Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 322: Chapter 184: Huangliang: Qi Sensation Transmission

The Red Moon hung high in the sky.

Same mountain peak, same pavilion.

When Wan Ze appeared again, Feng Jiuchen was crouching by the stone table inside the pavilion, a blueprint spread out in his hands. He was frowning slightly, as if deep in thought.

The blueprint wasn’t small. Unfurled, it covered almost the entire tabletop, densely marked with all sorts of information.

The edges of the paper were slightly curled, as if it had been studied over and over again.

Seeing Wan Ze, Feng Jiuchen didn’t try to hide the blueprint or even cover it with his hand. Instead, he openly waved Wan Ze over. ”You’re just in time. Come take a look.”

There weren’t many people he could trust in Huangliang Village, but Wan Ze was one of them.

”I have something urgent today that I need your help with, Brother Wan.” Feng Jiuchen’s tone was a little faster than usual. He skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

Wan Ze walked over, his gaze falling upon the blueprint. Its lines were dense and intricate. Some areas were circled in red ink, with the word ”suspected” written beside them, followed by a question mark.

”Just say it.”

Wan Ze looked up at Feng Jiuchen.

Even though he had just obtained a 100% Spiritual Form, he didn’t want to waste any time.

Feng Jiuchen lowered his voice. ”To be honest, I think I’ve discovered an unopened Tomb.”

Wan Ze’s head snapped up. ”Are you sure?”

Feng Jiuchen didn’t answer right away. He tapped the red-circled spot on the blueprint a couple more times, then looked up at Wan Ze. ”I can’t be one hundred percent certain, but it’s highly likely. I’m just a little unsure.”

He paused, gathering his thoughts. ”These Tombs... people call them treasure troves, but they’re more like traps. You never know what’s waiting for you inside. It could be Cultivation Techniques and Elixir Pills left behind by a senior from centuries ago. It could be a Puppet Mechanism guarding the Tomb. Or it could be an empty shell with nothing inside, making the trip a total waste. If I go alone and something happens, there won’t even be anyone to send for help. So, do you want to go with me?”

Wan Ze looked at him, silent for a moment, then smiled. ”Now you’re sounding like a stranger.”

Feng Jiuchen smiled back.

”But why do you trust me so much?” Wan Ze asked, a little curious.

In Huangliang, he was a Loose Cultivator at best, with no Sect, no backing, and no resources.

In the eyes of any Qi Refiner, such a person should be an object of caution, not a trusted partner. It was like how a rich man would naturally be wary of a poor one. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Feng Jiuchen was surprisingly candid, not bothering with any high-sounding excuses.

”Honestly, you’re the only one I can trust. What I value is that you have no roots here, no Sect, no vested interests. You won’t stab me in the back for a few Cultivation Techniques or a Magical Artifact. Based on your character, I trust you.”

”On top of that, we know each other in the real world. You’re in the Holy City, I’m overseas—we’re separated by thousands of kilometers, so our interests don’t conflict. You need my help to understand Huangliang, and I need you to lend me a hand. This dual layer of trust is more solid than any blood oath.”

After hearing this, Wan Ze gave a decisive nod. No hesitation, no pleasantries, not even a second thought.

”Makes sense. No time to waste, then. Let’s go.”

Feng Jiuchen was taken aback for a second, then smiled, a look of relief on his face.

He stood up and put away the map. His movements were swift; in just a few folds, he had reduced the large sheet of paper to the size of his palm and tucked it into his sleeve.

”Alright, I’ll take you there.”

Before leaving the pavilion, they both did the same thing: they circulated the Qi in their bodies to alter their builds and appearances.

They exchanged a look and shared a knowing smile.

”I found out about this Tomb by chance,” Feng Jiuchen said as they walked. His pace was quick, his steps light, making almost no sound on the gravel as his eyes continuously scanned the path ahead. ”Based on my assessment, it hasn’t been opened yet. Today, we’ll just scout it out. If we can get in, even better. If not, we’ll confirm the location and make a proper plan for later.”

Every word he spoke carried the distinct caution of a seasoned veteran.

’This must be what happens after you’ve seen too many people die without a proper burial for being too reckless,’ Wan Ze thought.

With a light push of his feet, he followed half a step behind Feng Jiuchen, his own pace just as swift.

He didn’t know much about Tombs to begin with, having only heard bits and pieces from Feng Jiuchen before. He knew they were legacies left behind by ancient Qi Refiners after they passed on, and that they might contain Cultivation Techniques, Elixir Pills, and Magical Artifacts, but also traps, Puppets, and Guardian Beasts.

”How do you tell if it’s a Tomb?” Wan Ze asked curiously.

His understanding of Huangliang was still limited to ”this place is dangerous” and ”this place has a lot of good stuff.” He was almost completely ignorant of the details in between.

Feng Jiuchen didn’t turn back. His voice, carried by the mountain wind, was intermittent. ”To be precise, you use your Qi to feel for it. A Tomb usually contains the ownerless Spiritual Power left behind by a powerful Qi Refiner after their death. It’s like a layer of fog covering the Tomb. When you touch it with your Qi, you can feel a chill... You can think of it as the sensation of plunging your hand into ice water.”

He paused, then suddenly glanced sideways at Wan Ze, adding, ”Right, be extremely careful when you try to feel it, or you could suffer a backlash. Some of these old geezers can’t even rest in peace. Their Spiritual Power is mixed with lingering obsessions and resentments. The moment you touch it, that stuff will follow your Qi right into your brain. At best, you’ll have a headache for a few days. At worst, your Divine Soul will be damaged.”

Wan Ze was stunned. When he came to his senses, he gave a silent nod.