LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 175
Chapter 175: Rules and Opportunities of the Imperial Mausoleum Trial
There are many opportunities within the Imperial Mausoleum, but if we’re being strict, there really is only one!
That is the inheritance of martial arts techniques.
There are numerous deceased ancestors resting in the Imperial Mausoleum.
Many of them had their own renowned skills before they passed on.
Each one dedicated their life to mastering a particular martial art or technique.
In fact, some ancestors even created their own unique martial arts.
After their passing, no one inherited their skills, and thus, they ended up in the Imperial Mausoleum, waiting for someone to comprehend them.
Some of these martial arts techniques have already been learned by others, and have spread outside.
Within the Sword Sect, there are quite a few famed martial techniques from its predecessors that were brought out from the Imperial Mausoleum.
The cultivators entering the mausoleum are all aiming to gain the approval of these ancestors. Once recognized, they receive a Soul Pearl, which contains a trace of the ancestor’s soul consciousness. As long as they integrate with it, their proficiency in that ancestor’s martial arts can significantly improve.
Imagine, if a genius only knew the basics of a technique, but after fusing with an ancestor’s soul, they instantly soar to perfection?
Not to mention the remarkable boost in combat power, the time and energy saved for such geniuses is truly invaluable.
Of course, a lot of geniuses are actually after some especially unique martial arts techniques.
These techniques are those created by the ancestors themselves. Many of those ancestors have a soul contract with their martial arts, promising never to pass them on privately after accepting the inheritance.
Therefore, if you want to learn such martial arts, you must personally enter the Imperial Mausoleum and gain the recognition of these ancestors.
The Void Sutra is the strongest representation of this kind of martial art.
It’s also the steadfast goal for every member of the royal family.
Getting the recognition of this ancestor is incredibly challenging, as can be seen from the fact that few in the Great Xia can even comprehend the Void Sutra.
Now let’s talk about the qualifications for comprehension.
Not every member of the royal family can reach the core area of the Imperial Mausoleum.
To enter the inner circle from the outer circle, at least ten Soul Pearls of the third level or above are required to qualify.
And to move from the inner circle into the core area, you need to have gained at least five Soul Pearls of the fourth level or above within the inner circle.
There is only one way to obtain Soul Pearls: comprehend the martial arts, gain the recognition of the ancestors, and become the inheritor of those arts.
The level of the Soul Pearls depends on the inheritor’s level of understanding of the martial arts.
The more profound the comprehension, the higher the quality of the Soul Pearls; consequently, the more soul power from the ancestors is contained within them, leading to greater benefits upon fusion.
Thus, for those geniuses who can only operate in the outer regions, they are not here to acquire new martial arts.
They’ve already learned many techniques outside, some of which they’ve even perfected.
Their sole purpose for coming in is to find ancestors with the same martial arts, showcase their skills, and earn the ancestors’ recognition.
In doing this, they can obtain Soul Pearls, further enlightening their understanding of their martial techniques.
For cultivators able to enter the inner circle, this becomes a trial, offering a chance to obtain those powerful martial arts techniques.
Obtaining ten Soul Pearls means that these individuals need to comprehend ten different martial techniques? This is undoubtedly a challenge, and let’s not forget, they also require Soul Pearls of the third level or above, which is excessive.
Such requirements expect cultivators to at least master the techniques involved.
If it’s just one skill, that’s no problem for these geniuses; however, the kicker is needing ten Soul Pearls.
It’s just too difficult, especially when a genius’s time is oh-so-precious.
And let’s not even get started on needing fourth-level Soul Pearls just to enter the core area; those are even rarer.
So for any royal family member, each step is a test.
Adding to the pressure, the Imperial Mausoleum is only open for a month.
This means they must achieve all their goals within that timeframe – a difficulty so monumental that not many can achieve it.
Most royal family members are actually just aiming for the martial techniques available in the inner circle.
Those techniques are already a cherished dream for many.
As for the royal family members targeting the Void Sutra, there are only a select few.
And Qin Bei is one of them.
…
Qin Bei strolled along with the two women, admiring the scenery around them.
The group from earlier had already left the three far behind.
Mu Zhaoxue and Ji Zhuyue exchanged resigned glances.
They thought Qin Bei was merely joking about ‘having fun.’
To their surprise, Qin Bei actually treated this place like a recreational venue.
Every now and then, he would gasp at the beautiful sights, urging the two of them to look.
Knowing they had only a month, how could they possibly waste time enjoying the scenery with him at such a critical moment?
Especially Ji Zhuyue; she came here primarily for the Void Sutra.
She was acutely aware that Qin Bei must also grasp the Void Sutra this time around.
Otherwise, once they leave, Qin Bei’s status in Great Xia would surely plummet!
Just as both women were fretting over time, Qin Bei suddenly exclaimed, “Look over there! There’s a little deer! What an eye-opener; I didn’t realize there was more than just souls of the dead in here!”
He gestured eagerly at a frolicking little deer in the distance, wanting Mu Zhaoxue and Ji Zhuyue to take a look too.
The two only gave it a cursory glance before quickly diverting their gaze.
“Husband, that kind of deer isn’t even a monster; there are plenty outside. If you like it, I can arrange for people to raise a bunch of deer in the palace after we go out. How does that sound?” Ji Zhuyue asked with a smile.
“That sounds great! I think we should go for at least a thousand; if I get hungry, we can roast some! Can’t resist a tasty snack,” Qin Bei seriously nodded in agreement.
Ji Zhuyue: ….
Is her husband really lacking even the slightest bit of common sense?
“So shouldn’t we be searching for the ancestors’ tombstones right now? The sooner we obtain Soul Pearls, the sooner we could enter the core area. If we want to comprehend the Void Sutra, time is of the essence. We shouldn’t linger around here too long,” Ji Zhuyue reminded.
Mu Zhaoxue chimed in, nodding, “Exactly! If you still want to have fun, it can wait until the trial at the mausoleum is completed.”
Seeing the two of them so fraught with urgency made Qin Bei want to chuckle.
Suddenly, a mischievous idea flitted through his mind.
“But I’m already tired and really hungry. How about we sit down for a bite before moving on? That plump little deer over there looks tempting,” Qin Bei casually plopped down on the ground, refusing to budge.
Mu Zhaoxue: ???
Ji Zhuyue: ???
“H-Husband, are you serious? You’re a Golden Core cultivator! Even if you haven’t fully mastered fasting, you could easily go a month without eating!” Ji Zhuyue’s brows knitted with concern; she figured something must be wrong with him.
Her immediate suspicion landed on Emperor Xia.
Sure enough, Qin Bei’s answer confirmed her wild guess.
“Tsk~ Haven’t I upset my father? You know how hot-tempered he is; though he didn’t punish me immediately, he did curse me.”
Qin Bei stated with utter seriousness.
“What kind of curse?”
“A curse of mortality. I find myself feeling hungry all the time! It doesn’t harm my body, but whenever I see food, I can’t help but want to eat. If I go too long without eating, I just feel awful. I have zero interest in snatching opportunities now.”
As he talked, Qin Bei’s mouth began to drool.
It was painfully evident he was truly famished.
While Mu Zhaoxue and Ji Zhuyue had never encountered such an outrageous curse, Qin Bei certainly didn’t appear to be faking it.
“Alright, I’ll go catch that little deer and roast it to fill your stomach, Husband!” Without another word, Ji Zhuyue dashed off toward the distant deer.
Watching her retreating figure, Qin Bei wore a satisfied smile.
Next, he planned on having Lian Mei carry him around.
Now, that’s the life of luxury befitting an emperor.
What Qin Bei didn’t realize at that moment was that outside the Imperial Mausoleum, in a pavilion of the imperial palace.
There were dozens of individuals inside, each one holding significant status and extraordinary power.
The Grand Elder of the Sword Sect, the Grand Elder of the Knife Sect, the Grand Elder of the Talisman Sect, the First Prince of the Ancient Beast Kingdom, and others.
In front of them was a massive screen where every talented individual within the Imperial Mausoleum was under close observation.
And special attention was directed toward Qin Bei, who had become a focal point of interest for everyone present.
Thus, everyone in attendance overheard Qin Bei’s antics and words loud and clear.
All eyes turned expectantly toward Emperor Xia, seated at the forefront.
Seeing the strange looks from everyone, Emperor Xia’s mouth twitched gently.
It appears his rebellious son is up to no good again!
…