CHAPTER 526: CHAPTER 314: FORGETFULNESS IS A TRADITION

Tang wasn’t simply being mischievous when he decided to touch the grave of his Ancestral Master.

It was because he discovered something quite incredible.

After reading diaries, checking records, and examining historical maps, Tang quickly identified the name of the place that his Ancestral Master repeatedly obscured in his diary.

White Jade County.

This wasn’t difficult to verify, as following the clues in the diary and searching through records would suffice. Many related books were even in his own library.

However, the odd thing was that, outside the diary, White Jade County’s history seemed too normal, almost unusually so.

It didn’t match the rebellious accounts in the diary at all.

Moreover, for some reason, Tang found White Jade County’s geographic location oddly familiar.

It was as if he had been there before.

But upon deeper contemplation, he couldn’t recall.

Tang had traveled to so many places, practically roaming all over the East Continent, except he hadn’t been overseas.

The trail was expected to end here, but Tang found a record in an incomplete provincial chronicle of an unknown year.

[The 310th year of the Kaihuang Era, White Jade County was renamed You County]

It was then he smacked his forehead, realizing the source of his familiarity.

He hadn’t heard of White Jade County, but he remembered You County.

His Ancestral Master was buried there.

He had just visited the grave last year...

With this revelation, Tang began to ponder...

Saying that his Ancestral Master, in a diary decipherable only by chance and not even Mahayana could crack, documented much about White Jade County and its proprietor.

And while still alive, he arranged for his tomb to be constructed there...

Thinking this over, Tang believed the Ancestral Master must have hidden something related to the diary in his own tomb.

He wished for something to be preserved this way for future generations, to be passed on to someone who could discern the diary’s contents.

As for why he would do this...

After all, humans occasionally exhaust their strength, but frequently forget things.

Many of the Ancestral Master’s belongings were actually already lost.

Due to various irresistible forces.

Like this diary disguised as a Fengshui Secret Skill in Tang’s hands, the Ancestral Master initially left a set of thirty books...

But now, only this most special original remains, the rest having become handwritten copies.

Understanding the tendencies of his disciples, the Ancestral Master probably thought of this as a not-quite-proper solution.

As long as Dragon Tiger Mountain stands, no one would risk the wrath of the entire mountain to target this great tomb.

And such a large tomb wouldn’t easily go missing.

The world’s most cunning grave robbers were his own disciples and grand-disciples, unlikely to dig up their Ancestral Master’s grave for fun.

Burying it here was much better than leaving it in the wild, where it might be unearthed by some unknown person.

Thus, whoever dared to touch this grave would only be someone who knew the White Jade County clues in the diary.

And because this diary, disguised as a Fengshui Secret Skill, is one of the treasures of Dragon Tiger Mountain, anyone who could read it would likely have a close connection to the mountain.

When the time comes, with some explanation and negotiation, visiting the main chamber, offering incense, and perhaps taking some items upon departure isn’t out of the question.

...

"That’s the situation, so don’t overthink it. This is all part of the Ancestral Master’s plan. Doing it this way, he won’t hold it against us."

Tang whispered as he wandered around the ancestral hall, hoping to find some hidden array.

After listening to Tang’s explanation, most of the guilt Hu Jiusan felt dissipated. He calmed his mind, closed his eyes, and attempted to sense if he could directly use an Escape Technique to enter the underground palace below.

However, his Divine Sense disappeared after descending less than three zhang, like a stone sinking into the sea.

The entire underground palace was enveloped by an ever-changing array, making it nearly impossible to enter without alerting its guardian seniors.

But thinking of those senior guardians, Hu Jiusan suddenly came to a realization.

"No! Uncle, wait, there’s something wrong here."

"Wh-what’s going on..." Tang felt a bit guilty.

"Since this is the Ancestral Master’s arrangement, and it might be related to the Imperial Banner that caused chaos in the East Continent, you could simply use your authority as Sect Leader to inform the Celestial Masters.

"Then choose an auspicious day, open the underground palace via the normal process, retrieve the item, and exit the same way.

"Why sneak around like this? Unless..."

Hu Jiusan scrutinized his unreliable uncle with suspicion.

Tang snorted lightly, then shamelessly admitted, "I... uh, yes, I’m here with the intent to rob the grave; going in openly is no fun."

"Think about it, Xiaohu, logically and reasonably robbing our Ancestral Master’s grave—such an opportunity is rare in the world, and it’s only available this one time.

"A timeless contest with the Ancestral Master. Aren’t you tempted?

"This is the true legacy of Dragon Tiger Mountain."

Tang tempted Hu Jiusan.

And indeed, Hu Jiusan felt a slight temptation, but his rationality tried to make him resist.

Yet Tang had long been prepared, making a shushing gesture, then pointing to Tang, who was looking at the murals on the side.

"You’re an elder; you shouldn’t lie to a child.

"Come on, do you want to?"

Hu Jiusan was silent for a moment before he sighed and admitted, "I do..."

Tang, "If you do, then let’s get started!"