Exploring the Illusory Tomb Part 1 [Ancient Times Version] - Chapter 16: Jade Ling Armor

Chapter 16: Jade Ling Armor

The situation was becoming more and more bizarre.

According to the records in books, the Jade Ling Armor was composed of pieces of Xuantian Jadeite. It was strung together using the refined thin bones of South Sea herring. It emitted a chilling cold to the touch, impervious to blades and spears, and resistant to both water and fire. Later, it was acquired by Dong Shaoqing and used as protection during tomb-raiding. His title “Jade Ling Armor” also came from this.

But after Dong Shaoqing and Liu Guizang cooperated on one final tomb raid, the world no longer heard anything about the Jade Ling Armor. Unexpectedly, Liu Guizang and Dong Shaoqing publicly declared they were washing their hands clean. And they would no longer enter the tomb-raiding trade.

And now, this Jade Ling Armor had appeared in this tomb where even the identity of the tomb’s owner was unknown. Could it be that Dong Shaoqing had once been here?  And since he was a genius in controlling formations, had he set up this Ghost-Subduing Formation?

I nervously stared at the three figures fiercely battling in the center of the tomb chamber—strictly speaking, two people and one zongzi.

The zongzi was protected entirely by the Jade Ling Armor. So even though Luo Shen and Yu Linxing were attacking from both sides, they could only trap it. But they could not harm it in the slightest.

A zongzi that emerged from a coffin was originally a dead thing. For such an evil entity to move freely, there were only two possible reasons.

One: when the coffin was opened, it absorbed the breath of a living person.

Two: the person had suffered extreme torment before death, held deep resentment in the heart, and the yin energy lingered without dispersing. It thereby condensed and supported the body to become a walking corpse.

A zongzi formed by the second reason should more accurately be called a “Corpse Person”.

For some reason, although this zongzi appeared mindless, its martial arts were not weak. I observed its martial arts movements closely and found it seemed to follow a certain fixed set of techniques. They were repeating in cycles.

Strangely, this creature had a very keen sense of smell. It could determine direction based on the breath of the living.

As a result, it could resolve both Luo Shen and Yu Linxing’s attacks one by one. And it even counterattacked fiercely.

Anyway, with the Jade Ling Armor on it, no weapon could harm it.

*Ding!*

With a sound of impact, Luo Shen’s ancient sword parried. Its was tip pointing straight at the green-armored zongzi’s chest.

The green-armored zongzi was at that moment entangled by the sword net woven from Yu Linxing’s spirit snake scarlet sword. It took a heavy blow head-on. And its figure slightly slowed.

However, the ancient sword could go no further; it could not pierce even a hair deeper.

The green-armored zongzi was enraged by Luo Shen’s attack. And with a gust from its right hand, it swept toward her.

Luo Shen leaned back and slid away. She narrowly passed through an opening on its right side. She thus dodged a deadly blow.

Otherwise, if that claw had struck her, she would have been reduced to ashes.

At this moment, Yu Linxing took the chance to retreat lightly. In a flash, she moved to my side.

I had just been anxiously sweating over the deadly battle. But when I saw her suddenly abandon the fight and come over, I was stunned.

I thought: “My dear Auntie Yu, you left Luo Shen alone to fend off death and came to me for what?”

I saw that Luo Shen alone was struggling more than before against the green-armored zongzi. She was about to urge Yu Linxing to go help. It was when Yu Linxing leaned directly to my ear and said:

“Look, we can’t kill it like this. We have to find a way to take off its clothes!”

“How to take them off? Is that zongzi going to obediently sit on a bench and let you undress it?”

I was startled by the warm fragrant breath she exhaled. I quickly stepped back a few steps to distance myself, saying sourly.

“If I’m not mistaken, your martial arts lineage is from Nan Kunlun?”

Yu Linxing simply put away her scarlet sword as well. Her beautiful eyes were glancing at my neck. It was as if she was looking at the official seal hanging from it.

Twin pupils like flowing fire flashed with an indescribable look.

I was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, while she looked indifferent.

I had no choice but to say:

“Yes… yes… My master is Kunlun.”

As I spoke, I glanced nervously at Luo Shen in the distance. I was afraid that she might let her guard down and get ambushed by the green-armored zongzi.

Yu Linxing snorted coldly and said with disdain:

“Why worry about her? She won’t die for now.”

Then she said:

“Kunlun’s signature techniques, Radiant Eyes and Shifting Flower Steps, you’ve surely learned them, right? This Jade Ling Armor, although mysterious, is actually made by stringing together an entire herring’s refined bones. As long as it’s strung, there must be an end of the thread. Once we trap it, you just need to use Radiant Eyes to spot the thread end and pull it. Then the Jade Ling Armor pieces will scatter.”

I shivered straight upon hearing this and thought: “You want me to use Shifting Flower Steps to go near and pull the thread? Isn’t that sending me to die?”

She really is a monster—she doesn’t even give me a chance to live.

Yu Linxing’s charming face took on an unconcerned look as she lazily said:

“You have Radiant Eyes, so you can see minute details. Shifting Flower Steps, so you can step instantly. This tough task can only be done by you. Look at that zongzi—cutting doesn’t work, slashing doesn’t help. If you’re too scared to try…”

She suddenly stopped, made a throat-cutting gesture, and said with a smiling squint:

“We’ll all become zongzis.”

Monster!

I was choked speechless by her seductive smile.

Helpless, I could only use Shifting Flower Step to move near the green-armored zongzi.

At this time, Luo Shen was fighting the zongzi. They were exchanging blows.

Her sword swept and struck the zongzi back.

She looked shocked to see me approach. I gave her a bitter smile in return, thinking:

Yu Linxing must be standing nearby, watching the show and laughing.

I knew how powerful the Jade Ling Armor was. So I didn’t dare be careless and quickly focused, activating Radiant Eyes.

The so-called Radiant Eyes technique is the art of observing minute details—able to see the tiniest things, nothing is invisible.

With full concentration, my vision became much clearer. I stepped in the Nine Palaces pattern, walked the Eight Trigrams, and at the same time activated the Shifting Flower Step technique.

I deliberately circled close to the green-armored zongzi.

The zongzi noticed a new breath of life nearby and shifted to attack me.

Luckily, Luo Shen struck again. She drew its attention back, saving my life.

Taking advantage of the entanglement, I moved swiftly and searched with my eyes.

Sure enough, at the hem of the Jade Ling Armor, I found a tiny white protrusion.

Luckily, the herring’s refined bones were relatively thick—otherwise, I might have died before finding this thread.

“Yu Linxing! Don’t just stand there watching—come help block it! I found that damn thread!”

I shouted, and that red-clad demoness had already come around to my side. Her sword was raised to protect me so I wouldn’t get ambushed while pulling the thread.

Taking cover under her scarlet sword net, I crouched down and brushed past the green-armored zongzi’s hem. I precisely pinched the refined bone.

With a light tug, the jadeite pieces of the Jade Ling Armor instantly rustled. They scattered like pearls falling to the ground.

“Aoooh!”

The green-armored zongzi let out a painful howl.

Without the protection of Jade Ling Armor, in just a blink, it turned into black dust.

This whole sequence happened so fast. Even I, who was involved, didn’t have time to react—and the deadly fight was over.

I stood there in a daze for a while. Before I was brought back to reality by Yu Linxing’s soft and charming laughter.

That demoness wore a smug look of success and clapped her hands laughing:

“Tsk tsk, amazing! As expected of Kunlun’s good disciple—I knew you could do it!”

I could do it? I almost died just now, and you call that “I could do it”?!

Since I used both Radiant Eyes and Shifting Flower Step, my energy was severely depleted.

I collapsed directly onto the scattered Xuantian Jadeite and couldn’t get up.

Over there, Luo Shen had also sheathed her sword and looked at me—there was even a faint smile at the corner of her lips.

Was she smiling?

I thought I was hallucinating from eye strain.

Looking carefully—sure enough, I was hallucinating.

That graceful woman like a white crane was still standing quietly. She was as motionless as an ice sculpture.

I must have been confused to think I saw her smile.

At that moment, Xiao Jian and the others who had hidden in the corridor came out after hearing the fight had ended.

Seeing the mess and remains on the ground, they were all shocked.

But what was infuriating was that Xiao Jian quickly resumed his greedy face. He ignored everyone else. And he excitedly scooped the scattered jadeite pieces into his bag—clearly dreaming of striking it rich.

I was used to his shamelessness and ignored him.

In a daze, my hand seemed to touch something soft.

I grabbed it—it was a piece of golden cloth.

It had likely been stored inside the Jade Ling Armor. And it was now revealed after the armor fell apart.

I quickly called everyone over:

“There’s something here!”

The others paused what they were doing and gathered around me.

That piece of cloth, despite the passage of time, was still as bright as new.

It was unclear what rare material it was woven from.

Aside from a long passage of text, it also had simple maps of rivers, mountains, and lands. It got red cinnabar annotations written in detail.

I read aloud the words written on the cloth:

> “Jinling, my son,

> Your father roamed underground all his life and acquired countless rare treasures.

> My only unfulfilled wish is to unravel the secret of life and death, and seek immortality in this world.

> My sworn brother Liu Guizang appeared to treat me with sincerity. But in truth, he harbored malicious intentions—none more ruthless than he.

> Because he held a portion of an incomplete secret treasure, I had no choice but to go along with him.

> Today, I have entered the tomb of the King of Chu’s consort in search of the secret treasure.

> Unexpectedly, I encountered great danger. Based on my calculations, I may not survive.

> So I leave this note:

> If I die, I hope you can find my body and fulfill your father’s last wish.

> In the past, the King of Chu gifted his consort clothes made of golden foil, painted with supreme wonders.

> As I delved deeper into the tomb, layer by layer, I eventually discovered the shocking secret of the King of Chu’s consort…”

The text ended abruptly.

The final few characters were scrawled in chaotic strokes—

Clearly something major had happened. It forced the writer to stop suddenly.