In the depths of the void, several giant rocks lay scattered. On one of these rocks, a figure sat cross-legged.
The person was tall and slender, their back to Zhou Yan. They were motionless, as if carved from stone, enveloped in a hazy mist, their aura ethereal, like an immortal descended to the mortal realm, possessing an unparalleled elegance.
This person was Zhou Yan himself!
"Who are you?" Zhou Yan asked after a long silence, posing a rhetorical question.
"Who are you?" Zhou Yan asked again, his heart filled with confusion.
There was no one else here, only that silhouette, which exuded immense pressure upon Zhou Yan, seemingly containing terrifying power. A single glance sent shivers down his spine, filling him with dread.
"Heh heh, so it's a junior. This old man has been waiting here for over two hundred years, and finally, a destined one has arrived."
Suddenly, the figure spoke, their voice carrying a trace of ancient weariness, echoing with a profound resonance: "Young man, your potential is remarkable. If you have the chance to step into the cultivation world in the future, remember to help this old man avenge my grudges."
"Avenge?"
Zhou Yan's heart leaped violently, his pulse pounding. He found it hard to believe: "Are you the master of the ancient tomb?"
"Ancient tomb?"
The figure paused, looking somewhat bewildered. They shook their head and sighed, "Alas, you do not understand. This old man perished in a great catastrophe, his remains buried in an ancient tomb. Only a wisp of my soul remains here, waiting for a destined person to arrive..."
"What?" Zhou Yan's mind reeled, his voice choked with horror.
It was rumored that in the cultivation world, when a powerful cultivator perished, their body could be sealed, awaiting the arrival of a destined individual to reawaken.
Unless an immense opportunity arose, such a person would never truly revive or regain their cultivation, becoming nothing more than a walking corpse.
Zhou Yan never imagined that the master of the ancient tomb had met with such a calamity, his corpse buried here, leaving behind a lingering soul to wait in torment.
"Senior..." Zhou Yan hesitated, then asked.
"Call me Master Gu."
Master Gu sighed, a wistful expression crossing his pale face. He said softly, "My surname is Gu, and my name is Gu Heng."
Gu Heng, the emperor of an ancient dynasty.
This was a secret, known only to a handful of people in history.
"Master Gu."
Zhou Yan nodded, bowed respectfully, and said, "I must uphold my promise and deliver what you have left to your descendants. I will not keep it for myself."
"Mm." Gu Heng nodded and said, "No matter who you are, since you have arrived here, you are naturally my disciple."
"Disciple?" Zhou Yan blinked, then his eyes lit up with understanding.
"Since you can find me, you must indeed be a destined one. Tell me, where did you obtain my abandoned shell..." Gu Heng said calmly.
"Abandoned shell?"
Zhou Yan's face lit up with joy, and he recounted the circumstances without hesitation.
"This abandoned shell of mine was originally a defensive spirit artifact. Over the long passage of time, it has been severely damaged and has lost its power. However, it can still withstand the attacks of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, which is quite remarkable," Gu Heng said with satisfaction. "This jade slip contains the introductory cultivation method of the 'Xuanwu Jue,' which is quite beneficial for cultivators."
"'Xuanwu Jue'?" Zhou Yan perused the jade slip. The more he read, the more his joy grew.
The 'Xuanwu Jue' was a martial arts scripture, divided into nine realms. Upon reaching the peak of the third rank and achieving perfection, one could condense Qi, causing their strength to soar.
"Senior, I wish to take you as my master." Zhou Yan knelt and kowtowed sincerely.
"No rush," Gu Heng shook his head, his tone gentle, and slowly recounted, "When I died, I predicted a great fortuitous encounter, but alas..."
Gu Heng sighed with regret, not elaborating further.
"Fortuitous encounter?" Zhou Yan's heart stirred, and he quickly asked, "What fortuitous encounter?"
"It cannot be spoken of."
Gu Heng smiled and waved his hand, refusing, then changed the subject, "Although my physical body is incomplete, it is still a spiritual treasure. If you can fully control it, perhaps you can borrow its power."
"Spiritual treasure?"
Zhou Yan was startled and his heart trembled.
Spiritual treasures were artifacts used by cultivators, far more powerful than ordinary weapons. They possessed a spiritual essence and extraordinary might. Moreover, as a cultivator's realm advanced, spiritual treasures would gradually level up, possessing various mystical abilities, making them invincible tools.
"However, my abandoned shell only has a lingering obsession remaining."
Gu Heng sighed softly, "Therefore, over these years, I have only been able to maintain a thread of my soul. I cannot leave this place nor personally slay my enemies."
"Senior, please rest assured, I will do my utmost." Zhou Yan solemnly promised.
"I am very pleased with your resolve," Gu Heng said. "Now, follow me."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan's spirits lifted, and he followed Gu Heng's footsteps down the stone steps.
The ancient tomb was empty, filled with a murky gray miasma, eerily foreboding.
Gu Heng walked through it without fear, instead seeming filled with interest.
"Senior Gu..." Zhou Yan started, then stopped.
"What is it?" Gu Heng looked at him with surprise.
"Senior Gu, I observe your vital signs are weak; I fear you may not last much longer," Zhou Yan probed.
Gu Heng smiled, unconcerned. "In this world, there are always too many who covet my inheritance. I anticipated that someone would try to take advantage of the situation, so I made arrangements long ago."
He paused, then continued, "To tell you the truth, this ancient tomb was my place of secluded cultivation. I laid numerous restrictions and engraved a formation here, enough to trap a Golden Core cultivator..."
"What is buried here is my corpse, and it is no ordinary matter."
Gu Heng let out a cold snort, his eyes sharp, emitting a faint, fierce aura that struck fear into the heart.
In an instant, Zhou Yan's body turned cold, his hair standing on end. He almost couldn't restrain himself and retreated in panic.
Fortunately, Zhou Yan reacted swiftly. Gritting his teeth, he overcame his fear and stabilized his mind, not revealing his true feelings.
"You need not be afraid," Gu Heng retracted his aura and said calmly. "I have been gone for many years. Even with a lingering soul, I cannot harm you."
"Senior Gu, why is your corpse buried here?"
Zhou Yan's eyes flickered, and he secretly pondered who Gu Heng was, to have expended so much effort to design such an ancient tomb to bury his remains.
"Karma," Gu Heng said after a moment of silence. "Do you know what kinds of beings in this world are most similar to humans?"
"Oh?" Zhou Yan frowned, uncomprehending.
"Demonic beasts!"
Gu Heng said solemnly, "Demonic beasts are wondrous creations nurtured by heaven. They are born with intelligence, and at their peak, they can even transform into human form, just like cultivators, flying through the skies and traversing the earth with freedom."
"However, the lifespan of demonic beasts is relatively short. They often perish within twenty years, completely vanishing into dust."