CHAPTER 405: ENTERING THE COMPLEX AND DUAN’S INSIGHT

As Senior Brother Duan spoke, Han Yu felt a gentle wave of spirit sense sweep across him. It was probing but not invasive, like a craftsman examining the quality of a tool. Senior Brother Duan seemed satisfied.

"Late-stage Qi Refining," Duan remarked to himself when he glanced at Han Yu. His gaze shifted to Fatty Kui, though his brow furrowed slightly. "And you’re a body cultivator. Harder to judge your stage. But... Elder Gun Kai’s disciple, yes?"

Fatty Kui puffed up a little, grinning. "That’s right."

Duan nodded. "In that case, it should be fine. With Wu Shuan vouching for you, I have no concerns."

With the formalities done, the four quickly made their way toward the sprawling compound that marked their chosen outer complex.

Dozens of disciples were still forming groups or hesitating at the threshold, but the complex they chose lay further away from the entrance. It was less crowded, which meant fewer competitors but also fewer immediate reinforcements if something went wrong.

The group shared a look but said nothing. They had already committed.

The ruined stone archways of the complex loomed before them, etched with faded carvings that hinted at grandeur long forgotten. A faint pulse of spiritual energy leaked from the cracks and broken walls, like a lingering breath of the tomb’s ancient owner.

The mystery of the tomb and its rewards were waiting for them.

The four of them finally crossed the threshold into the outer complex. The massive stone door stood slightly ajar, and though it had likely not been opened for countless years, it groaned faintly as they slipped past, as if resentful of the intrusion.

From the crack left behind, daylight spilled inside, casting a pale glow that illuminated the first stretch of corridor. But beyond that, the light seemed to wither, swallowed by the darkness that lay deeper within.

The air was heavy, stagnant, and tinged with a faint earthy musk, as though it had lain undisturbed for centuries. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the stone floor, each sound magnified by the otherwise suffocating silence.

The deeper they walked into the overgrown passageway, the more the sounds of the larger crowd faded behind them, until only the four of them and the echo of their footsteps remained along with the growing darkness.

Wu Shuan reached into his sleeve and drew out an illumination talisman.

With a practiced flick, he activated it. The talisman shivered with spiritual energy before dissolving into a small mote of light that hovered above his head. A warm radiance spread outward, chasing away the darkness and revealing more of the corridor.

Han Yu could not help but note how the artificial light seemed sturdier than a mundane flame. A torch might flicker and die, taking one of their hands with it, but the talisman was steady, leaving them free to wield their weapons if danger struck. It was clear why the sect had distributed a set of utility talismans to every disciple before the expedition.

As the light spread further down the hall, Fatty Kui frowned, scratching the side of his jaw.

"I was expecting..." he muttered, glancing at the smooth, featureless walls. "You know, eerie paintings, runes, carvings of some long-dead emperor glaring down at us. Not this. It feels more like walking through a storage cellar in our sect kitchens, than some immortal’s resting place."

Senior Brother Duan gave a low chuckle, his voice echoing softly through the empty passage. "This is just the start, Junior Brother Kui. What you’re seeing now is an outer corridor. These areas were never meant to impress. The artisans would save their craft for the chambers deeper in, where the offerings or servants’ tombs lay. Here, plain stone was enough."

Han Yu glanced curiously at the spear-wielding man. "Senior Brother Duan, you sound like you’ve been to places like this before. Have you explored tombs in the past?"

Duan nodded, his expression calm but a touch nostalgic. "I have, though nothing of this scale. The largest I entered once belonged to a Dao Shell realm cultivator. Even then, that entire tomb wasn’t a fraction of what we see here. I’d wager that just this single outer complex is already bigger than that entire resting place."

Fatty Kui whistled low. "That big, huh? And this is only the outer layer? What kind of monster must the one buried here have been..."

Wu Shuan smirked. "An immortal, Kui. Don’t forget, the tomb isn’t ordinary. Everything about it will defy your expectations."

Duan continued, "I’ve also read what records I could find. Tombs of this caliber often follow the designs of imperial mausoleums. The central mausoleum would hold the main figure: the immortal in this case. Surrounding complexes would house offerings, and sometimes even the remains of concubines, attendants, or warriors sworn to follow their master into death."

Han Yu’s brows furrowed thoughtfully. "Then does that mean these outer complexes will all contain offerings too?"

Duan inclined his head slightly. "Not exactly. Some will hold offerings. Others may guard trials or traps. But since this is no ordinary tomb... it is also an inheritance ground, it is likely that many of these offerings were intentionally left behind as rewards for those who come seeking them.

That is the nature of such places: both a burial site and a test."

Han Yu stored that information carefully in his mind. It was clearer than ever why the elders had insisted each group bring an Inner Court disciple. Knowledge and experience could prove more valuable than sheer strength when it came to navigating something as dangerous and intricate as this tomb.

The group pressed onward, their footsteps echoing steadily as the illumination talisman floated just ahead. The corridor stretched further than they expected, and at last, the faint outline of an arched doorway appeared in the distance. Shadows pooled within, hiding whatever lay beyond.

Fatty Kui cracked his knuckles, a mixture of excitement and unease flickering across his round face. "Finally, something other than stone walls. I was starting to think this was just one long hallway leading nowhere."

Han Yu gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Patience. The tomb isn’t going anywhere."