Great Terror

Shang Zhongtian said in a low voice, "I tiptoed through the cold, dry tunnel. Luminous pearls the size of fists lined the walls, having shone for who knows how many years. Their dim blue light barely illuminated my figure, not even enough to make out my features. I always felt like someone was watching me, making my hair stand on end, but when I looked back, I found nothing. At the time, I just thought it was my imagination."

"I followed the light through the rugged passage and arrived at the core of the main tomb."

"The scale of the main tomb was astonishing; for a moment, I even forgot that this was a dark and terrifying tomb."

Shang Zhongtian closed his eyes and paused, as if recalling the details of the scene he had witnessed. After recollecting, he slowly opened his mouth, "I have never seen such a large-scale tomb. The top of the cave was as high as the sky. Beneath the sky, terracotta soldiers wielding sharp bronze spears loyally guarded their master. Countless burial goods were arranged in a Bagua formation, secretly conforming to the heavenly principles and order."

"The ancient corpse had been dead for hundreds of years, but the terrifying fluctuations it emitted through the coffin still made my heart palpitate, as if that Nascent Soul old monster wasn't dead, just sleeping, and could wake up at any moment."

"Hesitation is not in my nature. I made a decisive decision and took half of the burial goods. Just as I was about to leave, I heard footsteps not far away. The footsteps echoed in the empty tomb, sending chills down my spine."

"What followed was the most terrifying situation I've ever encountered in all my years in this profession."

Hearing this, Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye leaned forward involuntarily, eager to hear what happened next.

Shang Zhongtian revealed an extremely pained expression, his voice trembling, "I encountered the descendants of that Nascent Soul Realm ancestor who came to pay their respects!"

"What?" Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye heard him clearly, but they didn't react.

"Those people brought sacrifices and magical artifacts to worship their ancestor, praying for the family's longevity, the emergence of geniuses, and success in the imperial examinations. On the way to worship, they noticed me stealing in the tomb, so they swarmed over and captured me. It was so terrifying at the time that my forehead still sweats when I think about it."

"...I think their reaction is pretty normal." Lu Yang said honestly. The family not killing you on the spot means they are well-mannered.

"This is the great horror you were talking about?" Tao Yaoye asked.

Shang Zhongtian scratched his head, not understanding their reactions, "Yes, encountering the descendants of the tomb owner while digging a grave, is there anything more terrifying than that?"

"And then?"

"Then I was beaten up, and my cultivation level fell from Qi Refining Peak to Qi Refining Middle Stage. I was sent to jail, and the government made me compensate for everything I had stolen in the past. I was imprisoned for ten years. After being released, I decided to wash my hands of the trade and start a new life, no longer touching these rights and wrongs."

"Tell the truth."

"I'm too ashamed to face my peers."

"..."

Shang Zhongtian's sincerity left them speechless.

After Shang Zhongtian personally buried Steward Zhang's skinless body, he invited Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye to stay another night before leaving, but Tao Yaoye refused.

If it weren't for luring the Skin-Peeling Ghost to take action, Tao Yaoye would not have chosen to stay overnight. Night travel was not difficult for two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

Before leaving, Lu Yang found Shang Yuan again and stroked the parrot's head.

If the people of Taiping Township hadn't mistaken the parrot for a Yao Beast, they wouldn't have had the opportunity to come to the Shang Family to deal with the Skin-Peeling Ghost.

"This parrot is not bad, maybe it really is a Yao Beast. Cultivate it well."

Shang Yuan was startled and quickly asked why.

"The early strength of Yao Beasts is very vague, making it difficult to distinguish them from wild beasts. I can't tell the difference either."

"However, Little Green left your house but didn't fly away. Instead, it kept flying in Taiping Township and knew that your house was in danger, avoiding approaching it. Perhaps it's a coincidence, or perhaps it's a sign of Spiritual Intelligence awakening, it's hard to say."

Lu Yang smiled and didn't say more.

Shang Zhongtian felt that he hadn't provided adequate hospitality. The two had saved the lives of twelve members of the Shang Family, and all he could offer was the story of his retirement.

"This is my tomb raiding experience. If you two don't mind, please accept it. You might find it useful someday." Shang Zhongtian took out a blue thread-bound book from his chest and gave it to them.

Lu Yang politely accepted it, and then they waved goodbye.

On the way back, Lu Yang asked, "Do you want this tomb raiding experience book?"

Tao Yaoye shook her head. She doesn't raid tombs, what would she do with this thing.

Lu Yang also felt it was useless, but he still put it away.

"Why didn't you tell me in advance when you released the poison in my room?" Tao Yaoye was still bothered by this.

Fortunately, as an Ethereal Immortal Body, she had a high resistance to all poisons, otherwise wouldn't she have gotten Athlete's Foot like Steward Zhang?

How could a beautiful girl have Athlete's Foot?

Lu Yang shrugged. He naturally released the poison knowing that it was harmless to Tao Yaoye, "I did tell you."

"When?"

"With my eyes during dinner."

"So you weren't just unable to reach the dish and asked me to pass you the plate?"

"I'm not such a superficial person."

The two successfully returned to the Dao Seeking Sect. Coincidentally, Meng Jingzhou had also just completed his mission and was complaining to the senior brother who issued the mission.

"Junior Brother Meng Jingzhou, your mission was quite simple, how did you get a complaint from the Fox Demon, saying that your attitude was problematic and you were unwilling to cooperate with her?" This senior brother was a little strange. Just providing a Dual Cultivation Method, what kind of attitude problem could there be?

"Senior brother, you need to investigate that Fox Demon, there's definitely something wrong with her. You know, I just went to provide the Dual Cultivation Method, and she even asked to verify the goods, wanting to cultivate the Dual Cultivation Method with me to see if it was real."

Meng Jingzhou said angrily, "If I couldn't break my Pure Yang Body, I would have cultivated with her!"

It was unclear whether he was angry that he had a Pure Yang Body, missing an encounter, or angry that the Fox Demon looked down on his pursuit of the Dao.

Lu Yang saw that the senior brother who issued the mission also looked helpless, so he stepped forward to relieve the situation, "Senior brother, we have completed the mission of dealing with the Yao Beast."

Lu Yang explained in detail how the people of Taiping Township mistook a parrot for a talking Yao Beast, and how he and Tao Yaoye exposed their flaws, luring the Skin-Peeling Ghost to take action and then being eliminated.

In the end, Lu Yang handed the ashes of the Skin-Peeling Ghost over to his senior brother.

"To complete the mission so outstandingly on your first try, you're quite impressive." The senior brother looked at Lu Yang with new eyes. When he issued this mission, he thought it would be simple, but he didn't expect there to be hidden secrets behind it.

Hearing how Lu Yang prescribed the right medicine and quickly resolved the battle, he was even more impressed. If it hadn't been poisoned, subduing the Skin-Peeling Ghost would have taken some effort, and it might have even escaped.

Most importantly, this junior brother carries poison that causes Athlete's Foot with him. Thinking of this, the senior brother quietly moved a little further away.

"You two have exceeded the mission requirements. Lu Yang, your original contribution points will be quadrupled, giving you one hundred and twenty contribution points. Tao Yaoye, you played a supporting role in this mission, so you will receive ninety contribution points."

Tao Yaoye had no objections. Lu Yang played a crucial role in this mission; she was just bait.