Chapter 35: Awakening the Seals

The trembling intensified, a deep rumble like the earth itself was groaning. Dust and small stones rained from the domed ceiling as Yang Xiang and Lu Anqi scrambled backward. The pillar's mercury streams thickened, pooling and writhing like serpents.

"The Womb's resonance is destabilizing the seals," Anqi said urgently. "The coffins… they're not just tombs. They're prisons."

Yang's breath hitched. "Prisons for what?"

Before Anqi could answer, one of the upright coffins began to shift. Ancient iron clasps broke with a screech. A corpse rose slowly, armor clinking with unnatural motion. Its eyes flickered with dull orange light — vacant yet alive.

"It's the Emperor's sentinels… guardians, or jailers," Anqi whispered, eyes wide.

More coffins creaked open as more figures stirred. Their movements were jerky, like puppets pulled by invisible strings. Yet they radiated something ancient and malevolent.

Yang clenched his fists, gripping the copper seal tightly. "We have to stop them before they awaken fully."

Anqi nodded, pulling out a small vial filled with shimmering powder. "This is mercury dust mixed with ground cinnabar — it disrupts the resonance temporarily."

As the sentinels advanced, she threw the powder toward the pillar. The glowing script sputtered and dimmed, but the tremors did not cease.

"We can't hold this much longer!" Yang shouted. "We need to escape—find the next seal!"

The chamber's floor cracked wider, revealing a spiraling stone staircase descending even deeper.

Without hesitation, they dove into the abyss as the sentinels' hollow cries echoed behind them.