Chapter 106: Finally Uncovering the Treasure

“What is it? Could there really be some secret hidden inside?” Tang Wei asked curiously as she noticed Zi Xuan’s triumphant expression.

“Then why don’t you take a guess?” Zi Xuan deliberately teased her, choosing not to answer her question directly. He felt no need to be so generous with anyone else.

“Forget it, I don’t want to know at all!” Tang Wei pouted, shaking her head resolutely to resist his temptation, and shot him a sharp glare.

Zi Xuan shrugged helplessly. “Ah, senior sister is becoming more difficult to please.” Just as he was about to unravel the mystery, someone—unaware of the mood—insisted on presenting themselves as amusement.

“Senior, I wonder what’s so peculiar about this place to make you smile so broadly,” Hua Jinxin interjected, trying to flatter. Despite the couple’s flirtatious banter, she chose this moment to butt in. Did she think her beauty entitled her to special treatment from all men?

Zi Xuan wasn’t fooled and ignored her words, instead turning to the others with a smile. “Everyone, would you like to try this challenge first? It’s quite interesting. Or you can each pick the path you believe is right and see for yourselves! Don’t worry, there’s no danger inside—feel free to explore.”

Hua Jinxin acted as if she hadn’t been snubbed. What she truly thought, no one knew. Hearing Zi Xuan encourage everyone to enter, she was the first to step forward. “Since senior is so confident, I’ll choose one first!” She was shameless. Although Zi Xuan was somewhat of an old hand, he had only forged his physical body a few years prior, and he claimed to be thirty years old here. For her to call herself a young girl in front of a thirty-year-old man was suspect.

The group ignored Hua Jinxin’s antics, perhaps because this was her usual nature, or maybe Zi Xuan and his companions were simply too jaded.

Hua Jinxin pretended to inspect all nine entrances, wearing an exaggeratedly cute expression that gave others goosebumps. Such a look might suit a youthful maiden, but on her, it was grotesque—a young face with a worn, aged mind.

Finally, she selected the middle door and dramatically pushed it open, entering inside. Others, in pairs or small groups, chose their own paths and entered the cave, while the two members of the Shi family never even considered trying. Whether out of blind trust in Zi Xuan or a lack of confidence in their own cultivation, no one knew.

Zi Xuan sighed in relief as Hua Jinxin and the others disappeared into the tunnels. “Finally gone! What a scare!”

Less than fifteen minutes later, they began to trickle back from the cave, all looking disheveled. Hua Jinxin emerged alongside Hua Piaopiao, seemingly having undergone some sort of harsh lesson inside. After she came out, her odd expressions and gestures ceased, which made both Zi Xuan and Tang Wei breathe easier.

However, something strange remained: everyone appeared gloomy, some covered in mud, others bruised and dirty, with bits of grass stuck to their heads. They looked like soldiers returning defeated from battle. They exchanged glances but none spoke first.

“Why are you all back so soon? Did you see something inside? Why do you look so battered?” Tang Wei asked, breaking the silence to lighten the mood.

The head of the Xuanyuan family smiled wryly. “We didn’t see anything, really. We were just walking, and before we even realized what was happening, we somehow ended up back outside!”

“Oh! So it’s a maze!” Tang Wei concluded after a moment’s thought.

“Not exactly a maze,” the Xuanyuan patriarch replied. “It operates on the same principle as the initial illusion formation, but our cultivation levels are too low to break through it. It seems we’ll need the heirloom left by our ancestors to solve this.”

Having lived for centuries, the old ancestor was quick to deduce why they had returned to the same spot.

“Exactly! A true expert could enter any of these nine caves and pass through with the right steps. But since you don’t understand the formation, you can’t grasp the mystery!” Zi Xuan boasted confidently, almost claiming that if he were involved, he could break the formation no matter which door he chose.

Seeing him about to brag again, Tang Wei couldn’t help but cut him off. “It’s fine, Xuanyuan Daoist, you don’t need to understand this. Breaking it is easy! You still have an heirloom, right? Just try it and the formation will break—no need to overthink!”

Zi Xuan knew she was picking on him but could only accept his fate and rubbed his nose good-naturedly. “Yes, yes, yes! It’s simple! Everyone, just imprint the heirloom here, and the formation will naturally break.” He pointed to a qilin mark etched on the opposite cliff face.

The qilin carving was lifelike, as if a living creature rested there. From a distance, it seemed its eyes rolled around.

Hesitant, the Xuanyuan patriarch took out the heirloom and carefully placed it beneath the qilin. His movements betrayed a fear that the qilin might suddenly lower its head and bite him. As the heirloom neared the carving, a bright flash erupted, sending a beam of light to the qilin’s eyes. After a moment, the light dimmed with no sound or further spectacle, as if nothing had happened. Everyone was puzzled.

Was it broken or not? The group exchanged looks, all silently hoping Zi Xuan would explain.

Sure enough, he smiled broadly. “The formation isn’t set here, so you can’t see it. Now you can enter. In my opinion, all nine doors lead inside. Feel free to try.” He took Tang Wei’s hand and casually chose a cave to enter.

After a brief hesitation, the others followed willingly—not because they doubted Zi Xuan, but because with someone leading the way, why risk it alone?

The tunnel was low and narrow, unlike the spacious, bright area outside. The walls were damp and muddy, so narrow that two people side by side might get stuck. No wonder those who came out earlier were filthy. What kind of scene had they encountered inside?

“No wonder we saw a roomy, bright place when we entered, but came out covered in filth. This place is so small and cramped, getting dirty is inevitable. We didn’t even realize it—the formation is truly strange,” someone remarked before Tang Wei could speak.

Zi Xuan chuckled quietly, ignoring the comment, carefully guiding Tang Wei’s hand to avoid the messy spots. Soon they entered a vast cavern, spotting other caves lining the stone walls on both sides.

After about ten minutes, the air grew noticeably damp, and faint spiritual energy wafted in. There was probably a spring nearby. They must be close to their destination. Zi Xuan sensed this, and the others, not fools, understood as well. Their spirits lifted, and without prompting, everyone quickened their pace, eager to press forward as if lagging behind meant losing out.

Ahead, a layer of white mist appeared. Approaching, they discovered the so-called spiritual spring was actually a hot spring. No one rushed to taste the water; instead, they observed it closely. White, translucent crystal fish played in the spring, their bodies clear with a milky spine visible. They looked like ornamental fish carved from crystal, yet their tails swayed naturally, amazing everyone.

Surveying the surroundings, near the spring was a large stone table surrounded by eight stone stools scattered about. Counting them confirmed the rumored connection to the four great families and four major sects. Hearts pounding in anticipation, the group was restless—facing the treasure within reach, trembling with excitement and unable to contain themselves.

Tang Wei, ever observant, spotted a piece of parchment on the ground. She picked it up and read aloud. It was full of archaic phrases but she understood the gist: “Descendants, by the time you read this message, we may have perished. To prevent disputes over the ancestral treasures, we have divided them among eight caves according to each clan and sect. Possessing your clan’s heirloom key will grant you access to your own treasury.”

Following her words, everyone examined the eight treasure doors carved into the cliffs, each labeled with a family or sect name. Naturally, each group’s leader carried their own key, eagerly trying to verify the ancestor’s message. Only Shi Zaitian stood frozen at the entrance, disheartened—after his entire clan was wiped out, what key could he possibly have?

As others happily unlocked their doors and entered to inspect their spoils, Shi Zaitian remained at the threshold, his heart heavy with despair.