In front of the hall were 108 steps, with a jade canal running alongside, its waters flowing endlessly for millennia. Everyone walked along the steps, the hall’s door already pushed open, a massive stone rolling aside, and broken arrows scattered, with over a dozen corpses on the ground.
The soldiers of Flying Dragon City, the Five Mountains Sword Alliance... they were all present. A woman cried out in shock, seeing her forr peers dead, filled with sorrow. Upon seeing the bodies of Flying Dragon City’s soldiers, she stomped on them a few tis in anger.
It turns out that so ti ago, the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and Flying Dragon City arrived here to find the hall doors shut tight, so they worked to open them. Unfortunately, they triggered a chanism, causing massive stones to fall from the sky and countless arrows to shoot. The "bell sound" coincidentally rang out, causing so to be unable to withstand the danger and be killed by the chanism on the spot.
The inside of the hall was extrely spacious, with ninety-nine stone pillars towering, their tops glowing with golden brilliance. At the very front was a black dragon throne, and in the middle was an incense burner with three long sticks of incense standing in it.
Down the middle was a long aisle, with ninety-nine prayer mats on both sides, resembling a scene of worship. In front of the black dragon throne lay a decayed corpse, and on each prayer mat sat a figure cross-legged. Though countless ages have passed, their decayed and withered states vividly retained the posture from their lifetis.
Zhao Chunxia said in shock, "What a thousand-year tribute, a thousand generations of imperial respect. This person proclaid himself emperor, then captured ninety-nine people to serve as his ministers, strategizing for him and remaining loyal even in death."
This place was haunted by deadly chanisms, but they had all been triggered by those before. Li Xian and the others only needed to be cautious and careful to keep themselves safe. As they examined each corpse, they found the foremost one to be a first-rank minister, dressed in a red-gold official robe, lying undecomposed for thousands of years, and then followed by second-rank, third-rank, fourth-rank ministers...
Although each official’s corpse was decayed, their expressions, gestures, and movents could still be faintly discerned, vividly embodying the scene of a thriving and harmonious early court. Each official diligently and responsibly, with smiles on their faces, prepared to report good news, as if the nation were flourishing, the people prosperous, and the borders secure. Nearby, a scribe recorded the events of the morning assembly, and even low-ranking officials dared to voice their opinions...
Li Xian asked, "Senior Chunxia, do you know which dynasty this is?" Zhao Chunxia pondered, "My knowledge is limited, I truly don’t know. Above Great Wu is Great Yu, above Great Yu is the chaotic Nanyang, and above Nanyang is the Great Xiao Dynasty... but as far as I know, none wore such attire."
Li Xian moved forward to observe the emperor’s corpse. Clad in a black dragon robe, wearing dragon-patterned boots, and adorning a tassel crown... as if a True Dragon among n. His accessories were all incredibly valuable. Li Xian dared not approach, only observing from a distance, thinking, "These kings and ministers, wielding imnse power, why do people yearn so much for it? In death, all is emptiness, yet they go to such lengths, crafting this Underground Palace. These people’s thoughts are so different from mine. If it were , I’d rather embrace a beauty and enjoy easy life outside the world."
Li Xian mused inwardly, "Li Xian, oh Li Xian, you are indeed a lecher."
"This dragon robe is extrely valuable. If I were to take it, its value would be imasurable. But I value my life more; carrying a dragon robe, how could I remain discreet? I’ll just observe to gain insight and that’s enough."
While searching the hall for clues, they found traces of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and He Wentian. As they entered the hall, they were also shaken by this scene, standing there for a long ti.
The won marveled at the scale of this place, yet felt unknown fear, eager to reunite with the Sword Sect elders and disciples. Li Xian nodded in agreent, asking Zhao Chunxia to use her "wind-sensing nose" to locate the Sword Sect people.
Bells tolled every five breaths here. The Inner Qi was sporadic, quite peculiar. Zhao Chunxia moved sotis, halted at others; behind the hall was a garden landscape with mountains, water, and vegetation, neatly paved with bluestone paths. Traces of Sword Sect elders, He Wentian, and others beca increasingly common along the way.
Under a tree, they suddenly saw several wounded lying down. So had severed hands and feet, their wounds ghastly—all Five Mountains Sword Sect disciples. The won were both surprised and delighted, rushing over together. Those disciples looked over at the sound, stunned for a mont, then overjoyed, shouting: "Elders, senior sisters, junior sisters, you’re okay!"
Mu Hongchou asked, "Of course, we are fine. Oh... you are gravely injured. Is it that scoundrel He Wentian who caused this? How are the elders?"
The disciple shook his head and said, "Alas! He Wentian is magnanimous; how could he harm us? It’s all that wicked woman’s doing!"
...
...
Upon hearing the term "wicked woman," Li Xian recalled the ti he first fell into the Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Cave, faintly hearing "vile woman," "vile woman"... in anger. He imdiately guessed it was "Wen Caishang," contemplating, "The lady is very likely here. I must first hide well and handle matters with caution. If not handled carefully, I may face threats from both sides." He took advantage of the confusion to pull Lin Aoshan away.
Li Xian said solemnly, "Ao Shan, only you can assist now." Lin Aoshan said, "Strange, listening to their words, the Sword Sect elders are nearby, and you are the lifesaver of the Five Mountains Sword Sect. How does it seem that you face such a great danger?"
Li Xian said, "You’ve overlooked He Wentian’s cunning. Indeed, I have saved the won of nurous sects, but He Wentian has also saved many elders of the Sword Sect. Moreover, I have indeed temporarily joined the Flower Cage Sect, and He Wentian has the Flower Cage Sect’s recognition. If confronted, he can easily bring this up to fra . Although the won would support , the situation might fall into mutual suspicion."
"Rather than troubling so much, I should hide first. You should find a way to inform Zhao Chunxia and other Sword Sect elders, advising them to say they saved themselves, instead of , Li Xian, saving them. This will make the identification flawless."
Lin Aoshan realized, "I see, if upon identification, the won say it was you who saved them. Your identity isn’t pure, and you are the Flower Thief. With He Wentian’s silver tongue, he could dismiss the charge and even claim it is a Flower Cage Sect sche. We know it’s false, but it may not be easy for other Sword Sect elders to discern. Li Xian, you are indeed sharp!"
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