Brilliant lights flashed wildly before their eyes. After a dizzying whirl, everyone felt their legs tremble as they dropped from midair to the ground.
The group blinked away their dizziness, and after a moment, finally saw where they were—a vast, black iron hall surrounded by towering, majestic marble pillars.
Opposite them stood a massive double-door of black iron, tightly shut. The doors were embossed with vertical rows of spears and halberds, and at the center was a magnificent steed—its mane and tail flying like hair, all four hooves raised, wings sprouting from its sides, poised to take flight.
Strangely, there was also a large, character-shaped indentation in the middle of the iron doors, as if something could be embedded there. Despite being deep underground and cut off from the world, the place wasn't dark at all.
"Uh... Where are we?" Shawn Young asked in surprise, glancing around.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the site of the Qing Dynasty's Eight Banners Dragon Vein. If we open that iron door ahead, we'll enter Emperor Noah Archer's burial chamber!" Annabelle Hung said with certainty after closely examining their surroundings.
"Ah! So this is the Great Qing Dragon Vein? Then there must be countless treasures inside!" Rachel Sasaki cried out.
"Of course! When the Qing Dynasty entered China, they plundered countless rare treasures, most of which are hidden within this Dragon Vein!" Annabelle Hung replied.
"Wow... If we haul all those treasures out, we'll be as rich as a nation!" Rachel Sasaki's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"No way, these are national treasures. Until we've confirmed everything, no one can touch them!" Jade Swann declared, her expression righteous and stern.
"Pure yang blood? Wait a minute..." Shawn Young was startled.
"We're all women here, so none of us have pure yang blood. But you practice orthodox Qian Dao, your blood is pure yang. So you need to smear your blood on the eyes and wings of the Heavenly Blood Stallion!" Annabelle Hung explained.
"Wait—using his blood for the ritual... Won't he die from blood loss?!" Luna Xiao asked anxiously.
"Honestly... I can't guarantee that! I just know this is how you open the gate, but how much blood it takes, I have no clue..." Annabelle Hung admitted quickly.
"No way! That's basically sending Shawn Young to his death! This can't happen!" Jade Swann immediately jumped in to object.
"This is way too risky... I object!" May Gu chimed in urgently.
"I object too..." Rachel Sasaki quickly added.
"Annabelle, is there really no other way?" Luna Xiao asked, her voice tense.
"This is the only way. It's the sole method to enter the Imperial Mausoleum and reach the Dragon Vein!" Annabelle Hung said frankly.
Everyone fell silent at her words. Suddenly, another piercing shriek echoed overhead, followed by a shower of shattered stone fragments and a trembling floor. Dread crept over them—Fiona Nangong was raging!
"Enough hesitation—I'll do it!" Shawn Young steeled himself, bit his right index finger, and gathered his pure yang blood, smearing it over the eyes of the Heavenly Blood Stallion relief.
Almost instantly, the Heavenly Blood Stallion's eyes glimmered with spirit light, as if coming alive. Shawn gritted his teeth, bit his tongue, and spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the stallion's wings.
As soon as the stallion's wings were stained with blood, they twitched, and the whole hall began to tremble. The tightly shut iron gate cracked open a sliver—then stopped.
Seeing this, Shawn realized there wasn't enough blood. Without hesitation, he slashed his left palm with the Oblivion Katana, blood pouring out as he pressed his palm to the stallion's wings.
The Heavenly Blood Stallion's wings greedily absorbed his blood and began to flap. The iron gate slowly swung open, revealing a faint, shimmering glow inside!
With so much blood drained, Shawn's face turned pale and his body shook uncontrollably. As soon as the gate was open enough, he turned to the girls and urged, "Go—hurry, everyone, get inside..."
"Quick, into the Imperial Mausoleum! The iron gate will close again soon..." Annabelle Hung called out.
With that, she dashed in first. Luna Xiao and the others glanced worriedly at Shawn, then hurried in after her.
Once they were all inside the Imperial Mausoleum, Shawn quickly yanked his hand away. The stallion's wings stopped flapping, and the iron gate slowly closed again. Shawn twisted his body and practically rolled into the mausoleum just in time.
"Boom..." As soon as Shawn got inside, the iron gate slammed shut behind him.
Thud! A dark figure dropped from above, landing right in front of the iron gate—it was none other than Fiona Nangong, hot on their heels.
She rushed up to the iron gate and slammed her palms against it—Bam! Bam! The impact thundered, shaking the ground, but the gate didn’t budge, solid as a mountain!
Fiona seemed stunned. She lifted her hands again, channeling even more magic, and struck the gate with renewed force.
Bam! Bam! Two more deafening blows—stone chips rained down from above, but the iron gate remained unmoved, sturdy as ever.
Now furious, Fiona unleashed a barrage of strikes, her terrifying power shaking the entire underground Dragon Vein.
Inside the Imperial Mausoleum, the women exchanged anxious glances, still rattled but relieved to be safe—for now.
But panic soon returned as Shawn, having just entered, collapsed to the ground, his whole body convulsing...
"Shawn, what happened to you?!" May Gu, closest to him, rushed forward to help him up.
Shawn's whole body shuddered, then he suddenly looked up—his eyes were blood-red, his face twisted, and his body trembled violently. He looked utterly terrifying...
"Shawn, what's happening to you? Why do you look like that?" May Gu cried out in shock.
Gritting his teeth, Shawn forced himself to speak through the pain: "I'm having a heavenly tribulation... Quick—take me to the Dragon Vein and find the Divine Solution. Dissolve the inner pellet and let me swallow it..."
With that, he shut his eyes, clenching his teeth as he endured the fierce backlash of the tribulation.
Seeing this, Annabelle Hung rushed forward, tapping several acupoints on his body with lightning speed, finally easing some of Shawn's pain.
"Let's get moving! We have to resolve his tribulation immediately!" Annabelle Hung said, then turned to Luna Xiao: "Xiao, get ready. Whether we can save Shawn or not depends on you!"
"Uh... Okay, but, Annabelle, what exactly should I do to prepare?" Luna Xiao nodded, still curious and nervous.
"Well... it just means Shawn gets to have your precious little piglet you've kept safe for twenty years!" Annabelle Hung grinned mischievously, her cheeks flushing with rare color.
"Wait—Annabelle, I’m sorry, but I don’t get what you mean. And I don’t have any little piglet I’ve been keeping for twenty years…" Luna Xiao stammered, confused and embarrassed.
"Silly girl, it means you’ll sleep with him! That treasure you’ve guarded for twenty years—isn’t that your little piglet? And you’re the only woman here with the Nine Yin Absolute Meridians. You’re the perfect match to counter his raging pure yang energy. Yin balances yang—it’s the way of heaven, and the key to helping him survive this tribulation!" Annabelle Hung explained seriously.
"Oh… I…" Luna Xiao hadn’t expected 'piglet' to mean that. Her face turned bright red, and she was too embarrassed to say another word.
"Of course, if you’re not willing, that’s fine. But if you refuse, he’ll never make it through this tribulation! So, it’s up to you. I’ll go find the Divine Solution. Xiao, you and the others help him into the Dragon Vein." Annabelle Hung glanced at Luna Xiao and strode off.
Rachel Sasaki, May Gu, and Jade Swann exchanged awkward glances, looking at Luna Xiao with weird expressions.
"Why are you all staring at me? Help him inside first!" Luna Xiao called out, her face still flushed with embarrassment.
"Alright, let’s go…" May Gu and Rachel Sasaki replied, lifting Shawn Young on each side and following Annabelle Hung toward the Dragon Vein.
Jade Swann trailed behind them, but as she passed Luna Xiao, she whispered, "Heh… You’re still a virgin, right? That guy’s packing some serious hardware down there—big and hard! But don’t worry, the pain’s just for a second… and trust me, it’ll feel amazing after. Heh…"
Jade Swann winked and hurried inside, leaving Luna Xiao blushing furiously as she brought up the rear, her heart pounding at Jade’s words…