Eternal Life as False Emperor-Chapter 191 - 158: The Royal Family as the Bait

With a command, the group swiftly rushed towards the top of the steps.

Strangely, they encountered no obstacles at all along the way.

No mechanisms, hairy zombies, guards, nothing!

Occasionally, on the steps, there were figures kneeling as if polishing lamps, which sent a chill down the spines of those who saw them.

Initially, the group was cautious, but after a hundred steps, nothing unexpected occurred.

As a result, everyone's speed increased!

It wasn't until they reached halfway that they noticed the human-like guard statues standing around the steps.

Fully armed, they stood coldly in place, seemingly watching Chen Liancang and the others, giving an eerie feeling.

"Eunuch! Something's not right!"

Hu Bafeng approached Chen Liancang and said, "Why are there no mechanisms?"

"Where are the poisons, the needles, the crossbows, the falling stones, the traps... why is there none?"

Chen Liancang sneered, "This place is a royal domain, the Grand Ancestor's Mausoleum, above lies the Grand Ancestor's Jinluan Hall, who would set traps within the Imperial Palace?"

"Aren't they afraid of tomb raiders?"

"Tomb raiders?"

Chen Liancang retorted, "You used to be a tomb raider; would you come to rob the Imperial Mausoleum?"

"I'm not a fool… I understand now!"

Hu Bafeng said, "The Imperial Mausoleum is a sacred royal place, surely garrisoned by countless soldiers, traps are unnecessary unless the dynasty changes…"

"Hmm?"

"I spoke out of turn."

"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up the steps."

"Yes!"

Hu Bafeng cast a secret glance at the vast Underground Capital City below the steps, grimacing.

This Underground Capital City contained innumerable hairy zombies, at least tens of thousands.

Without dispatching a large army, how could ordinary tomb raiders pass through so many hairy zombies to reach the Jinluan Hall atop the steps?

Moreover, their entry into the Underground Imperial Palace was entirely reliant on the Shadow Guard Token in the eunuch's hand.

Regular tomb raiders attempting a forceful entry would surely be bombarded by countless dire crossbows!

Soon enough, within less than a tea-time, the group had rushed up the alabaster steps.

Atop the steps was a vast platform.

In the center of everyone's vision stood a majestic, resplendent golden palace.

Above the palace gate, three characters were inscribed: "Jinluan Hall."

Surroundings were as dark as ink, making it impossible to discern the true appearance of the entire hall.

"It is indeed the Jinluan Hall..."

"Bang!"

"Bang bang!"

At that moment, lights lit up one after another, approaching from a distance.

Oddly, these flames had a burning range and brightness dozens of times greater than before.

They were not candles, but… braziers!

Still, with ghostly blue flames, emitting an uncanny fragrance.

"Look!"

"There's someone there!"

"No, not a person! It's a human figure...!"

When the flames flickered before their eyes, they finally noticed that outside the Jinluan Hall stood rows of tall, striking figures.

They were all armored warriors holding weapons made of terracotta!

Rows upon rows stood before them, numbering at least tens of thousands.

Behind them, in the center, there were rows of carriages made of Cyan Paulownia, with statues of generals standing above, gazing coldly ahead.

In the forefront were six generals riding bronze steeds, draped in capes and clad in full armor!

Everyone in front of them seemed like children by comparison.

"Are these living or dead?"

Chen Jianping swallowed hard, feeling a bit tense.

The countless terracotta soldiers standing before them, expressionless, exuded a chilling vibe, creeping out everyone.

These ghostly blue flames made the place even more terrifying.

Chen Liancang frowned and said, "Everyone stay silent, follow me, and be cautious of our surroundings."

"Yes!"

Over a hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards began to cautiously march forward, vigilantly observing the terracotta soldiers around them.

As they neared the terracotta warriors, everyone dared not take a breath.

Passing the lead terracotta soldiers, nothing happened.

As they kept advancing, nothing happened!

These terracotta soldiers neither blocked nor attacked them.

It's as if... they were waiting for them.

Chen Liancang still grasped the Shadow Guard Token, advancing while carefully sensing the atmosphere around them.

Too quiet!

Aside from the sound of their footsteps and breathing, there was no other noise in the entire tomb.

Of course, having no other sounds was preferable.

If there were, who knows what could happen.

Just as they reached the front, a mechanical rubbing sound suddenly emerged.

They noticed a stiffly striding figure gradually appearing before them.

As the light flickered, they opened their eyes to find a bronzed figure wearing a deep blue court robe… a eunuch!

The eunuch was expressionless, with bronzed skin, seemingly crafted from clay, yet stood coldly blocking their way, causing everyone to halt their breath halfway.

"Who are you…"

"And for what purpose…"

Leading the group, Chen Liancang once again lifted the Shadow Guard Token and said, "Servant Shadow Guard Steward, with urgent business to seek an audience with Your Majesty!"

"Shadow Guard, compliance, allowed entry to the Imperial Mausoleum!"

"And who are the rest?"

Chen Liancang furrowed his brow, pondering how these human figures could operate, yet communicate with humans?

With a thought, he softly said, "Everyone, show your identity tokens."

The group quickly unfastened their tokens from their waists, raising them in their hands.

"Shadow Guard, Chen Xiao!"

"Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand Households, Chen Jianping!"

"Tomb Raider Captain, Hu Bafeng!"

Voices echoed sporadically, over a hundred people presenting their identity tokens.

"Shadow Guard, verified, you may enter the Imperial Mausoleum!"

However, strangely, the Eunuch Puppet continued to repeat this phrase.

Chen Liancang glanced at the eunuch, then at Chen Xiao, and said, "Chen Xiao and I will proceed inside, the rest of you wait here."

"Yes!"

"Creak...!"

At that moment, the Eunuch Puppet suddenly moved again, and its voice turned hoarse, like a raspy drone, as if a rusty iron plate was transformed into coarse ceramics.

"Who are you! Without an Identity Token, you intend to assassinate His Majesty!"

"Assassin!"

"Seize this person!"

"Creak..."

"Creak, creak..."

Piercing friction sounds echoed, and all the terracotta warriors around mechanically turned to face them, their weapons pointing towards the center of the group.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards, startled, stepped back to reveal the figure among them.

It was... Linghu Cang!

He looked pale, clearly struggling with corpse poison within him.

Everyone was shocked, watching him and the cold eyes of the terracotta warriors around him, especially that of the Eunuch Puppet ahead, his face suddenly changed dramatically.

"Eunuch! You promised to spare my life..."

"Creak!"

"Creak, creak..."

A dozen terracotta warriors began to move, surrounding him steadily.

The surrounding Embroidered Uniform Guards didn't know whether to move or stay, all looking towards Chen Liancang.

"Leave on your own, I won't lay a hand on you."

"Damn...!"

Linghu Cang cursed quietly and immediately utilized his Lightweight Technique, stepping on the unmoving terracotta warriors, quickly fleeing outside.

"Assassin!"

"Assassin!"

"Assassin!"

Suddenly, hoarse voices emerged from the surrounding darkness, and the sharp sound of bowstrings twanged suddenly.

Then...

"Whiz!"

"Whiz, whiz!!"

At least a dozen strong crossbows fired from the darkness, shooting Linghu Cang in mid-air, turning him into a pincushion!

This Young Hero from the Canglong Sword Sect, who survived the strong crossbow passage and the Hairy Zombie Nest, was killed by the terracotta warriors.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards swallowed hard, and Chen Xiao whispered, "Godfather?"

"We have reached this point, we cannot let His Majesty's expectations of us down."

"Let's go!"

"Yes!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guards were ordered to set up camp on the spot while Chen Liancang and Chen Xiao slowly ascended the steps before the Jinluan Hall.

As the two passed the Eunuch Puppet, nothing happened.

And the Eunuch Puppet slowly retreated into the darkness.

A few breaths later, they had already reached the top of the steps.

The towering Jinluan Hall stood ahead, giving the two a sense of reverence and worship.

Chen Liancang quickly reacted, taking a step forward and pushing the large door, only to find it incredibly heavy and sturdy, even with his Innate Realm cultivation, he couldn't push it open?

"Godfather, look here!"

Chen Xiao suddenly pointed at the bottom of the door, and Chen Liancang looked down as well.

Engraved on the bluestone slab in front of the Jinluan Hall were lines of text!

Chen Liancang took a few steps back and quickly glanced over.

"Blood rain descends from the sky, the Immortal Path is severed. My Zheng Clan descendants, after the revival of Spiritual Qi, may use essence blood to enter my hall and receive my inheritance!"

"Non-Zheng Clan descendants entering will face total annihilation!"

The last few words seemed to be forged with swords, exuding a chilling aura.

"This is... the Immortal Dao inheritance?"

Chen Xiao exclaimed in surprise, "Godfather, Godfather?"

Chen Liancang quickly composed himself and said, "Chen Xiao, go out alone and report everything here to His Majesty."

"This appears to be a place deliberately set up by the Grand Ancestor for the Zheng Clan descendants to receive inheritance, quickly inform His Majesty to come."

"Yes!"

Chen Xiao responded joyfully, immediately turning and running out of the Imperial Mausoleum.

As a Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist, the Hairy Zombies in the Underground Capital City posed no threat to him at all.

Celestial Longevity Mountain Palace.

By now, it was already bright, and Zheng Yi looked curiously at Chen Xiao in front of him, asking:

"You're saying that beneath the Grand Ancestor's Mausoleum lies an Underground Capital City and an Underground Imperial Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Is there no danger inside, and as long as one possesses an Official Token, they can walk freely?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"The Jinluan Hall is the place of inheritance left by the Grand Ancestor, and direct descendants can open the door with essence blood?"

"Yes... The inscription beneath the Jinluan Hall says so, and we dare not attempt it rashly."

Chen Xiao cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think..."

Zheng Yi frowned, not wanting to venture beneath the Grand Ancestor's Mausoleum. Was this a joke?

Not to mention that there might still be unknown dangers in the Underground Imperial Palace, but he didn't dare try the special method of opening the Jinluan Hall using the blood of Zheng Clan descendants!

Although he bore the surname Zheng, he was not truly of the Great Yu Zheng Royal Family.

Forget about himself, even his ten daughters and one prince were not Zheng Royal Family descendants!

"I definitely cannot go. Based on what Chen Xiao said, non-official personnel of the Imperial Court would be attacked by the terracotta warriors inside."

"Moreover, I'm not a member of the Royal Family. If the blood doesn't match, it will definitely trigger a chain reaction."

Zheng Yi quickly contemplated.

"Yet I cannot not go. Having reached the center of the Mausoleum by now, not going will surely raise suspicions in others."

"Especially with Chen Liancang..."

"If only there were other Royal Family descendants, but unfortunately, all the other Rebel Kings have rebelled!"

"Other royal members cannot be brought over casually. Discovering that they dug up the Grand Ancestor's Mausoleum would definitely cause upheaval within the Imperial Court!"

"Hmm?"

His eyes suddenly brightened, and he exclaimed, "Right, I do have a member of the Zheng Royal Family at hand!"