Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 506 Evil Arts Brought Back from the Underworld?

Seeing this, Shen Cangming and Wen Hengrong followed closely behind Liang Jin without hesitation and stepped into the cave in the middle.

The cave was extremely spacious. Even if everyone walked upright and with their heads held high, there was still plenty of distance between their heads and the cave ceiling, so they didn't have to worry about bumping their heads.

At the same time, the cave's layout is extremely winding and circuitous, resembling a naturally formed maze, with each turn seemingly concealing unknown mysteries and dangers.

As Liang Jin walked steadily forward, he cautiously observed his surroundings.

As he walked along, he was filled with doubt, for there was not a single skeleton or corpse in sight.

Compared to the horrific scene outside, littered with withered bones and strewn with corpses, it was a world of difference.

Moreover, the natural caves along the way are continuous, and it is almost impossible to find any trace of human carving. It is as if this area has been forgotten by time and has always maintained its most primitive appearance.

"What do you usually use this place for?"

Liang Jin turned to look at Shen Cangming and asked.

From the moment Shen Cangming stepped into the cave, he felt as if he were being overwhelmed by an invisible force, and he maintained a strong sense of awe throughout.

His body was no longer as straight as usual, but slightly hunched, and even his voice unconsciously became much softer, as if afraid of disturbing the ancient beings sleeping here:
"This is no peaceful place. Within the tribe, it has always been closely associated with danger, disappearance, and death, which is why it has been designated as a forbidden area."

“In the past, if I had entered this place without permission, I would have been severely punished by having both my legs cut off.”

"After a person dies, the normal procedure is to enter the underworld through the Kui Abyss. However, there are also some abnormal situations in the world."

"Some people are still alive, yet they can enter the underworld. But the underworld is the world of the dead, and the living should not venture there. Once they enter, they will be trapped there forever and will never be able to return to the world of the living."

"If a living person enters the underworld, it may even anger the gods and result in divine punishment."

"And this place... is the passage for the living to travel to the underworld!"

After listening, Liang Jin shrugged, thinking to himself that it was just another one of those mystical and esoteric words.

Seeing Liang Jin's nonchalant expression, Shen Cangming quickly emphasized:

"Don't underestimate this place!"

“In the past, even the clan chief and the high priest did not dare to venture deep into this place.”

"I don't know if those corrupt officials of the Great Qian Dynasty have tampered with this place, but I firmly believe that these mortals are no match for the power of the gods."

"In short, we must be extremely careful, and evacuate immediately if the situation becomes unfavorable!"

Seeing how serious and earnest Shen Cangming was, Liang Jin's expression also became solemn.

The group continued cautiously forward, remaining vigilant.

Soon, a tall stone tablet suddenly appeared in the middle of the road.

The stone tablet was covered with strange characters, which Liang Jin found completely baffling and incomprehensible.

Shen Cangming's expression hardened as he understood the meaning behind it.

Shen Cangming frowned and slowly said:

"This is a warning left by the clan chiefs and high priests of the past, intended to warn all those who come after them never to continue down this path."

"If you continue forward beyond the stone tablet, you will step into the underworld and never be able to return to the world of the living."

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin subconsciously glanced at the [Thousand-Mile Tracking] feature and discovered that Zhao Xiling and her group were not far ahead.

His gaze fell on the stone tablet, but he did not rush forward.

Liang Jin immediately gathered his energy, used his sonic powers, and shouted loudly into the cave:
"Zhao Xiling! Can Xin! Gu Jinfu!"

"Answer me when you hear me!"

His voice seemed to be imbued with great power, as if a loudspeaker had been installed, continuously reaching deep into the cave, ensuring that everyone inside could hear it clearly.

Before entering the forbidden area, Liang Jin hoped to contact the people who had entered the cave beforehand to learn about the situation inside.

As his voice echoed through the cave, the group waited quietly for a response, but after a long time, they received no reply.

This situation caused Liang Jin to frown deeply.

He was quite certain that with the power of his sonic abilities, he could transmit his voice to the deepest part of the cave, and as long as one was inside the cave, there was no way he wouldn't hear it.

But now there is no response.

This could mean either the people inside are unwilling to answer, or they've encountered an unexpected situation and are unable to respond.

In either case, it means Liang Jin has to go there personally.

He couldn't let Zhao Xiling die here.

After all, Zhao Xiling still held a crucial purpose for him.

Immediately, Liang Jin waved his hand.

next moment.

Shen Cangming and Wen Hengrong seemed to sense something, and suddenly turned their heads, their bodies tensing up, assuming a defensive posture.

A mysterious figure, completely shrouded in a black robe, suddenly appeared behind them.

The man in the black robe was completely covered up, with not an inch of skin exposed.

What's particularly eerie is that he exudes an aura that instinctively disgusts and repels the living, as if he came from another sinister world.

"Don't be afraid, they're on our side."

Upon seeing this, Liang Jin quickly offered an explanation.

At this moment, what Liang Jin summoned was a Yin Bone Puppet.

Upon hearing this, Shen Cangming and Wen Hengrong breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves relaxing slightly.

But at the same time, their eyes were filled with surprise and uncertainty.

They had never seen this man in black before. Could it be that he had been secretly following Liang Jin all along?
But why were they completely unaware?

How many people did Liang Jin secretly arrange to follow him?
In particular, how did this man in black robes manage to appear behind the two of them so suddenly and silently?

All of this is shrouded in mystery and is perplexing.

At this moment, Liang Jin pointed his finger into the cave and whispered an instruction.

The skeletal puppet immediately sprang into action, rushing into the depths of the cave like a black lightning bolt.

So many experts entered the depths of this cave without any response, which strongly suggests that there may be something unusual going on inside.

Liang Jin was unwilling to risk his life easily, so he first sent the Yin Bone Puppet in to scout ahead.

The control range of the Yin Bone Puppet is limited, and it cannot ignore distance like the Battle Puppet.

However, Liang Jin checked the location of Zhao Xiling and her group using the [Thousand Mile Tracking] feature and found that it was not far away. This distance was not difficult for the Yin Bone Puppet.

Shen Cangming watched the departing figure of the Yin Bone Puppet, his brows furrowed slightly. Finally, he couldn't help but ask Liang Jin:

"What's your friend's background?"

Liang Jin turned around and looked at him calmly:

"Any questions?"

Shen Cangming hesitated for a moment, but still answered truthfully:
"He looks like a dead man."

Liang Jin was not surprised by this.

The Yin Bone Puppet is essentially a manifestation of the dead.

For a master like Shen Cangming, once the distance is closed, they can clearly hear their opponent's heartbeat, keenly sense their opponent's breathing, and even perceive their opponent's body temperature.

As for the Yin Bone Puppet, which has no heartbeat, breathing, or body temperature, in their eyes it is either regarded as a martial artist who practices some kind of evil art, or as a dead person.

This is not unusual.

Seeing that Liang Jin didn't seem to care too much, Shen Cangming continued:
"He looks a lot like a skeleton puppet created using our clan's secret techniques."

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin was deeply moved and his heart trembled.

This Shen Cangming actually used the term "Yin Bone Puppet"!
Could it be that the mysterious monster, the Yin Bone Puppet, really originated from the Youhuan Clan?

Seeing Liang Jin staring intently at him, Shen Cangming assumed Liang Jin didn't understand what a Yin Bone Puppet was, so he patiently explained:
"This is an ancient legend within our tribe."

"It is said that thousands of years ago, there was a brave and skilled warrior in the tribe who had a beloved girl. Unfortunately, the girl later died of illness."

"The warrior could not sever his deep affection for the girl, so he resolutely ventured into the forbidden area, attempting to enter the underworld and bring her back to the mortal realm. After all, this forbidden area is the only passage for the living to reach the underworld."

"Later, he failed to find his beloved girl in the underworld, but unexpectedly obtained a way to bring people back to life."

"That was a secret manual called the 'Yin Fu Long Tui Jing' (Secret Talisman Dragon's Metamorphosis Scripture). He resurrected his beloved girl by following the methods in the manual."

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin was deeply shaken.

The Yin Fu Long Tui Jing?
Isn't this the Heaven-level secret manual that Zhao Xiling mentioned?
According to Zhao Xiling's account, this book, "Yin Fu Long Tui Jing," was obtained by Emperor Taizu Zhao Wuji by chance.

Because the martial arts techniques recorded therein were too evil, Emperor Taizu feared that they would fall into the hands of villains and cause chaos throughout the land, so he sealed them in the Nine Abyss Rock Prison.

But how did the "Yin Fu Long Tui Jing" become an item of the You Huan Clan when it came to Shen Cangming?
Shen Cangming continued:
"Although his beloved girl was resurrected, he soon discovered that she was no longer the one he loved so deeply, but had become a terrible monster."

"He then realized that he had been tricked by the gods of the underworld, and this was the gods' severe punishment for his trespassing in the underworld."

"But he also discovered another secret, namely that the Yin Fu Long Tui Jing has two volumes."

"He only brought out the first volume from the underworld, which is why he couldn't fully resurrect his beloved girl. He firmly believes that if he can find the second volume, he will be able to truly resurrect his beloved girl and stay with her forever."

"So he ventured into the forbidden area again, but unfortunately, his repeated incursions had already angered the gods. So this time, he never returned." "And the 'Yin Fu Long Tui Jing' he left behind was kept by the high priests of successive generations."

"The Yin Fu Long Tui Jing records many evil secret techniques, the main one of which is the technique that can bring the dead back to life. The monster created by this technique is the Yin Bone Puppet."

"My Youhuan clan once dominated the Hundred Thousand Mountains with the Yin Bone Puppet accumulated over generations, causing the mountain people of various races to submit. At one point, my Youhuan clan was even about to leave the deep mountains and contend for the world."

"But at this very moment, Emperor Zhao Wuji of the Great Qian Dynasty appeared."

"He cleverly persuaded the high priest to lead his people to help him conquer the world, and then promised to share the world with my Youhuan clan."

"But in the end, after pacifying the world, that dog emperor Zhao Wuji broke his promise and betrayed us!"

At this point, Shen Cangming's face was full of anger, his eyes burning with hatred, and he gritted his teeth, clearly still harboring resentment towards Zhao Wuji's betrayal.

But he quickly realized he had gone off-topic, so he hurriedly steered the conversation back on track:

"But the aura of that person just now is extremely similar to that of the Yin Bone Puppet, which is why I reminded you to be extra careful."

"If he really is a Yin Bone Puppet, then the person controlling him cannot possibly be the deceased High Priest. Rather, it is most likely someone from the imperial court!"

"The Yin Fu Long Tui Jing has probably already fallen into the hands of the Great Qian Dynasty. The person just now was likely a Yin Bone Puppet created by the Great Qian Dynasty to infiltrate your side as a spy."

Liang Jin listened quietly to the end.

He naturally wouldn't tell Shen Cangming that he was the one controlling the Yin Bone Puppet.

After all, Liang Jin did not fully trust Shen Cangming.

At this moment, Shen Cangming added with a cold smile:
"However, this Yin Bone Puppet only has the form, not the spirit."

"Although I do not know exactly how the Yin Bone Puppet is made, I have had the privilege of seeing the Yin Bone Puppet made by the High Priest."

"This Yin Bone Puppet is worlds apart from the one created by the High Priest; it's far inferior!"

Although Shen Cangming could only say that the difference was huge, he couldn't quite put his finger on exactly where the difference lay.

After all, decades ago, he held a lowly position in the Youhuan Clan and was just an ordinary clansman, unaware of many of the clan's secrets.

Moreover, due to the passage of time, many details have become blurred in retrospect.

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin fell into deep thought.

If what Shen Cangming said is true, then it seems that after Zhao Wuji led his army to wipe out the Youhuan Clan, he probably obtained the "Yin Fu Long Tui Jing" from the High Priest.

Liang Jin seemed to realize something and asked:
Is the "Yin Fu Long Tui Jing" a book?

"Was it made of silk, bamboo slips, wooden tablets, or hemp paper?"

Shen Cangming replied:

"The Yin Fu Long Tui Jing is a jade cong."

"It is said that the jade cong not only records the contents of the Yin Fu Long Tui Jing, but also contains magical power and is the key to creating the Yin Bone Puppet."

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin's heart skipped a beat.

Jade Cong?

Could it be... that is the Emperor's Yin Seal?
Liang Jin learned from the rag Su Lian gave him that the emperor had two seals, one of which was the Yang Seal, also known as the Jade Seal.

The other piece is the Yin Seal, whose function is extremely mysterious, known only to the emperors of the Great Qian Dynasty and the chief eunuch.

It is likely that Ma Rang, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, obtained the secret to creating the Yin Bone Puppet from the Yin Seal.

That's why there were Yin Bone Puppet statues in his residence.

Thinking about it this way, everything seems to make sense.

After Zhao Wuji annihilated the Youhuan tribe, he obtained the jade cong from the tribe's high priest. Knowing the jade cong's value, he forged it into his own seal, which became a mysterious Yin seal.

For the royal family, it is essential to act openly and aboveboard.

The method of using the Yin Bone Puppet is too sinister and cannot be openly discussed or brought into the light.

The royal family, in particular, had very little need for yin bone puppets.

Therefore, the royal family either did not manufacture the Yin Bone Puppet, or they only manufactured a small number of them in secret.

However, Ma Rang, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, discovered the method of making Yin Bone Puppet and had a different idea, so he began to secretly manufacture it in large quantities.

Unfortunately, the conditions for creating Yin Bone Puppets are extremely demanding. Even Ma Rang, who held immense power, only managed to create seven Yin Bone Puppets.

At this time.

"Da da da!"

A sudden burst of hurried footsteps rang out.

Everyone looked up and saw that the man in black robes had returned.

Seeing this, Shen Cangming immediately stepped forward and reached out to grab the man in black robes:
"Let me see your true face!"

He tried to lift the black-robed man's veil to find out if he was really dead.

next moment.

The man in black reacted extremely quickly, suddenly throwing a Thunderfire Bomb, a specialty of the Star Demon Sea, at his feet.

"Bang!!!"

The Thunderfire Bomb exploded the moment it hit the ground.

However, this Thunderfire Bomb has been specially modified so that its explosive burning power is not great. Instead, it releases more intense light, loud noise and smoke.

The moment the explosion occurred, the figure in black robes was immediately enveloped in bright light and smoke, disappearing from everyone's sight.

Upon seeing this, Shen Cangming flew into a rage:
"Trying to disappear?"

"I'll expose you so you have nowhere to hide, come out now!"

With a wave of his sleeve, his powerful inner force surged forth, transforming into a gust of wind that instantly swept all the smoke out of the cave.

However, after the smoke cleared, the place was empty, and there was no trace of the black-robed man from before.
Where did you hide?

Shen Cangming immediately widened his eyes and began searching around.

No matter how carefully he searched, he found nothing and could not find any trace of the man in black.

This greatly shocked Shen Cangming:
"What a bizarre method!"

"How exactly did he escape? Why can't I see any clues?"

Little did he know that Liang Jin had already instantly added the Yin Bone Puppet to his inventory.

No matter how strong Shen Cangming's perception was, he naturally could no longer find the Yin Bone Puppet.

Liang Jin's gaze, however, was fixed on the depths of the cave behind the stone tablet.

"It seems there is no danger inside."

"But why aren't Zhao Xiling and the others responding to me?"

Liang Jin was filled with doubt.

The Yin Bone Puppet was able to enter and exit smoothly without a single scratch, and there were no sounds of fighting coming from inside.

This indicates that there are no traps or mechanisms inside.

What were Zhao Xiling and the others doing staying deep inside the cave?
Why aren't they responding? Could it be that they've set a trap for me, waiting for me to fall into it?

It seems the only way to find out the truth is to go there in person.

Without hesitation, Liang Jin took a step forward and walked towards the back of the stone tablet.

Upon seeing this, Shen Cangming was greatly alarmed and cried out:
"You don't want your life?"

Although Wen Hengrong was unaware of what the two had just exchanged through telepathy.

But upon hearing Shen Cangming's exclamation, he realized that there was probably great danger inside.

Liang Jin turned around and calmly glanced at the two of them:
"I'm not afraid of death."

"If you are afraid, wait for me here."

After saying that, Liang Jin strode into the depths of the cave.

He wasn't using reverse psychology when he said that.

Rather, he does have a trump card to save his life; even if his clone dies, he can be resurrected.

That's why he's so fearless.

Whether Shen Cangming and Wen Hengrong were by his side to assist him was not a key issue for Liang Jin.

Liang Jin walked hurriedly and at a very fast pace.

Shen Cangming and Wen Hengrong watched Liang Jin's receding figure, hesitated for a long time, and finally gritted their teeth and followed him.

Liang Jin didn't care about this and led them deeper into the cave.

Soon, the view ahead suddenly changed, as if the cave had come to an end.

When the three of them saw what was in front of them, a look of deep shock appeared on their faces.

"how so?"

(End of this chapter)