Blue-green water, green mountains, gray stone. A few wild ducks with scaly, gray-brown patterns on their backs flapped their wings twice before swiftly swimming away.

Wan Ze withdrew his gaze.

After his Attributes improved, his eyesight had become much stronger as well. From several hundred meters away, he could clearly make out the wavy, interlocking patterns of dark and light brown on the ducks’ feathers.

"Let’s go, they’re here," Lei Ming’s voice sounded from beside him.

Wan Ze immediately saw a few people approaching in the distance. Lei Ming took the initiative to greet them and began to speak with the arrivals.

Three people arrived, all dressed in olive-green, water-resistant shell jackets and carrying backpacks that stood half as tall as a person. The two on the sides were young, around twenty-three or twenty-four years old. The man in the middle looked to be in his fifties, was rather short, and spoke with a regional accent.

Lei Ming extended a hand with a smile. "Professor Song, long time no see."

"Have you seen the route map? You know this trip into the mountains is very important to me." The man in his fifties was indeed Professor Song. He spoke curtly, clearly having no intention of catching up.

Lei Ming was clearly familiar with the man’s style and wasn’t surprised. He smiled and said, "Of course. You can count on me."

Professor Song nodded, having a good impression of Lei Ming. But he suddenly paused, his gaze landing on Wan Ze with visible astonishment. "You... hire child labor?"

Wan Ze was speechless.

Lei Ming’s smile didn’t falter. He stepped aside and gestured. "Allow me to make a formal introduction. This is my junior brother, Wan Ze. Like me, he is an official Martial Artist."

SHH!

The moment they heard the three words "official Martial Artist," the expressions of all three, including Professor Song, changed drastically.

They knew very well how powerful an official Martial Artist was. But Wan Ze was just too young.

"You’re not joking, are you?" Professor Song couldn’t help but look at Lei Ming.

Lei Ming let out a short laugh. "My reputation as Mr. Lei is well-known. Would I joke about something like this? It’s just that my junior brother only recently completed his Blood Tempering, so I thought I’d bring him out to broaden his horizons."

"But he’s so young. The Martial Artists I know are at least in their twenties. He can’t be more than eighteen, can he...?" one of the young men beside him said, still skeptical.

’Eighteen? Who do you think you’re insulting!’

’If I told you Wan Ze is only sixteen, you’d probably drop dead from shock!’

Lei Ming smiled faintly. "You’re no genius, so of course you wouldn’t understand what one is."

"You...!" The young man was at a loss for words and could only let out a cold snort.

Professor Song, who knew Lei Ming’s character, cut the conversation short. "All I care about is this mission. Now, let’s head into the mountain!"

Lei Ming shot Wan Ze a look, and the two of them followed.

After passing through a coconut grove, the group was soon a considerable distance from the road. Wan Ze noticed numerous fallen coconuts on the ground, some of their husks already decaying. Nearby lay the carcasses of small animals, looking grotesque and terrifying... He had already steeled himself for such sights.

The group walked on in silence. Despite his age, Professor Song’s physical fitness was surprisingly impressive. They had been hiking for nearly two hours, and he had yet to utter a single complaint.

"Map."

Professor Song stopped before a slope and held out his hand. One of the young men behind him hastily handed him the map.

Wan Ze remained silent, watching as the old professor frequently consulted the map before taking out a camera. CLICK. CLICK. He snapped a few photos and they were developed instantly.

Lei Ming was leaning against a tree. He suddenly whispered, "Have you heard of the Imperial Mausoleum?"

Wan Ze nodded. "The most powerful emperor from five thousand years ago. He was the first great ruler to establish the title of Emperor... Brother Lei, are you saying...?"

Lei Ming nodded, gesturing for him not to disturb Professor Song’s group. Then he chuckled softly. "Professor Song is an expert in archaeology and has done extensive historical research. He’s always believed that the Imperial Mausoleum, unseen by human eyes for millennia, is hidden somewhere in Black Mountain."

Wan Ze was stunned. He had, of course, heard of the Imperial Mausoleum... but for five thousand years, experts from all fields had failed to find where that great ruler’s tomb was hidden.

He once even wondered if the First Emperor had also transmigrated here; their brilliant achievements were practically identical.

"I also think it’s a long shot, but we’re just here to take a look," Lei Ming said, glancing at his watch. "We finish at six p.m.... Good thing this Black Mountain isn’t too big."

"Mark the location. Prepare for blasting," Professor Song decided on the spot.

...

BOOM!

...

The ground shook and the mountains trembled.

Shards of rock flew everywhere.

A full fifteen seconds passed before Wan Ze and the others could get back on their feet. Professor Song rushed forward, scrambling over the rubble to the blasted-out crater, only to fall silent.

The two young men exchanged a look and hurried over. Soon, they couldn’t help but cry out, "The entrance isn’t here? How is that possible? The calculations were correct, the coordinates were correct! How can the entrance not be here?"

"Blast again!" Professor Song suddenly ordered.

The two young men hesitated, their faces twisting. "Professor, if we keep blasting, it’ll be hard to explain to the university. Besides, we’re low on explosives."

"I said, blast! I’ll take full responsibility for whatever happens!"

Professor Song said, his voice sharp as ice.

The two young men immediately fell silent. They looked at each other, then began to prepare for another blast.

But just then, Wan Ze suddenly strode forward. Lei Ming tried to grab him but was too slow. He knew all too well how terrible Professor Song’s temper could be, so he quickly followed.

Professor Song paid them no mind. He was squatting before the blasted rock face, muttering and gesturing at something. Suddenly, Wan Ze was in front of him and plunged the dagger in his hand downward with force.

SHUK.

Professor Song froze.

He looked up.

Wan Ze ignored the professor’s baffled expression. He pulled out the dagger and kicked the spot where it had been. RUMBLE! The earth cracked and began to collapse violently downward.

"The entrance! The entrance is here!" Professor Song cried out in ecstasy.

But Wan Ze grabbed him and pulled him back several steps.

A two-meter-wide pit collapsed, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.

Lei Ming was stunned.

The two young men who were still preparing the explosives were also stunned.

Staring at the figure standing before the collapsing pit of rubble, everyone was speechless.

"You... you’re incredible!" Professor Song looked at Wan Ze with gratitude, at a loss for words to praise his actions. All he knew was that the entrance had truly been found.

"Clear the entrance! Set up safety gear! We’re going down!" Professor Song was already bursting with impatience.

But when he heard no response, he turned to see his two students still gaping in place. His anger flared. "What are you gawking at?! Get over here and clear the entrance!"

"Yes, Professor."

The two scrambled over.

Lei Ming sidled up to Wan Ze, unable to contain his amazement. "How did you find it?" he whispered.

"The sliding speed of the soil," Wan Ze replied.

Lei Ming was taken aback for a moment. When he recovered, he gave a thumbs-up. "Impressive."

Wan Ze was about to say something when his ears twitched. At the same instant, the color drained from Lei Ming’s face. "Trouble, someone’s coming! A Martial Artist! And they’re fast! Ah Ze, get behind me!"

Almost as soon as Lei Ming’s low roar sounded, a figure burst from the distant bushes. He was nearly two meters tall, with broad, thick arms, built like a small mountain. He charged toward them with murderous rage!

"You’re courting death!"

Lei Ming roared and charged forward to meet the attack!