Chapter 429 - 429: Unveiling the Authentic Nine Zhou Dings! Scarily Massive! (1)
As the markers of the hidden treasures became visible, Luo Feng cautiously made his way towards them. His heart pounded in his chest, betraying his anxiety.
Despite considering himself seasoned and composed in the face of extraordinary occurrences, Luo Feng struggled to remain calm in this unique situation.
The presence of the Nine Zhou Dings made every other treasure seem insignificant. To Luo Feng, the historical significance of the Nine Zhou Dings overshadowed even the famed Imperial Jade Seal.
The Imperial Jade Seal symbolized imperial authority for two to three thousand years since the reign of the First Emperor of Qin.
In contrast, the Jiuzhou Dings dated back further, all the way to the Xia Dynasty, representing an era even before the Qin. Its archaeological value was immeasurable, detailing landscapes and plant life of its time.
When compared to the petite Imperial Jade Seal, its worth was unparalleled.
If the inscriptions on the tortoise shell were accurate, the treasure beneath could indeed be the Imperial Jade Seal.
Historical records suggest these inscriptions were the legacy of the Yan Emperor’s descendants, ancestors who assisted Yu the Great in taming the floods.
The Nine Zhou Dings, even during the Shang Dynasty, was never lost.
Jiang Ziya, well-versed in the I Ching and the Eight Trigrams, might have used the Nine Zhou Dings to quell Emperor Xin.
“Here?” Luo Feng stood over the markers, teasingly declaring, “This spot has the most favorable fengshui around. It’s about ten thousand Zhang from our starting point. I believe our treasure lies right beneath us!”
When explanations failed him, Luo Feng often turned to fengshui.
Most would not understand it, and those who did could be placated with some elaborate fengshui theory they could not decipher.
“Good heavens! Are you really going to unearth the Jiuzhou Ding just like that?
Can it be that simple?”
“If it’s that easy, I swear I’ll eat my hat live on stream!”
“In the middle of the night, dragging Master Li out here. If we fail to dig it up, I’ll die laughing. You might give poor Master Li a cold!”
Ignoring the skeptical livestream messages, Luo Feng focused on his task. Having shared his theory, he was ready to start digging.
Squish. Squish.
His excavation had begun.
His excavation had begun.
The tortoise shell hinted at the Ding being ten thousand Zhang west, though it provided no indication Of depth.
It could not be too shallow, for fear of discovery, nor too deep, given the era’s limited capabilities.
The depth must have been between five to eight meters, anything more was unlikely.
Once Master Li had rested sufficiently, he asked, “Little Luo, is there anything I can do to assist?”
“I’m alright, Master Li, I can guide everyone on my own!” Luo Feng responded, eyeing him.
You want to assist but have no shovel? Just how eager are you to find the Nine Zhou Dings?
“Little Luo, shouldn’t we confirm the location first? Tomorrow, I can bring a metal detector,” Master Li suggested, unnerved by Luo Feng’s frenzied digging. “No need. I’ve already studied the fengshui. If it’s here, it will align with the prevailing wind direction!”
Luo Feng turned to fengshui again.
Master Li couldn’t argue; previously he would have dismissed fengshui as being unreliable.
Now, Luo Feng had unearthed numerous tombs relying solely on fengshui.
In the meantime, a group of scholars were still translating oracle bone script, scrutinizing the black tortoise shell intently.
After translating a single line, Luo Feng, filled with a whirlwind of enthusiasm, had dashed off to find the Nine Zhou Dings, leaving them baffled.
Was he rushing too much?
Was he even sure the translated information was correct?
“Little Luo certainly does things his own way. Deciphering oracle bone script isn’t that easy. He’s digging relentlessly, even in this freezing late-night chill!
He even dragged Master Li out there!”
An elderly man voiced his exasperation.
By midnight, despite the biting cold, Master Li stood firm.
Luo Feng had dug a pit two meters wide and half a meter deep.
Within an hour, he had excavated roughly two meters down.
By three in the morning, he had dug a pit eight meters deep.
Luo Feng paused, puzzled – how deep was this thing buried? Why was there no sign of anything even eight meters down?
Had he misjudged the location?
If there were nine dings, plus the body of Emperor Xin, that would account for ten markers.
However, the dozens of markers below, grouped together, suggested the absence of nine bronze dings.
Had he made a mistake?
Would Jiang Ziya have arranged for other burial items besides the Jiuzhou Ding to suppress Emperor Xin, for a fallen monarch?
That seemed improbable.
“Wow! I took a nap, and the host is still digging? Hasn’t he found anything yet?”
“He’s dug almost ten meters down, and still nothing? This livestreamer has some serious energy, I would’ve been back in bed by now!”
“And these rich kids, they’re so excited, digging all night?”
“If they actually find it, then according to the oracle bone script, the host was
right!”