join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr
This was a peculiar place filled with a hazy, gray light, where strange glows occasionally flickered amidst the gray, and an aura of brokenness, decay, and deathly silence enveloped the entire World.
On the silent ground, space suddenly distorted, and everything around began to blur, as a figure rapidly sketched itself out of the illusion.
First, simple outlines, then the interior was filled, colors appeared, the figure became three-dimensional, and finally, it transformed into a real, complete person.
Amon pinched the monocle on his right eye, turned his neck, and looked around.
The energy of heaven and earth suddenly vibrated, and energy tides formed uncontrollably, surging and sweeping over Amon's body, as if this World was resisting his arrival.
The space solidified, pressing in on him from all directions.
Amon smiled faintly, shook his head, and his figure blurred slightly. The space seemed to lose its target and returned to normal.
Within the hazy gray mist, there were countless illusory energy bodies. These were all souls of deceased powerhouses that had condensed under the special effects of the Heavenly Tomb, and they all possessed considerable strength.
The Heavenly Tomb is divided into three layers. The energy bodies in the first layer are the weakest in strength and mostly lack sentience. The strength of those in the second layer is mostly at the high-level Dou Venerate, and they also don't possess much intelligence.
However, the third layer contains Half-Saint and Dou Saint-level energy bodies. These energy bodies basically retain their wisdom from before death, and their strength is close to what it was in life. It can be said that they live in an alternative form, but they cannot leave the Heavenly Tomb.
With Amon's arrival, a hint of terror appeared on the originally dull expressions of the nearby energy bodies, and they instinctively moved away from Amon's location.
In the deepest part of the third layer of the Heavenly Tomb, a man wearing a green robe with black hair draped over his shoulders and eyes as dark as ink suddenly stood up, gazing at the first layer of the Heavenly Tomb, a trace of surprise evident in his eyes.
Amon felt two gazes fall upon him; one came from deeper within the Heavenly Tomb, while the other was somewhat ethereal and cast from all directions, unable to lock onto a physical entity, as if the Heavenly Tomb itself was observing.
He opened his mouth, and a beautiful, enchanting figure appeared on this desolate land.
Cai Lin looked around with a slightly bewildered expression, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes: "Where is this? Such abundant heaven and earth energy..."
The desolate and decaying environment displeased her, but the surrounding heaven and earth energy astonished her. The heaven and earth energy here was extremely pure and dense, making it very suitable for cultivation.
Her aura was much stronger than before. Although the pills Amon gave her were for the fetus, nurturing it, even the diffused energy brought great benefits to her. Her strength had already reached the Seven-Star Dou Ancestor level, one star stronger than Xie Bi Yan when she fought him.
Amon said with a smile, "A very interesting place, but it's too dangerous for you here. I'll handle it first."
His aura was released without reservation, and the terrifying pressure of a Nine-Star Dou Saint swept across all directions.
Xiao Xuan, deep within the Heavenly Tomb, his expression changed slightly. He had just felt that the person who entered this time was very strong, but he didn't expect it to reach such a level, only a hair's breadth away from his realm in life.
This caused his original actions to pause... There was an inheritance he left for the Xiao Family here, and he wouldn't allow someone too strong to enter. But the person who came this time was too strong, to the point where he wasn't confident he could expel him.
If he were alive, he certainly wouldn't fear a Nine-Star mid-stage Dou Saint, but he was currently just an energy body. Although he could exert strength close to his peak in life for a short period, it ultimately couldn't last long...
Moreover, there was still a guy hiding in this Heavenly Tomb, eyeing him like a tiger, and that was also a formidable enemy that required his full attention.
Cai Lin looked at Amon with extreme horror. Even though Amon intentionally controlled his aura to not fall on her, she could still feel the terrifying pressure, like an abyss or a prison.
...This was already causing substantial destruction!
Space vibrated, heaven and earth energy surged, and large swathes of rocks and structures shattered, turning into dust.
Under Amon's pressure, a large number of energy bodies directly collapsed, leaving behind crystals filled with pure energy.
He stretched out his right hand and grabbed forward. Transparent, illusory hands appeared before these energy bodies, grasping them before disappearing.
Hundreds of energy crystals appeared out of thin air in Amon's palm. He casually tossed these energy crystals to Cai Lin.
The latter took the crystals, a hint of bewilderment appearing on her face... She could feel that the energy contained in any of these crystals far exceeded her own... If these crystals could move, they might even be Dou Venerate powerhouses!
"These are cultivation resources for your child; you can also use a portion."
Amon said, "You will have to spend a long time here in the future... Generally speaking, this space cannot be stayed in for long. When the time is up, you will be expelled by the space. However, I will use my ability to cordon off an area and extend the stay time."
Cai Lin looked at these energy crystals, her heart filled with complex emotions... The cultivation path of her four unborn children was almost certainly going to be smooth sailing, but the regrettable thing was that someone among them was destined to pay a price for this.
Rationally speaking, this was a profitable transaction, but emotionally, she found it somewhat difficult to accept.
Amon didn't pay attention to Cai Lin's state. His expression became slightly more serious as he looked at the sky, his gaze profound.
The flow of time in the Heavenly Tomb was different from the outside World, being six times faster. However, each entry only allowed a stay of three years in Heavenly Tomb time, after which one would be expelled.
However, that was for those who entered through the normal opening of the Heavenly Tomb once every twenty years. For those like Amon, who entered through cunning means, they could only stay for one year in Heavenly Tomb time.
This amount of time was far from enough. He planned to have Cai Lin's future daughter cultivate directly to the Dou Saint level within the Heavenly Tomb.
A massive, ancient clock's phantom appeared behind Amon. The second hand of the clock slowly moved, and an indescribable torrent erupted from within the clock.
An invisible force spread outwards from Amon as its center.
Xiao Xuan's expression became even more serious. He could no longer perceive the existence of that area, and his spirit power could not penetrate it, just like a drop of ink falling on rice paper, rapidly spreading outwards.
A power had severed that area from the Heavenly Tomb!
After Amon performed this action, a certain special existence finally could not sit idly by, and it slowly revealed itself.
The mist in the sky rapidly swirled, forming a huge vortex, as if something was stirring it.
Within the vortex, an incredibly enormous human face emerged. Its features were somewhat abstract, seeming to constantly change, with a different face seen every second.
This giant face was pale and solid, like a mask.
Upon the appearance of this giant face, Cai Lin's complexion instantly turned deathly pale. She felt as if the entire heaven and earth were pressing down on her, and her soul was about to dissipate.
A gentle force rose from within her body, and Jiu Bao's voice echoed in her soul: "Eat an energy crystal. My power is not enough to sustain for too long."
Cai Lin did as she was told without hesitation.
A hazy glow enveloped her, and the feeling of her soul about to dissipate vanished. She came back to her senses, asking with some surprise, "Can you intervene? Aren't you afraid Amon will discover your existence?"
"My existence should not be hidden from him... But it's not impossible that he hasn't discovered it... If he asks, just say that your unborn child protected you," Jiu Bao said.
"Ah?" Cai Lin found this answer too absurd.
Jiu Bao rolled his eyes: "Are you suggesting I should jump out and say, 'Dear Alchemist, the sentience of the pill that inherited part of your memory has not yet disappeared'?
"You've already consumed four Ninth-Rank Treasure Pills, and the power of the pills has all gathered in your child's body. What's wrong with them having some Beyonder abilities?"
Cai Lin thought about it and found it somewhat reasonable.
The giant face in the sky, or rather, the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb, slowly spoke: "Outsider, stop your actions."
The Soul of the Heavenly Tomb was a peculiar living being within the Heavenly Tomb, spontaneously condensed from the dissipated soul power of countless powerhouses buried there.
When it did not actively reveal itself, it could hide using the mist in the Heavenly Tomb, and living outsiders could not detect it at all. Only the energy bodies living in the Heavenly Tomb could perceive its existence.
Furthermore, except for Xiao Xuan's energy body, all other energy bodies were under the control of the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb, imbued by it with the urge for bloodlust and mutual devouring.
Amon, as a "Worm of Spirit," who commanded Worms of Spirit, could also sense its presence. However, the other party's aura filled the entire Heavenly Tomb, and if the other party didn't actively reveal itself, he couldn't lock onto it.
"What are you?" Amon asked, feigning ignorance.
The Soul of the Heavenly Tomb replied, its voice grand and layered, echoing throughout the entire World: "I am the guardian of the Heavenly Tomb, commanded by my master to watch over the Heavenly Tomb... This is the World of the dead; the living should not come here."
Amon shook his head and replied with a smile, "The guardian of the Heavenly Tomb? I've never heard of the Heavenly Tomb having a guardian."
"Just because you don't know doesn't mean I don't exist. Leave quickly, and I can overlook your offense." The Soul of the Heavenly Tomb also held great apprehension towards Amon. If not necessary, it did not wish to be his enemy.
"Then answer a few questions for me first: Who created the Heavenly Tomb? Where did he go?"
While Amon asked these questions, he did not stop his actions. The power surging from the clock's phantom continued to spread.
The Soul of the Heavenly Tomb's expression stiffened slightly. When it was born, the creator of the Heavenly Tomb had long since vanished, so how could it know these things?
However, to make its ownership of the Heavenly Tomb seem more "legitimate," it still pretended to be the guardian of the Heavenly Tomb, speaking falsehoods with wide eyes:
"My master's name is not for me to know, and my master's whereabouts are not for me to inquire about. I only know to fulfill my master's task and guard this Heavenly Tomb well..."
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr