Chapter 158 – The Entrance Is Found, Alchemy as the Key

A mausoleum structured like this palace-like tomb couldn’t possibly have only one main hall.

After all, they hadn’t even seen the tomb owner’s corpse yet.

A mighty cultivator like that—even if they died of old age—would have a body that remained uncorrupted for a thousand years. It would never vanish without a trace.

Yet this grand hall appeared empty, aside from the entrance. If there had been another exit, the fierce ghosts wouldn’t have been trapped inside, making it so easy for them to be captured.

Everyone performed a rough sweep, but found no clues—no sign of another entrance.

Qi Xuan spoke with a serious tone, “Fellow Daoists, let’s split up and search thoroughly. There must be a hidden mechanism or a secondary burial chamber. There must be one—don’t entertain other thoughts. Just search.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Jiang Xiaolong nodded. “There must be something. It’s just a matter of whether we can find it. Let’s all check the walls, the floor, even the ceiling carefully. Once we uncover a secret door, we’ll be able to delve deeper!”

“Alright!”

“Let’s do that!”

“Time to search.”

The seven split up immediately, each one searching carefully and seriously, examining every inch.

Yu Xian too picked a wall to inspect. The thousand-year-old icy frost had already been cleared away.

It was called a wall, but in reality, it was part of the mountain itself—the main hall was dug directly into the mountain’s heart. It was seamless and solid, which explained why the ghosts had no escape route and were trapped.

Staring at the rock face, Yu Xian focused his gaze, extending his spiritual energy to sense it inch by inch.

With countless treasures and opportunities awaiting below, no one dared slack off while searching for the entrance.

Yu Xian slowly probed. His spiritual energy could penetrate about a foot into the rock, but no further.

His cultivation wasn’t yet enough to penetrate such solid material.

As for wall-phasing or teleportation techniques—those weren’t something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could use. Even Core Formation experts couldn’t. Those weren’t spells—they were divine abilities, or dao arts.

The search was slow and silent. All seven were fully focused.

Two hours passed unknowingly. Nearly 90% of the floor, walls, and ceiling had been examined.

Everyone’s expression started to grow tense. If they completed the final 10% and still found no hidden entrance or secret chamber…

That meant they might not be able to proceed any further, no matter how confident they were that something lay ahead.

“Here!”

Just as the tension peaked, an excited voice suddenly rang out.

Qi Xuan had found something in a corner and was laughing loudly. “I found it! I found it! Hahaha!”

Everyone looked up in surprise and quickly rushed over.

Yu Xian withdrew his spiritual energy and stepped over, eyes lighting up with curiosity.

They saw that the spot where Qi Xuan stood had been lightly struck with lightning. Under his thunder spiritual energy, a faint hexagram formation was revealed on the ground.

But as the lightning faded, the formation slowly vanished again.

“This unknown formation must be the key to opening the inner chamber!”

“Qi Daoist is truly gifted! Such a deeply hidden formation, and you still found it!”

“Qi Daoist’s thunder art is domineering and counters the cold yin energy of the tomb owner. No wonder it activated the formation. Truly, you’re the chosen one.”

The praises poured in. Everyone was overjoyed.

Qi Xuan tried to suppress his smile, feigning calm, though the joy in his eyes was unmistakable.

He waved his hand modestly, “Ah, Daoist Tong flatters me. I was just lucky. Had you searched this spot, you’d have found it too.”

“But now that the formation’s been revealed… how do we activate it?” someone asked with a frown.

It was Ge Xiyu, who was quite knowledgeable in formations. “I know a bit about formations myself, but I’ve never seen one like this. Do any of you recognize it?”

Everyone had memorized the formation’s pattern earlier. But no one recognized it.

As for Yu Xian, he was only eleven years old. Even though he had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, his experience and knowledge were limited. It was perfectly normal for him not to know.

“If even Ge Daoist doesn’t recognize it, I doubt the rest of us will,” Qi Xuan sighed. “Does this mean our journey ends here? Do we go back and spend months studying ancient texts to identify the formation and then return?”

Last time, another group had been blocked by the stone gate and it had taken them over a year to return.

Now, a formation blocked their way. Who knew how long this delay would be?

Still, at least they’d gained a lot today.

Except for the greatest treasure—the white jade cauldron—which had been taken by Jiang Xiaolong. If he didn’t give them a fair share later, they wouldn’t let it slide.

Everyone fell into silent thought.

Yu Xian, calm as ever, didn’t mind either way.

After all, he had captured seventeen ghost orbs. Once refined into Yin Pills, they would nourish his soul, divine sense, and mind.

And Jiang Xiaolong was sure to compensate him—he had gained quite a bit today.

But Yu Xian suddenly said, “Fellow Daoists, I noticed something. This formation seems connected to the one on the stone gate earlier.”

“Hmm?”

Everyone turned toward him.

Yu Xian continued, “That formation on the stone gate was quite complex. But if you remove eighteen segments, it forms an eight-pointed star. This one here is a six-pointed star. They may not be from the same school, but they’re likely related. Could they be a clue left by the tomb owner?”

“You’re saying,” Jiang Xiaolong’s eyes lit up, “this formation also requires feeding it alchemical pills as a key?!”

Yu Xian nodded silently.

Jiang Xiaolong laughed heartily. “My junior brother is absolutely right! Since this tomb was designed for people to enter, it’s full of trials. Just like the first door required a pill, this formation may need one as well!”

He turned to Qi Xuan. “Qi Daoist, would you mind using your lightning again to reveal the formation clearly?”

“Of course.”

Qi Xuan nodded and pointed his finger.

Zzzzt!

A streak of lightning shot out, landing on the ground. The six-pointed star formation reappeared, filled with mysterious, intricate patterns.

There are countless six-pointed star formations, but even the slightest difference in internal structure made them entirely different formations.

Everyone studied it carefully.

Jiang Xiaolong stepped forward, crouched down, and after examining it for a while, suddenly said, “Everyone, please step back.”

They all obeyed and moved two steps back.

Jiang Xiaolong waved his hand.

Thud!

The massive white jade cauldron landed firmly on the formation. Its tripod feet matched the formation perfectly—completely seamless.

“As expected!”

Jiang Xiaolong’s eyes gleamed. “If I’m not wrong, this formation doesn’t just require a pill to be fed. It wants us to refine a pill on the spot—only then will it recognize us and open the way!”

“Alchemy…”

Immediately, the five others looked at Jiang Xiaolong and Yu Xian.

Only these two could perform alchemy—especially at a high level.

“Another fifth-grade pill?” Ge Xiyu said solemnly. “The herbs for that won’t be easy to come by.”

“Hahaha!”

Jiang Xiaolong laughed. “No worries. I brought plenty of herbs. I was well-prepared. And with Junior Brother Yu’s skillful hands, he brewed that Yellow Dragon Blood Dust Pill with me in just one try! I still have enough ingredients.”

“That’s truly a blessing,” Tong Xue said with joy. “Daoist Jiang, this pill furnace is clearly meant for you. Please, refine the pill and open the formation!”

Although Yu Xian had helped before, no one really believed he had played a major role. He was too young.

To them, Jiang Xiaolong had likely done most of the work last time.

“Very well!”

Jiang Xiaolong nodded without hesitation. “Everyone, give me some space. I will now begin refining a fifth-grade pill!”

With the new white jade cauldron in hand, he was full of confidence.

In the past, he had failed multiple times attempting to make a fifth-grade pill. But now, he was ready to try again!

The group stepped back and held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

They knew disturbing an alchemist mid-process could ruin everything.

Yet none of them were willing to leave either, so they simply waited in silence.

Yu Xian stood at a distance, watching intently with a trace of anticipation.

Watching someone refine a fifth-grade pill alone was a precious opportunity to learn.

This, too, was a kind of fortune.

In this vast world, studying diligently and improving daily was its own form of great fortune.

Don’t wait for danger or death to come before regretting the opportunities you failed to seize in your youth.

Silence returned. The only sounds in the tomb were Jiang Xiaolong’s breathing and the steady beat of his accelerating heart.

This would be his first successful fifth-grade pill—he believed that now.

He raised his hand and summoned a pile of dragon rock coal, igniting eight pieces to heat the furnace.

Then, one by one, he laid out the herbs—calm and composed.

Yu Xian recognized them all. They were the ingredients for both Yellow Dust Pills and Dragon Blood Tempering Pills.

Clearly, Jiang Xiaolong intended to refine a Yellow Dragon Blood Dust Pill by himself.

Because this formation was a test, no one was allowed to assist. Only those who could complete the pill alone would be acknowledged by the formation and allowed to pass.

In mere moments, the ingredients were all laid out, including a vial of earth drake blood.

While arranging the herbs, Jiang Xiaolong also calmed his mind and adjusted his state.

He was a seasoned alchemist. Though he hadn’t succeeded with beast pills before, he knew how to remain calm and focused.

Looking at the cauldron, it had yet to change in color, but the heat had already built up.

The furnace was ready.

The alchemy… would now begin!