Chapter 684: Zhuge Ruolan: I Am One of My Own

"How did you know these?"

Chen Chuyang squinted, staring at the Heishanyang before him; it wasn't that he didn't believe its words, but because the statements were too shocking.

How many years did the first-generation Qihuang live? How many years ago? Even the Strong One who is the strongest in this world is only at the True Person Realm; a True Person cannot live that long—surpassing a thousand years is already an extreme limit.

Breaking that limit is unlikely; for most in the True Person Realm, reaching five hundred years is already a limit. Facing enemies may shorten it further—five hundred years is already a problem, and living a thousand years is too hard.

The humans in this world who can reach that level are only Tian Xin Dao Ren, and even then it's under a thousand years; moreover, his cultivation and the protection of the Heavenly Heart Sect spared him many troubles. As for the first-generation Qihuang, even with several thousand years, not even a soul could survive that long.

"Kid, these are secrets, but since you asked, I'll tell you truthfully."

"I have entered the Qihuang Bao Ku before."

"To put it another way, I was asleep inside the Qihuang Bao Ku back then, so."

Heishanyang gave Chen Chuyang a look; Chen Chuyang instantly understood, finally having an epiphany.

He had previously speculated where Heishanyang came from, how it survived until now, and how it evaded the pursuers from Tianwai.

Everything was a mystery; this riddle had no answer. After asking several times, Heishanyang did not speak, so Chen Chuyang stopped asking, waiting for it to speak voluntarily. After so long, Heishanyang finally told the truth.

"Kid, you understand now, right? The Qihuang Bao Ku is fraught with danger, not as simple as you think. It contains countless treasures, which is good, and even has spirit veins, provided you can obtain them."

"Any who dare lay hands on the treasures inside will be marked and ultimately become Qihuang's sacrificial offerings."

"The Qihuang Bao Ku is, in fact, the Qihuang Tomb, a burial site set up by Qihuang for revival."

"Based on my speculation, the Qihuang Bao Ku likely had to be opened before you could discover it."

Heishanyang's expression grew solemn as he said, daring not to let Chen Chuyang venture.

Regarding the Qihuang Bao Ku, it must be clarified: Chen Chuyang is not bad to it; over the years he has been quite good, occasionally trying to harm himself by taking pills—those incidents were accidents. In other respects, this kid is a decent master.

Compared with those he previously followed, he is far better; such a good master, Heishanyang is reluctant to see him die so easily.

He also does not want Longshe Shan to be destroyed after Chen Chuyang's death; this place is half his home, and Heishanyang has a duty to protect it.

"Since you escaped from inside the Qihuang Bao Ku, why can't you find the entrance afterward?"

Chen Chuyang was curious; if it spoke like that, Heishanyang should be very familiar with the Qihuang Bao Ku, yet its behavior suggests otherwise.

The contradictions are unlike Heishanyang's usual manner; Chen Chuyang could not help but doubt.

Heishanyang had anticipated Chen Chuyang's question, gave a bitter smile, and said, "I thought I could find the entrance. The last time I accompanied you to Wangdu, I realized I was overthinking; the Qihuang Bao Ku shielded me, preventing me from locating the entrance."

"It's not that I don't want to help you; the Qihuang Bao Ku is the first-generation Qihuang's treasure, and he can control everything within it. He doesn't want me to find it, so I naturally can't locate it."

"However, inside the Qi Family Treasure, I saw a hint."

"The soul inside is not the first-generation Qihuang's soul; that means there are multiple Qihuangs. Their thoughts are the same as the first-generation Qihuang's—they all wish to survive and live longer."

This is what every cultivator seeks: immortality, the highest realm of pursuing the cultivation path.

Qihuang does not want to die nor be a puppet and body of the first-generation Qihuang; they will naturally rebel.

Thus, the Qi Family Treasure was created, imitating the Qihuang Bao Ku to replace the first-generation Qihuang.

It must be said, all this reflects the human heart.

What about ancestors? In the face of life and death, everyone is the same.

"The Qi Family Treasure must be linked to the Qihuang Bao Ku; moreover, the Qi Family Treasure contains another entrance to the Qihuang Bao Ku, we just didn't find it last time."

"The Qihuang Bao Ku seeks to lure more people in, in order to harvest their flesh, blood, and true Qi."

"The first-generation Qihuang's emergence requires a blood sacrifice."

"Kid, you understand now, right? You are all Qihuang's sacrificial offerings."

"Anyone who enters the Qihuang Bao Ku will become a sacrificial offering."

Heishanyang, in one breath, recounted many things; everything he knew he told Chen Chuyang,

At this moment, there were no more secrets.

Chen Chuyang frowned after listening.

Staring at Heishanyang for a long while, he asked, "Then how should I respond?"

"Kid, do you still want to go in?"

"Since the Qihuang Bao Ku has opened, how could I not go? I want the spirit veins, and the heavenly and earthly treasures inside."

Chen Chuyang did not hide anything; he was indeed interested in the Qihuang Bao Ku. It hides countless treasures of the Great Qi Dynasty through the ages—more than Chen Chuyang could imagine. How could he ignore such a treasure trove?

This would be wasteful; Heaven does not grant it, and one would suffer the consequences.

All of it is within reach, yet he refuses; would that not betray Heaven?

Heishanyang fell silent.

Zhuge Ruolan remained silent as well; she seemed to have heard something terrible that she did not want to hear.

She dared not speak or make a sound the whole time; the news was simply too shocking.

"Eh?" Chen Chuyang only then noticed Zhuge Ruolan beside him: "You're here too, then you heard all the words just now?"

Zhuge Ruolan: "……"

"Um, I didn't eavesdrop on purpose; you told me, I didn't eavesdrop."

Zhuge Ruolan hurriedly explained; if she didn't, they would kill and silence her.

Heishanyang turned, stared at Zhuge Ruolan, and coldly said, "Kid, this information must not be leaked; better yet, kill this woman."

He advanced step by step toward Zhuge Ruolan; she turned ghost‑white with fear and begged, "Don't kill me, I'm one of yours. Chen Chuyang, I'm one of yours; you cannot kill me."

"One of yours? Since when are you one of yours? Why didn't I know?"

Chen Chuyang smiled, looking at Zhuge Ruolan, whose face grew even paler; she quickly gestured, "Chen Chuyang, as long as you spare me, I'll do anything you ask."

"Anything really?"

"Yes." Zhuge Ruolan gritted her teeth, nodded firmly, for the sake of staying alive, she could only go all out.