Urban Martial Saint

Chapter 1942 - 1942: Stone Coffin in the Burial Chamber

Encountering these skeletons, Ye Qing carefully examined them one by one, but was unable to uncover any special secrets from them. However, he did manage to find quite a few treasures, such as famed instruments and secret manuals, from these skeletons.Those capable of entering this cave to search for the Tomb of the Duwang Sect Master were certainly not ordinary weaklings; some were even peak masters. These individuals, either carrying powerful famed instruments or secret manuals, possessed items of absolute value. And yet, these treasures remained buried here in the stone corridor, buried with their skeletal remains. Were it not for Ye Qing's arrival, no one might have ever discovered their existence.

Having come this far, Ye Qing was no longer courteous. He collected all the famed instruments and secret manuals from these skeletons and carried them forward. Each of these items was priceless. Were Ye Qing to sell them all, he could secure a substantial fortune. And even if he chose not to sell them, keeping these secret manuals might help him cultivate a group of formidable warriors!

Who knows how long this stone corridor extends? As Ye Qing continued, he had already found over a dozen famed instruments and seven or eight secret manuals. He was nearly burdened with these treasures, yet the stone corridor continued on. If he encountered any more famed instruments, Ye Qing would have no idea how to carry them all.

As Ye Qing was worrying about this, a large figure suddenly appeared in the stone corridor ahead, standing in the passageway.

Seeing this figure, Ye Qing was taken aback. Until now, he had only seen skeletons in this location and didn't expect any living person. However, ahead stood a figure of flesh and blood, clearly not a mere skeleton. Moreover, the most crucial aspect was that the figure stood still, indicating that this person was alive. But how could this be? To have reached this point without dying, could this person also be immune to the mysterious aging forces of this stone corridor?

Filled with doubts, Ye Qing was also bold. Observing the figure ahead, instead of retreating, he shouted loudly, "Who is the senior ahead?"

There was no answer. The figure stood motionless, as if he hadn't heard Ye Qing's words, or perhaps simply disdained to reply.

"I mean no harm, just passing through. If the senior doesn't speak, I'll proceed forward," Ye Qing called out again, but the figure remained silent.

Taking a deep breath to bolster his courage, Ye Qing walked straight towards the figure. Having faced creatures like the Corpse Ghost Dragon, he saw no reason to be intimidated by a mere silhouette.

The closer Ye Qing got, the clearer the figure's appearance became. It was a middle-aged man, exceptionally tall, even more muscular than a Black Bear. He wore a black ancient robe, his hair and beard were long, and his features were rugged, clearly a robust man. He stood motionless, seemingly rigid, but Ye Qing could see clearly that the man's eyes were devoid of vitality—he was obviously dead. Furthermore, the man's clothes appeared nearly decayed, suggesting he'd been standing there for a long time.

Logically, someone who had been dead for a long time should be a mere skeleton by now. The bodies Ye Qing encountered outside had all succumbed to this fate—the passage of time had reduced them to bones. However, this person's body remained intact, not decomposed at all. How could such a thing be possible? To have died so long ago yet still bear an uncorrupted body—it defied reason.

Looking at this person, Ye Qing recalled the situation described to him by Shen Tianjun and Ding Lianshun. Many extraordinarily powerful individuals retain their internal energy post-mortem, consolidating the power within, much like the Great Demon King. The Buddha's Relic Ye Qing had seen earlier was similar; after Ancestor Buddha Shakyamuni's death, his power concentrated within the relic, retaining terrifying potency. Moreover, these strong beings remain incorruptible in death. Could this man be of such type, possessing profound power that preserved his body?

Ye Qing stared at the corpse for a while, though he didn't recognize him, his instincts assured him that this person must have been an Invincible Under the Heavens during life. To remain here undead for so long was not a trait attainable by ordinary strength.

Nevertheless, this person was ultimately deceased. Even though the body was incorruptible, it merely attested to the incredible prowess he had during his lifetime. Despite Ye Qing's internal awe, he scrutinized the corpse for anything of value.

This corpse bore no weapons. At their level of power, ordinary famed instruments held little significance—what they truly needed were top-tier instruments like the Tianzhu Sword. However, Ye Qing discovered a book on the corpse, extracting it to find four characters inscribed on its pages—"Indestructible Demon Body!"

Reading these four characters, Ye Qing's heart jolted. Indestructible Demon Body, one of the most top-level Secret Techniques of the Demon Sect, was said to grant an undying and indestructible state when mastered. The human-shaped gu of the Corpse Ghost Dragon originated from this technique, never reaching perfection. In a bid to extend his life, the Corpse Ghost Dragon reversed his powers, transforming them all into Demon Skill to practice the Indestructible Demon Body, aiming for mastery. However, his version only reached the initial stage, yet the potency was already terrifying, as Ye Qing had witnessed, indicating the tremendous power of the Indestructible Demon Body.

Now, discovering the Indestructible Demon Body manual on this man's person left Ye Qing thoroughly shaken. So many had entered the Demon Hideout Cave, sacrificing themselves for such a heaven-defying Cultivation Technique. But today, Ye Qing found the manual right here, on this corpse, in this stone corridor—indeed a fate-bestowed opportunity!

Overwhelmed with awe, Ye Qing tucked the manual away, looked once more at this man. Understanding dawned; the reason this man's corpse remained uncorrupted was evidently due to his practice of the Indestructible Demon Body. Even slight attainment of this technique was enough to preserve his body, testimony to its frightening power. However, he pondered: who exactly was this figure within the Demon Sect? Why had he dared venture here, seeking the Tomb of the Duwang Sect Master? Ultimately, he perished here, rendering even the invaluable Indestructible Demon Body unused—a lamentable waste.

With a gentle sigh, Ye Qing didn't linger. He secured the Indestructible Demon Body manual on himself and continued forward along the stone corridor.

This time, Ye Qing encountered no further corpses. Walking approximately another hundred meters, he finally reached the end of the stone corridor, entering a stone chamber.

Reflecting on the previous incorruptible corpse, it dawned on Ye Qing—this man had ventured the furthest within the stone corridor, nearly reaching the stone chamber. Had he managed to progress a bit further, he would have arrived at the endpoint. Yet, he never did, losing his life outside. A formidable master meeting such an end was undeniably pitiful.

As Ye Qing stepped into the chamber, his awe intensified. The entire journey had left his body unchanged, no signs of aging; indicating that unlike others, he remained unaffected by the stone corridor's aging influence. This incited Ye Qing's curiosity. Even a master of Indestructible Demon Body perished here, so why was he, Ye Qing, able to traverse unharmed to the end? Why did the stone corridor's mysterious power fail to age him? Could it truly be due to the Instantaneous Blossom that, because of the Buddha's Relic, shielded him from aging?

Filled with questions, Ye Qing realized they were beyond his own comprehension, so he refrained from further pondering and simply walked into the stone chamber.

The stone chamber was not large, merely the size of a living room. Positioned in the center was a stone coffin, evidently the casket of the Duwang Sect Master.

Spotting the stone coffin, Ye Qing inhaled deeply. Given the prowess of the Duwang Sect Master, was his corpse within also unspoiled by decay? Did the coffin hold the complete remains of the master or just a skeleton?

Slowly approaching the stone coffin, Ye Qing initially intended to lift its lid directly. But as he reached its edge, he discovered a line of writing on the ground by the coffin—"Those who enter this tomb, are my friends. Disciples on the right, Buddha's sons on the left."

Ye Qing paused momentarily—what did this mean? Those who entered this tomb were his friends? Disciples on the right, meaning his apprentices approached from the right. Buddha's sons on the left, implying that those from the Buddhist Sect approached from the left?

Scratching his head, uncertain of the Duwang Sect Master's motives for such an arrangement, Ye Qing nevertheless adhered to the instructions, approaching the stone coffin from the left.

As he neared the coffin, suddenly hearing a click, Ye Qing had barely registered what it meant when the coffin lid abruptly sprang open, revealing its contents.

Startled, Ye Qing wondered how the coffin's lid could fling open on its own. Could there be a ghost inside the stone coffin?