The Heir of the Celestial Diagram

Chapter 53: The Secrets of the Ruins of the Nine Tombs

Han Feng moves forward through the newly opened entrance of the ruins, his footsteps resounding in the narrow and damp corridor. He is blind, but his senses are keen. He sends a thread of Qi, lighting the path with a soft shine. The air smells ancient, of earth and death, and the stone walls are carved with enigmatic symbols that faintly pulse. The Underground Exploring He feels a strange energy in the air as he moves down It was a subtle but continuous pressure, as if something were watching his movements. He kept his Celestial Veil Art activated, hiding his presence as he advanced. After a few minutes, he arrived at a vast underground hall. In the center, a stone altar was covered with ancient bones, some of them still emitting a faint spectral glow. Around the altar, several worn statues seemed to depict figures of cultivators in combat stances, as if they had been carved to protect that place. As he approached, he felt a ripple of energy. Before he could react, the eyes of the statues glowed with a crimson hue and a suffocating pressure filled the environment. The sculpted warriors began to move. The Trial of the Ancient Guardians Han Feng jumped back as the first statue attacked with a stone blade. He dodged by a hair's breadth, feeling the overwhelming force of the blow shatter the ground where he had been just a moment before. Without time to hesitate, he channeled his Celestial Dark Flame, enveloping his fists in an intense black fire. The statues moved with astonishing speed, attacking in perfect synchrony. Han Feng spun in the air, dodging an attack and countering with a fiery strike. The first statue cracked, but did not completely shatter. — Not bad... — murmured Han Feng, feeling the excitement of a true challenge. He quickly analyzed the situation. Each guardian possessed strength equivalent to an initial Rank 3 Gu Master. A common enemy would have difficulties, but for Han Feng, it was a welcome test. Advancing like a shadow, he dodged and countered, each blow aimed at the structural weaknesses of the statues. After an intense confrontation, only one guardian remained, the largest and most resilient. Han Feng gathered all his energy, concentrating his Celestial Dark Flame in the palm of his hand before unleashing a destructive blast. With a bang, the last statue shattered. The altar began to tremble and a hidden passage revealed itself behind it. The Hidden Treasure Advancing through the new passage, Han Feng found a chamber filled with scrolls and ancient vials. In the center of the room, on a pedestal, a uniquely appearing Gu floated in a golden mist. His eyes shone. He could feel the powerful aura of that Gu — it was a rare relic, something that could potentially strengthen his Dual Chaos Larva. However, as he approached, he noticed something unusual. The Gu seemed incomplete, its essence unstable. — So, it's still not complete... — he murmured. He would need to find a catalyst to refine it. Moreover, something told him that Gu wasn't there by chance. Maybe he was part of something much bigger. Carefully guarding the Gu and some of the scrolls, Han Feng prepared to leave. However, the moment he touched the exit, a voice echoed in the chamber: — Who dares to disturb the rest of the ancients? His entire body went on high alert. A terrifying presence filled the place. Han Feng smiled coldly. It seems that his exploration was not yet over.