Chapter Twenty-One

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The tomb of Master Wu Qianjun lies within a cave to the southeast of White Cloud Peak. Legend has it that a century ago, Wu Qianjun spent years and immense manpower enlarging this cave to serve as his final resting place. It is said that the nearby small peak beside White Cloud Peak was formed from the earth excavated during that time. The last three forms of the "Myriad Dusts Return to the Palm" technique are also hidden within this tomb! During the era of the martial world’s turmoil, a saying circulated among the Jianghu: whoever finds that skill shall become the greatest under heaven!

Compared to the fierce storm of last night, tonight was much quieter. A full moon hung in the sky; the mountain was dense with trees, fireflies flickered their lights searching for mates, and the calls of owls and cuckoos filled the air, adding to the mountain’s serene ambiance. Yet, the danger lurking behind tranquility is often the deadliest. Behind White Cloud Peak, amidst the brilliant colors on the surface, danger lurks everywhere. Fierce beasts frequently roam, the terrain is precipitous, and bones litter the ground—it is a barren wasteland. Without formidable martial arts, it is nearly impossible to fend off the ferocious creatures here, making it a forbidden zone for the disciples of White Cloud Peak.

Under the moonlight, Mu Xiangming recounted everything that had happened over the past few days, while Lin He shared the events in the valley of Jiuling Peak. But regarding the old woman, he mentioned only briefly—it was the old woman’s dying wish. Mu Xiangming paid no heed to these details; she listened earnestly to Lin He’s words without a single question. Since Lin He appeared that day, she was both astonished and delighted, and also vaguely sensed something stirring within her—a feeling she had never experienced so strongly before and was now the foremost curiosity in her heart.

At the hour of Hai:

From afar, the three could already make out the tomb’s entrance. There were neither scattered plum blossoms nor green, leafy plants; the ground was covered with withered branches and dry wood, not a blade of grass in sight. Toxic mists hung thickly in the air, and animal carcasses lay everywhere—some decomposed to the bone, others being pecked at by crows. The stench of decay was overwhelming, making it almost impossible to advance further. Mu Xiangming was choking on the foul smell; the fabric of her clothes could not filter out the stench, so Lin He fanned the air to disperse it for her.

They stopped five zhang (about 16 meters) from the cave entrance, where the poison was thickest. San Qiudao retrieved a pill from his clothes and swallowed it, then took out a yellowed, tattered map and handed it to Lin He.

“This is the tomb’s map. There’s only one copy in the Jianghu. Don’t tear it!”

Lin He took it. “Aren’t you afraid that skill is already in that poisonous woman’s hands?”

San Qiudao snorted. “Without my map, she couldn’t have obtained it even after living inside for ten thousand years!” Lin He glanced at Mu Xiangming, who nodded slowly, signaling her trust.

After a brief instruction, San Qiudao raised his head and shouted, his voice infused with powerful inner strength, shaking the entire mountain. He intended to announce his arrival to those inside. After a prolonged yell, a voice echoed from within the tomb:

“You damned San Qiudao!”

Though this voice lacked San Qiudao’s robust inner power, it was sharp and piercing. If San Qiudao’s shout was like a flood, the voice from inside was like a razor-sharp blade—equal or even superior.

“Your wife ate my son back then, and now you dare to come!” Lin He could hear the deep pain in that voice, which quivered when the name was spoken.

San Qiudao glared, grinding his teeth. “Back then, your corpse poison struck both me and Song Xianglian—neither able to live nor die! And now you dare bring it up again?!”

A mocking laugh came from inside. “Hahaha, San Qiudao, that’s what you deserved. I regret not tearing her skin off with my own hands, eating her flesh, and drinking her blood!”

San Qiudao’s fury erupted; he struck toward the tomb entrance, sparks flying as the rock was shattered, creating a large hole. The laughter continued inside: “San Qiudao, why not destroy this place with one palm? As long as I live, you’ll never get that skill! Hahaha!” The laughter was chilling and grating.

Suddenly, San Qiudao laughed wildly. “Old witch, why don’t you come out and see? Today, I’m here to take your life!” No sooner had the words fallen than an old woman emerged from the cave. Her back was severely hunched, her hair a tangled mix of black and white, and her face twisted like raw flesh. Two sharp teeth protruded from her snarling, terrifying visage.

The poisonous woman smiled wickedly. “San Qiudao, do you really think you’ll live to leave today?” With a wave of her hands, swarms of bats poured out from the tomb entrance.

Mu Xiangming was startled by the scene. Lin He instinctively stepped in front of her. The massive number of bats swirled above like a dark curtain covering the sky.

“San Qiudao, these bats were nurtured by me, waiting for the day you’d come. They suck blood at sight and grow larger. Even if your martial skills are formidable, if bitten, within half an hour your flesh and bones will dissolve into a viscous liquid! Hahaha!” With another wave, the black curtain of bats surged toward the three.

“Xiangming, remember to stay close to me!” Lin He drew his sword, ready to fight. Before confirming whether the bats carried the Five-Finger Black Poison, he had to protect Mu Xiangming from their bites.

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San Qiudao’s face was uneasy; he dared not be careless. Facing such a vast number of bats would surely drain his strength, especially since the tomb seemed to produce endless swarms!

The poisonous woman laughed loudly. “San Qiudao, you shall become nourishment for my blood-sucking bats!”

The bats attacked! Lin He’s sword flashed with spirit light as he leapt and wielded his blade in a flurry. His figure became a shadow in the air, dancing continuously, drawing in the bats from the ground’s dry branches and the sky. In a moment, the bats formed a massive sphere above. This was the “Lin Xiao Sword Technique” footwork, combined with the “All Things Return to Me” form of the “Bitter Sea Turnaround Sword” technique. Even Mu Xiangming was impressed.

Seeing Lin He’s control over the bats, San Qiudao imitated him. He held his breath, concentrating deeply, then unleashed a powerful roar like a fierce tiger. Both hands emitted energy in unison, striking at the countless bats.

“Wind Sweeps the Clouds!”

A violent gale rose, forming a massive vortex on the clearing ahead—it was as if the end of the world had come! The overwhelming swarm of bats was sucked in like dry leaves, even the various carcasses on the ground were swept clean. Mu Xiangming clung to a tree stump, awestruck by such terrifying power—San Qiudao seemed capable of effortlessly destroying this entire forest.

The sphere and vortex in the air grew larger as more bats were absorbed, but the number emerging from the tomb showed no sign of decreasing. This could not continue! Lin He activated his “Desire Sound Nine Heavens” technique, pulling his controlled bats closer to the vortex. Slowly approaching the massive whirlpool, he exerted all his inner strength. If he lost control and was sucked in, the consequences would be disastrous!

As Lin He neared the vortex, his bats were gradually drawn in, and his mastery of “Desire Sound Nine Heavens” was severely tested. When all his bats were absorbed, Lin He halted, still as a leaf yet firm as steel. He held the sword suspended before his chest, palms facing each other, beginning to circulate energy and focus his mind. He simultaneously freed all his lightness skills of “Desire Sound Nine Heavens” to avoid being sucked in and gathered sword energy to prepare the “Ling Strike” of “Bitter Sea Turnaround” —both tremendous challenges for him.

Suddenly, as “Desire Sound Nine Heavens” sped the flow of his meridians, the scene before Lin He changed drastically. The sky, once filled with bats, instantly emptied, throwing his mind into chaos and his body into violent spasms. He clutched his head wildly, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and summoned all his inner strength again.

He was now mere inches from the vortex. San Qiudao shouted, “Kid, can you handle this or not?” Mu Xiangming’s heart leapt into her throat—she didn’t understand what Lin He was about to do!

Having completed his energy circulation, Lin He opened his eyes sharply. Everything returned to normal. He shouted to San Qiudao, “Senior Qiu! Control your strength! Strike the vortex with your palm!”

Receiving the order, San Qiudao instantly changed his stance, retracting his left hand and unleashing a palm strike that transformed into three fierce tigers rushing toward the vortex. At the same moment, Lin He gripped the sword at his chest.

“Ling Tian Strike!”

He exerted all his strength, slashing beside the three tigers to neutralize the surrounding energy, then, utilizing the “Stepping on Empty Ladder” state of “Desire Sound Nine Heavens,” flew toward them.

Lin He succeeded—he flew past the three tigers! The tigers collided with the vortex, and the two terrifying forces exploded instantly. The shockwave surged like a tidal wave, flinging Lin He through the air, tumbling dozens of times.

As the shockwave dissipated, countless bat corpses rained down from the sky. Lin He knelt on one knee, clutching his chest, coughing up blood. Mu Xiangming rushed over, supporting him, full of concern.

“Are you alright?”

Lin He stood, swallowing blood. “I’m fine. What about you?”

Mu Xiangming wiped the blood from his lips. “Why do you still talk tough after all this?”

Lin He turned toward the tomb entrance, where bats still swarmed out without lessening. The poisonous woman laughed loudly: “San Qiudao, not having Song Xianglian torn to pieces was my greatest regret! Today, I will avenge my son!”

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At that moment, Mu Xiangming gently took Lin He’s hand. He turned to her, seeing the earnestness in her eyes.

“Let’s go... we can’t possibly defeat her...”

Lin He comforted her, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

“There are so many bats inside the cave; even if we enter, we might never find that skill...”

Lin He looked toward the tomb entrance. Despite the many dead bats on the ground, the flow from the tomb showed no decrease. He pondered deeply.

“There must be something wrong!” Suddenly recalling the bats vanishing just moments ago, Lin He frowned. The place was littered with animal carcasses and rotting branches precisely because of the long-standing poisonous mists. Suddenly, an idea struck him.

“Xiangming, what level have you reached in ‘Desire Sound Nine Heavens’?”

“Si hour level...” she replied.

Lin He muttered to himself, “Si hour level—still as calm as a leaf, impervious to poison.” His own “Desire Sound Nine Heavens” was at the final stage. He glanced at San Qiudao, who was still using the previous method to control the incoming bats.

Lin He suddenly realized: everything here was an illusion! The scene was created by a poison that induced hallucinations, designed to exhaust their strength. Even San Qiudao’s control was just a mirage, though the inner power exerted was real.

Mu Xiangming tugged at Lin He, snapping him back to reality—the bats were swiftly approaching them! Lin He held both her hands firmly, his gaze resolute.

“Xiangming, these bats are fake. Close your eyes and trust me.”

Mu Xiangming saw Lin He using his body to shield her as the bats latched onto his back, gnawing at his flesh. Tears welled in her eyes as she shouted, “Run! You have to run!” She prepared to leap forward and destroy the bats, but Lin He suddenly embraced her. That unexpected hug seemed to still her heart instantly. His chest was so broad and warm.

“Trust me. Close your eyes...”

Her heartbeat raced, but she obeyed, closing her eyes. At that moment, she knew no matter what happened, she only needed to listen to Lin He. Lin He shouted to Senior Qiu:

“Senior Qiu! Strike the tomb entrance with your palm!”

Following Lin He’s advice, San Qiudao retracted his left hand, gathered energy, and struck the tomb entrance with a palm. Accompanied by a fierce tiger’s roar, two tigers burst forth, charging straight at the poisonous woman. Sensing danger, she inhaled deeply, channeling energy to unleash a mighty roar toward the advancing beasts.

“Lion Roar Technique!” Lin He was shocked.

A massive lion emerged from the poisonous woman’s mouth. The two beasts collided instantly, but the lion disintegrated in a flash. The powerful shockwave blasted into the tomb, forcing the poisonous woman out. The crows vanished instantly, and the enormous vortex was revealed to be nothing but twigs and debris.

San Qiudao wore a look of disbelief. Lin He relaxed his shoulders. Just as he suspected, the poisonous woman’s injuries caused all the bats to vanish completely. Mu Xiangming slowly opened her eyes; the sky was clear except for the bright moon.

Seeing the situation turn, the poisonous woman immediately tried to flee into the tomb. But San Qiudao would not let her escape; he unleashed three tiger spirits into the tomb, blocking her path. The poisonous woman released a purple cloud of toxic mist, disappearing within it, and fled deep into the mountain’s rear. San Qiudao rose to pursue, leaving a message:

“I’ll wait for you two here come dawn!”

Then, he vanished into the moonlit night.