CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: THE RUINS OF GHOST TOMB_1

"Send the order: investigate the Ghost Tomb and closely monitor the movements of the Changeable Mansion!"

Inside an ancient, weathered, and solemn hall of the Lin Family, Clan Leader Lin Ao Zu gazed at the intelligence report in his hand, his voice deep and cold as he issued the command.

The allied forces shared intelligence regarding the Changeable Mansion. As soon as Gun City detected any unusual activity from the Changeable Mansion, it was immediately relayed to the other allied powers.

"Yes, sir!"

Outside the main hall, a figure materialized from thin air. His aura was concealed, his depth unfathomable. He bowed towards the hall before vanishing on the spot.

The ruins, they’re becoming more and more interesting...

Lin Ao Zu set down the report, rose, and walked to the window. He looked towards the western sky, his gaze profound, as if it could pierce through everything.

No one knew what he was thinking.

Meanwhile, the intelligence agencies of the Sword Sect, Blade Mansion, and the Greater Azure Empire dispatched numerous spies to the Ghost Tomb.

For a time, a storm brewed, and spy wars raged endlessly.

「Outside the Ghost Tomb」

On a small mountain peak, Wolf Guardian, one of the five great protectors of the Changeable Mansion and an expert at the peak of the Saint Realm, stood upon an ancient tree, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression icy.

"So what if they’ve found us?" On another ancient tree, Fox Protector, also one of the five great protectors, covered her mouth and chuckled lightly. Her narrow, beautiful eyes glinted with a conspiratorial light. "The opening of the ruins is merely bait. We’re just waiting for them to take it!"

She stood barefoot on the leaves, clad in a red gauze dress that barely concealed essential areas, revealing large expanses of her snow-white skin—an infinite temptation.

A femme fatale!

That idiom was tailor-made for her.

Besides her formidable cultivation, she was the Changeable Mansion’s strategist. She had personally formulated a 30,000-year plan, and the number of people she had directly or indirectly killed exceeded ten million.

Beneath her beautiful exterior flowed a bloodthirsty lineage.

"According to the Mansion Master’s deductions, there’s a fourth-level Mustard Seed World within the Ghost Tomb ruins. Aren’t you worried it will be seized by outsiders?" Wolf Guardian asked, glancing at Fox Protector with a hint of concern.

The plan was sound, but if anything went awry and another power managed to seize the Mustard Seed World, the loss would far outweigh any gain.

Below the third level, Mustard Seed Worlds were fixed to the main world and could not be moved. However, from the fourth level onward, a Mustard Seed World could traverse the Void through master recognition.

"Among the younger generation, who do you think is a match for our Young Master?" Fox Protector retorted. Thinking of that supreme figure, she blushed, her eyes misting over with an infatuated expression.

Women...

Wolf Guardian’s mouth twitched. He turned his head to look at the vast forest, licking his crimson lips like a wolf stalking its prey. "Relay my orders!" he commanded, his voice thick with killing intent. "Follow me and eliminate all spies in the Ghost Tomb!"

With that, exuding a terrifying killing intent, he soared into the sky. Compared to beauty, he was far more interested in slaughter.

Through the vast forest, figures of Changeable Mansion experts streaked, like cats hunting mice, unleashing a wave of slaughter. The deployed Saint Realm martial artists numbered over a dozen.

In that moment, the spies from all factions suffered devastating losses.

RUMBLE...

As the slaughter neared its end, deep within the Ghost Tomb, a colossal, ten-thousand-zhang peak began to tremble. It was split down the middle by an immense power, forming a ten-zhang-wide fissure.

BOOM!

A black pillar of light shot straight into the heavens, generating a dense black fog that enveloped thousands of miles of sky, as if a powerful demonic god was being birthed within.

All the powerful experts in the Nine Great Domains sensed it.

The show begins!

After the black pillar of light appeared, Fox Protector revealed a joyful smile. Her delicate figure rose into the air and vanished.

「The Imperial Capital!」

"Your Highness, the Hidden Guard has an urgent intelligence report!" Jia Xu cried out, clutching a report as he hurried onto the training ground of the East Palace, addressing the figure on the sparring platform.

Qin Wudao was currently sparring with Wu Ming, Wang Lingling, and Peng Shizhuang. They left a trail of afterimages in the Void, their powerful auras almost shattering it.

After cultivating the "Five Elements Heaven and Earth Decision", Wang Lingling and Peng Shizhuang had successfully broken through to the Nirvana Realm, both reaching the Sixth Cycle Nirvana. Wu Ming was still in the early stage of the Nirvana Realm, but his aura had grown more profound; it seemed he would soon break through to the middle stage.

"Go!"

Hearing Jia Xu’s report, Qin Wudao unleashed his full power, sending Wu Ming and the others flying before landing gracefully on the ground. He said, "The core of the "Five Elements Heaven and Earth Tactics" is to mobilize the five elemental powers of the Void to form a cycle outside the body. You rely too much on your internal power, neglecting the core of the Cultivation Technique!"

Thanks to the system, he had grasped the essence of the "Five Elements Heaven and Earth Tactics" and could instantly pinpoint their deficiencies.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness!"

Wu Ming, Wang Lingling, and Peng Shizhuang knew Qin Wudao was instructing them. They quickly expressed their gratitude and, after paying their respects, departed from the East Palace. Jia Xu was clearly seeking Qin Wudao for an important matter.

"What is it?" Qin Wudao asked, setting his battle sword aside and walking towards the main hall.

"Your Highness," Jia Xu reported respectfully, following behind him, "ruins have appeared in the Ghost Tomb, suspected to contain a fourth-level Mustard Seed World. In two weeks at most, the sealing power outside the ruins will completely vanish!"

"Ruins! A fourth-level Mustard Seed World!" Qin Wudao paused, a playful look flickering in his eyes. "I’m afraid the powers of the Nine Great Domains will go mad for it!"

A set of ruins alone was attractive enough; adding a fourth-level Mustard Seed World meant that even elusive Saints would likely be tempted.

It was well known that within the Nine Great Domains, even the strongest power, the Changeable Mansion, did not possess a fourth-level Mustard Seed World; publicly, it only possessed four third-level Mustard Seed Worlds.

"It’s not just the Nine Great Domains. All the neighboring domains, except for the Great Bright Domain, have shown great interest in the Ghost Tomb ruins. However, the Changeable Mansion and the Alliance have temporarily ceased fire and are currently driving out forces from other domains!" Jia Xu stated solemnly. According to the Hidden Guard’s intelligence, spies from over thirty domains had appeared near the Ghost Tomb, and this number was still increasing.

Indeed, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests! For the sake of the treasures within the ruins, the Changeable Mansion and the Alliance, once mortal enemies, have surprisingly united against external threats!

But in that case, the ruins will likely be seized by the Nine Great Islands!

Qin Wudao mused, rubbing his chin with a sigh. He had studied the surrounding domains. Apart from the Great Bright Domain, the others were generally average in strength. Forget Saint Realm martial artists; even Sky Realm martial artists were scarce.

With the combined strength of the Changeable Mansion and the Alliance, securing the Ghost Tomb ruins shouldn’t be difficult.

"All under heaven chase after benefit; no power can resist the allure of the ruins," Jia Xu said, strongly agreeing with Qin Wudao’s sentiment. His expression then turned grave. "However, the fewer factions competing for the ruins, the safer it is for the Qin Empire!"

The Ghost Tomb bordered the Qin Empire. Before the ruins opened, martial artists would gather in the western region of the Qin Empire. With so many different forces converging, conflicts were inevitable. The destructive power of martial artists is astonishing. If a fight broke out, the entire western region would likely suffer.

Hearing this, Qin Wudao’s expression also grew solemn. He pondered for a moment, a glint of decisiveness flashing in his eyes. He had made up his mind.