Chapter 662

Chapter 662: Fragments

The spiraling energy Golden Ling’er had used to open the stone gate vanished, as if dissipated during the initial tremor.

After witnessing Golden Ling’er shake the stone door, Jin An placed his palm against it and channeled his true qi. Yet despite two faint tremors, the gate soon fell still again.

"Seems only high-grade true qi can open this. Those young fellows’ jade tablet must be extraordinary – this treasure likely belongs to the Nine Xumi." Noticing the blue patterns, Ancestor of the Sword Path chuckled. "Ye Yun, hurry and open this portal. My curiosity grows."

"Fascinating indeed. The gate’s activation requirements already weed out weaker cultivators – the treasures within must be exceptional." Ye Yun nodded steadily before approaching. His left hand touched the stone as true qi surged forth.

BOOM!

The earth shook violently as Ye Yun’s energy flooded the gate, mirroring Golden Ling’er’s earlier attempt. When the thunderous echoes faded, the stone portal creaked open to reveal yawning darkness.

Flicking his wrist, Ye Yun sent Fire Spirit Qi streaming through the doorway like glowing fireflies in night scene. Turning to the pair, he smiled. "Who volunteers to enter first?"

"Senior Brother should go! He’s braver!" Golden Ling’er immediately pointed at Jin An.

Jin An sighed. "Very well. But senior, please watch over me in case…"

"Worry not. I’d never let you enter true danger." Ye Yun chuckled at Jin An’s martyr-like expression.

"I thought there’d be beasts lurking in that darkness!" Golden Ling’er exclaimed, relieved by the fiery illumination. Noticing faint glimmers within, she suddenly declared: "Senior! Seeing Brother’s pitiful state breaks my heart! Let me go first!"

"Junior Sister, your concern touches me, but I’d worry more if you entered." Jin An frowned at her sudden enthusiasm.

*Hehe, I’ll snatch any shiny treasures before Brother notices!* Golden Ling’er schemed, knowing Jin An’s gullible nature. *But tricking Senior Ye Yun would be harder…*

Her plans proved naive. When Ye Yun’s Fire Spirit Qi illuminated the chamber earlier, his spirit perception had already noted the glittering object – merely a light-refracting crystal shard of no consequence.

"Since Ling’er insists, we’ll wait here." Ye Yun smiled. "Try not to cry in the dark."

"Thanks, senior! Come save me if there’s danger!" Golden Ling’er’s eyes sparkled with treasure-hunting zeal. After peering into the fiery opening, she took a deep breath and jumped.

"Oh dear," Ye Yun suddenly slapped his forehead. "I forgot to mention the Fire Spirit Qi’s limited duration."

"Senior, must you always tease her?" Jin An sighed.

"She needs growth beyond your protection." Ye Yun nodded at Jin An’s worried expression. "Relax – I’ve placed protective charms on her. No life-threatening danger will occur."

"That’s reassuring. Though Ling’er claims fearlessness, she’s never ventured into dark places alone…"

"AAAAH!"

Golden Ling’er’s scream echoed upwards the instant darkness swallowed her. As Jin An moved to jump, Ye Yun blocked him. "Patience. The flames can be rekindled."

Firelight bloomed anew. Jin An shook his head at Ye Yun’s smirk. "Please stop tormenting her. She’s been timid since childhood."

*Fools!* The "terrified" girl grinned in darkness, true qi carefully extracting a pink fragment from the wall. Her scream had masked the extraction noise.

*Mine now!* Clutching the glowing shard, she yelled upward: "Senior! Brother! It’s safe! Come down!"

"Impressive speed," Ye Yun mused while descending. "Used her scream as distraction to claim that fragment, did she?"

"Ling’er’s better than I thought!" Jin An laughed, watching his junior wave below. "How’s her true qi control?"

"Adequate connections, but laziness stunts her growth at Nascent Soul stage’s first layer." Ye Yun smiled at the waving girl while replying.

"Let’s join her before she complains." Jin An leapt down. Ye Yun followed slowly, scanning Fire Spirit Qi-lit walls during descent.

"Strange…" Ancestor of the Sword Path grumbled. "No inscriptions explaining this place’s origins? Every proper tomb leaves historical records!"

"Your nostalgia blinds you." Ye Yun chuckled. "Xumi Daoist likely arranged this Xumi Treasure randomly, without sentimental carvings."

"Youth today undervalue heritage!" the ancestor huffed.

"Senior! Why stare at blank walls?" Golden Ling’er asked when Ye Yun landed.

"Admiring the pristine stonework. I expected guidance carvings but found none." Ye Yun shrugged.

"How old-fashioned!" The girl giggled. "Father said real tombs just have skulls and bloodstains!"

"Sentiment’s dying art," the ancestor sighed internally.

As Ye Yun’s flames illuminated branching paths, Golden Ling’er produced her pink fragment. "Brother! Look what I found!"

Jin An inspected it curiously. "New treasure? Never seen this before."

"You wouldn’t understand." Snatching it back, she thrust it at Ye Yun. "Senior must know what this is!"

"Just ordinary debris." Ye Yun handed it back, turning to study the labyrinth. "Don’t play with rubbish."

"Ordinary?!" Pouting, Golden Ling’er channeled true qi into the fragment. To everyone’s surprise, faint pink light emerged.