Chapter 23: The Oriole Behind

I said why these people have no storage bags on them; it turns out they were all collected by him...

After turning over Mo Xuan's skeleton, following the remembered location, Lu Chen found another hidden space beneath the skeleton.

From it he discovered many storage bags bearing the aura of other cultivators.

While the two teams had not yet returned, he simply went through these storage bags.

I originally thought that as an ancient cultivator, Mo Xuan would have many treasures on him.

But the fact turned out to be quite surprising to him.

In Mo Xuan's storage bag, there were not many valuable items.

Among them, only one was what he most needed.

That is the sixth-grade Blood Li Bird essence blood.

Since cultivating the Heavenly Demon Transformation Technique, he has become highly sensitive to the essence blood of various demon races.

From the strong feedback coming from his body, the heavenly demon bloodline contained in this Blood Li Bird essence blood is absolutely very pure.

"Although only this is relatively valuable, it is enough."

Based on the other party's residual faint memory, he roughly guessed.

"As for why there are so few treasures... I guess they were all used up before fleeing here..."

After putting everything he needed into his storage bag, he returned the corpse to its original place.

Afterward, he began to ponder.

According to Mo Xuan's earlier plan, after those beyond the stone gate finish their exploration, only two will return alive.

Moreover, the final two survivors will also expend most of their stamina due to the traps beyond the stone gate.

At that time, they will return to the main tomb chamber, and in a state of extreme weakness, they will suffer possession.

"It's quite steady... not only are the possessors foundation-establishment juniors, but he also worried the other side might have countermeasures, so he designed traps in advance to wear them out."

"Too bad, luck is too poor."

Lu Chen's eyes turned cold as he looked toward the two stone gates.

"That old thing left stuff on both sides, but to me they have no value."

"Even if they are extremely weak, seizing the opportunity to loot may not yield anything."

"Rather than that, it's better to pretend to have gained nothing; after all, they know I've been staying in the main tomb chamber."

"Moreover, with that special prohibition in place, the envoy should not suspect."

Thinking of this, he gradually relaxed.

Returning to the place where he had just been sitting cross-legged, he continued cultivating the technique.

After all, the ancient tomb is located in a burial ground; he had long eyed the strong killing qi here.

If he were not unable to refine a vessel capable of containing killing qi, he would surely gather a large amount here.

"Cultivating here, the effect will not be worse than in the Killing Qi Hall."

With the aid of the Supreme Dao Foundation, the surrounding spirit and killing qi are being absorbed by him at an extremely terrifying speed.

The Heavenly Demon Transformation Technique, the Soul Forging Technique, and the Myriad Slaughter Magic Canon—several important techniques—he took them out and cultivated each one.

At the same time, he also kept a thread of his mind, focusing his attention on the stone gate.

Once he detects someone returning, he immediately stops cultivating.

Three days passed unnoticed.

With the help of the Blood Li Bird essence blood, Lu Chen successfully cultivated the Heavenly Demon Transformation Technique to minor accomplishment.

Unfortunately, because only the first volume exists, he has never been able to fully manifest the heavenly demon's body.

With his current ability, he can barely manifest a pair of arms.

And the remaining several techniques, over these three days, have also made considerable progress.

As of now, he is actually already able to break through late Foundation Establishment.

However, with danger ahead and behind, breaking through now would inevitably draw the attention of the envoy and others.

Finishing cultivation, Lu Chen stood up.

Seeing that the deadline for the ancient tomb's closure is approaching, the two teams that entered the stone gate have not yet come out.

"Could it be that they all died inside?"

If one were to say who worries most about them at this moment, it would certainly be Lu Chen.

After all, if they all died and only he came out, it would be hard to explain.

"However, that old fellow's design should not have killed them all, and moreover, his remnant soul has now scattered, so he likely cannot affect the situation over there."

As he was thinking, a rustling of footsteps came from the stone gate passage on one side.

Immediately, Yun Heng and another disciple behind him walked out of the passage.

Both obviously bore signs of battle, with Yun Heng's clothing stained with blood in various places.

When Yun Heng returned to the main tomb chamber, his glance swept toward Lu Chen.

The disciple beside him seemed somewhat talkative; seeing Lu Chen still in place after three days, he walked over and initiated conversation:

"Junior brother, staying in place is truly the correct choice..."

"We few went in, and in the end only two came back..."

"......"

Lu Chen, upon hearing this, was about to ask about their experiences and also inquire about any gains he didn't know of.

After all, Mo Xuan's memory is incomplete; perhaps there is something he doesn't know.

But just then, only hearing the disciple behind him, Yun Heng sighed.

"If not for the master's demand, I really wouldn't want to become enemies with you."

You were selected by Elder Su at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment; you must have extraordinary abilities.

But there's no choice; we must fight today.

Get out of the way! Yun Heng drew a long spear, shouted loudly, and charged at Lu Chen.

Because the opponent looked extremely weak, Lu Chen didn't initially think he would attack at this moment.

So, his reaction was a beat slow.

However, even so, he still took out a magical device to block the opponent's attack.

Xuan Po Shield? How do you possess a fifth-rank magical device?

Yun Heng saw the magical device he had taken out and immediately stopped his attack.

Because he knew that, given his current state, unless Lu Chen voluntarily gave up his defense, it was impossible to break through the Xuan Po Shield's defense.

Was it given to you by Elder Su?

A hint of jealousy suddenly appeared in Yun Heng's eyes.

He has been apprenticed to Du Gu Ming for many years, and what he currently uses are only a few fourth-rank magical devices.

And Lu Chen, according to his knowledge, has only been apprenticed for a few days, yet he was actually bestowed a fifth-rank magical device by the other party.

Lu Chen did not answer his question, still maintaining his defensive stance.

According to the consistent nature of demonic cultivators, who knows if the opponent will take advantage of one's negligence and launch a sudden sneak attack?

So, he did not let down his guard.

If it were an ordinary Foundation Establishment perfected cultivator, he would definitely have attacked outright by now.

But the opponent has been suppressing his realm for many years.

His strength is worlds apart from an ordinary Foundation Establishment perfected cultivator.

But just then, another stone door also transmitted a sound.

A heavy footsteps sound came, and Xiao Qingyang walked out dragging his injured body.

His clothes were torn, his body covered in wounds, and countless drops of blood fell from his arms to the ground.

However, his eyes flashed with excitement that could not be concealed.

'Senior Brother Xiao, have you obtained the tomb master's inheritance?' The talkative disciple noticed this scene and hurried forward to ask.

Hmph, that's only natural.

Xiao Qingyang curled the corner of his mouth into a smile.

Although the other disciples died because they failed the trial, to him it was all worth it.

Just then, the special formation entrance above the main tomb chamber was opened again.

Originally Yun Heng still wanted to do something more, but seeing this scene he could only give up.

Afterwards, the four each went their own ways, and soon left the ancient tomb.