# Chapter 281: Who Rules the Eastern Wasteland
In the desolate outskirts of Li City, many cultivators appeared, all searching for ancient tombs, all for the sake of the Nine Secrets.
Once the Nine Secrets emerged, the Northern Domain was shaken. No sect could remain indifferent, and even the Primordial Aristocratic Clans openly declared they would contend for them.
"Caw!"
An old crow cried out, its voice mournful, sending chills down one's spine.
This was a chaotic burial ground, desolate beyond measure, with only a few withered trees and old vines. Everywhere else was bare, covered with broken grave mounds.
"These people are too much. They won't even spare a grave. It's truly infuriating." Ji Ziyue puffed out her cheeks, displaying a hint of innocent temperament.
This was who knows how many ancient tomb clusters they had seen, all of them ransacked. Every ancient tomb was split open, and some skeletal remains had even been dug out.
Duan De said, "It's all the fault of that bronze bell, leaking the heavenly secret of the Nine Secrets' existence. Cultivators from the Northern Domain have rushed here in droves."
"Caw," "Caw," "Caw"...
In the desolate ancient cemetery, several old crows flapped their wings, lingering among a few skeletal remains, transmitting a sense of ill omen.
"They've all been dug up already. Why are we wasting our efforts?" Ji Ziyue was very dissatisfied.
"Who am I? I know five thousand years of the past and five hundred years of the future. Trust me, I'm right." Duan De boasted shamelessly. Though his body was very bloated, he was quite agile, moving back and forth across this ancient cemetery as if measuring something.
"Daoist, are you sure you want to dig here again?" Yao Xi's beautiful face was full of confusion.
"What I want you to dig isn't the surface, but the underground cemetery deeper down. Over ten thousand years have passed, and the real ancient tombs are buried deep underground. The grave area above doesn't count for much." Duan De looked as if everything was under his control.
They.
"Don't you have the important clues left by Gai Jiuyou?" Yao Xi was also getting dissatisfied.
"Don't worry, I will definitely find them. The clues left by Gai Jiuyou are very precious, and I'm following that line to search. Otherwise, do you think we could still find the ruins of the old Li City from fifteen thousand years ago?"
Five days later, Duan De showed excitement and said, "Found it!"
"Did you find the cemetery of that ancient aristocratic clan?" Ji Ziyue pressed.
"No, I found the ruins of Li City from fifteen thousand years ago!" Duan De replied.
This was a desolate plain with nothing at all, covered in broken stones, a full two hundred li away from the current Li City.
"What use is finding the ruins of Li City? It's not the tomb of that ancient aristocratic clan."
Duan De's face was flushed with excitement as he said, "Based on this city, we can determine their burial area. I expect it won't be too far away, and the range has suddenly become much more precise."
"The world is vast. You're not thinking of having us turn over the entire surrounding area, are you?" The others all gave him murderous looks.
"Don't worry. The ancients were very particular about burial sites. They wouldn't just bury people anywhere. I have some insights into this subject and can determine several main locations."
That very day, Duan De identified fifty-four auspicious geomantic sites around the ruins of old Li City. However, that same day, other people arrived in this area.
"We've run into experts. Someone like me has made the same judgment!" Duan De cried out in alarm.
The next day, the number of people multiplied several times over. This area was filled with indistinct figures, with even more cultivators arriving.
"Bad news. The Nine Secrets have indeed shocked the world. Quite a few extraordinary people who understand burial practices have been brought in, otherwise they could never have found this place." Duan De frowned.
"Does that mean you, Daoist, are also an extraordinary person?" Yao Xi laughed.
"To be blunt, in the field of burial studies, I am indeed an expert. The Demon Emperor's Yin Grave couldn't trap me, as you should know."
The others knew he wasn't lying.
Over these two days, they dug up eighteen of the selected auspicious geomantic sites in one go, only to find them either empty or belonging to other ancient people's grand tombs.
"Bad news. Of the fifty-four sites we selected, twenty-seven have been dug up by others. We've definitely run into experts." Duan De's face was uncertain.
Only nine tomb areas remained, with nine grand tombs left to dig. If nothing unexpected happened, that ancient aristocratic clan's burial area was likely about to see the light of day.
"We need to act quickly and get ahead of them, otherwise someone will beat us to it!" Duan De was anxious. He judged that experts had arrived.
And that day, more and more people came. Almost all cultivators had caught wind of it and rushed to this old site.
Suddenly, Duan De wiped a handful of ash on his face, then used bone-shrinking technique to change his appearance. This change in appearance couldn't alter his fundamental nature like the secret methods recorded in the Source Heaven Scroll, but it was enough to fool ordinary people.
Rising mist, drifting fog, petals dancing—a group of white-robed maidens appeared in this region like Lingbo fairies.
"I didn't expect the people from Yao Chi to come too..." Yao Xi's beautiful eyes showed a strange light.
Ji Ziyue was surprised, saying, "Yao Chi has always been aloof from worldly affairs, almost never participating in conflicts. This time, for the Nine Secrets, they've actually sent people. The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi has come in person."
"Bad news. I, Daoist, have a feeling something terrible is about to happen. I don't want to stay here." Duan De wanted to back out.
"Daoist, what do you mean by that?" Yao Xi asked.
Duan De said to Ye Fan, "Let's the two of us run away. They all have backgrounds; we're poor second-generation types. Even if we gain something here, it will only benefit others, just making a wedding dress for someone else."
"Daoist, you're overthinking things. We're allies. How could we possibly harm you?" Yao Xi laughed.
"Forget it. The younger generation has all appeared, which means those old fellows must have come too, all watching from the shadows. At the critical moment, they'll definitely jump out." Duan De's expression was very unpleasant.
"There are only nine major tomb areas left. Are you, Daoist, just going to give up like this?" Ji Haoyue spoke, "Don't worry. With me here, I guarantee your life will be safe."
It was almost certain that one of the nine tomb areas must be that ancient aristocratic clan's burial ground. Duan De hesitated.
"Boom"
It was like thousands of troops and horses galloping. Dozens of ancient war chariots rolled across the sky, rumbling as they came, making the heavens themselves tremble.
"Another Holy Land, all young experts too!"
"Woo..." War horns sounded long and loud, deafening.
The clouds at the horizon were shaken apart. A huge golden warship flew in, several hundred zhang long, dazzling with golden light, brilliant and resplendent.
Duan De sighed, "Could it be that all the Holy Lands will come?"
Ye Fan also spoke, "Why are they all from the younger generation?"
"This is probably deliberately arranged by the various parties, letting the younger generation have a real showdown to see who is stronger and who is weaker." Yao Xi analyzed.
"That's right. The old-timers haven't come, they just haven't shown themselves. The battle for the Nine Secrets will probably begin among the younger generation first!" Duan De cursed his bad luck.
"Brother, is that so?" Ji Ziyue asked worriedly.
Ji Haoyue's battle intent was high, his divine power surging throughout his body. A divine moon rose slowly, intimidating all directions. He nodded and said, "Yes. It seems that today we will determine who is superior, to see who can be invincible in the Eastern Wasteland in the future!"
At the same time, from the direction of the Jiang Family's many experts, an unparalleled battle intent erupted. The Divine King Physique of the Jiang Family had finally emerged.
On the other side, the Holy Son Yao Guang was like a Sun God, dominating one side, radiating ten thousand beams of light, like a deity.
In the distance, Golden Wing Little Peng King let out a long cry, his golden hair dancing wildly. His towering figure possessed an unparalleled demonic nature, and terrifying ripples emanated, giving off an aura of supremacy under heaven, unique in the world.