Chapter 1688 Yata no Kagami
Before a large hall ahead, there were seven or eight figures in black robes.
All were foreigners with blue eyes, yellow hair, high noses, and tall builds.
These individuals were the forces of the Death Knights, and their leader was Williams.
"Lord Williams, do you think those behind us would ever imagine that you've poisoned them?"
The speaker was Bolt, Williams' top general.
Bolt was a mixed-race individual with half Black and half White heritage, people of his background held low status in Western countries.
Bolt grew up in a chaotic and dilapidated slum. As a child, he got into a fight over an expired loaf of bread and was left for dead. Later, he was discovered by Williams, who was on a mission. After being nurtured, he eventually became a blood kin and, relying on his strength, became Williams' foremost general.
Bolt appeared to be in his twenties, while Williams looked no older than thirty. Some might wonder how Williams could have adopted Bolt.
In reality, Williams was over two hundred years old. Blood kin possessed exceptionally long lifespans, and even if they died, they could pass on their inheritance to their descendants.
"Bolt, do not underestimate the people behind us, especially those from the Xia Nation. Although the Xia Nation has lagged behind by several centuries, remember that centuries ago, they were very powerful. Especially since the Xia Nation possesses the world's most mysterious cultivators!"
Williams' previous inheritor had been slain by a cultivator from the Xia Nation. Although he had escaped back to the Western world, he ultimately couldn't evade death and finally passed on all his cultivation to Williams.
Therefore, he never dared to underestimate the people of the Xia Nation.
"As you command!"
Although Bolt spoke these words, a look of disdain still flickered in his eyes.
What were mere people from the Xia Nation?
They entered the hall, which was empty. The ceiling was adorned with numerous sparkling gemstones.
At the very front stood a massive bronze sarcophagus, covered in runes, exuding an aura of mystery and profundity.
"Is this the tomb of Princess Wuyou?"
Williams' gaze was fixed intently on the bronze sarcophagus.
Princess Wuyou was the biological sister of Japan's first emperor. She held a distinguished position and wielded one of the three sacred treasures of Japan, the Yata no Kagami. Once possessed, the Yata no Kagami bestowed unparalleled cultivation speed.
Legend had it that Princess Wuyou began her cultivation very late. Most people started practicing at seven or eight, but Princess Wuyou didn't begin until after she turned eighteen. Yet, her cultivation speed was incredibly fast. In just one year, she caught up to her brother, astonishing the entire Japanese martial arts world.
Countless martial artists in Japan wanted Princess Wuyou to join their ranks, leading to fierce battles and immense commotion. However, Princess Wuyou decisively refused the advances of numerous esteemed masters.
This enraged the martial arts overlords, who felt insulted by Princess Wuyou. Thus, Princess Wuyou made a bet with a group of martial arts leaders, promising to defeat them all in three years.
Those old fellows had cultivated for decades, so naturally, they didn't believe her. However, due to Princess Wuyou's special status, they agreed to the wager, stipulating that if Princess Wuyou lost after three years, she would have to choose one of them to take as a disciple.
However, three years later, Princess Wuyou, who had only started cultivating at eighteen, surpassed the cultivation realms of those elder cultivators. She single-handedly defeated a host of Japanese experts and helped her brother unify Japan during its period of division.
Princess Wuyou's brother, misled by slander, feared that Princess Wuyou would seize his throne. Thus, he plotted to frame her and poisoned her. Little did he know, Princess Wuyou had always harbored affection for her brother. By the time the truth was revealed, her brother was overcome with grief, but Princess Wuyou, having ingested potent poison, was beyond saving.
Her brother reportedly heard that if Princess Wuyou were buried in Japan's best geomantic location, she might be resurrected after a thousand years. Thus, he established a tomb deep within Mount Fuji. It was said that hundreds of thousands of lives were lost in the construction of this tomb.
"Lord Williams, according to the treasure map, this should be Princess Wuyou's tomb. The Yata no Kagami that Your Lordship is seeking should be within."
Bolt licked his lips, gazing greedily at the bronze sarcophagus.
"Good, very good!"
Williams gently waved his sleeve towards the bronze sarcophagus, and a surge of blood energy swept out, but the bronze sarcophagus remained unmoved.
He frowned and commanded, "Open the bronze sarcophagus for me."
"As you command!"
Bolt, accompanied by two others, charged forward.
Among his subordinates was a mighty strongman. With a single slap on the coffin lid, he sent it flying.
Inside the coffin lay a woman. This woman was perfectly preserved, showing no signs of decay. Her skin was crystal clear, and she was as beautiful as a flower.
"This..."
Seeing the woman, Bolt was greatly astonished. "Lord Williams, quickly come and see."
Williams, witnessing this, also hurried forward. Upon seeing the woman in the coffin, he was not surprised but instead exclaimed, "I never expected it to be real! There truly is a method for eternal life!!"
Clearly, Williams' expedition was not merely about finding the Yata no Kagami, one of the three sacred treasures.
Williams immediately stepped forward to inspect it, but after a lengthy examination, he found nothing and couldn't help but frown. "Could this not be the so-called method for eternal life?"
"Lord Williams, is this the Yata no Kagami?"
Bolt found a piece of green jade in the woman's hand and cried out in jubilation.
Williams took it and immediately examined it. "It should be the Yata no Kagami! Although we didn't find the method for eternal life, finding the Yata no Kagami makes this trip worthwhile."
"Search thoroughly. Are there any other items? If not, let's withdraw quickly."
"As you command!"
Soon, their search was complete, and Williams prepared to lead his men away.
But just then, a cold shout echoed, "Hand over the Yata no Kagami to your grandpa!"
"Who?"
Williams' expression changed.
Everyone's gaze turned towards the entrance.
The next moment, the grand doors of the hall were kicked open, and Chen Xuan and his group rushed in.
"What? You're not dead?"
Bolt was greatly shocked to see Chen Xuan and the others.
The disheveled Taoist priest mocked, "Your Western methods are like showing off in front of an expert. My great-grandfather mastered such trivialities! You think you can scheme against us? Look at yourself in a puddle!"
"Fuck!!"
Bolt cursed furiously.
"Fuck your grandmother! Immediately hand over the Yata no Kagami, one of the three sacred treasures of the Xia Nation, or none of you will be leaving!" the disheveled Taoist priest sneered.
"You want the Yata no Kagami? Dream on! Brothers, attack!"
Bolt roared and lunged towards Chen Xuan and the others.
The disheveled Taoist priest said, "Chen Xuan, leave these guys to me and Takahashi Yuriko. You go and snatch the Yata no Kagami from Williams!"
Chen Xuan saw that Bolt and the others were not particularly formidable and felt reassured leaving them to the disheveled Taoist priest and Takahashi Yuriko. His figure flickered, and he darted straight towards Williams!