"Be careful."
"This place is quite strange, don't get separated."
The wind lanterns were turned on, dispersing the darkness around them, and a group of more than ten people climbed up the steps. Below, the fine sand flows like water, causing a rustling movement.
A green light appeared deep in Chen Yulou's eyes and swept around.
A reminder from time to time.
There are nearly a hundred stone steps below me, leading all the way from the heights to the ground.
It is not yet clear what it does.
However, judging from the buildings gradually emerging around, it seems to be consistent with Huamaguai's previous guess.
A stone man statue dressed in Hu robes, with arms drooping, huge pupils and a long body, is located in the four directions, with either calm eyes, deep or angry eyes.
The sight just fell on the stone steps.
It's obviously a pile of dead things.
But I don’t know why, being stared at by those pairs of eyes, everyone inside them felt a chilling feeling.
It seems that there is a devil sealed in each of those stone figures.
For thousands of years, this ancient city has been silently guarded, driving away all outsiders who dare to trespass here.
However, the group of people are all cannibals.
It is not an exaggeration to say that he came from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
After a brief moment of trepidation, everyone calmed down and were still able to hold up lamps and look at the strange-looking stone figures.
Under the Hu clothes, Luo Lu’s skin was still carved with many patterns.
At first they thought it was the shadow, or the texture of the stone itself.
Until more and more ornaments are discovered.
Only then did they realize something was wrong.
“It should be an ancient writing.”
Chen Yulou frowned slightly.
The earliest tribes in Xiye Kingdom were Xiye and Zihe.
Different beliefs have different writing styles.
The former is in Khotanese, while the latter is in Brahman script.
After hundreds of years of integration, the ancient kingdom of Xiye confirmed its belief in Buddhism.
Look at it this way.
These texts are most likely ancient Brahmin texts, to be precise, they are Tantric scriptures, and the strange stone figures around are the statues of Buddhas in the heavens believed in by the ancient country of Xiye.
"Brother Chen, maybe you can understand?"
Partridge Whistle's eyes flickered, full of surprise.
Although the Zagrama clan is also a race from the Western Regions, they are too ancient, much earlier than the Thirty-Six Kingdoms.
Moreover, these descendants have been away from their ancestral land for many years.
Where do you know Brahman script?
“Brother Taoist thinks highly of Chen so much that this kind of writing has most likely been discontinued...”
Chen Yulou shook his head.
The thirty-six countries in the Western Regions each have their own writing and customs. Even experts who specialize in studying the countries in the Western Regions dare not claim to understand every kind of writing.
"Shopkeeper, come quickly."
While speaking.
Huamaguai has already led the man to the end of the stone steps.
The underground was shrouded in black mist, making it impossible to see even one's fingers. More than a dozen lights seemed to be floating in the flowing ink.
He didn’t know what he had discovered.
Although he was nowhere to be seen, the surprise in his voice could not be concealed.
“Let’s take a look.”
Chen Yulou’s heart moved.
He looked away from the ancient characters on the stone statue.
Look at the Partridge Whistle Road.
The latter will naturally not refuse.
The two of them walked quickly down the stone steps one after the other. They quickly caught up with the team below and walked to the front from the way out of the way.
At this moment, Huamaguai was standing under a huge stone door, with a look of shock on his face.
The stone gate is extremely high.
At least a foot or two.
Separate the front and back, and the left and right.
Outside the door, there is a stone statue of a god, staring straight into the distance with a pair of huge eyes. His eyes are clear and indescribably sharp.
Follow its gaze.
Chen Yulou looked sideways and saw that it was the stone steps they came down from.
It seems to be a warning to outsiders.
"It is rare to see a stone man at the door."
Seeing him staring at the stone man thoughtfully, Huama, who came down first, scratched the back of his head and said.
“It’s rare.”
Chen Yulou nodded.
If it is a Han Chinese building.
There are many rules and taboos.
Lions, elephants, unicorns and brave animals are usually placed outside the door. They are known as the four auspicious animals that control the house and are meant to ward off evil and improve luck.
Only the tombs of Yin Zhai will be guarded by stone figures.
The majestic building in front of us, located in the middle of the ancient city, obviously cannot be a mausoleum. It can only be said that the customs of the remote tribes in the Western Regions are too different from those of the Han people.
In addition, outside the door on the opposite side.
There is no stone statue.
Only a broken stone foundation remains.
“That stone man that those foreigners took away before?”
The cracks on the stone foundation are still clearly visible. It seems that it was forcibly demolished with violence, and it reminds me of the willow crate left by the team in the sand valley.
Chen Yulou suddenly realized.
Just.
There are countless antiquities in the city, why focus on such a stone man?
Chen Yulou frowned and recalled.
But I found that there seemed to be nothing special about the stone statue.
Perhaps the problem lies in those tantric scriptures?
A bold guess suddenly came to his mind.
Western Night Kingdom advocates Buddhism, which can be seen from the Buddhist statues around it, and that team is from India.
Look at it this way.
They most likely obtained an ancient map beforehand.
Following all the way to this place.
Although the inheritance of ancient Brahman language has been discontinued, there may still be people in India who can understand it.
Otherwise, with their ability, it would be extremely difficult to accurately locate the ancient city of Xiye in the vast sea of sand.
“Shopkeeper, it’s better not to worry about the stone statues.”
"This door seems to have been locked from the inside."
Huama pointed in front of her, her expression full of annoyance.
The group of them had already tried to open it just now.
But the entire door is carved from mountain rock and is integrated with the mountain ridges on both sides. It weighs several thousand kilograms at least, and it is almost impossible to open it with the help of brute force.
Hearing this, Chen Yulou looked in front of him.
On the stone gate, there are countless animal-shaped decorations carved on it. Goshawks, snow deers, gazelles, sand wolves and white camels are all common beasts in the black desert.
The two stone doors fit together perfectly.
When I ran my fingers across it, I could barely find any gaps.
The most important thing is.
There were scratches and white spots on the door.
It was clearly the group of foreign devils who had left behind objects such as iron fibers or daggers.
Looking at them, Chen Yulou could imagine how those guys became so angry that they were unable to break down the door and finally took down the stone statue outside the door.
“Kunlun!”
Sighed out lightly.
Chen Yulou said calmly behind him.
One word fell.
A figure leaning against the sky and the earth has stepped out behind him.
Kunlun frowned and walked outside the stone door.
Put out your hands.
Press left and right on the two-page stone door.
As his energy and blood surged, a pair of arms rose up inch by inch like rocks. From a few meters away, one could feel the astonishing momentum rising in his body.
The sealed stone door actually shook violently.
On the mountain ridge connected to the door, gravel, dust, and yellow sand fell like rain.
Seeing this situation, the waiters nearby were dumbfounded in horror.
Before, more than ten of them started working together.
None of them could shake the stone gate at all.
Now Kunlun has pushed Shimen to this extent with just one person.
"Brother Dao, Yang Fang, the old foreigner."
"Do it!" Chen Yulou glanced over and already made a decision in his heart.
There is either a door bolt hidden behind the stone door, or it is supported by a capstone. Although Kunlun is born with supernatural powers and has practiced the Seven Stars Horizontal Qigong, it is still difficult for him to break through it alone.
What surprised him the most was.
Just now he swept behind the door with his spiritual consciousness.
The method that has always been unfailing has encountered an obstacle.
Behind the stone gate is like a quagmire, which even if the consciousness is like a needle, it cannot penetrate it.
After practicing cultivation for so long, this was the first time he encountered something that could cut off his spiritual consciousness. It was definitely unusual, and it was most likely a Buddhist weapon or a witchcraft weapon.
That’s why he decisively called on the Partridge Sentries.
Plan to break the stone gate with force.
“Okay.”
“Yes, Shopkeeper Chen.”
Several voices sounded at the same time.
Then the group quickly approached outside the stone gate.
Either activate the qi and blood martial arts, or simply activate the true energy of the Dantian.
Dong——
In just a moment, a clicking sound came out.
At the same time, there was also the sound of something falling and breaking behind the door.
Kunlun felt that his palm was empty, and the resistance in his hand disappeared without a trace.
The heavy stone door slowly pushed inwards.
Seeing this, several people subconsciously took a few steps away to prevent hidden arrows from behind the door. The old foreigner even pulled down his umbrella behind him and opened it with a bang to protect everyone.
Fortunately.
Waited for a while.
It was still quiet behind the door.
There is no scene where mechanisms are hidden and weapons burst out as expected.
Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the kidnapper carried a wind lantern.
Get closer quickly.
Go around the umbrella eaves and look behind the stone door.
The dim lights disperse the darkness little by little.
Soon, an empty and quiet hall appeared in sight.
The ground is paved with sky bricks unique to the Western Regions, extending inward piece by piece. The surrounding high walls are like a curtain. The starry sky above is falling, and black mist is shrouded in it. The firelight can only penetrate two or three meters before disappearing.
It was as if there was a monster hidden deep in the darkness, swallowing up the little bits of firelight.
"The shopkeeper?"
"What kind of place is this?"
Huamaguai looked around.
But he found that with his many years of experience, he couldn't see the reason at all.
But I have walked all the way before.
Most of the buildings in the ancient city ruins have collapsed due to thousands of years of wind and sand erosion, and only a few can be preserved to this day.
The current one is one of the few that can be described as grand and luxurious.
From what I have seen after entering the Western Region, no matter whether it is a big city or a village, the most prosperous ones often cannot escape the residence of the patriarch or priest. This is also the case in these ancient countries.
“It’s the altar!”
Chen Yulou’s gaze was deep, and under his spiritual eyes, nothing could be hidden.
In the deepest part of the hall, there are clearly shrines enshrining countless golden images.
But what shocked him was.
The thing in the middle is not a statue of a god, but a stone platform.
There is a gold plate on the top of the stone platform.
There is a jade artifact faintly enshrined in it.
The surrounding golden statues of Buddha guard all directions, as if they are guarding jade objects.
This type of building is called an altar among the Wu Jin tribe, a thunder altar among Taoists, and a holy altar among Buddhists.
The functions are actually similar.
They all exist to worship the gods.
"Altar?"
Huamaguai was still chewing on this word, and out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed that the shopkeeper had crossed the threshold, stepped over the broken door bolt, and walked straight into the depths of the hall.
"This..."
See this situation.
The faces of several people became solemn.
But no one was delayed, and they all followed quickly with lanterns in hand.
The group of people went straight to the depths of the altar, while the attendants behind them walked around both sides.
Every few steps on the stone wall, there is a cave with a kneeling bronze figure holding a lamp.
Most of the oil lamps have dried up.
But there are exceptions.
The grease solidified into lumps and stuck to the wick, looking like amber fossils from ancient times.
A bunch of old guys move very fast.
Pull out the dagger you carry with you, flick it gently, pick out the wick, put it into the wind lantern and light it.
Not long after, the oil lamps lit up one after another, illuminating the entire altar as brightly as day.
A few people walking among them.
Finally, we discovered the shrine deep ahead.
Although those golden statues are very different from the common Buddhist statues, their respective outlines can still be faintly seen.
"It's really..."
Yang Fang's eyes widened, looking at him in amazement.
Such an ancient Buddhist altar can only be seen in this ancient city that has been sealed for thousands of years.
A few people were still looking at it.
Chen Yulou had already approached the stone platform outside the shrine.
Almost as tall as a person.
It is carved from a whole piece of Tianshan stone, retaining the most original stone skin, with beautiful natural texture, clearly condensed into a Buddha image.
This stone comes from the Gobi Desert at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Because its color resembles celadon and secret color porcelain, it is also called Tianshan Sapphire.
It may not be famous these days.
But this kind of strange stone was fetched a sky-high price in later generations.
There is a saying that the Midas turns gold into gold.
The piece in front of you is not only large, but also has such an amazing texture. It perfectly matches the Buddhist belief in Xiye Kingdom. It can be regarded as a rare treasure at any time.
But it is such a rare piece of material.
But it can only be made into a stone platform.
Even if it was Chen Yulou, he couldn't help but wonder, what kind of jade was it that deserved to be treated like this?
Looking across the top of the stone platform.
In the large plate carved with pure gold, a jade bead the size of a goose egg, as clear as a green bamboo, lies quietly in it.
Around the jade beads, there are faint patterns emerging.
Looks like... an eyeball!
"Wait!"
It was almost the moment when the year came to light.
Chen Yulou felt a buzz in his head, and his blood seemed to have stopped flowing.
Jade eyeball? !
How is that possible?
You must know that the jade eyeballs were made by the high priest of the Zagrama clan in order to spy on the ghost cave. As a result, he was blinded and died, attracting countless black snakes.
It was also a rash move.
Bringing great disaster to the tribe.
If I remember correctly, that jade eyeball should be in the deepest part of the stone palace of the Royal Palace in the ancient city of Jingjue.
Why does it appear in the altar of Xiye Ancient Kingdom now?
For a moment, even though he had seen a lot of people and was confident about this trip, he also felt like time was reversed and confused.
“That’s not right…”
Just as his mind was surging, he couldn’t believe it.
My peripheral vision glanced at the jade eye in the gold plate, and I realized that it seemed incomplete.
Although it is infinitely close to the artifact, and can even block the consciousness and prevent prying eyes, it is still similar in spirit but not in form, and a slight crack appears.
"Queen Jingjue opened the imaginary space with her jade eyeballs."
"And used the jade pendant mechanism to control the thirty-six countries in the Western Region."
Looking at the subtle crack, Chen Countless thoughts crisscrossed Yulou's mind.
He suddenly thought of a possibility.
The Xiye Kingdom is famous among other countries for its production of beautiful jade, so the Jingjue Ancient Kingdom ordered it to imitate it. The one in front of me... is the closest failure to a jade eyeball.
Because of its special abilities.
Enshrined here by the ancient kingdom of Xiye.
But time passed, the ancient country died, and all these secrets were buried under the yellow sand.
Thinking of this, Chen Yulou’s eyes gleamed.
"Guaizi, take the brothers to look around the city. Is there any place where jade can be made?" (End of Chapter)