"The traces of directional blasting were applied for by the association before you arrived," Zhao Zheng explained. "Given that the front tomb chamber was looted, and the extensive development of Hongdou Valley."
"We felt it necessary to conduct a protective excavation. Some cultural relics left behind by tomb robbers in the front tomb hall have already been secured."
"Please forgive me for not detailing this in the information previously."
"The purpose of inviting everyone here is to find a way to open this stone sluice gate."
This expedition was his initiative.
He was incredibly excited upon discovering this ancient tomb.
However, after several unsuccessful attempts at blasting, Zhao Zheng realized that the protective measures of this Western Xia royal tomb far exceeded normal standards.
After detailed examination, it was found that continuing to use brute force to break through might cause the entire mountainside to collapse.
He could not bear such responsibility.
Therefore, he recalled how Lin Ying and Professor Song had demonstrated intelligence far beyond ordinary people during past archaeological endeavors.
He hoped to enlist their help to open this stone wall that blocked him from discovering the secrets of the southward migration of the Western Xia royal family.
Before Zhao Zheng could finish speaking, Professor Song had already approached the stone wall and was meticulously examining it.
Lin Ying exchanged a glance with Li Chonglou.
Zhao Zheng's actions were a fait accompli; she had no prior preparation.
Despite her profound family heritage, opening a stone wall, akin to the 'Dragon-Severing Stone' of ancient tomb sects in martial arts novels, with bare hands was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
A hint of helplessness flickered in Lin Ying's beautiful eyes: "I'll do my best."
As she spoke, she walked to the stone wall and observed it carefully.
Li Chonglou remained still, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he scrutinized the stone wall.
The entire stone slab seemed to be embedded in the mountain, or perhaps it was part of the mountain itself.
It fit perfectly, leaving no place to start cutting.
But it was definitely not that simple.
Without a mechanism to control it, given Zhao Zheng's influence in Yuchen, even a thicker wall could have been easily breached.
After all, in modern society, things weren't done solely by human effort; the efficiency of machines far surpassed ancient methods.
Even if blasting and cutting were not feasible, there were hard rock tunnel boring machines.
Of course, it was not impossible that Zhao Zheng feared damaging the inner tomb chambers.
"Are you expecting us to bash our heads against this thing?" Cheng Gong's expression was grim. He had traveled a long distance, expecting a breakthrough excavation, only to be stopped by a stone wall.
He was extremely displeased.
However, no one paid him any mind. After uttering this sentence, he fell silent, finding no traction.
"This type of stone wall was constructed specifically to prevent tomb robbers from entering," Li Chonglou said calmly, his sharp gaze sweeping across the stone wall. "There are two possibilities: either no consideration was given to a way out, allowing the deceased to rest in peace here."
"Or, it is equipped with a mechanism for the convenience of the artisans who built the tomb chambers to enter and exit."
"The former is more common in burial pits, but the Muya people did not have this custom, so the possibility is slim."
"Brother Zhao, I believe you have tried many methods. The reason you haven't opened it is that you fear triggering a mechanism that would cause the mountain to collapse and destroy everything, correct?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zheng looked at Li Chonglou with admiration in his eyes: "Exactly."
"We have scanned the tomb chamber structure, and there is another space behind the wall."
"We dare not be careless."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Chonglou's eyes suddenly lit up.
His gaze fell on a carved mural on the left side of the cave wall.
It depicted a faceless figure in a long robe, holding its hands up to the sky.
In the sky, two clouds, one on the left and one on the right, corresponded to each other.
In the center, an irregularly shaped cavity was recessed directly above the faceless figure's head.
Not only Li Chonglou but Lin Ying also fixed their gaze on the cavity at the same time.
She asked, "Junior brother, what about that dragon head carving you bought earlier?"
"Try fitting it in!"
"Lin Ying, have you watched too many movies? There's no trigger in that pit, and you expect to open the stone door based on a mere totem?" Cheng Gong's sarcastic remarks followed immediately.
Zhang Chen, hearing him attack Lin Ying, could no longer hold back: "Big Goose, are you getting too full of yourself? You're mocking Lin Ying now, you mad dog!"
"Big Goose" was the nickname Zhang Chen had privately given Cheng Gong.
This guy was just like a goose, daring to bite everyone except Professor Song.
He had no real skills himself, yet he was extremely stubborn.
If it weren't for Professor Song, no one would bother with him.
"You dissolute youth, what right do you have to speak!" Cheng Gong's neck stiffened, and he retorted.
Normally, he would give some face to Zhang Chen, this patron.
After all, Zhang Chen bore the costs of every investigation, but upon hearing Zhang Chen call him by his nickname, he disregarded all pretense.
The two continued to bicker back and forth.
Zhao Zheng and his wife shook their heads.
Li Chonglou, as if not seeing them, walked directly to Lin Ying's side, took out the dragon head carving with a missing corner from his bag, and placed it into the irregular indentation.
There was no reaction.
But neither Lin Ying nor Li Chonglou showed any disappointment.
Lin Ying had asked him to take out the dragon head not because she expected it to open the mechanism.
Rather, there was a clear circular indentation on the cavity.
It did indeed match the dragon head carving.
However, because a corner was missing, it did not cover the entire area.
The two exchanged a look, both guessing what the other was thinking.
"Zhao Zheng, mobilize the entire association to find the missing corner of the carving in Chonglou's hand as quickly as possible," Lin Ying said to Zhao Zheng, turning back. "This totem came from here, and the missing corner might be the key to opening this stone door!"
"What's the principle?" Zhao Zheng was dumbfounded.
Lin Ying's words had a profound impact on his understanding.
A small carved totem being the key to opening a door, was it like in the movies?
But any mechanism required a trigger.
He had already examined the recessed pit, and there was nothing that could trigger it.
Not even a small hole.
"The totem I bought is carved from pyrite. Over the years of weathering, the pyrite particles on it have been corroded and obscured," Li Chonglou explained. "I examined this totem earlier, and the missing piece was not a natural break but showed clear signs of manual inlay."
"My senior sister and I suspect it was made of a certain type of stone."
"It's the key that drives the entire stone wall mechanism."
"Its principle is similar to that of a magnet."
Saying this, Li Chonglou took out a pickaxe from his bag and struck it: "It's obvious, yet it's not a magnet."
"Nonsense, completely baseless!" At this moment, Cheng Gong gave up arguing with Zhang Chen and turned to attack Li Chonglou. "I think you're just an ignorant fool. If you can't open it, fine, but you're even trying to fool us with this kind of talk."
"Cheng Gong." As soon as he spoke, Professor Song interrupted him with a frown. "What Chonglou and Lin Ying are saying is not without reason."
"I have studied several Western Xia ancient tombs, and there are cases where the magnetic field of jade was used as a mechanism."
"I was just looking for such a place earlier, to see if this possibility existed."
"It seems the thinking of young people is indeed much more active than mine."
These few words made Cheng Gong's face extremely unpleasant, as if he had eaten something foul.
His teacher's words were truth to him.
He could no longer refute them.
"In that case, after I make rubbings of all the murals, I'll first return to the place where I bought the totem and inquire about clues regarding the missing corner!" Zhao Zheng's eyes lit up, and he immediately made a decision.
He might not necessarily believe Li Chonglou, but he would absolutely not dare to doubt Professor Song's words.