Chapter 867: Finally Someone Has Arrived

Bilinglong harbored the same doubts, but she was more curious about how Mi Li could have survived until now, though she dared not voice these questions.

Mi Li explained, "This crystal coffin, combined with a specific array formation, isolates itself from the heavens and earth, allowing for long-term preservation. However, if the lid were to open even slightly, the person inside would instantly turn to dust. The power of time is not easily defied."

Her voice suddenly turned cold. "Ying Zheng, it's said that even a venomous tiger doesn't devour its own cub. It was one thing to order Fusu's death, but to permanently trap him here with a Five Elements array—is this all for your elusive obsession with immortality?!"

Zuan's heart skipped a beat. Having just seen rooms related to earth, wood, and fire elements, he now realized it was indeed a Five Elements array. But could such an array truly grant immortality?

Seeing Mi Li's face turn grim as she turned to leave, he quickly asked, "Master, where are you going?"

"To find Ying Zheng's coffin and scatter his bones to the wind," Mi Li replied, her voice as cold as ice, betraying the depth of her fury.

Zuan chuckled, "Leave that to me. My Phoenix Flame is perfectly suited for turning bones to ashes."

Mi Li glanced at him in surprise. "You learned your 'Primordial Chaos Scripture' from him, yet you're willing to help me?"

"That time, I nearly died several times," Zuan clarified. "I only acquired the scripture through my own skill and sheer luck; it was never directly imparted by him. In truth, you've always been the one to guide my cultivation." Zuan had never considered Qin Shihuang his master.

Mi Li's expression softened slightly. "Thank you."

Zuan chuckled, "When the master has a task, it's the disciple's duty to undertake it. There's no need for thanks."

Bilinglong followed closely, finding it impossible to interject into their conversation. She mused that the master and disciple shared an inexplicable rapport, seeming like a harmonious unit, with everyone else a mere outsider. At the same time, she was secretly alarmed. What was this "Primordial Chaos Scripture"? She had never heard of it. Just how many secrets did this man possess?

The group continued their journey through the palace. Despite the myriad rooms and complex layout, knowing it was a Five Elements array allowed Mi Li to roughly deduce the array's configuration. They soon arrived at another room. From a distance, they could sense a sharp metallic energy emanating from within. Even Bilinglong, with the lowest cultivation, immediately realized this must be the room infused with the metal element.

"What kind of creatures does the metal element typically breed?" Zuan asked. It would be wise to be prepared this time, to avoid being caught off guard as before, as their luck might not hold out.

Mi Li shook her head. "The world is vast and full of wonders, and many elemental life forms are incredibly diverse. Slight variations in the environment can produce different creatures. We can't predict it beforehand; we'll know once we see it." Being both highly skilled and daring, and currently consumed by anger, she stepped directly inside without hesitation.

As Zuan and Bilinglong followed her inside, a dazzling golden light suddenly flashed into Zuan's peripheral vision, accompanied by a sharp gust of wind. Bilinglong instinctively raised her sword to parry, but with a crisp clang, her precious blade snapped in two. As the Crown Princess, her ceremonial sword was naturally of exceptional quality. According to the weapon grading standards of "Mortal, Earth, Heaven, Immortal, Divine," her blade was a Heaven-grade treasure, inferior only to the legendary Immortal and Divine grades, of which there were very few in the world. For such a Heaven-grade treasure sword to be severed in a single strike left her utterly stunned.

"Watch out!" Fortunately, Zuan reacted quickly, pulling her aside to dodge. Even so, her clothes were still ripped by the sharp energy, exposing her fair and delicate skin, which was already showing faint traces of blood, clearly injured by the metallic force.

Bilinglong, covering her torn clothes, thanked him with lingering fear. "A'Zu, you saved my life again." Without him, she would likely have been cut in two just now.

Zuan patted her hand reassuringly, then fixed his gaze intently on the buzzing object hovering in mid-air. The object was roughly the size of a washbasin, raised in the middle and lower at the sides, generally flat, resembling a miniature flying saucer. Its entire perimeter was lined with sharp, rotating saw-like teeth that hummed continuously. As it spun rapidly, it pulsed with golden light, like a fully illuminated flying saucer.

"What is that thing?" Zuan asked Mi Li, keeping an eye on its movements. "Why didn't it attack you when you first entered?"

"Perhaps it's your bad luck?" Mi Li quipped, a rare smile gracing her lips, then explained, "This is likely the legendary Golden Wheel Phantom. Its main characteristic is its ability to cleave through metal and jade, rendering it virtually indestructible."

No sooner had she spoken than the Golden Wheel Phantom whizzed towards them again. Zuan immediately drew his Tai'a sword and struck it. With a resounding crash, sparks flew as the Golden Wheel Phantom collided with the Tai'a sword, then it recoiled rapidly. Zuan's hand went numb. He checked the sword blade, and indeed, there wasn't a single mark, which allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief. The Tai'a sword was indeed extraordinary!

The Golden Wheel Phantom evidently realized Zuan was not to be trifled with. Instead of rushing forward recklessly again, it suddenly shuddered, and countless thin, small discs scattered from its body. Each one, a miniature Golden Wheel Phantom, shimmered with sharp, saw-like teeth as they whizzed from various directions, assailing the group. The sheer number and tricky angles of attack left even Zuan somewhat flustered. Crucially, he also had to protect Bilinglong, which inevitably led to him being overwhelmed at times, resulting in several injuries. Despite his powerful regenerative abilities rendering these minor injuries negligible, the sensation of being passively beaten was particularly irritating.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He pulled a large U-shaped weapon from his Glazed Pearl and swept it towards the swarming small discs. Those sharp, unpredictable projectiles were instantly drawn to the U-shaped weapon and held immobile. This was the electromagnet he had used against the Yuan family's flying swords during the Chu family head competition in Brightmoon City. He had never brought himself to discard it, even preparing some lightning-element origin stones for it, never expecting it would prove useful again today.

The Golden Wheel Phantom in the distance was utterly bewildered. With its rudimentary intelligence, it clearly couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding before it. Then, somewhat enraged, it whizzed directly towards Zuan, evidently attempting to rescue its "descendants." Zuan hastily swung the electromagnet, attempting to draw it in, but unfortunately, it merely swayed slightly, largely unaffected, and continued its cutting advance.

Just then, a fair, jade-like hand suddenly reached out from beside him and gently pressed down on its center. The Golden Wheel Phantom shuddered and spun desperately, trying to break free from the hand. Yet, no matter how it rotated, it remained firmly held by that single, slender finger.

"No time to bother with you, go back," Mi Li said indifferently. With a flick of her wrist, the Golden Wheel Phantom was flung far away, deeply embedding itself into the wall. It clearly recognized it had encountered a formidable opponent. It quickly trembled all over, transforming into countless metal elements, and temporarily hid within the room, daring not to emerge again.

Bilinglong's eyes widened. Although she had guessed Mi Li was very powerful, this was the first time she saw her take action. She didn't expect such a terrifying killing weapon to be like a toy in her hands.

Mi Li said nothing, instead walking over to the wall. Murals adorned it, depicting a group of people kneeling before a door, led by someone dressed as a geomancer. The next painting showed the geomancer secretly plotting with someone indoors. The third depicted him fleeing in haste, pursued by numerous soldiers. The fourth illustrated countless people buried in a deep pit, surrounded by impassive soldiers.

"So it was him!" Mi Li exclaimed, a look of sudden realization on her face.

At that moment, a faint voice echoed, "How many years has it been? Someone has finally arrived."

Zuan and Bilinglong felt their hairs stand on end, for the voice emanated from the distant coffin.