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墨書 Inktalez
We returned to the tomb chamber around one or two in the morning, only to find it completely empty, a sense of foreboding washing over us. As Zhengyang stepped out of the tomb, the thick fog had completely dissipated, revealing a bright moon hanging in the sky, illuminating the sandy sea with a shimmering silver light, resembling waves in the ocean.
In the sky, the Giant Gate Star, Left Assistant Star, and Right Assistant Star shone brightly, forming a perfect triangle. At the center were the Sun Star and Moon Star, creating a magnificent display of auspicious celestial bodies.
This arrangement is known as Star Feng Shui, which reflects the Dragon Vein beneath. The presence of these auspicious stars indicates that there are water veins underground. The Ancestors sought harmony between humanity and nature; it was not only about mountains and water but also about the sun, moon, and stars. Since ancient times, people have observed omens and studied the movements of celestial bodies to predict fortune and misfortune when selecting auspicious locations. The stars have their own merits and flaws, just as the land holds its fortunes and misfortunes.
This meant that our suspicions about the Nine Deadly Tombs were not only correct but that they indeed communicated through water veins to enhance Killing Intent, allowing the Nine Extremes Tombs to connect seamlessly. It was akin to an underground tunnel system where every village was linked together to prevent any loss of Killing Intent.
Zhengyang and I returned to the tomb chamber when we heard a thunderous roar echoing from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's statue. The sound was unfamiliar to us—piercing and prolonged—like a mournful wail from creatures trapped in a pit filled with snakes.
Where had Big Mouth Lee and the others gone? I surveyed the tomb chamber anxiously, a wave of unease washing over me as a traditional tomb custom suddenly came to mind…
According to tradition, high-ranking Buddhist monks are buried in stupas. It is rare to find a specially constructed tomb chamber like this one in Khotan. The saying goes that having a stupa is better than having numerous noble households; indeed, Buddhist Underground Palaces often contain treasures surpassing those of ordinary royalty. During the Three Dynasties' persecution of Buddhism, its wealth impacted national finances significantly. I recalled how artifacts unearthed from Famen Temple's Underground Palace had shocked the world.
I pondered these thoughts not out of mere curiosity. While the temple above may not be grand, who knows how vast an Underground Palace lies hidden beneath? Since there is a temple above, could there be an Underground Palace below? Perhaps it housed Master Bajie's True Body relic after Parinirvana?
As we examined Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's statue more closely, I noticed its appearance had completely changed; it had transformed from a porcelain-like hue to a vivid red color resembling blood vessels woven beneath its porcelain white surface—a truly terrifying sight. Zhengyang stood beside me quietly, seemingly searching for clues.
"Zhengyang, do you notice anything unusual about this statue?"
"That's bloodstone!" An expert once analyzed stones that bleed; it relates to their composition. Bloodstones are rich in iron oxide and appear as solid blood-red substances that dissolve and seep out when exposed to rainwater rather than actually bleeding. His reminder clarified my understanding somewhat.
The emergence of Star Feng Shui indicated rising water veins, while Listening to the Truth revealed an opening through which moisture surged from below. When this humidity encountered the bloodstone carved into Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's statue, it naturally filled with Blood Spider webs.
I focused intently on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's statue when suddenly it seemed to move slightly. Rubbing my eyes in disbelief, I thought I was imagining things. The statue indeed shifted again; beneath its lotus pedestal appeared a mound of earth that swelled like boiling water. In an instant, cracks formed all over this mound as countless snake-like heads emerged from within—agile bodies followed suit as two front claws clawed at the ground's surface. "What on earth? So many Sand Lizards?"
I stared dumbfounded at the sand beneath the stone figure's feet as countless Sand Lizards poured out like noodles from a pot—dense and overwhelming in number. Soon after, thousands more Sand Lizards emerged from cracks in the tomb chamber walls, sending chills down my spine.
These creatures are scientifically known as Big-Eared Sand Lizards; they inhabit deserts across Xinjiang and Central Asia. Their mouths feature pouch-like skin folds resembling ears, making them appear fierce by nature. They are diurnal animals that rarely venture out at night unless absolutely necessary—something must have gone terribly wrong underground!
"Are we going to dig into a Sand Lizard nest?" As soon as I finished speaking, the ground around us cracked open with several gaping holes, and hundreds of lizards emerged from the earth. "Get out of here!" Although these lizards wouldn't eat humans, their bites contained venom that could incapacitate anyone who merely brushed against them.
Tens of thousands of Sand Lizards filled half the room, and more were crawling up from below. They were not just coming from the ground; they were climbing down from the beams and out of the walls. Seeing this, my scalp tingled with fear, and I trembled all over, my legs feeling weak.
I quickly pulled out a Celestial Five Thunder Talisman, formed a hand gesture, and recited the incantation. The talisman ignited with a whoosh, and I threw it to the ground. A flame erupted, and for a moment, the Sand Lizards froze in place, clearly startled by the fire they had never encountered before.
However, we had underestimated these creatures. With their strong jumping ability and explosive power, several lizards leaped onto me. I quickly swatted one off, sending it flying several meters away. "Damn it, something's not right; these lizards are clearly fleeing!"
Zhengyang grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the tomb chamber as the Sand Lizards surged forward like arrows released from a bow or water cascading down a window. The lizards raised their heads and rushed past me in a torrent. What was causing this mass exodus?
Then came a screeching sound, frantic and piercing. Behind the Sand Lizards was a dark mass that resembled a flood rushing forth—bloodied black rats swarmed in droves like a disturbed beehive, sending chills down my spine as they trampled over the Sand Lizards. Several jumped over my head without paying us any mind.
"Oh my God, what kind of monstrous creature is this? Even before making an appearance, it's already causing chaos with hordes of Sand Lizards and rats trampling over each other!"
Amidst the rustling sounds, a whirlwind of yellow sand rose from the desert. After about seven or eight minutes, both the Sand Lizards and rats vanished without a trace. The ground was littered with countless severed limbs and corpses crushed underfoot—a dark mass of death. Zhengyang and I exchanged glances; we dared not linger in the tomb any longer. After waiting for about half an hour, we couldn't shake our concern for our teammate Safety and Danger and steeled ourselves to venture back into the tomb.
Inside, everything seemed intact except for the countless Sand Lizard and rat carcasses that lay shriveled as if they had been left to dry in an oven for over half a year. What kind of being could turn these lively creatures into corpses in an instant? The thought sent shivers down my spine as we looked around; the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statue seemed to have completely sunk into a pit.
The hole appeared extremely deep; peering down revealed nothing but darkness—a strange sight indeed.
"Zhengyang, should we go down or not?"
"Follow me; there's no need to be afraid!"
Zhengyang pulled out a shiny thin rope from his waist, about as thick as electrical wire. He tossed it down and said, "Hold onto a piece of cloth in your hands; grip the rope tightly so you don't get cut!" I questioned the rope's sturdiness as he handed me one end. "Take a look!"
Most outdoor ropes are made of nylon or wrapped steel cables and are at least finger-thick to support human weight. This thin rope resembled headphone wires—translucent and shimmering. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was woven from dozens of even thinner strands. When I tugged on it, it stretched like elastic; wrapping it around my fingers left deep grooves in my skin. I knew this was no ordinary rope and asked, "Zhengyang, what exactly is this?"
"Suan Ni Rope!"
I was struck with shock, as if hit by lightning, and I could only imagine how others looked at me, as if I were an idiot.
This was something from legends, only appearing in ancient texts.
According to the records in "Mausoleum Secrets," the Suan Ni Rope has bristles that are extremely tough, capable of pulling down cliffs and cutting through them like a blade! The Ancestors spoke of it with such reverence, suggesting that a single bristle from the Suan Ni Rope is strong enough to sever a cliff. If a rope were made from the bristles of the Suan Ni Rope, it would not only be incredibly lightweight but also possess remarkable toughness and strength. Even if over a hundred people hung from it, it would not break. I had always thought this was merely a myth, never expecting it to exist in reality.
Zhengyang had a tall and slender build and preferred wearing wide-sleeved robes. He usually tied the rope around his waist, making it hard to notice. With this portable treasure, climbing up or down cliffs hundreds of meters high would be effortless.
Zhengyang drew out the Pure Jun Sword and tied one end of the rope to the hilt. I watched as he channeled energy into his arm, driving the sword two feet deep into the stone wall. He secured it with coarse cloth around his hand and shouted as he descended. Before long, I heard him call out!
The Ancestors often exaggerated their tales; I still found it hard to believe in such ropes. However, out of respect, I gritted my teeth, closed my eyes tightly, wrapped the rope with torn cloth, and slid down as well. The friction between the rope and cloth surprisingly generated no heat at all. I could only hear the wind whistling past my ears until I reached the bottom of the tomb.
"Use the Gongye Zhu for illumination!"
I held up the Gongye Zhu, illuminating the underground space. Zhengyang grasped the rope with both hands and called out as he descended. A beam of white light rushed down from above, and Zhengyang raised his left hand to catch the Pure Jun Sword effortlessly. He drew several circles in the air with both hands before tucking the rope back around his waist. I was utterly astonished; this person was truly unfathomable.
It turned out that what lay beneath the palace wasn't yellow earth but rather a large mound of soil—clearly a hive of Earth Yellow Bees.
Before we could steady ourselves, we heard a loud buzzing sound! It was like a jet engine roaring toward us; clearly, it was a swarm of creatures approaching rapidly, sending chills down our spines…
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