“Are you holding up?” Qin Lu asked, his voice laced with genuine concern as he eyed Feng Xi’s deathly pale complexion.

“Lord, I am fine,” Feng Xi replied instantly, shaking his head. He raised both hands and waved them dismissively, desperate to prove he wasn’t a burden.

Qin Lu offered a curt nod before turning his gaze to the matriarch. “Sister-in-law, what exactly is the situation inside?”

Qi Xiaofeng chuckled, her demeanor relaxed. “To tell the truth, it’s nothing much. It seems they are just some ordinary fierce ghosts, probably quite weak in strength. If I weren’t worried about these three kids getting into trouble, I could have purged the lot of them myself.”

She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. “I just can’t figure out why there are so many fierce ghosts here…”

“I see.” Qin Lu stood up, dusting off his robes. “It matters not. We will understand once we investigate. You stay here and guard the little ones.”

“Consider it done.” Qi Xiaofeng smiled.

After confirming the mausoleum’s location and leaving final instructions, the group departed. The distance was short, merely a few miles. In moments, the dark silhouette of the tomb loomed before them.

Under the dim, failing light of the moon, Qin Lu assessed the structure.

The mausoleum was built directly against the mountain face, exuding a sense of grandeur and majesty. Various stone structures were meticulously arranged along a central axis, leading toward the main gate. The carvings were ornate, the layout rigorous; every inch of the architecture demanded a solemn, dignified silence.

It was a project that would have cost tens of thousands of mortals years of backbreaking labor.

“Tsk, tsk.” Gu Can clicked his tongue, marveling at the sight. “This tomb is built quite magnificently, not simple at all. Hey, little emperor, do you recognize this place?”

Generally, only Emperors or Feudal Princes possessed the authority to construct a resting place of this scale.

Though the darkness limited his vision, Zhang Ju recognized the familiar architectural details. A shiver ran through him.

“This is… Emperor Wulie’s tomb!”

“Emperor Wulie? That’s a decent name,” Gu Can remarked casually. “Who is he to you?”

“He is my great-great-grandfather,” Zhang Ju whispered. “He passed away over a hundred years ago. I never expected his resting place to be the source of these disturbances…”

“Hmph!”

A cold, mocking laugh cut through the air. Lu Xuan sneered at the mortal monarch. “You mere mortals… when you die, you simply rot. How dare you call it ‘passing away’ like an immortal ascending?”

Zhang Ju opened his mouth to retort, his pride stinging, but the words died in his throat. He lowered his head, sinking into silence.

Lu Anchen, ignoring the banter, surveyed the landscape with a geomancer’s eye.

“Speaking of which, the scenery here is impeccable,” Lu Anchen murmured. “Clear water in the front, high backing mountains behind. The Yang of the mountain and the Yin of the water create perfect harmony. Twin rivers encircle the site, manifesting the True Dragon image. This is a legitimate Feng Shui treasure land.”

He frowned deeply. “Logically, such auspicious Feng Shui should not nurture evil. How can it harbor hundreds of ghosts? This is rather strange…”

Gu Can clasped his hands behind his head, his expression indifferent. “We’ll know once we go in and look.”

“Let’s go,” Qin Lu agreed.

The group, dragging the terrified little emperor along, stepped through the tomb door that Cao Mo’s team had previously kicked open. They descended slowly into the belly of the mountain.

Inside, the darkness vanished. The interior of the great tomb was brilliantly lit by improved eternal lamps burning with whale oil, illuminating every corner with distinct clarity.

They ventured deeper until they arrived at a massive antechamber.

Stone statues of Pixiu beasts stood guard on both sides, their expressions fierce and warding. In the center, colossal pillars rose to the ceiling, carved with intricate dragon and tiger motifs.

Yet, despite the grandeur, the air was wrong. A bone-chilling cold, far deeper than the natural temperature of the earth, permeated the hall.

The cultivators immediately drew their magical artifacts. They could feel it—the area was thick with a dense, suffocating ghostly aura.

“Judging from the battle traces, this is where Cao Mo encountered the swarm,” Gu Can chuckled, his eyes lighting up.

“Right,” Cao Yunxi nodded, scanning the shadows. “The aura is heavy. There must be many fierce ghosts nearby.”

“I just don’t know where they’re hiding…” Lu Anchen muttered, looking around.

“Who cares where they’re hiding?” Gu Can suddenly roared, stepping forward. “Whatever demons, ghosts, or monsters you are, come out and taste my spear!”

He charged into the center of the room, his silver spear gleaming.

“Here he goes again…” Qin Lu watched Gu Can’s back, feeling a familiar sense of speechlessness. A battle maniac was a battle maniac; logic had no hold on him.

Seeing Gu Can commit, Lu Anchen, Lu Xuan, and Cao Yunxi didn’t hesitate. They flickered forward, following close behind the vanguard.

Qin Lu remained near the entrance, shielding the trembling Emperor.

Whoosh— Whoosh— Whoosh—

As the four cultivators reached the center of the hall, the walls seemed to bleed shadows. Numerous semi-transparent figures emerged, floating high in the air. Men and women, their faces twisted in eternal agony, stared down at the intruders.

“Hmph! Such heavy malevolence,” Gu Can grinned, his blood pumping. “Indeed, you are all fierce ghosts! Let me send you on your way!”

He vaulted into the air, his spear dancing like a silver dragon.

“Woooo——!”

The spectral horde let out a collective, terrifying wail and rushed the four cultivators.

“Good timing!”

The cultivators showed no fear. The clash was instant.

Qin Lu stood still, arms crossed. He had no intention of interfering.

Upon entering, he had already activated the [Heavenly Eye Technique]. The spiritual signatures of the entities before them were laid bare in his mind. These ghosts possessed pitifully weak spiritual energy.

Against four Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators, they were nothing more than dust.

“I… I recognize them,” Zhang Ju stammered, shrinking behind Qin Lu.

“Hmm?” Qin Lu glanced back. “How do you recognize ghosts?”

Zhang Ju pointed a trembling finger at the swirling melee. “Their clothes. I recognize the styles clearly. Those are the uniforms of the palace maids and eunuchs… the ones buried with my great-great-grandfather.”

Qin Lu nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place. “Then they were likely forced to be buried alive. The terror and resentment of such a death increased their malevolence, transforming them into ghosts.”

“But why would they suddenly turn now, after a hundred years?”

“I don’t know,” Qin Lu mused. “Perhaps the Feng Shui of this tomb was broken, or perhaps some external force intervened.”

Zhang Ju looked down, murmuring to himself. “No wonder there were so many ghost murders in the palace recently. It turns out… they were running back home.”

Qin Lu looked at the young monarch, his expression serious. “Heh. So, in the future, when you die, do not force others to accompany you into the dark. The lives of maids and eunuchs are lives, too.”

He paused, his tone turning strangely poetic. “When you die, come gently and leave gently, without trying to take the clouds with you.”

“Mm…” Zhang Ju seemed to genuinely absorb the words, nodding solemnly.

While they spoke, the “battle” was already concluding. The ferocious ghosts were being dismantled with casual ease by the cultivators.

Attacks imbued with spiritual energy struck the fragile soul bodies, shattering them upon impact. There was no resistance, only slaughter.

In moments, the remaining ghosts realized their prey were actually predators. They shrieked in terror, turned tail, and burrowed frantically back into the stone walls.

“Hmph! They sure run fast!”

Gu Can lowered his silver spear and dusted off his shoulder. He looked relaxed, the brief exertion seemingly sobering him up from the night’s wine.

Qin Lu stepped forward, rejoining the group.

“Let’s continue deeper,” he commanded, his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. “The Feng Shui here has shifted too violently for this to be natural. The secret lies within the depths of the mausoleum.”

“Agreed!”