My Nascent Soul Ran Away Again

Chapter 74: Merman Tomb, Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin!

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The two coffins were placed at the center of the burial chamber.

The one on the right bore distinct merman characteristics, its exterior a deep blue hue, made of a type of spiritual jade common to the merman nation. This jade was frequently used by merman nobility for crafting coffins.

Water patterns were traced around its exterior, with carvings of sea creatures, clearly belonging to the “ancestor” Yushou An had mentioned.

Mermen, known for their fondness for fine jade, had used a semi-transparent spiritual jade to construct the tomb’s walls within the whale’s body.

The coffin on the left, however, was more peculiar.

It was a… Wooden coffin.

This wooden coffin, taller than the jade one on the right, was simple yet dignified, with no apparent extraordinary features. Yet, its surface was covered with intricate patterns.

These patterns formed various scenes: figures wielding stone axes felling giant trees, ancestors with stone spears hunting massive beasts, and many building large altars for celestial worship.

“This coffin is carved from a dead World Tree,” Lu Xuan’s eyes shimmered with recognition.

He identified the origin of this wooden coffin.

It was the Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin.

Here, a Heavenly Emperor referred to the ancient celestial rulers, possessing great powers, akin to Saints. Each of them was a dominant force in their era.

Lu Xuan turned to Yushou An, “Are both of these…Your ancestors?” Yushou An remained silent.

Although he lacked Lu Xuan’s keen perception, he could sense that the unremarkable-looking coffin contained a remarkably significant figure. Moreover, the style of this coffin did not match the burial traditions of the merman race.

For a moment, Yushou An wondered if he had entered the wrong tomb.

The Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin, crafted from a deceased World Tree, implied that it was a world laid to rest, burying the entity within.

Influenced by this, the area around the Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin formed its own set of laws, creating an independent field.

Lu Xuan activated his eye technique, his expression turning peculiar.

He noticed that the entire coffin emitted an aura completely out of place with its surroundings.

It seemed more like it had been dug up after burial and relocated here than simply buried.

However, now wasn’t the time to ponder this.

“Yushou, go ahead and retrieve what your ancestor left behind,” Lu Xuan suggested. “Approach from the right side, and it’s best to keep some distance from that Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior,” Yushou An nodded, following the advice.

He approached the merman coffin, cutting his wrist and letting the blood drip onto it.

For a cultivator’s coffin, there was no need for ceremonies like activating the corpse with blood. Yushou An’s action was a form of bloodline authentication.

Before entering this relic, he had used his blood to open the bronze door, unlocking the ancestral tomb.

Now, dripping blood on the coffin was to gain the ancestor’s approval, allowing him to accept the legacy.

Yushou An was somewhat nervous.

Due to his unremarkable talent, he feared his ancestor might be selective and disapprove of him.

Fortunately, the scenario Yushou An feared did not occur.

The deep blue jade coffin glowed and opened after a moment.

Inside the coffin, there was a smaller one, less than a Zhang in length, seemingly made of black crystal.

In front of this small coffin lay three items.

A wind chime, a magical artifact left by the ancestor in the coffin.

A jade book, a memoir of cultivation experience from a powerful cultivator.

Lastly, a fist-sized, azure blue pearl – the “Sea Spirit Pearl” Yushou An sought.

Yushou An respectfully kowtowed three times to the jade coffin, introducing himself and explaining his reasons for coming. Only then did he take the three items of inheritance.

The jade coffin closed again, and Yushou An, relieved, stepped back. Now, everyone’s attention turned to the Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin.

It was undoubtedly tempting.

But the ancient celestial rulers were immensely powerful and revered; their dignity was paramount.

If the occupant of the coffin had prepared any contingencies, any tomb raider would risk their life.

Lu Xuan, leaning on a golden shovel, remained silent.

He was somewhat tempted.

As an experienced archaeologist who had seen countless tombs, this was his first encounter with a Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin.

Although they were collectively referred to as “ancient celestial rulers,” in reality, “ancient” was a general term in the daily conversations of the Archean Eon realm cultivators.

Like modern, contemporary, and ancient times.

Modern is a few decades, contemporary spans over a century, and ancient refers to several thousand years ago.

In terms of the Archean Eon Realm’s historical divisions:

The current era, established by the founder of Dao Evolution Sect, was relatively stable. The world’s sects are divided into Yuan (Orthodox) and Xuan (Heretical) Sects, representing the right and demon paths, each bearing their own banners.

The previous era was a time of contention among myriad races, with continuous wars between races, particularly between the demon and human clans. The struggle for destiny was intense, culminating in the Dao Evolution Sect’s founder infiltrating the ancient demon race, sabotaging the demon’s

World Tree, stealing its sapling, and undermining their foundation of destiny.

The era before that was the Era of the Saints, with a hundred schools of thought contending and the Dao of Confucianism eventually leading. This era was the time of the great celestial rulers.

The era of the “ancient celestial rulers” predates even the hundred schools, extremely distant from the current time.

There are historical gaps in the Archean Eon realm, and Lu Xuan, despite raiding many great tombs, had only filled in part of the history.

He learned about the “Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin” from notes left in a tomb of

a… Master tomb raider, which was the most difficult tomb he had ever raided.

The real tomb was disguised with a false exterior, then a real exterior was added. Using spatial secret techniques, nine real and fake tombs were stacked together.

If someone entered and reached the outermost chamber without discernment, they would only find a consolation prize.

Each layer penetrated would yield better buried items.

As Lu Xuan broke into the final layer, overcoming numerous challenges and intricate arrays, and avoiding all self-destruct mechanisms, he realized he had learned all the teachings of the predecessor.

In gratitude and to encourage future generations, he incorporated his understanding into the tomb, adding nine more layers of real and fake tombs around the original nine.

It was from these notes that he first learned about the Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin.

However, ancient celestial rulers were beings of great virtue, and their legacies were not stored in coffins but in special heavenly realms.

Opening someone’s coffin out of curiosity, disturbing their peaceful rest, seemed impolite.

Thus, Lu Xuan put away his shovel, bowed to the Heavenly Emperor’s Coffin, and left with the group.

Outside the tomb chamber.

On top of the dragon whale’s carcass, the young man in the blue robe sat cross-legged.

The clay figurine on his waist glowed, and Qingyu’s voice came through, “The time is near.. To seize the opportunity, now is the moment!”