After consolidating their gains and restoring their energy to peak condition, Tianyang, Yuqing, and Yao'er stepped back through the chamber's entrance, emerging once more into the vast, dimly lit space.
Countless paths stretched before them, each leading to an imposing, ancient door. Some glowed faintly with different hues, while others remained shrouded in darkness, their mysteries hidden behind layers of ancient formations.
Yuqing glanced around, her sharp eyes scanning the area before turning to Yao'er. "Yao'er, it's your turn again," she said softly, a hint of a smile on her lips.
The small dragon puffed up his chest, his crimson eyes gleaming with pride. "Hmph, leave it to me, Master!"
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his spiritual energy surging as he enhanced his sense of smell.
The scent of ancient energies, dormant treasures, and lingering wills of the past flooded his senses. He filtered through the chaotic blend of spiritual signatures, focusing on the strongest, most refined scent—the one that promised unparalleled rewards.
Seconds passed. Then a minute.
His tail twitched. His ears perked up.
"There!" Yao'er suddenly declared, his eyes snapping open as he shot forward, his small form darting through the darkness like a streak of light.
Tianyang and Yuqing followed without hesitation, moving like flowing shadows, their steps soundless as they navigated the seemingly endless labyrinth of sealed paths.
After what felt like an eternity, they came to a halt in front of a unique sight—
Not a single door.
But two doors.
Side by side.
One radiated a soft white hue, emanating a tranquil, almost celestial aura. The inscriptions upon it were fluid, harmonious, resembling the graceful strokes of an immortal calligrapher.
The other pulsed with a deep red glow, exuding an intense, almost oppressive presence. Its inscriptions were jagged, aggressive, carved with the precision of a blade rather than the elegance of a brush.
The contrast between the two was stark. One represented purity, balance, and the majestic forces of mythical beasts. The other carried an undeniable sense of destruction, raw power, and the might of ancient demons.
Yuqing furrowed her brows. "Two doors… leading to the same place?"
Tianyang ran a hand along the surface of each door, feeling the difference in energy. "No," he corrected, "these are two sides of the same path. One aligned with the mythical beast lineage, the other with the demonic lineage."
Yao'er, hovering between them, tilted his head. "So… which one do we choose?"
Before anyone could answer—
Whoosh!
The doors reacted to their presence.
The inscriptions flared, and in an instant, an irresistible force swept over them.
The world blurred. Space twisted.
Tianyang, Yuqing, and Yao'er vanished from sight.
When their vision stabilized, they found themselves standing within a long, dimly lit hallway.
The air was thick with ancient energy, both serene and oppressive, a strange coexistence of power that sent a shiver down their spines.
The lamps lining the corridor flickered faintly—
On the left side, soft white lights glowed with a calming presence.
On the right side, deep red flames burned with an unsettling intensity.
The hallway stretched endlessly ahead, leading toward six imposing figures standing at its end.
Tianyang and Yuqing exchanged a glance before stepping forward, their footsteps eerily silent against the ancient stone.
As they approached, the figures became clearer—six statues, each carved with meticulous detail, their features exuding an overwhelming sense of dominance.
On the left stood three mythical beasts, each radiating an aura of divine majesty:
An Ancient Primordial Dragon, its serpentine body coiling in an eternal dance of power, its scales shimmering like the night sky.
A Vermillion Flame Phoenix, its wings spread wide, flames flickering along its feathers, exuding the grace of immortality.
A Celestial White Tiger, its piercing gaze frozen in stone, exuding the ferocity of a king of beasts.
On the right stood three demons, their presence suffocating, their existence an embodiment of raw destruction:
Blood Moon Rakshasa, a devilish goddess with six arms, her expression one of eternal hunger.
Abyssal King Yama, a skeletal king adorned in dark robes, his hollow eyes seemingly watching their every move.
Demon God Asura, the most imposing of all, a war god who upheld the balance between chaos and order, his very presence demanding reverence.
Each statue clutched a jade box in its stone hands—
The mythical beasts held white jade boxes, exuding a sense of purity and refinement.
The demons held crimson jade boxes, radiating dark, forbidden power.
Yuqing shivered slightly as she whispered, "This place… it doesn't just test strength. It tests one's affinity—one's path."
Tianyang's gaze remained fixed on the six figures. "Then we'll take both paths."
She turned to him, surprised. "Both?"
He nodded. "We already learned that this tomb rewards duality—balance. If we limit ourselves to one side, we lose the full inheritance."
Yao'er grinned. "So, we open them all?"
Tianyang smirked. "That's right."
Yuqing, despite herself, smiled. "Then let's begin."
Without hesitation, they moved toward the mythical beast statues first.
The formations sealing the jade boxes were identical to the ones from before.
Tianyang placed his left hand on the leftmost statue, Yuqing placed her right hand on the rightmost statue, and together, their combined energy surged toward the middle one.
The reaction was immediate.
The inscriptions ignited, pulsating in rhythm with their power.
The Transcendent Unity of Sun & Moon technique amplified their synchronization, allowing them to channel their energy as one.
The Yin & Yang contract further reinforced their balance, stabilizing the chaotic fluctuations of the formations.
As their energies intertwined, the formations began to fracture—
Crack!
The first layer broke.
Crack!
The second layer shattered.
With a final surge, the three jade boxes opened simultaneously, releasing a wave of divine energy.
From the left and right boxes—
Two Peak-Divine-Realm Demon Beast Cores shot out, radiating with an overwhelming presence.
Tianyang caught one, his eyes glinting. "These… are from an Ancient Primordial Dragon and a Heavenly Flame Phoenix. Ancient divine beast cores."
Yuqing held the other, her gaze filled with awe. "Their power is immense… these are priceless treasures."
From the middle box, a scroll unfurled in midair, glowing with an ancient radiance.
She grasped it carefully, reading its title aloud.
"Dual Awakening of the Primordials."
Tianyang's lips curled into a smirk. "A Peak-Divine-tier dual beast cultivation method… specifically for beast daoist companions."
He glanced teasingly at Yao'er. "Looks like we need to find you a Miss Dragon."
Yao'er, who had been puffing up his chest, instantly turned red, letting out a small, embarrassed whimper before hiding behind Yuqing.
Yuqing, flustered by Tianyang's teasing, lightly hit his chest. "Stop that!"
He chuckled, catching her wrist before leaning in, his lips brushing her ear. "Why? Jealous?"
Yuqing's entire body flushed crimson. "Y-You…!"
Yao'er peeked from behind her, grinning mischievously. "Hehe, Master is bullying Mistress again!"
Tianyang laughed, pulling Yuqing close. "Alright, we're only halfway done. Now… let's see what the demon statues have in store for us."
---
With their newfound beast treasures secured, Tianyang and Yuqing turned their attention toward the three demonic statues on the right.
Unlike the mythical beasts, these figures emanated an oppressive aura, their towering forms exuding ancient, malevolent will.
The Blood Moon Rakshasa, six-armed and fierce, stood with an eerie smile carved into her stone face.
The Abyssal King Yama, his skeletal frame wrapped in tattered robes, loomed like a shadow of death itself.
The Demon God Asura, the most imposing of the three, carried an air of absolute law—an authority so potent it sent shivers down their spines.
Each clutched a crimson jade box, their glow pulsating like a living heart, resonating with the very essence of darkness.
Yuqing took a deep breath. "These feel… different."
Tianyang nodded. "Demonic inheritances always come with a price. Power… but at what cost?"
Yao'er, now more cautious, muttered, "Well… we're already here."
With no hesitation, they repeated their formation-breaking method, placing their hands on the respective statues.
Tianyang's Left hand – Left statue.
Yuqing's Right hand – Right statue.
The Other Hands With Merged Yin & Yang energy – Middle statue.
As before, their spiritual energy surged into the formations.
But this time—
The resistance was greater.
A dark force pushed back, fighting against their synchronization.
The Void resisted Unity.
Tianyang's brow furrowed. "The formations here are different… they're rejecting harmony. They're preventing us from opening the middle box."
Yuqing tightened her grip. "Then we'll force it to accept us!"
Their Yin & Yang Contract flared—
The Transcendent Unity of Sun & Moon surged—
Their bond, unbreakable and absolute, crashed against the demonic resistance like a tidal wave, forcing balance where there was only chaos.
Crack!
The first layer of the formations shattered.
Crack!
The second layer followed, unable to withstand the sheer purity of their connection.
With a final surge, the crimson jade boxes burst open, releasing a storm of demonic energy into the air.
Tianyang and Yuqing remained unmoved.
They reached forward—
And seized their rewards.
From the left and right boxes, two demonic armors emerged, floating before them in an eerie glow.
One was a full-body male armor, dark greyish-burgundy in color, its intricate engravings pulsing with a faint crimson radiance, shaped like the scaled plates of an abyssal devil.
The other was a long, flowing female gown, light-cream in color, yet inlaid with gold and dark embroidery. The bodice hugged the curves elegantly, while the bottom cascaded like a river of moonlit silk.
Their colors matched—perfectly complementing their silver-grey hair and celestial aura, but with an underlying demonic charm.
Tianyang ran his fingers over his armor. "These… aren't just artifacts."
Yuqing nodded, sensing the dense power sealed within. "They're… alive."
Tianyang's eyes darkened. "Level 15 Forbidden-Grade Armors… equal to Peak Divine-Grade. But more than that—"
"They evolve," Yuqing whispered, astonished.
They could sense it—
With rare materials and reforging, these armors could grow stronger, transcending their current limits.
They weren't just equipment.
They were partners in battle.
Tianyang smirked. "With these, we can fight against early-ascendant realm cultivators without worry."
Yuqing traced the embroidery on her gown. "It's like it was made for me…"
She suddenly felt a tug at her heart—an instinct, a silent whisper from the armor itself.
It wanted to be worn.
Her fingers curled.
Tianyang noticed the change in her expression. "You feel it too?"
She nodded. "It's calling to me."
Tianyang's smirk deepened. "Then let's answer."
With that, the two removed their previous battle robes—
And donned the forbidden armors.
As soon as the armors settled onto their bodies—
A new power surged through them.
Their blood heated.
Their souls trembled.
The crimson inscriptions on their armors glowed brighter, sinking into their skin like living runes, forming ancient marks across their collarbones, backs, and wrists.
Then—
A scroll from the middle box unfurled, releasing a wave of ominous, yet irresistible power.
The words upon it burned into their minds.
Yuqing's breath hitched. "This technique… it's… terrifying."
Tianyang read aloud, his voice deep with realization—
"Void Devourer Art."
A Level 12 Forbidden-Tier technique, equal to Peak Divine-Tier.
A method of devouring an opponent's energy while fighting, turning it into one's own strength.
At its pinnacle, it could even devour void itself.
But—
There was a cost.
Yuqing's voice trembled. "This technique… absorbs chaotic energy without refining it. If someone cultivates this alone—"
"They'll be consumed," Tianyang finished grimly.
A technique of pure destruction.
One that invited madness, corruption, and death.
But—
He smirked. "We're the exception."
Yuqing glanced at him. "Because of our Yin & Yang Contract…?"
He nodded. "With our bond, the Transcendent Unity of Sun & Moon, and our unbreakable trust, we can refine it together."
Yuqing bit her lip, hesitation in her eyes. "But… this technique requires…"
Tianyang leaned in, his voice teasing. "Physical contact?"
Yuqing's face turned red instantly. "I-I… that's not what I meant!"
Yao'er, watching from the side, snickered.
Tianyang chuckled. "But you're not wrong."
This method—
Required intimate dual cultivation.
Only by synchronizing their bodies and souls could they neutralize the chaotic energy, absorbing its power without consequence.
Yuqing swallowed. "So… we have to…?"
Tianyang gently cupped her chin, his voice deep and unwavering. "Are you afraid?"
She met his gaze—strong, unwavering, filled with absolute trust.
Tianyang hugged her reassuringly. "Don't worry; we don't have to go all out. What we've planned for our bridal chamber doesn't need to be rushed. Just kissing is also a form of intimate physical contact."
Her heart pounded.
She took a deep breath—
And whispered, "Let's do it."
Afterward—
Their breathing was steady.
Their auras stronger than ever.
Tianyang clenched his fists, feeling the power flowing seamlessly through him.
Yuqing gazed at him, her face flushed but her energy perfectly harmonized with his. "We did it…"
Tianyang grinned. "And we've only just begun."
As they recovered, the hallway shifted—
The entrance vanished.
A new path opened between the mythical beasts and demon statues.
The tomb had acknowledged them.
They had conquered both paths.
Now—
They moved forward.