Chapter 461

Xiao Ningyuan set down Tuan Tuan, raised his hand and untied the bundle on her back.

The inner robe unfolded, revealing that ancient scroll.

On the scroll, the five large seal-script characters of the "Nine Seals Dragon Vein Map" glimmered with a dim luster in the sunlight.

Xiao Ningyuan concealed nothing, holding the scroll with both hands before the elder and briefly recounting how he had found it.

Of course, he did not mention that Tuan Tuan had taken the pearls from the golden well and… sat on the emperor's coffin eating, shaking off a pile of crumbs.

The elder's hands trembled as he took it, and he gently stroked the characters on the scroll,

He lifted his head, gazing at the main peak of Mount Qifeng, his Adam's apple rolling as he let out a long sigh:

"Such is the will of Heaven! What can an old man like me do?"

He withdrew his gaze, staring deeply at Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan touched her little face, and it instantly turned red: "Oh no! My face is so dirty!"

"Grandpa, if I wash my face clean, will you look again? It's too ugly right now!"

She turned and grabbed her brother's water bag: "Big brother, hurry! Give me the water!"

Xiao Ningyuan helplessly rubbed his forehead: "Little sister, really, this isn't the right time, is it?"

The elder thumped to his knees, presenting the scroll to Tuan Tuan: "Little Princess, you are indeed the one Heaven has destined!"

Seeing the elder kneel, the people behind him all dropped to their knees as well.

This startled Tuan Tuan greatly; she hastily reached out to help: "Grandpa, please get up!"

Xiao Ningyuan also hurried to help, but the elder's martial prowess was profound; no matter how hard the siblings pulled, he wouldn't budge an inch.

The elder shook his head: "Today, my Yuwen clan presents this Nine Seals Dragon Vein Map with both hands, thereby acknowledging you as our lord."

"Remember my words: if one day you wish to become the ruler of all under heaven, come tell me, and with the Heavenly Son Sword and my Yuwen clan, I will surely help you achieve your wish."

Seeing this, Tuan Tuan simply knelt before him: "Grandpa, I should be thanking you! But being emperor is really exhausting."

She shook her little head like a rattle-drum: "Imperial Uncle reads so many little books every day! I certainly don't want that!"

"I want to sleep when I want, pick up trash when I want—how free! Hurry up and get up, Grandpa; I dislike kneeling the most."

Only then did the elder slowly rise, and everyone else stood as well.

The elder looked at Xiao Ningyuan: "Young Master Xiao, having only this scroll won't allow you to open the secret passage leading into Jingcheng."

Xiao Ningyuan started, then hurriedly asked: "Please, senior, instruct me."

"You still need to find the key to open the secret passage; otherwise, you can merely locate the entrance."

Xiao Ningyuan's heart jolted: "What do you mean, senior?"

The elder sighed: "We merely guard this tomb, waiting for someone who bears the Heavenly Son Sword to come, so we can guide them to this Nine Seals Dragon Vein Map."

"Now you have obtained five of the seven; surely, among the remaining two, one is where the key lies."

"But if you cannot find the key, this map will be nothing but waste paper—you'll stop at the threshold and never enter."

Xiao Ningyuan clasped his hands in thanks: "Many thanks for your guidance, senior."

The elder again gazed deeply at Tuan Tuan: "My Yuwen clan has dwelt here for generations; finally we have met the one who can find the Heavenly Son Sword—this counts as upholding our vow, our merit complete."

"Please leave at once." He turned, his back straight, drifting away: "Two members of the Xiao clan, may we meet again if fate allows."

As his words faded, his figure vanished into the deep forest.

Tuan Tuan waved her little hand vigorously: "Grandpa! If you have time, come to Jingcheng to play with me!"

Those clansmen followed him away, and heaven and earth seemed to leave only the brother and sister.

Xiao Ningyuan slowly rolled up the scroll, rewrapped it, and slung it onto his back.

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face to look at him: "Big brother, where are Second Uncle and Seventh Uncle?"

"They should still be waiting for us on the Spirit Way; let's go find them!"

Xiao Ningyuan took his sister's little hand, and the two crossed the slope, heading toward the Spirit Way.

At the same moment, Xibei Daying.

In the central commander's tent, Xiao Yuanhang was quietly discussing something with the Emperor and others.

Outside the tent came the cheers of the personal guards: "Prince! They're back! They've returned!"

Xiao Yuanhang snapped his head up; Xiao Jieyun's brush fell onto the desk.

Xiao Ran rejoiced: "Has Tuan Tuan come back?"

The guard hurriedly replied: "It's the five brothers who accompanied the Princess; they've just entered the camp!"

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun exchanged a glance: "Is Tuan Tuan bringing treasures home?"

Outside the tent, the sound of hooves approached from afar; five dust-covered guards stepped into the tent.

They dropped to one knee: "Subordinates, ordered to escort the Wulu Soft Armor back to camp, have not failed our mission!"

Several of them took off their packs and untied the cords.

With a "whoosh," the tightly rolled silver-gray soft armor unfurled like flowing water.

Xiao Yuanhang strode forward, casually grabbing a piece and unfolding it: "Wulu Soft Armor?"

The guard shouted back: "Yes! These were obtained from the ice caves of Snow Mountain!"

Xiao Yuanhang's heart ached: "His daughter actually went to the ice cave?"

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun said in unison: "How is Tuan Tuan?"

The guard hurriedly replied: "The Princess is safe!"

Another guard said: "A letter in that cave states that this armor is thin as light silk, tougher than black iron, impervious to water and fire, and cannot be pierced by blades or spears!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent was astonished: "How can something so thin be impervious to water and fire, and proof against blades and spears?"

Xiao Yuanhang draped the soft armor over his left arm, then drew back Xiao Ningchen's waist sword and slashed hard at his own left arm!

Xiao Ran let out a startled cry: "Prince!"

The sword light has already fallen.

The sword blade slipped, leaving only a faint white mark on the soft armor; Xiao Yuanhang barely felt any recoil force and said, "This armor can actually dissipate the force to this extent!"

A gasp of cold breath sounded from within the tent.

"Fine armor!" Xiao Jieyun stepped forward, bent down to pick one up, gently brushed its surface, and said, "My Princess Jiayou truly lives up to my expectations!"

"Yuanhang, this soft armor actually surpasses even the golden‑thread soft armor you gave me!"

"Indeed so," Xiao Yuanhang said, "How many of these armors are there?"

"Three thousand in total!"

The others were startled again.

"Excellent!" Xiao Ningchen's eyes burned, "With this divine armor equipping the vanguard, how could we fear an unbroken battle formation!"

A guard slapped his forehead and said, "The Princess (Commandery) discovered a spiritual herb in the ice cave; order us to bring it back for the Princess Consort."

After speaking, he rushed out of the main tent, took a carefully tied cloth sack from the horse, hurried back, and opened the sack:

"When touched, the leaves of this herb curl up. The Princess (Commandery) said it must be a spiritual herb that can cure and save lives; please have the Princess Consort look after it, and after returning to Jingcheng, deliver it to Divine Doctor Mo."

"We originally harvested seven stalks, but the road was bumpy; despite the brothers' utmost care, two were damaged."

Xiao Yuanhang waved his hand, "No problem, you have already done your best."

Xiao Ran said, "Such a thing actually exists?"

He reached out and touched it; indeed, the leaf curled up instantly: "Interesting, truly interesting! Ha ha, Tuan Tuan's move—nothing escapes her!"

Xiao Yuanhang instructed, "Fine, send it to the Princess Consort."

"Yes!"

Xiao Ningxun drew the Heavenly Son Sword, his face alight with surprise, "His Majesty! Father! The fifth indentation has also lit up!"

Xiao Jieyun nodded, "Tuan Tuan moves so quickly; this soft armor had just arrived, and already the fifth treasure has been found."

"Father Emperor!" Xiao Ran picked up a piece of soft armor, "I wish to wear it! I am willing to be the vanguard!"

Xiao Jieyun glanced at him, "You wear it? With your build, you'd probably need to wrap three pieces just to support it."

The group burst into laughter.

Just then, a scouting horse galloped in from outside the tent:

"Report—! Jingcheng has added thirty thousand guards, currently constructing a walled city outside the Nine Gates and deepening the moats!"

The tent fell silent in an instant.

Xiao Jieyun slowly sat back in his chair, "They've added another thirty thousand? They intend to hold the city to the death."

Xiao Yuanhang tightened the soft armor in his hand, "When Tuan Tuan returns, it will be time to assault the city."

On the carriage.

Tuan Tuan looked at the scenery racing backward through the window, "Big brother, where are we heading now?"

Xiao Ningyuan stared at the map in his hand, "Bashu, Yuzhou."