Chapter 1371: Ceremony

Several people couldn't help but feel a pang of alarm. They had come for the Unknowable Land, and any such place was highly coveted. If news of it spread, experts from all over the world would flock to it.

Wu Liang looked at them strangely, as if he didn't understand their strong reaction. "The imperial tomb has a lot of burial treasures, and they're all extremely valuable. What else would you call that if not a treasure?"

The others were speechless.

Zu'an wasn't sure if Wu Liang was being serious or feigning ignorance, but he didn't have time to ponder it. He simply led him down another path.

The map they had obtained earlier from Marquis Sui's tomb only vaguely indicated that the Unknowable Land was within this imperial tomb; its precise location wasn't marked.

On second thought, it made sense. The map likely predated the demon imperial tomb, which didn't exist at the time the map was made. Therefore, with the surrounding topography having changed, the map had naturally lost its specific utility, leaving them to search for the location themselves.

Along the way, the group searched everywhere, looking for any distinctive features.

Wu Liang, meanwhile, was in his element, busily ransacking the burial chambers for grave goods.

Most of these were gold and jade ornaments, along with some high-grade elemental stone artifacts.

Seeing his greedy demeanor, Zu'an and the others secretly sighed, realizing they had overthought his intentions.

Yan Xuehen, who was skilled in array formations and runes, continuously explored, but unfortunately, although she found some hidden mechanisms, none were connected to the Unknowable Land.

Soon, the group's eyes widened as the space ahead suddenly opened up.

For a moment, they were momentarily dazed, thinking they had somehow exited the imperial tomb.

Before them lay suns, moons, stars, rivers, lakes, and seas.

"This is..." Yun Jianyue gasped in surprise.

Still shocked, Yu Yanluo explained, "It's a miniature, condensed version of the world's mountains and terrain."

She was skilled in painting, and her magical artifact was the "Thousand-Mile Mountains and Seas Map." Being intimately familiar with the world's geography, she recognized it instantly.

"And it's a map from the demon race's peak era," Yun Jianyue scoffed. "Now, humans have seized most of this vast land. The demons are still living in a dream."

Wu Liang looked at her with a strange expression. "Are you human or demon, miss? That's quite an incorrect stance to take."

Yun Jianyue cast a cold glance at him, causing Wu Liang to shiver and refrain from asking further questions.

Zu'an also felt a rush of emotion. He had previously read in history books about the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and seas within Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum, but he never expected to see a similar depiction in the demon imperial tomb today.

At this point, Wu Liang looked at the celestial bodies above with an eager expression. "These are at least Heaven-grade elemental stones, maybe even Immortal-grade! And they're so big! Oh, if only I could pluck them down, I'd be rich!"

Yan Xuehen said coldly, "These are crafted to resemble the sun, moon, and stars, surrounded by dense array formations. Forcibly removing them would undoubtedly trigger the imperial tomb's alarm, and then no one would survive."

"I know, I know, can't I even talk about it?" Wu Liang grumbled, looking pained as if he was standing before a mountain of treasure he couldn't touch.

"There's a huge lake here!" Yu Yanluo exclaimed. "Oh, and it's flowing water!"

Generally, lakes and rivers within tombs are replaced with mercury or similar substances to ensure longevity. This also prevents decay for millennia and releases poisonous gases to protect the tomb.

The others were also surprised and hurried over to examine it, confirming it was indeed real water.

"I understand now," Wu Liang explained. "Tombs emphasize 'concealing wind and gathering water,' so water is crucial. Most people don't have the audacity of a Demon Emperor to find such a large, continuous water source. The Golden Crow imperial family is associated with fire, representing ultimate yang and rigidity. As the saying goes, 'solitary yang cannot generate, solitary yin cannot grow'; there must be a balance of yin and yang. This water vein is used to harmonize the yin and yang of the imperial tomb. Tsk tsk, the person who designed this imperial tomb must have been a genius..."

Wu Liang continued to chatter, and Zu'an and the others listened with admiration. This fellow truly had some genuine insight; the Pangolin Clan were indeed experts among experts when it came to tomb raiding.

Yun Jianyue then leaned closer to Zu'an and whispered, "Little An'zi, do you think the Unknowable Land might be hidden within this lake?"

Zu'an nodded. "I have the same suspicion. How about this: I'll go down and take a look, and you keep an eye on Wu Liang."

He possessed the Azure Duck skill, making him naturally adept with water and the most suitable person to go underwater.

"Don't worry, how could I not keep an eye on a mere fat Taoist priest?" Yun Jianyue snorted. "You, on the other hand, be careful underwater."

Zu'an originally intended to warn her that Wu Liang was somewhat unusual, but considering her Grandmaster status, he decided he was worrying too much.

Soon, he directly jumped into the water and began searching the lakebed.

The other three women waited on the shore. Yun Jianyue appeared indifferent, but was secretly monitoring Wu Liang. However, he remained docile, showing no unusual movements.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, ripples appeared on the water's surface, and then Zu'an broke out of it.

"Well?" the three women eagerly asked.

Zu'an shook his head. "I've searched everywhere inside, even checked the lakebed, but there's no secret door or passage."

"What are you looking for?" Wu Liang asked curiously.

"None of your business," Yun Jianyue glared at him.

Wu Liang merely chuckled, looking like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

"So where could it be? We've already searched most of the imperial tomb," Yun Jianyue frowned.

At this point, Wu Liang, who was nearby, quietly stated, "Though I don't know what you're looking for, there's one place in this imperial tomb you haven't searched yet."

Zu'an and the others' hearts stirred. The only remaining place was where the Golden Crow Crown Prince was to undergo the trials of the successive Demon Emperors' heroic spirits. They hadn't expected to circle back and ultimately confront the situation they most wished to avoid.

Then Wu Liang added, "To my knowledge, the Crown Prince should be in the imperial tomb's main hall, where there's a statue of the Demon Ancestor. The so-called trials of the successive Demon Emperors are merely a gimmick."

Zu'an's expression turned odd. "You even know such confidential matters?"

Wu Liang chuckled. "Our profession involves going into tombs, so we naturally know more secrets than ordinary people."

After discussing it with the three women, Zu'an ultimately decided to check out the main hall.

On the way, Zu'an wondered if it was fate's arrangement that he had to help the young Demon Empress one more time.

The group moved swiftly. With Wu Liang, a master of tomb mechanisms, and Yan Xuehen, a master of rune arrays, accompanying them, many dangers were preemptively neutralized.

Before long, they arrived at a corridor corner, from which bright torchlight shone.

Wu Liang whispered, "That's the main hall of the underground palace ahead."

Zu'an nodded, then calmed his mind and cautiously approached.

Inside, they saw an exceptionally grand hall. The most striking feature was the colossal black statue, dozens of meters tall, positioned at the far end.

It appeared neither entirely human nor entirely beastly, with a human body, a bird's head, sharp claw-like hands, and a pair of dark wings on its back, poised as if about to take flight.

Its sharp bird's beak and distinctive pupils held a unique sense of ferocity and bloodlust, akin to a primordial beast.

Though inanimate, the entire statue exuded a terrifying aura, no less powerful than, and perhaps even surpassing, that of the Demon Emperor they had previously encountered.

Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue were both shocked. "This statue is peculiar!"

Yu Yanluo whispered, "Could the Demon Ancestor still be alive?"

"How could that be? Demon Ancestors lived hundreds of thousands, even millions of years ago. How could one still be alive now?" Yun Jianyue shook her head. "Still, this statue does seem to carry the Demon Ancestor's aura."

"Could it be that the residual souls of past Demon Emperors' heroic spirits are entrusted to this statue? But how could that be possible?" Yan Xuehen murmured to herself, seemingly pondering an academic dilemma.

Zu'an, meanwhile, was surveying the hall's interior. In the center, a figure in a golden robe exuded an air of unparalleled arrogance with every movement. It could be no one other than the Golden Crow Crown Prince.

Around the hall, eighteen guards were strategically positioned. Each warrior possessed restrained inner essence, with even the weakest having a Ninth-grade cultivation, though none surpassed the Golden Crow Crown Prince.

Being brought here by the Golden Crow Crown Prince, they were clearly his most trusted confidantes.

The Golden Crow Crown Prince had now walked step by step to the base of the Demon Ancestor's statue, his face radiating a mix of excitement and reverence.

"I am about to begin the trial. Guard all surrounding exits and permit no one to approach or disturb me," the Golden Crow Crown Prince ordered.

"Yes!" the eighteen guards replied with full vigor, then tacitly positioned themselves at various outer points. For instance, one guard rushed to the passage where Zu'an and the others were hiding, startling them into quickly retracting their bodies. Fortunately, each of them possessed exceptionally outstanding stealth techniques, preventing their discovery.

Seeing this, the Golden Crow Crown Prince nodded in satisfaction. He then spread his arms towards the Demon Ancestor's statue, chanting a series of obscure and indecipherable syllables.

The Demon Ancestor's statue then seemed to come alive, its eyes distinctly brightening.