The Immortal's Tomb

That group of people wasn't simple. Were they casually trying to kill Wang Xuan as a side task?

After hearing this answer, Wang Xuan lightly drew his right hand across the air. A yellow leaf floating before him was instantly sliced in half with a clean cut, falling to the ground.

At noon, he was walking out, preparing to get lunch.

Since they were outside, he didn't say much, only telling Qing Mu that he would participate in this operation.

Although they hadn't talked much on the phone, Wang Xuan had a general understanding that the group came from an organization called "Gray Blood," hired for exploration... and even assassination.

According to Qing Mu, this organization was quite powerful, mainly active in New Star, and had even snatched a major discovery from Qing Mu's exploration team before.

Upon learning they were coming, Qing Mu immediately reported it up the chain. Soon, several powerful forces would arrive, gathering their strength to set a trap and settle old scores.

Moreover, even without past grievances, the fact that they had located the Tomb of the Immortal Lords this time was enough to stir up significant waves on Old Earth.

Anyone who got wind of this news likely wouldn't be able to remain indifferent. If their strength allowed, they would undoubtedly get involved.

"Hiring the Gray Blood organization to kill me. They're not short on cash and don't want to reveal themselves. Fine, I'll dig you out slowly."

Being ambushed for no reason and nearly killed in the city—even Wang Xuan couldn't remain calm. If he didn't find the mastermind behind this, who knew what else might happen.

Soon, he was drawn in by the shocking news of the Tomb of the Immortal Lords, another significant discovery on Old Earth.

He just wasn't sure if this one was real. Over the years, there had been several claims of discovering Immortal Lords' burial grounds, but they all fell far short of expectations.

The few underground palaces that were excavated earlier were later confirmed to be merely the tombs of top-tier experts among the Pre-Qin Daoist practitioners.

"If this one is real, the scriptures and artifacts unearthed that are related to the Immortal Lords should bring about a great impact on this world."

Wang Xuan mused that in an era where the Old Arts were increasingly declining, such findings might be able to reverse this trend.

After lunch, he got a neat, short haircut, so the cut hairs around his ears wouldn't look out of place, as he was officially starting his new job the next day.

He was thinking about the Immortal Lords, possibly heading to the deep mountains and old forests for an operation that would involve the clash of blood and fire, while also preparing for his job. This stark contrast in experiences and thoughts made Wang Xuan feel quite peculiar.

Fortunately, Qing Mu didn't contact him the next day. Wang Xuan managed to start his job without needing to take leave on his first day.

It was a branch of a design institute under a subsidiary of the Star Group. It sounded impressive, but in reality, it was nothing like that.

Currently, any technology related to deep space exploration and interstellar travel relied on New Star. The relevant technology groups on Old Earth were completely outmatched.

The design institutes under the Star Group's subsidiaries hadn't produced any significant results in years; they were practically overgrown with weeds.

As for the design institute branch where Wang Xuan reported, it was even more so, having become a place for retirement, with a daily pace... incredibly slow.

On Wang Xuan's first day of work, he found several desks in the office area empty. Only five or six people had shown up. When he went to greet them, one of the guys with black-rimmed glasses was practically falling asleep watching the news on his computer early in the morning.

The only energetic young woman was applying lipstick in a small mirror. She noticed him and knew a new person had arrived, greeting him enthusiastically.

Looking at his listless, jaded colleagues, Wang Xuan was speechless. When he chose to work here, it was because he'd heard it was quite leisurely.

However, he never imagined it would be this idle. Two senior women were already discussing going to play mahjong after work that morning.

As for another senior colleague in his fifties, he spent over half an hour on the phone, arranging to go fishing over the weekend.

Still, these people were very friendly towards Wang Xuan, showing no signs of exclusion. It was rare to have a newcomer, so they suggested a welcome lunch for him, no need to wait until evening.

Wang Xuan, thinking he was new and should make a good impression on his older colleagues, offered to treat them. However, his offer was unanimously rejected, and he dropped the idea.

In the morning, Wang Xuan wanted to find something to do, but he was told to familiarize himself with the work environment first, that nothing was urgent.

He had thoroughly realized that this place was truly for retirement.

The only young woman younger than Wang Xuan was Liu Xue. She loved to dress up and was the most lively person in the office. According to her, she came here to work precisely because it was so leisurely. She had joined in July, a few months before Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan spent the entire morning looking at the Daoist Canon on his computer, making good use of his time. He thought carefully and decided that this kind of job wasn't bad; many people probably wished for it and couldn't get it.

There was a small incident during lunch. Liu Xue, being very enthusiastic, went to get Wang Xuan's windbreaker. With a clang, the twenty-odd-pound windbreaker slipped from her grasp, nearly hitting her foot, startling her with a scream.

She found it unbelievable. How could a windbreaker be so heavy? She stared at Wang Xuan as if he were a monster and, refusing to believe it, went to pick up the windbreaker from the ground, only to find its weight was indeed that outrageous.

The others immediately gathered around, each trying to lift the windbreaker and marveling at it.

Wang Xuan quickly explained that he had been working out recently and had this windbreaker specially custom-made to carry weights during his commute.

Everyone suddenly understood, praising Wang Xuan's perseverance and saying his habit of exercising at such times was worth emulating.

When Wang Xuan saw Liu Xue about to fetch his baseball cap for him, he quickly snatched it and put it on. This was also made of special material, capable of stopping bullets, and weighed a good two pounds!

The lunch gathering was pleasant. Wang Xuan's initial thought of humbly asking how to work was completely gone. These people told him to just take it easy.

After lunch, the already sparsely populated office area lost three more people. The guy with the black-rimmed glasses said he'd had too much to drink and had a headache, so he was going home. The other two who left had similar reasons.

Wang Xuan was speechless. There was no clocking in, no facial recognition, no check-ins. It was incredibly free.

He sighed. Although the "environment" was excellent and suitable for him to research the Old Arts, he knew he wouldn't be able to stay long. Someone practicing the Old Arts would always exhibit abnormalities.

Fortunately, he knew clearly that he would soon be going to New Star and wouldn't reveal any clues here in the short term.

This relaxed atmosphere led to the old colleagues in the office being very calm when Wang Xuan took leave just two days after starting work, as if it were perfectly normal.

Wang Xuan was picked up by car and driven to the manor outside the city again. He received his equipment, put on a human-skin mask, and then set off.

Of course, Wang Xuan didn't take off his three-layer thickened bulletproof vest; he just replaced the windbreaker with a protective suit. Most people couldn't handle the weight.

This time, he was going to actively hunt. It was likely more dangerous than his last time at Qingcheng Mountain, so he was very careful about protection.

On the way, Qing Mu announced their destination: the Greater Khingan Range, where the Tomb of the Immortal Lords had been discovered deep in the mountains and old forests.

This was different from what Wang Xuan had imagined. At first, he thought it might be some famous mountain or river, a place connected to myths and legends.

Today's destination was just an ordinary mountainous area within the Greater Khingan Range. On the surface, it looked like nothing special, but somehow, it had been pinpointed as the burial site of an immortal corpse.

Old Mu was still controlling the spaceship, while Black Tiger and Feng Zheng were sharpening their blades and checking energy guns.

"Brother Qing Mu, have you ever experienced a time when your five senses, intuition, and the like become exceptionally sharp?"

On the way, Wang Xuan started a conversation with Qing Mu. He didn't dare tell anyone about entering the "Inner Scenery Realm" at this stage. If the financial magnates and research institutions found out, who knew what might happen.

However, Wang Xuan wanted to indirectly inform Qing Mu, hoping he would try to experience it himself.

Before Qing Mu could say anything, Black Tiger chimed in, saying he had that kind of experience a long time ago. At the time, he felt a sense of clarity and had an illusion of ascending to immortality.

Wang Xuan was surprised and asked when that was. If Black Tiger had truly activated his Super-Sense before, he might be able to do it again in the future, and Wang Xuan wouldn't mind offering some indirect guidance.

"It must have been about ten years ago, when I was with my first love. It's never happened since. 'Once you've seen the ocean, other waters are just rivers; in this life, there's no other true love!'" Black Tiger sighed.

Wang Xuan stared blankly, then felt like slapping him. The guy's serious, shameless demeanor was truly speechless.

Seeing that Feng Zheng also wanted to offer his opinion, Qing Mu directly smacked him on the back of the head and said, "Although we need to relax before a big battle, don't go too far off track. Hmm, Wang Xuan, did you have any insights while practicing the Old Arts?"

Qing Mu's perception was sharp. He noticed that Wang Xuan seemed different upon meeting him again; his strength appeared to have... increased significantly!

"Last time, I think I entered a special state where my vision, hearing, smell, and instinctual intuition were exceptionally sharp and powerful..."

Wang Xuan was still organizing his thoughts, figuring out how to tell him about entering the Inner Scenery Realm, when Qing Mu suddenly spoke, sounding very surprised, but he eventually let out a sigh.

Qing Mu said, "That kind of situation is an extremely rare anomaly. Normally, even a Grandmaster would find it difficult to trigger such a state. Different ancient sects have their own names for it; some call it the Bodhisattva of Clarity Realm, while others call it the Unity of Man and Heaven. Legend has it that in ancient times, with guidance from powerful Pre-Qin Daoist practitioners or the acceptance of Patriarch-level figures from sects, one could potentially gain immense benefits. But in this era, unless it's an extremely rare accident, no one can trigger that state. It's a realm that even Grandmasters cannot attain. Moreover, where can we find Pre-Qin Daoist practitioners nowadays? And the various religions no longer have Patriarch-level figures. Who can guide you, who can bestow benefits?"

After Qing Mu finished speaking, he felt a bit of pity for Wang Xuan, thinking he had missed a tremendous opportunity due to the lack of guidance and acceptance.

In the legends of ancient sects, this was a great fortune!

Wang Xuan was somewhat surprised. He heard valuable information from Qing Mu's words: in ancient times, triggering the Super-Sense state required acceptance from a supreme expert to enter the Inner Scenery Realm? This meant his current situation was somewhat different.

For now, it wasn't a good time to talk about it. He would chat with Qing Mu again when he had the chance.

Not long after, they arrived in the primitive forest within the Greater Khingan Range and closely monitored a mountainous area.

Soon, all the other teams from the exploration organization also arrived, far more numerous than during the exploration of Qingcheng Mountain.

At the very least, Qing Mu alone had brought his twelve teams this time.

And all the other teams were elites, rich in experience.

"Look quickly, something's happening over there, it's really bizarre!" Old Mu exclaimed.

In the mountainous area ahead, inexplicable rosy clouds were rising, and the entire mountain range seemed to be distorting and blurring, looking quite eerie, exuding a chilling aura amidst its sacredness.

"Could there really be Immortal Lords?!" Qing Mu felt his heart pound. Even from a distance, he felt a strong sense of unease.