Wang Fatty lamented, while Professor Chen and the others climbed out.
"Someone has already been here."
Shirley Yang observed the surroundings. She was meticulous and could tell from the traces that someone had recently been there.
"By the way, Professor Chen, I haven't asked, who did you come with?"
Wu Tianzhen finally inquired.
"We came with Comrade Xiao Hu and his boss, Zhang Tian, and others."
Professor Chen was not secretive.
"Moreover, I suspect that our current safety is largely due to their actions."
Professor Chen stated, and Wu Tianzhen shivered.
"Young Master Zhang!"
Wu Tianzhen was perplexed.
Wasn't Young Master Zhang from the antique shop? Why was he also tomb raiding?
And from the looks of it, he seemed more capable than himself.
This was too chaotic.
Thinking of Zhang Tian's harmless, yet shrewd merchant demeanor, Wu Tianzhen's teeth gnashed. He had swindled so much money from him, it was natural to be annoyed.
"Holy crap, they beat us to it? Can Tianzhen stand for this?"
Fatty exclaimed excitedly.
"Let's go, let's take a look."
Wu Tianzhen said, leading the expert team towards the tomb door that Zhang Tian had previously opened.
Upon entering the tomb door, a coffin hung suspended.
The water below had been drained.
"This is a Ming Dynasty coffin. It looks so magnificent, with carved markings on it."
Professor Chen shone his light on the coffin.
"Professor Chen, shall we open it and take a look?"
Wu Tianzhen suggested.
Everyone's curiosity was piqued.
"Then let's try?"
Professor Chen, unable to suppress his curiosity about the artifacts and burial goods, spoke softly.
Wu Tianzhen nodded, and then Fatty produced a red candle, preparing to light it in the southeast corner.
"Huh, why is yours a red candle?"
Shirley Yang asked, noticing Wang Fatty's red candle.
"Hehe, the shop ran out of white candles, so I bought a red one. It's all the same, just making do."
Wang Fatty chuckled sheepishly, leaving everyone speechless.
Did anyone use a red candle for lighting? What kind of operation was this?