Checking in for 100,000 Years

Chapter 786: Chapter 786: The Tomb of The First Ruthless Man

”Alas, this is one of the Seven Forbidden Lands. I didn’t expect us to end up here...” Big Black Dog had a horrified look on his face and muttered to himself as he surveyed his surroundings. ”We are currently at least ten thousand miles away from the Gui Gou Abyss. I reckon we’re still within the safe zone!”

”Well said!” The rotund man nodded, looking into the distance with admiration. ”The Gui Gou Abyss isn’t as terrifying as you imagine. Since we invited you here this time, we’ve naturally prepared thoroughly.”

”Oh!” the Big Black Dog responded.

”Cat Brother, I think we’ve gotten ourselves into a real mess this time. I’m afraid we won’t be able to get out!” As he turned his face, the Big Black Dog secretly sent a sound transmission.

”What’s there to be afraid of? A small Forbidden Land, and you think it could gobble us up? I doubt it has the guts!” Big Black Cat transmitted confidently with a cold snort.

Big Black Dog was speechless. He widened his eyes, staring at Big Black Cat in disbelief. Where does Cat Brother, a cultivator at the Fourth Level of the Life and Death Realm, get this confidence from? Isn’t this a bit too arrogant? This is one of the daunting Seven Forbidden Lands! Even an Eternal Sect wouldn’t dare to touch any Forbidden Land lightly.

”Cat Brother, after we enter the Gui Gou Abyss, I’m entrusting my life to you...” the Big Black Dog pleaded earnestly.

”Don’t worry, it’s a piece of cake.” Big Black Cat chuckled, his eyes darting around. The Gui Gou Abyss? In his Lordship’s eyes, isn’t it just like some worthless curs?

Upon hearing their conversation, the wisp of Ye Yun’s Divine Sense in Big Black Cat’s mind couldn’t help but chuckle. This Little Black boy is much braver than before... The Gui Gou Abyss indeed existed a hundred thousand years ago. However, at that time, I didn’t have the opportunity to come here. Of the Seven Forbidden Lands, I had only been to one. As for the other six, I didn’t have a chance to visit them back then. For an Eternal Sect, the Seven Forbidden Lands on the Cangnan Continent were indeed mysterious. Every Forbidden Land was terrifying, and the chances of an Eternal Realm Strong Person perishing there were high.

Ye Yun thought to himself, This is also an opportunity. It’s about time for Little Black and the others to explore properly. Meanwhile, I can broaden my horizons... Although I’m extremely powerful, practically invincible in this world, I’m quite lonely and bored. Recently, I haven’t focused on increasing my cultivation base, but purely on practicing Cultivation Techniques and Divine Skills for amusement. Now, facing this minor Forbidden Land, I feel like I’m playing a game, patiently waiting for the plot to unfold step by step. This is a transcendent state of mind, a return to simplicity born from an invincible Dao Heart, achieved after checking in within a desolate space for a hundred thousand years and obtaining vast, top-tier resources from the Ten Thousand Realms. Even a realm lord couldn’t possess such a mindset.

「...」

The Black Hawk continued to fly. After less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn, it descended from mid-air, landing on a platform at the peak of a mountain. The platform was already crowded with a vast throng of people. A rough count revealed over a thousand Cultivators, all of them from the Demon Clan.

”Good heavens, there are so many from the Demon Clan...” Big Black Dog exclaimed, his heart pounding as he glanced below. Many of the Demon Clan Cultivators on the platform held grudges against him. These grudges were naturally formed during past instances of tomb raiding or resource snatching, where he had fought them, stolen the resources, and fled, thus making enemies.

”Cat Brother, see anyone you know?” Big Black Dog asked quietly.

”Seems like a few...” Big Black Cat chuckled, patting Big Black Dog firmly. ”Don’t you have even more ’acquaintances’?”

Big Black Dog nodded woodenly.

”Coward, you must have quite a few ’acquaintances’ too, right?” Big Black Cat turned and asked the Sky-boring Rat.

”Yeah, quite a few indeed,” the Sky-boring Rat chuckled. ”Today’s gathering is certainly interesting! These guys who ply this trade don’t get along with each other; you could say they’re pretty much all enemies...”

”You young brothers!” the round-faced man said with a laugh, having overheard the trio’s conversation. ”Spending your years plying this trade, you do indeed make plenty of enemies. But this time, our Yao Lingling will also participate and send people to mediate your relationships.”

”I understand, Senior!” Big Black Dog nodded solemnly.

The Black Hawk hovered in mid-air, and the five of them descended. Big Black Cat and the other two stood in an open area of the plaza, while the square-faced man and the round-faced man went to a high platform nearby, where disciples of Yao Lingling were gathered.

”Senior Brother Zhao, we should be almost ready, right?” the round-faced man said, stepping forward a few paces to address an old man ahead of him. ”This time, we’ve gathered quite a few Demon Clan members from the Life and Death Realm; the number has already surpassed a thousand!”

”Just about. We’re just waiting for the Sect Master to arrive!” the old man replied with a smile.

The round-faced man said in surprise, ”So the Sect Master is leading the team personally this time...”

”There’s no other way. This operation is too important; the Sect Master himself must oversee it!” the old man sighed.

The round-faced man nodded solemnly, then he and the square-faced man stood aside, neither speaking further.

”Well, well, if it isn’t the renowned Demonic Divine Dog! And the Nine-tailed Spirit Cat, and the Sky-boring Rat too! How did you three rascals end up here together?” a grinning, goat-bearded old man smoking a pipe called out from the crowd.

The trio turned towards the voice. Big Black Dog recognized the man and grinned. ”Well, I’ll be! If it isn’t Old Goat Head! I didn’t expect someone as venerable as you to have the chance to be here, haha!”

”When we get the chance, we’ll see who’s better, you three!” Old Goat Head raised an eyebrow, tapped out his pipe, and chuckled.

”No problem, we’re ready anytime!” Big Black Dog cupped his fists and retorted without ceremony.

Some of the surrounding Demon Clan members recognized the trio and began pointing and whispering among themselves. However, with many powerful figures from Yao Lingling standing on the high platform not far away, everyone felt somewhat constrained and didn’t discuss aloud.

After about two days, a dozen or so more Demon Clan members arrived sporadically. They were all strangers; the trio didn’t recognize any of them.

”The Cangnan Continent is vast, and there are indeed many plying this trade. The competition is fierce, Doggy!” Big Black Cat patted Big Black Dog’s shoulder, speaking with profound meaning. Tomb raiding, such a despicable business, seems utterly meaningless now. I’m so fortunate to have joined the Dragon God Sect and met his Lordship; otherwise, how could I have achieved my current success?

WHOOSH! A massive aura descended from the void above. A young man in a silver robe abruptly appeared on the high platform.

”Greetings, Sect Master!” All the disciples of Yao Lingling saluted with cupped fists, their expressions solemn.

”At ease!” The young man smiled faintly, his gaze falling upon the platform. ”Quite a crowd...” he commented with a smile.

An old man hastily reported, ”Sect Master, this time we have a total of one thousand three hundred and twenty-five people.”

”Good!” The young man nodded. He took two steps forward to the edge of the high platform, hands clasped behind his back, and looked down at the Demon Clan Cultivators below.

All the Demon Clan members watched the young man with fervent eyes. So, this is the renowned Yao Lingling Sect Master! In just a few thousand years, he led Yao Lingling from a weak faction to its current status as a Superior Super Sect. It’s clear how brilliant and strategically-minded this Sect Master is.

”Fellow Demon Clan cultivators,” the young man said with a smile, an eyebrow raised, ”I’m sure you’re all very curious about which ancient tomb I’ve invited you here to explore this time, aren’t you?”

”Senior, what tomb is it exactly?” Big Black Dog yelled out.

”The tomb of the First Ruthless Man.” The young man smiled faintly and spoke softly. His voice was very light, as if he were discussing something trivial, exuding an air of casual indifference. Yet, at the same time, an almost imperceptible flicker of intense fervor flashed through his deep-set eyes.