A sinkhole was a rock-walled bowl that was steep and could accommodate a large volume. It was deep either like a well or a bucket with extraordinary space and characteristics. It was a wonder of nature.
The biggest sinkhole that had been discovered in the world was over 400 meters in diameter and depth. It was not an exaggeration to call it an underground city.
That was the reason why Ye Chen asked about the sinkholes in Shennongjia during the meal. After all, Zhizhi’s home was close to Shennongjia. Meanwhile, her father, Ye Feng, had been to Shennongjia a couple of times, so he must have known about it more than Ye Chen did.
Ye Feng’s hand that was holding his chopsticks froze upon hearing his question. He looked at Ye Chen in surprise. “I wonder why are you asking that, little brother.”
“Uncle, we’re here to investigate sinkholes. That’s the reason why Sir Ye asked that,” Yu Lei, who was sitting aside, mediated for Ye Chen quickly.
Ye Feng nodded and said, “There are some ten sinkholes that have currently been discovered in Shennongjia. They come in various sizes. Don’t blame me for being suspicious, little brother. There was a sinkhole that was discovered a month ago, but this sinkhole seems to be a little strange.”
“Strange?” Ye Chen was surprised.
“That’s right!” Zhizhi could not help interrupt, “Brother Ye, that sinkhole that was found in Shennongjia a month ago was filled with fire. It was like an erupting volcano. Besides that, there are antiques in the lava. Everyone says there’s an ancient tomb down there…”
“Cough, cough…” Ye Feng coughed a few times.
Zhizhi only stuck her tongue out and shut her mouth.
An ancient tomb?
Ye Chen took a good look at Ye Feng and said while smiling, “Uncle, I won’t ask any further if there’s something that you can’t tell me.”
“That’s right, Uncle Ye. Why are you being so secretive?” Yu Lian mumbled as she ate a chicken claw.
Ye Feng looked around and eventually sighed softly. “The newly-discovered sinkhole would have lava erupted out of it often. There would be many antiques and knick-knacks on the ground after each eruption. The locals say there’s an ancient tomb in there.”
He could not help but look at Ye Chen as he spoke to this point and he smiled in an apologetic manner. “Don’t mind me, little brother. I was afraid that you guys would go to that sinkhole to look for antiques if I told you this. Too many people have died there.”
“Why would there be antiques in the lava?” Yu Lian was puzzled.
Yu Lei nodded.
He had heard of sky burials, cremations, natural burials, and water burials. The first three involved the bodies being buried in the ground eventually, but he had never heard anyone being buried in lava. After all, the temperature of the lava was exceptionally high. Everything would turn into ashes as soon as they went in, so how could it be a tomb inside?
“Then, what happened to the antiques?” Ye Chen asked.
He cared more about those antiques. It was worth his attention since they were not damaged despite being in the lava.
“They were taken away!” Ye Feng shook his head lightly. “Many people took the antiques away when they were first discovered. However, the people that the government sent then came to take them away. On top of that, they wanted us to keep it a secret.”
That was the reason why he had been unwilling to tell them this earlier.
“Taken away? Uncle Ye, did they say who they are? Which department were they from?” Yu Lian asked instinctively.
“Eat your food!” Yu Lei gave her a chicken drumstick in response.
Both of them were from the special unit, so naturally, they knew what they should and should not know. They knew very little about sinkholes. Their mission was to carry out Old Chen’s order, which was to bring Ye Chen to the sinkholes.
“Forget it. Let’s just forget about it. Let’s eat!” Yu Lian reacted and smiled in an awkward manner. She lifted her bowl and proceeded to eat without saying anything else.
Ye Chen was the only one who was still thinking about the sinkhole.
It seemed the sinkhole that was filled with lava and had erupted a month ago was the Geographical Vein that Old Chen had told him about. He could not help but have a burning desire within him as he thought to this point.
People were scared of lava but not him.
The meal lasted for half an hour.
After they were done eating, Ye Feng knew what Ye Chen and the rest had in mind. He hesitated and eventually got Zhizhi to be their guide to bring them to Shennongjia. He advised them many times not to go to the sinkhole with lava before they departed.
They found out that the closer they got to Shennongjia, the more cars and people there were on the road.
After she found out that Ye Chen and the rest were going to the sinkhole with lava, Zhizhi said while looking pale, “Brother Ye, Sister Yu Lian, are you guys sure you want to go there? It’s really dangerous. I heard there’s no regular pattern to the eruption.”
Yu Lian felt a little scared. She could not help but glance at Ye Chen, “Hey, why must you go there? Can’t we go to other ones? There are so many sinkholes anyway.”
“It’s alright if you guys don’t want to go since you’re scared. I won’t blame you.” Ye Chen smiled calmly. He was not affected by what she said at all, then he shut his eyes after saying that.
“Who told you that I’m scared?” Yu Lian was vexed. She stared at him and scoffed before saying, “You’re not afraid, so why would I be? Also, isn’t it just a sinkhole with lava? I’ve seen things that are more dangerous than that.”
“Alright. Since Sir Ye wants to go, let’s stop fighting.” Yu Lei shook his head and turned to say to Zhizhi, “Zhizhi, don’t worry. We won’t get too close to it. All you need to do is to bring us there.”
Zhizhi nodded.
Yu Lian secretly peeked at Ye Chen, but she was pissed off when she noticed that his eyes were shut and he looked relaxed.
At the same time in a Honda SUV, a young man glanced at the old man in the back seat through the rearview mirror as he drove. “Grandpa, I heard that the people from Banshan and Xieling are here. That’s strange, especially the people from Xieling. I thought they’d never reveal themselves.”
“What else could be their intention but the Heavenly Tomb?”
An old man in gray robes sat at the back. He only had one eye while the other eye was blind and was completely white. As he held a walking stick with a dragon head in his hand, he looked calm.
“The Heavenly Tomb?” The young man’s hand that was holding the steering wheel trembled. He screamed, “Grandpa, is there really a tomb in the sinkhole? But how is that possible? It’s filled with lava.”
“Why do you think it’s impossible?” The half-blind old man smiled calmly. “You foolish kid, I no longer go into regular tombs since I entered Mojin and began cultivating. This time, the four sects—Mojin, Xieling, Banshan, and Faqiu—will work together. With our powers, I believe we can definitely open the tomb in the sinkhole. With the four sects working together, even Shen Tiannan from Hong Kong will have to step back!”
At the Shen residence in Hong Kong, the atmosphere was extremely somber with a white cloth hanging at the door.
Shen Tiannan stood before the mourning hall and mumbled as he looked at the picture on the wall with his arms behind his back, “Xingye, I’ll avenge you soon. Just wait a little longer. I’ll kill Mad Southern Ye, so you can live in this world in another way.”
He was getting older, and he looked like an old man who had one foot in the grave.
Lei Feihu, who was standing aside, had a complicated expression on his face. He could not help but finally ask, “Tiannan, so you preserved Xingye’s body. Even if you really succeed in that, will he still be Xingye? Will he still be your son? You paid such a great price for that whereby you’re now left with less than ten years to live. Is that worth it?”
“Everything is worth it.” Shen Tiannan picked up three incense sticks and placed them in the burner. He said while shaking his head, “I, Shen Tiannan, am No. 1 in feng shui and spells in Hong Kong, but I failed to foretell the tragedy that befell Xingye. I can’t ask for my son’s life back, so why should I cultivate further? Since Heaven Dao is unfair, why should I follow it then?!”
Lei Feihu could only sigh softly upon hearing that.
Shen Tiannan stretched his arm to caress the picture. He asked without even turning his head, “Brother Lei, have you sent your men?”
“I have. They’re in Lin City now. They’ll take action as soon as you give your order!” Lei Feihu shook his head lightly.
“Haha, there’s no hurry!” Resentment flashed through Shen Tiannan’s eyes. “They’ll take action after I kill Mad Southern Ye before the seventh day following Xingye’s death. By then, I’ll use Mad Southern Ye’s blood to revive my son. I want to carry out a posthumous marriage for my son!”