Chapter 1342: Emperor's Tomb Dweller

"Hey, did you hear something?" The group stopped, highly cautious and careful in this forbidden zone, leaving no room for carelessness.

This was a continent floating in the cosmos, believed to be the entrance to an ancient Great Emperor's tomb. For decades, countless powerful individuals had converged here, but their persistent assaults had yielded no results.

In this star system, there were over a dozen similar formidable continents. Some were larger than stars, existing since antiquity, their countless years of drifting in the cold cosmos unknown.

It remained uncertain which was the true Emperor's tomb. In recent years, several had fractured, releasing faint wisps of imperial might that caused a profound tremor in people's hearts.

Ultimately, some speculated that these dozen or so continents might have once been a single, colossal mausoleum belonging to an ancient Great Emperor, which had somehow fragmented.

Each one could potentially be the main tomb, not to be overlooked, but they were also all death zones. Over the years, countless lives had been lost, yet no one had managed to unearth the primary chamber of the ancient mausoleum.

It was rumored that one Great Saint of the human race had perished there, as had one Holy Spirit who launched a sneak attack from another domain. Two ancient evil gods had also fallen during their large-scale assaults, turning the area into a veritable graveyard of blood and bones.

On any given day, various teams of cultivators frequented the area, all seeking the ancient Great Emperor's legendary immortal treasure.

Today, the strongest in this particular team was at the Saint King realm, while the weakest had reached the seventh heaven of the Saint realm. Comprising five individuals, their collective strength was formidable.

To have journeyed from the human race's first pass, battling their way to this point and forming a cohesive team, implied that none of them were ordinary.

At the very least, in terms of individual fortune, anyone who had survived decades of intense battles to reach this point was clearly blessed by the heavens, a testament to their extraordinary resilience.

Now, they heard faint, indistinct shouts emanating from deep within the fractured earth. Naturally, they were astonished: Had someone actually entered the great tomb? This was utterly astonishing!

This was indeed a chilling revelation. Someone had penetrated deep into an ancient Great Emperor's tomb? Even if this continent, floating in the depths of space, wasn't the main chamber, it had remained unbreached by anyone until now. The implications were profound.

"Did you hear that? Someone down there actually got in ahead of us. What should we do?" These individuals were all seasoned veterans, having survived thus far, and they all exchanged wary glances.

"He heard us discussing the battle between the Sacramental Body and the Hegemonic Body on the Emperor Burial Star. I even thought I heard him say the Sacramental Body was his brother!" Their hearts pounded, but not because of these particular words. The crucial detail was that the person had promised an immortal scripture to anyone who helped him escape.

They quickly searched for an entrance, believing it better to investigate than to dismiss the claim. After all, someone who had managed to penetrate so deeply into the great tomb was bound to have made significant discoveries.

"This is a Celestial Sound Stone, no wonder he could hear us. It must be transmitting sound from deep underground. There really *is* someone down there!" They found themselves in a difficult position; the seals were terrifyingly powerful, far beyond their ability to break.

"Those above, I will guide you! Take the correct path to break through the seals, and then I will transmit a supreme immortal scripture to you," the voice from below called out again.

The five exchanged glances, their faces betraying a mixture of emotions.

They had ventured deep into the starry cosmos, fighting their way to this point, and had long ago adjusted their ambitions. They knew it was impossible to contend for supremacy on the Emperor's Road; with the young Supremes present, even the most extraordinary talents had no hope, let alone themselves. Now, their sole aim was to seize more opportunities on this path, becoming powerful within a specific region, rather than aspiring to control the entire universe.

Now, a significant opportunity lay beneath them. Regardless of whether they intended to kill or rescue the person, simply breaching the entrance to the Great Emperor's tomb would in itself be a profound stroke of fortune!

Deep within the ancient mausoleum, every artifact was a priceless treasure. They were confident that once they breached the entrance, they would not leave empty-handed.

"Although I possess an immortal scripture, I lack suitable inheritors. Why don't you all become my disciples? I will impart ancient immortal techniques to you and propagate my Dao."

The group above was somewhat speechless. This person had remarkable audacity. Was he truly asking for help? He was clearly trapped, yet he still wanted to take them as disciples.

"We didn't come here to seek a master!" one person retorted indignantly.

"In that case, let us interact as peers. I have spent years here studying imperial scriptures and would very much like to find someone to discuss them with. Naturally, I wouldn't treat my junior brothers poorly. Furthermore, there is an ancient Flat Peach Tree here, which offers endless benefits to cultivators. Would you be willing to follow me? You are sure to greatly prosper."

The group above exchanged confused glances, sensing something was amiss. This person truly had a thick skin; he wouldn't be their master, yet now he wanted them as subordinates. Didn't he deserve a beating?

One of them questioned, "How could the Flat Peach Undying Divine Tree be inside an underground great tomb?"

From deep within the ancient underground mausoleum, a man's deep voice resounded: "Naturally, it's not the entire ancient tree. This is a coffin, an immortal coffin carved from the Flat Peach Undying Tree, a relic only Divine Venerables of the mythical era could possess."

"What? The main chamber of the ancient Great Emperor's mausoleum is here?" All five's expressions shifted, but they quickly composed themselves, not entirely convinced.

"To the west of the Celestial Sound Stone, there's a crack. Descend about ten li, and you'll find a crystal wall where you can observe a corner of the great tomb," the person below instructed.

They naturally understood that the person below wished to escape, and that all these revelations were merely bait. Only by piquing their interest could he secure their help.

Regardless, the person's presence deep within the ancient mausoleum was not a fabrication. They naturally wished to ascertain the truth and discover if a heaven-defying fortune truly awaited them.

Soon, the group ventured about ten li underground and indeed found an imperfection in the great tomb: a crystal wall, through which they could vaguely discern some internal scenes.

"Why is there a crystal wall here now?" they wondered.

"Have you forgotten that ancient Holy Spirit?" the person in the tomb patiently explained. "He was a Great Saint who shed blood before the Emperor's mausoleum. This crystal wall formed from his petrified body after he dissolved into the Dao."

"You... what are you eating?" Just then, a female Saint King cried out in alarm, having seen through the crystal wall a burly, robust man with disheveled hair, gnawing on a piece of a coffin lid.

"A ghoul! He's not human; he's eating a corpse!" one of the strong cultivators exclaimed in horror, feeling his scalp tingle.

They hadn't truly believed anyone could enter an ancient Great Emperor's tomb. Now, seeing a burly man, much larger than average, gnawing on a coffin through the crystal wall, they immediately recalled terrifying legends.

"This is an undying divine thought of an ancient Great Emperor, and it's devouring. Is it trying to consume the Emperor's corpse? That's horrifying!"

"This is a resurrected divine corpse, unperished through calamities, having escaped celestial judgment. It's connected to the ancient Great Emperor and has become a terrifying Yin God!"

None of the five were weak, but at this moment, they felt a chill from head to toe. Their hair stood on end, and they continuously retreated, desperate to leave immediately.

"How ignorant! This is an ancient coffin carved from the Flat Peach Undying Divine Tree, essentially the core of an undying divine medicine; it's a priceless immortal elixir!" A disdainful voice echoed from within as the five stood startled and terrified.

"He's despising us!"

"A divine thought wouldn't exhibit such rich emotional fluctuations."

"Is he... truly a human?"

The five powerful cultivators quickly exchanged thoughts, all feeling somewhat dismayed.

"But... gnawing on a coffin lid, that's not something an ordinary person would do!" The female Saint King felt lingering apprehension, convinced the person inside was terrifying, surely a demon king.

"What's the big deal? It's just an ownerless ancient coffin. I once even ate parts of the Undying Heavenly Emperor's coffin. Besides, while the taste isn't great, this is a genuine immortal elixir! In fact, I considered saving some pieces for you, but seeing your reaction, I'll just finish it all myself."

The five outside were speechless for a long moment. What kind of person was this inside? He felt superior just from eating a coffin. What incredibly robust and unyielding nerves must one possess to be like this!

Yet, upon closer consideration, they realized there was some logic to it. That was the main trunk of the Flat Peach Undying Tree, a genuine immortal elixir. This revelation immediately put them in a quandary.

"Junior brothers, quickly help me! Once I'm free, I still need to go kill the Hegemonic Body of the Heavens; I can't waste a minute," the person below urged, clearly not treating them as strangers.

The five masters were somewhat speechless. What kind of person was this, so informal? They were still debating whether to eliminate him and seize everything inside.

"This person doesn't seem simple," one of them suggested. "He devours the ancient Flat Peach Tree, and he even claims to have eaten parts of the Undying Heavenly Emperor's coffin. He's certainly not an ordinary individual. Perhaps we should try to befriend him?"

"What are you talking about?" another countered. "He wants to be our master, and failing that, he wants to take us as his subordinates. Have you ever met anyone like that? He's definitely not to be trusted. We should find a way to eliminate him."

"Let's not jump to conclusions yet. Let's observe first."

The five outside discussed with a mixture of frustration and indecision, honestly at a loss for how to feel about the person trapped inside.

"Junior brothers and sisters, hurry! Time is precious, act quickly!" the person deep within the ancient mausoleum urged.

"Damn it, he really thinks he's our senior brother! He's asking for help with such unjustified confidence!" one person grumbled indignantly.

"Junior brothers, listen closely for now. I will transmit a passage of scripture to you; it will be greatly beneficial," the person inside stated. Indeed, a profound and ancient technique was transmitted.

"The Dao Scripture! This seems to be the legendary Dao Scripture. He actually transmitted a significant portion to us!" The group outside was greatly astonished.

Days later, their dilemma only deepened. They continued to excavate the tomb while enduring the man's casual address of them as "subordinates," all the while listening to the profound ancient Dao Scripture.

"If this continues, I'll truly start to believe he's my senior brother who passed away in meditation."

The person deep within the ancient mausoleum grew increasingly comfortable calling them "junior brother" and "junior sister." From initial strong resistance, they progressed to a state of numbness, no longer having the energy to constantly refute or object. They seemed to have somewhat adapted.

"Junior brothers and sisters, at this rate, it will take hundreds or thousands of years to breach the entrance. Why don't you go fetch that scoundrel with the Hegemonic Blood of the Heavens for me? I'll give him a good lecture and make him break through the seals here."

The group collectively scoffed. This fellow seemed to have no shame. Hadn't he declared his intention to kill the young Supreme with the Hegemonic Blood of the Heavens? Now he was trying to get someone to help him escape.

"Junior brothers and sisters, it truly is difficult for you to open this exit. I managed to enter by seizing a rare opportunity when the Holy Spirit dissolved into the Dao. Now, I can only spread the word and find some strong laborers or model workers to break through the seals, or it will remain impenetrable. It will be very hard for you to obtain the immortal elixirs, ancient scriptures, and divine artifacts. But don't worry; since you are my junior brothers and sisters, once I escape, I will bestow a great fortune upon you."

The five masters found themselves conflicted once more. They truly couldn't open it; their efforts were futile. Yet, simply disseminating the news felt somewhat unsatisfying.

"Although there's no Emperor's corpse here, there's a powerful Imperial formation. Once triggered, even those wielding extreme imperial weapons would face certain doom. If you call the Hegemon here, I guarantee I can deal with him, and I'll have a way to escape."

The group muttered to themselves, "Who cares whether *you* can escape? Our concern is the immortal treasure within."

"My escape means the immortal treasure will emerge, doesn't it? It's all with me. I am your senior brother, and I am your fortune."

The group secretly cursed him in their hearts, having never encountered anyone so audacious. Yet, upon closer reflection, they realized it truly was necessary to let this person out.

"Perhaps we should let him join our ranks? I believe this person has some redeeming qualities."

"That's true; otherwise, how could he have survived until now?"

"I want to beat him black and blue!"

These were their private deliberations.

Days later, astonishing news spread: The Hegemon had departed the floating continent in the cosmos and was now advancing towards another.

"What does having the Hegemonic Blood of the Heavens flowing through your veins amount to? I can suppress you with one hand!" someone deep within the ancient mausoleum arrogantly declared.

The Hegemon's expression remained cold. His only desire was to open the great tomb and obtain the immortal treasure within; he showed no reaction to such provocations.

"This fellow is truly audacious, provoking the Hegemon. Isn't he afraid of facing a bloody massacre from a young Supreme the moment the ancient mausoleum opens?"

"Do you think someone who first tried to be our master, and then immediately elevated himself to our senior brother, could possibly be a person of integrity and refined manners? He's definitely not good news."

The five masters conversed, their feelings a mix of disdain and exasperation.

This star system was abuzz. The Hegemon, who was slated to confront the Sacramental Body, had now temporarily set aside everything to assault an ancient mausoleum, drawing many onlookers.

"I believe he genuinely knows the Sacramental Body," one of the five masters surmised. "It seems he intends to alleviate his worries by keeping the Hegemonic Body occupied here."

A significant commotion arose in the depths of the cosmos. For several years, no one had managed to penetrate deep into the ancient mausoleum, so the unexpected news that someone had succeeded was truly astonishing.

Numerous masters rushed to the scene to observe, and many joined the effort, hoping to open the Emperor's tomb and retrieve the divine treasures.

Throughout this process, everyone naturally encountered a remarkably audacious strongman. From deep within the ancient mausoleum, he brazenly challenged the Hegemonic Blood of the Heavens and demanded to fight the Hegemon.

Everyone was in an uproar, creating a tidal wave of shock that drew even more people to the location.

"If you want to fight Ye Fan, you'll have to get past me first!" the person in the ancient mausoleum declared with extreme arrogance. "I'll beat the Hegemonic Body until he spits blood and kneels down to sing a song of surrender to me." His words left everyone speechless.

The rivalry between the Sacramental Body and the Hegemonic Body was thus elevated to a new pinnacle, a storm brewing. Such a provocative challenge from this strongman, preceding the confrontation between two unrivaled physiques, naturally sparked even more heated discussion and widespread attention.