Chapter 287: Searching for Treasures

After reaching an agreement with Xiao Tianchi, the two left the room together. One went to gather his disciples, while the other used the transportation portal to reach Jiaoyi City to discuss the situation with Yun Lan.
The answer came as no surprise—Yun Lan was willing to make the trip to Qingmei Mountain. After instructing Liu Hua and Wu Guang to wait in Jiaoyi City for a while, the two returned to Qiufeng City. Shortly after leaving the storage room, You Qinxang and Xia Fan hurried in from the courtyard entrance.
“Brother Lin!” Seeing Lin Dong, You Qinxang’s face lit up with joy as she couldn’t help but call out.
Yun Lan frowned slightly. Why did the phrase “Brother Lin” sound more natural with each repetition?
When You Qinxang and the others approached, Lin Dong asked with a smile, “Are you ready?”
You Qinxang nodded firmly, her expression resolute as if ready to face death. “I really wish I could fly to Xingli Sect right now.”
“Yes! It’s been so long—we don’t know how the sect master and the elders are doing,” Xia Fan said worriedly, nodding.
“Don’t worry!” Lin Dong smiled. “If the news is correct, Sect Master You and the others are safe. First, Qian Changjian hasn’t managed to uncover the secret room of the treasure vault yet. Second, they’re deeply involved in battles with the Ningji Sect and can’t afford to be distracted. Sect Master You and the others can be a valuable help.”
“Brother Lin, thank you…” You Qinxang bit her lip, not knowing what to say. Though an ordinary person with considerable strength, he was willing to risk his life just to get to know her briefly and intervene in sect conflicts. Her gratitude was so profound that she couldn’t find the right words to express it.
“Why thank me? Just send me a few spiritual artifacts when you have time,” Lin Dong said with a smile, waving his hand.
You Qinxang’s eyes lit up as she nodded eagerly. She had been unsure how to thank him, yet hadn’t thought to create some spiritual artifacts herself.
“Is there anything else to do?” Lin Dong asked. “If not, let’s set off now. Sect Master Xiao and the others should have everything ready too.”
The two nodded quickly.
Lin Dong and Xia Fan led two fast horses from the stables each. The four of them mounted their horses and left through the back courtyard, racing toward the outskirts of the city.
After leaving the city gates, they rode straight for about five or six li before Lin Dong heard a shout: “Dad!”
Turning around, he saw Xiao Tianchi and Tian Hao standing tall like pine trees beside the road.
“Sect Master Xiao, is everything ready?” Lin Dong asked loudly.
Xiao Tianchi nodded, channeling spiritual energy into his throat as he replied slowly, “Everything is ready.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Lin Dong said with a smile.

Xiao Tianchi also smiled, turned back, and gave a call. With the sound of rolling hooves, five hundred riders emerged silently from the small forest. Xiao Tianchi and Tian Hao mounted their horses and rushed along the main road, stopping beside Lin Dong.

In his entire life, Lin Dong had never led a group of over five hundred people. At most, he had led a group of over a hundred hooligans when opening an inn in Autumn Wind City for promotion. Let alone these five hundred people, all of whom were martial artists at the Mental Energy stage.

This group was equivalent to tens of thousands of troops.

Glancing at the Gu Huan Sect disciples who were holding their horses and concentrating, Lin Dong felt a surge of courage. Ignoring whether it might lower Xiao Tianchi’s prestige among those disciples, he pulled hard on the reins and waved his hand: “Let’s go!”

He kicked his legs, and his fierce horse let out a long cry before its strong limbs propelled it forward like an arrow, shooting out swiftly.

Yun Lan smiled calmly and rode after them closely.

Watching their retreating figures, You Yin Xiang felt confused until the sound of hooves behind her woke her from her daze.

On the road from Autumn Wind City to Qingmei Mountain, a dust cloud stretching a thousand meters rose instantly.

Five hundred people, five hundred riders—like tigers descending from the mountains or roaring floods—they created a stunning scene on the road, shocking all passersby as they advanced rapidly.

It only took three and a half days for them to reach the foot of Qingmei Mountain.

After hiding their horses and contacting the disciples stationed there, the group split into numerous small teams and continued to infiltrate the mountain.

In the middle of the night, they gathered in a lush forest ten miles outside the Xingli Sect.

After settling the horses and ensuring defense and concealment, Lin Dong, Yun Lan, and Xiao Tianchi slipped out of the forest.

Originally, upon learning that the three planned to enter the Xingli Sect alone, You Yin Xiang insisted on joining them. Having someone familiar with the area would indeed be more convenient. But since this mission also involved taking advantage of the situation to seize the secular treasures of the Xingli Sect, Lin Dong naturally refused. After much persuasion, using the fact that all three were skilled in mechanical spirit arrays, Xiao Tianchi already having to protect two people, and the added risk of being discovered, they finally managed to calm her down.

Under normal circumstances, with Xiao Tianchi’s strength, it would be possible to infiltrate the Xingli Sect unnoticed. Even Lin Dong, with his Mysterious Step, wasn’t entirely incapable of doing so. But now, with powerful enemies around, the Xingli Sect couldn’t afford to waste any spirit stones. All kinds of spirit arrays, both outside and inside the sect, had been activated.

Fortunately, with Yun Lan, a seventh-tier spirit array master, around, the Xingli Sect was not a sect specialized in spirit arrays. All the spirit arrays in the sect were arranged with the help of spirit array masters. Both inside and outside, aside from the treasure hall, the strongest spirit arrays were only fourth-tier. For Yun Lan, a fourth-tier spirit array was something she could easily break with ease. Utilizing the spiritual energy mist released by Yun Lan, the three of them avoided the patrols of the Xingli Sect’s guards and disciples, breaking through each array they encountered along the way, then moving forward toward the Xingli Sect’s treasure hall as guided by the Wanderer Incense. Eventually, when night dew covered the grass and mist lingered in the air, the three of them found a tall stone building. On the front of the building, a huge plaque with blue background and black characters reading “Treasure Hall” confirmed their guess. They had arrived at their destination. Unlike the Ningji Sect’s treasure hall, there were no spirit arrays or traps outside the Xingli Sect’s treasure hall. Perhaps due to the severe losses suffered by the Xingli Sect, there were not many disciples responsible for defense and patrols. They easily infiltrated the treasure hall. Like the Ningji Sect’s, the Xingli Sect’s treasure hall also had multiple floors. The difference was that each floor of the Xingli Sect’s treasure hall was empty, with only four thick stone walls. “It must be a combination of a fourth-tier illusion array and a fourth-tier fierce power array!” Yun Lan said calmly. “Spirit arrays can be combined?” Lin Dong was quite surprised. Yun Lan nodded slowly. “Some spirit arrays don’t exclude each other. When combined, their power is more than ten times greater than when used separately. Arrays like the illusion array and the fierce power array—one for illusions and the other for killing—combined together have a power second only to sixth-tier spirit arrays. Plus, forcefully breaking through the arrays triggers a strong reaction, serving as a warning. Given the Xingli Sect’s conditions, unless they have a very close relationship with another spirit array sect, I guess all the arrays upstairs are also combinations of this kind.” Lin Dong nodded. A spirit array combination slightly inferior to sixth-tier arrays was already the limit that lower-to-mid-tier sects could obtain. These sects couldn’t afford more advanced arrays. Meanwhile, Xiao Tianchi, who had been crouched on the ground examining things, stood up and said, “There are no secret rooms below. There seems to be only one trap in the stone chamber; it shouldn’t be difficult.” Yun Lan nodded. She trusted Xiao Tianchi’s ability when it came to traps. After pondering for a moment, she said, “I’ll break through the array first. It should take about an hour. Once you hear my signal, Sect Master Xiao, find a way to disable the trap.” “Okay!” Xiao Tianchi nodded firmly. Yun Lan turned her wrist, and the Blue Chen Sword appeared in her palm. Then, she flew swiftly toward the center of the stone chamber.

Halfway through, seemingly encountering some resistance, the Blue Dawn Sword slowed down in its advance. Only after reaching the center did it regain speed, transforming into a blue light sword that flew and circled continuously within the stone chamber.

Xiao Tianchi’s gaze wandered, appearing somewhat indifferent. In truth, however, he was deeply shocked.

Months earlier, Xiao Tianchi had learned Yun Lan’s name from Tian Hao, and it was easy to deduce her identity from her surname. This should have been a grave violation of rules, but Xiao Tianchi still gritted his teeth and subtly hinted that he already knew Yun Lan’s identity, hoping to take a chance at establishing some connection with her.

Just having a connection with Yun Lan—let alone her backing forces—would be of great benefit to the Gu Huan Sect, given her own strength alone.

Undoubtedly, Xiao Tianchi’s gamble paid off. Considering the relationship between the Gu Huan Sect and Lin Dong, Yun Lan pretended to be confused and had no intention of killing him to silence him.

Xiao Tianchi was well aware of this and was wise enough not to make things clearer.

Originally, he thought he could remain calm in the face of Yun Lan, the future head of a major sect. But after witnessing a ninth-tier spiritual technique that even some major sects could hardly obtain, he realized he felt extremely honored, even thinking that seeing such a technique made his life worthwhile.

His previous composure was merely because he hadn’t truly seen Yun Lan’s absolute strength.

As Xiao Tianchi pondered what level of strength Tian Hao would reach by Yun Lan’s age, a clear and pleasant voice suddenly rang out: “Sect Master Xiao, get ready.”

Xiao Tianchi’s body trembled slightly as his gaze sharpened. Instantly, over twenty red, lower-tier pills appeared in his hands.

“Break!”

As Xiao Tianchi tensed up, Yun Lan gave another soft command.

Without hesitation, he swung his palms, firing the red pills like bullets at the stone walls on either side.

In an instant, Lin Dong, who could only watch, heard continuous thudding sounds. The red pills embedded themselves in the stone walls like lead balls shot into mud, forming strange patterns—one resembling a tiger on the left and a wolf on the right, complementing each other.

Bang!

Almost as soon as the last pill was fired into the wall, the speeding Blue Dawn Sword seemed to strike something, producing a crisp sound that caused waves of blurred energy to ripple throughout the stone chamber.

As the waves subsided, a scene that made Lin Dong unable to help but laugh came into view.

On dozens of neatly arranged large bookshelves, antiques, jades, pearls, paintings, and calligraphy are categorized, making storage extremely convenient and simple. Moreover, a small note is attached beneath each of these treasures, presumably explaining their origin and value. Packing them away also eliminates the hassle of finding someone to appraise them. The service provided by Xingli Zong is truly thoughtful and thorough.