As Director Dong's disciples and the leader of the protected area were taken away, the excavation progress resumed.
The influential figure walked to Professor Li's side and extended his right hand, saying, "Professor Li, proceed with confidence. I will fully support you! Many leaders in our Weihe City also support you!"
"Our Weihe City lacks a city emblem. If you can truly unearth Bai Qi's tomb, it will be a great merit not just for us, but for all citizens of Weihe!"
"So, please don't have any reservations. For the sake of inheriting historical culture and benefiting the local people, thank you for your hard work! And thank you to all the workers here!"
Professor Li, having narrowly escaped disaster, was unable to hold back tears.
He knew, of course, that this influential figure had only spoken half of what he intended. The other half was likely spoken on behalf of someone else.
Most likely, the Ma family had intervened.
And behind the Ma family was Ying Chen.
Ultimately, he was indebted to Ying Chen.
Professor Li grasped the influential figure's hand and shook it repeatedly.
The influential figure quietly leaned closer to Professor Li's ear and whispered, "What I said just now was not entirely for show. This is truly a gamble with my future. If you can unearth Bai Qi's tomb and prove it's genuine, I will benefit greatly from it. If you cannot..."
The influential figure did not finish his sentence.
Professor Li understood without him needing to say it.
How many years had Director Dong been established in the field? The number of his disciples was incalculable!
If Professor Li failed to unearth Bai Qi's tomb, Director Dong would undoubtedly use it as an excuse to launch a fierce counterattack!
Not only would Professor Li be finished, but this influential figure would also be in trouble!
Therefore, the influential figure's claim that this was a gamble with his future was not an exaggeration.
"If you are not at ease, you can stay and observe!" Professor Li said with great confidence.
The influential figure hesitated for a moment, about to refuse.
Just then, the sound of vehicles approached.
As the cars neared, a familiar face jumped out.
It was Director Dong!
Accompanying Director Dong were several individuals.
They were all key figures from Weihe City!
Professor Li was taken aback, not expecting Director Dong to arrive so quickly.
This meant that from the beginning, Director Dong had not delegated this matter to anyone else but had personally overseen it!
This showed how wary he was of Professor Li!
It also indicated that he himself understood the grave doubts surrounding the Bai Qi tomb he had excavated, which did not appear to be genuine!
He feared that if Professor Li truly unearthed the real tomb, it would ruin his status and reputation!
"Don't be nervous, I'm just here to take a look."
"To see what kind of trick the fellow labeled as a disgraced scholar by our archaeology circles can pull!"
Director Dong's eyes gleamed as he spoke contemptuously.
Professor Li gave Director Dong a deep look, knowing that words were useless at this point.
Only by unearthing Bai Qi's tomb could he strike a heavy blow to this academic tyrant!
Without another word, he turned and threw himself back into the excavation work.
The influential figure, who had intended to leave, was now compelled to stay, anxiously observing the progress on site.
Time ticked by.
A large area of earth was dug away, but no trace of an ancient tomb was found.
Even Professor Li began to have doubts.
Had Ying Chen told him lies?
Had he chosen the wrong location?
Director Dong chuckled repeatedly, shaking his head.
Just as he was about to make a sarcastic remark, a shout of surprise rang out.
"We found it!"
It was Liang Yu who had first discovered the tomb door!
Professor Li rushed over.
Director Dong's smile froze, and then he too strode towards Liang Yu.
"Teacher, the door! It's the tomb door!" Liang Yu reported with great excitement.
Professor Li leaped into the pit and personally cleared away the loose soil from the tomb door, revealing its entire facade.
Upon seeing the two lines of small seal script carved on the tomb door, Professor Li was so moved that he nearly wept.
Director Dong stumbled and fell to the ground!
The small seal script read, "Tomb of Wu'an Jun Bai Qi!"
And the inscription was none other than that of the First Emperor, Ying Zheng!
This meant that the long-standing legend was true! After ascending the throne, the First Emperor deemed that Bai Qi, who had been forced to commit suicide, had contributed more than he had erred. He thus posthumously enfeoffed Bai Qi and rebuilt his mausoleum!
The Bai Qi tomb Director Dong had excavated in Xianjiao was merely an abandoned fake!
And the one before them, bearing the inscription of the First Emperor, was the genuine Bai Qi tomb rebuilt!
"How can this be? How can this be?" Director Dong murmured, distraught.
He had dared to come to the site because he gambled that Professor Li would not be able to find the real tomb.
After all, despite the efforts of generations, only a fake tomb in Xianjiao had been found over the years.
How could Professor Li have the sheer luck to stumble upon the real tomb?
As long as Professor Li couldn't find the real tomb, Director Dong's reputation would remain unassailable!
Who would have thought that Professor Li would actually find it!
Director Dong's heart sank. He wished he could grab the controls of the excavator and smash the tomb to pieces, destroying all evidence!
However, he could only think about it.
He had graduated from Yanjing University of Archaeology, not Blue Mountain.
He didn't know how to operate an excavator, nor did he have the courage.
Yet, a glimmer of hope still remained in his heart. He still had a trump card!
That was...
With that thought, Director Dong slowly straightened up.
He stared coldly at Professor Li in the pit, "In the past hundred years, at least ten Bai Qi tombs have been unearthed in the northwest region alone, many of which were forgeries! How can you be sure this tomb isn't fake? How can you be sure it wasn't rebuilt by later generations based on unofficial histories?"
Before Professor Li could respond to Director Dong's words, Liang Yu could no longer contain himself. "I actually respected you as a senior archaeologist before. Now, I see you for what you are: a shameless scoundrel blinded by false fame!"
"When we proposed the excavation plan, you said we couldn't find anything. When we found something, you claimed it was fake. So, you've said both sides of the argument, and no matter what, we're wrong, right?"
"That's right, after all, you're a big shot in the field, you control the narrative. If you say it's wrong, then it's wrong, and who dares to object? But don't forget, heaven has eyes, and the earth has a spirit. You will eventually face retribution!"
Director Dong's expression turned extremely grim.
Being reprimanded by a junior like this was utterly humiliating!
Most importantly, this junior had hit the nail on the head regarding his intentions.
He had planned to use his influence and his control over the narrative to twist right into wrong and wrong into right!
At that point, Professor Li would still have to grovel and would be unable to recover!
However, having been exposed, Director Dong had to make a statement. He cleared his throat, a hint of mockery and cunning flashing in his eyes, "Li Junru, didn't you insist that the Youxi Sword I excavated was fake? That I didn't dare to have the Youxi Sword re-authenticated?"
"Fine, as long as you can unearth the so-called genuine Youxi Sword from this tomb, I will admit that this tomb is real!"
"I will bow my head to you, admit my mistakes, and apologize!"
"And I will publish it in the newspapers, acknowledging that your academic level is superior to mine!"
A stir!
Hearing Director Dong's words, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar.