"Mr. Ying, what are you talking about?"
Hearing Ying Chen's muttering, Old Dong and the other two couldn't help but ask.
Ying Chen quickly waved his hand, "Nothing. I'm just sighing about Zhang Daoling's simple and frugal life!"
Old Dong and the other two nodded in agreement, "Yes, who would have thought that a sect's founder would use such a simple coffin? This does align with Zhang Daoling's life's work, after all, since he first emerged, he established himself by dedicating all his family fortune to aiding the disaster-stricken and vanquishing demons."
This is the mystique of religion.
Even experts like Old Dong and the other two were deceived by Zhang Daoling.
Little did they know, setting aside Zhang Daoling's entire tomb, the phoenix feather and golden thunder bamboo coffin alone could have aided countless disaster victims.
"Huh, there seems to be a sundial beneath the high platform! The sundial's pointer is still moving!"
Suddenly, Professor Li exclaimed, pointing ahead.
Upon hearing Professor Li's words, Old Dong and Wang Zizai's first reaction was that it was absolutely impossible.
This is because the structure of a sundial dictates that it can only be used during the day and when it's sunny.
Without sunlight, the sundial's pointer cannot cast a shadow on the dial, let alone move!
Professor Li must have seen it wrong.
Thinking this, Old Dong and Wang Zizai simultaneously focused their gaze on the sundial.
Old Dong even zoomed in with his camera lens.
Immediately, the two exchanged shocked glances, "It's... actually moving!"
Both of them clearly saw the sundial pointer moving!
Although slow, although just a blurry shadow, it was indeed moving!
"Quick, quick, hurry up and examine it closely! If it's not that the three of us are collectively hallucinating, then this might be a major discovery!"
"Who would have thought that ancient Chinese people 1800 years ago had already created a sundial that determined time without relying on sunlight?"
Old Dong and the other two's eyes sparkled with excitement, and they eagerly rushed towards the sundial.
After all, it wasn't until 1270 that the West saw its first rudimentary mechanical clock, thus bidding farewell to humanity's history of telling time by the sky.
If this sundial was real, it would mean that China had escaped the history of "telling time by the sky" a thousand years earlier than the West!
If this were to be announced, it would likely cause an international sensation and immediate public adoration!
However, Old Dong and the other two, eager to ascertain the truth, clearly forgot the lesson from just moments before.
They had just reached within ten meters of the sundial, and before they could get close, they saw two shadows stealthily cast from the darkness beside the sundial.
These two shadows hid in the darkness, moving silently.
They cast a shadow over Old Dong and the other two.
But Old Dong and the other two were unaware, still excitedly running towards the sundial.
Chiiiii!
The next second, suddenly, two streaks of blade light flashed, aimed precisely at Old Dong and the other two!
Intending to cleave them from head to toe!
Seeing this sudden turn of events, Old Dong and the other two were terrified.
They froze in place.
As the three were about to be turned into six halves of corpses.
At the critical moment, Ying Chen appeared behind them, his arm extended and retracted, pulling them out from under the blade light.
The blade light missed its target and, instead of the expected scene of shattering the ground, it flowed into the shadows on the ground like ripples and vanished.
"Scared... scared me to death!"
Old Dong and the other two patted their chests, still shaken.
It was then that they realized that two exceptionally tall demon figurines were actually hidden in the two corners of the great hall!
These two demon figurines were almost as tall as the hall, and the shadows on the ground were cast by them!
In their hands, they each held a massive cleaver.
One black and one red.
They were like the last guardians of Zhang Daoling's tomb, strictly forbidding anyone from stepping onto the high platform!
"Are these... the Eight Ghost Marshals and the Eight Demon Kings?"
Wang Zizai said, looking at the appearance of the two demon figurines.
No wonder there were no obvious leaders in the entire array of demon figurines; the true leaders were hidden in the corners of the hall!
Just like the two pillars of the hall, they supported and guarded it!
Most importantly, the other demon figurines would instinctively tremble and avoid Ying Chen when they sensed his powerful aura.
But these two demon figurines were different.
Not only did they not retreat, but they even actively turned their figurine-formed heads towards Ying Chen!
As if to warn him!
"Dying with the same stubbornness after a thousand years, no wonder you can only be two guard dogs, unable to transcend to sainthood!"
Ying Chen scoffed as he looked at the two demon figurines.
This statement seemed to enrage the two demon figurines.
The shadows they cast on the ground began to flow simultaneously, as if they were not shadows but a group of liquid creatures with life.
The shadows slowly flowed, reaching Ying Chen's feet.
Suddenly they surged up, detached from the ground, and lunged at Ying Chen!
One on the left and one on the right, wielding their cleavers, determined to cut Ying Chen down!
"What, you don't like being called guard dogs?"
"Then I'll make sure you can't even be guard dogs!"
Ying Chen said coldly.
Then, without any visible movement from Ying Chen, he vanished from his spot.
The two surging shadows instantly lost their target, their blades cleaving through empty air.
Just as Old Dong and the other two were wondering where Ying Chen had gone, sounds echoed from the top of the hall.
It was Ying Chen, his toes tapping lightly, stepping on the massive bodies of the demon figurines, reaching their heads directly!
Ying Chen stood on the shoulder of a demon figurine, one hand behind his back, the other slowly extending.
He grabbed the demon figurine's head!
However, the demon figurine's head was too enormous, and Ying Chen could only barely grasp one of its ears.
It was difficult to inflict any damage on the demon figurine.
The demon figurine clearly realized this, and a hint of disdain and mockery appeared on its figurine-formed face.
But the next second, the demon figurine could no longer laugh.
Because Ying Chen suddenly exerted force with his five fingers!
The demon figurine's head, like a crumbling small mountain, began to shatter and collapse from the ear.
Rumble...
Pieces of rubble fell to the ground.
Large clouds of dust filled the air.
It was like a small earthquake.
When the dust cleared, looking at that demon figurine again.
It had lost its head, leaving only a headless torso!
Ying Chen stood on the shoulder of the headless torso, looking coldly at the other demon figurine.
The other demon figurine was clearly terrified.
The shadows it cast on the ground instantly solidified as if frozen, becoming still.
Its figurine-formed face showed deep horror.
Its massive body trembled uncontrollably, causing the entire hall's floor to vibrate.
It was clear that it had realized the terrifying nature of the person before it!
Not inferior to Zhang Daoling, who had once suppressed them!
A moment later, the demon figurine made an unbelievable move.
It knelt on one knee and, with a thud, knelt before Ying Chen!
After a moment of hesitation, the other headless demon figurine also bent its knees and knelt!
Seeing this scene, Old Dong and the other two exchanged bewildered glances, mouths agape.
Ying Chen, with a tap of his toe, jumped down from the shoulder of the headless demon figurine.
"It seems you're a little smarter than dogs, at least knowing when to tuck your tail!"
"In that case, I will spare your lives for now. And I advise you: in this era of declining magic, where spiritual cultivation wanes daily, do not view this world through your antiquated eyes!"
Ying Chen said to the two demon figurines.
Upon hearing Ying Chen's words, the two demon figurines seemed to realize something, and their bodies trembled violently.
A strong sense of fear emanated from them, and their figurine-formed bodies strained to move, as if wanting to escape!
But the stone figures on their bodies were themselves a form of restraint; how could they possibly escape?
With a loud boom, the two demon figurines, like elderly people with stiff legs, crashed to the ground!
Trapped in place, desperate and helpless!