Zhang Enpu stroked the white beard that fanned out like pine needles from his jaw and said, "This 'Shihun' is certainly not a ghost, but it isn't human either; fundamentally, it should be considered a human soul. According to my Taoist scriptures, the process of creating a Shihun is extraordinarily secretive. Maoshan sorcerers would use a Soul-Guiding Banner to draw a living person's soul from their body, then seal it away, finally enshrining it within a coffin. Because Shihun exists purely in a spiritual state, they do not occupy any space within the coffin; they can only remain inside, accompanying their deceased master."

"Damn it all, how can these nobles and mandarins think up such perverse methods? To still require attendants after death, this is corruption to the very core," Tian Guoqiang grumbled indignantly.

A fleeting thought sparked in Young Master Liu’s mind—the Soul-Guiding Banner?

"Hey, these iron chains are wound so tightly; how in the world are we supposed to get them off!" Tian Guoqiang stared blankly at the stone sarcophagus.

Young Master Liu hefted his rifle stock: "Let me try! Hah!" He wrenched with both arms, bringing the shovel down heavily onto the chains with a sharp 'clang.' Sparks flew, and the impact jarred Young Master Liu’s hands until his knuckles ached, making him stagger sideways. But when he looked down at the chain, there was nothing but a faint impression; it was completely undamaged.

Looking back at his rifle stock, he saw a visible crack running across it. This military-issue rifle was forged from high-grade steel, incredibly tough; yet, this impact had caused a fissure. It was clear the iron chains on the stone coffin must be many times harder than the rifle stock.

Young Master Liu stared at the shovel in his hand and clicked his tongue, "Even the great eagle is stumped by the old turtle this time!"

Tian Guoqiang suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, Young Master, look! These chains on the stone coffin seem to form some kind of pattern."

Young Master Liu’s eyes widened as he peered closely at the sarcophagus. Tian Guoqiang cautioned him nearby not to blink. After staring at the stone coffin for about ten seconds, Young Master Liu finally saw it clearly: the iron chains on the sarcophagus were undergoing a strange transformation. The previously chaotic, vine-like tangle of chains had now eerily coalesced into a distinct pattern.

He cried out involuntarily, "A spoon! It’s a spoon!"

Young Master Liu rubbed his throbbing eyes; the spoon pattern was gone. The chains wrapped around the sarcophagus remained just as disorganized as before.

He stared blankly at Zhang Enpu: "Old Daoist, what’s going on? Is there something wrong with my eyes?"

"No!" Zhang Enpu waved his hand. "These chains are made of Xuan Tie, an iron of immense hardness. Legend has it that this Xuan Tie is material fit for forging superior weaponry. Just a little bit of it quenched into a blade will allow that sword to cut through metal like mud."

"At first, I wondered why these Xuan Tie chains were bound around a stone coffin like this. I initially thought the chains were just randomly placed on the sarcophagus, but now that you’ve pointed it out, I finally understand: the Xuan Tie chains on this sarcophagus are actually the Seven Ills Unending Lock!"

The Seven Ills Unending Lock?

Young Master Liu and Tian Guoqiang exchanged bewildered glances, waiting for Zhang Enpu to continue.

Zhang Enpu said, "The Seven Ills Unending Lock is rumored to have vanished for at least a millennium. To see it here today means this ancient tomb must also be at least a thousand years old. The composition of the Seven Ills Unending Lock relies on a peculiar visual illusion—it’s somewhat like the three-dimensional science foreigners study. On the surface, it appears to be nothing, but the true secret lies hidden within!"

"Still three-dimensional... still optical illusions? D-d-does this mean... the ancients from a thousand years ago understood the application of these three-something concepts?" Young Master Liu and Tian Guoqiang stared at each other, completely speechless now, unable to describe the shock flooding their hearts.

Zhang Enpu mused, "Perhaps so. Our conventional view is that the world constantly develops and progresses; that is, people now must be smarter than people of the past, possessing far greater knowledge. But reality often proves otherwise. I once read a report about an unparalleled, fiercely sharp sword unearthed from the First Emperor's subterranean palace. National testing showed the sword could bend without breaking because a rare metallic element had been added to it. What astonished the scientists was that even with the most advanced scientific methods, they could not isolate this rare element. So, how did the ancients manage to separate and integrate this metal into their swords? Tell me, is that development of civilization, or regression?"

Zhang Enpu’s words reminded Young Master Liu of a line he had once read in a book: that the development of civilization is like a circle, destined to return to its origin point.

He thought perhaps this was the meaning behind the Buddhist concept of reincarnation.

Tian Guoqiang muttered, "Then... then how are we supposed to unlock this Seven Ills Unending Lock?"

Zhang Enpu replied, "Cracking mechanisms and formations is the specialty of master tomb robbers. However, as the direct descendant of the Tianshi Dao lineage, I cannot disgrace my ancestors. Although the Seven Ills Unending Lock is incredibly intricate and troublesome to unravel, I am willing to give it a try."

Young Master Liu found himself growing more and more impressed with the lean, pale Zhang Enpu. He reminded him of an old saying: "You can’t judge a man by his looks, just as you can’t measure the sea with a bushel!"

Tian Guoqiang asked with some doubt, "Old Daoist Zhang, can you really unlock the Seven Ills Unending Lock?"

Zhang Enpu smiled confidently. "Since I can identify it as the Seven Ills Unending Lock, I am certainly capable of unlocking it. Hmm, let me think carefully. The records kept by generations of Heavenly Masters seem to mention the method for solving the Seven Ills Unending Lock!"

Saying this, Zhang Enpu moved aside, sat down, and closed his eyes in contemplation.

Young Master Liu and Tian Guoqiang dared not disturb him, standing silently by. Opposite them, Bai Er Laizi had simply lain down on the ground and fallen asleep.

Seconds ticked by. Zhang Enpu seemed to enter a state of deep meditation, motionless like a monk sitting Zen.

Tian Guoqiang began to grow restless, but Young Master Liu quickly held him back: "Let’s wait a little longer patiently!"

Just as the words left his mouth, Zhang Enpu suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils reflecting confident glints. He shot to his feet and walked to the stone coffin without a word, beginning the unlocking process.

The Seven Ills Unending Lock was extremely complex. They watched Zhang Enpu pull the chains through openings and loops, then backtrack, then pause in deep thought, his brows furrowed, his expression grave.

Tian Guoqiang whispered to Young Master Liu, "Do you think the old Daoist can actually open the Seven Ills Unending Lock?"

Young Master Liu said, "I believe he can. You know, after dealing with the Drought Demon and the Spirit Officials, I find myself admiring him more and more. He’s like an infinite treasury of knowledge—knowing everything, understanding everything!"

"Young Master, Brother Qiang, hurry over here!" Zhang Enpu called out to them joyfully.

Young Master Liu and Tian Guoqiang walked over. "How is it? Have you unlocked it?"

Zhang Enpu wiped the sweat from his brow. "Just the final step remains. Qiangzi, go to that corner, yes, grab hold of that chain. Young Master, go to this corner here—that’s right, grab the chain."

"Good, just like that. I’ll count to three, and then we all pull back hard together. Understand?"

Young Master Liu and Tian Guoqiang nodded.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

Each man grabbed an end of the chain and yanked backward with all their might. A loud whoosh sounded, and the incredibly tough Xuan Tie chain actually slid clear off the stone sarcophagus.

Young Master Liu praised him with immense admiration, "Truly worthy of being the head master of Taoism; he really has some serious skills!"

Zhang Enpu rubbed his hands and smiled. "Ashamed! Ashamed! If my father were the one solving this Seven Ills Unending Lock, he probably could have finished in half the time!"

"Alright, it's getting late; let's hurry up and open the coffin!" Tian Guoqiang said, reaching out to lift the lid, but it wouldn't budge no matter how hard he tried.

Zhang Enpu squatted down to inspect it. "Qiangzi, go to the other side and push forward hard!"

Tian Guoqiang walked to the opposite side of the sarcophagus half-believing, half-skeptical, and pushed with both hands. With a muffled thud, the coffin lid slowly pushed open forward. Tian Guoqiang marveled, "What’s going on? Why couldn't I lift it when I tried from the side earlier?"

Zhang Enpu pointed to a hidden groove near the top of the coffin. "This lid uses a latch mechanism, the principle is exactly the same as the back cover of the flashlight we use!"