Chapter 50

Chapter 50: The Second Level of the Tomb

Yang Lingrui followed Li Cheng as they advanced through the passage.

Based on the depth, they should have reached the second level of the ancient tomb.

"Oh? A fork in the road? How interesting," Li Cheng remarked.

The four of them stopped, staring at the five branching paths ahead, each leading in different directions.

Understanding the structure of the second level, Yang Lingrui realized that, unlike the open space of the first level, the second level of the ancient tomb existed entirely in the form of these passages.

The passages extended downward, twisted, and branched, creating a unique underground tomb structure.

"Lingrui, do you usually have good luck?" Li Cheng asked.

Yang Lingrui thought for a moment and replied, "I guess it’s okay."

"Then you choose. I’ve had bad luck since I was little and have never chosen correctly."

"Hmm…"

After pondering for a moment, Yang Lingrui chose the rightmost passage.

The four entered it, and after a short while, they encountered the first wave of attack.

A swarm of corpse worms emerged from the ground; these strange insects could devour a cultivator’s spiritual power. Alone, they posed no threat, but in large numbers, they were very difficult to handle.

However, with Li Cheng, a sixth-level Gathering Qi cultivator, these worms were no problem. With just a few swats, he killed them all.

Li Cheng practiced a technique that manifested externally, allowing him to release various attacks in the form of external manifestations.

According to him, with the enhancement of five-element talismans, he could give his spells corresponding attributes, making them versatile in combat.

After passing through the swarm of insects, the four arrived at a room where a coffin lay horizontally.

Li Cheng examined it and, confirming there were no traps, opened it.

Inside the coffin, there was no body, only a pile of burial goods.

Among them, the most valuable was a spirit pill of early-stage Gathering Qi, which Li Cheng pocketed.

As they continued forward, they encountered another fork in the road.

This time, Yang Lingrui once again chose the right path.

During this second segment, nothing happened, and they smoothly arrived at a new room where they discovered three mid-stage Gathering Qi talismans for moving mountains.

These talismans could significantly enhance the physical strength of Gathering Qi cultivators, making them very useful. Li Cheng divided one for Yang Lingrui and kept the remaining two.

Moving ahead, they faced the same fork and continued to choose the right side.

In the third segment, they encountered a skeletal python.

This evil being was not a monster but formed from the corpses of many grudging souls.

"Third-level Gathering Qi. Lingrui, how about you take this one?"

"Sounds good to me."

Yang Lingrui understood that Li Cheng wanted to see his skills.

Feeling a little restless, Yang Lingrui decided to use the skeletal python to stretch his muscles.

"Wind rise."

Yang Lingrui quietly muttered in his heart, and gusts of wind began to form.

Crack, crack—

The skeletal python twisted its body and charged forward.

With the wind swirling around him, Yang Lingrui swiftly spun into the air.

He flipped and landed behind the skeletal python, summoning several wind blades to strike.

Bang, bang, bang!

The fierce wind blades hit the skeletal python’s massive body, instantly provoking the ferocity of this evil being, which turned its head and roared in response.

"Gather."

Yang Lingrui remained calm and collected, channeling several gusts of wind into his palm.

As the evil being approached, he released them in an instant.

A fast-moving wind spear shot out, turning into a gray line in the eyes of the four, piercing through the python’s head and exiting halfway down its body.

The skeletal python fell in response, its corpse scattering to the ground and gradually turning to ash.

"Good technique!"

Li Cheng applauded, impressed.

The two loyal followers behind him looked at Yang Lingrui with different eyes now.

The skeletal python was not an easy enemy. If it had been them, they wouldn’t have been able to resolve the battle so quickly at their same cultivation level.

"This kid’s wind technique is impressive."

"Indeed, and his mastery is profound, combining both power and speed."

The two whispered to each other, calculating their chances of victory if they faced Yang Lingrui themselves.

"I apologize for showing off. To be honest, Lingrui only knows this one technique," Yang Lingrui said with a smile.

"Then what’s the problem? A single move can conquer all! Techniques are not about quantity but quality. Look at me; I’ve only practiced my external manifestation."

After witnessing Yang Lingrui’s strength, Li Cheng felt very satisfied, and his mood lifted, making his steps lighter.

In the third room, they found a stone.

Li Cheng examined it and confirmed it to be a naturally occurring Mysterious Stone.

"Lingrui, do you know about this item?"

"I know a little; it’s recorded in the books brought back by my elders," Yang Lingrui replied.

In fact, upon seeing the Mysterious Stone, Yang Lingrui felt a surge of excitement, but he concealed it well.

Being of the stone type, this item could potentially provide for his Spirit Stone Immortal.

"However, I don’t know its uses or how to determine its value; it might not be useful at all," Li Cheng said, patting his pouch. "How about I trade something else for it?"

"Ah, it’s fine, Young Master Li. There’s no need to dwell on this; treasure hunting relies on luck and skill."

Yang Lingrui politely declined, saying, "No need to trade for anything else; I just want this Mysterious Stone."

"That’s true, it might be a treasure after all."

The Mysterious Stone was handed to Yang Lingrui, who suppressed his excitement and stored it in his storage bag.

"Now this counts as a reward; I will give this item to the Immortal Master when I return," Yang Lingrui thought.

The four continued navigating through two more forks in the path.

One fork had no danger, while the other had a ghost general at the Fourth Level of Gathering Qi. Li Cheng did not take action, allowing Yang Lingrui and the other two to work together to resolve it.

In these two rooms, they each found a sword of early-stage Gathering Qi and a Resurrection Grass of early-stage Gathering Qi.

Successfully passing through five corridors, they encountered no more forks, and a broad Dao led directly to the third level of the ancient tomb.

Yang Lingrui’s luck was quite good; of the five paths, he had chosen two safe corridors.

It seemed that if one had enough luck, even a cultivator at the First Level of Gathering Qi could effortlessly obtain five rewards by consistently choosing safe paths and reach the third level.

Upon entering the third level area, a sinister great hall came into view.

When Yang Lingrui and the others arrived, Huang Yan and Zheng Huaming had reached it first.

"You two friends are really quick," Li Cheng said with a smile.

"Not at all, it’s all thanks to Young Master Li’s generous nature; otherwise, how could we have arrived first?"

"That’s indeed the case; we hope Young Master Li won’t hold it against us," the two said apologetically.

Li Cheng was not the type to be petty, so he did not dwell on the matter and turned his gaze towards the great hall.

The hall was entirely constructed from purple-black stone, the same material as that of the previous entrance to the ancient tomb.

The lower half of the hall was carved with a crowd kneeling and praying, while the middle section displayed intricate spell scripts. Above that, there was a blurred figure seated upon an altar.

Now he understood why Huang Yan and Zheng Huaming did not open the hall door to proceed and chose to wait for him here.

It was indeed because the great hall was very eerie.

The patterns above clearly imitated the images of countless beings worshiping a Buddha.

However, what was currently presented looked far from worshiping a Buddha.

It resembled more like the act of worshiping ghosts.