Prehistoric: The female saint Shiji, brilliant and talented

Shi Ji gave her a half-smile: "Of course. I, Shi Ji, have always been the most trustworthy."

Gongsun Linglong snorted coldly, clearly not believing his nonsense.

But given the current situation, she has no choice but to endure it for the time being.

The two cautiously approached the entrance to the tomb.

When they were ten steps away from the skeleton, the skeleton suddenly moved!
It slowly raised its head, and two clusters of eerie blue flames ignited in its empty eye sockets.

"Intruder. Die!"

A hoarse voice came from the skeleton's mouth, carrying a chilling killing intent.

The next moment, the skeleton suddenly stood up, a long sword of energy condensing in its hand, pointing directly at Shi Ji's throat.

"Watch out!" Gongsun Linglong exclaimed and quickly retreated.

Instead of retreating, Shi Ji advanced, forming hand seals, her body radiating a golden aura.

"A dead body dares to act so violently?"

The war is about to start.

The skeletal war puppet's swordsmanship was exquisite, and each strike contained terrifying power.

What's even more troublesome is that it seems to be able to mobilize the power of the entire abyss, and its sword aura is getting stronger and stronger.

Despite her surprise, Shi Ji remained calm and used her agility to the fullest, moving freely through the sword shadows.

Occasionally, when they retaliate, they leave deep marks on the skeletons.

But the war puppet felt no pain, and its wounds healed quickly under the effect of the runes.

“This can’t go on.” Gongsun Linglong saw the problem. “The battle puppets are connected to the entire tomb formation, and their energy is almost limitless.”

We must find its core!

Shi Ji was well aware of this principle, but in the fierce battle, he had no time to search for the puppet's weaknesses.

Just then, Gongsun Linglong suddenly took out an ancient mirror.

A ripple-like halo of light shone from the mirror's surface, illuminating the war puppet's chest.

"There it is!" she exclaimed. "There's an energy fluctuation below the third rib!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Ji immediately changed her tactics.

He deliberately created an opening, luring the war puppet into a full-scale attack.

Just as the sword was about to strike her, Shi Ji's body twisted strangely, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

At the same time, his right hand moved like lightning, aiming straight for the war puppet's chest.

"break!"

With a loud shout, Shi Ji's finger precisely struck the war puppet's chest.

With a "crack," the war puppet's movements abruptly stopped, and the flames in its eyes slowly went out.

"We succeeded!" Gongsun Linglong exclaimed joyfully.

Shi Ji, however, dared not be careless and carefully checked the condition of the war puppet.

They breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that it had indeed lost its ability to move.

"Thank you." Shi Ji looked at Gongsun Linglong and sincerely thanked her.

If she hadn't pointed out the puppet's weakness in time, this battle would probably have lasted much longer.

Gongsun Linglong was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Shiji to express her gratitude.

She scoffed, "No need to thank me, I just don't want to be stuck here."

Shi Ji smiled and said no more.

The two entered the tomb one after the other, and a long passageway came into view.

The passageway is covered with murals depicting some kind of ancient sacrificial scene.

“These murals,” Gongsun Linglong examined them intently, “seem to record the history of a lost civilization.”

Shi Ji was also attracted by the content of the murals.

In the murals, the ancient people worshipped a deity with three heads and six arms, and performed various mysterious rituals.

The most striking mural is the last one, which depicts the scene of the gods breaking through the void and ascending to heaven.

“This deity seems to be related to the Houyi clan,” Shi Ji said thoughtfully.

He had seen similar records in ancient books, and the deity worshipped by the descendants was depicted as having three heads and six arms.

Gongsun Linglong's expression changed upon hearing this: "The Descendant Clan? That legendary forbidden race?"

Shi Ji nodded: "It seems that this tomb is more complicated than we imagined."

With reverence, the two continued forward.

At the end of the passageway is a huge stone gate, with intricate patterns carved on it.

Shi Ji tried to push the stone door, but found that it did not budge.

"A special method is required to activate it."

"After observing for a moment, Gongsun Linglong said, 'Look at these patterns; they're actually a formation.'"

Upon closer inspection, Shi Ji indeed discovered that the patterns on the door formed an ingenious array.

The formation has nine nodes, each with a groove that seems to require a specific item to be placed in it to activate.

“The shape of these grooves,” Shi Ji frowned in thought, then her eyes lit up, “seems to match the shape of several kinds of spiritual herbs we collected on the road.”

Gongsun Linglong also discovered this pattern after he reminded her.

The two immediately took out the spiritual herbs they had collected along the way and placed them one by one according to the shape of the grooves.

When the last spiritual herb was placed into the groove, the stone door suddenly trembled.

With a thunderous roar, the stone door slowly opened, revealing the main burial chamber behind it.

In the center of the tomb chamber was a crystal coffin, inside which lay an elderly man dressed in fine clothes.

The old man's face was serene, as if he were simply asleep.

Most shockingly, the old man was holding a jade scroll in his hands, which emitted a faint aura of immortality.

"This jade slip," Shi Ji's breathing quickened slightly.

He could sense that the contents recorded in the jade slip were anything but ordinary.

Just as the two were about to go forward to check, countless runes suddenly lit up around the tomb.

These runes intertwined in the air, forming a huge cage that trapped Shi Ji and Gongsun Linglong inside.

"Oh no! We've fallen into their trap!" Gongsun Linglong exclaimed.

Shi Ji, however, remained quite calm: "There's no need to panic. This should be a test, not a killing formation."

As expected, the runic cage did not launch an attack, but instead condensed into a line of ancient characters in the air:
"Those destined to inherit my legacy must pass three tests."

The ancient characters slowly disappeared, replaced by a water mirror.

The first test appeared in the mirror: solve the traps and formations in the tomb within one hour.

“A mechanical formation.” Shi Ji looked around and quickly noticed something.

The tomb floor is made up of countless hexagonal stone slabs, each engraved with a different pattern.

These patterns may seem chaotic, but they actually contain hidden meanings.

Gongsun Linglong also saw the trick: "This is a Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation, which can only be broken by stepping on the stone slabs in a specific order."

Shi Ji gave her an approving look: "I didn't expect you to be knowledgeable about formations as well."

"I know a little bit about it," Gongsun Linglong said modestly, "but this formation is quite complex and requires careful deduction."

The two said no more and focused on figuring out how to break the formation.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the tomb grew increasingly tense.

About an incense stick's time later, Shi Ji suddenly opened her eyes: "I understand!"

Following the deduction, he began to step on the stone slabs.

Each step was precise and flawless, and the stone slab shone with a soft light.

When the last stone slab was lit, the entire formation suddenly started operating, and the rune cage shattered in response.

"The first test has been passed." The aged voice echoed in the tomb. "The second test: defeat your own mirror image."

New things appeared in the water mirror. Ripples spread across the surface, and two people who looked exactly like Shi Ji and Gongsun Linglong emerged from the mirror.

Not only do they look alike, but they even have the same aura.

“A mirror match.” Shi Ji’s expression was solemn.

This is the most challenging test because the mirror image completely replicates the original's abilities and fighting style.

Without any hesitation, Shi Ji went straight to face her own reflection.

The two sides launched a thunderous offensive from the moment they clashed, with every move extremely dangerous.

Gongsun Linglong also fought against her own mirror image.

She soon discovered that while the mirror image was equally powerful, it lacked flexibility.

As long as you use unconventional methods, you have a chance to win.

However, it's easier said than done.

The mirror image seems to be able to anticipate every thought of the original entity and always respond in a timely manner.

The battle reached a stalemate, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.

Shi Ji gradually discovered the clues during the fierce battle.

Although the mirror image perfectly replicated his abilities, it had a fatal weakness—it could not replicate the breakthroughs and insights a cultivator gained during battle.

"I see." Shi Ji's lips curled up slightly.

He deliberately slowed his attack and began practicing a sword technique he had never used before.

The mirror image was indeed affected, and its movements became slightly uncoordinated.

It's now!

A glint flashed in Shi Ji's eyes, and her swordplay suddenly changed.

This sword strike transcended the constraints of traditional sword techniques, embodying his new understanding of the way of the sword.

Before the mirror image could react, it was pierced through the chest by a sword.

On the other side, Gongsun Linglong also found a way to win.

She discovered that the mirror image could not replicate the spiritual power of the magical artifacts, so she took out several magical artifacts and defeated the mirror image by combining them.

"The second test has been passed." The aged voice rang out again. "The third test: answer three questions."

The first question appeared on the water mirror: "What is the purpose of cultivation?"

After a moment's thought, Shi Ji replied loudly, "To transcend life and death, to understand one's true nature, and to protect what is important in one's heart."

The second question: "What is the Tao?"

This time, Gongsun Linglong answered first: "The Way follows nature and resides in one's own mind. All things can be the Way, yet all things are not the Way."

The third question: "If you were to inherit this knowledge, how would you utilize it?"

Shi Ji and Gongsun Linglong exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We will live up to our heritage and our true selves."

A brief silence fell over the tomb, followed by a long sigh.

"good."

The crystal coffin slowly opened, and the old man's remains turned into starlight and dissipated into the air.

The jade slip flew up automatically and landed in Shi Ji's hand.

"This is..." Shi Ji probed the jade slip with her divine sense and was immediately shocked.

The jade slip contained the complete heritage of the descendants, including various knowledge such as cultivation methods, secret techniques, alchemy, and weapon crafting.

Gongsun Linglong also saw the contents of the jade slip, her beautiful eyes sparkling with wonder: "I never expected that such an amazing legacy would be hidden in this tomb."

Shi Ji calmed her excitement and handed a copy of the jade slip to Gongsun Linglong: "Since we have passed the test together, we should share the inheritance."

Gongsun Linglong took the jade slip and looked at Shiji with a complicated expression.

She hadn't expected Shi Ji to be so generous, after all, this was the complete heritage of the Houyi clan, and its value was immeasurable.

"Thank you," Gongsun Linglong said softly, this time from the bottom of her heart.

Shi Ji smiled and was about to say something when the entire tomb chamber suddenly began to shake violently.

The rock face began to crumble, and cracks appeared at the top.

"The tomb is about to collapse! Run!" Shi Ji grabbed Gongsun Linglong and rushed towards the exit.

The moment they burst out of the tomb, the entire abyss began to collapse.

Boulders rolled down, dust filled the air, as if it were the end of the world.

Shi Ji protected Gongsun Linglong, weaving and dodging among the falling rocks.

Having finally escaped the abyss, they looked back and saw that the abyss had completely collapsed and turned into ruins.

"That was close." Gongsun Linglong was still shaken.

If Shi Ji hadn't reacted quickly, they would probably have been buried alive underground.

Shi Ji gazed at the ruins, lost in thought: "The inheritance was obtained, and the tomb was destroyed. This predecessor certainly considered everything carefully."

Gongsun Linglong nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "You really don't plan to share some of that Nine Netherworld Iron with me?"

Shi Ji looked at her with a half-smile: "What? You're still not satisfied with inheriting the lineage?"

“One thing at a time,” Gongsun Linglong said matter-of-factly. “I discovered the Nine Netherworld Iron first, so I should have a share of it, both morally and logically.”

Shi Ji laughed heartily: "Don't worry, after I refine it, I will naturally share some with you. I, Shi Ji, always keep my word."

Gongsun Linglong pursed her lips, clearly not believing it.

But she also knew that she couldn't force it, so she could only give up for the time being.

It was getting late, so the two decided to find a safe place nearby to rest.

After lighting a campfire in a mountain cave, Shi Ji began to study the jade scroll, while Gongsun Linglong sorted out the spoils of the day.

"The alchemy skills of the Houyi clan are indeed exquisite." Gongsun Linglong couldn't help but admire as she looked at the records in the jade slip. "If we could refine this Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill, it might be able to bring the dead back to life."

Shi Ji, however, was more interested in the weapon-refining aspect.

The jade slip records a special method of refining weapons, which can solve the problem of the difficulty in smelting the Nine Netherworld Iron.

"Refined with the fires of stars, and aided by the mystical energy of the Nine Heavens," Shi Ji murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Perhaps it really can succeed."

In the stillness of the night, the campfire crackled and popped.

Gongsun Linglong leaned against the rock wall for a short rest, while Shiji continued to study the jade slip.

Occasionally glancing up at Gongsun Linglong's peaceful sleeping face, Shi Ji's lips would unconsciously curl into a smile.

Although the expedition was fraught with danger, the rewards far exceeded expectations.

Not only did they obtain the Nine Netherworld Iron and the inheritance of their descendants, but they also
Shi Ji's gaze lingered on Gongsun Linglong's face for a moment before she gently shook her head.

Now is not the time to consider these things. The most urgent task is to enhance our strength and prepare for the impending storm.

The continuation of the lineage by descendants will inevitably attract the covetousness of various forces.

The next morning, after a brief discussion, the two decided to split up.

Gongsun Linglong was to return to her family to report on her gains, while Shiji planned to find a secluded place to cultivate weapons in seclusion.

Before parting, Gongsun Linglong suddenly asked, "If I need anything in the future, how can I find you?"

Shi Ji smiled, took out a jade pendant and handed it to Gongsun Linglong: "Crush this jade pendant and I will sense it."

Gongsun Linglong took the jade pendant and carefully put it away.

She looked at Shi Ji, hesitated, and finally just whispered, "Take care."

"You too." Shi Ji nodded, watching Gongsun Linglong leave.

After Gongsun Linglong's figure disappeared into the horizon, Shiji also turned and flew off in another direction.

He needs to refine the Netherworld Iron as soon as possible to forge his own immortal artifact.

Only in this way can we remain invincible in the face of future turmoil.

During the flight, Shi Ji couldn't help but think of the junior sister who always called him "senior brother".

I wonder where she is now, and if she is alright.

With the reappearance of his descendant's legacy, the entire cultivation world will be thrown into turmoil. He must quickly increase his strength to protect those he cares about. (End of Chapter)