Chapter 1, Great Changes at Sea
I am still alive! It is truly fortunate to have survived under such harsh circumstances
Only three days left until returning, time really flies! Zhao Rui sighed with lingering feelings; his ticket included accommodation and meals, and on this ship, he enjoyed good food and drink without any worries. After returning, where would he find such favorable treatment?
Where exactly am I
His parents passed away early, and he had no relatives or friends. From childhood to adulthood, he had to rely entirely on his own earnings for tuition and living expenses. If it were not for his chance participation in a prize-winning program on television, where he unexpectedly won the grand prize of a five-day luxury cruise, he would have absolutely been unable to afford this expense
Zhao Ruiyue grew increasingly alarmed. If the information on the tombstone is true, then... what kind of monumental change occurred that caused these deities and demons, which only exist in ancient legends of the East and West, to fall into an endless slumber within this immortal tomb?
Damn it, does this lead to the North Pole? How can it be so cold here
Zhao Rui exclaimed softly; although he had experienced many storms and was usually calm, at this moment his mind was in complete disarray
This hall is constructed from enormous stone blocks that are astonishing in size, reaching heights of several hundred meters, and one can only see the top of the hall by looking up
At that moment, a massive lightning bolt tore through the dark clouds, striking directly onto the surface of the sea on the left side of the "Hailing" cruise ship, instantly raising towering waves. Following that, one thunderclap after another exploded in the ears, deafening!
A storm is approaching, all passengers please return to your rooms! All passengers please return to your rooms!
The inscription on the tombstone is a summary of the life of the deceased, recording the past deeds of the master of this celestial tomb
... ...
Zhao Rui gently shook his head, feeling confused and disoriented, unaware of his surroundings. He remembered that just before losing consciousness, he seemed to have been pulled down to the depths of the sea by a whirlpool. However, this small doubt was quickly replaced by a profound joy of survival
He felt as if he were lying sprawled on a stone slab, his whole body icy cold
This structure, standing firm in the deep sea and keeping hundreds of millions of tons of seawater at bay, what exactly is housed within it? Could there be a treasure of astonishing value?
Zhao Rui wandered in confusion among the vast cemetery, as obelisks flashed before his eyes, and names he had only heard of in mythological stories continuously entered his view.
The weather at sea changes too quickly!
How am I so unlucky!
Zhao Rui quickly turned his head to look at another tombstone
The master of this ice tomb is none other than Abaddon, the destroyer king from Western legend, who sounds the trumpet of doom, causes meteors to fall to the ground, and opens the gates of hell
Zhao Rui stood on the wide stone steps, before this sacred and solemn giant hall, suddenly feeling incredibly small, like a speck of dust
The Hai Ling vessel continued its voyage at sea. It is unclear when the sky began to darken, but thick black clouds, like galloping wild horses, approached from afar, obscuring the sunlight. The sea breeze gradually intensified, whistling past with a low howl.
He couldn't help but curse loudly, and the seawater took the opportunity to rush into his mouth. He gargled a few times and began to sink, his consciousness gradually becoming blurred
The owner of this tombstone is an elderly man entombed in ice, dressed in a Daoist robe, with silver-white hair and beard, kind eyes, and a gentle expression. He holds a fan in his left hand and a golden steel chisel in his right. Amidst the ethereal aura of a celestial being, there emanates a sense of kindness and benevolence, instilling a feeling of peace and warmth upon first glance
The stone steps were steep and high. Although Zhao Rui had a sturdy physique, he had just awakened from a coma and had not yet regained his strength, making this stretch particularly arduous to traverse
Zhao Rui furrowed his brows and stopped in front of a tombstone
The Hailing is indeed a five-star luxury cruise ship, and its routes have been meticulously selected; how could it possibly navigate through dangerous waters?" The husband quickly reassured, "As for the missing expedition team, it could be due to encountering a storm or some other reason. Such incidents will not occur on our ship, so do not overthink it..."
Countless shipwrecks are scattered among the seabed silt, with broken keels stretching haphazardly, and several tattered pieces of cloth hanging above, gently swaying with the current
... ... ''
Zhao Rui felt a sudden roar in his mind, nearly causing him to faint; however, in that very moment, it was as if he had been enlightened, and he completely understood the meaning conveyed by these ancient characters
Fortunately, I did not sell the boat ticket; otherwise, I would have missed this beautiful scenery. He smiled, feeling somewhat relieved.
However, even if there are no passages in the hall, he still intends to go in and take a look
and * Picture * Book `` The Tomb of Zhang Daoling, the First Celestial Master of the East! ''
The tomb of Beelzebub, one of the seventy-two demon kings of the Western Solomon
Just before losing consciousness completely, a whirlpool suddenly appeared beneath his feet, pulling him down into the depths of the sea
He has never believed in ghosts or deities, nor is he willing to accept the authenticity of the inscriptions on this tombstone. However, this grand hall, located in the depths of the ocean and capable of keeping billions of tons of seawater at bay, leaves him unable to provide any scientific explanation.
I have heard that there are quite a number of ancient shipwrecks beneath this sea area," said the husband
... ...
He coughed violently several times, expelling some seawater, and only then did he feel that his breathing had become much smoother, and his mind gradually became clearer
"Ah? Is that true?" The wife exclaimed, "Doesn't that mean this sea area is extremely dangerous?"
Zhao Rui originally thought that it would be more practical if this grand prize could be exchanged for money, but until the very moment he boarded the ship, he was unable to transfer the ticket. He had no choice but to board the cruise with a sense of frustration, ready to enjoy this luxurious five-day trip by himself
Why has the storm suddenly arrived
The sun at noon in August hangs in the azure sky, resembling a fiercely burning fireball, continuously emitting blazing flames. The scorching air fills every corner of the world, making it exceedingly unbearable. Only the occasional gentle sea breeze can provide a hint of coolness.
His heart suddenly became fervent
Zhao Rui murmured a phrase, feeling that apart from using the word 'fortunate,' there were no other words to describe it
Uncertain how much time had passed, Zhao Rui slowly awakened from his coma. In a state of half-consciousness, he felt as if something was blocking his trachea, making it extremely difficult to breathe. His stomach felt heavy, as if it were filled with seawater, and his mouth was both salty and astringent
Zhao Rui looked at the backs of the two individuals and shook his head. That woman was truly too sensitive; someone could casually say a few words, and she could associate so much from it
A stone staircase, several hundred meters long and shimmering with a silvery sheen, extends from the grand entrance of the hall down to his feet. On either side of the staircase, stone statues of exotic beasts, approximately ten meters apart, are arranged in an orderly fashion, exuding a formidable presence that deters prolonged gazes
What do the inscriptions on this mean
The dark seawater hovered a kilometer above him, as if an invisible wall was keeping it at bay. Within the water, marine creatures, both known and unknown, swam in groups back and forth.
Zhao Rui felt a surge of excitement in his heart as he was about to step inside, when a sudden rush of icy cold air burst forth from within the door, nearly freezing him in place
However, he soon discovered a new problem: how should he leave?
He let out a difficult, low laugh, turned over, and with almost stiff limbs supported his body, slowly crawling up from the ground, preparing to carefully observe the surrounding environment before deciding on the next course of action
Didn’t they say the weather would be nice these days
How could immortals and demons possibly die, and be sealed in this tomb?
Without much thought, Zhao Rui followed the stone steps towards the door of the mysterious hall
In front of each giant celestial tomb stands an obelisk carved from ice, upon which is inscribed extremely ancient prehistoric script
Even more remarkably, these giant celestial tombs are crystal clear, with streams of colorful light flowing across the icy surface, creating an extraordinarily dazzling effect. Moreover, these tombs are extremely hard, and no matter the method used, it is impossible to leave even the slightest trace on the ice.
Zhao Rui would not be foolish enough to attempt to swim through that invisible barrier and out of the deep sea. Not to mention the ferocious sea monsters outside, even the immense pressure generated in the deep sea would be sufficient to crush him within a second of crossing the barrier
Zhao Rui stood on the top deck of the luxury cruise ship "Hailing", leaning against the railing, watching the bikini-clad women frolicking in the swimming pool, feeling quite pleased.
The "Hailing" cruise ship began to rock violently, and its massive hull nearly capsized!
These tombs are constructed from enormous semicircular ice blocks of varying sizes, with some ice tombs reaching heights of several dozen meters, while the smallest ice tombs have a radius of several meters.
What appeared before his eyes was a vast and enormous necropolis, stretching endlessly beyond sight
Zhao Rui stood there and couldn't help but smile upon hearing this: "Hearsay, and you actually took it seriously. I read novels and still want to cultivate and become an immortal! Can't you tell what's true and what's false?"
Zhao Rui is a sophomore at a university in the ancient city of Dong'an in the western region. He has an ordinary appearance and an unremarkable demeanor. Aside from having a slightly sharper gaze than most, there are hardly any features on his face that would make him memorable.
The Tomb of Archangel Michael in the Western Heavenly Realm
Zhao Ruishen took a few deep breaths to calm his wildly beating heart, slowly turned around, and suddenly found himself confronted by a grand hall of ancient design, which seemed to have stood there since time immemorial.
Within these ice tombs, some of the frozen beings exude an ethereal grace, their garments flowing like those of celestial beings; others bear fierce visages, radiating a demonic aura, resembling malevolent spirits; yet others entombed in ice possess striking beauty, their countenances exuding a divine majesty, adorned with pure white wings, akin to Western angels
At that moment, Zhao Rui had just taken two steps away from the ship's railing, completely unprepared, when a massive wave struck. He could hardly maintain his footing and was immediately swept over the railing, letting out a cry as he plunged into the sea, the surging waters almost instantaneously engulfing him.
The tourists who were unable to enter the room screamed in horror, collapsing onto the deck
The tourists complained as they left the deck, and the bikini-clad women who had been frolicking in the pool also emerged, drying themselves with towels as they made their way to their rooms
Zhao Rui opened his eyes wide, trying to see the situation ahead clearly, but unfortunately, the distance was too great for him to see any clearer
The golden light envelops this building, resembling a temple. The light flows gently like water, dazzling the onlooker. Milky white clouds swirl around the hall, accentuating it as if it were a palace in the heavens
Although Zhao Rui had been constantly shocked since arriving at this deep-sea cemetery, to the point of almost becoming numb, this name still made him feel as if thunder was roaring in his ears
With a sense of luck, he attempted to push the large door with his hand. To his surprise, amidst a thunderous roar, the massive door slowly opened to both sides
The space within this mysterious hall is vast, seemingly endless, and an ethereal music continuously reverberates throughout the grand chamber, beautiful, deep, and filled with sorrow, weighing heavily on one's heart
The only hope now is that there is an exit passage in that mysterious hall
However, the scene before him left him utterly astonished.
He is actually the Supreme Deity of Taoism, ruling over the heavens, encompassing all saints, executing the Way of Heaven, and distributing the virtues of Heaven, the Grand Supreme Elder Lord, who has everything within the Three Realms, the Ten Directions, the Four Births, and the Six Paths under his control
It is truly a miracle that I can enter this underwater palace alive
However, after enjoying two days on the "Hailing", that sense of frustration was cast aside.
As I proceeded along the White Marble Avenue towards the depths of the main hall, the chill in the air gradually intensified. The clothes soaked by seawater had become stiff and rigid, as if I were wearing a garment of ice.
The announcement on the ship suddenly sounded
After much effort, Zhao Rui suddenly found himself before the grand entrance of the hall. This massive door was tall and heavy; it would be nearly impossible to push open without immense strength.
He did not know exactly where he was, nor who had built the structure before him. The only thing he could be certain of was that he was located at an extremely deep part of the ocean, so deep that even the most advanced submersibles in the world could not reach it
After nearly an hour of running and searching, Zhao Rui finally arrived at the depths of the main hall and found the source of the chill
At the moment of feeling regret, a middle-aged couple nearby strolled past him, chatting aimlessly.
Golden rays of light descended from above, casting a uniform hue over the surroundings. A grand avenue paved with white jade led directly into the depths of the main hall, where a series of semicircular objects were neatly arranged.
Zhao Rui was about to carefully ponder the meaning of the inscription when suddenly, the text on the tombstone emitted a silvery radiance, piercing directly into his forehead
As the two individuals conversed, their voices gradually diminished and eventually faded into the distance
... ... ''
It is truly disappointing weather
He cursed while jumping back and forth incessantly. After a considerable amount of time, he finally regained his composure. Once the chill had dissipated and his body warmed up, he then proceeded to walk inside
Ah, aren't there many treasures down there? If only we could fish them out, we would truly be fortunate! The somewhat plump woman, her eyes shining, swept her gaze across the sea, as if countless treasures were lying on the seabed, just waiting for her to dive down and retrieve them.
He did not know how long it had been before he finally came to his senses from the extreme shock. Yet his heart continued to race, and everything that appeared before him filled him with mystery and confusion
Then the husband continued, "It is said that a famous treasure-hunting team came here to salvage two years ago, but then suddenly disappeared in this vicinity; no one knows what happened."
The Tomb of the Eastern Great Demon God Xingtian
Zhao Rui mumbled a few words, following behind the crowd, also preparing to return to his own room