Exploring the Illusory Tomb Part 1 [Ancient Times Version] - Chapter 40: When the Flower Blooms, It’s Already the End

Chapter 40: When the Flower Blooms, It’s Already the End

When I took my hand back, it was still a bit damp. Luo Shen reached out to grab the reins and gently wiped my hand. Then, she seemed to freeze.

The reins hung in the air, unmoving. I blamed myself in my heart for being so useless. Realizing the woman behind me had gone silent, I hurriedly reached out to take the reins myself and urged the horse forward.

From then on, the two of us were unusually quiet along the way—it was very awkward.

When we reached the forest exit, we heard bursts of exclamations from the Mo Yin Valley disciples ahead. We hurried our pace and looked forward. It was only to see a red light becoming increasingly brilliant before us. It was as if someone had splashed a huge area of cinnabar over everything.

Rubbing my slightly stinging eyes and letting that red light in, I was startled to find that a vast field of crimson flowers had bloomed all over the ground. The dazzling scarlet flowed to the edge of the sky. It was like a fire sweeping through a plain. It was burning onward with no sign of retreat—utterly domineering.

We were all captivated by the flowers, jumped off our horses, and slowly walked into the sea of blossoms. These flowers grew tall. They were reaching past our knees.

Each one had five petals, with slightly curled edges. They resembled small clenched human hands—exactly the same as those eerie and strange demon flowers we saw last time on the stone wall outside the princess’ tomb.

Only last time, there was just one. But here, they were so numerous and flourishing.

Because of that previous encounter, I knew just how sinister these flowers were. I didn’t dare to look at them too closely. I immediately said, 

“Everyone be careful, don’t stare too hard at the flowers.” 

But as soon as I spoke, no one answered. I looked around—there was no one else around me!

“Luo Shen!”

“Demoness!”

I panicked in that instant. How could everyone else disappear in a blink like a dream?

I spun around in place. The sky and earth seemed to be burning red. I was afraid that if I reached out into the air, I might scald my own hand.

A gloominess welled up inside me. I disliked this bl00d-like color. But in a daze, my hands seemed to be stained with dots of hateful crimson. When I focused, they looked completely clean and normal.

I thought the flowers were stealing my soul again. So I quickly calmed myself.

Just then, a rumbling sound suddenly came from behind. I stumbled and quickly jumped to the side. Pebbles and sand fell down beside my ears. Startled, I looked back—and it was as if a bucket of icy water was dumped over me. My whole body turned cold.

Where I had just been standing, a huge crack had opened in the ground—a deep abyss. It was wide and pitch-black, with no bottom in sight. If I had moved a bit slower just now, I would have fallen in and been crushed to pieces.

On the other side of the abyss, the sea of flowers suddenly swayed together. Although the flowers looked clustered and identical, with careful observation, they seemed slightly different from earlier.

The flower field where I stood now looked like a giant plate. It had a trench dug through the middle, spinning continuously.

Those blazing flowers dazzled my eyes. Watching the ever-changing formation around me, three words suddenly popped into my mind: Jiugong Plate (九宫盘).

The Jiugong Plate was a deadly enemy-defeating formation. Nowadays, no formation master could even set one up. Legend says, in ancient times, this formation could subdue dragons and imprison demons—extremely fierce and vicious.

Realizing this, I no longer dared to walk carelessly. Every step I took was with great fear. I was worried another abyss might suddenly open up and swallow me whole.

I carefully navigated through the sea of flowers. I was searching for Luo Shen and the others. The surroundings were still drenched in crimson. I had no idea where I was now.

Suddenly, I heard voices not far away. Overjoyed, I thought I had found Luo Shen and the rest. I was about to step forward when I heard a rough, hoarse voice angrily cursing: 

“Damn it, what kind of bird-brained place is this?! Stinking Taoist, if I can’t get out soon, I’ll bury you in a pit!”

Then, another elderly voice replied: 

“What’s the rush? You think the Jiugong Plate is that easy to break? If you’re not careful, you’ll die right here.”

“Hmph! You old thief, you think I’m a joke? Said the city was right nearby! Aren’t you good at dragon-spotting and geomancy? Go on, show me where! Where are my brothers now?!”

The colder voice sneered, 

“Brute! I must’ve been blind to rely on your pathetic skills and let down our lord’s expectations! Stop shouting—or you’ll see what happens.”

I thought the cold voice sounded familiar. I quickly moved closer and found a place to hide. I pushed the flowers aside and peeked out. Not far away stood a burly man—none other than He Lao Wu. The other was dressed like an ordinary Taoist, with a long sword on his back. His figure looked very familiar.

He Lao Wu glared and threw a punch. He cursed, 

“You dare threaten me?! My brothers are already dead—go join them, stinking Taoist!” 

The Taoist quickly slid aside to dodge. He retreated and stood there with a cold smirk.

During that pause, I finally saw the Taoist’s face clearly: thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, and a glint of light—it was Qing Songzi!

I was stunned. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Didn’t Qing Songzi get swallowed alive by that black snake raised by Princess Chu? Not even bones were left! That day I only saw Xiao Jian and Cheng Yun—no sign of him. I mourned his death for a long time. How could he be standing here alive and well? His voice and manner were now cold and cruel—completely different from the polite gentleman he once was.

At that moment, He Lao Wu suddenly let out a strange cry, clutched his chest, and knelt down. His face instantly turned dark. He trembled as he said, 

“Stinking Taoist… what did you put in me?!”

Qing Songzi opened his gloved hand. It revealed a wriggling black worm in his palm. The worm had thin red threads coming from its mouth—utterly terrifying.

He sneered cruelly, 

“Heart-Devouring Gu. Never heard of it? Tastes good? I’ve got plenty more—want another sample?”

I watched in shock as the strong man slumped down. He was making a garbled sound. He glared venomously at Qing Songzi. Then, he turned into a puddle of bl00d and disappeared—merging with the crimson demon flowers around. Not a single trace was left behind.

Qing Songzi flicked his sleeve and said coldly, 

“Pitiful fool. Truly useless.”

Everything happened too fast. Watching from the side, my heart felt as if it had been smashed by a heavy hammer. My back was already soaked in sweat. People say ghosts are the hardest to deal with—right now, Qing Songzi seemed like a completely different person. It was like he had crawled out of hell. He was a thousand times more ruthless than any ghost.

“Qing Songzi.”

Just then, a cold voice drifted out from the sea of flowers across from him—sad and chilling. I had heard that voice thousands of times. It made all the hairs on my body stand up in joy. I had been searching for her for so long—never expected she would appear just now.