Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 94: The Divine Monkey Accompanies to the Ancient Tomb

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: The Divine Monkey Accompanies to the Ancient Tomb

Ren Tianxing took a sip of tea before speaking, "It’s not impossible for us of the Vermilion Bird Clan to regard Water Curtain Cave as the highest authority. However, most of our clan members are untamed and mischievous, difficult to control. Hence, the Green Emperor must offer something convincing to gain their allegiance."

Wukong sneered, "What do you want?"

Ren Tianxing nodded, "During the Middle Ages, in the period of The Investiture of the Gods, a traitor from our clan lost a Vermilion Bird Fruit in the Ancient Tomb. If the Green Emperor desires the Vermilion Bird Clan to honor Water Curtain Cave as supreme, then he should retrieve this Vermilion Bird Fruit from the Ancient Tomb first."

"The Ancient Tomb?" Wukong frowned, having never heard of this matter before.

Yuan Hong explained, "In ancient times, no one established Reincarnation, and many perished in the great ancient war, their souls unable to enter Reincarnation. Thus, they wandered the world. To prevent them from disrupting order, Ling Weiyang, alongside our group of powerful beings, created a place called the Ancient Tomb. In subsequent wars, anybody who died was buried in this Ancient Tomb."

Wukong said, "Oh?"

Yuan Hong continued, "Over time, these souls lost their original thoughts, turning into lonely ghosts and wild spirits. The Ancient Tomb is indeed a dangerous place."

In Ancient times, when Heaven and Earth were newly formed, Di Jun was still in closed-door cultivation, refining his Dao Fruit; how could he have the time to establish Reincarnation? Hong Jun was occupied with stabilizing the elements of earth, water, wind, and fire. The Three Pure Ones had not yet bestowed Salvation, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches were nothing but flesh and blood. After Nuwa achieved sanctity, the Chaos Heaven Demon tore open the sky and invaded, leading to the outbreak of the Great Ancient War.

Ling Weiyang saw the restless wandering spirits in the world, turmoil everywhere, and so he united with numerous powerful beings to set aside a space for the Ancient Tomb, where those who had fallen in battle were buried.

Unable to enter into Reincarnation, these souls drifted in the Ancient Tomb, losing their original nature, turning into vicious ghosts that ground their teeth and sucked blood.

The Vermilion Bird Fruit was a treasure of the Vermilion Bird Clan, formed from the Essence Blood left by several ancestors of the clan who had perished in battle, allowing the consumer to revert to the ancestral bloodline and gain the Divine Skill Spells of the ancient Vermilion Bird ancestors.

But during the War of Gods and Demons, Indra betrayed the Demon Tribe, leaking their secrets. Someone bribed an elder of the Vermilion Bird Clan to steal the Vermilion Bird Fruit. However, this act was discovered by the clan. He was gravely injured and in a state of panic, entered the Ancient Tomb, where he perished, and the Vermilion Bird Fruit vanished without a trace.

Upon consulting the Xuan Wu Clan, they predicted with their turtle shells that the Vermilion Bird Fruit was still in the Ancient Tomb, but the Vermilion Bird elder had succumbed to his grave injuries.

Ren Tianxing nodded, "General Divine Monkey is correct. The Ancient Tomb was created during a period before the establishment of Reincarnation. Those about to die would be laid to rest there, to prevent their souls from causing upheaval in the world. Over the years, these souls have lost their way, becoming malevolent spirits that kill mercilessly. It’s a place of extreme danger — even a Daluo Golden Immortal would not dare enter casually. In the past, a Daluo Golden Immortal of our Vermilion Bird Clan fell there."

The great ancestor of the Vermilion Bird Clan has not perished, but is hidden somewhere, tormented by injuries from the Heavenly Dao. Although possessing great cultivation, he would not trouble himself for a single Vermilion Bird Fruit. Therefore, this Vermilion Bird Fruit has become a lingering worry for our clan.

Ren Tianxing added, "If the Green Emperor can retrieve this Vermilion Bird Fruit from the Ancient Tomb, our Vermilion Bird Clan will certainly regard Water Curtain Cave as the highest authority and gladly serve as the vanguard for the Green Emperor!"

Ren Tianxing’s words were beautifully and attractively said.

But Wukong responded with a sly smile, "Then swear an oath to Heaven, involving the cause and effect of the Heavenly Dao. To ensure that once I bring back this Vermilion Bird Fruit, you will do your duty!"

Ren Tianxing didn’t believe Wukong could retrieve the Vermilion Bird Fruit; even the Daluo Golden Immortals of his tribe had met calamities when they went searching, let alone a mere Taiyi Golden Immortal. He immediately swore to Heaven, "I, Ren Tianxing, swear to Heaven today, that if Green Emperor Sun Wukong retrieves the Vermilion Bird Fruit from the Ancient Tomb and I do not regard Water Curtain Cave as the highest authority nor the Green Emperor as the Venerable, my cultivation shall not advance by the slightest, and within one year, I shall crumble to dust!"

Seeing Ren Tianxing take the oath, Wukong nodded and said, "Good, since you have sworn, then I shall make a trip there!"

Yuan Hong frowned and advised, "The Ancient Tomb is extremely perilous; it’s best to be cautious."

Wukong laughed heartily, "I’ve yet to find any place besides the Demon Abyss of the Northern Region that I can’t go to! Since brother Dao says I can gain respect for Water Curtain Cave by retrieving the Vermilion Bird Fruit, then naturally, I must give it a try!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hong was filled with gallant enthusiasm. As one of the Four Great Divine Monkeys, he could not bear to fall behind Wukong. He laughed boisterously, "Haha, haha! Wukong is truly forthright. Then I, Old Yuan, will accompany you. Let’s pay a visit to the old friends from the Ancient Tomb of yesteryear."

Wukong said, "Good, I’ll go with Brother Yuan, and we won’t call anyone else! So you can’t say I’m relying on others’ abilities again! Brother Yuan is also just a Taiyi Golden Immortal, so you have no objections this time, right?"

Now, Yuan Hong was only at the level of a Taiyi Golden Immortal. Although he was powerful in battle, Ren Tianxing thought he probably wouldn’t be of much help. If he wanted to go, then let him — his death would be no great loss. This ancient relic wielded too much influence within the Demon Tribe, able to command a multitude at a moment’s notice. After considering carefully, Ren Tianxing said, "Of course, there’s no harm."

Wukong said, "Since that’s the case, you lead the way!"

Ren Tianxing nodded and replied, "In ancient times, the Ancient Tomb was established between the Four Symbols Great Clan, suppressed by the power of the Four Symbols. Vermilion Bird City here is one of the four entrances. Follow me."

Leading Wukong and Yuan Hong out of the City Lord’s Mansion, Ren Tianxing headed towards the gigantic Vermilion Bird sculpture in the city.

This Vermilion Bird sculpture was erected on a Dao platform, which was guarded by soldiers and not accessible to ordinary people. It was a sacred place for the Vermilion Bird Clan to worship their ancestors.

"Great Elder!" The guards of the Vermilion Bird Clan saw Ren Tianxing approaching and hurriedly knelt to the ground.

"Dismiss the formalities!" Ren Tianxing said loudly.

"Thank you, Great Elder."

The guard soldiers made way, and Ren Tianxing led Yuan Hong and Wukong up onto the Dao platform.

At this moment, the Vermilion Bird sculpture was right before their eyes, several hundred feet tall, lifelike with feathers glowing, appearing as if it was crying towards the sky.

Yuan Hong said, "This sculpture is of the old ancestor of the Vermilion Bird Clan from ancient times, named Ren Hongwu."

Wukong could not help but admire it for a moment, wondering what immense mana, manpower, and resources must have been expended to create such a sculpture.

The trio arrived on the Dao platform, which housed a Teleportation Array, presumably leading directly to the Ancient Tomb.

The Teleportation Array was intricately arranged, and Wukong could tell at a glance that it was set up by a master of Formation.

Ren Tianxing explained, "This is the Teleportation Array that leads to the Ancient Tomb, to the first layer."

Wukong curiously asked, "The Ancient Tomb has layers?"

Yuan Hong nodded and said, "Yes, the Ancient Tomb was formed by our great magical power and then suppressed under the territories of the Four Symbols Great Clan, guarded by them. There were too many dead in the ancient battles to fit on one layer, so nine layers were created. The area of one layer is not more than a hundred thousand li."

Wukong said, "A hundred thousand li, that must hold a lot of the dead."

Yet, Yuan Hong shook his head and replied, "That’s not quite correct. These people still had mana and their True Spirits—their energy—within their souls after death. This means, if they do not enter Reincarnation, their energy does not dissipate. Each layer of the Ancient Tomb can only withstand a certain degree of energy; if it’s too much, it would shatter. The Ancient Tomb is akin to a Mustard Seed space—you keep putting things into it, and if there’s too much, the Mustard Seed will burst. That’s the principle."

Wukong finally understood and, nodding his head, refrained from asking further questions.

Ren Tianxing cautioned, "You should consider it carefully, the Ancient Tomb is extremely dangerous. Life and death are fated; do not blame me."

Impatient, Wukong said, "What’s with all the nonsense? I’ve already said I would help you retrieve the Vermilion Bird Fruit, and I will. Just tell me, how does this Formation work?"

Ren Tianxing nodded and advised, "You only need to stand within this Formation and channel your mana into the Spirit Stone located at the Formation’s eye."

Wukong and Yuan Hong then stepped into the Formation, channeled their mana in harmony with the Formation and poured it into the eye, causing the fiery red Spirit Stone there to emit a dazzling light. With a flash of red light, the two disappeared without a trace, entering into the Ancient Tomb.

"Hmph, hmph! Two Taiyi Golden Immortals daring to storm the Ancient Tomb, truly oblivious to life and death. General Yuan, even though you were once a Sect Founder, now because of the Dao scar, you’ve fallen to just the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm. Entering the Ancient Tomb, you might as well await death," Ren Tianxing thought to himself with a cold sneer.

After lingering for a moment on the Dao platform, Ren Tianxing eventually left with a flick of his sleeve.