Nine Burials: The Celestial Odyssey

A Dilapidated Cave, Life Hanging by a Thread

Night had fallen. The wind howled through the desolate mountains, and a cold moon hung alone in the sky.

Deep within the dense forest, an ancient cave lay hidden in the darkness. The entrance was overgrown with weeds, and the stone walls bore the marks of erosion from the passage of time, a clear sign that no one had set foot here for many years.

Inside the cave, a bloodied figure lay motionless on the ground, breathing faintly. His long white hair was disheveled, and nine crimson burial marks on his forehead pulsed dimly as if alive.

It was none other than Zang Jiuge, who had barely escaped the pursuit of the Celestial Tribunal!

His face was pale as death, his robes tattered beyond recognition, and traces of blood still stained the ground around him.

"That was close…"

Zang Jiuge slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness gradually becoming clearer.

Moments ago, he had forcibly burned his blood essence to activate Burial Calamity Void Escape, narrowly evading the Celestial Tribunal's execution.

But his condition was dire. His qi and blood were severely depleted, and even gathering the slightest trace of spiritual energy was a struggle.

More terrifyingly—his life force was still being devoured by the Burial Marks!

Each time he used Burial of Man, this devouring effect intensified.

"I can't keep going like this…"

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to sit up and took a deep breath, attempting to stabilize his dwindling vitality.

Yet, at that moment, a deep and eerie voice suddenly echoed through the cave—

"Interesting… someone who has survived the Celestial Tribunal's divine punishment."

The voice was like a whisper from the abyss, reverberating in the darkness.

Zang Jiuge's pupils shrank sharply!

He instantly looked toward the cave entrance!

A Black-Robed Stranger, an Ominous Aura

The night wind howled as a dark figure slowly stepped into the cave.

The man wore a long black robe, his hood concealing most of his face. His entire being seemed fused with the darkness itself, and as he walked, the surrounding air grew unnaturally cold.

Zang Jiuge's wariness surged to the extreme.

He could tell in an instant—this man was no ordinary figure!

This presence… was even more dangerous than the Celestial Tribunal's enforcers!

The black-robed figure halted at the cave's center, gazing down at Zang Jiuge with an amused expression.

"You are quite remarkable…" His voice was calm, carrying a hint of intrigue.

"To be classified as a Grade-A Forsaken One and still be breathing—such an occurrence is exceedingly rare."

Zang Jiuge remained silent, cold sweat forming on his forehead as he quietly mustered what little strength he had left, ready to fight to the death if necessary.

But the black-robed man merely chuckled and said,

"Relax. If I intended to kill you, you'd already be dead."

Zang Jiuge's eyes were ice-cold as he asked in a low voice,

"Who are you?"

The black-robed man paused briefly before speaking,

"Someone who wishes to make a deal with you."

The Burial of Heaven's Fate, A Game of Destiny

Zang Jiuge's gaze sharpened.

The black-robed man crouched down, his voice slow and deliberate:

"Tell me—do you truly understand why the Celestial Tribunal wants you dead?"

Zang Jiuge frowned. "Isn't it because I used Burial of Man?"

The black-robed man shook his head slightly, his tone enigmatic.

"Under Heaven's rule, you are not the only one who dares defy fate."

"Countless others have shaken the heavens far more than you—yet why has the Tribunal never hunted them? And why, after you merely glimpsed the power of Burial of Man, were you immediately marked as a Grade-A Forsaken One?"

Zang Jiuge remained silent.

He was no fool—the black-robed man's words struck a deep chord in him!

"Your very existence… is a forbidden anomaly."

The black-robed man's voice grew even lower.

"The Nine Burials are not merely techniques—they are a force that can bury the very laws of the world itself. And you… are its vessel."

"The Celestial Tribunal does not seek to kill you because of your actions."

"They seek to erase you because your very existence defies the natural order."

Zang Jiuge's heart pounded violently.

He suddenly recalled—when he first acquired the Nine Burials Codex, it was only a fragment!

Then where… was the complete version?!

The black-robed man seemed to sense his thoughts, his lips curving into a cryptic smile.

"Do you wish to obtain the full Nine Burials?"

Zang Jiuge took a deep breath, his gaze razor-sharp.

"You know where it is?"

The black-robed man nodded. Slowly, he raised a single finger and lightly tapped the air.

A golden speck of light emerged from the void, gently rotating before Zang Jiuge's eyes.

Zang Jiuge's heartbeat quickened.

He could feel it—this golden speck contained an unfathomable truth!

"What is this?"

The black-robed man smirked.

"The Second Burial—Burial of Weapons."

"If you wish to claim it, you must accept my deal."

Zang Jiuge's eyes narrowed.

"What do you want?"

The black-robed man stood up, gazing into the abyss of the night.

His voice carried an eerie chill.

"Simple… I want you to 'bury' an existence from the Upper Realm."

Zang Jiuge's pupils contracted violently!

The Burial of Weapons Awakens, A New Chapter Begins

The cave fell into deep silence.

The black-robed man remained motionless, patiently waiting for Zang Jiuge's response.

Meanwhile, Zang Jiuge's thoughts churned like a storm.

An existence from the Upper Realm…?!

He knew full well what that implied.

The Upper Realm was where those who transcended this world ascended—peerless geniuses, beings of unimaginable power.

And now, this black-robed man wanted him to bury one of them?!

Zang Jiuge clenched his fists. "And if I refuse?"

The black-robed man smiled faintly.

"Then I shall leave… and you may search for the full Nine Burials on your own."

Zang Jiuge stared at him for a long moment before suddenly smirking.

"If this is a deal… then I have one condition."

The black-robed man was momentarily surprised. "Oh?"

Zang Jiuge's gaze burned with intensity.

"Tell me your name."

The black-robed man fell silent for a moment.

Then, with a low sigh, he murmured—

"My name was erased by Heaven itself."

"But you may call me… Burial of Heaven."

Zang Jiuge's heart trembled violently!

A thousand thoughts flooded his mind—but before he could speak, the golden speck of light suddenly shot toward him!

Boom!!!

A massive torrent of information surged into his mind.

In an instant, a new burial technique imprinted itself into his very soul—

"Second Burial—Burial of Weapons!"

"Forge countless weapons into one, an armament that buries the heavens themselves!"

Zang Jiuge's fate had once again taken a new turn!

(End of Chapter 3)

Next Chapter Preview: "Chapter 4: The Birth of Burial of Weapons, A Trial of Slaughter!"