Wandering Swordsman |

He knew that the appearance of the Black Wind Gang meant that his plan to monopolize the Martial God's Tomb had been completely exposed, and the current situation had become extremely complicated.

After a moment of contemplation, just as he was about to order an attack on Ding Chengfeng and his group of four, ripples appeared again at the entrance to the secret chamber, and then Oda and his group of overseas evil cultivators slowly emerged from the water.

Seeing Oda and the others arrive made Duan Qianya's heart tighten. He knew that if he acted rashly now, he would only put himself in a more dangerous situation. The Black Wind Gang joining forces with overseas evil cultivators to deal with the Diancang Sect would have unimaginable consequences.

So, he quickly adjusted his mindset, suppressed his anger, and a surprised smile appeared on his face: "Chief Ding, what brings you here?"

Ding Chengfeng's lips curled into a cold smile, his gaze sweeping over everyone present like a knife, as if trying to peel away the secrets in their hearts: "Sect Leader Duan, you must know the purpose of our trip. Since you have already found the Martial God's Tomb, why didn't you inform us sooner?" His voice was like the cold wind in the night, piercing and merciless, each word carrying an unquestionable authority.

Duan Qianya knew that he couldn't afford to break off relations at this moment, otherwise he would face a dilemma of being attacked from both sides.

He forced a calm demeanor, smiled slightly, but his eyes gleamed with a complex light: "Chief Ding, you flatter us. We just found the exact location of the tomb, so we brought our disciples in to explore it first. We were just planning to send someone to inform you tomorrow." As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to become even heavier, every subtle sound was amplified several times, and even breathing became heavy. The entire secret chamber seemed to be shrouded in an invisible shadow.

Ding Chengfeng knew that now was not the best time to turn against the Diancang Sect. Even if he could defeat them, he would pay a huge price, and Oda and his group might even benefit from it. On the other hand, Oda and his group considered that their foothold in the Central Plains was not yet secure. If they acted rashly, they might cause the Black Wind Gang and the Diancang Sect to join forces against them, ultimately leaving them isolated and helpless.

However, everyone knew that the current situation was far more complex than it appeared. The Black Wind Gang and the overseas evil cultivators naturally knew that Duan Qianya wanted to monopolize the Martial God's Tomb, but they also understood that it would not be wise to break ties at this moment.

"Sect Leader Duan is indeed far-sighted." Oda stepped forward, his tone humble yet sharp, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. "However, since we are already here, why don't we discuss how to open these stone doors?" His gaze swept over the stone doors, as if trying to glimpse the secrets hidden within through the ancient carvings.

Duan Qianya nodded slightly, but he had already devised a plan in his mind. He knew that the three forces were currently testing each other, and none of them wanted to be the first to break off relations.

Although the Black Wind Gang and the overseas heretical cultivators outwardly agreed to cooperate, they harbored deep-seated suspicions towards each other. The Diancang Sect, on the other hand, had to navigate between these two forces, searching for the optimal opportunity.

"Alright, now that everyone's here, let's discuss this together," Duan Qianya said in a deep voice, his tone revealing an undeniable determination. "These stone doors are engraved with different weapon patterns; perhaps a specific method is needed to open them."

As he finished speaking, the secret room fell silent once again, broken only by the occasional sound of dripping water.

Everyone held their breath, awaiting the next part of the discussion. A tense atmosphere filled the air, as if a silent war was about to break out.

Duan Qianya's gaze swept among the crowd, trying to catch even the slightest flaw in their eyes, but he was met with equally unfathomable gazes.

"Regarding these stone doors," Elder Yao Guangyuan began slowly, his voice deep and powerful, like an ancient bell echoing in a secluded valley, each word weighing heavily on everyone's hearts, "we discovered that the weapon patterns on each stone door seem to be more than just decoration. Upon closer inspection, the sword patterns meander like dragons, the knife marks are deep like thunder, and every engraving subtly aligns with the principles of the five elements of heaven and earth, perhaps... hinting at some special way to open them." His withered fingers gently traced the stone door engraved with a long sword, his fingertips brushing against the cold rock surface, as if deciphering a celestial book sealed for a thousand years.

The air inside the sealed room was as still as the water in a deep pool, and even breathing became a cautious affair.

In the midst of this deathly silence, a man silently stepped forward from behind Oda. He was none other than the "Three-Handed Sword Demon," one of the most feared and evil cultivators from overseas. A slight smile played on his lips, as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"Get out of the way!" The Three-Handed Sword Demon chuckled sinisterly, his voice like a viper's hiss, hoarse and carrying an unsettling chill. Before his words even finished, his right hand flicked, and a jet-black curved sword with blood grooves carved along its spine appeared in his grasp. The moment the sword was drawn, a chilling wind arose, sending shivers down one's spine.

With a flick of his arms, the sword was instantly enveloped in a layer of eerie, dark green internal energy, like a venomous snake coiling around it, chilling and terrifying. He took a step forward, his figure flashing out like a ghost, the tip of his sword aimed directly at the winding sword-shaped relief on the stone door, piercing the recessed lines with perfect precision!

"laugh--"

The moment the sword's edge touched the stone's texture, a piercing scraping sound shattered the silence, like iron scraping against bone, sending chills down everyone's spine. Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats, holding their breath, their eyes fixed intently on the stone door.

One second... two seconds... three seconds...

The stone gate remained unresponsive, like an ancient, immovable rock.

The disciples of Diancang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and some of them had a mocking smile on their lips—this Three-Handed Sword Demon was probably too arrogant, trying to break the mechanism with brute force, but it was all in vain.

However, in that moment of relaxation—

"Click... boom..."

A deep, rumbling mechanical sound came from the depths of the earth, like the awakening of a sleeping giant.

Immediately afterwards, the heavy stone door slowly slid open to both sides, revealing a deep and dark passage. A musty and ancient aura wafted out, mixed with the smell of rust and dust, as if it came from the depths of a tomb a thousand years ago.

In an instant, the entire room was filled with astonishment!

The disciples of Diancang stared wide-eyed, their pupils contracting sharply, as if they were witnessing something impossible.

Some people instinctively took a half step back and bumped into their companion's shoulder; others' throats bobbed, but they couldn't make a sound.

Even Duan Qianya, the sect leader who was usually as calm and composed as a mountain, couldn't help but shrink his pupils and feel a layer of cold sweat seeping from his palms.

He stared intently at the slowly opening passage, then slowly turned his head, his gaze piercing Oda like a knife—the latter stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if everything was under his control.