Chapter 705

Chapter 705: Exploring the Treasure Vault

The Two Demon Kings believed the altar to be a Ninth-Rank Treasure after witnessing the tiny humanoid formed by the Wonderful Bodhi Tree’s transformation, mistakenly assuming it to be an item spirit.

Initially harboring secret resentments against Fang Lie, both scoundrels immediately became docile upon sensing the Ninth-Rank Treasure’s presence, abandoning all thoughts of rebellion.

Though fraught with danger, the Dragon Palace Deadly Area continued attracting desperate scoundrels wielding Ninth-Rank Treasures – rogue cultivators and stubborn old men who’d obtained such treasures through chance encounters, unbound by sect restrictions.

Ninth-Rank Treasures remained the mortal world’s ultimate artifacts, scarce in number. While not every expedition brought such treasures, desperate wielders would occasionally emerge.

True to their reputation, Ninth-Rank Treasures rarely failed their bearers. The deadly area normally claimed ninety percent of lives, yet ninety percent of treasure-wielding Cultivators survived – few Ninth-Rank bearers perished here.

Still, no treasure guaranteed absolute safety. Thus sects strictly forbade bringing inherited Ninth-Rank Treasures into this perilous zone.

Uncertain of the Two Demon Kings’ intentions, Fang Lie employed concealment for general precaution rather than specific suspicion, simultaneously masking himself from other observers.

Fang Lie’s focus now fully shifted to the Secret Vault.

Dozens of clones gasped in unison upon entry. Through shared vision, Fang Lie’s main body witnessed stacks of metal ingots – all Eighth-Rank materials at minimum. Qing Steel, Ink Steel, Flying Rainbow Steel, and five other varieties filled the chamber, all artificially forged through the Dragon Clan’s secret methods.

These materials produced durable, spirit-friendly treasures. Properly nurtured, they could reach Seventh-Rank in Hundred Years and Eighth-Rank in millennia. Their fatal flaw – inability to reach Ninth-Rank – limited them to junior officers’ equipment.

Even so, these materials represented supreme quality. With Eighth-Rank Treasures now rare, their value soared dramatically.

The Dragon Clan’s disappearance left these forging techniques lost. Excepting Dragon Palace stores, these materials had vanished from the world for millennia.

Fang Lie discovered eight varieties, each comprising over a hundred ingots measuring three feet long and five inches thick. Density variations proved astonishing – Flying Rainbow Steel ingots weighed mere ounces, while Ink Steel counterparts reached thousands of pounds.

After brief examination, the clones swiftly collected everything.

Opened containers revealed Ninth-Rank materials: precious minerals, rare spirit wood, and remains of Tenth-Rank Great Demons. Valuable in ancient times, these now represented incalculable worth.

Fang Lie estimated sufficient materials for thousands of treasures or even a modest flying vessel. He emptied every container, claiming even Fifth/Sixth-Rank spirit wood boxes for their spirit stone value.

As clones turned to leave, the old bird’s voice rang out: "Fools! Leaving already?"

The clones froze. "We cleared everything!" the main body protested.

"Cleared nothing! Since when did ancient folk protect mere Ninth-Rank materials with an Immortal seal?" the old bird retorted. "Only Tenth-Rank Immortal materials warrant Void Annihilation Seals!"

Realization struck. "Secret passage!" Fang Lie ordered wall inspections. Clones prodded every surface, leaving countless finger holes but finding nothing.

"Check underground!" Fang Lie commanded. Dozens of clones dropped to their knees, meticulously probing the floor.

They turned over almost every floor tile but still found nothing.

Fang Lie scratched his head and smiled bitterly at the old bird, "Bird Bro, did you make a mistake? We’ve checked everywhere and found nothing. I truly think there’s no secret room here."

"You’re a real idiot!" the old bird scolded in frustration. "A room has six sides—you only checked five before claiming you searched everything? How dense can you be? Who taught you to count?"

Fang Lie’s face flushed red. Without another word, he directed his clones to inspect the ceiling.

Soon, they noticed something unusual: the ceiling was made of long jade-like slabs. One appeared to be jade but was actually metal in disguise.

Fang Lie’s face reddened again. "Heh, Bird Bro, you were spot-on. We found the hidden chamber, but it’s sealed. How do we open it?"

"Don’t open it—dig it out. It’s likely a large vault," the old bird said. "Probably nothing valuable inside."

"Oh? How do you know?" Fang Lie asked, puzzled.

"Obviously! Even True Cultivators rarely possess Immortal materials. The Dragon Clan may be wealthy, but they aren’t fools. They’d take anything precious with them—why leave it here?" the old bird retorted.

"Then why bother digging up the box?" Fang Lie exclaimed.

"That box isn’t ordinary. It stayed hidden from your clones’ divine sense scans—it’s definitely a treasure. Don’t want it? Fine by me!" the old bird chuckled.

"No, I’ll take it!" Fang Lie hastily ordered his clones to dig.

Soon, the concealed box was unearthed. Using the Sending-Home Art, they transported it to the Cycle of Fire.

Standing on the altar, Fang Lie’s main body addressed the Two Demon Kings: "Done here. Let’s head to the Dragon Tomb."

"Good!" Huangchun nodded and pointed. "We go that way first."

"That direction? Is the Dragon Tomb there?" Fang Lie asked.

"Not that way—it’s there!" Huangchun pointed opposite.

"Are you mocking me?" Fang Lie glared. "Why take this detour?"

"You—" Huangchun sighed. "Time’s short. Can we discuss while moving?"

"Fine," Fang Lie agreed. "We’ll follow your path, but explain properly later!"

As they flew in the indicated direction, Huangchun explained: "The Dragon Palace has dangerous zones we must avoid, hence the detour."

Fang Lie’s eyes sparkled. "What dangers?"

"Many," Huangchun said. "First, the Dragon Tomb itself—heavily guarded by the entire Dragon Clan. But with us, it’s safest."

"Second, the Eight Dragon Emperor Palaces. Earth-Immortal-level Dragon Emperors lived there, protected by Immortal seals. None have ever entered, not even Ninth-Rank Treasure wielders."

"Third: barracks, Warehouses, and Secret Places. Barracks swarm with Xuan Water Puppet guards. Even 300,000 clones couldn’t breach a Dragon Emperor’s camp. Warehouses and Secret Places have weaker Immortal seals—some Ninth-Rank Treasure users force through fragile points. But strong defenses remain lethal. Most treasure-holding cultivators who died here fell in those zones."

Fang Lie’s eyes gleamed. "Lots of treasures there?"

"Certainly!" Huangchun grinned. "Warehouses overflow with ninth-rank materials the Dragons abandoned. Secret Places hold officials’ treasures—some developed spirits after millennia, even gaining consciousness!"

"Wait—you mean Ninth-Rank Treasures exist there?" Fang Lie gasped.

"Exactly. With luck, you might earn their recognition," Huangchun said. "Several Demon Kings rose to power through such opportunities. Using those treasures, they gained high positions among Sea Demon Tribes."

"Can Human Tribe cultivators gain their approval?" Fang Lie pressed.

"Never," Huangxu cut in. "Dragon-forged treasures favor sea demon tribes. They’d never accept humans."

"Really?" Fang Lie frowned. Suddenly, a familiar figure flashed through his mind—Mo Lanyun!