When they reappeared, the forest had changed.
Twisted trees now loomed like silent watchers, their bark blackened and leaves dry as ash. The broken stone path beneath their feet led to a place shrouded in ancient pressure. In the distance, the golden light of dusk poured across the shattered gates of a colossal tomb. Its doors stood ajar—just barely—like the yawning jaws of a beast waiting to devour the next soul.
Already, cultivators had arrived.
Dozens of them.
Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, rogue wanderers, lone sword saints from hidden sects, even disciples bearing insignias of local powerful clans. They stood before the tomb like starving jackals, eyes gleaming with greed.
The moment the seal weakened, they surged inside like ants drawn to honey.
Treasure.
Power.
Opportunity.
That was enough to make any cultivator lose their mind.
Robes fluttered, spirit artifacts whirred in the air, warcries echoed. The ground shook from clashing techniques, roaring beasts, and flying swords. Blood spattered the cold stone walls.
It was war inside stone.
Abhimanyu's eyes widened in awe. "So many powerful people…"
Avinash placed a hand on his shoulder, voice calm. "Stay close. If you get separated, you'll die."
But deep within, he smiled coldly.
Because Abhimanyu was already dead.
He just didn't know it yet.
Once most had gone ahead, Avinash led his 'brother' into the tomb.
Its interior was vast beyond imagination.
Dark, endless halls stretched like a forgotten palace underground. Statues of beasts lay broken. Weapon racks filled with rusted divine arms stood as forgotten memorials. Ghostly lanterns floated mid-air, flickering with flame.
The main chamber was chaos incarnate.
Beast cores, ancient scrolls, golden pill bottles and relic boxes littered the battlefield. Every breath drawn here was heavy with spiritual pressure.
Abhimanyu wandered near a fallen pillar, his face lit with excitement. "So many treasures… If I can get even one of those scrolls, my talent can—"
"Be careful," Avinash said, watching him with unreadable eyes.
In truth, he wasn't looking at the treasure.
He was looking at his prey.
His Celestial Reincarnation Eyes glinted faintly as he reached into the System's storage and pulled out a jade plate.
[Illusion Formation Plate – Rank: Earth Grade (Low)]
"System," he muttered inwardly. "Activate silent deployment protocol. Hide the formation's aura."
[Ding! Affirmative.]
Carefully, making sure no one noticed, he hid the plate beneath a loose stone slab near a corner. He covered it with just enough dirt and spiritual masking talisman to ensure not even a Nascent Soul cultivator could detect it unless they were looking.
His expression turned serious.
He had to act fast.
Because if his timing was even slightly off—he wouldn't just lose Abhimanyu's Chaos Qilin bloodline…
He'd lose his own life.
Not far away, fate moved on its own.
A golden pill shot out from the tomb's deeper regions, blazing through the air like a meteor. Several cultivators chased after it—eyes red with madness. One of them, a Foundation Establishment rogue, spotted the pill veering in an unexpected direction…
Straight towards Abhimanyu.
The young boy gasped, catching the treasure by accident. "I-I got it!"
But the Foundation cultivator's face darkened. "A mortal…?!" he growled. "Fatty child! That pill is mine!"
His killing intent surged. His sword gleamed with spiritual light.
"Fatty child? You're calling me fatty?" His round face turned red. He wanted to fight back, but the man was flying in the air. How could a mere mortal fight someone like that?
From behind a tree, Avinash watched with narrowed eyes.
Tch. As expected of a luck magnet. If he doesn't find trouble, trouble finds him. Better I stay hidden. This idiot might drag me into it too.
Abhimanyu glanced around but didn't see his brother. Taking a deep breath, he shouted, "You old scoundrel! Trying to rob a child? Have some shame!"
The cultivator blinked, then chuckled darkly. "Are you mad or just naive?"
Abhimanyu trembled, taking a step back. "I… I didn't mean to—"
From behind a tree, Avinash watched silently.
"Ah," he smirked in his mind. "As expected of a son of fortune… Even disasters chase him."
He folded his arms and let the scene play out.
The cultivator raised his blade, ready to kill—only to freeze mid-swing.
A piece of flying metal, like a shard from a divine weapon, shot through the air… and pierced his skull.
Dead. Instantly.
Even the heavens were protecting Abhimanyu.
Avinash narrowed his eyes. "Tch. If I don't act now, some other miracle will save him again."
Without delay, he activated the illusion formation.
A pulse of Qi spread through the air.
All around, demonic shadows appeared—illusory cultivators dressed in black robes, eyes glowing red, fangs bared. Screams erupted.
"Demonic cultivators! They're attacking!"
"Run!"
The illusion was perfect.
No one could tell it wasn't real.
Amidst the panic, Avinash dashed to Abhimanyu's side. "Quick! Come with me. I know a secret tunnel!"
Abhimanyu clutched the pill, nodding quickly. "Y-Yes, Brother!"
They ran.
Far from the chaos. Into darkness.
Into silence.