Immortal Divine Tribulation

Chapter 144: Sinister Ancient Tomb

This was an immense forest. 

Ancient, towering trees grew everywhere—many of which could never be seen in the outside world, yet here, they thrived in full, lush glory. Thick and tall beyond imagination, they seemed to pierce the very clouds above.

But none of that was what truly drew attention. Not far ahead of the two, there stood a pitch-black cave entrance. The arch was carved with many stone engravings—aged and primitive—so much so that even Tian Fan couldn’t recognize them at a glance. The carvings depicted ancient people, dressed in animal pelts and wielding spears, all aiming at a cloud-shaped object above their heads.

“What do you feel?” asked the white-robed young man casually as he looked at Tian Fan’s expression.

“Not sure. Just… ancient,” Tian Fan replied simply.

At the entrance of the tomb ahead, a crowd had already gathered—like the people from the Mystic Shadow Pavilion, and the Island of Endless Night…and of the Four Great Sects, only the Yin-Yang Sect had been wiped out by Tian Fan and sent no one. The other three all had representatives present. Even several members of ancient martial clans had arrived. Thankfully, Tian Fan didn’t sense anyone from the Primordial Unity Realm, which probably meant those high-level figures had made an agreement to only send their disciples. If they’d come themselves, this place might have been destroyed.

“What is it, saw someone you know?” The white-robed man, a blade of grass between his lips, glanced over and caught the glimmer in Tian Fan’s eyes as he stared at a few figures ahead.

“Why not go say hello?”

Tian Fan remained silent, confirming the man’s suspicions.

“I don’t want to bring trouble to them,” Tian Fan said calmly. Right now, his identity was extremely sensitive—practically a public enemy of the Northern Region. Among his enemies were forces of sacred-level strength. He feared putting his friends in danger. After all, they didn’t come from powerful clans like the Shangguan family that others would hesitate to provoke.

“Maybe that’s not what they want. Friends are meant to share life and death. You might think you’re protecting them, but that may not be what they need,” said the white-robed man. Despite his carefree, rogue-like manner, his words struck a chord with Tian Fan.

“Maybe you’re right,” Tian Fan murmured after a pause. Then he added, “You, the Holy Son of the Demon Saint Palace—are you sure it’s okay to be hanging out with me? Your sect once took an assassination contract against me.”

Though he didn’t say it outright, the white-robed young man wasn’t foolish. He clearly understood what Tian Fan meant.

“Things are different now. Ever since you wiped out the Yin-Yang Sect, the old fossils in the palace stopped targeting you. Even if they start again, I won’t be part of it,” the white-robed young man said indifferently. Whatever he was thinking, he didn’t show it.

“Why?”

Tian Fan was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected the future heir of the Demon Saint Palace to say something like that.

“I may be an assassin, but I have my principles. I know who should and shouldn’t be killed. And most importantly, I don’t kill people I like,” the white-robed young man said nonchalantly.

“…I don’t swing that way,” Tian Fan said after a brief silence, eyes lowered, voice heavy.

“Fu*k! Do I look like I’m into you?! I only like women, d*mn it!” the white-robed young man snapped, rolling his eyes so hard it looked like they’d get stuck. He cursed profusely, clearly offended.

“Come on. They’ve already gone in,” he said in the end, and with that, the two turned into streaks of light and vanished into the ancient forest.

As they approached the tomb’s entrance, they saw it was pitch-black inside, but brimming with powerful lightning energy. The group ahead had each raised a protective energy barrier. Occasionally, lightning bolts would strike from unknown sources, but the cultivators were all powerful, and with their shields, they passed through easily.

“Let’s go,” Tian Fan said softly. In a blink, they too turned into white streaks of light and disappeared into the tomb.

The moment they entered, both felt a strange shift. Outside, they’d sensed overwhelming lightning power, but inside—it was gone. Darkness blanketed the ancient tomb like a shroud. You couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face. Though it didn’t compare to the Enchanted Forest or the Forbidden Immortal Island, it was still unnaturally eerie.

“There’s something dangerous here,” the white-robed man said gravely. As a killer—an elite one—he was especially attuned to the scent of death, and right now, he could feel an overwhelming chill in the air.

Tian Fan nodded. He felt it too. Everything about this place was strange. Even the walls were blood-red. Despite being buried underground for who knows how long, a strong stench of blood still lingered.

“Ahhhh—!”

A scream suddenly echoed from ahead, then silence. Everyone froze in place, cold sweat trickling down their backs.

“…What is this…”

After an unknown length of time, a few brave ones slowly moved forward. What they saw made them tremble.

Several corpses lay on the ground, each with two small holes in their necks and a large, gaping wound in the chest. Their hearts were missing. Their faces were twisted in agony, the rest of their bodies charred like those struck by lightning. It was a gruesome, horrifying sight. Clearly, they had died in extreme pain.

“What happened here?”

Everyone stood frozen. They’d barely stepped into the tomb and already a whole group had died. This place was far more sinister than anyone imagined. Flesh and bone remained, but everything inside the corpses—save for intestines—was gone. What had done this?

Slurp… slurp…

A faint chewing sound echoed from deeper within the tomb. Someone activated a mystical treasure, and in the weak glow, they glimpsed a pair of flickering eyes—dim green, like ghostly lanterns. Then, they vanished into the darkness.

A chill swept through the crowd. 

There was something in this tomb. Could it be a guardian of the tomb?

People grew visibly nervous. They had barely entered a hundred meters and already such horror had occurred. Who knew what lurked deeper within? No one could say how long this tomb had existed, or what secrets it held. It might very well be home to a legendary yin spirit.

“Be careful… That pair of eyes definitely didn’t belong to the living. The murderous aura was too thick,” the white-robed man beside Tian Fan said grimly. Even he, who lived in the company of death, felt disturbed by that gaze.

“I agree. That thing wasn’t alive. It might be a yin spirit—or worse, a corpse fiend,” Tian Fan said darkly. The two concealed themselves in the shadows, masking their presence with magic. Given Tian Fan’s notoriety, caution was necessary.

“Corpse fiend?! Dude, don’t scare me!”

The white-robed man gave a visible shudder. If that was really a corpse fiend, most of the people here were probably doomed. Even experts from the Primordial Unity Realm would have their hands full.

“Doesn’t matter. Let’s keep moving…” Tian Fan said softly. The two moved like phantoms through the darkness, heading deeper into the ancient tomb.