189: The great general of the Yuhua Dynasty?

The passage on the right was much longer and wider than the previous two.

On the walls on both sides, some already blurred murals began to appear, vaguely showing the magnificent scene of a mighty army with clanging iron hooves.

A wave of bloodthirsty Evil Qi, tempered by countless battles, rushed towards them.

At the end of the passage was another huge stone door.

However, this door was cast from a single piece of profound iron, and intricate, mysterious array patterns were engraved on it.

"Move aside! Let the professional handle this!"

"Lin Boy, let me show you the Daoist's specialized skills!"

Zhang Dabao pushed Lin Fan aside, pulled a compass from hisin arms, muttered some incantations, and began to gesticulate towards the stone door.

After a while, he slapped his thigh.

"Got it!"

He walked to an inconspicuous corner on the left side of the stone door and, with a very strange rhythm, tapped a protruding stone brick seven times.

"Rumble—!"

A sound of mechanisms echoed.

The massive profound iron door, weighing ten thousand jin, slowly rose upwards.

A hundred times more intense treasure light than any previous tomb chamber, mixed with an indescribable scent of decay, rushed towards them.

"Hahaha! It still has to be your Daoist! Lin Boy, learn something!"

The main tomb chamber.

Found it!

"I'm not a petty thief who robs tombs every day…" Lin Fan said, speechless.

"If you can't speak properly, then don't speak!"

"What do you mean, petty tomb raider? This is called helping a Senior continue to shine!"

"Stop babbling, hurry up."

The two, one in front and one behind, cautiously walked inside.

The sight before them made even the well-traveled duo gasp.

The entire tomb chamber was enormous, like an underground palace.

Gold, silver, and jewels were piled high like mountains, almost blinding to the eye.

All sorts of weapons filled the weapon racks on both sides of the tomb chamber, but they were all covered in rust.

Various rare Ores and medicinal herbs were neatly categorized and stored in stone boxes, long covered in dust.

This was like moving the entire national treasury of a Dynasty!

Zhang Dabao's drool had already flowed all over the floor, and like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, he was about to rush forward.

But as soon as he reached out and grabbed a handful of glittering gold ingots.

"Puff."

A soft sound.

The seemingly solid ingots, like sand weathered for billions of years, silently turned into the tiniest dust between his fingertips.

Zhang Dabao: "…"

He didn't believe it and picked up another seemingly sharp and unparalleled precious sword.

"Crack."

The precious sword snapped in response, also turning into a pile of useless rust.

"Oh, for crying out loud!"

Zhang Dabao let out a desperate wail and slumped to the ground.

All the treasures in this room were just pretty but useless fakes!

Seeing this, Lin Fan also sighed in his heart.

Time was the most ruthless carving knife.

His gaze passed over the mountainous pile of "junk" and landed in the deepest part of the tomb chamber.

There, a bronze sarcophagus, more than three times larger than the previous two combined, rested quietly.

That should be the resting place of the tomb's owner.

The two stepped forward and, working together, pushed open the heavy coffin lid.

Inside the coffin, it was empty.

There were no bones, no burial objects, only a completely decayed… general's armor.

"Where's the person?"

The two looked at each other, and both saw deep confusion in the other's eyes.

Just as the two were filled with doubt and uncertainty, Lin Fan's peripheral vision caught sight of an inconspicuous small box, carved from sandalwood, in the corner of the sarcophagus.

His heart stirred, and he reached out to pick it up.

The box was not locked; with a gentle push, it opened.

Inside, there were no gold or silver treasures, nor any divine Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals.

Only a yellowed… handwritten note made from unknown beast hide.

The two leaned closer and, under the dim light of the perpetual lamp in the tomb chamber, carefully read it.

The handwriting on the note was strong and vigorous, deeply etched, carrying an aura of war and iron horses.

It recorded a man's glorious yet tragic life.

"My name is Yuan Wudi, the second generation Grand General of the Yuhua Imperial Dynasty."

"I began practicing martial arts at seven, joined the army at fourteen, killed a hundred thousand enemies in the northern borders, watered my horses in the vast sea, and sealed the wolf at Juxu…"

"However, my achievements overshadowed my lord, and I was ultimately envied by petty people and harmed by treacherous officials. In the second year of Yuhua, the treacherous prime minister Zhao Wenran framed me, claiming I was plotting rebellion. His Majesty was enraged and decreed… the execution of my entire family!"

"I fought desperately to protect my beloved wife, Ruyan, allowing her to escape…"

"I lived in hiding for fourteen years, thinking I could end my remaining life like this, but I never expected to be found by the eagles and hounds of the Yuhua Imperial Dynasty."

"In that battle, the sky and earth darkened, and blood flowed like rivers. My beloved wife, to protect me, suffered seventeen sword wounds and perished…"

"My heart was dead, consumed by rage. In desperation, I had a Breakthrough on the battlefield, perishing together with the Martial Saint who led the team."

"Fortunately, I did not die and lingered on. So I sought this place to be buried with my beloved wife."

"We could not share the same bed in life, but we will share the same grave in death."

"My entire life, I have been worthy of heaven, worthy of earth, and worthy of the common people, but only… I have let you down, Ruyan."

At the end of the note, two Cultivation Techniques were also appended.

One was a Mind-Cultivation Technique—"Blood Transformation Yang Scripture."

The other was a spear technique—"Dragon Python Soul Severing Spear."

Clearly, these were the Legacy of that Yuan Wudi.

…

After reading, both fell silent.

In their hearts, they felt a sense of respect for this unyielding yet ill-fated general.

However…

"Lin Boy." Zhang Dabao scratched his head, his small eyes filled with confusion, "How do I feel like something… seems off about this?"

"You feel it too?" Lin Fan's brows furrowed.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he just felt that something… was missing from this note.

"What's missing?"

The two racked their brains, unable to figure it out.

Suddenly!

Zhang Dabao slapped his thigh, his eyes wide open!

"Holy crap! I remember now!"

He pointed at the note, then at Lin Fan, his voice trembling.

"This… this note, from beginning to end, thousands of words, glorifies himself to no end, and describes his wife's deep affection…"

"But damn it, not a single word mentions that he had a younger sister!"

Boom!

At these words, Lin Fan's mind also went "Buzz" and instantly blanked!

That's right!

Sister!

The sister who lay in the coffin in the side hall, her body uncorrupted, looking as if alive!

"Daoist, you… are you sure this note didn't mention her?" Lin Fan's voice was a bit dry.

"Absolutely certain!" Zhang Dabao patted his chest, guaranteeing, "Your Daoist has read more books than you've eaten salt! This matter, absolutely no mistake!"

"But… but in the tomb chamber I went to earlier, on that coffin, it was clearly engraved 'Tomb of My Beloved Sister, Qingxue'!"

Lin Fan's heart was in turmoil.

What on earth was going on?!

One was a handwritten note personally written by the tomb owner.

The other was a clearly visible inscription on the coffin.

One of them had to be false!

Just as the two were filled with doubt and uncertainty, their minds in a muddle.

"Whoosh—"

A chilling wind, without warning, blew from the depths of the dark passage.

It made the flame of the perpetual lamp flicker violently, now bright, now dim.

It also made the two shiver, a chill rising from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads!