Vol 6 Chapter 35: Fifth Heaven
According to the rich tomb-entering experience of the remnant soul of an immortal...
If tomb raiders without background were to enter the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb, they would be attacked by the Stone Figures standing guard here at the outermost perimeter.
These Stone Figures possessed the basic instinct to protect the tomb. In their complete state, each one was equivalent to a True Immortal wielding a standard-issue lower-grade immortal artifact. With over ten thousand tomb-guarding Stone Figures forming the tomb-suppressing massive array, even an Immortal Lord would meet their end here.
And this was merely the outermost defense of the tomb.
However, that was in the distant past. After experiencing the age of magic decline, the spiritual power fluctuations from these Stone Figures had diminished to below golden core level. The lower-grade immortal artifacts in their hands had decayed and become unusable, seemingly ready to turn to dust at any moment.
Yet even in this state, the pressure brought by their tomb-guarding will was enough to make any life form that hadn't condensed a Nascent Soul find it difficult to move here.
At the current stage, no ordinary cultivator from Earth should be able to break through.
Except for those with background.
After the age of magic decline, people discovered that the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb's defense mechanisms seemed to have developed problems. While it still exterminated most intruders, it no longer forcibly expelled cultivators with Heavenly Emperor bloodline.Just like here at the outermost perimeter, as long as intruders with Heavenly Emperor bloodline didn't try to take the equipment from the tomb-guarding Stone Figures, these Stone Figures seemed to turn a blind eye, quietly watching them pass by without attacking.
"According to legend, the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb has five heavens."
"The first heaven is this outermost perimeter, formed from imperial soil and the immortal souls of those who died in battle, shaped into tomb-guarding Stone Figures. Aside from the immortal artifacts they hold, there are basically no treasures here. Thieves daring enough to enter the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb wouldn't risk it for mere lower-grade immortal artifacts."
"The second heaven is the outer city of the periphery. This city contains offerings from various races under the Heavenly Emperor's rule. The Ancient Heavenly Court governed countless races, and these races all presented their ultimate treasures - whether elixirs or magical treasures - sealed within statues representing their races."
"Actually, I only made it this far back then. I luckily obtained an immortal pill from the offerings of the myriad races, which allowed me to survive until now. Actually, reaching this heaven is already quite remarkable. For some minor races it's one thing, but for major races, how could they be careless with offerings to the Heavenly Emperor? Too cheap offerings wouldn't show proper respect to the Heavenly Emperor, so even upper-grade immortal artifacts exist here. Gaining any benefits in this heaven would bring endless advantages."
"The third heaven is said to contain the remains of the concubines who were buried with him, considered the inner layer." The remnant soul of an immortal said with apprehension: "His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor had numerous concubines. After he died in battle, many concubines chose to be buried with him."
"This place is rather sensitive. I don't recommend approaching it. The defense measures here are completely incomparable to the two outer areas. Even with Heavenly Emperor bloodline, it's completely not recommended. After all, even when the Heavenly Emperor was alive, the concubines still fought for favor and schemed in the palace. Our bloodline from who-knows-where might displease some concubine's lingering will and get us killed directly."
Outside the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb, Lin Jing recalled his previous exchange with the remnant soul of an immortal.
"The fourth heaven is said to contain the remains of four foreign Immortal Emperors who tried to overthrow the Heavenly Court's rule, along with their four races' clan-suppressing immortal artifacts. They came from other Immortal Realms. After killing these four Immortal Emperors one against four, His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor was also mortally wounded due to his injuries. He ordered that these four Immortal Emperors and their battle weapons be buried with him, to be suppressed and sealed for generations, preventing their resurgence. This can be said to symbolize the Heavenly Emperor's strength and achievements."
"If even the third heaven isn't recommended, this place is even less recommended. Immortal Emperor level is unimaginable. Even after personally suppressing and killing these enemies, His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor couldn't guarantee they had no resurrection methods - through wish power, faith, reincarnation... In short, to prevent these four Immortal Emperors from resurrecting and their battle weapons circulating back, the Heavenly Emperor used his own remains to personally suppress and seal everything about them within his tomb. This is an even more untouchable taboo."
"The fifth heaven must be where the Heavenly Emperor's own remains rest, buried with numerous personal belongings of the Heavenly Emperor."
After learning everything from the remnant soul of an immortal, Lin Jing understood that without special opportunities, the most suitable place for them to seek treasures was the second heaven.
His original idea of inheriting some Immortal Emperor relics and becoming some young Immortal Emperor was very unrealistic - he would need to reach the deepest fifth heaven at least. But after what the remnant soul of an immortal said, it was undoubtedly extremely difficult.
Therefore, Lin Jing had lowered his expectations. As long as froggy could successfully bring back some treasures from the second heaven, that would be enough.
Best case would be an upper-grade immortal artifact...
With Immortal Physique, Immortal Dao Primordial Spirit, Heaven's Mandate, and if he could add an easily controllable upper-grade immortal artifact, Lin Jing could only say... invincible.
"Ribbit."
Meanwhile, inside the Emperor's Tomb, carrying offerings, the Heavenly Emperor Post-Frog finally jumped out of the outermost perimeter and arrived at the inner city. Although flying would be faster, how dare the Heavenly Emperor Post-Frog fly while inside the Emperor's Tomb?
Jumping and kneeling was the only way to show its respect.
The inner city had one hundred giant immortal generals guarding it. They were essentially enlarged versions of the tomb-guarding Stone Figures, with giant hammers in their hands that appeared to be middle-grade immortal artifact level - extremely precious.
Naturally, one couldn't covet these giants' weapons. The fact that they weren't attacking was already giving enough face. Trying to take their essential equipment would be pushing way too far.
Outside the city stood one hundred giant immortal generals.
Inside the city were various statues of different forms - some with three eyes, some with wings, some in demonic beast forms, and some normal humans, all kneeling uniformly toward one direction, showing utmost piety.
According to the remnant soul of an immortal, the treasures of this heaven - the offerings from myriad races - were placed inside these statues representing each race. Back then, he had tried to take them directly, but whenever he tried to dismantle the statues, the previously motionless giant immortal generals would seem to come alive, fixing their gaze on him, making him completely dare not make any unusual moves.
"How did you obtain burial items back then?"
"Since I couldn't take them by force, I started playing pitiful. I knelt toward the main tomb direction just like those statues and began complaining about my hardships. As if moved by my sincerity, crack - one statue shattered by itself, and an expired immortal pill fell out. After I took it, I didn't suffer any harm."
"Could it be that the statue... cracked naturally due to decay, rather than the Emperor's Tomb being moved by you?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible."