Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 92

Volume 7 Chapter 92: The Eerie Treasure Hunt (23)

Unknowingly, it has already been nearly twenty days since Xu Qingfan followed those twenty or so Spirit Ghosts to search for treasure.

Capturing the treasures of more than twenty Spirit Ghosts in one breath is undoubtedly extremely precious. As they watched Xu Qingfan’s figure disappear from their sight, Mr. Liu, Liu Ziqing, and Wang Zegang were all filled with great anticipation. However, as time slowly ticked away, their feelings changed from initial excitement to impatience, and now to unease.

This unease is not only because of Xu Qingfan’s safety. It is important to know that the "Azure Crystal Treasure House" is only open for one hundred days. Adding the time spent traveling and fighting, they have unknowingly passed half of that time.

If Xu Qingfan does not return in the next forty days, then Mr. Liu and the others can only give up on Xu Qingfan and leave on their own.

After all, in the "Azure Crystal Treasure House," where directions and distances are hard to tell, finding a person is a completely impossible task.

"Senior Liu, Taoist Friend Liu, what do you think is happening? Why hasn’t Island Master come back yet?"

Compared to Mr. Liu and Liu Ziqing, Wang Zegang cares the most about Xu Qingfan and is now the most anxious. Finally, he could not hold back any longer and asked the two beside him.

"I don’t know."

Mr. Liu looked serious as he gazed in the direction Xu Qingfan had gone. He had been in this stance for a full ten days and spoke slowly.

Compared to others, Liu Ziqing remained the calmest. He slowly said, "There are three possibilities. The best guess is that Taoist Friend Xu found a treasure that is so difficult to collect that he has spent twenty days trying and still hasn’t succeeded. A less favorable guess is that the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ is full of dangers. Not to mention the deadly ‘Clear Spirit Energy’ and ‘Chaos Qi’, there are also the lurking Shura Clan members and Wu Da. Perhaps Taoist Friend Xu has already been caught by them. The worst possibility…"

Liu Ziqing did not say the next part clearly, but everyone knew what he meant by the worst possibility.

Inside the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’, even a master at the Soul Splitting Stage would not dare to guarantee their safety, especially this time.

Hearing Liu Ziqing’s words, Wang Zegang shot him a fierce glare, unsure if it was because of Liu Ziqing’s indifferent attitude or the worst guess he just mentioned.

"Taoist Friend Liu, the Island Master has treated you well over the years, hasn’t he? Though he has been wronged many times by you, he still chose to repay kindness with kindness. He ordered me to save you from ‘Xuan’ and, after you arrived at the ‘Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands’, he has been sincere with you, hiding nothing and even making you the Vice Island Master, second only to him. I don’t expect you to feel grateful, but your indifference really angers me. Don’t you ever think about anyone but yourself?"

Listening to Wang Zegang’s questioning, Liu Ziqing actually smiled lightly and said, "You are wrong. I have never only thought of myself. There is only one person in my heart, and that is Zhang Xusheng."

"Hmph."

Wang Zegang snorted coldly and turned his head away from Liu Ziqing, clearly not wanting to engage with him any longer.

Just then, Mr. Liu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

"We have been in the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ for fifty days. Half of the hundred days has already passed, and we can no longer waste time. Taoist Friend Wang, you have controlled the ‘Spirit Ghost Banner’ for such a long time; now it’s time for you to rest. Next, Taoist Friend Liu, you will control the ‘Spirit Ghost Banner’ to lead the way for me while I continue to search for treasure."

Hearing Mr. Liu’s words, Wang Zegang turned around in disbelief and asked, "Aren’t we waiting for Island Master?!"

Mr. Liu said calmly, "We came to the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ to search for treasure. Some sacrifices were expected, but… I didn’t think the one sacrificed would be Kid Xu. Regardless, we cannot delay the main task. If I go looking for treasure, the two of you just waiting here is the same as waiting for Kid Xu, right? If the worst happens, we must do everything we can to strengthen our own abilities instead of sitting here uselessly waiting; doing so is pointless."

Sighing, Mr. Liu continued, "That’s enough talk. We should continue doing what we need to do."

"At least we can search a little…"

Mr. Liu interrupted Wang Zegang, coldly saying, "Looking for someone in the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ is just asking for trouble."

"Isn’t it possible to use the Spirit Ghost to lead the way while we search for that unknown treasure and also look for Taoist Friend Xu?" Liu Ziqing suddenly asked.

"No, it was just a coincidence that more than twenty Spirit Ghosts found the same treasure last time. Using the Spirit Ghosts again doesn’t guarantee we find the same location. Not only would it waste time, but mainly, since Kid Xu ran into trouble during the treasure search, the area where the treasure is hidden must be very dangerous. My strength is certainly much greater than Kid Xu’s, but since we are both at the Soul Splitting Stage, to be honest, there isn’t a fundamental difference in our abilities. If he couldn’t handle the danger, we might not be able to either. Doing this would only increase our risk and waste time."

Mr. Liu, who usually cared for Xu Qingfan a lot, sounded so cold at this moment.

Suddenly, Wang Zegang understood Mr. Liu’s mindset.

Perhaps Mr. Liu does have feelings for Xu Qingfan, and in some ways, Mr. Liu sees Xu Qingfan as his successor. However, in essence, Xu Qingfan is still just a chess piece in Mr. Liu’s hands. For the greater good, even if he feels deeply for this piece, he would not hesitate to let it go.

Thinking of this, Wang Zegang suddenly shuddered, realizing the vast plan that Xu Qingfan had created. Were all the people in the plan, including Xu Qingfan’s disciples, also pieces that Xu Qingfan could throw away when necessary?

Or perhaps, after years of growth, Xu Qingfan has become essentially the same kind of person as Mr. Liu and Zhang Xusheng. Only now, it is Xu Qingfan who is being abandoned. If their positions were switched, would Xu Qingfan make the same decision?

Wang Zegang shook his head, pushing these thoughts away. Xu Qingfan had helped him many times, and he instinctively refused to think of Xu Qingfan in that way.

Just then, a flicker appeared in Liu Ziqing’s eyes, and he suddenly looked up at Wang Zegang and asked, "Taoist Friend Wang, can the Spirit Qi inside you continue to support the consumption of the ‘Spirit Ghost Banner’?"

Although he disapproved of Liu Ziqing’s character, Wang Zegang still replied reluctantly, "Yes."

Liu Ziqing nodded and then turned to Mr. Liu, saying, "Here’s the plan: according to your plan, we will continue searching for treasure, but the ‘Spirit Ghost Banner’ will still be controlled by Taoist Friend Wang. At the same time, give me three Spirit Ghosts, and I will go look for Taoist Friend Xu. If I do not return after forty days, regardless of whether Taoist Friend Xu returns during that time, you do not need to worry about me and can leave on your own."

Liu Ziqing spoke with such calmness, as if it were a matter of course, leaving Wang Zegang and Mr. Liu extremely surprised and incredulous as they looked at him.

Is this still the Liu Ziqing who only thinks of himself?

Seeing the surprised expressions on their faces, Liu Ziqing smiled slightly and softly explained, "I told you, my heart is no longer filled with thoughts of myself. What remains is only the desire to take revenge on Zhang Xusheng. Unfortunately, the Zhong family, whom I had high hopes for, has likely been destroyed, and the Human Alliance is not a suitable place for me. The only force I can rely on is the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands. Therefore, I cannot let Xu Qingfan just disappear in the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House.’ In this regard, I may be the person in the world who cares about Xu Qingfan the most."

Mr. Liu looked at Liu Ziqing deeply, nodded after a moment, and said, "If something is not possible, don’t force it. It is better to return. The Spirit Ghost knows the way back. To prevent any accidents, we will leave in thirty days, not forty."

While speaking, Mr. Liu pointed, and suddenly the "Spirit Ghost Banner" in Wang Zegang’s hand shone brightly. After a moment, three Spirit Ghosts flew to Liu Ziqing’s side.

Liu Ziqing nodded and turned to follow the direction Xu Qingfan had left before.

But after flying less than ten steps, Liu Ziqing suddenly shook, stopped, and his eyes sparkled with joy.

At the same time, Mr. Liu and Wang Zegang sensed something and turned to look in the same direction.

They saw Xu Qingfan, who had been missing for over twenty days, slowly flying toward them with more than ten Spirit Ghosts.

Xu Qingfan finally returned, although nearly half of the Spirit Ghosts were gone, he looked disheveled and pale, as if his Spirit Qi was seriously depleted, but he was back at last.

Amidst the crowd’s relief and joy, Xu Qingfan finally flew before everyone, a faint smile on his pale face, and said, "I’m sorry for the unexpected events that caused you all to worry."