CHAPTER 403: FIRST DAY OF EXPLORATION

Han Yu lowered his hand, the faint glow of the jade slip dying in his palm. He stood there for a moment, letting the cool night air settle over him, his mind running with possibilities.

A hidden pill repository. A dangerous alliance. And the tangled web of Elder Yi’s schemes pulling at him from the shadows.

He exhaled and finally turned back toward camp, his face unreadable. For now, he would sleep. Tomorrow, the real exploration began, and he needed his mind clear for whatever awaited in the tomb’s outer complexes.

Han Yu returned to the camp with a calm expression, concealing all the thoughts swirling in his mind from his brief but intriguing exchange with Meng Jueyan.

He slipped back into the familiar warmth of the disciples’ gathering around the campfires, where Wu Shuan and Fatty Kui were already seated, laughing lightly at some trivial story. Han Yu settled down beside them, forcing himself to relax. He knew better than to let his companions suspect anything unusual.

The night passed quietly.

Exhausted disciples rested under the watch of guards and the lingering glow of protective formations, while the embers of campfires crackled softly. Han Yu allowed himself a few more hours of contemplation, then drifted into a light, watchful sleep.

He wanted to be at his sharpest tomorrow, for the long-anticipated exploration of the outer complexes was about to begin.

When dawn came, the entire camp stirred with nervous energy.

Disciples rose early, tightening their robes, sharpening weapons, and securing pouches of pills, talismans, and charms. The air was thick with expectation. Han Yu joined his companions as they followed the flow of disciples gathering in the central open area, where the elders were already assembled.

The elders stood solemnly at the front, their gazes sweeping over the crowd. Once the murmur of disciples quieted, Elder Yun, a tall and stern figure, stepped forward.

"As you all already know," Elder Yun began, his voice firm yet carrying the weight of authority, "the tomb that has revealed itself here is vast, and its secrets are many. Among its features are several outer complexes. Some of these have yet to open, but many are now accessible. Today, the disciples of the orthodox sects shall begin entering them."

A ripple of excitement swept through the crowd. The words alone seemed to spark fire in their hearts. This was the moment they had been preparing for.

"Do not let eagerness blind you," Elder Yun continued. "The outer complexes are not empty halls to be wandered freely. They are riddled with traps, arrays, and countless dangers. And within them dwell beasts."

At that, several disciples exchanged startled looks. One bold disciple raised his hand and asked aloud, "Elder, how can there be beasts inside a tomb that has been sealed for so long?"

A few others nodded in agreement, their expressions a mix of doubt and curiosity.

Elder Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his tone remained steady as he explained, "You must understand, tombs of cultivators of this caliber are not mere burial sites. They are fortresses, inheritances, sometimes even realms of their own.

It is not unusual for experts to seal beasts within their tombs. With the right methods, they can ensure those beasts survive, reproduce, and maintain a cycle of life within."

A quiet murmur swept across the disciples as the implications sank in.

Another elder, shorter and robed in green, added gravely, "And do not mistake the surface structure of this tomb for its true form. What you see here is but the tip of an iceberg. The real tomb lies beneath, and its size may dwarf your imagination."

The disciples’ eyes widened.

Even Han Yu, who usually prided himself on his composure, found his curiosity stirred. He had suspected the tomb was far larger than what they had glimpsed, but hearing it confirmed by the elders gave it a weight he could not ignore.

"And more than that," Elder Yun continued, his tone dropping lower, "we suspect this tomb is not confined to the physical world alone. There are signs it is linked to a Spatial Plane."

At those words, the entire crowd erupted into hushed whispers.

"A Spatial Plane?" Wu Shuan muttered beside Han Yu, his eyes wide. Fatty Kui nearly choked on his own breath, his round face pale with shock.

Even Han Yu felt his heart stir.

He had read of Spatial Planes in sect records. They were independent realms, existing apart from the ordinary world. Some were as small as the interior of a storage treasure, while others rivaled entire continents, even worlds.

To imagine a tomb that might conceal such an expanse was both terrifying and exhilarating.

Elder Yun allowed the disciples a moment to let the shock sink in before silencing them with a wave of his hand. "None among us have entered the Spatial Plane yet. We have not found the entrance, though the signs are undeniable. That said, it could be vast beyond measure. We must proceed with utmost caution."

The disciples nodded, some visibly anxious, others trembling with excitement. Han Yu kept his face calm, though inwardly he was thinking of what such a place might hold. A Spatial Plane linked to an ancient tomb could contain opportunities that even sect elders would covet. If handled correctly, such an expedition could reshape his future entirely.

The elders did not pause for long. Once the murmurs subsided, Elder Yun raised his voice again.

"There is another matter you must heed. The outer complexes are divided into regions. The northern and central regions are allocated to the orthodox sects, while the southern ones have been tacitly assigned to the unorthodox sects." His tone grew harsher as he added, "You are not to enter the southern complexes. That is the agreement we have reached. To violate it would be to risk open conflict."

An Inner Court disciple near the front frowned and asked, "Elder, can we trust the unorthodox sects to honor this agreement? Would they really let us do this?"