In the inner city of the imperial mausoleum, on a wide street, Yan Shouyi was leading a horde of zombies, vengeful spirits, and paper figures in a mad dash.
Even an eight-lane dual carriageway was considered quite wide nowadays, but the main thoroughfares of the Qin Imperial City back then were a hundred meters wide.
Even this simplified version of the inner city had very spacious roads.
The contrast was all the more striking: Yan Shouyi alone, fleeing ahead, with a vast, dark mass behind him, brandishing claws and fangs in pursuit.
"Just how many zombies, vengeful spirits, and paper figures are there!"
Yan Shouyi didn't look back. Just by listening to the commotion, he could sense the sheer number of troops chasing him.
Being pursued by so many malevolent beings simultaneously, Yan Shouyi might be the only one in history to achieve such a feat, and he felt a touch of pride.
But this endless chase wasn't a solution. By the time he reached the southern part of the imperial city, Yan Shouyi would still have to deal with the trickster or the蛊 master.
Even Hu Hai wasn't sure who was lying in which coffin; Yan Shouyi was merely speculating.
With the malevolent beings relentlessly pursuing him, Yan Shouyi saw Lin Zitong riding Xue on a different path. Thus, he decided not to waste time with this group of evil spirits.
He pulled out three talismans, threw them into the sky, and chanted:
"Palace of the Northern Emperor, come swiftly like clearing clouds.
Vajra messengers, hasten to the altar.
Commanded to be swift, thunder roars and bolts, heavens dim, earth dark, sun and moon obscured.
Ten thousand demons bow, obeying upon arrival of the talisman.
Swallowing demons, devouring ghosts, cutting down evil and slaying the fierce.
Dare to defy the dark laws, be dragged to Sangtong.
Sent to the dark prison, for eternal damnation.
Deep and long night, sword edge and blade tip, I now release the seal, ten thousand ghosts submit!"
Wooden Puppet Manifestation!
The three talismans transformed into golden light, soaring into the sky.
Sanyuan, who had been waiting in the sky, let out a clear cry and also dove towards the golden light.
As they collided, golden light flared, and the colossal Sanyuan flew out of the light, diving towards Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi seized the opportunity, leaping up and landing precisely on Sanyuan's back.
Sanyuan flapped its wings and soared high, instantly outrunning all the malevolent beings on the ground.
Sanyuan's speed was incredible, far beyond what the spirits on the ground could match. Thus, the horde could only watch helplessly as a delicious living person slipped through their grasp.
"It still comes down to you, Sanyuan!" Yan Shouyi patted Sanyuan's chest.
He suddenly remembered the golden wild geese he had found in the ghost market. That item might have been Huo Ban's masterpiece. If he could transfer Sanyuan's soul into the golden wild geese, Sanyuan's strength would surely reach a new level.
Flying in the air, Yan Shouyi finally witnessed the grandeur of this underground imperial city with his own eyes.
It was a pity that between the main hall and the inner city lay a thick tomb gate, connected to the rock face above, making direct passage impossible. Otherwise, everyone wouldn't have had such trouble.
Yan Shouyi saw Lin Zitong in another direction, safely approaching the bronze bell.
Seeing that Lin Zitong was temporarily safe, Yan Shouyi also refocused his attention on his own objective.
On the south city wall of the inner city hung a massive bronze bell, nine meters tall. The chain suspending it was thicker than Yan Shouyi's waist!
Beside the bronze bell, a coffin made of agarwood wood was suspended. This coffin was the size of a shipping container; Yan Shouyi would believe it if someone said it had three bedrooms and a living room inside.
He couldn't help but think: this was truly Huo Ban's good friend. Since his friend was willing to sacrifice himself, Huo Ban didn't treat them poorly, even crafting such an exquisite coffin.
Upon closer inspection, Yan Shouyi was somewhat surprised. This agarwood coffin was naturally formed, not constructed from planks, but carved from a single, incredibly thick piece of agarwood, hollowed out from within!
How many years old must an agarwood tree have been to grow so thick!
Yan Shouyi couldn't help but imagine the world over two thousand years ago. That world was vastly different from the current one. Just this single, thick piece of agarwood made Yan Shouyi yearn for it.
Sanyuan cried out, reminding Yan Shouyi to pull his thoughts back.
Yan Shouyi steadied himself. He and Sanyuan had already flown in front of the bronze bell. Up close, the bronze bell resembled a wall cast in bronze, completely blocking Yan Shouyi's line of sight.
"You patrol the surroundings; I'll go down and take a look."
Yan Shouyi jumped off Sanyuan's back, landing below the bronze bell. He first glanced warily at the giant coffin. After confirming that the coffin showed no reaction, he walked under the bronze bell.
Looking up from the bottom, it was pitch black. Fortunately, Yan Shouyi had a flashlight. Shining the light, he indeed saw a piece of broken jade hanging from the inner wall of the bell's top.
The broken jade was palm-sized and shaped like a quarter of a circle. It was evident that when the keys from the four bronze bells were gathered, they should form a complete jade bi.
Yan Shouyi did not hesitate. He leaped up, using the inner wall of the bronze bell for leverage midway, finally reaching the top. He grabbed the jade bi and then landed steadily.
"Was it that simple?"
As he descended, Yan Shouyi was still pondering.
If the key could be obtained so easily, were these four tomb guardians too weak?
As it turned out, one should never think too much.
The moment Yan Shouyi's thought arose, Sanyuan, who was patrolling outside, issued an urgent warning to Yan Shouyi!
Something was wrong!
The coffin, which had previously been silent, suddenly began to hum, as if something inside was eager to emerge.
The coffin lid was also trembling.
Suddenly, the coffin lid was pushed open by a gap, and then black, viscous liquid began to flow out.
These viscous substances fell to the ground in clumps and then flowed towards the bronze bell along the ground.
Upon closer inspection, this was not some disgusting sticky substance but countless tiny black insects!
As Yan Shouyi landed, he saw these insects.
His heart sank. The identity of the occupant of this coffin was self-evident—a蛊 master!
蛊 masters hailed from Miao territory. They grew up alongside snakes, insects, and the five poisons, naturally able to communicate with蛊 worms. The蛊 worms they raised were incredibly varied, and their methods of casting蛊 were insidious!
Even more terrifying was that their蛊 worms always caused death in excruciating ways!
Before Yan Shouyi could react, the蛊 worms on the ground suddenly sprang up!
They flew up like bullets, instantly soaring dozens of meters high, all landing on top of the bronze bell!
Then, like locusts, they began frantically gnawing at the iron chain suspending the bronze bell!
The iron chain, thicker than Yan Shouyi's waist, was almost instantly gnawed through by the蛊 worms. The bronze bell, which had hung for two thousand years, let out a muffled thud and then plummeted down!
And Yan Shouyi was still underneath the bronze bell!
Dong—
The bronze bell fell, emitting a heavy sound. Dust and smoke billowed around, and Sanyuan flapped its wings in alarm!