Chapter 71
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Chapter 71: Unexpected Encounter
“It’s you!” Ye Yun’s heart surged with joy. This fiery red crystal was clearly the source of the fiery hall. If he could seize or destroy it, the flames would vanish.
He gritted his teeth against the scorching heat and thrust the Obsidian Sword forward.
*Clang!*
The sword struck the fiery red crystal. Ye Yun pushed the blade deeper, then jerked it upward, hoping to dislodge the crystal and extinguish the flames.
But a violent recoil shot through the Obsidian Sword, numbing his entire right arm. His fingers trembled, nearly losing grip.
“What’s happening?!”
Sweat dripped down his back as the numbness spread to half his body. If he didn’t let go, he’d lose control entirely. Even now, his sluggish movements made dodging the raining firestones almost impossible.
*The first layer of the Hualun Secret Vault is this deadly? What horrors lie deeper?*
He had to choose: release the sword or fight while he still could.
*Life or death—now.*
Ye Yun wasn’t a coward. His low-key life in the servant disciple outer court was just survival tactics. But survival meant acting when it mattered. Letting go now meant no second chance. One slip against the firestones, and he’d be ash.
*Never let go.*
Without hesitation, he switched hands, channeling every drop of spiritual power into the Obsidian Sword. With a roar, he heaved upward.
*Clang!*
The crystal tore free, rocketing toward the ceiling.
*Crack!*
The hall shuddered, walls splintering as flames roared. Ye Yun’s energy was spent, yet no exit was in sight. The volcanic crater crumbled, flames blasting cracks into the walls.
Smoke and debris choked the air. Ye Yun leapt, sword shadows swirling to shield him as he lunged for the falling crystal.
*Grab it—or die.*
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Firestones hammered his defenses. Each impact rattled his bones. Blood sprayed from his lips, vaporizing midair.
The crystal seared his palm like molten iron, but he clung tighter, crashing to the ground.
“BREAK!”
He funneled his remaining spiritual power into the crystal. Suddenly, its heat softened. The burning coal became warm jade, pulsing gently in his grip.
At the same time, the raging flames filling the sky suddenly froze before vanishing completely, disappearing as if they’d never existed.
Ye Yun stared blankly at the transformed scene. Not only had the fiery world vanished, but even the luxurious hall he’d first entered had disappeared without a trace.
What met his eyes was a dark stone chamber – empty and bare, containing almost no furnishings. Only a night pearl hung from the ceiling, casting a gentle glow.
"Such an incredible spatial array! This empty stone chamber must be its true form." Ye Yun gazed at the softly lit space, newfound reverence swelling in his heart as he recalled recent events.
Though awestruck, Ye Yun began searching for exits and potential treasures. He clearly remembered Yang Qingfeng’s words: any treasures obtained in the first layer became the finder’s property. Even without this declaration, Ye Yun wouldn’t surrender life-risked gains to the Heavenly Sword Sect.
The chamber’s emptiness made inspection easy. Within moments, Ye Yun spotted a box against the wall.
Its material defied identification – neither stone nor wood, nor any recognizable metal or crystal.
Ye Yun’s breath quickened. If the first layer held treasures, they must be inside this box.
Lifting the lid gently, he discovered a purple crystal emitting faint greenish wisps of light.
When Ye Yun grasped the crystal, mild numbness tingled his palm – reminiscent of touching the fiery red crystal with his Obsidian Sword, but vastly weaker and harmless.
"What’s this?" He examined the crystal closely. Attempting to channel spiritual power into it yielded no response, like throwing clay into the ocean.
Though unfamiliar, Ye Yun knew this crystal must be valuable – stored in this strange box by Hualun’s Secret Vault master, a Golden Pill cultivator.
Storing both box and crystal in his storage pouch, Ye Yun scanned the walls for exits.
As the box disappeared, a thin crack split the stone wall, rapidly widening into an arched doorway.
"Did I clear the first layer?" Shock gave way to exhilaration. Accessing the second layer meant facing a Golden Pill master’s deeper treasures.
Yet hesitation struck as he prepared to step through. The first layer’s lethal flames nearly killed him. What horrors awaited in the second? Perhaps only Qi refining stage disciples could survive.
But retreating after nearly dying for an unknown crystal? Unthinkable.
Crossing threshold or not?
After a tense breath, Ye Yun decisively stepped through the archway. The stone wall sealed behind him, vanishing completely.
"Is this the second layer?" He surveyed the dim, empty space.
A sudden breathing sound came from his left.
"Who’s there?" Ye Yun whirled toward the noise.
A petite figure emerged from shadows – clearly female.
"Eh? Are you a Heavenly Sword outer disciple? How’d you get here?" A girlish voice chimed with surprise.
The slender figure rushed closer, revealing youthful features hinting at future beauty.
"You?!" The girl in mint-green robes halted abruptly.
Ye Yun blinked in recognition – Su Ling, one of the girls present during his confrontation with Qin Qianhan’s Enforcement Team after defeating Liu Yu in the servant disciple outer court.
"Junior Sister Su Ling! Why are you in this tomb?"
"Who’s your junior? I entered first – call me Senior Sister!" She pouted.
Ye Yun chuckled. "Alright, Senior Sister Su Ling. Are you here to crack the first layer’s formation?"
The girl grinned conspiratorially. "I sneaked in but got trapped!"
"Have you reached Qi refining stage? Can you enter the second layer directly?"
Su Ling tilted her head. "Who said this is the second layer? This is first layer territory. I’m still preparing for Qi refining."
"First layer?" Ye Yun’s face darkened.
"Of course! I got teleported here upon entering." Su Ling nodded firmly.
