To guard against the Earth Immortal, first seek out Wuyang; before the Soul-Frightening Platform, the Yin River spans the void; the Immortal Bridge is unseen, invisible to the naked eye. By casting oneself off the falling rock, one steps to heaven in a single stride; the Iron Wall and Silver Screen, the cosmos held in calculation; the Black Mountain Cave Abode, a divine palace of subtle wonder; the Bronze Tower with a hundred coffins, Master Tile descends upon them; bow eight hundred times, and longevity shall be granted.”

We reread the inscription several times, grasping little of its essence. Relying on past experience, we proceeded down the path, trusting that clarity would reveal itself along the way. Thus, we painstakingly copied the entirety of the “Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription” from the fractured stele.

Professor Sun addressed the group: “This is excellent news! After so many years, we finally have the complete ‘Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription’ of the Earth Immortal Village. The cavern at the end of this hundred-step bird path might very well be the former site of the Wuyang King’s tomb passage.” He then murmured thoughtfully, “Before the Soul-Frightening Platform, the Yin River spans the void… Next, we might have to cross a high platform and a subterranean river. We need to prepare ourselves psychologically.”

Fatty interjected: “Doesn't this guiding inscription mention some 'Golden Bull' or treasured artifact? Those two words alone sound rather appealing. This path through Coffin Gorge has been nothing but sky-paths—far too perilous. I still feel my legs cramping up. If there really is a Golden Bull bearing treasure in the tomb, then Fatty won’t have been scared senseless for nothing.”

Yao Mei’er, having heard local legends of the Demon Immortal’s tomb, asked the group after hearing Fatty speak: “If you kowtow to the Earth Immortal, you gain eternal life? Do you believe that?”

Professor Sun scoffed: “Believe that? Is there anyone in this world who is truly immortal? Tales of summoning spirits or calling ghosts are baseless nonsense, mostly the ramblings of charlatans and charlatans, and certainly shouldn't be believed.”

I listened to the ceaseless discussions between Old Master Sun, Fatty, and the others. I lowered my gaze to the nameless corpse and then looked at the tombstone inscribed with the “Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription.” As my thoughts churned, I recalled some rather grim possibilities, and I interrupted: “We haven't even entered the main gate yet, so let’s not start thinking about becoming abbots. We can figure out the situation inside the Earth Immortal Village tomb later. Have any of you considered that what we’re seeing right now is rather peculiar…”

The cavern at the end of the hundred-step bird path was wide open, the “Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription” laid bare without concealment. It was as if the “Earth Immortal Village Ancient Tomb” was practically begging to be found. Although the hundred-step, ninety-turn winding path was difficult and intricate, those skilled in numerology and arts have existed in every dynasty, and this practice flourished particularly in the Qing Dynasty. If a true master tomb robber had arrived here, they would have gained entry effortlessly.

The ancients said: “A tomb is for concealment; it is meant to be unseen by men.” Why would the “Mountain-Gazing Protectors,” mostly veterans of grave robbing and tomb disturbance, be so childish as to erect a stele pointing the way at the cave entrance? Furthermore, only the descendants of the Feng family were supposed to know the contents of the Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription. Who was the body lying before the fractured stele? Could there be a deception at work?

My words instantly left everyone bewildered. Professor Sun pondered for a moment before voicing his disagreement: “The Earth Immortal must have been someone with an exceedingly high self-regard. After glimpsing heavenly secrets, his entire nature changed. That is why he built his tomb in the mountains to hide his true self. The ‘Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription’ subtly implies guidance from an immortal. Judging by these arrangements, the Earth Immortal’s tomb was intentionally designed to help people attain enlightenment; it cannot be judged like an ordinary burial mound meant only to hide treasures. Moreover, the ‘Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription’ is not something ordinary grave robbers could easily decipher. Truly skilled practitioners of astrology and numerology are as rare as morning stars in modern times; without extraordinary fortune, they certainly wouldn't find this ancient tomb. The great number of bandits back then failed to excavate the celestial script in the Earth Immortal Village—that is the best proof.”

Professor Sun continued: “We are taking advantage of the Earth Immortal’s lifelong desire to guide others toward enlightenment. Otherwise, given the treacherous terrain of Coffin Gorge, finding this spot would have been nearly impossible. As for that nameless corpse…” He trailed off, clearly unable to account for the body by the fractured stele. If this mysterious deceased person could find this place and see the “Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription,” why didn’t they enter the ancient tomb, but instead died before the stele?

By this time, Shirley Yang had carefully examined the dried corpse. Seeing Professor Sun articulate his thoughts, she said: “The environment in this cavern is dim; it’s hard to determine how long the body has been dead. However, he has several rolls of bamboo slips containing Daoist scriptures in his embrace. I suspect this nameless deceased might have been a member of a Daoist sect. If he knew the ‘Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription’ but failed to enter the ancient tomb while alive, there is one possibility we shouldn’t ignore.”

I quickly asked what possibility. Shirley Yang replied: “Perhaps the path indicated by the Mountain-Gazing sect presents an insurmountable chasm, one he couldn't cross, or one he couldn't fully comprehend. Unwilling to simply leave, he exhausted himself mentally and spiritually, eventually meditating himself to death here. But he might also have died here for other reasons; what I mentioned is only one possibility.”

Professor Sun reread the final half of the “Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription” twice, agreeing that Shirley Yang had a point. In religious legends, attaining immortality is divided into three grades: lower, middle, and upper. Lower immortals must undergo transformation after death; middle immortals, before achieving their state, must first endure severe illness, great disaster, immense peril, and profound trial. “Before the Soul-Frightening Platform, the Yin River spans the void; the Immortal Bridge is unseen, invisible to the naked eye; by casting oneself off the falling rock, one steps to heaven in a single stride.” These lines surely refer to ordeals of extreme danger and tempering. Anyone with slightly less courage or luck wouldn't be able to enter the “Earth Immortal Village Ancient Tomb.”

Hearing this, Fatty immediately boasted: “When you’re doing the dirty work of tomb raiding and gold panning, you don’t fear even the King of Heaven! I refuse to believe there’s a peril so great we can’t overcome it. Talking here is useless; we won't know until we go and see!” With that, he raised his flashlight and strode into the depths of the tunnel.

I thought to myself: Wang Fatty often speaks nonsense, but that last statement actually hit the mark. Cliffs, Yin Rivers—how can we know what they are without seeing them firsthand? With sudden resolution, I led the group forward.

This mountain range, riddled with perilous bird-paths along its cliffs, towered toward the sky. On either side of the sheer, thousand-foot precipices, the end was nowhere in sight. We couldn't tell how vast this mountain was. We just proceeded straight ahead in the ancient tunnel; what we saw offered no forks or deviations—it was a single, direct path traversing the mountain. After walking for an indeterminate time, our sight suddenly brightened.

We found the tunnel terminating in a landscape of astonishing strangeness. The tunnel exit opened onto a sheer mountainside, suspended in mid-air. Ahead lay a valley shaped like an inverted ‘T’.

Opposite us, a high mountain, piercing the clouds and mist, appeared as if cleaved by a celestial sword, slicing straight down the middle. At the bottom of this longitudinal valley, a structure known as the “Dragon Gate” had been built, flanked by hundreds of “Wuyang Stone Beasts” standing opposite each other. It seemed this was the subterranean palace of the Wuyang King. The ruins of the “Wuyang Stone Beasts” are visible everywhere near Qingxi Creek, which also suggests that the scale of the underground mausoleum is immense. Below the Dragon Gate, a natural stone waterfall hung suspended in the air, its surface slick and smooth, bizarrely shaped as if frozen saliva, with two large, ancient seal script characters carved into the stone: “Soul-Frightening” ().

This Dragon Gate, constructed within the narrow, steep gorge, was parallel to the tunnel exit where we stood. The horizontal gorge cut sharply downward, severing the path before the Dragon Gate. Below, clouds and mist swirled, the depths unfathomable.

Professor Sun muttered to himself: “This must be the Soul-Frightening Platform, the impassable barrier for monkeys. It is truly a place of divine workmanship. What does ‘the Yin River spans the void’ mean? A river in the air? And where is the invisible Immortal Bridge?”

I observed that the danger was real. Between the tunnel exit and the Dragon Gate, there was no bridge, although the distance was less than twenty meters, with only a sliver of sky and abyss visible between us. Without specialized tools like rope guns, crossing that deep chasm seemed nearly impossible. Did the Yin River and Immortal Bridge mentioned in the “Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription” refer to the abyss before the Soul-Frightening Platform? Was there truly a river hanging in the sky?

I took a step forward, intending to get a closer look, but Shirley Yang grabbed me, saying, “Don’t go any further. What is that sound you hear ahead?”

I strained my ears and detected the continuous sound of countless resentful souls weeping within the inverted ‘T’-shaped gorge. I asked Shirley Yang, “Is that the wind?”

Shirley Yang didn't answer. Instead, she picked up a stone and tossed it into the deep valley before the Dragon Gate. Everyone looked up and was instantly dumbfounded. The stone flew into the air, suddenly stopped dead, and then began to spin rapidly as if caught in the “eye of a storm.” After wobbling for a moment, it vanished, swept away by some mysterious vortex.

Seeing this, we were all horrified. The inverted ‘T’-shaped gorge appeared quiet and ordinary, but it concealed hidden slaughter. No one had anticipated such an inscrutable, dangerous airflow. It was likely that the unique topography caused mountain winds to converge in the center of the gorge, forming a formless, invisible vortex. Apart from a faint, abnormal tremor in the air, there were no other perceptible signs of danger. This must be what they called the “Yin River spanning the void.”

Professor Sun shook his head: “We can’t cross it. Even an immortal with wings couldn't pass. The Soul-Frightening Platform isn't a mere peril; it’s a natural barrier. If we try to cross with ropes and hooks, we'd be instantly caught by the turbulence. It seems this path is blocked. But don’t worry. I firmly believe that with enough effort, one can grind an iron rod into a needle. We must exert ourselves and find a way to circle around to the rear entrance.”

I stopped Professor Sun: “In the vicinity of Coffin Gorge, most peaks are above 1,500 meters. If you try to circle around, it will take at least ten to fifteen days. Although the turbulent currents of the Yin River before the sheer cliff are fierce, in the geomancy of Qingwu, this is precisely where wind gathers and energy concentrates—a place of the highest Feng Shui quality. Such a bizarre phenomenon wouldn't manifest otherwise. Although the Mojin Xiaowei are skilled in dividing gold and fixing destiny, without an unobstructed vantage point, they cannot map the spiritual energy flow of this mountain range. The Wushan mountains are shrouded in mist, making the art of dividing gold and fixing destiny impossible to employ. Therefore, I cannot say how many such 'wind eyes' might exist. Perhaps similar hazards exist at the back of the mountain or near the gorge entrance. But since we have found the place where wind gathers and energy concentrates, it means we have entered the burial zone containing the ancient tomb. It’s too early to claim we’ve stepped into the main hall, but we can say we have our hands on the front door.”

When Professor Sun got anxious, his thinking became rigid. He worried: “We already have the forged letter of introduction, what other plan is there?”

I said: “Ninth Master, you’re getting confused in your anxiety. For entering this place, no letter of introduction will work.”

Professor Sun quickly corrected himself: “A slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue! I got anxious and called the ‘Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription’ a letter of introduction. Now that we’ve seen the inscription…”

I cut him off: “Actually, you weren’t wrong. The ‘Mountain-Gazing Guidance Inscription’ is the introduction letter issued by the Earth Immortal. As long as his introduction letter isn't fake, we are certain to find a way within it to cross this natural barrier.”

Shirley Yang said: “Before the Soul-Frightening Platform, the Yin River spans the void; the Immortal Bridge is unseen, invisible to the naked eye; by casting oneself off the falling rock, one steps to heaven in a single stride… Do these three phrases all refer to the peril of the Soul-Frightening Platform? ‘The Immortal Bridge is unseen’ should refer to a bridge invisible to ordinary people. But I can’t figure out the last line: How can casting oneself off a falling rock lead to heaven in one step? Where is the bridge?”

I pondered for a moment and reminded everyone: “Do you remember the nameless corpse before the fractured stele? That gentleman was likely searching for the Earth Immortal Village Ancient Tomb just like us, but he probably wasn't a tomb robber or an amateur archaeologist. I estimate he was someone seeking immortality and eternal life. How he died is hard to say, but the fact that he didn't enter the ancient tomb surely means he was terrified by this invisible, intangible natural barrier, perhaps hesitating for many years, never daring to commit to crossing.”

Fatty exclaimed: “Commander Hu, after your analysis, I really empathize with that comrade’s feelings. This road… it’s truly not meant for humans. Seeing the treasure vault right there, yet not daring to cross—like an egg hitting a rock, anyone would be helpless.”

I countered: “I’m not asking you to feel what that explorer felt back then. What I mean is, consider this: Was that person scared away by the natural danger, or… was he scared away by the bridge? Why do I say that? Because we haven't seen Commander Feng’s body anywhere nearby, yet the Bashan monkeys he tamed have been lingering in the area. This suggests he must have escaped to Qingxi back then, and very likely entered the Earth Immortal Village tomb. But… why didn’t the Bashan monkeys enter with him?”

Professor Sun seemed to grasp something: “Oh… are you suggesting the Bashan monkeys, like the nameless corpse before the stele, dared not risk crossing that Immortal Bridge? And Commander Feng, being bolder, trusted the hints left by his ancestors and crossed over? But look around you—this sheer gorge is completely open. Where is any bridge before the Soul-Frightening Platform?”

Professor Sun immediately declared that while he could believe in vortices formed by airflow in places where energy gathers, the “Immortal Bridge is unseen” was utterly unbelievable. How could an invisible bridge exist in the world? An optical illusion? A blind spot? Highly unlikely. Adhering objectively to facts was his principle, and he would never compromise on it.

He then quoted the words of an authority who had once criticized him: “Such folk legends are utterly unreliable; they originate from ‘a lack of knowledge, excessive superstition, and wishful thinking’—primitive, bizarre notions, practically an indescribably childish fantasy. Anyone who believes them is a complete lunatic.”