The tomb chamber was vast, and the platform before them was proportionally larger.
Zhang Qilin scanned his surroundings, recalling previous experiences, while Fatty, unable to comprehend the situation, focused on searching for treasures.
Five statues were arranged on the platform.
In the center was a spacious corridor, and behind the stone carvings stood over a dozen pillars resembling undersea needles, traversing the entire tomb.
At the very back of the tomb chamber were three coffins. Zhang Tian couldn't discern their type from such a distance.
"Huh? That's not right. I remember in the previous Xisha Underwater Tomb, we shouldn't have entered here first. And where did this formation come from?"
Zhang Tian was bewildered.
In the plot from his previous life, Wu Tianzhen and his companions, after descending into the underwater tomb, had tunneled their way through everything they could.
This tomb chamber was completely unfamiliar.
Zhang Tian speculated that beneath the tomb chamber lay mirrors or other burial chambers, possibly leading to a merging of worlds and a mutation of the tomb.
"Boss, shall we go up and take a look?"
Hu Bayi eyed the platform and spoke.
If they relied solely on observation from below, it would take an eternity to break this formation.
"Yes, we'll go up. Fatty, search the perimeter for any clues. Be careful of your footing, and don't touch the walls."
Zhang Tian instructed. Fatty's abilities were not as effective inside; his role here was to find treasures and other clues. His strengths truly shone in external environments.
Fatty nodded and surveyed his surroundings.
The four individuals had clearly divided their tasks.
Subsequently, Zhang Tian, Hu Bayi, and Zhang Qilin proceeded towards the steps.
Several small steps led up to the platform.
"Don't rush. Let's check if there are any mechanisms on these steps first."
After the previous experience with the Pear Blossom Rain of Arrows, Zhang Tian dared not be careless.
The "Gui Jin Yang" hexagram indicated that this would not be a simple mechanism, but one accompanied by numerous dangers.
The group cautiously ascended the steps.
After confirming the absence of any mechanisms, they finally reached the platform.
On the platform, Hu Bayi and Zhang Tian could now clearly see the stone statues.
Zhang Tian also got a clear view of the coffins behind them.
They were three coffins made of golden nanmu wood. These were undoubtedly corpse-raising coffins. Zhang Tian knew that inside, there should be a multi-limbed female corpse.
However, Zhang Tian hadn't expected to find three such coffins.
"It seems like this is indeed nightmare difficulty."
Zhang Tian's heart sank. They had barely entered, and they were already presented with a formation and three corpse-raising coffins.
One wrong move could lead to a situation where parents would "resurrect" their son.
"Boss, these ten statues are very powerful."
"They are ten of the thirty-six marshals of Taoism!"
"In ancient times, there were the thirty-six marshals of Taoism and the eighteen Arhats of Buddhism. These ten marshals are not to be trifled with."
Hu Bayi explained. Zhang Tian could also recognize them, as he had studied Taoism and the techniques he acquired from the Banishers of Mountains carried similar meanings.
"These ten should correspond to Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning, Zhenwu, Gold, Wood, Water, and Fire, and Earth."
Zhang Tian observed the ten marshals surrounding them.
They were arranged in two rows: Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning formed one row, while Gold, Wood, Water, and Fire formed another.
They seemed to be in opposition to each other.
While they could also be named after constellations, Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning seemed more fitting for practical application.
"What ambition to use the Ten Marshals to guard a tomb! If Taoism knew about this, they'd go mad."
Zhang Tian remarked softly, taking out an eight trigrams disc.
In case of an emergency, he planned to activate a shield and escape.
"Boss, this is difficult to break. We need not only to understand formations but also to break them in a Taoist manner."
Hu Bayi said, looking at the Ten Marshals.
These stone statues were immense, standing three meters tall, their eyes fixed on the passage below, exuding a powerful aura.
"In Qimen Dunjia, there is knowledge of formations, but I haven't reached that part yet. However, I have studied some of the profound principles of formations."
"Regarding this formation, I believe it is the Tiangang Ten Star Lord Formation. The ten generals are also known as the Ten Dao Lords, and Dao Lords are celestial beings among the thirty-eight celestial stars."
"My guess is that we need to reposition the opposing and incompatible statues to break the formation."
Zhang Tian pondered. Both Taoism and other sects favored using celestial stars to represent their envoys and generals.
"Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning, but why is there a martial general? Gold, Wood, Water, Fire are normal."
"Boss, Wind should oppose Wood or Water."
Hu Bayi suggested. His compass was of little use now.
Zhang Tian nodded. "Gold conquers Thunder, Earth conquers Lightning. But how do the latter ones counter each other?"
Zhang Tian thought of Water, Fire, Wind, and the Zhenwu General.
This left four.
He was particularly puzzled by the Zhenwu General's presence.
As they walked between the colossal stone statues, just as predicted, the ten statues rumbled.
The ten marshal statues immediately surrounded Zhang Tian and the other two, forming a large circle.
"It seems that as soon as someone enters, the formation activates."
"We need to break the formation as quickly as possible."
Zhang Tian said, his gaze falling upon the Thunder General, whose hand was pointed towards the ground.
The pressure emanating from it was immense.
Moreover, after the formation activated, its fingers began to emit lightning.
"Boss, this thing seems to be able to cast spells."
Hu Bayi was taken aback, observing the generals of different colors.
Indeed, these were not just statues but protectors.
They were far more formidable than the tomb-guarding beasts they had encountered before. Most of those were demonic beasts and relatively easy to deal with.
However, without sufficient skill, breaking this formation was a pipe dream.
"Before we arrived, this formation must have already been active, otherwise, it wouldn't have surrounded us so quickly."
"Qilin, search these statues for any mechanisms, and be careful to dodge attacks."
As Zhang Tian spoke, he dodged a bolt of lightning that descended.
A large black pit appeared on the ground.
It was the Lightning General casting its spell.
Its fingers seemed to possess magical power, constantly summoning lightning.
The other nine also displayed their unique abilities.
Hu Bayi and Zhang Tian dodged constantly, a chilling wind sweeping through the tomb.
Considering they were underwater, wind was a preposterous notion, yet Zhang Tian and the others' hair was being blown about.
"Boss, we need to break the formation quickly, or we'll be worn down and killed just by attrition."
Hu Bayi said with seriousness. Zhang Tian nodded, and they continued to probe around the statues.
"There's a mechanism."
Suddenly, Zhang Qilin exclaimed as if he had discovered something.
Dodging numerous attacks, Zhang Tian and Hu Bayi rushed to Zhang Qilin's side.
Fortunately, the attacks were not overwhelmingly intense but intermittent. If they occurred one second after another, these statues would be too formidable; even Wang Zanghai might not have been able to break them.
Fatty, standing outside, had his eyes wide open.
"This thing can even summon lightning and fireballs! Luckily, Fatty didn't go in. Boss, wait, Fatty is coming to save you!"
Fatty said, his legs trembling slightly as he looked at the lightning-filled platform.
This was too surreal.
Fatty circled around and realized that he couldn't even ascend the platform now; it was enveloped in lightning.
Fatty let out a sigh of relief, his heart pounding for Zhang Tian and the others.
His gaze shifted upwards, and suddenly, at the top, in a gap between the stones, a white shadow, like a mouse, disappeared at an incredible speed.
Fatty rubbed his eyes.
"Huh? Did Fatty misread?"
Fatty was puzzled and started to climb the stone pillars to investigate.