With one hand holding up the brick, he examined it carefully again while extending a finger from his other hand. A faint blue light flickered at his fingertip as he gently tapped the surface of the brick. Instantly, a layer of hazy white spiritual light rippled outward like waves.
A smile spread across Han Li’s face, and he nodded in satisfaction.
According to Feng Zhen, this brick was no ordinary object but rather a magical tool similar to a storage pouch. However, it required a specific incantation to open. If brute force were used, the contents inside would immediately turn to ashes.
Naturally, Han Li had obtained the incantation from Feng Zhen before his death. He muttered a low chant, and a ball of blue light containing flickering runes shot from his mouth, striking the brick and enveloping it.
With a swift motion, he formed a hand seal and tapped each corner of the brick with his finger. A soft *pop* sounded as a circular hole appeared on the surface of the brick, dark and unfathomable.
Rather than reaching in recklessly, Han Li tapped the bottom of the brick. A shimmering radiance flickered, and two objects flew out of the hole on their own: a jade slip a few inches in size and a neatly bound stack of ledger-like documents.
With a single motion, he effortlessly caught both items.
After storing the brick away, Han Li ignored the documents and immediately immersed his spiritual sense into the jade slip. Before long, his expression darkened, and his face grew grim.
“What’s wrong? Does it not contain the location of the Feng family’s secret vault?” Great Divinity Sage, noticing Han Li’s expression, couldn’t help but ask.
“No, the address is clearly marked inside,” Han Li replied after withdrawing his spiritual sense, exhaling deeply. Yet, his brows remained furrowed.
“Then why the troubled look? Is the vault’s location dangerous?” The sage, having lived for nearly ten thousand years, quickly deduced the truth.
“There might be some trouble. The Feng family’s secret vault is located deep within the Snow Ridge Mountains,” Han Li sighed, a trace of helplessness in his voice.
“Why would the Feng family build their vault there? Don’t they know that mountain range is notorious for frequent disappearances of cultivators?” Great Divinity Sage sounded equally surprised.
“Who knows? Perhaps the Feng ancestor who chose the location believed the more perilous the place, the safer it would be,” Han Li mused with a wry smile.
“If the Feng family has been using the vault all this time, it shouldn’t be too dangerous. No need to worry excessively,” the sage reassured him calmly.
“Let’s hope so. Now that we have the map, we can’t abandon the mission just because of some unknown risk. If all goes well, we should find the vault within a day,” Han Li said with a self-deprecating chuckle.
He then stored the jade slip and casually picked up the stack of documents, flipping through them briefly before letting out a soft exclamation.
“Huh! These are deeds and proofs of the Feng family’s secular assets! Quite a substantial amount—enough to make them one of the wealthiest families in the region.” Han Li looked genuinely surprised.
“What’s so strange about that? The noble families of the Great Jin Dynasty differ from those of the South Sky in that they see no shame in mingling with the secular world. They often associate with officials and the wealthy, and even rogue cultivators willingly seek their patronage. Though the Great Jin is vast, its mortal population is far denser than in the South Sky, occupying most of the land. Thus, many spiritual herbs and spirit stones aren’t found in desolate areas but are directly controlled by the imperial court. The South Sky, on the other hand, has far fewer mortal settlements, with most of its land being wilderness. Naturally, cultivators there have little reason to interact with mortals,” Great Divinity Sage explained knowingly.
“If that’s the case, wouldn’t the other sects object to the imperial court controlling so many cultivation resources?” Han Li asked skeptically.
“Heh, what can they do? The Great Jin isn’t like the South Sky, fragmented into many nations. It has always been ruled by a powerful central government. Even the most formidable cultivators can’t openly harm mortals without facing backlash—not just from the secular world but also from rival sects eager to exploit any misstep. The current Great Jin court is essentially a compromise among the major cultivation factions. If I recall correctly, these factions have an agreement: no sect may openly pressure the imperial court or force its hand. To maintain the court’s authority, they even allow the government to recruit rogue cultivators. The imperial family can also train a limited number of palace cultivators, though their numbers and strength are closely monitored by the major sects to prevent overreach.”
“Behind the scenes, the major factions vie for secular resources and influence, each currying favor with nobles and high-ranking officials. Regional governors, in particular, often have ties to various sects. To avoid leaving evidence, these dealings are usually handled through noble families. Over time, cultivation families have amassed considerable secular assets, a common practice in the Great Jin. But the fact that these documents were carefully stored here suggests they pertain to cultivation resources—critical for a family’s survival,” Great Divinity Sage elaborated.
Han Li listened intently, stroking his chin in contemplation.
“If these documents are so important, why were they left here? Could it be that the Feng family patriarch foresaw trouble and prepared a contingency?” Han Li speculated.
“Perhaps. But that’s none of our concern. Our priority is finding the Feng family vault and seeing if it contains any Buddhist techniques to dispel the baleful aura within you,” Great Divinity Sage dismissed the matter.
“You’re right,” Han Li chuckled, placing the documents into a jade box before storing it away. After confirming his bearings, he soared into the sky on his artifact, heading straight for the Snow Ridge Mountains.
—
Meanwhile, deep within the Snow Ridge Mountains, in an underground tomb chamber, two figures shrouded in green mist knelt motionlessly before three stone coffins. Suddenly, two streaks of green light shot out from the central coffin, vanishing into the heads of the kneeling figures.
“Go. Kill that man and retrieve the treasure,” a cold male voice echoed from the coffin.
Without hesitation, the two figures transformed into streaks of green light, circling the chamber before vanishing.
“Good. I’ve imprinted the appearance of the thief who stole the Vajra into my avatars. Combined with the lingering trace of my son’s aura in the Vajra Shield, as long as he hasn’t fled beyond Guanning Prefecture, he won’t escape.”
“Th-thank you… Father!” a stuttering, joyful voice came from one of the side coffins.
“Hmph! This time, I’ll let it slide. But don’t act recklessly again,” the central coffin’s occupant warned sternly.
“Y-yes… I won’t!” the stuttering voice replied fearfully.
Silence returned to the central coffin. After the time it takes to eat a meal, a loud *bang* resounded as the coffin’s lid flew open. A gaunt, crowned figure abruptly sat up.
“My King, what are you—?” a sweet female voice called out in surprise from another coffin.
“The time is right. Today marks the eruption of the earth’s Yin energy. My cultivation won’t weaken significantly if I leave the tomb temporarily. I’ll assist General Ge in dealing with a troublesome figure from another noble family. Seal all tomb restrictions after I depart. Let no outsiders intrude,” the man declared, his eyes glowing red and his expression eerily blank.
“As you command, my King. Please take care,” the woman replied hesitantly.
“Fear not, my consort. I shall return within two days and one night. After that, I won’t leave so easily again.” With a nod, the man lifted a leg and vanished from the coffin in a ghostly blur.
His figure flickered indistinctly before dissolving into a wisp of gray mist, disappearing without a trace.
Not long after, the tomb fell silent once more, save for the woman’s deep sigh.
—
By the time Han Li reached the Snow Ridge Mountains again, dawn was breaking. Without hesitation, he plunged into the mountain range, flying low on his artifact.
To avoid attracting trouble, he suppressed his aura entirely, extending his spiritual sense only a few miles outward to monitor his surroundings.
The Feng family vault wasn’t located at the heart of the mountains but in a secluded spot near the outskirts.
After a day of searching, Han Li finally discovered an inconspicuous peak with a towering waterfall hundreds of feet high. The scenery matched the jade slip’s description perfectly, easing his tension.
Gazing at the cascading silver torrent, Han Li hovered mid-air and formed a water-repelling seal. With a flick of his wrists, two streaks of blue light shot into the waterfall.
A dull rumble echoed as a hole several feet wide appeared in the waterfall’s curtain. Without hesitation, Han Li urged his artifact forward and flew inside. The hole sealed shut behind him, leaving the waterfall undisturbed.
Unbeknownst to him, the moment he entered, two green-clad figures hundreds of miles away suddenly lost their target. Enraged, they circled aimlessly, baring black fangs and growling like savage beasts.
But they were unaware that, several miles behind them, two hidden figures watched coldly, whispering to each other in hushed tones.
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