The imperial capital, that abandoned imperial mausoleum long forgotten by the world.
Late at night, when all was quiet.
A slender figure, like a ghost, silently moved through the crumbling stone tablets and desolate ancient tombs.
It was Immortal Emperor Ling Tian, who had traveled all the way from the demon capital, searching for treasures!
His eyes, which glowed terrifyingly in the dark, now shone with a nearly greedy, fervent light!
"It can't be wrong! It's here!"
"That faint but incredibly pure aura is emanating from deep within this ley line!"
"Heh heh... foolish mortals, they only know how to excavate the worthless bricks and tiles on the surface, but they don't know that the true treasures of this imperial mausoleum are actually hidden in the unknown secret spaces deep within the ley lines!"
Using his divine sense, he quickly found a hidden entrance, sealed by time and long forgotten, beneath a mountain wall that was extremely secluded and covered by rubble and weeds.
Ling Tian's heart was filled with the certainty of success and a ruthless disdain for mortal wisdom.
"Such a secret entrance, coupled with the numerous restrictions of the tomb, I presume that even the most top-tier 'archaeological experts' of this world would absolutely never discover it!"
"It seems the treasures of this tomb are destined to be mine, Ling Tian's!"
"I, the Emperor, have already gained the upper hand!"
...However, he did not know.
Just as he thought he was secretly sneaking into the imperial mausoleum's secret passage, unbeknownst to anyone.
In a small grove not far from the entrance.
Lu Cheng was lazily leaning against the trunk of an old tree, toying with a talisman that emitted a faint spiritual glow, which he had just exchanged from the System Mall.
[Advanced Tracking Talisman]: A one-time consumable item, priced at 2000 Villain Points.
After use, it can lock onto the aura of a specific target, and within a one-kilometer radius, it can accurately track them for 24 hours, ignoring any physical or energy barriers.
He merely injected a wisp of his divine sense into it, and the talisman immediately transformed into an invisible stream of light, silently attaching itself to Ling Tian, who was preparing to enter the secret passage in the distance.
"It feels great to have someone clear the way!"
A playful smile, like a cat toying with a mouse, appeared on Lu Cheng's lips.
Immediately, he took out another [Concealment Talisman] and lightly patted it on himself.
His entire being instantly merged completely with the surrounding night, like a ghost, silently trailing behind Ling Tian.
[Concealment Talisman]: Priced at 4000 Villain Points. After use, it can completely conceal one's aura and form. As long as one does not actively attack and maintains a distance of more than three meters from the target, the target will not be able to detect it... The passage of the imperial mausoleum was deep and winding, and the air was filled with a damp, decaying smell.
Using his experience as an Immortal Emperor, Ling Tian quickly recognized the "Three-Color Poisonous Mist Array" within the passage, which was enough to ensure that any mortal who entered would never return.
Although he had lost all his cultivation, his vision and knowledge still far surpassed ordinary people.
After expending a wisp of soul power that he had painstakingly recovered, he finally managed to barely decipher this ancient and sinister array!
When he staggered into the stone chamber that served as the array's core.
His eyes, which were slightly dim from overexertion, instantly!
Once again erupted with incredibly brilliant and joyful light!
In the center of the stone chamber, a unique small plant, crystal clear and emitting a soft glow, was quietly growing there!
"Soul Nurturing Grass!"
"And it's... a Thousand-Year Soul Nurturing Grass!"
"Hahahahaha! Even a hundred-year-old Soul Nurturing Grass is enough to double the soul strength of an ordinary cultivator!"
"And this thousand-year-old one contains an incredibly pure power! Enough to greatly nourish and replenish my fragmented soul, the Emperor's!"
"Hahahahaha! Heaven helps me! Heaven truly helps me!"
Ling Tian was ecstatic, and he carefully, yet swiftly, uprooted this treasure, which would make any cultivator green with envy, and kept it close to his body.
With the nourishment of this Thousand-Year Soul Nurturing Grass, his fragmented soul could finally recover significantly... At that time, his strength would also undergo a qualitative leap!
...Just as Ling Tian was excitedly resting after this unexpected joy, and continued to explore deeper into the imperial mausoleum for the source of that pure aura.
A figure, like a ghost, appeared in the passage that had just returned to peace.
It was Lu Cheng!
"The entrance is so secretive? And there are mechanisms?"
"No wonder this place has been hidden so securely for so many years, not even those archaeological teams or tomb raiders managed to discover it."
"However..."
He looked at the back of Ling Tian, who was still unknowingly exploring ahead, and the smile on his lips grew more cruel.
"You still have so many opportunities, one after another..."
He calculated the distance between himself and Ling Tian.
After confirming that he had reached the closest limit of three meters that the [Concealment Talisman] could maintain.
A cunning glint flashed in Lu Cheng's eyes!
He silently chanted in his heart!
"Sleight of Hand — Activate!"
...Deep in the passage, Ling Tian was cautiously exploring the path ahead.
Suddenly!
He felt that the Thousand-Year Soul Nurturing Grass, which was pressed against his chest and still had a faint warm touch, seemed to... suddenly lighten?
His heart suddenly sank!
A very ominous premonition instantly surged into his mind!
He quickly reached out and fiercely patted his chest!
Empty!
It was actually empty!
That supreme treasure, the Thousand-Year Soul Nurturing Grass, which was enough to greatly nourish his soul!
It had just... disappeared?
"No—!!!"
A roar filled with disbelief and endless anger instantly echoed throughout the deep tomb passage!
He immediately unleashed his powerful divine sense, like a tide, sweeping wildly in all directions!
Attempting to find the thief who dared to snatch food from a tiger's mouth!
However!
No matter how he investigated, how he scanned, there was nothing around him except the cold stone walls and the dead air!
He couldn't even sense a trace of suspicious aura!
"How could this be?"
"Could it be... that there is some strange restriction in this imperial mausoleum that even I, the Emperor, cannot detect?"
"Or did I accidentally trigger some spatial rift that swallowed the Soul Nurturing Grass?"
He, the dignified Immortal Emperor of the Nine Heavens, had actually lost his hard-won treasure right under his nose?
This enormous blow, full of absurdity and strangeness, caused his Dao Heart, which was already somewhat fragile from repeated setbacks!
To waver again!
[Attributing the loss of the treasure to the strangeness of the imperial mausoleum, he suppressed his anger and continued deeper for greater opportunities within the imperial mausoleum.]
Just then, a series of strange rubbing sounds came from the front of the passage.