Volume Two – The Emergence of the Nine Provinces Map, Entering the Spirit Ruins Chapter 91: The Nine Palaces Tomb Chamber

Crackling thunder echoed overhead...

As the group of cultivators fled toward the exit of the tomb mound, bolts of lightning descended from the storm clouds above, filling most of the burial chamber in an instant.

Chen Yu gathered his spirit, and as the lightning struck, he drew his sword with a sudden slash: "Subdue the dragon, tame the tiger, let the flower bloom in a moment."

The sword energy, roaring like a dragon and a tiger, transformed into a golden blossom that surged toward the blood-soaked coffin, cleaving a passage of sword energy between them.

"Go..." Chen Yu was the first to dash forward, turning into a golden streak that sped toward the coffin.

"It really worked... Hurry!" Wu Yue and the others cried out in delight, quickly following.

"What? He actually cut through the lightning?"

"Not just that, he even split open the storm clouds!"

The remaining cultivators, not yet fully departed, shouted in shock. Gazing at the lingering sword path, a few quickly crossed over, seizing the opportunity to follow.

Those slower to act, as they stepped onto the sword path, found it collapsing—unable to sustain itself. The unleashed lightning poured down: some were struck dead, others severely wounded.

"Spiritual Ruins... You bastards!" someone wailed, cursing incessantly.

...

Once Chen Yu and his companions burst into the massive crimson coffin, they discovered it was hollow, with a passage leading straight underground.

Though swift, it still took them nearly half a quarter of an hour to traverse the winding tunnel and leap down from the ceiling of a subterranean burial chamber.

The chamber they landed in was perfectly square, at least sixty feet wide. It was empty, save for eight doors set into the surrounding walls.

"Could these eight doors each lead to a different chamber?" Wu Yue speculated. "This layout seems similar to the Nine Palaces arrangement."

"What should we do next? Should we act together or split up?" asked Ding Mu from Qingling Peak.

They glanced at one another. Someone suggested, "I think it's better to separate. Whatever opportunity we find will depend on our own luck."

"Whatever works! But let's hurry. The Ghostly Shadow Sect had people in here early—can't let them claim everything," Xie Liang said.

"Very well... let's do it that way," they agreed, each choosing a door and entering.

"Junior Brother Chen, will you join us?" Xiao Gu and Deng E asked.

Chen Yu pondered for a moment. "No, I'll go alone and see what I find."

"Alright... Then take care," Deng E replied, offering no further persuasion as they entered the last door.

As soon as they left, two more figures dropped from the ceiling—judging by their attire, they were from the Heart Sword Sect.

The two eyed Chen Yu warily but didn’t linger, each selecting a door and going in.

Chen Yu paid little attention, knowing only a little about the Nine Palaces arrangement Wu Yue had mentioned. With no better idea, he simply chose a door at random and walked in.

Behind the door was another narrow passage, winding and undulating, making it hard to discern up from down.

Soon, Chen Yu spotted the exit.

The moment he entered, he caught a whiff of blood and heard a low, guttural growl—by the sound, likely a zombie. Chen Yu dared not be careless, cautiously approaching the edge of the exit.

The chamber beyond was just as dim, though some lingering flames allowed for a rough view. Another coffin rested inside, already opened. Scattered about the chamber were seven or eight corpses, most clad in Ghostly Shadow Sect robes, though a few belonged to other sects.

At this moment, a purple zombie was clutching Dong Dong from Wuzhuo Peak, sucking his vital essence.

Chen Yu’s expression darkened; gripping his sword tightly, he invoked the Golden Light Overland technique and sped forward.

"Kill..." he shouted, channeling the Subdue Dragon and Tame Tiger technique to drive his righteous sword energy straight at the purple zombie.

Sensing the threat, the zombie immediately released Dong Dong, roaring furiously at Chen Yu before lunging at him—as if enraged that its feeding was interrupted.

"Out of my way!" Chen Yu slashed, colliding with the creature. The force of their clash sent both staggering back.

Chen Yu glared coldly at the zombie, then at Dong Dong—only to realize the man had already breathed his last.

The purple zombie, seeing Chen Yu as nothing more than another meal, gave him no time to reflect. It howled, corpse energy swirling around it, making Chen Yu feel uneasy even at a distance.

"I’ll see just how formidable you truly are," Chen Yu said coldly, shielded by the Flower Bloom in a Moment technique, immune to the zombie’s corpse energy.

Chen Yu aimed his sword at the creature, streaking forth in a flash of gold, his blade wielding the might to shake mountains and earth. Their battle was fierce, neither gaining the upper hand.

"You’re merely a newly formed zombie. Even if you possess the power of the First Element Realm, what of it? Your skills are pitiful," Chen Yu sneered.

Their fierce exchange left both wounded. With each round, the zombie’s corpse energy thinned, yet Chen Yu’s spiritual energy was depleted as well. Fortunately, though his dantian held only nine breaths of force, days of refinement had made his spiritual energy stronger than the average cultivator at this level—perhaps not quite equal to the First Element Realm, but not far behind.

The purple zombie, frustrated at failing to subdue Chen Yu, became even more frenzied, roaring to the heavens in humiliation and launching itself at him in a mad rush.

"Good timing!" Chen Yu's gaze sharpened; his sword flashed like golden lightning, stabbing straight for the zombie's forehead.

"Perish—Subdue Dragon, Tame Tiger, Wind and Rain Sword!"

In that moment, under the zombie's rigid terror, its skull exploded beneath Chen Yu’s sword energy.

Staring at the fallen monster, Chen Yu finally let out a long breath.

Now, he had time to examine the corpses scattered across the floor. Though he felt sympathy and regret, he did not neglect their belongings.

He found a dozen talismans, more than ten Spirit Gathering Pills, Golden Wound ointments, and various medicines.

"Oh... Who would have guessed Senior Brother Dong carried a few demon pills?" Chen Yu exclaimed in surprise. "Hmm? What’s this? Enlightenment Pill? So it assists cultivators of the First Element Realm in opening new meridians?"

Gazing at the bodies, Chen Yu gathered them together and used a Flame Spitting Talisman to burn them to ashes. Otherwise, in such conditions, it was only a matter of time before they transformed into more zombies, bringing calamity to the world.

Just as he was about to leave, something in the ashes caught his eye—a purple, pill-shaped object.

"Ah... Didn’t expect to find a purple corpse pill," Chen Yu said with delight. "If I use this, perhaps I can refine my dantian energy to its utmost limit."