Chapter 128

The Heavenly Gang Big Dipper Formation is a protected teaching formation left by Wang Chongyang; for him, who is now half-step into the Innate, it can be easily broken.

But that is also a sword formation capable of trapping Huang Lao Xie; now Huang Lao Xie is at the peak of the grandmaster realm, and Han Xiao Ying alone would definitely be unable to withstand it.

Therefore, I've already given the fair warning beforehand; if you end up using the sword formation against the enemy, then I will step in.

But when Ma Yu heard that, his heart relaxed, and the others felt the same, thinking that this sword formation had been prepared for you all along.

After a brief awkward silence in the hall, Ma Yu wisely suggested taking Niu Dingtian to the tomb.

His position is different, so he must consider more; if he continues to stay here, he fears that Qiu Chuji will not be able to restrain himself and will clash verbally with the other side.

Compared to the other junior brothers and sisters, that junior brother has the highest martial arts, but his temper is also the most explosive; sometimes, even as the sect leader, he can do nothing about it.

Southern End Mountain, the rear mountain,

Wang Chongyang's tomb is located on an isolated small peak here; the surroundings are tranquil and secluded, and few people set foot there on ordinary days.

Even the Seven Masters of Quanzhen only come here to pay their respects during the Qingming Festival, bringing disciples from the sect.

On the summit, the platform is not large—over fifty zhang in size—holds a stone tomb, a stone stele, and a huge stone cauldron used for holding incense and candles.

"How big should the incense sticks be?" Seeing the ash in the stone cauldron, Miss Huang couldn't help muttering under her breath.

"Rong'er~" Han Xiao Ying hastily tugged at the corner of Miss Huang's clothes.

Regardless, the dead are paramount; she noticed that the Daoist priest Ma's complexion had already turned somewhat unsightly.

The others didn't follow; otherwise, given Qiu Chuji's explosive temper, they would surely have turned hostile on the spot.

"Rong'er, bring the things!" Niu Dingtian glanced around furtively a few times, then called out to Miss Huang.

"Oh~"

Miss Huang responded with an acknowledgment, then took off the bundle on her person, opened it, and pulled out a bundle of incense sticks, as well as handful after handful of spirit money.

These had been specially purchased in the nearby town before the group went up the mountain.

However, compared to the stone cauldron in front of the tomb, the incense sticks are really too small, seeming rather stingy.

Both women's faces suddenly showed some embarrassment.

Niu Dingtian seemed oblivious, lit the incense, held it before his forehead, and while bowing, murmured: "Junior martial practitioner Niu Dingtian has come to pay respects to Master Wang."

"Master, please don't disdain the modest offerings; please excuse the inadequacy of what we've prepared—next time I'll bring larger ones!"

Now, the Daoist priest Ma's complexion improved considerably.

After slowly bowing three times, Niu Dingtian inserted the incense into the stone cauldron, then began burning the spirit money.

The spirit money was more than enough—three large bundles, stiff and solid; when unfolded, they formed a sizable pile.

At this moment, Han Xiao Ying also lit an incense stick, bowed calmly, and then silently retreated.

Seeing this, Miss Huang felt that not showing respect would be inappropriate.

She then lit the last two incense sticks, stepped forward, performed a salute, and whispered: "My father often mentions Master Wang, saying he most admires your martial arts; let me burn one for him as well."

After inserting the incense sticks, she also silently retreated; seeing that Ma Yu still had a dark expression, she couldn't help feeling annoyed: "I actually don't mind offering incense to your master!"

Meanwhile, Niu Dingtian, who was squatting on the ground burning spirit money, began to slowly release his powerful perception, attempting to press deeper into the tomb through the cracks in the stone tomb.

But unfortunately, after just penetrating a few cun, it seemed to encounter a solid obstruction, and his perception could advance no further.

"Priest Ma, Rong'er, and Xiao Ying sister, you go back first; I'd like to stay here and chat with Master Wang."

Niu Dingtian suddenly sat cross-legged on the ground; as he raised his hand to burn paper, his back appeared somewhat sorrowful and desolate, yet he mentally transmitted to the old turtle:

"Old buddy, stay behind!"

Ma Yu saw this, his face showing some hesitation; Niu Dingtian's appearance of having inexplicably lost his father made him feel somewhat uneasy.

But after thinking it over, it seemed the other party had nothing to gain; as long as he guarded the Sutra Pavilion in the Chongyang Palace, he then made a decision he would regret for the rest of his life:

"Sect Leader Niu need not grieve too much; my master is aware even in the underworld, so I'll take my leave first."

Having said that, he turned and walked down the mountain.

Miss Huang and Han Xiao Ying exchanged glances, somewhat puzzled, but Niu Dingtian didn't continue speaking; he simply kept burning the spirit money by himself.

Just as Miss Huang was about to speak, Han Xiao Ying shook her head to stop her, then pulled Miss Huang along as they followed Ma Yu down the mountain.

"Phew~ I was about to suffocate!"

As soon as he sensed that the three had gone far away, Niu Dingtian sprang up from the ground.

He then stepped forward two paces to the stone cauldron, grasped it with both hands, and began trying to turn it.

"No mechanism?"

Seeing that the stone cauldron showed nothing unusual, he then walked over to the stone stele, which was over nine chi tall, and attempted to turn it.

But after several attempts, he also detected nothing abnormal about the stone stele.

"No mechanism either?" Niu Dingtian muttered, frowning.

He had originally thought that Wang Chongyang could build him a stone tomb, leaving a mechanism entrance like Huang Lao Xie did.

Moreover, constructing a tomb of the living dead was supposed to be like that, but the outcome left him greatly disappointed.

"What should I do?" Niu Dingtian stared at the stone stele, lost in thought, and murmured: "If I'm not sure whether Master Wang is dead or alive, my heart really feels uneasy."

He increasingly felt that Wang Chongyang was still alive—a premonition that arose suddenly during his recent contemplation of heaven and earth. That is why he made this trip to Southern End Mountain.

If Wang Chongyang is not dead, he must have already entered the Xiantian realm by now. Consequently, he could no longer act recklessly toward Qiu Chuji, nor could he forcibly interfere in the Quanzhen Sect's affairs.

Otherwise, that old coot might one day pop out and deal with him.

"Scritch~ scritch~"

Just as Niu Dingtian was agonizing over this, a sudden "scritch-scritch" scraping sound came from behind him.

Turning his head, he saw the old turtle extend its sharp claws, gouging a deep groove into the edge of the stone platform.

"You mean…" Niu Dingtian's eyes lit up, instantly grasping the beast's meaning, but his mouth began to waver: "This… seems… not very good, huh?"

"Achoo~" Old Turtle answered with a snort, a hint of sneer in his eyes, then squinted.

Damn it! I was actually despised by a beast! Yet Niu Dingtian's legs did not hesitate in the slightest.

After circling the summit, I finally found a hidden spot and, smiling at the old turtle, said, "Here it is, I leave everything to you; I'll come back in the middle of the night, and after the deed is done, a sip of spirit spring water!"

The old turtle's eyes flashed, and after wheezing it crawled over, it immediately began digging with both claws.

It is a skill he has practiced for hundreds of years, and now he wields it with great proficiency.

Niu Dingtian stopped bothering it, went to the stone tablet and sighed, "Forgive me, mortal; that old brute has no humanity. If I truly disturbed your rest, the youngster promises to keep the Quanzhen lineage unextinguished for a hundred years."

Having said that, he turned back the way he came.

Chongyang Palace, main hall,

After returning to Chongyang Palace, Ma Yu hastily arranged accommodations for Miss Huang and Han Xiao Ying, then summoned the other six disciples to begin the meeting.

"Qiu junior brother, what do you think?"

Ma Yu sat high on the seat, a floating dust clutched between his arms, frowning as he looked to his left at Qiu Chuji.

Within the Quanzhen Sect, apart from him, this junior brother holds the highest rank.

"Master, rest assured, dealing with those four, I am more than capable; I will never let the Quanzhen be shamed!" Qiu Chuji's eyes flashed with awe.

Regardless of right or wrong, now that we have reached this point, everything must prioritize the Quanzhen's interests.

Back then, handling the seven of them was already a challenge; now dealing with four is a piece of cake.

At this moment, the last trace of guilt in Qiu Chuji's heart vanished, and being oppressed by a junior disciple filled him only with indignation.

Ma Yu gave a slight nod, looked to his right at Wang Chu Yi, and asked, "Wang junior brother, you've worked hard on this trip; do we now have any clues about Uncle Zhou?"

For the past few years, Wang Chu Yi has been traveling abroad, tasked with gathering information on Uncle Zhou Botong, and has earned the nickname 'Iron Foot Immortal.'

Wang Chu Yi pondered for a moment and replied, "According to the compiled reports, Uncle Zhou's last appearance seemed to involve a meeting with the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi and his wife. As for Peach Blossom Island…"

Speaking of that, Wang Chu Yi's face grew solemn as he said in a low voice, "That place near Zhoushan is a taboo; it is said that none who set foot there ever return alive."

"Hmph~"

Hearing this, Qiu Chuji let out a cold snort and said coldly, "If those with great martial skill are as reckless as Niu Dingtian and Huang Lao Xie, can the jianghu ever know peace?"

"Since we have a clue about Uncle Zhou, we must visit Peach Blossom Island; if he truly fell victim to Huang Lao Xie's poison, our seven‑person Tian Gang Bei Dou formation might not fear him!"

When Huang Lao Xie was mentioned, Qiu Chuji couldn't help but think of Niu Dingtian's oppression at his own doorstep.

In his view now, both act ruthlessly and recklessly, becoming calamities to the jianghu.

"Qiu junior brother is right," Ma Yu, rarely agreeing, said after a pause, "Our upcoming trip to Xiangyang is imminent; the primary task is to find Uncle Zhou."

"Since we have a clue to Peach Blossom Island, we'll prepare properly; once this Niu Dingtian leaves, we'll head to Peach Blossom Island to pay a visit to the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi."

Thus, the few of them happily decided to venture into Peach Blossom Island.

Earlier at the tomb, because Miss Huang had not disclosed her father's name, Ma Yu didn't think much, never expecting the family to be right before his eyes.

At this moment, Miss Huang also never imagined that her father would soon be beaten back to his home.

Chongyang Palace, guest room,

"Brother Niu, where's the old turtle?"

When Niu Dingtian returned, the old turtle was nowhere to be seen behind him, and Miss Huang's eyes showed suspicion.

She felt that both the man and the turtle were acting oddly today; Niu Dingtian's behavior at the tomb seemed very strange to her.

And the old turtle, always inseparable from that man, had never before been so far out of sight behind him.

Niu Dingtian dismissedly said, "That old thing hasn't bathed in ages, it smells; I let it soak in the mountain stream just now."

Seeing the little girl still probing, Niu Dingtian hurriedly grasped her delicate, boneless hand, sternly saying, "Let the master check whether you've been slacking these past two days. If I find any sign of negligence, Rong'er, I'll have to punish you thoroughly today!"

Miss Huang's pretty face flushed instantly, and she lowered her head, feeling embarrassed.

Late night, the hour of the Rat,

After carefully inspecting the two girls' tasks and ensuring their breathing was steady, Niu Dingtian slipped out of the room and made his way toward the daytime summit.

When he arrived at the summit again,

A gust of mountain wind blew, instantly producing a chilling whirring sound, and in the pitch‑black night ahead, two glossy green eyes stared straight at Niu Dingtian.

"Snap~"

Approaching, he gave the turtle's head a quick slap, and the old turtle immediately closed its eyes obediently.

"Wang Chongyang's ghost yelling at me is one thing, but you, old brute, even cooperate with him?"

"How's it going?"

He opened the fire‑folding fan, looked at the piles of earth and stones on the ground, and admired, "It seems this old thing is even more formidable than a pangolin."

The old turtle nodded, then set off, having given its all for a sip of spirit spring water; now its two claws still burned fiercely.

Upon reaching the cave entrance, after sensing inside, Niu Dingtian crouched and felt his way in, while the old turtle perched at the mouth guarding.

Following the stolen tunnel into the tomb chamber, Niu Dingtian discovered Wang Chongyang's tomb to be modest: a stone coffin, piles of Daoist scriptures, and only two paintings on the stone wall.

One man and one woman: the man had sword‑like eyebrows and star‑bright eyes, a lofty bearing; the woman exuded a cool temperament and was stunningly beautiful.

Beside them, a few lines were carved: "They say longing is good, longing ages one; after much contemplation, longing remains the best."

"Is this Lin Chaoying?" Niu Dingtian stared at the woman, slightly dazed.

The woman in the painting was truly perfect to the extreme; for a moment Niu Dingtian felt a pang of melancholy. Regaining composure, he bowed and said, "Sister Lin, I am Niu Dingtian; I came unarmed with gifts, but I'll certainly bring you a present at the Ancient Tomb Sect this afternoon!"

Having said that, he turned toward the stone coffin; with time pressing and the matter being a grave sin, inspecting the coffin first was urgent.

"Boom— Boom— Boom—"

As the grinding of massive stones echoed in the dim tomb chamber, Niu Dingtian's heart rose to his throat.

He did not cease his sensing; he needed to see with his own eyes, and only after witnessing Wang Chongyang's corpse would he be at ease.

But when a dust‑covered Daoist robe came into view, his expression froze instantly.

Inside the huge stone coffin, besides a Daoist robe, there was a copy of the Pre‑Heaven Technique and a Nine Yin Classic manual, yet not even a half bone fragment remained.

"An old corpse that won't die is a thief! And damn, it's an old thief!" Niu Dingtian spat, gritting his teeth.

After muttering under his breath, he dared not linger, grabbed the two books from the coffin, stuffed them into his chest, closed the stone coffin, and hurried out of the tomb chamber.

(End of Chapter)