28 Kong Ming
He had prepared almost everything for this trip. From ropes to flashlights made from glowing crystals. He even had some enchanted pickaxes just in case. In the novel, Nie Li and Ye Ziyun just fell into the hole without preparation. He didn't want to repeat that.
He looked into the hole. It was dark and foreboding. What the hell did Kong Ming was thinking when he created this entrance.
Maybe it was some kind of test for his inheritors. Meaning if they survive the fall then they can inherit, if not then they don't deserve it. But considering that the citizens of the city used his tomb as a refuge this entrance was almost useless.
Also, Nie Li noticed some suction force from the hole. In other words, not only gravitation will help the descent to the bottom. He took one of the glowing crystals and dropped it into the hole. It fell for a long time, almost 20 seconds. About one kilometer in depth. Girls at his side looked nervously at the crystal light getting smaller the farther.
"Don't tell me we're going down this hole," said Ye Ziyun anxiously.
"You can wait for me here. But exploring the underground may take a few days. Because there should be an underground Palace of some ancient expert." Nie Li said knowing what would be their reaction to his words.
"No, we will go with you," said Xiao Ning'er. Ye Ziyun nodded to that and added, "There may be some dangers below."
"There should be some traps" Nie Li agreed with her. "But nothing that we can't handle."
Nie Li took out the rope that was made from the silk of some spider beast and tied it around the pedestal. It was very tough and could hold the weight of the three of them without a problem.
They didn't need other climbing equipment, because cultivators had very sturdy bodies. Both of the girls beside him could lift more than an adult man in Robert's world.
Nie Li only added a headband with a flashlight. And flashlights he made from glowing crystals that were commonly used for illumination by the rich in Glory City. They were very easy to use. You just have to power them with your soul force and they continued to glow for days in one charge. To block its light you needed to cover it and flashlights had a lid for that reason.
He put on his headband and gave two to the girls showing them how to use those. Girls looked at the flashlights interestedly and also put them on. It was much better than a torch.
"Okay, I'll be the first. Follow me after one minute" Nie Li said and began his descent. Nie Li dropped for 2 meters and stopped. Under the curious eyes of the girls, he nailed a metal spike onto the wall. And tied another rope to it. It was a backup in case someone found the hole and cut the rope above when they were underground.
Then he quickly climbed down. It took him 5 minutes to reach the bottom. He looked around. It was a dark hallway with several passages leading to it. In another minute, girls joined him. They looked around the room and the first thing they found was a line of text on the wall in the Sacred Empire language.
"Emperor Kong Ming's resting place" Nie Li read aloud for the sake of the girls.
"Emperor Kong Ming?" asked Xiao Ning'er curiously.
"Yes," Nie Li nodded and continued, "He was the most mysterious emperor in the history of the Sacred Empire. As an emperor of the Sacred Empire, he actually used his title as his form of address, which is very strange. This particular emperor left the Sacred Empire in the middle of his rule and passed his throne to his son. It's said that he had already cultivated to a frightening extent, becoming an immortal. Even his descendants couldn't find his tomb. It's surprising that he would actually be buried here."
Nie Li knew that Kong Ming's coffin was empty but he couldn't tell that to the girls.
"Is there really anyone that has cultivated to the extent of immortalization?" Ye Ziyun questioned, looking towards Nie Li.
"Who knows? There is no way to confirm that the Legend rank is the limit of cultivation," replied Nie Li nonchalantly. He would have said no, but the existence of Spiritual Gods and some hidden experts disproves that. Also, he doesn't know anything about the levels beyond Supreme rank.
"Do you really think that there is a realm above Legend rank?" Xiao Ning'er asked. She was more deferential towards Nie Li and his knowledge because she saw him as her savior. Ye Ziyun on the other hand grew up under the shadow of her father, the City Lord, and grandfather who was considered a pinnacle existence in the Glory City. So even though she respected Nie Li's opinion on the matter, she still had doubts that there could be someone stronger than her grandfather.
"Yes, I consider the Path of Dao to be limitless." Nie Li replied remembering his past life.
Girls looked at him silently considering his words. Could Nie Li be right about there being cultivators above Legend rank? If he was, could they reach those levels themselves? Both girls were very ambitious in nature, so the words Nie Li said lit a fire under them. Girls looked into each other's eyes and the fire in them intensified.
"Hm, it looks like the palace has a labyrinthine layout so we can expect pitfall style traps mostly." Nie Li continued his observation. "Be careful and follow my steps"
"Okay, but where to?" Ye Ziyun asked looking into six different passages in front of them. Flashlights in their headbands shined brightly illuminating underground passages.
"Burial traditions of the Sacred Empire indicate the tombs to be built facing south. That means we have to move towards the north." Nie Li said.
"Um. Which side is the north?" Xiao Ning'er asked looking around.
"Yes, we are underground. How are we supposed to tell which direction is the north?" Ye Ziyun added.
"That's easy," said Nie Li making girls curious, "I have a compass here." He showed them the compass he bought exactly for this reason. Of course, he could tell directions even without it in most situations, but why bother? Compass is more accurate and easy to use.
Girls looked at him and thought about how meticulously Nie Li prepared for this expedition. He had everything for every situation, while they have taken it as an interesting adventure. How mature his attitude is compared to theirs? They felt ashamed of their frivolous thoughts.
If Nie Li knew about the girl's thoughts about himself he would have blushed with shame. Without foreknowledge, he wouldn't have been prepared as well. But he didn't know. He was looking at a passage in front of him for traps. Catacombs were very large and it will take days to explore them entirely and he didn't have that much time. So they will directly move in the direction of the central chamber.
"Okay, follow me," He said and strolled towards the northern passage.
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Both girls following Nie Li had many thoughts in their minds. They were lauded as geniuses of their generation. They were better than most of their peers in almost anything. But that was true before they met Nie Li. He was better than them in everything. Even his cultivation must have surpassed theirs by now. They felt very inadequate compared to him.
Even now looking at how Nie Li deactivated the traps using an ordinary stone, they felt partly admiration towards him, partly frustration at themselves. Both girls unknowingly had the same thought in their minds: advance faster so not to be left behind.
