I was just making up techniques… how did all of you become Emperors? Chapter 573: Heavenly Zen Mountain, Nine Star Secret Treasury
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Chapter 573: Heavenly Zen Mountain, Nine Star Secret Treasury
"I never imagined the Black Demon Eighteen Thieves would possess such wealth; their riches actually surpass mine, despite my status as the eldest grandson of an Imperial Dynasty."
Upon inspecting the contents of the two storage rings, Shi Xuan offered a sigh of genuine emotion and a faint smile.
"Master, you aren't joking, are you?"
Liang Yi questioned him, his expression reflecting utter shock.
"These are for you; utilize these resources for your own Cultivation."
With a casual flick of his wrist, Shi Xuan sent one of the storage rings flying toward Liang Yi.
"Thank you, Master."
The moment he caught the storage ring, Liang Yi instinctively extended his spiritual sense to probe the interior.
Hiss...
He sucked in a cold breath; this individual was staggeringly wealthy. Even a century of diligent effort might not yield such a vast collection of treasures.
Shi Xuan whispered to himself, "My master once said: Murder and arson bring a golden belt, while building bridges and repairing roads leaves no corpse for burial. That is indeed correct."
"Master, so should we listen to the Grandmaster?"
Still lightheaded from the sheer volume of treasure within the storage ring, Liang Yi blurted out the question without thinking.
Bam!
Shi Xuan struck Liang Yi across the head, remarking with displeasure, "We are practitioners from the Holy Land, and in the future, we will even serve as disciples of a Sage. How could we possibly stoop to such actions?"
"Then what should we do?"
Liang Yi massaged his head. His Master was right; they were Cultivators with a prestigious lineage. To mimic the behavior of the Eighteen Thieves, who were nothing more than bandit Cultivators, would be utterly beneath them.
Shi Xuan grinned and explained, "Naturally, we shall perform deeds of chivalry and claim that ill-gotten wealth for ourselves. In doing so, we first purge a plague from the Profound Continent, and secondly, we provide a measure of justice for the innocent souls who perished by their hands."
"Brilliant, truly brilliant."
Liang Yi raised a thumb in admiration of his master. "Master, where is our next destination?"
"There is no hurry. Within the storage rings of these Eighteen Thieves lies a secret key of a type I have never encountered. I wonder what treasures might be revealed once this key is triggered."
While speaking, Shi Xuan retrieved an ancient golden key from the storage ring, its surface intricately carved with mysterious inscriptions.
He immediately funneled his spiritual sense into the object, and shortly after, the key began to radiate a soft glow.
As a map manifested within Shi Xuan's sea of consciousness, he simultaneously sensed the presence of another secret key located several hundred miles away.
Directing his spiritual sense toward that location, he instantly spotted Jin Xi and her companions.
"So, it was for this reason that those individuals were hunted by the Black Demon Eighteen Thieves."
"Master, what are you saying?"
Hearing his master’s quiet mutterings, Liang Yi could not help but ask out of curiosity.
Shi Xuan shared his hypothesis with his disciple, who wore a look of sudden clarity upon hearing the explanation.
"Then Master, are we heading toward that treasure now?"
"Since we have already arrived, why would we not?"
Shi Xuan replied, taking flight toward the coordinates marked on the spiritual map.
The treasure was less than ten thousand miles away. Within fifteen minutes, the pair reached the base of a towering, magnificent mountain.
"Master, this mountain feels very peculiar; it fills me with a sense of dread."
As he spoke, Liang Yi involuntarily edged closer to Shi Xuan.
Gazing at the peak before them, Shi Xuan whispered, "This is the Heavenly Zen Mountain. Long ago, numerous powerful experts ascended to the Heavenly Realm from this spot, naturally imprinting the mountain with Imperial Might. Even a lingering trace is enough to inspire awe in the heart."
"Can a place like this truly contain treasure?"
Liang Yi questioned, feeling somewhat hesitant.
Shi Xuan chuckled. "Whether it exists or not, we will find out when the others arrive. For now, let us locate a secluded spot to cultivate. I suspect more people will be arriving shortly."
"Yes."
Liang Yi answered with respect.
Once they entered the grounds of Heavenly Zen Mountain, the master and disciple discovered a vacant cave and began to cultivate in silence.
The days drifted by.
Three days later, Shi Xuan detected the arrival of multiple groups at the mountain’s base.
Rather than heading out to investigate, he remained in the cave, waiting patiently.
Before long, the echoes of combat reached them.
The violent sounds of battle caused Liang Yi to jump.
"Damn it, Master, people have arrived."
Shi Xuan replied calmly, "I have instructed you many times to remain composed when facing any situation. Do not be so impulsive."
"Your disciple has learned his lesson."
Liang Yi was itching to go outside and witness the chaos.
However, seeing his master sitting as motionless as a meditating monk, he abandoned the thought and sat back down obediently at his side.
Half a day passed before the sounds of conflict outside finally ceased.
A booming voice then echoed from outside their cave: "Fellow Daoist, have the two of you seen enough of this show?"
Upon hearing the voice, Liang Yi remained silent, turning his eyes toward his master.
He was eager to see how his master would respond.
Without even opening his eyes, Shi Xuan said with a faint smile, "Fellow Daoist is at least polite. Tell me, what is your intention?"
Standing outside the cave was a towering man with a massive blade resting on his shoulder. He declared, "Fellow Daoist, surrender the secret key you hold, and I, Qian Jundao, will spare you. Otherwise, you will end up as corpses, just like those miserable fools at the bottom of the mountain."
"Oh, is that so?"
Shi Xuan smiled. "I do not believe you."
"Fellow Daoist, are you trying to provoke me?"
Though Qian Jundao was built like a giant and seemed like a simple brute, he actually possessed a mind as sharp as a needle.
He had already scanned the cave with his spiritual sense before approaching.
Realizing he could not gauge the depth of the man in the bronze mask, he had hesitated to immediately resort to murder for the treasure.
"Provoking you? You aren't worth the effort."
Shi Xuan still did not bother to open his eyes.
The moment those words were uttered, the air grew thick with killing intent.
Liang Yi watched his master with anticipation, wondering how many strikes it would take for the man outside to be defeated.
Just as Qian Jundao was reaching his breaking point, a shocked voice cried out from the distance.
"Senior Sister Jin, come quickly! There are bodies here."
As the shout rang out, Qian Jundao immediately suppressed his aura.
He shifted his gaze toward the source of the noise.
A group of young Cultivators was descending from the sky, led by a woman of exceptional beauty.
The newcomers were none other than Jin Xi and her party.
Catching sight of the man who stood like a small mountain in the distance, they instinctively gripped their weapons.
Jin Xi signaled for them to wait. "I am Jin Xi, a disciple of the Sacred Dao Academy of the Northern Abyss Holy Dynasty. May I ask how to address Fellow Daoist?"
"So you are a Fellow Daoist from the Sacred Dao Academy."
Maintaining his guard, Qian Jundao smiled. "I am but a loose cultivator, Qian Jundao."
"Are you the same Qian Jundao who shakes the Northern Sea?"
One of the Sacred Dao Academy disciples asked, his face full of surprise.
Qian Jundao laughed. "You flatter me. Those are merely the exaggerations of famous figures. I am a simple Rearing Spirit cultivator; how could I possibly shake the Northern Sea?"
"Have you Fellow Daoists also come seeking the Nine Star Secret Treasury?"
"That is correct," Jin Xi replied.
She continued, "It appears Fellow Daoist also possesses a secret key. However, I have heard that nine keys are required to unlock the Nine Star Secret Treasury."
"I wonder where the rest of them might be?"
Qian Jundao stated, "I have two in my possession. I wonder how many you Fellow Daoists are holding?"