Avin came to the realization that the party he joined was far from ideal. Not only was Namgoong Jin unhelpful, but most of the "errand boys" accompanying the young master were now exhausted. This left Avin, Hien Ruan, and a cultivator named Na'avi from the western continent as the only ones capable of collecting treasures.
"I never expected Namgoong Jin to be so useless!" Na'avi exclaimed in frustration.
"There's nothing we can do about it. Complaining will only create unnecessary drama. Remember, our main objective is to collect as many treasures as possible. Having Namgoong's party with us is still a big advantage," Hien replied calmly, while Avin simply nodded in agreement.
As they ventured deeper into the cavern, they stumbled upon a massive stone door adorned with mysterious markings. Avin sensed a peculiar aura emanating from within. Curious, he decided to utilize the [Item Navigation] feature to investigate further.
[Scan Complete!]
[Found 3 rare-class Items and 1 unique-class Item!]
[System Notice! The System suggests that behind this sealed stone door lies the tomb of a venerable warrior cultivator. Analysis indicates the presence of hidden traps and mechanisms within the room.]
[System Notice! There may also be lurking creatures inside this tomb chamber.]
[Warning! Once entered, escape may prove difficult!]
Avin stood in silence, absorbing the information displayed by the system. Despite the urge to warn the others, he hesitated, knowing that revealing his knowledge might raise questions about his capabilities. For now, he chose to keep his insights to himself, observing the unfolding events with a watchful eye.
"This might be a tomb chamber," Na'avi remarked, her gaze fixed on the ancient structure. "...by the looks of it, it was built around 500-600 years ago. This is incredible. Who would know that in this illusionary world someone was actually buried? Is this man actually the one who created this illusionary world?" Her voice held a sense of wonder as she delved into speculation about the tomb's origin.
"It might be or it might not," Namgoong Jin interjected confidently. "There's only one thing that I know: if there's a tomb, there's good treasure!"
"I think it's a bad idea," Avin questioned, his caution evident. "We all know that tomb raiding is not an easy task. There might be traps or mechanisms that could hinder us as we go inside, and there might be creatures guarding this tomb if we just enter it without any preparation."
"My friend, how about this: if you're not sure to go inside, why not let me be the one to enter it? After all, I am the best of all cultivators who entered for this event. Thank you for your unnecessary concern, Liang Tian, but my only concern is not obtaining such treasure. I mean, I allowed you to ride with my party, but I never let any opportunity hinder my goals," Namgoong Jin confidently protested, asserting his dominance.
"But..."
"Just stay here... Those who are brave enough to enter this tomb, come to me!" Namgoong Jin implored, his voice carrying authority. Most of the young cultivators in Namgoong Jin's party eagerly joined in his tomb raiding expedition, while Avin remained behind, aware of the impending threats that may lurk inside.
Na'avi, understanding Avin's concerns, decided to stay with him, showing solidarity in their cautious approach. Meanwhile, Hien Ruan hesitated briefly before ultimately deciding to join Namgoong's party. Though uncertain, he felt the potential gains outweighed the risks.
"I'm going in..." Hien announced, walking over to Na'avi and Avin and patting their arms reassuringly.
"If something bad happens, I'll immediately send this [Locator Talisman], and I'll give you some. If it starts to burn, then you'll know that your hunch is right."
Then Namgoong Jin and his party ventured inside the uncharted tomb chamber. As they entered, they were greeted with an immense spiritual yin energy, indicating the presence of an actual cultivator's remains within the room. They proceeded cautiously, exploring each room carefully. Thus far, no traps or mechanisms had been activated.
"None of these rooms seem to hold any treasure, Young Master Jin. It appears empty," one of his lackeys admitted truthfully.
"Impossible! A tomb as grand as this is bound to hold incredible treasures! Search every room! Do your jobs, or face immediate expulsion from our party," Namgoong Jin threatened, his tone laced with frustration.
His terrified servants and fellow cultivators hurriedly dispersed to scour every room in search of the treasures Namgoong Jin anticipated.
As they reached the innermost part of the tomb, they discovered a vast array of treasures of different rarities, spanning hundreds of thousands. Namgoong Jin's eyes lit up with greed and excitement.
"I knew I was right all along! These treasures are mine! You there, don't touch them. All the rare items belong to me," he arrogantly declared, instructing his associates to gather what he deemed valuable.
Namgoong Jin and his companions amassed a vast collection of glittering items, armor, and talismans, raiding every crate in sight and filling their large sub-storage space rings to the brim. As they systematically plundered the tomb chamber of all its treasures, one of the servants inadvertently activated a sensitive plate, triggering a hidden mechanism that stirred a mysterious stone golem resting beside the tomb. A surge of
However, unbeknownst to them, a horrific being suddenly stirred behind their ears, its presence looming ominously.
"Man-eating spirit demon!" one of Namgoong Jin's errand boys suddenly screamed, bringing the entire group to a halt. They turned to see the horrifying creature looming behind them. Without hesitation, the demon began to slash and smash its way through them, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The chamber echoed with the terrified screams of the cultivators as they were mercilessly torn apart.
Namgoong Jin stood frozen in shock as he witnessed the gruesome demise of his attendants. Blood splattered across the chamber, and bodies lay torn and mangled. "This has to be a joke! I am the young master of the Namgoong Clan! I am Namgoong Jin! I am the greatest!" he shouted in disbelief. But his protests fell on deaf ears as the demon swiftly ended his life with a single slash, cleaving him in half.
Meanwhile, Hien Ruan managed to escape, albeit with severe wounds that hindered his movement. He gasped for breath, his forehead slick with cold sweat. With trembling hands, he reached for his [Locator Talisman] and began to tear it apart. "You were right... I should have listened," he muttered as he collapsed to the ground, blood pooling around him. "Get out of here... go..." he whispered weakly before darkness claimed him.