Volume 3, Chapter 213 – Disaster Strikes, the Cursed Land Erupts (Part 2)

The other elders did not dare to raise any objections and also took out their talismans, tossing them downward.

Just like that, dozens of high-powered talismans of various kinds fluttered down like scraps of paper, landing precisely into the gaping maw of Yin energy.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The talismans shattered one after another, unleashing a dazzling array of spells. The earth-shaking explosions tore through the thick Yin energy, forcibly ripping open a corner of it.

The members of the Huxiao Sect stared intently at the entrance below, their eyes wide, not daring to even breathe heavily.

Suddenly, the entrance fell dormant like a volcano, no longer leaking the slightest trace of Yin energy. As the eerie wind blew, the terrain gradually became visible.

When the Huxiao Sect disciples took a closer look, they saw—what appeared to be a massive imperial palace!

“An… imperial palace? How could there be an imperial palace here?”

One elder stammered in shock.

“This isn’t an imperial palace—it’s an imperial tomb!”

Elder Zhou corrected sternly, his expression grave.

Upon closer inspection, the group realized this was indeed a tomb. The pavilions and towers were smaller in scale compared to actual palace structures, and the architectural style was distinctly that of a burial site.

The front of the mausoleum featured a sacred path about three zhang ¹ ~10 meters/32.8 feet wide, flanked by pairs of ornamental pillars carved with coiling dragons, a symbol of royalty, and stone lions standing imposingly as guardians. Behind them stood rows of stone horses and statues of civil and military officials. The military figures wore scale armor, towering and majestic, while the civil officials held jade rulers, dignified and solemn. Further back was the tomb gate, leading to a grand palace-like structure—one of the most prominent features of the entire mausoleum. The other was the enormous circular burial mound at the center.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be a mass burial ground? How could there be an imperial tomb here?”

Another elder asked, his voice trembling.

Elder Zhou’s face was also filled with shock and doubt. Just as he was about to use his Divine Sense to investigate, an enraged voice boomed—

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“Audacious! How dare you disturb His Highness’s rest?!”

The voice was like a tolling bell, sending visible soundwaves rippling outward. Then, a massive demonic shadow surged from the depths of the Yin energy in the distance. At the same time, countless battle cries erupted from all directions.

Simultaneously, the imperial tomb below began to tremble violently. Gigantic fissures spread from the top of the burial mound in all directions, as though something was about to break free from the earth.

“Retreat, now!”

Elder Zhou paled in horror and immediately shouted a warning. But when he turned to look, the other elders had already fled without a trace.

“Cowards!”

Elder Zhou cursed in fury before channeling all his energy into escaping the way they had come.

Before long, he flew out of the range of the Yin energy. The other elders, not daring to abandon him completely, had waited outside with feigned concern.

With no outlet for his anger, Elder Zhou could only glare at each of them in turn.

“Did… did we succeed?”

One elder asked uncertainly.

The group exchanged glances before unanimously turning their gaze back toward the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground.

A moment later, the Yin energy, which had been slowly spreading outward, suddenly contracted rapidly—as if pulled by some unseen force. The malevolent spirits lurking in the darkness also retreated swiftly, as though summoned.

“It seems we succeeded. Now, it’s time to report back to the Sect Master.”

Elder Zhou smiled in satisfaction before leading the group back.

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Meanwhile, deep within the imperial tomb at Pingshan Mass Burial Ground, the sound of breathing grew clearer and clearer. Some unknown existence was slowly awakening. With each inhale, the Yin energy from the outside world surged violently through the massive fissures in the burial mound, rushing inward.

Around the mound, thousands of demons and ghosts knelt in reverence—among them were powerful entities such as Silver Zombies, Silver Skeletons, and Malignant Ghosts.

Crack!

At that moment, the burial mound suddenly exploded. A golden hand emerged from the grave, its sharp nails three inches long and gleaming like polished metal.

“We welcome Your Highness!”

A Silver Zombie clad in armor prostrated itself respectfully at the foot of the mound. The other creatures followed suit, trembling.

BOOM!

The mound erupted violently as a figure shot into the sky before landing in front of the horde of ghosts.

It was a tall, slender young man with disheveled hair that fluttered in the wind, revealing sharp, chiseled features. His phoenix eyes carried a trace of wicked charm, and his scale armor was tattered, large sections having fallen away to expose angular, explosive muscles.

Most terrifying of all, every breath he took stirred the heavens and earth. The surrounding Yin energy surged into his nostrils, absorbed into his body.

“To think… to think that I, a prince of the royal blood, would see the light of day again!”

The wicked young man greedily inhaled—though only Yin energy entered his lungs.

“But… didn’t I die?”

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He reached up and touched his neck, where a horrific wound nearly severed his throat.

“Your Highness, you did indeed perish. But now, you have been reborn in another form!”

The armored Silver Corpse at the foot of the mound explained respectfully.

“Another form? A Jiangshi ² 僵尸 (jiāng shī), a reanimated corpse in Chinese folklore often translated as “hopping vampire/zombie” ?”

The young man frowned slightly, as though struggling to accept this.

“Fine. A Jiangshi it is. At least I now have ample time to complete what I left unfinished.”

He then smiled in resignation—though the next second, his grin turned sinister once more.

“However… those who reduced me to this state shall pay a hundredfold!”

“General Li, how long have I slept? Have you uncovered the identity of the culprit?”

The young man glanced down at the Silver Corpse with his phoenix eyes.

“Forgive me, Your Highness! This subordinate is incompetent! I have yet to identify the murderer!”

The Silver Corpse General stammered in response.

“Hmm?”

The young man’s phoenix eyes narrowed into razor-sharp slits.

“Spare me, Your Highness! By the time I awoke, five hundred years had already passed… and you had been slumbering for eight hundred.”

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The Silver Corpse General trembled as he explained.

“What?! Eight hundred years?!”

Shock flashed across the young man’s face before he urgently asked, “Then what of my father, the Emperor? My mother, the Empress? My royal brothers and sisters?”

“……”

The Silver Corpse General remained silent. The answer was obvious.

“And what of our imperial descendants? To which generation do they belong now?”

The young man took a deep breath before asking again.

“Your Highness… after our tragedy, the Great Qi Kingdom fell swiftly. The land is now ruled by the Lin Clan of the Western Radiance Dynasty. The people are theirs.”

The Silver Corpse clenched his teeth before forcing out the words.

“Fallen…”

The young man closed his eyes in pain for a moment before continuing, “It seems I can no longer fulfill the promises I made to my father and mother.”

“Your Highness, all of this was caused by those traitors! We built this imperial tomb and guarded it for centuries, waiting for the day you would awaken and lead us to vengeance!”

The Silver Corpse General raised his voice in fervent agreement. The other demons and ghosts also roared in approval.

“Good! Then hear my command—all wandering ghosts, Jiangshi, and skeletons shall expand outward! Hasn’t that sinister source within been spreading all this time? After so many years, it still occupies only this pitiful stretch of land. Let me lend it a hand.”

The wicked young man barked his orders before suddenly opening his mouth. A torrent of Yin energy erupted like a tidal wave, surging outward in all directions. Countless wandering ghosts submerged themselves within it, howling and reveling in madness…