All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 249: Underground Tomb

Flying and earth-burrowing are abilities of the same level, but clearly, earth-burrowing is a rarer skill. Although Zhanyue had mastered the earth-burrowing technique, he didn’t like the feeling of being underground. His entire body merged with the earth, his eyes couldn’t see anything, and he could only determine direction through his soul perception. So all along, Zhanyue had only used earth-burrowing as an auxiliary combat technique. Long-term burrowing was extremely difficult and something he disliked.

But now, he endured the discomfort and continued to burrow deep underground. His tightly closed eyes couldn’t see anything, but his soul perception could sense everything around him.

“Disaster beast?” Not far from the castle, Zhanyue sensed the aura of a disaster beast. What was strange was that these disaster beasts used to move in groups, but now this one was alone.

To avoid alerting anyone, he decided not to confront this disaster beast and continued to burrow deeper, trying to bypass it. However, the disaster beast also went downwards. For a moment, Zhanyue tensed, thinking he had been discovered. Although he could burrow, he had no means of attack underground. If he stopped burrowing, his body might be instantly crushed by the earth. Exiting the burrowing state in such conditions was extremely dangerous.

However, Zhanyue’s worries were unnecessary. The disaster beast might have noticed him but didn’t take any action. Instead, it continued downward not far from him.

“It didn’t come after me?” Zhanyue had prepared to flee, but the creature didn’t chase him.

“Something’s not right. It seems its task isn’t to guard, but to search for something?” The more Zhanyue thought about it, the more likely it seemed. A single disaster beast’s strength was ordinary, which was why they usually acted in groups. Their dispersal might be for more efficient searching.

Following the disaster beast, deep underground, Zhanyue finally made a discovery. Although his eyes were closed, he could sense a faint glow ahead.

The disaster beast swam to the glow and disappeared. Zhanyue, emboldened by his skills, followed. When he touched the glow, he felt his body pause before being pulled into a mysterious space.

“Where is this?” Zhanyue found himself no longer in rock but in an open area. He opened his eyes, and instead of pitch darkness, he saw long-burning lamps on the rock walls illuminating the place. Before him was a long tunnel, at the end of which stood a stone door.

The stone door was carved with many small figures, forming a series of pictures that seemed to tell a story. Before Zhanyue could observe further, the stone door opened automatically.

A huge burial chamber appeared before Zhanyue. The floor was painted with mysterious patterns, with three clear convergence points where three coffins rested. In the center of the three coffins was a large bronze statue of a handsome man wearing a cape. Zhanyue was startled by the man’s appearance, as it was definitely human. In this world where humans hadn’t yet appeared, this could only be an outsider. Who was he, and why was he here?

The statue’s hands held a large bronze plate with what looked like… soil?

Zhanyue quickly noticed the stone door suddenly closing behind him, sending chills down his spine.

“Where’s that disaster beast? It’s gone?” Zhanyue had followed the disaster beast here but now couldn’t find it.

Just as Zhanyue was about to approach the statue, he heard the sound of the stone door opening again. He quickly hid behind one of the coffins, as there weren’t many places to hide in the tomb.

“Indeed, the legend is true.” A familiar voice rang out. Zhanyue frowned; the newcomer was Lulu the sand worm.

“The statue! Yes, it’s in the image of a celestial being. This is indeed the place. That is…?” Lulu looked at what the statue was holding, barely able to contain his excitement.

“The Life-Nurturing Soil! It really is the Life-Nurturing Soil!”

“Life-Nurturing Soil?” Zhanyue heard this name again. So it really existed, and was now in the statue’s hands.

“It’s mine now.” Lulu flew over impatiently. However, just as he was midair, the mysterious patterns on the ground all lit up. The three coffins moved simultaneously, their lids opening automatically. Three creatures with human heads and snake bodies stood up. They were bare-chested and muscular, their bodies covered in scars. They opened their blood-red eyes. Each of these human-headed, snake-bodied monsters wielded two curved blades and attacked Lulu at extreme speed.

“The Desert Snake People? Indeed, it’s the extinct Desert Snake People.” Lulu recognized their origin, showing his broad knowledge.

These three Desert Snake People were extraordinarily powerful, joining forces to block Lulu, preventing him from advancing a step further.

“Hmph, you think you can stop me?” Lulu took out the golden scepter, and instantly, numerous disaster beasts poured in.

“Devour them!” Lulu ordered.

The disaster beasts obediently charged at the three Desert Snake People, while Lulu tried to approach the statue.

Just as he thought victory was at hand, a flying sword blocked his path.

“Sorry, but this doesn’t belong to you yet.”

The one who stopped him was Zhanyue.

Lulu’s face twisted in disgust. He couldn’t have imagined Zhanyue would appear here.

“You… how did you get in? How could you possibly find this place?” He couldn’t understand.

“I followed the disaster beasts. They made good guides,” Zhanyue said truthfully.

“You!” Lulu cursed his bad luck, or perhaps Zhanyue’s good fortune. To find the coordinates to enter the tomb in the vast underground was something they couldn’t do. Only unique creatures like the disaster beasts, which could live underground, could manage it.

“You’re courting death!” Lulu swung the golden scepter and engaged Zhanyue in battle, instantly causing the burial chamber to shake. However, this was no ordinary structure. Despite the intense fighting, not a single brick fell, indicating the tomb must be reinforced by formations.

Zhanyue secretly tossed out the feather, reciting the incantation Yunyao had taught him.

Soon after, Yunyao appeared directly in front of him. He couldn’t help but marvel at the wonder of Yunyao’s technique. However, he recalled that Gong Xiaoyou had seemingly achieved something similar with other methods. In any case, the situation had become two against one.

“Those corpses are helping us contain the disaster beasts, and there’s no one else to interfere. Let’s quickly take it down together,” Zhanyue suggested.

“Alright.”

Zhanyue donned the Silver Moon Armor, while Yunyao was clad in golden armor. One red and one gold figure instantly pushed Lulu the sand worm into a desperate situation.