Chapter 326: A New Tomb? The Mysterious Identity of the Tomb Owner

"This mountain isn't exactly a prime location within the dragon veins of Qinshan."

"But as a burial mound to nourish a tomb, it couldn't be more perfect."

Ning Fei had never understood why the tomb owner would choose this place for their burial.

Now, looking at the scene inside the cave, he understood.

"Temple Master Ning, could you explain a bit? I still don't quite understand." Zhang Ke was completely baffled and had no choice but to ask.

The others all looked toward Ning Fei.

After all, during typical cultural relic explorations, a tomb held nothing more than the owner's coffin and some burial goods.

The probability of encountering traps was extremely low, and finding living creatures inside a tomb was practically impossible.

Yet this place was not only swarming with bats, but it also contained a subterranean river covered in moss.

"Captain Zhang, were you never curious why the tomb beneath the stalactite cave contained a map pointing here?"

Ning Fei countered with a question of his own.

Zhang Ke froze for a moment.

The experts at the Research Institute had considered this question. Their ultimate conclusion was that it was simply a map with no special significance.

"We really haven't thought much about that. Is there some other reason?" Zhang Ke asked.

Ning Fei nodded.

"The Qinshan Mountain range is a dragon vein. If we compare the entire Qinshan Mountain range to a dragon coiled upon the earth, or rather a person lying on the ground, then where would our current position be on this 'person'?"

Ning Fei looked at the map on his mobile phone and continued.

Zhang Ke also looked at the map. He pondered for a moment before saying, "We are in the middle. If, as you say, this is the head and this is the tail, then our position is roughly the abdomen."

"To be precise, it's the stomach!"

"This is a mound used to nourish blood. By sacrificing living people on the altar, it steals their life force to transport nutrients to the true main tomb."

"And the channel for that transportation is likely the subterranean river."

"This person was terrifying. Not only did they study biology, but they also had a deep understanding of geological structures."

Hearing Ning Fei's words, the members of the exploration team exchanged dismayed glances.

The viewers online were equally dumbfounded.

"This place is the 'stomach' of the Qinshan Mountain range?"

"This is sounding more and more mystical by the minute."

"Look at the video! Oh my god!"

Right then, the crowd let out another gasp of shock.

Looking closely, they realized that as Ning Fei navigated the drone downward, the footage revealed more than just dark purple moss around the altar—there were skeletons scattered everywhere.

"This..." Zhang Ke didn't know what to say anymore.

"Just as I expected, that purple moss is highly toxic and even produces poisonous gas. It's a plant specifically cultivated by the tomb owner."

"The moment someone steps onto that altar, they are poisoned."

"That tomb raider probably realized it early and tried to flee, but it was already too late."

Ning Fei shook his head as he explained.

"Then why hasn't the toxic gas wafted out of the cave?" someone nearby asked.

"Density. The poisonous gas has a higher density, so it sinks to the bottom. This cave is situated relatively high up, and since there's no wind inside, the gas can't rise. You can only be poisoned if you drop down to the altar."

"So that's how it is."

"Temple Master Ning, you just said this is the stomach. Then where is the true main tomb? The brain? Does that mean it's in this easternmost area?" Following Ning Fei's line of thought, Zhang Ke asked.

"No. The ancients lacked a sufficient understanding of the brain. They believed the most important organ in the human body was the heart. Therefore, even if this is a nourishing mound, the main tomb should be located at the heart."

Ning Fei explained, then immediately asked, "Did you bring gas masks?"

The group shook their heads. Zhang Ke asked, "Why, do you want to go down and take a look, Temple Master Ning?"

Hearing this, Ning Fei laughed at once. "It's so dangerous, of course I'm not going down. I'm only responsible for leading the way. My point is, if none of you brought a gas mask, then let's leave. It's simply impossible to go down there."

Seeing that the exploration team was about to leave, many netizens began urging them on.

"Hurry up and go down!"

"You finally found the tomb, and you aren't even going down to check it out?"

"Yeah, you guys are such cowards!"

"Do you people have no shame? If you want to go down so badly, do it yourselves! Aren't you just trying to get them killed?"

The world never lacked apathetic onlookers looking for a show, but Ning Fei was never one to be swayed by the opinions of others. Thus, without missing a beat, he grabbed Bai Yi and left the cave.

The members of the exploration team exchanged glances. In truth, they had brought gas masks on this trip.

But seeing the stark white bones inside the cave had caused them all to lose their nerve.

"Captain Zhang, what should we do? If you say we go down, I'll go down," one team member said.

Zhang Ke shook his head and offered a helpless, bitter smile. "Forget it. The higher-ups will send specialized exploration personnel over. Our mission was only to find the tomb's location."

"Even Temple Master Ning refuses to go down. I'm afraid going down there would just be courting death."

With that, Zhang Ke put on an apologetic smile and hurriedly chased after Ning Fei.

The other members followed suit.

Seeing the exploration team leave, the internet erupted into chatter.

However, for the vast majority of people, just being able to see a ruin from the Zhou Dynasty was already an eye-opening experience.

After exiting the cave, Zhang Ke received a call from a leader at the Cultural Relics Protection Bureau.

The leader's instruction was clear: they had to go down.

They were currently live-streaming, and public attention was sky-high. At a critical juncture like this, how could the exploration team back down? How could they give up so easily? Would they even be considered public servants then?

There were far too many people in the world who could talk big when their own lives weren't on the line.

"Temple Master Ning, we did bring gas masks. Do you want to go down with us?" Zhang Ke approached Ning Fei, asking with a somewhat awkward expression.

"There's poisonous gas down there. Even with a gas mask, getting the gas on your skin is bad news. You didn't happen to bring a full Protective Suit, did you?" Ning Fei pointed out.

"We can just change clothes when we get out. A lot of people are watching us right now. Wouldn't it look bad if we didn't go down?" Zhang Ke pressed.

At that, a trace of astonishment surfaced on Ning Fei's face. "What does people watching us have to do with whether it looks bad or not? Aren't we refusing to go down simply because there's toxic gas and we're inadequately prepared?"

"Yes, you're absolutely right," Zhang Ke said with a helpless, bitter smile.

He thought to himself that it would be wonderful if he could be as carefree and unbothered as Ning Fei.

"There's no need to go in there. As I said, the main tomb is at the heart of the Qinshan Mountain range, which is that mountain over there." Ning Fei pointed toward a towering mountain in the distance.

"That is where the true tomb might be!"

"But, Temple Master Ning, these are all just your guesses."

"The Cultural Relics Protection Bureau has already dispatched a squad to rush over. They're expected to arrive by tomorrow, and we plan to go down and take a look together then."

"That mountain is so far away. It would probably take nearly two days to climb it. We definitely wouldn't make it in time."

Hearing Zhang Ke's words, Ning Fei only smiled and said:

"That's fine. My mission was to help you find the spot marked on the map. Now that we've found it, my job is done."

"I'll spend the rest of my time wandering around the mountains on my own."

Zhang Ke was stunned. He wanted to say something but found the words stuck in his throat.

Ning Fei was a man of strong convictions. Someone like him had his own way of thinking and acting, and he never cared about the opinions or judgment of others.

Zhang Ke could only marvel inwardly: this man truly was an immortal-like figure.

Afterward, Ning Fei shouldered his tent and hiking bag, waved at Zhang Ke, and left the exploration team with Bai Yi.

On the road.

"Brother, this tomb is already so dangerous. Won't the main tomb be even worse?" Bai Yi asked out of concern.

Ning Fei shook his head. "No. Who would fill their own resting place with poison and skeletons? Those are only found in vicious killing formations. The main tomb will actually be the safest."

"I see. Brother, is there really a tomb on that mountain?"

"It's highly likely."

The two strolled through the mountain forest, appearing calm and unhurried.

A hint of excitement surfaced in Ning Fei's eyes.

Judging by that vicious formation, the bats and the dark purple algae must have been cultivated by the tomb owner.

To think someone understood biotechnology back in the Zhou Dynasty... he had to admit, the ancients of Huaxia were truly miraculous.

Because of this, he grew even more curious about what the true main tomb would look like.