Leng Yanran came to a realization as well. "So many generations of Tomb Guardians have died. A very long time must have passed!"
They arrived before the massive earthen mound, but for a moment, they were stumped.
They had no idea how to get inside.
The only plausible option seemed to be digging their way in.
But the tomb was enormous, nearly the size of a small hill. At this rate, the three of them would be digging until who knows when.
Li Chang’an had studied the arts of Feng Shui and Geomancy.
After circling the tomb, he spotted a few clues. He walked to one side and said, "The entrance to the tomb passage should be here. If we dig down from this spot, we most likely can’t go wrong!"
No sooner said than done, the three of them began digging again.
However, after digging down two or three meters, they found no entrance. Instead, they uncovered a Stone Lion, carved with lifelike detail.
The Stone Lion’s mouth opened, spewing a brilliant light that enveloped the entire underground cavern.
Even with Li Chang’an and Leng Yanran attacking at full force, they couldn’t break through the light emanating from the Stone Lion.
Just as the three were finding the situation difficult, the Jade Pendant that Leng Yanran had found in the village suddenly flew of its own accord into the Stone Lion’s mouth.
The Stone Lion closed its mouth, and the light vanished. The great tomb began to tremble, causing the surrounding mountain ridges to shake along with it.
A long, narrow passageway appeared, leading directly to the tomb’s entrance.
Carved upon the gate at the entrance was an Evil Beast with wide, furious eyes. It opened its great maw and suddenly spat a Stone Sword, crafted from sharp rock, toward the three of them.
Li Chang’an and Leng Yanran reacted instantly, dodging the attack. Only Ran Qingqiu, whose Realm was lower, failed to react in time and was grazed on the arm by the Stone Sword.
As her blood dripped, the passageway began to glow with a Red light.
The Evil Beast sensed the purity of the blood. Its ferocious expression softened, and it spoke. "Why have you come here? Are you seeking information about the Cultivators?"
The three of them were clearly shocked to see that the Evil Beast could actually speak.
Li Chang’an, however, was more worldly. He stepped forward. "We have indeed come because of the Cultivators!"
The Evil Beast stared at Li Chang’an, saying nothing. It simply spat another short stone dagger from its mouth. This time, Li Chang’an didn’t dodge, as he sensed no Malice from the beast.
The Stone Sword scraped his skin, leaving only a shallow mark. Li Chang’an squeezed a few drops of blood from the wound himself and flung them onto the passageway floor.
The Evil Beast sensed the vital energy within his blood, then spoke. "A powerful physique. You’re a promising one. Did you come seeking me because the Cultivators have descended to the Lower Realm to harvest living beings again? You can gather a group of people and have them wait in the village outside. I still have enough strength to ensure their safety..."
At this, the Evil Beast sniffed the air, confused. "Strange. I don’t smell their sickening aura. Why did you awaken me?"
Hearing it mutter to itself, the three of them were clearly taken aback.
In the end, it was Li Chang’an who stepped forward to ask, "Senior, we came here simply to find traces of the Cultivators’ existence. Since you know of them, you must know about their techniques, right? Just how powerful are they?"
Li Chang’an’s words seemed to settle the Evil Beast.
After a long moment, it finally spoke. "You aren’t seeking my protection, but wish to fight back against the Cultivators?"
Li Chang’an nodded.
The Evil Beast’s interest was piqued. "The Cultivators are immensely powerful. They can move mountains and overturn seas with a casual wave of their hand. To an ordinary being, facing a high-level Cultivator is like an ant facing an elephant, or a firefly before the blazing sun..."
"However, this realm has been harvested time and time again. Its vital energy was depleted long ago. Now, aside from its population, there’s probably nothing of value left. The Cultivators won’t place as much importance on you as they did in the past. They’ll most likely just send some random Foundation Establishment Stage disciple to do the reaping!"
"And if it’s only the Foundation Establishment Stage, you might just be able to catch one of them off guard and kill him!"
Li Chang’an had long suspected this world was little more than the Cultivators’ private garden, so he wasn’t particularly shocked.
But Leng Yanran and Ran Qingqiu, standing beside him, were hearing this for the very first time.
Their eyes widened uncontrollably.
They were filled with shock and horror.
The Evil Beast sized up Li Chang’an and nodded in approval. "It’s rare for this world to produce someone with such strong lifeblood. If you truly wish to make an enemy of the Cultivators, I can lend you a hand!"
Li Chang’an didn’t rush to accept. Instead, he asked, "Senior, who are you? Why are you here, and why would you help us?"
The Evil Beast fell silent for a long moment before answering. "I am a World-Devouring Whale. Ten thousand years ago, I was hunted by several Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Gravely injured, I had no choice but to flee to this world and hide in this tomb, clinging to life."
"As for why I would help you... the enemy of my enemy is my friend. That principle is simple enough that I shouldn’t need to explain it further."
At this, the creature calling itself a World-Devouring Whale paused.
As if afraid Li Chang’an and the others wouldn’t believe it, it continued, "Every time the Cultivators descend to the Lower Realm to reap lives, I bring people in from the outside to shelter them, allowing them to hide in the valley and escape the disaster."
"After the Cultivators leave, I let them go. In fact, you should be thanking me. If it weren’t for my efforts, you wouldn’t have even preserved the Cultivation Methods for the first four Realms!"
It sighed and swayed. "Toiling your entire lives in cultivation, only to fatten yourselves up for the Cultivators to come reap the rewards. How pathetic. How tragic!"
Leng Yanran and Ran Qingqiu were already stunned by its previous explanation. Now, hearing this, their faces were filled with utter disbelief.
’Cultivators descend to the Lower Realm periodically.’
’What do they see this Lower Realm as?’
’A farm?’
’And what did it mean, toiling your whole life in cultivation only to fatten yourself up?’
’Could there be something wrong with our Cultivation Techniques?’
Li Chang’an, however, was not particularly surprised by this.
The World-Devouring Whale spoke again. "Well? Do you want my help?"
Li Chang’an shook his head. "Thank you for your kind offer, Senior. I only came here to investigate the truth about the Cultivators. I had no intention of asking you for help. If I have need of it in the future, I will come and impose on you then."
The World-Devouring Whale clearly hadn’t expected such an answer from Li Chang’an.
It was stunned into a long silence. Then, it suddenly spat out a yellowed, ancient tome. "Heh. After all these years, it’s rare to meet someone as interesting as you. It’s fine if you don’t trust me..."
"The Lower Realm isn’t entirely without its merits. Here is a Cultivation Technique. It’s still incomplete, but it should be of some help to you. Take it. Consider it my investment in you!"
With that, it gave Li Chang’an one last look and said coolly, "If there’s nothing else, then leave. I don’t normally welcome the living."
The once-animate form of the Evil Beast on the gate grew stiff and lifeless, as if its presence had departed.
The Stone Lion spat out the Jade Stone, its mouth once again spewing a light that enveloped the entire tomb. The walls of the passageway began to RUMBLE; the tomb was closing.
The three of them dared not linger.
They turned and fled the tomb’s grounds.
Looking back, they watched as the great tomb gradually returned to its original state, as if nothing had ever happened.
Leng Yanran looked dazed. She picked up the Jade Stone and looked closely, only to discover a new crack on its surface.
It seemed this crack was the only proof that what had just happened was not an illusion.
Li Chang’an had no intention of lingering. He stood up and smiled. "Do you believe me now? If we don’t want to be harvested like a crop, we have to stick together!"
...