Chapter One Hundred Sixty: Intrusion

I still stand by what I said. I am not here for exploration, nor for seeking treasures. I only wish to invite you to come out of seclusion, Qin Yang said straightforwardly. At the same time, he gave the somewhat restless divine wolf a light kick, causing the beast to honestly lie down flat.

Dong Feng nodded slightly and asked, Do you know who is suppressed beneath this place?

Dong Zhuo? Or Zhang Jiao? Qin Yang repeated the names he had overheard earlier from Red Phoenix and her companions.

Dong Feng said, This place was originally a land of nine yin. Any corpse left here would become extremely ominous. The existence of Mount Lu was meant to suppress this nine yin terrain. Who would have thought that Zhang Jiao of the Yellow Turbans was well-versed in geomantic secrets and bizarre esoteric arts, and with the guidance of Master Nanhua, he managed to locate this place.

Master Nanhua Lao Xian? That sounds like an old charlatan, Qin Yang joked with amusement.

Dong Feng sighed and said, Master Nanhua intended to save and deliver humanity, yet he unwittingly stirred up a century of bloody chaos. If he knew, he would surely feel deep regret and agony. Very well, let us not speak of him for now. This nine yin cavern was originally suppressed by Mount Lu, but realizing the extraordinary nature of this place before his defeat, Zhang Jiao had already sent men to disrupt the suppressing feng shui of Mount Lu. Knowing his time was short after his defeat, he ordered a mausoleum to be built here, hoping that the accumulated resentment would pierce the mortal realm and fulfill his dream of unifying the realm. Master Zuo Ci perceived this and persuaded Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao to disrupt his plan. Who could have expected that Dong Zhuo secretly memorized this location? After Dong Zhuo's death, his loyal subordinates brought his remains along with the wealth he had accumulated over the years, transporting them here to reside within the mausoleum.

Master Zuo Ci sensed a profound crisis, and together with Master Shui Jing, Master Yu Ji, and others, he devised the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation. Using the wealth of the Ten Eunuchs, they established this Eight Gates Golden Lock Mausoleum right above Dong Zhuo's tomb.

Listening to Dong Feng's narrative, Qin Yang finally began to understand the whole picture.

The Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation had indeed played its part, suppressing all the resentment contained within Dong Zhuo's tomb. However, something went wrong later on, causing some of the resentment to leak out and affect the lives of the nearby residents. Out of compassion, Dong Feng had passed through this area and cured several people, but soon their illnesses relapsed. Puzzled by this, Dong Feng settled here, making numerous inquiries and listening to the legends passed down by the elders, gradually uncovering the truth. By that time, however, Master Yu Ji, Master Shui Jing, and the others had already passed away, and Zhuge Liang, who understood the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, was too busy trying to restore the Han Dynasty to pay him any heed. With no other choice, Dong Feng searched repeatedly until he finally found the elusive and difficult-to-track old charlatan, Zuo Ci.

Upon hearing that something had gone wrong with the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, Zuo Ci was utterly shocked. What would happen if Dong Zhuo were to be reborn carrying such monstrous resentment? In a panic, he rushed to the nine yin land and saw that it was indeed just as feared. Filled with deep remorse for the local people who had suffered years of torment from illness because of this, he helped Dong Feng cure the villagers' root ailments and then entered the formation to investigate. He discovered that a jade bagua within the formation eye had somehow ended up in a corner of the second-tier mausoleum. The resentment below was far too overwhelming for him to descend into the tomb himself. Returning to discuss the matter with Dong Feng multiple times, the best they could manage was to contain the resentment from dispersing completely; stabilizing it entirely remained impossible. During this time, Dong Feng learned a great deal from Zuo Ci and occasionally displayed a few miraculous skills, leading people to revere him as an immortal. Knowing that disaster would strike if it remained uncontrolled, Zuo Ci eventually explained the full situation to Dong Feng.

As it turned out, because Dong Feng had spent years treating and saving the sick, he was deeply beloved by the common people. According to Zuo Ci, he possessed the destined fortune to ascend to immortality. Although Dong Feng himself could not descend to the second tier, his mortal body served as the ultimate divine vessel to suppress the resentment of Dong Zhuo's army. Without the slightest hesitation upon hearing this, Dong Feng went straight to the center of the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, threw himself into the great bronze cauldron, and died. Grieving for three days and three nights, Zuo Ci modified the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, setting up new mechanisms at the Gate of Life, the Gate of Scenery, and the Gate of Opening to prevent anyone from destroying the formation and rendering Dong Feng's sacrifice in vain. Upon leaving, Zuo Ci spoke of these events, and the surrounding residents, shedding tears of gratitude, came in droves to pay their respects, spreading the legend that Dong Feng had achieved the Dao and ascended as an immortal. As for where Zuo Ci went afterward, Dong Feng had no way of knowing. He himself had spent a full millennium passing through time right here.

Qin Yang felt a lingering wave of emotion upon hearing this.

No wonder Yuwen Rou Nu said Dong Feng possessed the kindest heart; it truly was no undeserved reputation.

The divine wolf also lowered its head and nodded, as if paying respects. Possessing a high level of spiritual intelligence, it likely felt immense admiration upon hearing Dong Feng's story.

Does that mean as long as I descend to the second-tier burial chamber and retrieve that jade bagua to replace your presence, it will be resolved? Qin Yang asked.

Dong Feng replied, Master Zuo Ci once surveyed thousands of men in the military, yet not a single one of them was capable of descending into the second-tier mausoleum. Who could have expected that someone like you would come today?

Very well, as long as it gets you out of here, I will go and have a proper encounter with this Dong Zhuo, Qin Yang said, clapping his hands.

Panicking, Dong Feng urged, Little brother, you must never resort to physical violence against Dong Zhuo. I can perceive your uniqueness, but for now, you are simply no match for Dong Zhuo. With a thousand years of accumulation, his strength is terrifyingly formidable; you must not act rashly. Not long ago during the Qingming Festival, the Ghost Gate opened wide, and he almost broke through. Had that jade bagua on the second tier not suddenly flared with power, even I would have been helpless. If he is given another chance during the upcoming Zhongyuan Festival, I fear I will no longer be able to suppress him. Even if you had not come, I would have had to find a way to retrieve that jade bagua. Today happens to be the third day of the third lunar month, the birthday of the Yellow Emperor, which is the day when the resentment in Dong Zhuo's mausoleum is at its weakest. You can take this opportunity to retrieve the jade bagua. The jade bagua is located at a corner on the edge of the second-tier mausoleum; you must on no account venture deep inside.

Is that jade bagua really that powerful? Qin Yang asked with some doubt.

Dong Feng explained, That jade bagua was forged by Master Zuo Ci using half his lifetime's energy, and the accumulated force of creation stored within it is exceptionally rich. Pausing for a moment, he added with helpless resignation, It is only a pity that it fell into the second-tier mausoleum, constantly eroded by yin qi and assaulted by resentment, causing its creative power to diminish day by day. Even if you retrieve it, it can only trap him for another ten years. Ten years from now, if Dong Zhuo's army pours out in full force, I fear it will spell another catastrophe.

You can rest easy on that score. Give me ten years, and I am confident I can handle him, Qin Yang pondered before saying, If worst comes to worst, within these ten years we will hunt down that old codger Zuo Ci. Failing that, we will track down old immortal Nanhua, Master Shui Jing, and the Daoist Yu Ji. I refuse to believe we cannot deal with him.

The butler had previously informed him that Dong Zhuo's phantom and resentment had fused into one, likely reaching the level of an eighth-grade spirit. If not for the uniqueness of the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation and the presence of the bronze cauldron, Dong Feng's sixth-grade strength would have meant certain doom long ago. Within ten years, Qin Yang was not entirely certain whether he could advance to the seventh-grade hell, but judging by his current gradual rate of improvement, reaching the seventh-grade hell in a decade was quite plausible. Dealing with an eighth-grade Dong Zhuo from the vantage of a seventh-grade hell would not be an insurmountable problem, though subduing Dong Zhuo ultimately still required an eighth-grade hell.

Dong Feng nodded in agreement.

Since Qin Yang was able to find him, finding the others would not be an impossible task.

Very well, you may make your preparations before heading to the second-tier mausoleum, Dong Feng instructed. You must prepare thoroughly beforehand. The lower level is extremely dangerous, infested with zombies, and Dong Zhuo's army possesses formidable combat power. If not for the eighteen feudal lords repeatedly scheming back then to let Lü Bu exploit an opening, Dong Zhuo would never have died so easily. I repeat my warning: do not venture deep inside under any circumstances, or you will not survive encountering Dong Zhuo's personal guards.

I am a man who knows his own limitations, and I never make empty boasts, Qin Yang said as he stood up. I might be able to handle one or two of Dong Zhuo's guards, but against more than five, I am done for. I have no desire to die this young.

This was not Qin Yang showing weakness.

The truth was that after a millennium of accumulation, the strength of those creatures down below was indeed terrifyingly powerful. In particular, those spirits fused with resentment could manipulate their own zombie corpses, making the situation fraught with countless dangers. Even with all his varied abilities, Qin Yang feared he might end up trapped inside forever. The butler, however, remained somewhat resentful. After all, with such a massive treasure vault sitting right before their eyes, it was pitiful that the Emissary's strength was still too low, leaving the butler feeling rather sullen and earning a stern reprimand from Qin Yang.

Dong Feng also informed Qin Yang of the precise location of the jade bagua and warned him of several restricted zones that must never be entered—while they would not trigger an outbreak of resentment, stepping there would trap him inside with no way out. Qin Yang committed every detail to memory. With the aid of his Yin-Yang Eyes, he quickly locked onto the location of the jade bagua. What depressed Qin Yang slightly, however, was that there were actually seven or eight grave-robbing factions that had broken in this time. Several foreigners and the other groups had already begun advancing toward the second-tier mausoleum. Strangely enough, Black Beard and his men had reunited with Red Phoenix and were also making their way down to the second level.

Those people... alas, their chances are grim, Dong Feng observed as he noticed this development as well. Little brother Qin Yang, save them if you are able. Once the jade bagua is returned to its rightful place and we seal the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, no one will be able to open it again for five years.

Very well, but whether I save them depends entirely on their own performance, Qin Yang smiled, stepping forward to open a hidden door set into the stone steps.

Exercise the utmost caution, Dong Feng urged.

Qin Yang nodded solemnly. For the sake of my own fortune, I will return and bring you out with me.

You frequently speak of wealth, little brother, yet I can tell you are not a man greedy for riches. Your carefree disposition makes me admire you all the more, Dong Feng said with a smile. Should you encounter those people down below, do your best to stop them from bringing any items out, otherwise the resentment will contaminate them.

That depends entirely on whether they manage to stay alive, Qin Yang muttered under his breath as he and the divine wolf slipped through the hidden door.

Qin Yang did not overestimate himself, but those fellows down below were people he could slaughter single-handedly. Yet even he dared not venture too deeply. If those people refused to know any better, they would simply have to pray for their own good fortune.