Previously on Urban Divine Doctor Descends the Mountain...
Lin Dong and Dracula fought off the General Corpse Slaves, causing heavy casualties to the martial artist and bounty hunter camps. The survivors, a Heavenly Realm martial artist and a bounty hunter leader, refused to leave, despite Dracula's warnings. Dracula then used the collected blood to perform a ritual, opening the Dark Gate and revealing the legendary Ancient General Tomb.
As the ancient and formidable Dark Gate creaked open, an aged and distant aura surged forth, transcending the very bonds of space and time. This phenomenon pulled Lin Dong, Dracula, Ye Linglong, along with the Heavenly Realm warriors from the Ancient European Country and the bounty hunters possessing Heavenly Realm strength, into an unfamiliar world.
The legendary Ancient General Tomb, a place rumored to seal untold secrets and immense power, once again opened its doors to visitors after a millennium of profound silence.
Lin Dong's grip tightened on the Yangxin Sword, his gaze sharp and focused. Even he sensed a disquieting unease, a clear indication that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges.
Dracula, the renowned vampire noble from foreign lands, shrouded himself within his characteristic black cloak, his eyes alight with an insatiable hunger for ancient power.
The other individuals, including the bounty hunter at the Second Layer of the Heavenly Realm, harbored their own distinct ambitions, yet their paths converged towards a singular, shared objective.
Upon their entry into the ancient sepulcher, the zombie slaves under the command of the General’s Power outside appeared to lose their quarry. They let out helpless roars at the tomb's entrance, their silhouettes dramatically lengthening under the moonlight, utterly incapable of breaching the mystical Dark Gate.
This gate stood as a demarcation between two distinct realms, a stark divider of life and death, of light and shadow.
Stepping inside the tomb, the scene that unfolded before them struck everyone with profound shock. It was as if they had entered a self-contained, alien dimension, where a magnificent and ancient grand hall stretched out, its sheer scale defying comprehension.
The hall's ceiling ascended towards the heavens, while its walls, though weathered by the relentless passage of time, still radiated an extraordinary presence.
Even more astonishing was the hall's obscuration by a subtle, dark mist. This fog possessed an uncanny ability to confound the senses and distort vision, rendering clear sight of the surroundings impossible, allowing one to discern only a few meters ahead.
"Is this the ancient ruin hidden within? Why does it feel so unsettling?" the Heavenly Realm Second Layer bounty hunter questioned, a barely perceptible tremor betraying his unease. Even such a formidable cultivator felt a sense of awe in the face of this ancient and enigmatic power.
His eyes scanned the mist-shrouded expanse, seeking any discernible clues, but found only an endless expanse of darkness and silence.
Lin Dong surveyed his surroundings, an inexplicable chill pervading his being.
Everything within this place felt profoundly unreal, as though time itself had ceased to flow, and even the very air seemed to have solidified.
He drew a deep breath, striving to quell the turmoil within, his mind refocusing on the expedition's ultimate purpose.
Dracula softly touched his lips, his eyes gleaming with an unusual luminescence. He seemed to detect the scent of power emanating from the chilling atmosphere, a coveted power that promised to elevate his own strength.
"Lord Dracula, Lord Lin Dong, how shall we proceed from here?" the Second Layer bounty hunter inquired of the two.
Lin Dong offered no immediate reply, instead turning his gaze towards Dracula.
Dracula responded with a slight smile, stating, "We shall simply advance."
With his declaration, he took the lead and moved forward.
Within the profound and ancient hall, mysterious crimson light pulsed, casting shifting shadows and enveloping the millennium-old structure in an aura of mystique.
Dracula, the legendary Count Vampire, his form fading in and out of the dimness, appeared to meld seamlessly with the shadows.
He had indeed traversed this place before, intimately familiar with every detail. Now, he guided their path, his movements impossibly light and utterly silent.
Everyone followed closely, their hearts a mixture of apprehension and intense curiosity, each footfall stirring the dust of ages, as if awakening echoes of the distant past.
The atmosphere was saturated with an ancient and heavy presence, instilling an involuntary sense of being oppressed.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
Abruptly, a distinct sound shattered the pervading silence. A series of resonant, powerful footsteps echoed through the vast hall, like a summons emanating from another realm.
All eyes were instantly drawn upward, fixated on a cold, metallic glint that flickered in the faint light emanating from the hall's depths. It was an ancient suit of battle armor, not stationary but advancing towards them with an astonishing, almost supernatural, velocity.
The armor was preserved in pristine condition, every segment exuding the grandeur and valor of bygone eras. Yet, in this moment, it seemed like a warrior returned from the infernal depths, exuding an indescribable majesty and chilling terror.
Its steps, though heavy, were remarkably steady, each one appearing to send tremors through the very foundation of the hall.
Gripped firmly in its hand was an iron halberd, around which wisps of dark Qi swirled, a clear sign of the Yin Vein's power, projecting an intensely threatening aura.
This formidable power elicited a primal fear even in the most seasoned individuals, a profound dread blossoming within.
The armor's face was concealed by a helmet, revealing only hollow eye sockets that seemed to pierce the deepest fears residing within their hearts.
It remained utterly silent, continuing its advance, the intangible pressure it exerted seemingly solidifying the air, causing time itself to feel as if it were stretching out interminably slow.
"What is this about the armor giving me such an immense sense of dread?" The martial artist from the Ancient European Country, a cultivator at the First Layer of the Heavenly Realm, stammered in disbelief.
Just moments before, the resounding echo of each footfall from the armor felt like a colossal hammer striking his very heart, inducing a suffocating sensation and an overwhelming, terrifying pressure.
This feeling left him utterly breathless.
The martial artist at the Second Layer of the Heavenly Realm experienced the exact same intimidation from the awe-inspiring armor.
They could not fathom how an inanimate object could move with such lifelike presence, nor could they grasp the hidden secrets and perils concealed within it.
"What sort of dreadful entity could this be, a battle armor worn in person? It's truly frightening! It actually possesses a consciousness of its own!"
"The malevolent Negative Energy clinging to it undeniably points to its wearer, who, while alive, must have slain numerous Secondary Ancestors and even beings at the Ancestor level. It is soaked in the very lifeblood of powerhouses from the Secondary Ancestor and Ancestor tiers!"
"This is not good, it's advancing towards us."
Extreme terror painted the faces of both Heavenly Realm martial artists.
Lin Dong's own expression remained placid, yet a subtle, almost imperceptible glint flickered within his eyes.
He directed a glance towards Dracula by his side, catching Dracula's shifting gaze as their eyes met. Dracula then sent him a telepathic message.
"Brother Lin, when I was here previously, I did not encounter this armor!"
"This particular armor only manifested upon our arrival this time. It's possible something has been altered in this place. Alternatively, it could signify that others have already traversed this area..."
Upon receiving Dracula's telepathic communication, Lin Dong couldn't be certain if the words spoken were entirely truthful.
"Bang, bang, bang~~~"
The armor continued its inexorable advance, each step releasing an aura of terrifying pressure.
