"Master, we seem to have been discovered. What do we do now!" the giant crocodile panicked.
"Don't move rashly yet."
Zhang Yang's face was tense, sweat constantly flowing down. The best course of action now was to remain still and adapt to any changes.
This crystal skull was too terrifying. Zhang Yang didn't even dare to look at it directly!
Moreover, he vaguely felt that the crystal skull wasn't looking at them!
The demonic glow in its pupils seemed to be fixed on something else.
Suddenly!
A volley of arrows descended, countless sharp arrows carrying yuan qi, raining down on the crystal skull!
Then.
A group of long-haired people in simple attire appeared, their upper bodies bare, clad in animal skins.
In one hand, they held spears, and in the other, bows and arrows!
They charged out together.
"This strange head has grown stronger again. Let's shatter it quickly!"
A voice rang out from among the long-haired people. They all gripped their spears and thrust them towards the crystal skull.
"Hmph!"
The crystal skull let out a very human-like roar.
It opened its skeletal mouth and spewed out a large amount of terrifying death aura. Looking at it, Zhang Yang's heart was filled with dread!
It was actually black yuan qi!
What...
What was going on?
At the same time.
These long-haired savages who suddenly appeared were not to be outdone. They swung their spears, continuously destroying the crystal skull's black yuan qi.
Then.
They pursued, intending to cleave the crystal skull in two on the spot!
Boom!
The luminous insects in the crystal skull's pupils suddenly charged forward, smashing the savages away. The crystal skull took this opportunity to vanish into the sky!
"Hmph, you tomb guardians, just you wait. I will return, heh heh heh!"
"Damn it, that strange thing escaped again!"
The long-haired savages were unwilling, their heads hanging low, gnashing their teeth as they stared in the direction the crystal skull had disappeared.
Judging by their appearance.
This was not their first battle with the crystal skull.
They were old rivals.
At this moment.
One of the long-haired savages stepped forward. He looked at the giant crocodile and giant python hidden in the grass, his eyes filled with vigilance.
"Come out. I know you're in there."
Zhang Yang's expression tensed.
This time, they were truly discovered. Without hesitation, he brought the giant crocodile out.
"Humans? You haven't been here long?"
The long-haired savage frowned. Shennong Gorge had been dangerous for so many years; how could humans still dare to enter?
"That's right, I just entered today," Zhang Yang said.
"What are you doing here?" the long-haired savage pressed.
"I was attracted by the light in the skull's eye sockets," Zhang Yang casually offered a reason.
"Oh, then you should leave quickly. This place is not suitable for you. You're lucky to have encountered us today. If you had encountered Chi Long, you would be finished," the long-haired savage waved his hand dismissively.
However.
Zhang Yang shook his head and remained in place.
"My name is Zhang Yang. May I know yours?"
"Don't ask so many questions, hurry up and leave!" the long-haired savage said impatiently.
Zhang Yang chuckled, sensing that the savage before him had a good heart, otherwise, they would have likely attacked them already.
"I can see you want to destroy that crystal skull. Perhaps I can help, as my own strength is not weak."
With that, Zhang Yang unleashed his cultivation of the Yuan Mansion realm, four-star.
Boom!
Instantly, a powerful True Dragon Qi appeared, shocking these long-haired savages!
His strength was formidable!
"Who exactly are you? And what do you want here?" the long-haired savage who had been conversing with Zhang Yang asked vigilantly.
"I'm just someone here to explore and seek a breakthrough. I have no ill intentions towards you. I'm just curious about Shennong Gorge and want to learn more about it," Zhang Yang said with a smile.
The long-haired savage stared at Zhang Yang for a long time before finally agreeing.
"Follow us."
"Tribe leader, we..."
Upon hearing the long-haired savage agree, the tribesmen's expressions changed. Just as they were about to say something, they were interrupted by the long-haired savage's wave of his hand.
"Let's go back first."
...
An hour later, Zhang Yang followed the long-haired savages to their dwelling.
The houses here were very simple, constructed from the skeletons of large ferocious beasts and thatched with dry grass.
"My name is Chi Yan. I am the tribe leader. Tell me, what is your true purpose for coming here?" Chi Yan said.
"I really have no purpose. I was forced to come here," Zhang Yang replied with a wry smile.
He hadn't expected Chi Yan to be so vigilant.
Forced to come here?
Chi Yan frowned. They didn't understand the outside world and had never left.
Therefore, he didn't bother to press Zhang Yang for reasons, as he wouldn't know even if Zhang Yang was lying.
The reason he allowed Zhang Yang to follow was his strength.
Zhang Yang had said earlier that he was willing to help them deal with the crystal skull!
"Are you truly willing to help us?" Chi Yan asked.
"Of course, but can I know what that strange skull is?" Zhang Yang asked curiously.
"We don't know either. We've been fighting this skull for over a thousand years, but we still can't figure out how it came to be," Chi Yan shook his head, falling into reminiscence.
"Over a thousand years ago..."
After a lengthy explanation, Zhang Yang was greatly shocked!
It turned out that this crystal skull had appeared in Shennong Gorge for over a thousand years.
It was precisely because of its appearance that the tranquility of Shennong Gorge was broken.
Originally, although it was mysterious, it wasn't fraught with danger.
It was the appearance of the crystal skull that changed everything.
Its appearance caused the ferocious beasts to become brutal!
The crystal skull's song could infect people and all plants and animals, and some of their tribesmen were infected.
A group of people directly left the tribe and turned against Chi Yan.
This was Chi Long, whom Chi Yan had mentioned earlier!
The tribesmen who followed Chi Long and left had been deeply mesmerized by the crystal skull.
Not only did they turn their swords against their former tribesmen, but they also helped the crystal skull seize the most precious things in the gorge!
Fortunately, Chi Yan's current tribe had more members, and they also had the legacy left by their ancestors, which allowed them to hold on until now.
However, as the crystal skull grew stronger every day.
Chi Yan also felt a sense of crisis.
If this continued, Chi Long and the others would eventually succeed.
Zhang Yang's appearance, however, gave Chi Yan a glimmer of hope.
"This is the situation here. If you are willing to help us, we can also give you some rewards, such as rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures, or you can lure your enemies into Shennong Gorge, and we can help you kill them."
After explaining the situation in Shennong Gorge, Chi Yan got straight to the point.
For him, inviting Zhang Yang was a transaction. If Zhang Yang was willing, that would be great, but if not, Chi Yan wouldn't force him.
He would find another way.
"Helping you is no problem, but I still have a question. You mentioned that both the crystal skull and Chi Long want to take the most precious thing here. What is that precious thing?" Zhang Yang asked.
"The most precious thing?" Chi Yan pondered for a moment.
"Actually, the most precious thing is right beneath your feet. This place is not called Shennong Gorge; it should be called Shennong Tomb. A deity is buried here."
What!
Upon hearing this.
Zhang Yang was instantly shocked!
"A deity is buried here?"
"That's right. The Shennong buried here. The crystal skull and Chi Long both want to enter it, but I've stopped them," Chi Yan replied.
"Legend has it that there is a secret to eternal life in the Shennong Tomb, but whether it's true or not is unknown," Chi Yan said.
This...
Zhang Yang was utterly shocked.
So, Shennong Gorge held such a secret!
Wait!
Zhang Yang suddenly remembered the black yuan qi released by the crystal skull he had just seen.
Could this be related to the Ink King?
But wasn't the Ink King's successor in the Far West?
It was hundreds of thousands of miles away. If the crystal skull was indeed an item of the Ink King's successor, how did it end up here?
Various mysteries swirled around Zhang Yang, leaving him perplexed.
At this moment, the giant crocodile beside him rolled its eyes.
"Isn't this a lie for children? If there's a secret to eternal life in the Shennong Tomb, how could Shennong have died?"
Er...
It had to be said.
The crocodile's question was indeed to the point.
Chi Yan was also shocked by the giant crocodile that could speak human language.
"I'm not sure if this rumor is true, but someone did emerge from the Shennong Tomb before, named Qing Huang. He obtained the consent of the tribe leader of that generation and entered the Shennong Tomb when he was on the verge of death."
"And he took out a piece of wood from inside and then left... Two hundred years later, Qing Huang returned and then left again, never to return..."
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was attentive!
Chi Yan's words sent a chill down Zhang Yang's spine!
Qing Huang, whom Chi Yan mentioned, was very likely the current King Qing!
The title "Huang" was used when this person was the ruler. If they abdicated or their kingdom was usurped, "Wang" would be used as a replacement title!
It was likely that the rumors about King Qing's wood being able to revive the dead originated from this!
Because Qing Huang had visited the Shennong Tomb before!
For a moment.
Zhang Yang felt that the events he had encountered recently were slowly connecting.
It was like countless threads, but he couldn't find the origin of the connection.
If he could unravel it, everything would become clear!
"Tribe Leader Chi Yan, if I help you defeat the crystal skull and Chi Long and the others, can I explore the Shennong Tomb?" Zhang Yang said.
This...
Chi Yan frowned upon hearing this.
"Can you name another condition?"
"To be honest, I know what I want, but I just want to go in and take a look. If you don't trust me, you can come with me," Zhang Yang said with a smile.
This...
Chi Yan fell silent, carefully weighing the pros and cons.
They were facing internal and external threats.
The crystal skull grew stronger day by day, and Chi Long was also coveting the tomb.
They had to break this deadlock. At least one of them had to be resolved, otherwise, they would eventually be unable to protect the Shennong Tomb.
At that time, Chi Yan's generation would have failed the tomb guardian lineage.
"Alright, I'll accompany you to take a look then," Chi Yan agreed.
"Good, it's a deal!" Zhang Yang smiled.
He hadn't expected to have such an unexpected gain from coming to Shennong Gorge.
"However, before we go in, we must deal with the crystal skull and Chi Long," Chi Yan added.
Regarding this.
Zhang Yang naturally had no objections.
After the matter was settled, Zhang Yang became very interested in the crystal skull and asked Chi Yan for more information.
"Do you know much about the crystal skull?" Zhang Yang asked.
"We don't know much about this strange thing. We only know that it can bewitch people. After its appearance, Shennong Gorge became chaotic, and the ferocious beasts began to devour each other to grow stronger."
"Then, after growing stronger, they would be devoured by the crystal skull, and gradually the crystal skull's power also increased," Chi Yan said.
Hearing this.
Zhang Yang's heart suddenly jolted.
He had personally witnessed the crystal skull doing these things just moments ago.
This characteristic seemed identical to the crystal coffin!
Thinking of this, a white light flashed in Zhang Yang's palm.
"Take a look at this."
Instantly, a crystal coffin appeared before Chi Yan, causing his expression to change!
"How do you have this thing? Who exactly are you?" Chi Yan's expression was solemn, and he was ready to make a move.
"Tribe Leader Chi Yan, please don't be anxious. This was passed down by my ancestors, but it's a bit different from the crystal skull," Zhang Yang quickly explained, then controlled the crystal coffin to spew out white energy.
Only then did Chi Yan dispel his intention to attack.
Although the materials were the same, the crystal coffin was clearly purer, completely different from the black aura released by the crystal skull.
Subsequently.
Chi Yan boldly stepped forward and touched the crystal coffin.
"This material is incredibly hard, it should be the same as the crystal skull. Can it also absorb the energy of other things?" Chi Yan asked.
"Of course," Zhang Yang replied.
If it weren't for the crystal coffin, he wouldn't have reached the Yuan Mansion realm so quickly.
Chi Yan was overjoyed upon hearing this!
If that were the case, they wouldn't have to be so passive when facing Chi Long!
"Zhang Yang, you are truly a lucky star sent by heaven to help us! With the help of your crystal coffin, we no longer have to worry about the strange things in Chi Long's hands!" Chi Yan said.
"Does Chi Long also have such a thing?" Zhang Yang asked.
"He has two crystal teeth, which he likely obtained from the crystal skull. It is precisely because of these two teeth that he can contend with us for so long. Otherwise, those traitors of his would have been killed by us long ago!" Chi Yan replied.
So that's how it is.
Zhang Yang smiled after hearing this, "It's fine, I'll handle Chi Long when the time comes."
"Alright, just let me know when you want to act," Chi Yan nodded, found a place for Zhang Yang and the giant crocodile to rest, and then left.
...
The next day.
As dawn broke, Zhang Yang, who was still resting, suddenly heard a commotion outside.
As he went out, he ran into Chi Yan, who was coming towards him.
"Chi Long's people are here again. Come with us," Chi Yan said.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang immediately followed with the giant crocodile.
At this moment.
Outside the habitat, Chi Long was leading a group of tribesmen, shouting.
"Chi Yan, you useless wretch, come out and die!"
Chi Yan walked out with a cold smile.
"Chi Long, you've picked a good day to die. I was wondering where to find you, and you've delivered yourself to my doorstep?"