Volume Six: Porcelain of Blue Flowers Chapter Seven: A Fright in the Ancient Tomb

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The off-road vehicle sped along, leaving the bustling downtown far behind as it hurtled toward the remote mountains at the city's edge. Once they entered the mountain region, the refreshing air jolted everyone awake. After another stretch of driving deep into the mountains, the car finally came to a stop.

“We’ll have to walk from here,” Yaoguang announced as she stepped out, gathering her gear. “Through the woods ahead, across a river, and we’ll reach Zhu Guangxuan’s tomb.” With that, she led the group on the final leg of their journey.

They hiked until their legs were weak and trembling, coming to a halt at the base of a small hill. There, among toppled gravestones and crumbling ruins, they recognized their destination.

“Let’s rest for a bit. We’ll scan the area before we do anything,” Yaoguang said, dropping her backpack and sitting down. The others collapsed beside her, exhausted.

“Jiang Yun, come here.” Yaoguang beckoned. Jiang Yun approached, her face slick with sweat. Yaoguang wiped it away and placed a pill in her mouth. “Let it dissolve before swallowing.” Then she pressed her right hand to Jiang Yun’s back, channeling a stream of spiritual energy into her. Jiang Yun sighed in relief as a warm sensation coursed through her body, sweeping away all fatigue.

“The Art of Gentle Breeze?” Xuan Chen’s eyes widened at Jiang Yun’s reaction. “You’re really being generous.”

“Got a problem?” Yaoguang withdrew her energy, eyeing him.

“No, not at all,” Xuan Chen shook his head. “That technique is so profound and obscure, I can’t master it with my level of skill.”

“Hmph,” Yaoguang snorted.

“To cultivate the Art of Gentle Breeze, one must sever seven meridians and eight channels, then be reborn like a phoenix from the fire. Every use consumes cultivation, yet it’s the highest healing art. You must really care for this little girl,” a voice called out from behind the hill, startling everyone.

“Bilu, would it kill you to keep your mouth shut?” Yaoguang didn’t even look up.

“Haha, nothing escapes you. Hey, Daoist Guishan, long time no see. A pleasure.” Bilu emerged, sitting down next to Daoist Guishan.

“Ah, True God Bilu, it’s been a while,” Daoist Guishan replied politely.

“The antique shop owner? Why are you here?” Jiang Yun exclaimed in surprise.

“What else? This was his mess—how could he not show up? If he didn’t, I’d tear down his storefront,” Yaoguang shot him an annoyed look, tossing him a water bottle.

“Heh, you don’t have to put it that way. Oh, Longjing tea, from that tree—so you knew I was coming.” Bilu took a sip. “Still, Phoenix, you’re the one who’s good to me.”

“Save it. I’ve no patience for you.” Yaoguang rolled her eyes, handing a can of fish to Jiang Yun with a smile. “Eat up, your favorite.”

“Thank you, Master!” Jiang Yun beamed, delighted.

“You’re always so fierce with me, but so kind to Jiang Yun,” Bilu grumbled.

“My apprentice is like my own daughter—of course I cherish her. And you? Who do you think you are?” Yaoguang kept her eyes down, passing out items from her bag to each person.

“Honestly, all these years and you two still bicker the moment you meet. Look at what you’re handing out—it’s everyone’s favorite thing. Yaoguang’s caring isn’t in her words; after so long, if you still don’t get it, no wonder she won’t have you,” Daoist Guishan teased.

“Won’t have me?!” Everyone paused, wondering if he was a male confidant. But the next moment, each realized the items Yaoguang gave them were indeed their favorites, and warmth spread in their hearts.

“Alright, alright, my luck’s just not that good,” Bilu muttered, handing Yaoguang a delicate pouch. “Da Hong Pao tea, lotus-root osmanthus cakes, and spicy duck treats.”

“Now you’re talking.” Yaoguang smiled as she opened it. “So you did come. I thought you’d skip it.” She took a sip of tea and lit a cigarette.

“How could I not? This was my fault.” Bilu shook his head. “Someone came into my shop wanting to get rich. I gave him a merchant’s notebook, not realizing it held a map of an ancient tomb. He actually thought I was sending him tomb raiding, and went for it—hired a tomb raider I know, and I happened to be passing by, so I took the bottle. That set off everything that followed. What a mess.”

“So it was your blunder. No wonder Yaoguang’s so mad. Professor Zhou and Yaoguang’s boss’s boss are close friends—this is a big deal. You made this mess; you clean it up,” Daoist Guishan patted him with deep sympathy.

“The map leads to Zhu Guangxuan’s tomb?” Xuan Chen asked.

“Yes,” Bilu nodded.

“Well, then,” Xuan Chen could only sigh.

Yaoguang stood, set up the satellite antenna and detection devices, and tapped a few buttons on her tablet. “Here it is. The tomb is cross-shaped: the entrance here, a passageway, then a sacrificial pit, and ahead is the main chamber. East and west wings are burial annexes. There’s a robber’s tunnel at the entrance—must be from those people. We’ll enter there. The ceiling is reinforced with iron slurry; we can’t break through, so the main gate is our only way in. But who knows what traps await.” She put down the tablet and walked to the side of the hill, spotting the tunnel.

“This tunnel is so small—how do we get in?” Xuan Chen frowned. “None of us know the bone-shrinking technique, do we?”

“Zhu Guangxuan has become a ghoul; the other coffins in here are likely affected. The tomb can’t be preserved. After dealing with the ghoul, we must destroy this place.” Yaoguang pulled out a Luoyang shovel, attaching steel pipes, and drove it vertically into the ground beside the tunnel. Not until the tenth pipe did she pull the shovel out, inspecting the soil. “Bilu, the rest is up to you,” she said, putting the shovel away and sitting down.

“Alright.” Bilu took his bag and began his preparations.

“You’re going to…” Xuan Chen stared at the explosives in bewilderment.

“Let’s wait over there,” Daoist Guishan tugged at him, moving away.

Bilu expertly set the explosives, dropping a fuse down the tunnel, then stepped back, formed a seal, set up a barrier, and pressed the detonator. With a muffled boom, the earth around the tunnel collapsed, soon forming an opening wide enough for a person to enter.

Yaoguang stepped forward, formed a hand seal, and a butterfly emerged from her fingertip, fluttering into the pit. After some time, it returned and landed on her hand.

“The air’s fine. We can go down,” Yaoguang said, securing safety ropes. Once everything was ready, she handed the tablet to Xuan Chen. “Not everyone can go. Xuan Chen, you’ll support us from above. The rest, let’s go.”

“Alright,” Xuan Chen nodded, taking the tablet.

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Yaoguang glanced around, formed a hand seal, and set up a barrier, then led the descent.

“Be careful,” Xuan Chen called.

They nodded in acknowledgment and climbed down one after another. It was pitch dark below. They switched on their headlamps, illuminating the scene as best they could.

Not far from the bottom, they spotted the tomb’s broken entrance. Yaoguang frowned at the battered stone door and scattered stones. “What kind of tomb raider uses explosives?”

She examined the mechanism: the door was meant to open with two stone lions, each holding an iron chain—pull both, and the door would open. But this group had simply blasted it open, how crude. She eyed the stones. “They must’ve been injured. There’s strong acid in these sealing walls. Blast it, and acid sprays everywhere. How unprofessional. Let’s move.”

Bilu shook his head at the ruined door, and they continued. Beyond the entrance lay a narrow corridor paved with bluestone. Oil lamps hung along the walls. At the passage’s threshold, Yaoguang tossed a handful of metal marbles; they bounced along the floor and walls, vanishing into the darkness ahead. Nothing happened.

“There are no traps in this corridor, but stay alert.” Yaoguang led the way. The passage wasn’t long, and soon they reached the sacrificial pit, small and filled with animal bones.

“This son was careless. His father did better—no human sacrifice, just animals,” Yaoguang observed.

They skirted the pit carefully. Tianyou and Huo Mingkun checked the east and west annexes.

“Sis, only burial goods in the side chambers—no coffins left, just broken ceramics and such. Looks like they were cleaned out, judging by the footprints,” Huo Mingkun reported.

“Same here,” Chu Tianyou added. “There weren’t many burial goods to begin with.”

“Let’s keep going,” Yaoguang nodded, unconcerned. Ahead, a semicircular chamber came into view. At the far end stood a massive upright coffin, flanked by two others.

“Arc Sha?” Daoist Guishan and Yaoguang exchanged glances, speaking in unison.

“No wonder Zhu Guangxuan became a ghoul. A semicircular tomb with an upright coffin facing the passage? Such an arrangement in a yin dwelling gathers much more negative energy. Did the Yin-Yang master have a grudge against the Prince of Ning? Tombs are usually square or rectangular, not semicircular. Ridiculous,” Bilu muttered.

“Seems the prince didn’t care for this son at all—or never even looked at the tomb’s plans. From the dream, we know he resented and neglected this child,” Yaoguang said.

She surveyed the chamber, raised her hand, and sent forth a fire butterfly. It circled the oil lamps, lighting them one by one in a golden glow. After so many years, the lamps still worked—it was remarkable.

“Old man, let’s begin,” Yaoguang said to Daoist Guishan.

“Alright,” he replied.

The others retreated as Yaoguang and Daoist Guishan moved through the chamber, forming hand seals in tandem, swiftly weaving a spirit-trapping array.

“Open the coffin, everyone step back,” Yaoguang commanded, inserting a crowbar into the crack of the upright coffin. Together, they pried the heavy lid off, exposing the inner coffin.

“These tomb raiders had some sense—not touching the main coffin, just taking the burial goods. Old man, your turn,” Yaoguang said, prying open the coffin’s lid.

“You were right, little one. Zhu Guangxuan was really neglected—such a shoddy coffin for a prince,” Daoist Guishan remarked, peering inside. But the next moment, he gasped, “My god, what a fearsome ghoul!” The corpse showed no sign of decay, covered in long green hair; its fingernails were over four inches, also green, and from its mouth protruded two fangs, each nearly two inches long.

“What now, old man?” Yaoguang asked.

“Seal the corpse with ink lines, then burn it,” he replied, tossing her the end of a chalk line. They stretched it out and snapped it, leaving red marks across the corpse from head to toe, then vertically from left to right, forming a dense grid. Daoist Guishan took out a silver talisman, began chanting, and the talisman stood upright, glowing gold. “Seal!” He pressed it to the corpse’s forehead. “Little one, ignite it.”

Yaoguang began her incantation, fingers weaving complex signs.

“He’s opening his eyes!” Huo Mingkun’s terrified voice broke out. Yaoguang saw the ghoul’s eyes snap open, milky and wide, brimming with hate.

“Not good—quick, little one!” Daoist Guishan shouted. Yaoguang finished her spell, sending a blast of fire at the ghoul.

The ghoul howled in agony, but the flames failed to catch. In the next instant, it leaped from the coffin.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Huo Mingkun fired three shots, but the bullets vanished into the ghoul’s body as if into water. “Damn, guns are useless!” he cursed, leaping aside.

The ghoul looked down at itself, then lunged at Yaoguang. Its limbs were stiff, yet it moved swiftly. In a flash, it was upon her. She struck it with a beam of golden light, leaving only a scorched mark. She dodged aside rather than confront it directly.

Daoist Guishan lashed out with his horsetail whisk, the soft strands turning to a whip, striking the ghoul again and again, but only leaving black marks—no real harm.

With a sound like a singing blade, Jiang Yun’s Qingyou Sword was drawn, slashing at the ghoul. But it only cut through its clothes.

Yaoguang summoned her own spiritual power, raining blows with the Youlan Sword, each strike as if cleaving stone. Chu Tianyou joined in with his sword, and together they encircled the ghoul.

Ancient divine swords, a blade of slaughter, a ritual whisk, and a sword of spirits—yet none could harm the ghoul.

On the side, Bilu, chanting and stepping in a ritual pattern, finally completed the array. The spirit-trapping formation activated, golden light surging from the ground and striking the ghoul, making smoke rise from its body. The ghoul, sensing true danger, grew even more enraged.

“Phoenix, it’s no use—the ghoul has been purified and is invincible except by heavenly lightning,” Bilu cried out.

“If we call heaven’s thunder here, we’ll be ashes ourselves!” someone exclaimed as they fought.

“Old man, I have an idea, but I need your help. Bilu, can you maintain this formation for twenty minutes? Tianyou, I need you to hold the ghoul off for twenty minutes,” Yaoguang said, striking and dodging.

“We can do it. Hurry,” Bilu and Tianyou replied.

“Old man, let’s go!” Yaoguang withdrew, landing at the tomb’s entrance.

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“I’m coming too,” Daoist Guishan called as he retreated.

“To summon golden thunder, we’ll need the Celestial Yu Steps,” Yaoguang said.

“Then today, I’ll walk the Yu Steps with you,” he replied. They exchanged a glance, placed hands on each other’s shoulders, summoned their spiritual energy, calmed their minds, and entered a meditative state. They raised their right feet together, channeling potent energy into the first step. A powerful force pressed upon them. They took the second step, the pressure increased. With each successive step, the burden grew heavier, but Yaoguang’s heart remained steady, synchronizing with Daoist Guishan. Step by step, the Star of Tian Shu shone, then another step, the Star of Tian Xuan, and so on. Yaoguang felt something stirring deep within her soul as the ritual paces continued, the battle raging on.

When the Star of Tian Quan lit up, Jiang Yun was hurled across the room, slamming into the wall with blood spraying from her lips. The Qingyou Sword fell to the ground, its spirit trembling in midair.

“Jiang Yun, my energy is spent—are you alright?” the sword spirit floated to her, frantic but powerless to help. Jiang Yun raised her head with effort, smiled at Yaoguang, and shook her head as if to say she was fine.

Yun’er—Yaoguang’s heart clenched in pain, her footing faltering. But then Daoist Guishan’s strong hand gripped her shoulder, steadying her. She snapped back to focus, following his lead. At a special angle, the Star of Yu Heng shone, and Huo Mingkun was sent flying into a coffin, coughing blood violently. Tears finally streamed down Yaoguang’s cheeks. “Sis, I’m alright—don’t worry about me,” Huo Mingkun managed, knowing she must not lose concentration or the stellar power would destroy her.

She pulled herself together. With Daoist Guishan, she continued. The Star of Kai Yang shone, the pressure nearly suffocating them.

“Ah!” Chu Tianyou was knocked aside by the ghoul, blood streaming down his forehead.

Only Bilu remained on his feet, forming seals, splitting himself into avatars to maintain the spirit-trapping array while confronting the ghoul. With a crack, the other two coffins burst open; the corpses inside awoke, swinging stiff arms at Bilu. Chu Tianyou and the others staggered up, joining the fray.

Again, Jiang Yun was flung down. Huo Mingkun, in a desperate attempt to buy time, clung to the ghoul’s leg, while its other leg stomped on his back, blood blossoming like red spider lilies on the road to the underworld.

The Star of Yaoguang shone, the celestial force being drawn down by Yaoguang and Daoist Guishan. The Yu Steps continued, both bleeding from the corners of their mouths. The formation’s light dimmed. Chu Tianyou was thrown again, Huo Mingkun lay dying, Bilu’s divine hair was disheveled—he too was at his limit.

The Big Dipper’s light grew ever brighter, until at the zenith, Polaris shone dazzlingly. Yaoguang and Daoist Guishan sat cross-legged, fingers flying in intricate gestures, chanting furiously. Bilu was thrown aside with a crash.

“Yaoguang, now!” Bilu gasped, barely conscious.

“With my spirit, I summon my god—go!” Yaoguang shot a beam of golden light at Polaris. With a thunderous boom, she dragged it down and struck the ghoul. Another bolt followed. The ghoul howled in agony. Seeing her wounded companions, Yaoguang’s heart nearly tore in two.

“I said, not one of the Heavenly Sword shall fall!” Yaoguang called forth the power again, smashing it down. The ghoul raged, but another golden blast struck.

“Seal!” Daoist Guishan slapped two silver talismans onto the other corpses. “By the law, be bound!” With his chant, the corpses were instantly engulfed in karmic flames. The ghoul, witnessing its companions burn, flew into a frenzy, lunging at Yaoguang, but Daoist Guishan countered, summoning seven beams from the Dipper and smashing them down.

The ghoul finally buckled and knelt. Seizing the moment, the two exchanged a glance and unleashed another blast. Yaoguang changed her seals and incantations, calling down a heavenly fire that struck the ghoul’s crown, engulfing it in flames and lighting the tomb as bright as day.

The ghoul writhed and shrieked, but the fire only grew fiercer. Yaoguang invoked a blue flame from beneath the ghoul, merging with the golden fire. Its screams faded as its body was consumed to ash.

Yaoguang ceased her channeling, glancing at her companions.

“By your stars, restore our spirits.” As she spoke, gentle light bathed the fallen. Their pain eased, and they lay breathless on the cold ground.

Yaoguang spat blood and slowly withdrew the stellar power, collapsing on the spot.

“Heavens, I’m exhausted,” Daoist Guishan sighed, watching the celestial light fade away, then slumping to the ground.

“Master, are you alright?” Jiang Yun crawled over, tears streaming down her face. “Master!”

“Good child, I’m fine—just tired. Don’t worry.” Yaoguang managed to sit up, wiping the blood from Jiang Yun’s face. “Oh, my little kitten. You were a finance executive, now I’ve turned you into a detective. If your parents knew, they’d have my hide.”

Jiang Yun laughed through her tears.

“It’s alright, little kitten—I’m fine.” Yaoguang stood, giving pills to everyone. They staggered to their feet.

“That thing’s finally destroyed. What a trial,” Bilu said, eyeing the ashes.

“Let’s tidy up. There are two more ghosts to deal with.” Tianyou and Huo Mingkun helped each other up.

“Let’s go.” Supporting each other, Yaoguang and Jiang Yun, Bilu dragging Daoist Guishan, the group stumbled toward the exit.

“Xuan Chen, pull us up,” Yaoguang called into the radio. The rope slowly lifted them out. Crawling into the moonlight, they all breathed a long sigh of relief.

“What happened to you guys?” Xuan Chen stared in shock. Each of them was in tatters, bloodied, covered in dirt.

“Don’t ask. The ghoul was practically a demon. We had to use the Yu Steps and call on the stars to finally kill it,” Yaoguang said, drinking water and lighting a cigarette.

“My god. With a team like this—a true god, a demigod, a high immortal, a celestial, and two cultivators—and you still ended up like this? What manner of monster was that?” Xuan Chen exclaimed.

“See for yourself when you get back. I recorded everything with this micro-camera.”

With a thunderous crash, everyone turned to see the tunnel entrance collapse, soon burying itself completely.

“No one will ever enter again. A thorough job,” Bilu dusted off his hands.

“With its body destroyed, I fear the vengeful spirit will go mad. We must leave at once for Professor Zhou’s house,” Yaoguang said, beginning to pack up. Once ready, they headed down the mountain, returned to their vehicle, and drove without delay to Professor Zhou’s home.