CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 74: ACQUIRING GHOST TOMB_1

Over time, teams of young prodigies had made their way to Bachu City. Each found an inn and settled down without causing any trouble, venturing out of their rooms infrequently. It wasn’t clear whether this was due to the horrifying death of a disciple from the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect or if it was because they held themselves above such conflicts. It was peaceful, an unexpected tranquility.

Of course, occasionally, there were rogue Martial Artists who stirred up trouble, but they were quickly suppressed by Wu Ming and his team, who executed them publicly in the market, serving as a warning to any potential troublemakers.

"It’s strange how the prodigies from the Changeable Mansion and the Alliance can occupy the same city without any conflict," Qin Wudao wondered while practicing his swordsmanship in the pavilion of the City Lord’s imposing mansion. Although puzzled, he was relieved by the lack of conflict, as it spared the city’s people any distress.

"Your Highness, the prodigies from all the major forces are likely in seclusion to be in their best form for the Ghost Tomb relic," Jia Xu, who stood nearby, reported. Hidden Guards in disguise were stationed outside the inns where the prodigies were staying, ensuring that their every move was under his control.

With only three days left before the relic opens, the negotiations should be nearing their end! Qin Wudao mused, seemingly more to himself than to Jia Xu.

While Bachu City was filled with the younger generation of prodigies, the older generation of experts were not idle; they were also busy with preparations for the relic.

"Considering no forces from other domains have entered recently, we must have won the negotiations!" Jia Xu conjectured.

The "negotiations" they were speaking of weren’t verbal discussions but a show of strength.

About three thousand miles west of the Qin Empire lay a desert with a harsh environment, plagued by constant gales and swirling dust, rendering it uninhabitable and desolate.

BOOM!

Powerful figures battled in the Void, their terrifying attacks shattering space itself. The shockwaves rippled outwards, stirring up violent sandstorms that blotted out the sky, turning day into night. This battle had already raged for several days.

Combatants continually withdrew from and entered the fray.

"Gentlemen! We have thirty-seven domains to your nine. You cannot possibly win!" a monarch in imperial robes wielding a heavy saber declared, his voice booming across the battlefield’s edge. He laughed heartily, yet his hawk-like eyes were already scanning for an opponent. "If this continues, we’ll only cripple each other and delay the relic’s opening! Why don’t we declare a truce and explore it together?"

He then moved, and in an instant, charged the two nearest Changeable Mansion experts! Billowing Evil Qi surged forth. A brilliant saber light flashed in the Void, transforming into a Heavenly Dragon that spanned the heavens, exuding immense power.

PFFT!

The two Changeable Mansion experts staggered, coughing up blood as they were sent flying backward. They crashed through two nearby dunes, sending sand erupting into the air.

This act undoubtedly infuriated Zhang Zehan, the Mansion Lord of the Changeable Mansion. His brow furrowed slightly as he resolved to end this battle. He retrieved a jade talisman from his robes and forcefully crushed it.

Not far away, Lin Clan’s Leader, Lin Ao Zu, also produced a jade talisman, which he crumbled to dust in his palm.

Instantly, two pillars of light soared into the sky, dazzling and brilliant, piercing through the dust-filled world and tearing open two spatial rifts.

RUMBLE!

Five overwhelmingly powerful auras surged from the rifts, like colossal God Mountains pressing down, shaking the very Void.

More experts?

The experts from the temporarily allied thirty-seven domains paled, a trace of dread in their eyes. To contend for the chance to enter the relic, they had mobilized all their strength, assembling over sixty Martial Artists at the Reaching the Holy Realm stage. They had initially expected a crushing victory, but the strength of the Nine Great Domains was unexpectedly formidable; their Reaching the Holy Realm Martial Artists were as numerous as their own, if not more so.

From the very start of the battle, they had been at a disadvantage. Fortunately, since both sides were primarily focused on the relic, they had exercised restraint in their attacks, inflicting heavy injuries at most, not fatalities. That was how they had managed to drag things out until now! If the Nine Great Domains brought in more experts, they would undoubtedly be defeated.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Above Zhang Zehan, three figures materialized—two men and one woman. Each was enveloped in a monstrous blood-red light, their terrifying auras soaring to the heavens. Their gazes were imperious, coldly sweeping over the experts of the thirty-seven domains.

Meanwhile, above Lin Ao Zu, two more experts appeared. One had a kind and benevolent appearance, like a next-door grandfather; the other was ferocious and menacing, like a life-reaping vengeful ghost.

Five Semi-Saint Martial Artists!

The experts from the thirty-seven domains turned deathly pale, their faces etched with bitterness as they sensed the newcomers’ power.

"Do you still wish to fight?" A brutal glint flashed in Zhang Zehan’s eyes as he spoke coldly. "If we continue, then no one holds back. We fight to the death!"

This was a threat! A naked, undisguised threat! Yet, the experts from the thirty-seven domains were helpless. They certainly couldn’t afford to continue the battle. Unlike the Nine Great Domains, whose factions possessed vast resources and foundations, their sixty-odd experts were spread across thirty-seven domains. This meant each domain had only one or two such individuals. If these experts perished, their respective factions, lacking the protection of Reaching the Holy Realm Martial Artists, would sooner or later be annihilated.

Fight! They wanted to fight! But they didn’t dare. More importantly, they couldn’t afford to!

"So be it. We will not contest the Ghost Tomb relic," an old expert sighed, departing with deep reluctance. Treasures, no matter how good, required one to be alive to enjoy them.

"Sigh, let’s leave as well!"

The other experts, understanding the situation was lost, didn’t dare to linger and departed one after another. Soon, all of them had vanished into the sandy sea. Thus, the vast desert was left with only the people from the Changeable Mansion and the Alliance.

Naturally, the Lin Family, Gun City, Sword Sect, Blade Manor, Ten Thousand Flowers Sect, and the Qin Empire stood together, as they were all members of the Alliance.

The Holy Fire Sect’s only two remaining Reaching the Holy Realm Martial Artists sided with the Changeable Mansion.

Apart from them, only the Ten Thousand Thunder Sect from the Purple Lightning Domain remained. After a moment’s hesitation, they chose a neutral stance, helping neither side.

The atmosphere gradually grew heavy, as if a new, great battle was on the verge of erupting.

"We’ve defended the relic. But as for the treasures inside, it will depend on our own abilities. We’ll meet again at the Ghost Tomb... KEKEKE..." Zhang Zehan declared after a moment of stalemate, letting out a strange laugh. He then led his numerous experts, transforming into streaks of black light, flying towards the Ghost Tomb.

"We should also go!" Lin Ao Zu said gravely. "After returning, inform all our disciples that once inside the Ghost Tomb, they must help one another. If anyone dares to betray the Alliance for personal gain, don’t blame me for being merciless!" As he spoke, his gaze seemed to drift towards Hua Nianshen.

"Hmph! I am a veteran of this Alliance. You should worry more about the newly joined members!" Hua Nianshen retorted with dissatisfaction. She led the experts of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect away first. As she turned, a sinister, crazed smile touched her lips. The gates of hell have opened. Just waiting for you all to enter!

"Let us depart as well." Witnessing the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect’s departure, Lin Ao Zu frowned slightly but said nothing more. With a wave of his hand, he and his contingent also left the desert.

「The following day.」

The experts who had just fought the thirty-seven domains descended upon Bachu City one after another. Their terrifying might permeated the entire city, causing all living beings within a hundred-mile radius to tremble in fear.

Fortunately, Qin Wudao had ordered a city-wide lockdown, instructing the populace to remain indoors and prohibiting anyone from going out, thereby preventing any chaos.