27
The three searched the deathly silent space for a long time but found nothing. Finally, Bird Woman decided to widen the search. They piloted their aircraft through seventeen neighboring mausoleums, and the results chilled them to the bone-the same thing had happened ten times in all. The occupants had all been kings who dominated South Asia a thousand years ago. Their burial treasures lay piled high, yet every tomb had undergone the same "precision purge." The gold, silver, and jewels remained untouched, but the bodies inside the coffins had vanished, while every burial chamber remained perfectly intact.
Inside the eighteenth mausoleum, the atmosphere grew unbearably oppressive.
Looking at the mountains of gold and silver within arm's reach, Xun Uchiha swallowed and ventured, "Since no one's guarding this place, why don't we take all these treasures? Leaving them here to rot would be a waste."
"Sure." Bird Woman nodded and formed Hand Seals. Her Atomic Control Field spread out, forming an invisible conveyor belt in midair that carried a steady stream of chests and jewels out of the tomb.
Just as the two were busy moving the treasures, something unexpected happened.
A cold, deep voice laden with overwhelming pressure seemed to explode against their eardrums straight from the depths of hell, making the entire burial chamber hum:
"Who dares disturb my resting place!"
The voice seemed to come from the Nine Netherworlds, its chill piercing to the bone. Everyone felt as though they had plunged into an ice cavern. Their hair stood on end as they looked around in terror, trying to locate its source.
"Who's there! Show yourself!" Xun Uchiha barked, his piercing gaze sweeping the darkness.
Fayan Luo moved swiftly, drawing his Phantom Twin Guns in an instant and aiming into the empty air. Every muscle tensed as