Chapter 3: Form is Emptiness (7)
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Though the fallen creatures entering the formation instantly turned to dust, Leng Yi knew it was just the beginning of the enemy’s charge.
Forget about the energy limits or sources for this formation; once the enemy discovered a way to enter like him, he’d be in deep trouble. How could he possibly keep up against an endless tide of foes?
As the shrieks of the fallen creatures echoed in the room, Leng Yi hastened to open the stone coffin.
“Creak! Creak!”
The sharp blade of his kn*fe scraped against the cracks.
It pained him to damage his beloved blade, but there was no room for hesitation now.
“Ahhh…”
More cries came from outside.
Even though the minions of the Mountain Stronghold and the Giant Wave Gang were no longer facing the main force, casualties were unavoidable after such a prolonged battle.
Even Trissa had put away her temporarily useless four-stringed harp and joined the fray with her sword.
If everyone in the Giant Wave Gang died, Leng Yi wouldn’t bat an eye,
But with the target so close, the mere thought of someone else swooping in now was utterly unacceptable.
d*mn it! Open up! Just open!!
While using his kn*fe for leverage and throwing punches and kicks, Leng Yi desperately wanted the coffin lid to shatter so he could catch a glimpse of the Human Emperor’s true face.
He even entertained a wildly ambitious thought: if he killed the Human Emperor before he awoke, maybe he could take his place and become a deity on par with the Demon Emperor in this world.
At this moment, only Fatty and Trissa remained from the Mountain Stronghold, while the others had been turned into meat sticks by the fallen creatures.
This bizarre and terrifying sight sent chills down the survivors’ spines, terrified they’d meet the same fate.
“cr*p, it looks like I’m really gonna d*e here! d*mn!”
Just then, as a group of fallen creatures lunged at the exhausted Fatty and Trissa, the entire underground palace suddenly shook violently.
Everyone, even the fallen creatures, found it hard to maintain their footing, wobbling all over the place.
Leng Yi quickly crouched down, clutching the stone coffin, fearing he’d get thrown into the formation and be obliterated.
In that moment, he felt the stone coffin tremble beneath him, shaking even more violently than before.
What the heck?
Is the Human Emperor about to revive?
His heart raced at the possibility.
After all, since just before, the commotion in the underground palace had been escalating, especially after those creatures charged in, the noise had been relentless.
d*mn it!
Just as the tremors from the coffin weakened a bit—enough for him to think it was just aftershocks from an earthquake—
A hand suddenly broke through the coffin lid, thin fingers wrapping tightly around Leng Yi’s neck.
This unexpected blow almost made him faint on the spot.
But many years of survival instincts kicked in, and he instinctively swung his beloved blade in a horizontal cut, aiming to sever that insidious hand.
“Clang!”
The sharp blade clashed against the pale arm with a metallic ringing.
While the arm suffered no damage, it at least loosened its grip on him temporarily.
Leng Yi promptly backed away to the bottom of the coffin, feeling a burning pain at his neck, relieved to have escaped with his life.
But what was that arm about… could it be…?
“Boom!”
Before Leng Yi could collect his thoughts, the lid of the coffin was suddenly blasted away, shattering like a shower of petals.
In this critical moment, his long-honed instincts from countless battles kicked in, and he clung tightly to the edge of the coffin, narrowly avoiding falling into the formation.
But what happened next left Leng Yi utterly stunned.
As the fragments of the lid fell everywhere, a hand first rested on the edge of the coffin, followed by another hand.
With slender fingers and delicate arms, as the person within the coffin slowly sat up,
Leng Yi’s whole body trembled, nearly making him lose his grip on the edge.
Before him was someone who looked exactly like Frost North Snow from the Demon Sect. No, even though they had the same appearance, this one’s aura was like a snow lotus on an icy mountain—cold, noble, and unapproachable.
Just locking eyes with her felt like freezing him in place, making him stiff as a statue.
Who on earth is she…
Could it be that the Human Emperor is actually a woman?!
This revelation shattered his previous beliefs. Even as this elegant woman in a pure white gown drifted out from the coffin, he remained frozen, as if he’d lost all sensation.
……
“System, what the heck is going on? Why did I end up as the Human Emperor?”
Lin Nan was speechless.
Ever since she possessed the Black Armored Knight and got defeated by Leng Yi, she’d been floating in the air.
After all, she was so close to the Human Emperor’s tomb; she wanted to see what this legendary figure really looked like.
Although Leng Yi appeared to be scheming to claim the Human Emperor’s power for himself, Lin Nan didn’t think much of him.
After all, the Human Emperor was a major boss she had created in her tales, one who had previously bested the Demon Emperor. How could an ordinary human just waltz in and claim it?
With that in mind, she was just killing time by hanging around the tomb.
As she had suspected, opening the coffin wasn’t an easy task.
Leng Yi struggled mightily, barely managing to climb onto the coffin, but the lid was like an impenetrable barrier, firmly keeping him out.
She thought she could enjoy the show for a while longer,
But unexpectedly, the fallen creature army led by the Demon Emperor uncovered the hidden underground palace, coming for her and Fatty’s group.
Watching them retreat in defeat, facing potential d*ath, Lin Nan felt a pang of panic.
One thing she still hadn’t figured out was whether these so-called NPCs were real people or mere projections. The system hadn’t given her a clear answer, only saying some things needed her to discern for herself; otherwise, what was the point of her brain?
With the system’s hint, Lin Nan was fairly certain that Fatty and the others were the genuine article.
So they couldn’t d*e.
Both Fatty and Trissa held significant places in her heart. If they just up and died, she wouldn’t be able to handle it.
But currently, she was in a spirit state, completely lacking any offensive ability.
How to save them?
d*mn it! d*mn it!
Why couldn’t you have composed the historical narrative according to the realities of the Low Martial World?
Now look, Human Emperor, Demon Emperor, all these monsters have popped up!
You’ve turned a harmonious, peaceful Low Martial World into a treacherous demon-infested nightmare!
But regretting it now won’t help!
What I need is to save them! Right now!
Just as she was anxious and clueless about what to do, the inside of the stone coffin acted like a constantly expanding black hole, suddenly sucking her floating spirit inside.
