Chapter 606
My Deskmate
Chapter 606 My Deskmate
As night deepened, in the desolate wilderness, weasels, white hedgehogs, golden pangolins, and other strange creatures mingled and drank, creating a chaotic scene.
Sitting at the same table with dogs was an experience Qin Ming had never had before in his life; no one else could enjoy such treatment!
This old dog has black and white fur that meets on its head, forming an irregular yin-yang symbol in front of its brow, making it look quite appealing.
However, those dog-like eyes were practically pointing to the top of his head. He sat there with an air of superiority, and his gaze and arrogant demeanor were rather irritating.
Qin Ming thought to himself, "This is a case of looking down on people. It's not just the Yin-Yang Dog in front of me, but also the higher-ups of the Earth Immortal. They don't care about me, otherwise why would I be arranged to sit at the same table as a dog?"
Yin Yang Dog slurped down a cup of wine, glanced at Qin Ming from head to toe, and said, "A bipedal ape demon? That's so rare, a real rarity."
At this moment, Qin Ming was thinking of turning it into a dog meat hot pot.
The Yin-Yang Dog started putting on airs, saying, "So clueless! Don't you know how to pour me some wine?"
Qin Ming never imagined that one day he would be looked down upon and targeted by a dog.
At the next table, a strange creature with a fox-like face and a human body leaned over and said, "Brother Ape Demon, this is Dog Master. He has a keen sense of smell and can detect life and death. The Grandmaster wants you to follow him, which is clearly to take care of you as a newcomer. Others don't even have the chance to get close to him."
Yin Yang Dog, with a swagger, took out a tattered straw hat and handed it to Qin Ming, saying, "Give me 30% of your reward, and I'll guarantee your safety."
Qin Ming was about to explode, but when he saw the straw hat, he became suspicious. Old Dog, and he likes to wear straw hats, why does this seem so familiar?
Moreover, its fur is divided into two colors, yin and yang.
Could it be the Dog Sword Immortal from Black and White Mountain in person? He made wild guesses, but upon closer inspection, it was impossible. How could the Panda Beast God possibly come here? It didn't make sense.
Moreover, their auras are completely incomparable.
Just to be on the safe side, he asked again, "Are you a bear...?"
He stopped short of saying the full name.
"What kind of look is that?" Yin Yang Dog said unhappily.
"Are you... a cat?" Qin Ming asked again. He had changed his appearance and was afraid that the old panda might actually be here, so he was conducting a final test.
"I'm your grandpa." Yin Yang Dog's face darkened.
At the same time, with a sharp crack, a large hand swept through the thin night mist, making a crisp sound.
With a crash, the Yin-Yang Old Dog fell over, shattering the luminous cup and spilling wine all over the ground.
Qin Ming didn't join this team to be bullied. Since he wasn't some dog sword immortal, where did he get the audacity to put on airs and give him attitude?
"What are you doing?" someone shouted from the side.
Qin Ming then revealed a hint of Grandmaster-level pressure and said, "A mere old dog in the fourth realm dares to ask me to toast him and even tries to extort money from me. Where does he get the guts?"
He appears to be around thirty years old, with a slightly weathered look, and is disguised as a wandering grandmaster.
Even if he were to go undercover to excavate and salvage the legacy of ancient civilizations, he would not stoop to joining as a grandmaster.
Otherwise, he figured that with his fourth-realm status, he would inevitably be doing all sorts of dirty and tiring work, and would soon be used as cannon fodder.
The leader of the Earth Immortals was a Grandmaster with a bird's head and a human body, named Qi Teng. He personally came over and said, "Brother, you've misunderstood. We didn't mean to underestimate you. This old dog is the follower I assigned to you. He has a keen sense of smell. After all, you've just joined and don't have much experience. Let him assist you."
"It's nothing." Qin Ming stood up and nodded reservedly.
As a master-level member, he is highly regarded in the team. Previously, only the leader knew his level of skill, but now everyone else is paying close attention to him.
"Hiss!" Qin Ming almost gasped, because at this moment he resonated with the old dog's feelings.
Old Dog's heart, which had been calm as still water, was now in turmoil: "I, a grandmaster of my generation, have paved the way for the supreme civilization of travelers, yet I have been beaten by a mere ape demon brat. This is intolerable! Sigh, well, it's not wise to expose myself too early while I'm in this group."
Qin Ming never expected that his old dog at the same table was actually a grandmaster. He hadn't realized it before. Yin Yang Dog either had a special secret technique or was carrying a rare treasure to conceal his aura.
It turned out to be an "undercover agent," a pawn of the Traveler's Civilization, providing information to the larger organization behind it.
Qin Ming had dealt with that civilized person and even killed a "Saint Traveler." In fact, Pei Shuyan became Pei Gong because he encountered people from this supreme Daoist temple.
The Traveler Civilization even wanted to feed on the Undying Blood Calamity in hopes of conducting in-depth research, demonstrating their obsession with immortality. It's not surprising that they sent out some pawns, hoping to use this opportunity to their advantage and participate in the exploration of the Tomb of Immortality.
Yin Yang Dog was able to take things in stride and adopted a humble attitude, saying, "This old dog was rash and did not know that a Grandmaster was in person. It was a misunderstanding. I am willing to apologize with wine."
Grandmaster Qi Teng patted Qin Ming on the shoulder and said, "This old dog has the best survival skills. In the past half month, many people have had accidents while exploring underground, but it has always come back safely. Brother, don't say I didn't take care of you."
Then, he emphasized Qin Ming, saying, "This is Grandmaster Zhishan, whose Taoist skills are profound. You all need to keep your eyes peeled. If there is any danger underground, the Grandmaster can save your lives. Well, let's all raise a glass and have a drink, wishing us a successful harvest of this rare and precious medicine."
With him smoothing things over, the matter was naturally dropped.
Qi Teng arranged a new table for Qin Ming, who was accompanied by a woman with a full head of blonde hair and a pair of snow-white wings on her back. Her temperament was extraordinary and somewhat sacred.
Moreover, this blonde, silver-winged woman is a Grandmaster of the Fifth Realm.
"Wow!" Qin Ming had just finished talking to her and clinked glasses when he realized that she was also someone sent over by other major organizations.
What's going on here? Is this area special? More than one major force is involved; why are so many parties trying to get involved?
These local folks have been thoroughly infiltrated.
However, after careful consideration, Qin Ming also had some doubts. Perhaps these earth immortals knew everything and that there were outsiders mixed in, so they might as well make use of them.
After all, they're seasoned grave diggers; what situation haven't they encountered?
The blonde, silver-winged woman is named Jin Mei, and her true origins lie with the Rebirth Figurine Organization.
If there really is a tomb of immortality here, it would be perfectly normal for the people who created the terracotta figures of the deceased to participate.
The purpose of this organization is to explore the secret of immortality, and it has been sending its core members to excavate the secrets of longevity underground for many years.
After Jin Mei and Qin Ming sat at the same table, the atmosphere immediately improved. Both of them were grandmasters, so there was no conflict between them, and they had a very pleasant conversation.
"The Reincarnation Figurines Organization and the Traveler Civilization have both gotten involved, making the situation somewhat complicated," Qin Ming pondered to himself.
At the same time, he also learned the true background of this group of earth immortals.
Qi Teng, the leader with a bird's head and a human body, has a huge organization behind him with a simple name: Zhu Shi.
This was the first time Qin Ming had heard of this powerful force, which was comparable to the Rebirth Terracotta Warriors.
Their style is relatively simple and low-key. The masters in the dojo like to walk in the underground world and under the cover of night, just to explore the secret of immortality so that they can live in the world for a long time.
The group of earth immortals led by Qi Teng were just peripheral members of their group.
The core members of the World Organization are exploring distant mountains and rivers.
It is rumored that there is a hidden ancestral dragon vein there.
This aligns with the information provided by Qian Cheng. According to the organization's usual practice, they would arrange for non-core members to sweep through the surrounding area.
Qin Ming was slightly startled: "This is quite astonishing. The non-direct descendants are all led by Grandmasters."
This time, their main members are probably Earth Immortals.
In this era, even the patriarchs dared not easily leave their seclusion. When the Earth Immortals went down into the great tomb, if they encountered danger, they would have to take action and would need to maintain their state with the Primordial Qi and the Profound Yellow Qi.
Large organizations simply cannot withstand this kind of drain.
Jin Mei reminded him, "Brother Zhishan, please be careful when exploring tomorrow. We have lost a lot of men in the past two days, and we have reached the most critical moment in this area."
Qin Ming asked, "Aren't we peripheral members? Can we really expect to make a big profit in this area?"
Jin Mei said, "If the main force from afar is indeed investigating the Tomb of Immortality, then the surrounding area may also be blessed with great fortune. There is no ordinary land next to a top-tier dragon's lair."
She lowered her voice and said, "There might even be surprises, and shocks."
Qin Ming humbly asked, "Ah, what's going on? Fellow Daoist Jin, please explain."
Jin Mei responded secretly, saying, "If the strongest being is deliberately creating a diversion, and their true resting place is here... that would be terrifying."
The next day, Qin Ming set off with the group and entered a place where the fog was particularly thick.
Grandmaster Qi Teng spoke up: "We've traveled all over this area, and now that we've advanced this far, I feel we're almost at the point of uncovering a real treasure. Success is just around the corner."
Qin Ming was surprised. This area was beyond what he and the president had detected. They had crossed to the vicinity, only a hundred miles away, yet they had just passed by. It seemed that the group of earth immortals from the World-Residing Organization were quite capable.
That's understandable.
He and the chairman made a spur-of-the-moment decision and hurriedly flew by.
This group of people had arrived long ago and had been searching for at least half a month; this was the result of a thorough search.
“There’s something special about this thick fog,” an old master remarked.
Another master nodded and said, "Yes, it can lock in the energy of this place."
An experienced earth immortal, his eyes gleaming with excitement, said, "Moreover, I feel that this place is quite extraordinary; we might actually have unearthed something extraordinary."
Qi Teng raised his head and said, "Great, I hope for a big harvest."
He waved his hand and said, "Four teams, enter from different directions. If there are any great medicines, I will not be stingy and will share them equally with everyone. In fact, I will also make a copy of the inheritance in the tomb for you brothers."
He boosted morale and got people on stage.
Qin Ming's team consisted of 28 people, the weakest of whom was at the early stage of the fourth realm, and was led by a mid-stage Grandmaster Earth Immortal.
The team consisted of five Grandmasters: Qin Ming, Scarface Black Fox, Jin Mei, White Hedgehog, and the Earth Immortal—Golden Pangolin.
Of course, Yin Yang Old Dog concealed his cultivation level; otherwise, he would be a sixth-level Grandmaster.
It must be said that some species are born to do this job. Golden pangolins move freely underground and in the mountains, able to quickly clear a path.
The white hedgehog said, "Deep in the fog, there is actually a grand canyon. This is quite interesting. It seems to be a... super meteorite crater."
The golden pangolin nodded and said, "That's right. I have a feeling we might dig up a 'big one' this time. Everyone needs to be careful."
According to the theoretical research of this earth immortal, super meteorite craters may carry extraterrestrial longevity substances, which are resting places that ancient powerful beings greatly favored.
The Yin-Yang Dog sniffed and said, "Hmm, I smell a wisp of immortality!"
The scarred black fox said, "You old dog of the fourth realm, do you even know what the taste of immortality is?"
The Yin-Yang Dog said, "Isn't this something we do all the time, like going down into tombs? That's how we identify tombs by their scent."
Based on the experience passed down from his ancestors, he believed that there must be a large tomb in this place, which might involve the supreme beings in ancient times who pursued immortality.
Ahead, there was a huge black pit, like an abyss. Not only was the bottom unfathomable, but the other side was also unseen at first glance.
The earth immortal pangolin nodded and said, "Hmm, old dog has some skills. This place is indeed extraordinary. I can even smell the special scent of dragon energy."
Qin Ming was surprised that both the old dog of the Traveler Civilization and the earth immortal of the World-Residing Organization had such a view, which meant that there was probably something "strange" going on here.
Then, he secretly activated his silk calligraphy and immediately felt his body light and agile, as if he had the divine substance he needed.
Undoubtedly, after his verification, this place might hold significant archaeological discoveries! Led by several masters, a group of over twenty people quickly climbed to the bottom of the meteorite crater. It was magnificent, but the terrain was complex, with many large cracks leading to the underground.
Pangolin said, "The other three teams should have already started their operations. Let's go underground too."
It must be said that the area beneath the super sinkhole is extremely dark; only spiritual perception can allow one to find their way, as those with low spiritual cultivation will lose the ability to see.
Grandmaster Jin Mei was surprised and said, "Deep underground, how come there are so many small holes, densely packed, like a honeycomb?"
After venturing deep underground along the large fissure, they discovered something unusual: the normally hardest diamond rock had numerous holes, ranging in size from the size of a fist to the thickness of an adult's thigh.
The white hedgehog asked suspiciously, "Hiss, could this have been left by some kind of creature?"
The Yin-Yang Dog sniffed around, as if it were pondering something.
The pangolin's expression turned serious. "Could this be... the cave left behind by the legendary dragon silkworm?"
"What level of being is the Dragon Silkworm?" Qin Ming asked.
The pangolin said, "It belongs to the category of strange insects. Its ranking is uncertain. Like the Sun Insect and the Moon Insect, its lower limit is very high, and its upper limit is unpredictable. It can evolve to an extremely high level."
This is a spirit silkworm that feeds on dragon energy. As it evolves, it will become more and more like a dragon.
Most importantly, they appear in swarms, unlike dream insects and time insects which walk alone and would have unimaginable consequences if they were overwhelmed by swarms underground.
The scarred black fox said, "If such a large hole was left by dragon silkworms, they must have grown to a terrifying size."
The white hedgehog said, "If there are only dragon silkworms, there is no need to be afraid. They cannot stray too far from the source of dragon energy."
Qin Ming discovered that he could indeed find the Tomb of Immortality with the help of special techniques, but his knowledge of the specific details in this field was still far from sufficient.
Jin Mei spoke up: "I have heard that dragon silkworms are extremely rare creatures, and where there are dragon silkworms, there must be a super dragon vein. This place... is far beyond our expectations. Perhaps the Tomb of Immortality is located here!"
She knows a lot, after all, she was sent by the Rebirth Figurine Organization, and her real archaeological skills are very high.
The three words "Tomb of Immortality" carried immense weight. Even the experienced earth immortals present felt uncertain and somewhat afraid.
"We approached cautiously, knowing that this might be the tomb of an ancient supreme being. Not to mention anything else, there might be unparalleled rare medicines in its outer area alone."
"There may be dragon medicine within the super dragon vein!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present's eyes lit up.
"Great opportunities are few and far between in a person's life. The Tomb of Immortality is a legendary place, and even if a team of earth immortals were to spend their entire lives searching for it, they might not be able to find it. It seems that all the luck in our lives is concentrated right in front of us. If we miss it, we will regret it for the rest of our lives."
Regardless of their organization, a group of people were already eager to seize their own fortune in the outer area of the Longevity Tomb of the Super Dragon Vein.
The pangolin said, "Yes, be careful. As long as you don't get greedy, you can get away unscathed."
The Yin-Yang Dog said, "Judging from this place, it has existed for a very long time, and the dragon energy is probably almost exhausted. The dragon silkworm may be extremely weak, or even about to die. If that's the case, then the chances are great!"
"The dragon silkworm itself is a miraculous medicine!"
A group of people know too much.
Only Qin Ming, with his large, clear eyes like water, could only listen quietly in front of the group of earth immortals.
A group of people sprang into action and continued their exploration deeper into the earth.
The underground mine tunnels are like a spider web, crisscrossing each other, and the road conditions are extremely complicated.
In particular, seeing the small hole left by the dragon silkworm made people even more nervous and their faces solemn.
"The life force contained in the meteorite from outer space, combined with the dragon energy, truly rivals the creation of heaven and earth, and must be the most ideal resting place for an unparalleled powerhouse."
"Yes, both the dragon energy and the mystical substances leaked from the extraterrestrial meteorite are almost dried up. I reckon there might be a much bigger harvest than expected."
Although they were uneasy, they still said the good things to encourage the team and boost morale.
Qin Ming followed them for the time being. His side had the guild leader, Er Yong, and Xiao Chong, who were far stronger than them. If even these people dared to go deep into the territory, what did he have to be afraid of?
Half an hour later, they had no idea how far they had gone, traversing the maze-like underground and following the spiderweb-like path to an open space.
There are faintly glowing remains of bones here.
“Those are… the remains of a supreme immortal!” the pangolin said solemnly.
“Perhaps his cultivation is even higher!” said the scarred black fox.
They went over and found only some glowing bones, all cracked.
Jin Mei said, "Before he died, he destroyed his own body to prevent it from falling into the hands of later generations and being refined into a magical artifact. Even so, it is still faintly glowing. It's amazing."
Qin Ming was also observing, but unfortunately, the remains only had one emotion, very strong, filled with reluctance: "Master, I can no longer guard your tomb."
“Look, there are still bones here, the destruction was even more complete.”
"They are the tomb keepers!"
In an instant, everyone felt a chill run down their spines. Even a lowly tomb keeper was a top-tier Earth Immortal? Just who was this ancient person? This was terrifying!
Yin Yang Dog said, "Look, there are warning signs here, seemingly telling intruders to back away and not to approach."
In addition, there is a lifelike carving depicting a large tomb supported by a dense array of dragons amidst vibrant clouds.
"This... even the dragon silkworm is guarding his tomb?"
"Aren't dragon silkworms supposed to feed on dragon energy? They should be harmful to the location of the tomb, not able to coexist peacefully."
"This is truly unheard of!"
Some people felt their scalp tingle; this place was beyond the comprehension of the Earth Immortals.
The white hedgehog said, "Look at these bones and stone carvings; they probably date back thousands of years."
All I can say is that this group of professionals is highly experienced.
"Look, here's a piece of skin shed by a dragon silkworm. It hasn't been long, which proves that there are still dragon silkworms alive!"
"What does this mean? It's not as simple as a super dragon vein. Thousands of years have passed, and the dragon energy has not been completely consumed. That's terrifying!"
Normally speaking, a dragon vein that can nurture dragon silkworms for a thousand years is already quite remarkable.
The pangolin said, "This might be the legendary ancestral dragon vein, and the great tomb is in the ancestral dragon's lair!"
Qin Ming was not from this field and had no sense of awe, so he listened with great interest.
However, everyone present felt their scalps tingle and their hair stand on end.
The pangolin said, "If someone is buried in the ancestral dragon's lair, even the outer area of the great tomb is not a place we can access. My family's ancestral teachings say that when faced with such a situation, there are only two words: retreat!"
Yin Yang Dog grew anxious and said, "We have to leave."
They came with excitement and left in fear.
Qin Ming had no objection and followed suit, running all the way to the surface in one breath.
They discovered that of the four teams, only they had returned; the others had vanished.
However, Grandmaster Qi Teng and the others above looked over with their bird heads and asked, "Have you made any surprising discoveries?"
"Wanlong is carrying a grave..." the pangolin quickly reported.
"This is an incredible place!" Qi Teng's expression changed, and a divine light flashed deep in his eyes. He was very tempted.
He might be able to reach places that ordinary grandmasters cannot, but he is a great grandmaster. If he were to pick a celestial herb, even if he is old and frail and somewhat decayed, he could quickly break through to become an ancestor.
Qi Teng said, "My senior brother's group will be here soon. After he arrives, I will go with him to find out what's going on so that I can report back to my superiors."
Without a doubt, his desires outweighed his fears.
There are two groups of Earth Immortals who are not the main force members, both led by Grandmasters.
The group arrived in less than half a day.
During this process, the other three teams under Qi Teng's command disappeared without a trace, vanishing deep underground.
Soon after, the two grandmasters went in themselves.
However, they disappeared without a trace, never to return.
A group approached from afar, and Yin Yang Dog immediately became excited. It was a group from the Traveler Civilization, and His Highness, who was following behind the World Organization, had personally come over.
"Kid, you slapped me, didn't you? If you don't want to die, hurry up and give me some more..." As it spoke, it slapped Qin Ming across the face.
What does it mean to be a dog relying on its master's power? The current situation perfectly illustrates this.
With a slap, Qin Ming sent it flying, knocking out all its dog teeth and even its chin.
"Awooo, awooo, awooo..." the Yin-Yang Dog howled in agony.
"The Holy Traveler is here, who dares to act wildly?" an old man shouted.
Qin Ming remained calm. It wasn't like he hadn't killed Saint Travelers before.
From another direction, a group of people dressed in "jade armor" appeared, numbering about a dozen, led by a female saint.
Qin Ming's other deskmate, Jin Mei, immediately went to greet her.
Soon, a third team appeared, presumably from the World Organization, as the pangolin had already stepped forward to report the situation.
Qin Ming remained silent, feeling alright. Most of the tomb explorers in the outer area were at the fifth realm level, and no Earth Immortals were involved.
Those so-called key members all made a misjudgment and went to that distant place to search for the Tomb of Immortality.
To Qin Ming's surprise, the leaders of the three major forces—the World-Residing Organization, the Reincarnation Figurines, and the Traveler Civilization—actually came together and nodded to each other.
"Ten thousand dragons lifting up a giant tomb? That's the legendary immortal tomb that can move on its own!"
"We never expected to find it!"
Even the most experienced earth immortals from the three major organizations were excited, seemingly finding it hard to believe that they had discovered such a mysterious place.
"Legend has it that the great tomb carried by ten thousand dragons wanders deep underground in the world of night mist. It can meet with other supreme beings who have died, and even communicate with the dead. It is mysterious and unpredictable. In the end, it can cross the boundary between life and death and return again."
(End of this chapter)