Nine Astra Skies

Tantai Ling went down the stairs, observing that there were heaps of dried bones on both sides. Some of these bones had belonged to workmen whose hands were still holding metal shovels and the likes. It seemed that they had died here after the tomb was built. Other bones were those of experts who had come exploring, killed by an unknown presence.

Ye Chen stepped forward. There was a loud crackle as some of the bones were crushed to powder under his foot.

The dull echoes reverberated along the stairs for a long time, heading toward the distant underground depths.

Ye Chen was slightly startled and treaded even more lightly.

"These stairs might have some mechanisms set up." Tantai Ling's voice came up from below. From the depths, waves of sinister chill surged up. Currently, not even she would dare to act carelessly.

Hiss hiss!

A high-pitched sound suddenly came up from below.

Ye Chen raised his eyebrows, not knowing what monster was ascending from the depths. He drew the Hell Rupture Sword.

Shortly, Ye Chen saw faint shadows spurting toward their direction.

"These are ordinary dark spirits!" Tantai Ling cautioned. These ordinary dark spirits were not very formidable. Her white gauze lashed out and struck these dark spirits. Bang bang bang! They instantly exploded one after another.

A few dark spirits with stronger capabilities evaded the white gauze and lunged at Tantai Ling with wide jaws and flashing claws, looking malevolent.

Tantai Ling raised the divine trident in her hand and swiped it through the air. Beams of Seven-colored Divine Ray shot out.

These Seven-colored Divine Rays hit the dark spirits and erupted. The dark spirits howled miserably as they struggled, then were devoured by the Seven-colored Divine Rays and reduced to ashes.

The entire flight of stairs was shrouded in the Seven-colored Divine Rays which were extremely dazzling.

Each Seven-colored Divine Ray contained the Law of Martial Truth and overwhelming power. These dark spirits were Mystique Venerable Rank at least, but they could not withstand a single blow from this divine light.

Tantai Ling's strength had astonished Ye Chen to no end. He tightened his grip on the Hell Rupture Sword and his veins popped out along his arms. This indicated his internal emotional turmoil. If he had this sort of power, all these would not have happened for sure and Little Tanuki and Little Wingsy would not be dead!

Threads of dark energy circulated among the Nine Astra. Ye Chen knew that this came from the demonic psyche that was born from his thirst for power.

Ye Chen called upon his conscience, not allowing himself to be eaten away by his demonic psyche. He did not know how long he could hold on.

"Let's go." Tantai Ling shot a glance at Ye Chen. She had detected Ye Chen's abnormal state as well, but she did not mention it. Thick layers of Water-type Celestial Chi had enveloped her body as she flew downward.

Ye Chen followed close behind.

Bang bang bang!!!

On their way, they had encountered countless dark spirits. Before these spirits could even touch Tantai Ling, they were struck by the Seven-colored Divine Rays. They shrieked pitifully as they disintegrated and dispersed.

They walked deeper into the ground for a few hundred meters and reached a tunnel. Peering forward, there was only pitch darkness. They could not see what was up ahead.

There was a three-meter-tall stone tablet in front of the tunnel. On it were bold, cursive, ancient words - Tomb of Emperor Ming. Death to All Intruders.

"Emperor Ming? So, it's him." Tantai Ling was rather stunned.

"Who's Emperor Ming?"

"Emperor Ming was a Peerless Power of ancient times, tens of thousands of years ago. His strength was out of this world, far exceeding what our generation could hope for. However, during his cultivation, he died after being invaded by his demonic psyche. His clan members built seven tombs for him, which were later plundered. These tomb raiders wanted to dig up the belongings of Emperor Ming, but countless of them were injured or killed without gaining anything. Those seven tombs were all fake. I don't know if this one is real," Tantai Ling said. "In an ancient book of the Sea Demon Clan, there were some records of this."

The seven fake tombs had lured countless people to their deaths and who knew whether this one was real or fake? Regardless of which, there must be all sorts of dangers within.

"Stay fifteen meters behind me. If we activate any mechanisms, whether you live or die is up to your luck." Tantai Ling was as tranquil as water as she took the first step into the tunnel.

Ye Chen watched Tantai Ling's departing figure gradually disappearing into the tunnel and followed behind. Since he had decided to come here, he had no longer cared if he lived or died.

In the dim, deep tunnel, they kept heading forward. Ye Chen's Astral Body examined his surroundings but he did not notice any mechanisms. As they explored further, they entered a spacious hall. This hall was thousands of meters wide. Its walls were built from gold and covered in various mysterious totems.

The hall was bare without any adornments. At the center of the hall, an ice coffin hovered in thin air. Inside, a corpse lay silently, dressed in a royal yellow robe. It had not decayed at all. One could still make out his features clearly. He looked young with long, drifting hair. There was a soldierly air to him that could not be put into words. Of course, no one could tell what his actual age was. Various ornaments were placed around his body, numbering a few dozens.

This person must be the legendary Emperor Ming!

This colossal hall was not set up with any mechanisms. Were they not afraid that his corpse would be robbed?

Ye Chen swept his Astral Body across the floor and saw that there were bodies littered everywhere, around a few hundred. Numerous spirit artifacts were scattered next to the bodies of these combatants, as if they were killed by something.

Perhaps it was not that the hall had no mechanisms, but rather, these mechanisms were too well concealed? Otherwise, these combatants would not have died here.

The bodies of these combatants were already rotted, emanating an intense, decaying stench.

Ye Chen's gaze fell upon the area below the ice coffin. There was a gigantic stone platform, upon which nothing was placed, save a sword that was plunged into the middle. This sword did not appear to be particularly distinct from ordinary metal swords, but its design was unique. The blade was covered in barbs, which were spotted with rust.

As Ye Chen's Astral Body examined the blade, an icy, harsh aura burst out from the sword. Ye Chen was so frightened by this cold, brutal aura that he trembled uncontrollably. This sword was not any ordinary sword. There were three tiny words on the blade - Emperor Ming's Sword. Ye Chen dared not explore with his Astral Body anymore and withdrew it.

Tantai Ling had already walked into the hall and Ye Chen quickened his steps.

"Don't get too close to the center!" Ye Chen used his Astral Body to pass on this message to Tantai Ling. However, after Tantai Ling went into the hall, she had already halted. With her intelligence, she would not possibly be ignorant of the peculiarity of this hall.

Ye Chen walked into the hall as well, which was not lit up by torches, luminous pearls or other illuminating items. It was isolated from the outside, so he did not know where the light was coming from. The hall was well lit.

Tantai Ling seemed to sense something as her eyes fixed upon the long sword in front. Vigorous waves of Spirit energy flowed from her body.

Emperor Ming's Sword seemed to detect this and started to whine and shudder. A large swell of formidable, murderous intent swept forward.

This murderous intent was like ten million massive swords assaulting one's face, piercing through one's body completely. Ye Chen turned rather pale and hurriedly released his Astral Body to protect himself. Only then did he feel better. He glanced at Tantai Ling in front of him, not knowing what she had in mind.

At this point, Emperor Ming's Sword suddenly gleamed brilliantly and a figure appeared in the air. It was a very handsome youth whose features bore a resemblance to the corpse in the ice coffin. Even so, both of them were different. The one in the ice coffin looked more valiant, with hints of a tyrannical bearing. However, the one before them had fine brows and glittering eyes, his skin so fair it would make women envious. He was a fine, elegant, noble youth, and his movements were calm and graceful too, which was a pleasing sight. Still, each of his gestures was infused deeply with an Absolute Martial Truth of the highest level.

By only looking at this young man, Ye Chen felt his chi flow was drawn forward. He was shocked. This person's abilities were on par with Tantai Ling. He looked like an apparition. Was he just a dark spirit?

Ye Chen had encountered many dark spirits, evil spirits, and the likes but those entities would not give off such a natural air, no matter how strong they were.

"Who is it that dares to intrude upon Emperor Ming's tomb?" The handsome youth swept his shining gaze across Ye Chen and Tantai Ling.

Through this glance, Ye Chen felt as if he was completely seen through. Up until now, only the trace of consciousness left by Senior Tian Yuan at the Sunken Jade Tower's entrance had made Ye Chen feel this way. Could this youth be an almighty character like Senior Tian Yuan? In the ancient eras of this world, how powerful had people once become?

Tantai Ling knitted her brows slightly. She could sense a terrifying force coming off this person before her, but she felt no trace of fear. Rather, she was fired up by the desire to fight.

"A Mermaid and a young human. How meaningful." The handsome youth, however, ignored Tantai Ling and his gaze lingered upon Ye Chen for a moment. Then, he smiled. This smile was extremely refined as well like that of a self-possessed man of nobility.

Nobility was not about wealth nor status. Instead, it was about having a profound noble bearing. Each movement and each word would have a presence that ordinary people could not attain.

This person had come out of Emperor Ming's Sword. Could he be… Ye Chen's heart leaped as he thought of a possibility. Was this youth the artifact spirit of Emperor Ming's Sword?

Of course, this was just a guess.

"Did you come here to rob the tomb?" The exquisite youth passed his penetrating gaze over Tantai Ling and Ye Chen, speaking in an irrefutable tone. "If that's the case, you may head back or you'll die here." His words were soft and gentle, without a trace of severity. The voice he had used was even as refreshing as a spring breeze against one's face. Nonetheless, his following remark was abruptly frosty and stern. "I've guarded Emperor Ming for tens of thousands of years. No one may touch his remains. Anyone who stepped within a hundred meters of the ice coffin will die!"

Tantai Ling gripped the trident with a solemn expression. Since they had come here, naturally she would not retreat just like that. However, this person before her was the mightiest opponent she had ever faced up to this point.