CHAPTER 22
The Treasure Hall
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It must be said that with Xu Zhanfeng present, even the demonic creatures dared not approach Ye Qinghan.
Since Ye Qinghan had arrived earlier and moved swiftly, he hadn't encountered any cultivators along the way.
Those he did see were corpses; Ye Qinghan hadn't encountered a single living soul.
But on the return journey to the Treasure Hall beyond the entrance, the path was different.
Corpses of cultivators littered the ground everywhere, though this was a scene Ye Qinghan had anticipated.
Beasts masquerading as humans had raised their blades and swords, summoned their magical artifacts, all for the sake of heavenly treasures.
Of course, Ye Qinghan was no exception. While the demonic creatures feared Xu Zhanfeng's formidable cultivation, humans did not.
Humans were a bold species. Demons might hesitate, but some humans dared.
But clearly, they couldn't even get past Xu Zhanfeng.
Ye Qinghan accepted the rare treasures and storage rings Xu Zhanfeng offered without a second thought. He never worried about having too many of these items—the more, the better.
But if it were gold or something that could be sold for cash, that would be even better—Master would surely be delighted!
Compared to rare treasures and precious herbs that only she could use, she preferred items that would bring her master joy.
But truthfully, Ye Qinghan had never seen her master show interest in anything beyond disciples and money.
In the past, he hadn't even shown much interest in his disciples…
In this labyrinthine secret realm, with Xu Zhanfeng leading the way, Ye Qinghan could indeed avoid many detours.
Soon, Ye Qinghan found herself back at the forest where they had started, though this time emerging from a different cave entrance.
Guided by Xu Zhanfeng, she approached the seal guarding the Treasure Hall. Ye Qinghan smiled—Xu Zhanfeng hadn't lied.
Ye Qinghan wasn't skilled in array formations or barriers, but with Xu Zhanfeng by his side, he didn't even need to stop. Before Ye Qinghan could catch up, the barrier had already been dissolved…
"Those two ferocious beasts…"
Xu Zhanfeng spoke honestly. Though those two ferocious beasts weren't particularly powerful, they were still ferocious beasts—ordinary cultivators simply couldn't handle them!
"With your Nascent Soul cultivation, you can't handle a mere pair of ferocious beasts?"
Ye Qinghan wasn't so much surprised as skeptical. Most dangers arrived right before victory.
Ye Qinghan never forgot his master's teachings—always play it safe.
It wasn't that he feared death, but rather that he couldn't bring shame upon his master. If his master saw him in such a sorry state, she'd be so heartbroken she wouldn't be able to sleep at night!
"Madam, you may not know this, but though that fellow attained enlightenment and ascended to immortality, he had no children. He sought an heir to carry on his legacy."
"That's why he specifically left behind two ferocious beasts to guard the gate and screen suitable successors."
"He personally selected these beasts. Whatever cultivation level the challenger possesses, the beast will match it."
"But as everyone knows, how could a human possibly match a ferocious beast of equal cultivation level?"
"If I were to enter, I fear I too would be no match for two Nascent Soul-stage beasts."
Xu Zhanfeng, desperate to survive, dared not conceal the truth. This old lady was ruthless, striking with lethal force at the slightest provocation—he dared not cross her.
Xu Zhanfeng had no idea if he could slay the beasts, but as long as this lady had a breath left, she could certainly finish him off!
Upon hearing this, Ye Qinghan chuckled. Wasn't this a perfect match?
A master without cultivation could still cleave through thunder tribulations with a sword!
A Foundation Establishment disciple single-handedly slays a Nascent Soul!
Though she herself was only at Foundation Establishment, Ye Qinghan truly didn't believe any other Foundation Establishment cultivator could surpass her!
Taking on two?
Think you can look down on Lingfrost Hall?
If the neighboring spellcasters saw this, they'd think our Lingfrost Hall couldn't hold our own!
I'll take on ten of them!
"You call these ferocious beasts? What's so ferocious about them?"
Ye Qinghan stood at the doorway, observing the two so-called ferocious beasts huddled before the Treasure Hall. They looked no different from mountain mongrels—nothing particularly remarkable…
Xu Zhanfeng looked utterly bewildered. Huh?
"The First Lady sure has a sense of humor. That thing may be motionless now, but if it steps into the Treasure Hall's domain…"
"Then what?"
Ye Qinghan looked at him with disdain. He couldn't believe Xu Zhanfeng, who had nearly ascended to immortality, was so cowardly and afraid of death.
Xu Zhanfeng naturally sensed this. Was he unwilling to put on a good show?
Could anyone blame him?
Back when he was at the Great Perfection stage, facing two Nascent Soul beasts wouldn't have fazed him.
But now he was merely at the Nascent Soul stage!
Facing even one ferocious beast of equal cultivation would require every ounce of his strength—how could he possibly handle two?
"They're nothing but mindless beasts. Wait here."
No sooner had Ye Qinghan spoken than a figure shot into the distance beside him.
Huh?
Someone actually volunteered for this job?
"Miss Chenmeng, such hesitation—could it be fear?"
"If you are afraid, then go back to your master. You left home before you were even weaned—how could your master possibly feel at ease?"
Dongfang Jue watched as the treasure hall's doors sealed shut with a barrier. Seeing Ye Qinghan and the others standing outside, he couldn't resist a bit of mockery.
"Sister Qinghan, how dare this guy!"
Shiyao clenched her tiny fists, her face flushed with indignation, as if someone had snatched her steamed bun.
"Never mind. This is a secret realm. Even if she has the guts to snatch our master's belongings, she'd better have the guts to carry them out alive, right?"
Xu Zhanfeng listened silently, his half-exposed mouth murmuring faintly, "Master's… things?"
If this young lady was already so incredibly powerful, what kind of terrifying force must her master be?
Judging by this young lady's demeanor, she held both reverence and fear toward her master. Even within this secret realm, she referred to the items as her master's treasures, showing no hint of claiming them as her own!
This alone showed how unfathomably deep her master's power must be!
"So you mean we should wait here?"
Ye Qinghan merely chuckled softly before retrieving the Fallen Immortal Ruler from her jade pendant and tossing it lightly into the sky.
In an instant, half the secret realm was enveloped by the Fallen Immortal Ruler. Xu Zhanfeng, who had once been on the verge of ascending to immortality at the Great Perfection realm, sensed it in the blink of an eye…
Damn it!
Another top-tier immortal-grade artifact!
Within the Fallen Immortal Ruler's domain, escape held only two paths: slay Ye Qinghan, or neutralize it with an equally potent spatial artifact—or shatter the ruler itself.
"Sis Qinghan, what is this?"
"I stole it from Master. I don't know its name either, but with this, even if Dongfang Jue took Master's treasures, he'd never escape the barrier this artifact casts!"
"But won't your master beat you again when she finds out?"
"Master used this very thing to spank me, which is precisely why I stole it."
Xu Zhanfeng had noticed along the way that this Second Grandma wasn't quite right in the head. But since the First Grandma claimed she was her sworn sister, Xu Zhanfeng naturally dared not say anything.
Even if Second Grandma wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, she was still Second Grandma!
What if Second Madam was just as cunningly hidden as First Madam?
Xu Zhanfeng couldn't afford the consequences of saying the wrong thing!
"This ruler looks quite extraordinary. Since it's my sister-master's treasure, could it be a Heavenly Grade artifact?"
Xu Zhanfeng was dumbfounded. Second Grandma truly had eyes like a torch—what keen insight!
"Certainly not. If it were a Heavenly Grade treasure, Master would have locked it away in a treasure chest. How could Sister have gotten her hands on it?"
Xu Zhanfeng felt even more bewildered. Was the First Lady treating him like a fool too? Or were these two playing some kind of cryptic game?
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