aircannonsinc Chapter 992 Preparing to enter the underground palace, waiting for the right opportunity!
Chapter 992 Preparing to enter the underground palace, waiting for the right opportunity!
This is precisely one of the reasons why the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan, while closely monitoring Gao Yao's every move, has not rushed to act, nor has he deliberately tried to stop Gao Yao from developing any interest in the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum. Deep down, he even harbors a subtle sense of detached observation.
Because he knew better than anyone how incredibly dangerous the interior of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum, which had not yet been eroded by two thousand years of time and was in a "complete" state, was! The reason why later archaeological excavations were able to enter some areas relatively smoothly was partly because, in some past lives, he had infiltrated in advance, relying on his understanding of history and his own special abilities, and secretly arranged some backup plans to weaken or bypass some mechanisms; on the other hand, and most importantly, it was because more than two thousand years was enough for most of the wooden structures to decay, metal mechanisms to rust, hydraulic systems to dry up, kinetic energy mechanisms to fail, and poisons to evaporate... The power of time had invisibly cleared many obstacles for later explorers.
But now, it's completely different!
At this moment, all the mechanisms and information systems in Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum are in their initial, most sensitive, and most advanced state! The deadly crossbow formations have ingenious triggering mechanisms, and the arrows are poisoned, with enough force to penetrate heavy armor; the hidden trapdoors, falling rocks, and quicksand can instantly devour or bury intruders.
The rivers, lakes, and seas simulated with mercury were not only incredibly lifelike, but also emitted highly toxic mercury vapor, permeating the air of the confined underground palace and forming a deadly poison barrier; and the bronze puppets driven by mechanical principles were incredibly strong and tireless, guarding the key passages...
Many of these deadly designs were even personally designed or improved by the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan himself in a past reincarnation, in order to protect a certain secret or to achieve a certain purpose! He has the most direct and profound understanding of the ruthlessness and effectiveness of these mechanisms.
Therefore, the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan can assert without exaggeration that even if Gao Yao were to harden his heart and mobilize tens of thousands of elite troops to forcibly fill the tomb with sheer numbers, the result would inevitably be heavy losses. They might not even be able to reach the edge of the true core underground palace where Tianxing is located. Instead, they would be battered and bruised by the endless and unpredictable traps and mechanisms, leaving behind a trail of corpses.
This is precisely the source of his current composure, allowing him to patiently wait and carefully plan in the darkness. Therefore, what the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan needs to do now is observe. Although understanding the inner workings will be extremely difficult, the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan is confident he can gain access to it.
The mysterious Yi Xiaochuan had already prepared a secret passage, located no more than 100 meters from the entrance to the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum's underground palace, making it easily accessible. However, Yi Xiaochuan's current priority was to make Gao Yao suffer, and there was also the tiger-shaped jade pendant.
In recent days, the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan has thoroughly searched the location of the cliff where he fell while being chased by Gao Yao, all in an effort to find the tiger-shaped jade pendant. He was unaware of the pendant's disappearance at the time, mainly because Cui Wenzi hadn't reported it, and Cui Wenzi hadn't taken it seriously then.
After all, rescuing Yi Xiaochuan was already a great feat, so it would be difficult to notice if something had been lost. Afterwards, they went to the northern frontier and then traveled back to Xianyang. After all this trouble, by the time the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan learned of the tiger-shaped jade pendant's loss, it was already too late.
Even the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan cannot easily enter the underground palace now, so he also needs Gao Yao to open the palace gate. The clues regarding the tiger-shaped jade pendant are either that it is in Gao Yao's possession or that it has truly been lost.
At the northern foot of Mount Li, on the banks of the Wei River, amidst the vast expanse of heaven and earth, the massive earthen mound stands like a slumbering behemoth, imbued with two thousand years of deathly silence and majesty. An indescribable oppression permeates the air, as if even birds dare not easily fly over this cursed land. Beneath the shadow of this imperial tomb, another pair of eyes calmly observes everything unfolding on the surface.
The enigmatic Yi Xiaochuan, a ghost existing outside of time, is a paradox in itself. He is no longer the spirited and benevolent Yi Xiaochuan of the past.
The long years had eroded his passion, and endless cycles of reincarnation had distorted his nature, leaving only an unfathomable shell filled with obsession. He was now hiding in an extremely secluded place—a secret passage that he had painstakingly carved out within a hundred meters of the entrance to the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum.
This secret passage was not crudely constructed; its entrance was cleverly integrated with the mountain rock, and the interior was reinforced with sturdy wood and brick, and even had ventilation holes to ensure air circulation.
He had prepared for this for far too long, meticulously considering every detail. The secret passage theoretically led directly to the core area of the underground palace, the destination he had sought for countless years. Yet, at this moment, he remained motionless, like a seasoned spider lurking in the center of its web, patiently waiting for its prey to struggle until it was utterly exhausted.
His goal was clearly divided into two parts. First and foremost, it was to make Gao Yao suffer greatly. This was not a simple act of revenge, but a necessary process that bordered on ritual. In Gao Yao, he saw the shadow of his past foolishness, that naive trust in history, and that ridiculous obsession with loyalty and righteousness.
He wanted to watch Gao Yao, the former cook, now the "Prince of Dai," sink and struggle in the throes of power, desire, and the agony of unfulfilled ambition. The more anxious Gao Yao became, the more resources he poured into breaking through the gates of the underground palace, the more intense the chilling pleasure in the heart of the enigmatic Yi Xiaochuan grew. It was a gaze from the abyss, tinged with mockery and pity.
The other obstacle was an unexpected one standing in his way—a tiger-shaped jade pendant.
Thinking of this, even his usually calm and collected mind couldn't help but ripple, a mixture of frustration and anxiety. In recent days, he had practically turned the entire cliff where Yi Xiaochuan had been chased by Gao Yao and ultimately fallen into. Every inch of land, every clump of thorns, had been meticulously searched. But the key item that determined whether he could "elegantly" enter the underground palace had vanished without a trace, as if it had evaporated into thin air.
"Cui Wenzi..." he murmured the name to himself, a barely perceptible hint of anger in his voice. It was this very drunkard who had pulled Yi Xiaochuan back from the brink of death, when he was critically injured. Yet, he had lost the tiger-shaped jade pendant.