Chapter 49Entering the mausoleum of the great alchemist

Chapter 49: 49Entering the mausoleum of the great alchemist

49 Entering the mausoleum of the great alchemist

Yun Che heard the sound of the enormous stone doors closing as the last ray of outside light slowly disappeared through the gap.

The twenty Medusas remained spread along the sides of the corridor, keeping their weapons ready as they watched the shadows around them.

The ten cultivators from the Profound Flower Sect gathered together. Lian Yue maintained a firm and vigilant posture, while Zhao Ming examined the walls with evident curiosity.

Guo Han had approached one of the ancient inscriptions. His eyes moved across each symbol attentively, trying to understand the hidden meaning behind the writing.

Su Meilin remained a few steps behind, observing not only the inscriptions but also everyone’s reactions around her.

Chen Ruyue, meanwhile, was interested in the ancient inscriptions carved into the walls. Yun Che, for his part, stood at the front of everyone.

The white mask completely concealed his face, and he wore black robes, continuing to act as the mysterious masked cultivator.

After a while, Chen Ruyue slowly approached one of the walls.

"These inscriptions..." As she spoke, she extended her hand but stopped before touching the stone.

"...aren’t merely decorative inscriptions. They seem to contain alchemical secrets."

Hearing these words, Guo Han immediately shifted his attention to Chen Ruyue.

"Sister Ruyue, do you recognize some of these symbols?"

Chen Ruyue narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Some of the words are ancient, but I can recognize references related to the purification of herbs and the preservation of spiritual essence."

Zhao Ming crossed his arms.

"So this place really did belong to an ancient master alchemist."

Guo Han let out a short laugh.

"What did you expect to find? A training hall for swordsmen? Even if the name is the Mausoleum of the Great Alchemist."

Zhao Ming shot him a look.

"Hmph, that’s not what I said."

"I’m only confirming that the Medusas’ stories weren’t completely exaggerated."

One of the nearby Medusas heard their conversation.

"They aren’t merely stories. They are ancient records concerning the Mausoleum of the Great Alchemist."

The cultivators’ gazes turned toward her, while the warrior kept her spear resting against her body.

"The mausoleum dates back to an era far older than ours. Even among the Medusas, little information has been preserved. What we know has been passed down from generation to generation."

Lian Yue asked:

"Do you know how the tests work?"

The Medusa hesitated.

"We know one thing or another."

"What?"

The woman looked down the corridor before answering.

"We know that there are trials."

Zhao Ming raised an eyebrow.

"We don’t need any historical records to know that."

The Medusa ignored the provocation.

"Unfortunately, the trials aren’t the same as before. There are no precedents for each trial."

Guo Han immediately became more serious.

"Every time someone enters, the trial is different?"

"Exactly. Everything, including the architecture, is different each time."

"Every time someone enters the mausoleum, the path can change. The rooms can be different. The ingredients can be different. The formulas can be different. Even the way the mausoleum evaluates the participants can change."

Su Meilin narrowed her eyes.

"So the experiences of previous entrants don’t guarantee that we’ll know how to overcome this one."

"Fortunately, that is the truth."

The Medusa slowly breathed in.

"That is why no Medusa can tell you what you will encounter inside. We may know stories about the Great Alchemist, but we cannot know the judgment of this particular entry."

Yun Che remained silent, listening carefully.

If the mausoleum truly changed its trials, then no one could simply follow instructions left behind by those who had entered before.

That explained why the inheritance had still not been claimed despite so many attempts over the years. It was because there was no guaranteed method.

They would have to discover the rules as they advanced. He was pulled from his thoughts when a childish voice echoed through the corridor.

"Blah, blah, blah, blah."

"How boring."

"You people talk too much."

Everyone froze upon hearing those words. Lian Yue immediately placed a hand on her sword.

The twenty Medusas raised their spears almost simultaneously. Zhao Ming took half a step backward before regaining his composure. Guo Han quickly turned toward the source of the voice.

Su Meilin searched for the hidden presence. Only Yun Che did not move.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Small footsteps echoed between the pillars as a child who looked like a ghost slowly emerged from the darkness.

The child appeared to be no more than seven years old.

His clothes were ancient, simple, and elegant, completely different from the garments worn by cultivators of the current era.

His black hair was slightly disheveled, and his childish face carried a curious and mischievous expression.

The child stopped before the thirty participants and placed his hands behind his back.

"So you are the ones who entered this time."

"It’s already been 55 years since someone entered. Or was it 100? Forget it. I stopped counting at some point."

One of the Medusas kept her spear pointed at him.

"Who are you? What are you? A ghost?"

The child looked at the tip of the spear before raising his eyes toward the warrior.

"Seriously? You don’t know who I am?"

"No. Should I?"

"What a shame."

The child made a small turn on his feet before beginning to walk again.

"If you don’t even know who is standing before you, how do you expect to receive the inheritance?"

Zhao Ming frowned.

"Wait."

The child stopped.

"What is it?"

"Are you the spirit of the Great Alchemist or something?"

The child tilted his head.

"Perhaps. Who knows?"

Zhao Ming narrowed his eyes.

"Perhaps?"

The child sighed.

"Do you always ask such boring questions?"

Luo Xin discreetly approached Su Meilin.

"Is he really a ghost child?"

Su Meilin continued staring at the figure.

"I don’t know."

The child immediately turned his head.

"Good answer."

Su Meilin was slightly surprised. The child smiled at her.

"You’re interesting. And less boring than the others."

He then turned his attention back to the others.

"But that doesn’t matter."

The ghost child clapped his hands, and in the next instant, the entire mausoleum trembled.

When the spiritual formations lit up on the ground, a small luminous sphere appeared above the head of every participant.

The lights floated silently, emitting a pure white radiance. The Medusas looked upward.

Zhao Ming frowned.

"What is this?"

The child spread his arms.

"The judgment. What else would it be? Are you as stupid as a door?"

Three inscriptions slowly appeared on the ground.

APTITUDE.

KNOWLEDGE.

COMPREHENSION.

Guo Han stared at the words.

"Three criteria?"

The child smiled.

"Not necessarily."

Guo Han fell silent.

"You’ll find out as you advance."

A Medusa stepped forward.

"And what happens to us if we fail?"

The childish expression disappeared.

The child pointed toward the light above the warrior’s head.

"Then the light will go out. Isn’t that obvious?"

The Medusa tightened her grip on her spear.

"And what does it mean when the light goes out?"

"You will leave."

"Will we be expelled from the mausoleum?"

The child nodded.

"The mausoleum doesn’t need to kill those it considers unworthy."

Silence.

That single sentence was enough to completely change the atmosphere of the place.

Until then, some participants had still viewed entering the mausoleum as an opportunity to find treasures.

Now, everyone understood that the mausoleum itself was judging each individual.

The child took several steps backward.

"Let’s start playing. I’m bored again."

"First trial."

The ground beneath his feet seemed to disappear.

"Identify the herbs despite the grafting."

Everything turned white, and in the next instant, Yun Che opened his eyes to find himself in a new scene.

He was in an enormous underground garden.

Small trees grew among black stones. Luminous flowers covered the ground, while dozens of garden beds were arranged with extreme precision. Different aromas filled the air.

Chen Ruyue immediately began examining the new surroundings.

"There are many rare species of spiritual herbs here."

Guo Han approached.

"They all seem to have been mixed together."