NOVEL NEXT Chapter 179: A Sword That Shakes the Heavens
Chapter 179: A Sword That Shakes the Heavens
Xu Lian reached out and gently touched the ancient patterned tomb door.
With a bang, a powerful force erupted, sending his entire body sliding backward.
Qin Liu and Chen Lu burst out laughing.
What’s so funny? These guys have no sense of decency… Xu Lian was completely stunned.
“So, how impressive is this tomb?” Qin Liu asked with a grin. “When Brother Liao and I first dug here, our shovels accidentally touched the tomb door, and we were sent flying, tumbling head over heels and landing face first in the mud.”
Xu Lian asked, “Did you dig anywhere else? Did you find any other entrances?”
“Knowing that this tomb door is hard to open, Brother Liao and I dug in over ten different spots, but it’s the same everywhere. We couldn’t get in,” Qin Liu explained, leading him to one of the places they had tried.
Xu Lian noticed that this area was a stone wall, also covered with ancient patterns, which obviously had a similar repelling power as the tomb door. “In that case, it’s better to go through the main entrance. Breaking in from the other side might damage the tomb’s structure and cause unpredictable consequences.”
Qin Liu nodded. “Brother Liao and I thought the same thing. As a cultivator, do you have a way to break through the tomb door?”
The three of them returned to the tomb door.
Xu Lian waved his hand, signaling for them to step back.
Qin Liu and Chen Lu took a few steps back.
Xu Lian glanced over his shoulder. “Not enough. Keep going. The further the better.”
Seeing how serious he was, Qin Liu and Chen Lu quickly retreated, hiding behind a large tree and peeking out to watch.
Xu Lian flipped his hand, and the Sword of Destruction appeared in his palm.
With a clang, he drew the sword from its sheath.
The clear sky suddenly darkened, and rolling clouds filled the air. Blood red lightning flashed across the night sky.
Qin Liu and Chen Lu were so terrified that their legs gave out and they collapsed to the ground, their faces pale as they stared in horror at the terrifying spectacle above.
Realizing that this phenomenon was caused by the sword in Xu Lian’s hand, they finally caught their breath, clutching their chests and gasping for air.
Qin Liu exclaimed, “Holy heavens, what kind of weapon is this? It’s terrifying!”
Chen Lu was also stunned.
Xu Lian gripped the sword hilt with both hands and swung it down at the tomb door with all his might.
Crack!
Sparks flew as the blade sliced into the door.
And then… it got stuck.
Immediately, a tremendous repulsive force traveled up the blade of the Sword of Destruction and into the hilt.
Xu Lian knew immediately that something was wrong. Before he could let go, the force split the skin between his thumb and index finger, causing blood to flow. His arms went numb, and his entire body was sent flying. A metallic taste filled his mouth, and he coughed up blood.
What the hell… Xu Lian was stunned.
The backlash from the tomb door was far stronger than he had anticipated.
Clearly, the tomb’s owner was on a level far beyond his estimation!
Buzz!
The moment the sword struck, it was like poking a hornet’s nest. The entire tomb seemed to come alive, shaking violently as waves of repulsive power radiated outward in all directions.
Xu Lian left an afterimage behind as he swiftly grabbed Qin Liu and Chen Lu and retreated to a safe distance, ensuring that they wouldn’t be killed by the shockwaves.
They stopped a few hundred meters away.
The overwhelming repulsive force had blown away all the earth, rocks, and trees covering the tomb, revealing a massive circular stone structure.
It looked a bit like a doughnut… Xu Lian thought to himself. The entire stone tomb was covered in ancient patterns, giving it an incredibly mysterious appearance.
“What now? The Sword of Destruction is stuck there and I can’t get close to it,” Xu Lian muttered.
Just as he was about to call for the Huo Clan’s mighty guardian to help retrieve the sword, the Sword of Destruction suddenly pulled itself free from the tomb door and flew back to him.
What a legendary sword… Xu Lian grabbed the hilt and sheathed the sword, causing the terrifying phenomena in the sky to dissipate.
Suddenly, the patterns on the stone tomb began to glow.
Sensing that something was wrong, Xu Lian quickly grabbed Qin Liu and Chen Lu and retreated even further.
Qin Liu was both shocked and excited. “Such a huge reaction! There must be incredible treasures inside!”
Chen Lu was also excited. “We’ve hit the jackpot!”
As the patterns on the tomb lit up one by one, they connected with each other, and the entire tomb began to shine like the sun.
Boom!
A massive beam of light shot into the sky, piercing the heavens.
Xu Lian, Qin Liu, and Chen Lu were all stunned. The commotion was too much… and that was never a good thing. It was bound to attract the attention of powerful cultivators.
“A celestial phenomenon like this must mean that a rare treasure is about to appear!”
“Over there!”
The powerful cultivators arrived faster than the three of them had expected. Streaks of light shot across the distant sky, like sharks drawn to blood or flies drawn to rot.
Some were riding flying swords, moving as fast as lightning, their cultivation levels unfathomable.
Others rode massive mythical birds, their wings kicking up sand and stones as they flew dozens of miles in a single flap, coming from who knows how far away.
These cultivators flew low, deliberately avoiding the strange substances in the sky.
There were even some who emerged from the ground, their hair and clothes completely clean, their greedy eyes fixed on the stone tomb.
More and more people arrived, eyeing each other warily, the tension palpable. A great battle seemed imminent.
Xu Lian grabbed Qin Liu and Chen Lu and retreated even further…
It was clear that these people were incredibly powerful, far removed from ordinary cultivators.
“Elder, if a rare treasure emerges later, please help me seize it,” Xu Lian said to the void, knowing that Huo Clan’s mighty guardian was nearby.
Qin Liu and Chen Lu were confused, unsure who he was talking to.
The voice of the Huo Clan Guardian echoed solemnly in Xu Lian’s mind, “It’s not that simple. The cultivators who have shown themselves are easy to deal with, but there are others hiding in the void whose cultivation is no weaker than mine. I advise you not to get involved in this battle.
There are hidden experts… Xu Lian finally understood. Some powerful figures had arrived, lurking in the void, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The Huo Clan’s guardian continued, “The Yi Sect has sent an Earth Flesh Avatar of a Silver Elder, the Ghost Soul Sect has sent a Hall Master of Ten Thousand Souls, the Blood Sea has sent a mighty figure, the Barbarian Tribes have sent a chieftain, and the Demon Race has sent a Great Demon.”
Upon hearing this list of powerful figures, Xu Lian’s heart sank. He resolutely grabbed Qin Liu and Chen Lu and sprinted back to Pingyang County. The situation was far more dangerous than he had anticipated!
He had witnessed the battles between powerful figures in the imperial capital. They were terrifying, capable of shattering space itself!
If it weren’t for the Yin Dynasty’s imperial seal, which had summoned nine dragons to stabilize space, who knows how much destruction would have been caused!
As Xu Lian carried them away, Qin Liu and Chen Lu were utterly bewildered. Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
“Go home, pack your things, and leave Pingyang County. Find a place to hide,” Xu Lian said as he dropped them off at the city gates. Without another word, he hurried away.
The entire population of Pingyang County was now staring at the beam of light in the distance, buzzing with speculation, unaware of the impending disaster.
Xu Lian rushed to the Spirit Tree and reported the situation to the White Fox Town Guard Commander.
The White Fox said, “I’ve seen it. My Earth Flesh Avatar’s duty is to guard the Spirit Tree. What happens outside is none of my business.”
Xu Lian said nothing more and left in a hurry. Time was of the essence.
He quickly gathered all his loved ones as well as the members of the Pei, Lin, and Zhao families.
“A rare treasure has appeared near the ray of light, attracting many powerful figures. A great battle may break out, and Pingyang County may be caught in the crossfire. Everyone must leave town and seek shelter.”
Xu Lian handed a purple jade token to Pei Zhaoxi. “Zhaoxi, I’ll give you an assignment. Take everyone back to Green Bamboo Town and stay there for a while.”
Pei Zhaoxi was delighted. This showed how much Xu Lian valued her. “Don’t worry, husband. I’ll make sure that everyone is safe.”
Xu Lian knew her thoughts very well. No matter what the situation was, he had to show her special treatment. However, the other women didn’t seem to mind.
Lin Wan asked with concern, “Husband, aren’t you coming with us to Green Bamboo Town?”
Xu Lian replied, “I still have some things to take care of here. Don’t worry, I can protect myself.”
He escorted them to the docks and watched as they boarded a double-masted ship and left Pingyang County. Only then did he feel at ease.
Returning to Pingyang County, he noticed that the townspeople were still going about their daily lives, completely unaware of the danger. The White Fox Town Guard Commander hadn’t issued any evacuation orders, as if she didn’t care if Pingyang County was destroyed.
After some hesitation, Xu Lian went to the county magistrate and urged him to issue an emergency evacuation order. After all, it was his use of the Sword of Destruction that had triggered the tomb’s reaction and drawn the attention of these powerful figures. It was only right to give the people a chance to escape, or else his conscience would never be at peace.
Having done all he could, Xu Lian left the city and returned to the tomb site. With the Huo Clan’s mighty guardian secretly protecting him, he decided to observe from a distance. As long as he didn’t get involved in the fight, he should be safe.