Chapter 112: Entering the Tomb, the Artifact-Laden Main Chamber

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"What is this thing?"

Gu Mian's expression faltered when he saw his sister had identified the problem. He wasn't happy, because the name "Art of Blood Curses" alone sounded malicious.

"It's a forbidden art!" And the result was as he expected.

Yao Yao explained the Art of Blood Curses. This was also a forbidden art. Its unique aspect was that the target of its casting was not a person, but an object.

If one didn't touch something carrying a blood curse, then this forbidden art would not take effect.

Conversely, if touched, the blood curse would activate. A living person would have a "sky lantern" lit, using their lifespan as lamp oil. In as little as half a month, or as long as over a month, the afflicted person would be drained of their lifeblood and die.

The one who originally created this forbidden art was an extremely petty cultivator. He was afraid that his treasures would be stolen after his death, so he exhausted his efforts to create this method.

Yao Yao turned and went to the next few rooms, looking at those sickly patients.

Afterwards, she found that their conditions were all the same; they had all had "sky lanterns" lit.

"So, their trouble is because of that batch of artifacts?" After Gu Mian understood the origin of the blood curse, he quickly figured out the reason for his mentor and the others' misfortune.

Who would have thought that Emperor Ai would have someone cast such an evil art on his burial goods before his death?

And when the archaeological team encountered an ancient tomb, they naturally wouldn't be on guard against so many things.

Especially when encountering a large tomb like Emperor Ai's, with so many artifacts before them, few people could remain calm. This also meant that they would risk their lives for it.

"Yao Yao, is there a way to break this curse?"

Gu Mian naturally didn't want to watch his mentor and colleagues be drained to death. His gaze subconsciously turned to his sister.

"There is a way." Yao Yao didn't disappoint him, slowly nodding her little head.

A blood curse needed a medium. Otherwise, relying solely on the residual magic on the artifacts, after so many years, it couldn't possibly still be so powerful; even a Human Emperor couldn't achieve that.

The supporting medium was most likely still in the tomb. Only by finding it could the art be broken.

"Do we still need to enter the tomb? Alright, Second Brother will go with you," Gu Mian said directly upon hearing this.

He had been in the archaeological team for some years and had explored many tombs, large and small; he was quite experienced in this.

His own sister was young. Although her methods were formidable, she was most likely unclear about the situation inside tombs.

He had previously researched Emperor Ai's tomb. Although he hadn't gone down, he already had a good understanding of the tomb's internal layout and structure. With him leading the way, his sister should be able to get things done much faster.

"There's no time to lose, let's go now!"

Gu Mian looked at his mentor, whose breathing was growing weaker. He knew he couldn't delay any longer.

And Emperor Ai's mausoleum was in the suburbs. It wouldn't take too long to get there. Yao Yao pulled her Second Brother along and used the Ground Shrinking Technique to teleport over, greatly reducing the time.

With her cultivation having entered the eighth tier, Yao Yao no longer needed to rely on talismans to perform the Ground Shrinking Technique.

It was Gu Mian's first time experiencing such lightning speed. He still hadn't reacted by the time they stood before the tomb.

"Second Brother, we're here! We need to prepare to go down!"

Yao Yao thoughtfully extended her small hand and hooked his palm. She was being so careful because the master of this tomb was very malicious, actually having a Xuan Master lay down a forbidden art like a blood curse.

She had to protect her Second Brother well and not let him fall into a trap.

Yao Yao had observed that this mausoleum secretly conformed to the natural layout of a Black Tortoise biting its tail.

One had to know that the Black Tortoise consisted of a turtle and a snake. In Feng Shui, the Black Turtle represented a stable and central formation embracing mountains and guarding deficiencies, with the saying that it gathers all waters to nourish spirits.

But if the Black Snake was added, forming a combined turtle-snake entity, then the Feng Shui formation would have many more dangers.

If one didn't understand and rashly entered the formation, they would very likely be killed by the hidden killing intent within.

"Yao Yao, how do you know this is the entrance?"

Gu Mian's eyes flashed with shock when he saw his sister find the place with such familiarity.

One had to know that the place his sister had arrived at was precisely the tomb entrance marked by the archaeological team. He knew because there was data he could consult.

His sister had no data; she must have found it purely by her own ability.

So, not only did she know Xuanmen arts, but now she was also proficient in tomb Feng Shui?

At this, Gu Mian couldn't help but take a deep breath. He didn't know why, but for the first time, he could understand the saying that effort was worthless in the face of talent.

Yao Yao didn't know her Second Brother's thoughts. She smiled and nodded, "I saw it with my eyes!"

Although she didn't understand Feng Shui very well, she had cultivated the Illusion-Shattering Pupil Technique and could easily find the true gate of life, avoiding the killing formations in Feng Shui.

This was also what Xuanmen often said: when one method is mastered, all methods are mastered!

"Then let's enter the tomb!" Gu Mian also put away his shock at this moment. The top priority now was to save people.

The more capable his sister was, the more beneficial it would be for the upcoming operation. He should be happy.

The two nimbly descended into the tomb. This mausoleum was built by Emperor Ai at great expense.

Even after several hundred years, Gu Mian could still see the latter's extremely extravagant style from the furnishings inside the tomb.

After entering the tomb, Yao Yao took out a yellow talisman from her bag and then fumbled out a strand of graying hair.

She formed hand seals, and the yellow talisman, after wrapping around the hair, ignited without fire, turning into a burning flame.

It didn't burn out completely but floated towards the depths of the tomb like a guiding lamp.

"Second Brother, quickly follow!" Yao Yao hurriedly called out upon seeing this.

She used the hair of an afflicted person as a guide to backtrack the medium of the blood curse. It seemed she had found it.

Gu Mian's face also showed joy upon seeing this, and he chased after the flame.

Along the way, he couldn't help but marvel at the complexity of the entire tomb, with hidden turns one after another, and even many unexpected mechanisms.

If it were him coming here, he might explore for several months and still not necessarily find it.

Gu Mian couldn't help but marvel at how wise his decision to bring his sister along was.

Following the guidance of the talismanic fire, Yao Yao soon arrived at the main burial chamber. Upon entering, she was almost blinded by the splendor within. Gu Mian, who followed her in, was even more stunned.

"This... this... this is too exaggerated!"

In the burial chamber, ancient artifacts and cultural relics were scattered all over the floor in a disorderly fashion.

It was rumored that before Emperor Ai died, he had buried more than half of the national treasury with him.

But from the archaeological team's findings, Gu Mian felt it was an exaggerated claim by later generations, meant to give those successors who lost the Jin state a plausible excuse.

After all, only such a rumor could erase the shame of a dynasty falling in twelve years.

But now, seeing so many burial goods, Gu Mian fell silent. This really was more than half the national treasury!

So, what the archaeological team had explored before wasn't the main tomb at all, perhaps just a side corner. Looking at it this way, the decline of the Jin State was truly due to this emperor emptying out the family coffers!

"So many artifacts, this will be enough for decades of research projects at the institute," Gu Mian said with a smile on his face.

As an archaeological researcher, he had a love for artifacts that came from the bottom of his heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have entered this profession, especially since he was born into the Gu family.

However, Gu Mian didn't immerse himself in this joy; he hadn't forgotten his purpose for entering the tomb.

Just as he was preparing to search for the medium of that blood curse, a crisp voice suddenly rang out beside his ear.

"Found it!"