Chapter 3

In fact, the weasel is a very clean animal; it cleans its body every morning using the dew on the grass leaves. Now, Mu Linfeng has decided to befriend this little spirit that has helped him.

The stones at the top of the tomb chamber had inexplicably returned to their original state, making it impossible to discern any openings. In fact, even if there were a hole at the top, a person would not be able to escape, as the top is more than 3 meters high from the ground. The smooth surface of the top is designed in a dome shape, and without external assistance, it is utterly impossible for a person to get out.

This wooden box contains the "Tomb Inspection Manuscripts" left by the ancestors of the Mu family throughout generations. These manuscripts, personally written by the ancestors, document their experiences in performing the "Geda" technique. Reading these materials will greatly aid in mastering and understanding the exceptional skills of tomb inspection

Originally intended to search for the "Imperial Burial Mountain Map," the failure to find the ancient painting unexpectedly relieved Mu Linfeng quite a bit. Mu Linfeng thought to himself, regardless of all that, let me first take a look at the ancestral burial techniques that have been passed down.

Suddenly, Mu Linfeng understood that from the Tang Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the court had clear regulations stating that only officials of the fifth rank and above were allowed to place stone carvings and statues in front of their graves after death. There are various types of stone carvings, including guardian beasts, guardian figures, stone pillars, and stone flowers, among others. However, ordinary people, those without official positions, regardless of their wealth, were not permitted to have these items; otherwise, it would be punishable by death.

However, the type of tomb and burial method used by my great-grandfather was also not permitted in ancient times. The tomb is also referred to as "kuang". The tombs of emperors are connected by tunnels, while the tombs of feudal lords and below resemble wells, also known as "well coffins". Therefore, there are two methods of burial: emperors enter through tunnels, while those below feudal lords are placed in coffins suspended above. Stone slabs or wooden stakes are erected on both sides of the tomb, with holes on top, using these holes as pivot points to control the ropes, allowing the coffins to be slowly lowered into the tomb.

Mu Linfeng opened his eyes underwater and surveyed his surroundings. It was pitch black, and he could see nothing. He continued to dive down while feeling along the well wall with his hands. After descending approximately two to three meters, he suddenly felt a lateral passage. He then swam forward along this horizontal underwater passage.

Upon seeing the five collapsed main rooms, Mu Linfeng suddenly realized that the exit he had failed to find earlier was likely beneath these five main rooms, with the collapsed roof pressing the exit down. If this assumption is correct, then the tunnel may have existed long before his great-grandfather built his tomb, very likely excavated by some ancestor as a precaution against mountain bandits and formidable enemies. It seems that this old residence of his family must still conceal many unknown secrets. If this assumption is correct, then the tunnel may have existed long before his great-grandfather built his tomb, very likely excavated by some ancestor as a precaution against mountain bandits and formidable enemies. It seems that this old residence of his family must still conceal many unknown secrets

Mu Linfeng carefully examined the stone slab, which bore a total of four inscriptions: The ability to discover these engravings indicates that you are a descendant of the Mu family. Open this stone slab and take out the porcelain bottle beneath it

Upon seeing two uniquely shaped stone beasts, Mu Linfeng realized that these were two guardian beasts. However, what puzzled him was that guardian beasts are typically placed in front of graves; why had his great-grandfather placed these two guardian beasts inside the tomb?

The letter concludes by mentioning the art of grave divination, as well as the "Notes on Grave Divination" left by our ancestors, all of which are stored within the urn coffin. After taking a solemn oath, these items may be retrieved

The round cave resembles a well, with the water surface only about 1 meter below the tunnel above, indicating that this is a dead end

Following the instructions, Mu Linfeng lifted the engraved stone slab, revealing a small hole measuring only a little over ten centimeters on each side, inside of which was a ceramic bottle with a slender neck and a large belly

Holding the envelope, Mu Linfeng suddenly hesitated; he was unsure whether he should open it. The term 'guardian of the spirit' indeed instilled a sense of fear in him, a fear not of something specific, but rather a concern for the unknown. He could not imagine what might happen after he opened the envelope

Upon entering the cave, Mu Linfeng immediately felt a wave of coolness emanating from the darkness within. The sweat that had just poured out of him vanished instantly. The cave ahead required him to bend down to pass through, and walking inside felt reminiscent of scenes from the movie "Tunnel Warfare." It was evident from the cave walls that this tunnel had been excavated by human hands. It was likely constructed during the time his great-grandfather built the tomb. What purpose did his great-grandfather have in constructing this tunnel? Mu Linfeng's heart was filled with curiosity. It was likely constructed during the time his great-grandfather built the tomb. What purpose did his great-grandfather have in constructing this tunnel? Mu Linfeng's heart was filled with curiosity.

Mu Linfeng carefully took out the porcelain bottle, which was dark in color and approximately the same size as an ordinary wine bottle. The small mouth of the bottle was sealed with clay, and the porcelain bottle was very light, as if there was nothing inside.

As soon as Mulinfeng's voice fell, a squeaking sound was heard from behind, so he turned around and saw the little sprite staring at him with its round eyes, chirping at him.

This adorable little creature seems to understand Mu Linfeng's words, as it immediately jumped down from the offering table and then walked straight towards another opening

The weasel let out a few squeaks towards Mu Linfeng, then leaped into the downward hole. With a splash, the weasel jumped into the water, floated on the surface for a moment, then plunged into the water and disappeared.

Subsequently, Mu Linfeng took out the manual beneath the letter and flipped through it casually. There were approximately more than twenty volumes, all with the handwritten title "Xiangmu Shouzha" in four vigorous brush strokes on the cover. With so many volumes of notes, there was no time to read them now

Mu Linfeng couldn't help but exclaim, he slapped his own head to clear his already dazed mind, and suddenly seeing so much gold was truly hard to accept. Mu Linfeng murmured to himself: Is this not a dream?

After tidying up, Mu Linfeng counted and found that there were exactly fifty gold and silver ingots each. He roughly estimated in his mind that at the current value, it would be worth at least ten million yuan!

Mu Linfeng first steadied his mind, wiped the dust off his face, and turned on the mini flashlight he carried with him to take a look around: this was a tomb chamber of approximately ten square meters. At each end of the chamber, there was a large urn topped with an eternal lamp, and the scene inside the chamber was clearly visible

According to records: Duke Wen of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period contributed significantly to the state. After his death, he requested to be buried with the rites reserved for emperors, but was refused by King Xiang of Zhou. This also reflects the hierarchical system in burial practices. Mu Linfeng's great-grandfather was indeed a commoner, without any official rank, and such a tomb is clearly beyond the established hierarchy

Upon reaching this thought, Mu Linfeng suddenly made a decision to rebuild the old residence of the Mu family, restoring it to its original appearance. He not only intended to inherit the ancestral skills of the Mu family but also aimed to revitalize the family business.

Upon realizing this, cold sweat began to trickle down Mu Linfeng's cheeks. He found himself caught in a dilemma, as the two responsibilities he currently bore were in direct opposition to each other. How should he choose?

Mu Linfeng picked up the ancestral tablet and examined it. This tablet was made of chestnut wood. According to local customs, a small memorial ceremony, known as "Xiangzhi", is held one year after the deceased's passing, during which a new tablet made of chestnut wood is created, referred to as "Jizhu". Mu Linfeng wiped the dust off the tablet with his sleeve, thinking that no matter what, with the ancestral tablet present, he must pay his respects.

After bowing three times, just as Mu Linfeng was preparing to rise, he suddenly noticed that there were faint inscriptions on the stone slab laid on the ground. He hurriedly brushed away the dust on the slab with his hand, then took out a flashlight and shone the light to discern the markings. Indeed, he found several lines of small characters engraved on the stone slab in front of the offering table. If he had not knelt down, it would have been extremely difficult to notice these unclear inscriptions.

Mu Linfeng quickly picked up the flashlight and followed the weasel, bending down to crawl into the tunnel. After walking a short distance, a fork in the path appeared. The weasel in front stopped, looked around as if to discern which way to go, and then turned into the tunnel on the right.

Mu Linfeng could not imagine what treasures were hidden within the porcelain vase, could it be an ancestral secret technique for tomb raiding? Otherwise, it would not be described in such a frightening manner

Such a cave is a piece of cake for someone with a background as a special forces soldier. Mu Linfeng effortlessly climbed to the top, but the stone slab covering the cave entrance posed a challenge for him. He placed his feet against the walls on either side and pushed against the slab above with all his strength. After several attempts with no movement, he ultimately had to give up and come back down.

After reading the words on the envelope, Mu Linfeng could not help but shiver, and a sense of fear suddenly arose in his heart

Mu Linfeng understood the meaning of the little sprite; it was urging him to break the urn coffin. He reached for a copper candlestick and walked to the tomb where the urn coffin was placed. With a strong blow, he smashed it down. With a loud crash, the shattered ceramic fragments scattered down, followed by some white and yellow substances that also fell with a clatter. A few landed on Mu Linfeng's feet, causing him sharp pain.

Seeing this clever yellow weasel and recalling a series of adventures, Mu Linfeng felt that coming here seemed to be a predetermined matter. He glanced at the ancestral deity's shrine and thought that his ancestors would certainly not push their descendants into the fire pit. Moreover, it now appeared that the ancestors were not only "troublesome" but must also be "guardians of the spirit." Since the ancestors were all guardians of the spirit, what was there for him to worry about!

At last, Mu Linfeng's gaze fell upon the dark and bright wooden box

Upon seeing the eight characters behind, a chill involuntarily arose in Mu Linfeng's heart, as if a pair of eyes in the darkness were staring at him, and he suddenly felt a cold sensation on his back

Thinking of this, Mu Linfeng knelt once again before his great-grandfather's tomb, loudly proclaiming: "Great-grandfather, I have come to seek the ancestral burial techniques of the Mu family and the 'Imperial Burial Mountain Map.' If you are aware of my presence in the underworld, please guide your grandson towards a way out. In the future, I will certainly burn more paper money for you, so that you may live comfortably over there..."

After Mu Linfeng took out all the "Xiangmu Notes," he discovered a separate exquisite small wooden box at the very bottom. He hurriedly opened the lid of the box, and inside were three sheets of rough paper filled with calligraphy, with nothing else inside.

After paying respects to his great-grandfather, Mu Linfeng knelt before his great-grandmother's coffin and sincerely bowed three times. Although there were only clothes and a hat in his great-grandfather's coffin, this coffin contained the remains of his great-grandmother, as she had passed away before his great-grandfather and had already been buried here

Upon seeing the coffin marked with the character "福", Mu Linfeng knew that this was his great-grandfather's coffin. Although it contained no remains, only the clothes worn by his great-grandfather, Mu Linfeng hurriedly knelt down and bowed three times. At the same time, he silently murmured: Great-grandfather, please forgive me, I did not mean to disturb you, I accidentally fell down...

Mu Linfeng is currently located in the third courtyard, which is the inner residence. It consists of five main rooms, with front and back corridors. On the east side, there is a group of rockeries, upon which a domed pavilion is built, along with a water pond, which is the one he just climbed out of.

Mu Linfeng surveyed the interior of the tomb, searching for an exit. As his gaze inadvertently swept over the tall headstone of his great-grandfather, a thought flashed through his mind

Mu Linfeng did not know the specific meaning of these three characters. Many ancient tombs have numerous stone sculptures of guardian spirits and guardian beasts. It is the first time he has heard of the living being referred to as "guardian spirits".

Upon seeing the objects hidden within the urn coffin, Mu Linfeng was left utterly astonished... Inside the large urn coffin, apart from a dark and shiny wooden box standing upright, it was astonishing to find that the coffin was filled entirely with fist-sized gold and silver ingots. After the urn coffin shattered, the gold and silver ingots scattered all over the ground...

It is unclear how far I have walked forward, but it feels like fifty or sixty meters. Suddenly, a spacious area appeared ahead, revealing another tomb chamber of over ten square meters in size, similar in scale and shape to my great-grandfather's tomb chamber. The only difference is that this tomb chamber has two additional openings for entry and exit; directly opposite the opening through which Mu Linfeng entered, there is another identical opening. It is unknown where it leads.

On the wall between the two guardian beasts, there are two cave-like openings that are round at the top and taper downwards, seemingly intended for placing coffins. The lower edge of the openings is more than one meter above the ground, and the two burial niches are adjacent to each other, with a gap of only a few centimeters between them. Each opening is one and a half meters high and no more than one meter wide, and the shape of the openings closely resembles the front end of a coffin.

Traversing through the tunnel, there are no reference points, making it impossible to discern the direction or to know where this tunnel leads. This tunnel also ascends at an angle, but the incline is somewhat steeper than that of the previous one.

On the offering table in front of the tomb, there were not only objects such as incense burners and candlesticks, but also a memorial tablet. Mu Linfeng held a candle close to take a look and discovered that the name inscribed on the tablet was actually that of the first ancestor of the Mu family recorded in the family genealogy

After walking a short distance, the weasel in front stopped again, and the little creature turned to look at Mu Linfeng, as if waiting for him to come closer

Mu Linfeng turned around, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and suddenly saw the adorable weasel standing at one end of the offering table, staring at him with its round eyes, motionless. Noticing that Mu Linfeng was unable to move the urn coffin, the weasel extended its front paw, pointed at a wax stand, and squeaked twice.

Upon thinking of this, Mu Linfeng cleaned the ancestral tablet and rearranged it properly. He then took a step back, bent his knees, knelt before the offering table, and placed his hands on the ground to perform a deep bow of reverence.

The characters on the coffin also hold significance; for males, the character is "Fu" (福), and for females, it is "Shou" (寿). Surrounding the characters are patterns of bats. At the end of the coffin, there are illustrations of incense burners, candle holders, and young boys and girls holding banners.

Looking again at the adorable weasel, it is currently standing on the artificial hill, occasionally shaking its body to shake off the water droplets from its fur, while its two front paws are intermittently wiping its face, as if grooming itself

The will of my great-grandfather states very clearly that the guardian must protect the tranquility of the imperial tombs depicted in the "Imperial Burial Mountain Map". However, I am now tasked with searching for the tomb of Youhou Xi and... furthermore, I must open the tomb and excavate the burial goods within... This is clearly in violation of the ancestral teachings, and I have just sworn a solemn oath...

The reason the Daoist Master imparted the art of grave divination to the ancestor of the Mu family was to enable the Mu family to protect the imperial tombs depicted in the "Imperial Burial Mountain Map" for generations. This is because without mastering the art of grave divination, it is difficult to locate the energy pathways of the imperial tombs.

After the Daoist priest imparted the art of burial, he also handed over a painting titled "The Imperial Burial Mountain Map" to the ancestor of the Mu family. This ancient map marks several hidden royal tombs located in the mountains and fields. The responsibility of the "guardian of the tomb" is to protect the tranquility of these undisclosed royal tombs

Thinking of this, Mu Linfeng picked up the flashlight and carefully searched the small secret room, finding no place to hide anything. Perhaps the "Imperial Burial Mountain Map" was never placed here at all

Mu Linfeng felt a stir in his heart. Could it be that this little spirit wanted to say something to him? Thus, he addressed the weasel, saying: "Brother Huang, it was you who led me here. Please point me to a way out."

Subsequently, Mu Linfeng gently tapped the ceramic vase against the ground, and it shattered with a sound, revealing an envelope inside that had already turned yellow.

Immediately afterward, a thud was heard, and Mu Linfeng felt himself fall onto the cold ground, perhaps due to the tension in his heart, he surprisingly did not feel any pain

Mu Linfeng first took down the wooden box that was standing in the urn coffin and placed it on the altar, then bent down to pick up the gold and silver ingots that had fallen to the ground, arranging them neatly on the offering table. He could not understand how such a large fortune could be hidden here; when his great-grandfather passed away, the family was already destitute. If there was so much gold and silver, why was it not brought out?

Mu Linfeng seemed to be in a dream, hardly able to believe what was happening before his eyes. After being stunned for a moment, he reached out to pick up a heavy gold ingot, weighing at least one kilogram. Mu Linfeng doubted whether this was a real gold ingot, so he took one and bit it with his teeth, leaving a clear bite mark; it was evident that it was genuine gold.

Under the illumination of the light, Mu Linfeng suddenly discovered that several lines of small characters were also engraved on the rough surface of the ceramic vase: "The legitimate descendants of the Mu family who swear to inherit the secret skills of the tomb can shatter this vase; otherwise, do not disturb it. If you do not touch the vase, I will not touch you"

Strangely, the central area of the tomb chamber is empty and does not contain a coffin; instead, two half-human-sized stone beasts stand against one side of the wall. In the middle of the stone beasts is a stone altar, on which are placed incense burners, candlesticks, and other sacrificial utensils

It turned out that this tunnel had reached its end, but this time there was not an opening above; instead, there was a downward opening. Mu Linfeng approached to take a look and saw that there was actually water in the cave below.

Mu Linfeng peered into the tomb with the light of a miniature flashlight. He could only see the heads of the two coffins placed within the graves, while the rest of the coffins remained completely obscured. On the heads of the two coffins, there were large golden characters inscribed; one coffin bore the character "Fu" and the other "Shou"

Mu Linfeng took out three sheets of paper and quickly read through them from beginning to end. The content was precisely the technique of grave divination. What surprised Mu Linfeng was that the ultimate skill of grave divination was only a brief text of less than three hundred words. The content seemed to be very similar to the Taoist "Yin Fu Jing," with almost every sentence consisting of four characters, making it extremely obscure and difficult to understand, leaving Mu Linfeng utterly perplexed. It seemed that comprehending these matters would not be accomplished in a single day.

Upon seeing this, Mu Linfeng immediately broke out in a sweat, thinking to himself, surely I won't be trapped to death here? If that were the case, it would mean accompanying my great-grandfather in his burial.

In the past, after the construction of the tomb chamber, it was not sealed off. Regardless of which spouse passed away first, the coffin would be buried. Only after both individuals had passed away and were interred together would the tomb be completely sealed.

Just as Mu Linfeng was hesitating, the little golden sprite suddenly jumped onto the offering table. The small creature wagged its large tail and stared at Mu Linfeng with its round eyes, emitting a chirping sound from its black mouth, as if urging him to open the envelope

At that moment, Mu Linfeng heard a squeaking sound behind him and quickly turned around. It turned out to be the weasel that had disappeared. He saw it raising its front legs, its slender body arched like a bent bow, standing at the foot of the wall opposite.

Mu Linfeng placed his hands in the center of the urn coffin and pushed it with force, yet it did not budge at all. He found this even more puzzling; what could be so heavy? Even if there were indeed the remains of the ancestor inside, it would never be this heavy.

Mu Linfeng was absolutely unaware that the toxic oath he had taken would bring him much trouble and unspeakable pain in the future

Mu Linfeng raised the flashlight in his hand to observe above. The diameter of the upward passage was less than one meter, and there were small holes on both sides of the cave wall for footholds, although it was too dark above to see clearly.

However, the greatest difficulty for tomb raiders lies in not knowing the specific location and opening time of the imperial tomb's air passage. Moreover, the air passage only opens at a certain hour of the day, making it difficult for those who are not familiar with it to detect its existence. Therefore, some tomb raiders even arrange for individuals to wait for several years in order to discover the air passage to the imperial tomb.

After reading the letters left by his great-grandfather, Mu Linfeng finally understood why the tomb raiders went to such lengths to approach his great-grandfather; it was because of his great-grandfather's other identity as a "guardian of the spirit." The true aim of the tomb raiders was to locate the energy pathways of the imperial tombs. If any tomb raiding organization were to obtain these few items left by the ancestors of the Mu family, the consequences would be unimaginable

Mu Linfeng secretly admired that his great-grandfather could design such a tomb. After the heavy cypress coffin was pushed into the cave, it fit so perfectly with the tomb that it was almost the same size, leaving no gaps on any side. It would be extremely difficult to take it out again. It was truly a marvelous structure; perhaps no other tomb in the world is like that of his great-grandfather.

The tunnel here seems to be ascending. After walking for more than ten meters, the weasel suddenly stopped. It turned out that the tunnel had reached its end, and a vertical shaft appeared directly in front of me.

Mu Linfeng approached the tomb on the wall, examining the urn coffin placed inside. It stood over one meter tall, with the thickest part in the middle having a diameter of about seventy to eighty centimeters. He extended his arm, wrapping it around the narrower lower part of the urn coffin, intending to lift it down, but to his surprise, the urn coffin did not budge at all.

This letter was left by Mu Linfeng's great-grandfather. The letter mentions that the secret technique of the Mu family's ancestral tomb was learned by the first generation ancestor from a wandering Taoist priest. Before imparting the secret technique of the ancestral tomb, the Taoist priest similarly required the ancestor to swear to become a "guardian of the spirit," and only then did he pass on the secret technique to the ancestor of the Mu family

"What on earth is inside? Why is it so heavy?" Mu Linfeng was quite puzzled. He had no trouble lifting something that weighed 200 pounds just a moment ago, so why couldn't he move this urn coffin?

On one side of the wall in this tomb chamber, there is also a burial niche, but there is only one. Instead of a coffin, it contains a large ceramic jar over one meter tall, which resembles a "urn coffin".

The wooden box hidden within the urn is exceptionally heavy, entirely unadorned and plain in appearance. From its delicate wood, it resembles ebony. One side of the box features a silver clasp, which is exquisitely crafted. After unfastening the clasp, Mu Linfeng gently lifted the heavy lid, revealing first a yellow silk cloth embroidered with a landscape pattern. He then slowly unfolded the yellow silk, and what came into view was a piece of yellowed Xuan paper inscribed with calligraphy. The content is quite simple, consisting of only two lines: "This gold and silver is for the 'Guardian of the Vigil' to use as travel expenses while performing their duties, and it must not be used for any other purpose."

After discovering the way out, Mu Linfeng hurriedly turned on his flashlight and walked towards the cave entrance. Upon seeing Mu Linfeng approaching, the weasel surprisingly jumped ahead and entered the dark cave. Could it be that this little spirit intends to lead the way for him? As Mu Linfeng pondered this, he shone the flashlight downwards, revealing a narrow passage that slanted downwards, dark and seemingly endless. He slowly shrank his body into the cave entrance.

Seeing this scene, Mu Linfeng speculated that the well below must be connected to some other place; otherwise, this little sprite would not have dived into the water. It seemed that the only option was to try going into the water, so he placed the candlestick on the ground and cautiously descended into the vertical well.

The next question is how to leave this place; other matters can be planned later. With this thought in mind, Mu Linfeng looked at the weasel that had been squatting on the altar and said with a smile: "Brother Huang, I want to go out now. Since you brought me here, could you please take me out again?"

This pond is located in the middle of the backyard of the old residence, and the adjacent pavilion has collapsed, leaving only the artificial hill still standing by the pond

Approaching the wall, Mu Linfeng finally saw that each of these two tombs contained a coffin painted in bright red. The size of the coffin head was not much different from that of the cave, having been recessed inward by a section, with the coffin head being more than ten centimeters away from the entrance of the cave.

At that moment, a thought suddenly arose in Mu Linfeng's mind: in the future, he would definitely write a novel about the stories of his great-grandfather and great-grandmother whenever the opportunity arose, believing that the plot would surely be very exciting

Hearing this sound, Mu Linfeng suddenly realized that the stone slab beneath the weasel's feet was hollow; otherwise, it would not have produced such a noise.

This is the tomb chamber of my great-grandfather, and I am his only descendant. If I were to be trapped and die here, who would be left to pay respects and offer sacrifices to him in the future? Therefore, one should not trap oneself. This tomb was personally designed and constructed by my great-grandfather, and it should provide an escape route.

Mu Linfeng looked at the weasel with confusion and said, "Brother Huang, this is also a dead end. How do you expect me to get out of here after bringing me to this place?"

In his childhood, Mu Linfeng could still find some brick carvings here, featuring motifs such as lions rolling embroidered balls, the Three Star Gods of Happiness, Prosperity, and Longevity, the granting of titles on horseback, plum blossoms, and peonies. From these, one can imagine the original elegance and luxury of this old residence

Mu Linfeng bent down to pick up the envelope, shaking off the ceramic fragments on it. He noticed that the envelope also had a few lines of small characters written on it, the handwriting was in regular script using a brush, the characters were neat and powerful, indicating the writer's profound skill.

However, in an instant, Mu Linfeng suddenly froze, as he realized how naive his thought was. He had come here to search for the "Imperial Burial Mountain Map"... and the purpose of searching for the "Imperial Burial Mountain Map" was to assist the research team in opening the tomb of You Houxi...! ... This was precisely contrary to the duties of a guardian of the tomb!

After reading the inscriptions on the stone tablet, Mu Linfeng realized that these characters must have been left by his great-grandfather. His great-grandfather was truly exceptional; only the descendants of the Mu family would kneel before the ancestral tablet and thus have the opportunity to discover these small characters on the stone tablet

Mu Linfeng finally understood why his great-grandfather, despite being extremely poor, never touched the gold and silver. It turned out that this money had a specific purpose. Suddenly, he felt a renewed sense of admiration for his great-grandfather, as if he could see the image of a dignified and unyielding man, steadfast in poverty.

Upon entering the courtyard, there are nine rooms, with five rooms in the northern section serving as a hall. In the second courtyard, there are three main rooms, featuring front and back corridors, with two side rooms on each side. There are three wing rooms on both the east and west sides, along with a front corridor, and a corner corridor connecting the main wing rooms.

My great-grandfather, as an old "knot," was well aware of the importance of guardian beasts in tombs and understood that, given his status, such stone carvings could not be displayed. Although my great-grandfather lived during the Republic of China era, many of the concepts he held onto remained unchanged. Therefore, he could only secretly place them in the tomb chamber, allowing the guardian beast to protect his resting place

Mu Linfeng was momentarily stunned. Could it be that the remains of the ancestor are in this urn coffin? How is that possible! Because there is a grave of the Mu family's ancestor in the cemetery on the back mountain, how could there be another one here? Two ancestors have suddenly appeared, leaving Mu Linfeng utterly confused

After just a few strokes forward, Mu Linfeng vaguely saw light shining down from above. He felt a surge of joy in his heart and quickly paddled forward with all his strength, then began to float upwards, breaking the surface of the water with a splash.

Upon seeing Mu Linfeng come down, this clever little creature seemed to understand that this path was blocked, and immediately turned around to head back. After returning to the fork, it turned into another tunnel.

Subsequently, Mu Linfeng carefully placed all the items back into the sandalwood box. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to keep these items here for the time being, as he believed this was the safest place. If what Li Jianping said last night was true, then these items would also be highly sought after by tomb raiders who have infiltrated the country, thus they must be properly safeguarded

It is said that weasels have a strong odor, but just now, Mu Linfeng was in the tunnel with one and did not smell anything. It seems that they only release their scent from their rear when encountering enemies, and naturally, they do not do so with friends

Oh my mother, so much real gold and silver!

After understanding the responsibilities of the "guardian of the vigil," Mu Linfeng finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that it was not as terrifying as he had imagined, and it also seemed that the tasks were not very difficult to accomplish

At the very moment he fell into the cave, Mu Linfeng's consciousness suddenly awakened. He realized that he had undoubtedly fallen into the trap set by the weasel and had tumbled into his great-grandfather's tomb.

Mu Linfeng was seeing a urn coffin for the first time; he had only heard of it before, as urn coffins had long been extinct in this area for hundreds of years. He did not expect to see one here.

Mu Linfeng crawled out of the water, took off his drenched clothes, and while forcefully wringing out the water from his garments, he surveyed his surroundings. The entire courtyard was filled with ruins and overgrown weeds, all the buildings had collapsed, leaving only half of the walls standing.

Thinking of this, Mu Linfeng secretly said to himself: "Just do it, what is there to worry about? I am originally a descendant of the guardians of the spirits..." Thus, he loudly proclaimed to the spirit tablet of his ancestor: "I, Mu Linfeng, the twenty-first descendant of the Mu family, vow to be a 'guardian of the spirits'. If I go back on my word, I shall die without a burial place!"

Before opening the envelope, one must take a solemn oath and become a guardian of the spirit in order to inherit the unique skills of the grave.

It is known that every imperial tomb, during its construction, leaves behind an air passage. This air passage extends from the tomb's underground chamber all the way to the outside. The purpose of this air passage is to facilitate the entry and exit of the emperor's soul. Regardless of how secretive the construction of the imperial tomb may be, this air passage is essential. However, the air passage is not open at all times; rather, it opens periodically. The timing of the opening varies among different tombs, with some being shorter and others longer. For those with shorter intervals, the passage opens once every three or five years, while the longest interval is once every sixty years, corresponding to a complete cycle of the Chinese sexagenary cycle. Regardless of how secretive the construction of the imperial tomb may be, this air passage is essential. However, the air passage is not open at all times; rather, it opens periodically. The timing of the opening varies among different tombs, with some being shorter and others longer. For those with shorter intervals, the passage opens once every three or five years, while the longest interval is once every sixty years, corresponding to a complete cycle of the Chinese sexagenary cycle.

At this moment, Mu Linfeng also realized that going out was a problem, and quickly looked up at the top of the tomb chamber, the area from which he had just fallen.

After emerging from the water, Mu Linfeng vigorously shook the water off his head, then wiped his face with his hand. The first thing that caught his eye was a uniquely shaped artificial rockery. The scene before him was so familiar that Mu Linfeng quickly realized that this was his family's old residence

This adorable little creature wags its long tail, seemingly mocking Mu Linfeng for falling from above. Upon seeing the weasel, Mu Linfeng suddenly realizes that there is no way out in this tomb chamber surrounded by stone walls. Where did it come from?

To speak frankly, Mu Linfeng deeply admires his great-grandmother, not only because her blood flows within him, but also because she can truly be regarded as a legendary woman. The "Geda" and tomb raiders can be said to be arch-enemies; the obstacles they faced in coming together are unimaginable, and the union of these two individuals can indeed be considered a miracle

This old residence is designed in a "Mu" character style with three courtyards, facing south and originally considered a mansion within a hundred miles. The grand entrance features a large gate tower, with a tiled hard mountain roof over the ridge, and an "eight" character-shaped blue brick shadow wall, opposite which stands a one-character shadow wall. At the top of the door, there are four intricately carved door ornaments, alongside a pair of exquisitely carved drum stones. The eaves columns are adorned with sparrow replacements, and at the bottom of the steps outside the main gate, there are also a pair of stone lions.

Seeing the docile demeanor of the weasel, Mu Linfeng suddenly had a thought in his mind: it would be wonderful if he could keep this weasel, which seemed to understand his words, as a pet. This clever and nimble little creature might be able to assist him greatly in the future

Subsequently, Mu Linfeng carefully examined the items stored in the urn coffin once again, and indeed, there was no "Imperial Burial Mountain Map". He found it very puzzling why the "Imperial Burial Mountain Map" was not placed here. Could it be that there is an even more secretive location?

The cold well water made Mu Linfeng involuntarily shiver; he took a deep breath and then submerged his body into the water

This is the backyard of the Mu family's old residence, which has been uninhabited since Mu Linfeng can remember. After the passing of his great-grandfather, the family, due to poverty, could no longer afford to repair these houses that have stood for hundreds of years. Soon, the walls collapsed and the roofs fell in, and now it has been abandoned for about seventy to eighty years, with many areas only having the foundations rising above the ground.

So much money! Mu Linfeng silently exclaimed in his heart. Strangely enough, at that moment, Mu Linfeng felt more astonished than joyful, sensing that this wealth did not seem to belong to him.

After making a solemn vow, Mu Linfeng unhesitatingly tore open the envelope and pulled out two sheets of letter paper from inside

Mu Linfeng was suddenly filled with wild joy, thinking that this little sprite must be conveying some message to him. He hurried over and knocked hard on the stone slab where the weasel had stood. Sure enough, it produced a thudding sound, clearly indicating that there was emptiness beneath. Mu Linfeng quickly exerted force to move the stone slab, and indeed, it revealed a dark hole.

At that moment, Mu Linfeng suddenly noticed a problem. He found that the letter only mentioned the techniques of Xiangmu and the "Xiangmu Manual," seemingly without any reference to the "Di Zang Shan Tu." Mu Linfeng hurriedly read the letter again, and indeed, it did not clarify whether the "Di Zang Shan Tu" was included or not

Suddenly, the weasel jumped twice, its hind legs seemingly intent on stomping the stone slab beneath its body, producing a thudding sound beneath its feet

Thinking of this, Mu Linfeng knelt again before the ancestral shrine, holding the ceramic vase in both hands, and solemnly vowed: I, Mu Linfeng, the twenty-first descendant of the Mu family, vow to inherit the Mu family's unique skills and will never betray the trust of my ancestors

Mu Linfeng contemplated for a moment and decided to read the letter first; it was evidently impossible to make a choice at this moment.

The duty of the guardian is to ensure that the airway remains open without interference to the imperial tomb. This is because tomb raiders may take advantage of the open airway to discover the exact location of the royal mausoleum's underground chamber and gain entry. Many royal tombs have been looted as tomb raiders have used the airway to locate the underground chambers of the imperial tombs, thereby carrying out their plundering.

Beside the letter paper was a round object wrapped in red cloth. Mu Linfeng picked it up and felt it was somewhat heavy. Unwrapping the red cloth, he discovered a compass engraved with the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, a very exquisite jade bowl, and a small pouch made of deer skin. Mu Linfeng speculated that these items must be tools used for grave searching. There was no time to examine them closely, so he set everything aside for the moment

The Guardian of the Vigil