Chapter 40

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Chapter 40: Title

"The ancients upheld the principle of honoring the dead as though living, yet this tomb’s design suggests its master never perished…" Professor Shi murmured, cautiously approaching the jade figures.

Carved with exquisite craftsmanship, every strand of hair on their heads appeared lifelike, and their ornamental details were rendered in flawless completeness.

Were it not for the glaring presence of the coffin atop the elevated platform, one might mistake this space for a film set—replace the coffin with a dragon throne, and it would transform into a grand imperial court.

【Glory to the Ancestral Dragon.】

【Emperor Qin: history’s earliest and most legendary figurine enthusiast→_→】

【These jade figures surpass even the Terracotta Army in refinement! If only I could witness them firsthand.】

【Hurry! Show us the coffin! —An archaeology student’s desperate plea.】

【Enough academic talk—rumor says all major university archaeology departments are tuned into this livestream. (Source: just helped my Old Professor set up his stream /salute)】

【Green with envy at those onsite QAQ…to glimpse our idol’s legacy…】

Leng Xingwen sheathed his blade, the weapon folding seamlessly into a fan before disappearing into his sleeve. He knelt solemnly at the base of the nine-tiered platform, posture immaculate.

"With the Awakening of Spiritual Energy, the dragon vein is restored."

"This junior Leng Xingwen comes for the sake of the Nine Provinces. May the First Emperor pardon our trespass into his sacred tomb." Pressing interlaced hands to the floor, he performed three reverent kowtows, forehead meeting stone with each prostration.

Yan Hua’s group exchanged bewildered glances, grasping neither the ritual’s purpose nor its urgency.

"Remain here," Youyang advised, halting their approach with raised palm. "Too many ascending may invite calamity."

Calamity? What dangers lurked here beyond silent stone guardians? Yet as Leng Xingwen began his arduous ascent—three steps forward, five steps bowed—their doubts dissolved into uneasy silence.

The chamber’s dim glow came only from ceiling-mounted luminous pearls and the wavering mermaid candles. With each tier climbed, Leng Xingwen’s silhouette blurred further into the shadows above.

【How does Spiritual Energy’s awakening relate to restoring dragon veins?】

【Official records cite Liu Bowen severing the veins Six Hundred Years ago. This ancient practitioner seeks two relics: the He Shi Bi-carved Imperial Seal and the Mu Gong Zhen Qin sword.】

【But doesn’t the Imperial Seal reside in the Forbidden City?】

【Legends claim Emperor Qin’s true seal vanished. Later dynasties forged replicas for legitimacy—hence the endless rumors.】

【Wait—if the First Emperor died during travels, why would his seal be entombed here?】

【Enough bickering! Keep watching!】

【Leng Xingwen…why does that name resonate?】

【“Testing the iron armor as white as snow, I casually wield the sword to stir the stars.” Recall this verse now?】

【Xiao Tianji’s poem references him! Their connection?】

【Likely _(:з」∠)_】

Having reached the summit, Leng Xingwen paused to brush dust from his robe hem.

In the Tomb of the First Emperor, sealed for over two millennia, the absence of dust was impossible—though not as much as one might expect. A mere thin layer could be brushed away with a casual sweep.

The coffin’s grandeur surpassed all expectations, yet unlike the nested caskets unearthed in later eras, this stood singular. Upon its golden surface coiled a massive black dragon, its body embracing the coffin’s form. Near the serpentine head gleamed a radiant pearl, its brilliance undimmed by centuries.

The dragon’s depiction held uncanny vitality—its eyes half-lidded as though caught between slumber and wakefulness. Beside the coffin rose an obsidian jade pedestal, its depths occasionally revealing slow, liquid currents when touched by stray light beams. Two jade boxes rested atop: one elongated like a scholar’s case, the other perfectly cubical.

Black held sacred significance for Qin royalty, particularly the black dragon. Legends told of Qin ancestors inheriting Shang dynasty’s legacy through the omen "Heaven’s dark bird descended to birth Shang," and later rescuing a black dragon named Jie Geng. Thus Heaven’s mandate fell upon Qin to unify the warring states.

When the First Emperor completed his conquest, he turned Mount Li into his eternal abode. Seventy thousand laborers hollowed the mountain’s heart to create the underground palace. Folklore whispered of imperial geomancers redirecting dragon veins to concentrate earthly energies here, ensuring Qin’s reign through endless generations…

Leng Xingwen offered the coffin a perfunctory bow before approaching the black jade platform. Opening the sarcophagus held no interest—his objectives were the Imperial Seal and Mu Gong Zhen Qin sword. If these treasures lay elsewhere, disturbing the emperor’s rest became unnecessary.

Beneath the platform, Li Canghai shifted uneasily. "Doesn’t this ease unsettle you?" he blurted. "No lethal traps since entry. Even the golden bird seemed… expectant. As if our coming was foretold two thousand years past." His gaze sharpened on Youyang. "What haven’t you and Leng Xingwen shared?"

The young woman fidgeted, her diplomatic skills still unhoned. "Our sect ancestors left teleportation symbols in the burial chamber," she confessed. "The First Emperor himself approved this. The Tiangong Palace’s master foresaw our need for these artifacts during the Awakening of Spiritual Energy."

A sigh escaped her. "We only learned this after Tian Jizi detected geological anomalies post-Awakening. As for Brother Leng’s caution…" She steeled herself. "You think the First Emperor dead. We know otherwise."

"Resurrection?" Yan Hua’s voice cracked. "A two-thousand-year corpse walking?"

"Not resurrection," Youyang corrected. "How can one revive what never perished?"

Shi Fan’s worldview crumbled. "You claim Emperor Qin breathes still? A mortal lasting millennia?" His hand trembled. "Not ghost nor spirit, but living flesh?"

[I must be hallucinating. No human survives two thousand winters…]

【Is this some kind of joke? The First Emperor being alive… impossible!】

【This is terrifying. The First Emperor’s resurrection isn’t something to laugh about.】

【The worst part? They’re still trying to take artifacts from his tomb.】

【My hands are trembling. How could our two-thousand-year-dead idol suddenly be alive? This is insane!】

"According to our archives," Youyang stated, her gaze fixed on the coffin, "the First Emperor constructed Mount Li’s tomb for an important matter – so crucial that he gathered sorcerers from across the land to reshape the dragon veins." Her voice lowered. "His supposed death was staged."

At the altar, Leng Xingwen lifted the Imperial Seal from its jade box with reverent care. The artifact’s underside bore eight formidable characters: "Mandated by Heaven, may it prosper eternally."

Unseen by him, the coffin shuddered imperceptibly as the seal left its resting place. The carved black dragon adorning the casket – previously depicted with languid eyelids – now glared with fully opened orbs.

【Did…did the coffin just shift?】

【The dragon’s eyes! They’re open!】

【There’s a hazy silhouette… No, must be my imagination.】

【That shadow! Black robes, nine-feathered crown, and… horns? (⊙o⊙)】

【Horns?! Stop joking! Trying to claim my Spiritual Network account through death-by-laughter?】

【They’re REAL! Actual antlers!】

【That Leng fellow remains oblivious.】

"Who dares trespass into my mausoleum?"

The voice resonated through the underground palace, its ancient language bypassing ears to imprint directly upon minds. The speaker stood regal – sharp brows framing intense eyes, dark robe billowing with sleeves like night clouds. A majestic black dragon coiled across his Robe Hem, its embroidered claws grasping at reality. Pearls from his nine-feathered crown cascaded past the twin antlers curving from his forehead.

Leng Xingwen froze mid-motion, the jade box’s lid slipping from numb fingers. Six centuries ago, when Ming Dynasty rulers severed the dragon veins and strangled Spiritual Energy, who could imagine the Emperor would awaken during this modern Awakening of Spiritual Energy? Even Practitioners like himself, blessed with extended lifespans, still withered like ordinary people in time’s flow. The oldest among them, Xiao Tianji, barely reached Six Hundred Years through tier three cultivation.

Bowing deeply, Leng Xingwen fought to steady his voice. "This unworthy one is Leng Xingwen, paying homage to Your Majesty."

Emperor Qin’s brow furrowed. His current form felt wrong – this spirit state differed profoundly from his pre-slumber calculations. The black dragon’s energy thrummed discordantly through the Jiuzhou dragon veins.

"State your purpose."

"I came to retrieve the Imperial Seal and Mu Gong Zhen Qin sword." Leng Xingwen kept his eyes lowered, noting the Emperor’s translucent form. "To mend the fractured dragon veins and restore the Jiuzhou barrier."

Through his lashes, he observed the antlered sovereign. The ancient texts never mentioned this spectral appearance. Had two millennia in the secret realm altered even the First Emperor’s essence?

He pondered inwardly, not daring to presume.

Not just him—even the revered elders of his clan would bow in deference to this sovereign who unified Jiuzhou.

【OMG is this truly His Majesty the First Emperor??? That divine face could slay armies—!!】

【Qin Shihuang was fifty at death! This imposter’s barely thirty!】

【Honestly, with those dragon horns growing from his head, looking youthful’s the least weird thing here.】

【That blue-robed lady said the Emperor never died—has he truly lived two millennia?】

【Reverse-aging skills? I’d sell my soul for that QVQ】

【Now I get why time-travelers obsess over Ancestral Dragon! Charismatic ruler with universe-brain strategies AND this god-tier appearance…comrades, I’m having dangerous thoughts…】

【Speak your fantasy! Manifestation works wonders /s】

【All that "Ancestral Dragon" chanting summoned an actual dragonified Emperor (/▽╲)】

【Horned Majesty hits different! (*/ω＼*)】

The live stream flooded with identical fangirl ravings, yet Leng Xingwen remained tense. Below the altar, Li Canghai and Yan Hua stood equally rigid under the imperial aura.

Yan Hua: …We came for artifacts. Why’s the Emperor breathing? ￣皿￣

Li Canghai: This spiritual pressure…and I’m not even his focus.

Shi Fan: M-my cardiac pills…where—

Youyang bit her lip, gaze fixed on Leng Xingwen. None present understood the resurrected monarch’s temperament—historical records made poor survival guides.

The First Emperor’s piercing gaze shifted from Leng Xingwen to his own coffin. The luminous pearl adorning it had dulled, its guardian black dragon’s eyes now fully shut.

"Why meddle with dragon veins? Why reignite Jiuzhou’s barrier?" The Emperor’s voice carried winter’s edge.

Centuries ago, he’d restructured ley lines and forged the Jiuzhou barrier to balance heaven and earth. What fool would tamper with perfection?

——I united warring states, raised bulwarks to anchor Jiuzhou’s dragon veins, shielding Qin and its legacy. By my imperial name I vow: in life, I guard these lands and crush all foes; in death, my dragon spirit shall eternally protect Huaxia. Let sun, moon, and cosmos witness this oath.

As Yu the Great demarcated realms with Nine Tripods, I weave dragon veins into Jiuzhou’s barrier—Huaxia’s eternal shield.

Echoes of his past decree haunted the chamber.

Leng Xingwen steadied his breath. "Two thousand years have passed since Your Majesty’s era."

"Six centuries past, a Ming monarch severed the dragon veins. Spiritual Energy withered, plunging Jiuzhou into end-times. No cultivator remains."

"Fortnights ago, the Awakening surged—ley lines reconnected, energies cascading through the land."

"We discovered the severed veins caused tectonic chaos, the barrier dormant. By Tian Jizi’s counsel, we sought the Imperial Seal and Mu Gong Zhen Qin Sword."

"Tian Jizi…persists?"

"The current Tian Jizi inherits the title—not your contemporary." Leng Xingwen added hastily, "Tiangong Palace’s lineage spans millennia."

"Severing dragon veins…" The Emperor’s laugh held daggers. "Such…boldness explains my current form."

His draconic metamorphosis through ley line energies—originally projected to take five millennia—had clearly accelerated.

I never expected to awaken after merely two thousand years.

Six Hundred Years ago, the severing of the Jiuzhou dragon veins halted my transformation into a dragon, even reversing its progress. Now that Spiritual Energy awakens and earth veins stir anew, their chaotic collision violently roused me from slumber.

【Is Tian Jizi the same as Xiao Tianji? How remarkable that even Emperor Qin knew him!】

【I’m more concerned about His Majesty the First Emperor’s anger over the severed dragon veins.】

【Clearly such a drastic act backfired? Why did they stop talking? My curiosity burns!】

【These secrets make history feel like lies~】

【Wasn’t Old Liu’s dragon vein severing just a myth? Can such forces truly be severed?】

【The real question is why Old Zhu cut them. With Spiritual Energy gone, cultivation became impossible – something’s off.】

"Very well. Take them."

The First Emperor showed no pettiness. Having heard Leng Xingwen’s plea, he recognized necessity.

"My gratitude, Your Majesty." Leng Xingwen stored both jade boxes in his storage ring.

"Who are those below?"

"Traveling companions." Leng Xingwen summarized curtly.

……

Thus circumstances had spiraled beyond control.

Leng Xingwen stood outside the underground palace, observing the curiously browsing Emperor. Beneath his composed facade, unease churned – the elders hadn’t prepared him for extracting a living sovereign from the tomb.

Yet the First Emperor strolled through modernity with imperial nonchalance, these transformed landscapes no different to his eyes than ancient vistas.

Yan Hua stood speechless, particularly when recalling Xiao Tianji’s live stream potentially broadcasting globally. Professor Shi stole furtive glances at the walking relic, itching to converse. Li Canghai leaned on his sword with tranquil amusement as chaos unfolded.

The live stream audience erupted when Leng Xingwen produced the Emperor. Comments flooded the screen in overlapping waves, rendering them illegible.

"I redirected the Jiuzhou dragon veins to converge beneath Mount Li. To realign them and restore the Jiuzhou barrier, this remains the optimal location." The First Emperor stood regally, hands clasped behind his back.

A phantom sensation of observation prickled his awareness, yet dissolved upon scrutiny. His Majesty’s brow twitched imperceptibly. Though weakened since awakening, his cultivation still surpassed Leng Xingwen’s, making him more acutely aware of Heaven’s constraints.

The tomb intrusion had angered him initially, but Youyang’s jade symbol – a relic from departed comrades – quelled his wrath. Doubtless that scheming "Tian Jizi" had foreseen this encounter through the unseen barrier of fate.

"The Imperial Seal and Qin sword draw benevolent fortune and national fortune when moved beyond three feet. You lack the capacity to wield such forces." The Emperor’s gaze pierced Leng Xingwen. The Seal demanded imperial destiny beyond this cultivator’s reach.

"Let him bear it."

"Me?" Li Canghai blinked in astonishment. "Surely there’s error? My cultivation trails Leng Xingwen’s…"

"The Seal answers not to cultivation. Receive the Qin sword instead."

"With your body attuned to the Dao, only you can endure this. The others cannot."

Leng Xingwen didn’t dwell on the matter. The First Emperor had no reason to deceive them about such crucial affairs.

"Then we entrust this to you, Daoist Priest Li."

"I don’t know the procedure." Li Canghai’s voice held bewilderment. Though ordained as a Daoist, his recent initiation left him unprepared for handling the Imperial Seal’s mysteries.

"I’ll guide you through it." Leng Xingwen’s tone brooked no argument. Turning to Youyang, he commanded: "Signal the others. We’ll reactivate the Jiuzhou barrier after realigning the dragon veins."

"At once, Brother Leng."

A three-foot paulownia zither materialized in Youyang’s hands. Her plucked strings sent rippling melodies cascading across Mount Li’s slopes, each note carrying through stone and pine.

Li Canghai set aside his sword. As his fingers closed around the Imperial Seal within the jade box, the artifact floated free, suspended above his palm.

Spiritual Energy converged violently, whirling into a vortex centered on the glowing seal. A column of purple energy entwined with earthen yellow forces erupted skyward, simultaneously drilling deep into the mountain’s bedrock.

Vision transformed – Li Canghai now perceived colossal currents of yellow energy sursing through subterranean channels. These primal rivers branched into countless tributaries, nourishing every peak and valley across Jiuzhou.

During the luminous phenomenon’s sixty-second apex, he drove Leng Xingwen’s Qin sword downward. The blade pierced the exact convergence point of churning earth currents, anchoring the dragon veins.

Mythic patterns shimmered across the seal’s surface – sinuous dragons, phoenix plumage, tiger stripes, and tortoise-snake motifs. Celestial light projectiles arced across the realm, their impact sites birthing four luminous cocoons deep within the earth.

Upon connecting with the Jiuzhou dragon vein network, the seal initiated autonomous recalibration. Spiritual Energy redistributed through revitalized channels, triggering instantaneous geographical transformations:

Clearcut forests regenerated as saplings stretched into ancient trees within heartbeats. Polluted oceans and rivers shed their toxins, surfaces becoming liquid crystal. The retreating Kunlun Mountain glaciers received fresh snowfall, icy mantles restoring their majesty.

From orbit, Zhongxia’s transformation stunned – the Taklamakan Desert bloomed into grassland as buried seeds germinated explosively. Other arid regions followed suit, spontaneous ecosystems emerging where only sands persisted days before.

Benevolent fortune’s white radiance merged with golden national fortune, flowing through terrestrial channels to nourish the embryonic cocoons. Their forms solidified and shifted:

East: Azure scales coalesced into a coiling dragon, its form sharpening from misty outline to mythic clarity.

South: Crimson patterns resolved into translucent plumage around a regal phoenix.

West: A white tiger materialized in mid-roar, sovereign of mountain realms.

North: On a moss-carapaced tortoise, a silver serpent slept within frost-rimed breath.

"The Jiuzhou barrier fell, yet the four spirits endure?" Qin Shi Huang’s gaze tracked the ascending lights.

Leng Xingwen nodded. "Our ancestors couldn’t prevent the dragon veins’ severance, but preserved the spirits’ essence."

【Mom’s asking why I’m prostrate before my phone screen.】

【The dead hills behind my apartment just turned rainforest-green???】

【Deserts becoming grasslands? What’s next – flying pigs?】

【You went fishing offshore, and guess what? All the fish started leaping out of the water!】

【Not sure what’s happening, but it looks spectacular.】

【Had a cold for days, then suddenly recovered. Could this be related to the recent Awakening of Spiritual Energy they mentioned?】

【The Spiritual Energy density spiked moments ago. Of course you’d feel better. Prolonged exposure to such rich energy benefits both health and cultivation.】

【Big shot alert in the comments—】

【No big shot here, just a student QAQ. Gotta memorize the Eight Honors and Eight Disgraces now.】

【My orange cat’s giving me this eerie stare. With the Awakening of Spiritual Energy bringing weirdness, are we getting actual monsters now?】

【A beauty just walked out of my grandpa’s antique painting. Bros, am I living some fantasy romance?】

【Typical cat behavior. Be grateful it doesn’t openly despise you.】

【Can’t believe I crossed over into the Spiritual Energy era! Heaven’s chosen me to attain imperial ascension and rule mankind—!!!】

【→_→ To the delusional time-traveler: Your chuunibyou’s flaring up. Might I suggest Professor Yang’s… special academy?】

【That edgy vibe feels familiar. Been binge-reading web novels like "My Son Has Imperial Destiny" again?】

【I think I sensed Spiritual Energy?? Does this qualify me for the Special Bureau? Nah, pass – memorizing socialist values sounds exhausting _(:з」∠)_】

Though it felt like hours, barely five minutes had elapsed between unboxing the Imperial Seal and plunging the Qin Sword into the earth.

"The current regime shows promise," Qin Shi Huang remarked, observing the golden torrent of national fortune.

That Huaxia remained mighty despite Qin’s fall after millennia pleased him deeply.

This age clearly belonged not to Great Qin – else the Imperial Seal’s fortune would resonate solely with him, not yield to any passerby.

While eternal Qin rule proved challenging, surely it could surpass Xia’s five centuries and Shang’s six. Zhou’s eight-century reign? Qin’s legacy deserved greater longevity.

Yan Hua and Shi Fan swelled with pride at the timeless emperor’s approval. Modernity’s progress earning his endorsement stirred profound satisfaction.

Three minutes later:

East: A hundred-zhang azure dragon phantom surged from the earth, piercing the heavens.

South: A vermillion phoenix of equal grandeur ascended on blazing wings.

West: A pristine white tiger emerged, riding tempest winds.

North: The tortoise-serpent Xuanwu rose, coiling skyward.

Thus manifested the four spirits guarding the Jiuzhou Barrier.

Circling their domains, the beings shed scales and feathers that coalesced into crystalline arcs, forming an immense transparent dome over the land.

Mission accomplished, the spirits gradually faded – not vanishing, but merging back into Jiuzhou’s essence.

Their aerial display shone clearly even to Mount Li observers, let alone those near the emergence sites.

With a whoosh, the Imperial Seal flew from its handlers, hovered above the barrier, then descended to imprint its seal upon the glowing dome.

A flow of liquid-smooth golden radiance shimmered briefly before receding gently, the entire barrier gradually dissipating into the atmosphere.

The Imperial Seal, having fulfilled its purpose, returned to hover before the group with newfound vitality. It now exuded an almost conscious docility as it came to rest serenely before the First Emperor.

The luminous aura around the Qin sword dimmed progressively until the blade regained its ordinary appearance.

"Remarkably tractable," observed Qin Shi Huang, extending his palm to receive the obediently descending seal.

This jade artifact had accompanied him since his decree to carve the He Shi Bi into an imperial seal after unifying the six warring states. Millennia later, when familiar companions had turned to dust, only this relic remained.

With these events concluded, their Mount Li expedition appeared to reach its natural terminus.

Xiao Tianji’s live stream froze abruptly at this juncture, leaving netizens staring blankly at the abrupt "The live stream has ended" notification plastered across their screens. Many viewers itched to personally reprimand the streamer.

Yet through their frustration, the cryptic message on Xiao Tianji’s latest Weibo post became clear:

Jiuzhou barrier, mountains and rivers eternal.

These eight enigmatic characters, more perplexing than traditional riddles, only revealed their meaning through the concluded broadcast! The comment section beneath the post erupted with impassioned discussions as the related hashtag and stream footage rocketed to the trending list’s apex through grassroots momentum.

Zhalang’s administrators likely lamented their platform’s exploitation – here was Xiao Tianji commandeering hot search without financial compensation, as if algorithmic trends were mere playthings. Yet official intervention remained impossible – suppressing globally significant news would constitute professional self-sabotage.

"Your Imperial Majesty might consider accompanying us back," Yan Hua proposed with studied nonchalance. "Young Master Leng as well."

Leng Xingwen’s gaze lingered on the Imperial Seal before he declined with a headshake. Though compelled by duty to remain with the unearthed emperor, the reactivated Jiuzhou barrier necessitated an envoy to brief the elders.

"Brother Leng should stay," interjected Youyang with an impish smile. "I’ll brief the elders and masters about the barrier’s successful restoration."

"Unorthodox suggestion."

"Practical solution," she countered, flute materializing in her grasp. "I’ve outgrown nursery tales." A crystalline note summoned an azure-feathered Demonic Beast that swooped into proximity. "The other four wanderers will require your supervision regardless."

With aerial grace belying her mortal form, Youyang ascended to her mount’s plumage through midair footfalls. While Qin Shi Huang maintained imperial composure, modern observers exchanged startled glances.

"Her personally nurtured specimen," Leng Xingwen clarified. "Though typically livestock, this Tier One variant serves as aerial transport."

Yan Hua’s summoned helicopter accommodated the group through cramped arrangements. None dared occupy seats near the First Emperor, resulting in comical crowding opposite the sovereign. The modern conveyance’s mechanical whirring drew no commentary from the ancient ruler, though Leng Xingwen’s sword-flight alongside the aircraft captivated Li Canghai – the Tier One cultivator could barely levitate his long sword, let alone achieve sustained flight.

Shi Fan surrendered to mental exhaustion, fearing further revelations might induce cardiac arrest.

At Special Bureau headquarters, Xi Ning slumped in ergonomic leather, contemplating the bureaucratic fallout. Yan Hua’s archaeological excursion had somehow resurrected a two-millennia-dead emperor, upending conventional reality.

"At least report-writing isn’t my burden," he muttered, observing the Spiritual Network’s overloaded forums. Information Section 2 struggled to contain digital chaos while international special departments bombarded Zhongxia with inquiries – the geographical alterations were visible from orbit, after all.

The telephone’s shrill ring punctuated his thoughts.

"Deputy Director Xi? The director arrives in three minutes."