Chapter 427: Auntie, What a Coincidence?

After another three days of travel, a towering ridge spanned across the horizon. Above the ridge, lead‑heavy black clouds loomed, accompanied by terrifying thunder, and bright flashes of lightning tore through the gray‑black sky.

In front of the ridge, a squad of soldiers in black helmets and black armor formed a massive cone formation. Under the command of the youth in a python robe at the front of the formation, the soldiers brandished spears like a forest, shouting death cries that shook the heavens. The rolling killing aura coalesced into a jet‑black spear hundreds of meters long, which thrust fiercely toward the mountainside.

At the instant the spear was thrust, a sudden gale roared above the ridge, hurling countless stones and sand to slam into the spear. The gale halted abruptly, sand and stone rained down, and the spear formed from the killing aura vanished with a sudden thud.

The youth in the python robe let out a low hum, then raised his long spear again: "Kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Behind him, the soldiers raised their spears and roared.

With still over ten li to the ridge, Zhang Xingyu and the two girls halted. The killing cries ahead roared like a tide, clearly indicating many were locked in life‑and‑death combat. A gentleman does not stand beneath a perilous wall. Since the situation ahead was unclear, it was better not to rush forward.

Fortunately, the ridge was not far, and the humidity in the air was so thick it seemed ready to drip. Zhang Xingyu spread a blanket over the sand, then, without touching, condensed a pot of ice water, and bowed to invite the two girls to sit on the blanket. The three of them drank several cups of ice water, and the fatigue from days of travel vanished.

Tang Yunxi started chattering with Gu Yuyao again, from clothes to cosmetics, from bags to jewelry.

Zhang Xingyu sat silently beside them. Bored, he listened to the two girls chat for a while, then turned his attention to the distant sand ridge.

At this moment, the clouds overhead had thickened to ink, and bolt after bolt of lightning hammered down like a torrential rain. Smoke rose above the ridge, and long swords forged from sand and stone shot into the sky, only to shatter back into sand under the lightning's impact and fall.

Below the ridge, the long spears generated by the army formation continued to thrust one after another. The mountainside now bore a deep, massive hole, from which a faint golden light seeped.

Who are these people? Why stab the sand ridge for no reason?

And those bolts of lightning—why strike a ridge without cause?

Thinking that, a thought suddenly flashed in Zhang Xingyu's mind.

Could it be that the ridge hides a treasure?

It is rumored that some innate divine artifacts can attract a thunder tribulation when one advances a stage.

Since innate divine artifacts are hard to track, striking them hard during their tribulation makes them much easier to capture later.

That must be it!

Zhang Xingyu clapped his hands and stood up: "Those destined to find the treasure will obtain it. Ladies, come, let's go treasure‑hunting with me!"

Above the ridge, lightning flashed and thunder roared; below the ridge, killing cries shattered the heavens.

Four characters: this road is impassable.

Zhang Xingyu rubbed the back of his head, then conceived a brilliant scheme.

Detour.

Go around to the north side of the ridge.

Lifting the two girls, whose conversation was still lively, and bearing the searing pain in his waist, Zhang Xingyu excitedly walked forward.

He muttered as he walked: "Treasure, wait for me, I'm coming!"

A moment later, a sharp pain struck his waist again. He turned to Tang Yunxi: "Senior sister, could you twist somewhere else? Twisting the same spot leaves a scar."

He received a pair of blazing eyes in reply.

Staring at those beautiful large eyes, Zhang Xingyu smacked his head and quickly explained to Tang Yunxi: "Senior sister, don't misunderstand. I was talking about treasure hunting."

Tang Yunxi glared at him fiercely: "Rascal, if you dare flirt behind my back, watch out for my flying sword!"

Seeing her speak seriously, Zhang Xingyu quickly swore: "Senior sister, I swear I have never flirted with other women behind your back. I didn't in the past, and I won't in the future."

Tang Yunxi snorted coldly and fell silent. Yet a chill still clung to her pretty face, making Zhang Xingyu's heart race with fear.

Zhang Xingyu tugged Tang Yunxi's hand and weakly continued to explain: "Senior sister, I was truly talking about a treasure. I'm certain something extraordinary is hidden inside the mountain's belly. You see, I'm broke to the bone; an opportunity like this can't be ignored. Of course, unless you object."

Tang Yunxi gave no objection. Of course she didn't object. Though treasure hunting carries risk, if it can help Zhang Xingyu gather his betrothal gifts sooner, taking a bit of risk is worthwhile.

In fact, before Zhang Xingyu finished explaining, she had already guessed his meaning. Yet she didn't intend to let him off that easily. What a perfect chance to give the boyfriend a good scolding. Xingyu is high‑level in cultivation, handsome, and caring; countless girls must be eyeing him. If she doesn't give him a reprimand, perhaps one day a Li Yuyao or a Wang Yuyao will appear by his side.

Seeing Tang Yunxi's pretty face clear up like clouds parting, Zhang Xingyu quickly employed all his tricks. After ten minutes of effort, her face brightened again.

Zhang Xingyu let out a long sigh of relief. A moment later, a thought nagged at him: "Senior sister is beautiful, has decent cultivation, noble birth, yet she's a jealous sort. From now on I must keep my distance from other girls; if she catches me alone with another woman, she'll surely draw her sword and cut me down."

Three hours, sixty li of travel.

By bypassing the pass ahead, we can reach the back of the ridge. The three of them quickened their steps.

Naturally, Zhang Xingyu was the first to step onto the pass. As soon as he reached the other side, he stopped immediately.

On the backside of the ridge, a dozen li away, several golden giants dozens of meters tall were bustling about.

They dug at the mountainside with both hands, and in no time gathered a huge pile of sand and earth.

Titan giants? Vajra warriors? Humanoid excavators?

Question marks flashed through Zhang Xingyu's mind, one after another.

He turned his head to Tang Yunxi, who nodded and explained softly: "These are puppet warriors crafted by the Divine Clan. In the Primordial Age, the Divine Clan used them to build roads and cities. Because forging such puppet warriors required a soul‑powerful primordial spirit, our human race prohibited them. After the great war among the Immortals, Demons, and Gods, the techniques for making puppet warriors vanished with the Divine Clan's extinction. I never expected to see them again here today."

Puppet warriors made by the Divine Clan… Could there be remnants of the Divine Clan ahead?

Gu Yuyao looked at Zhang Xingyu, Zhang Xingyu looked at Tang Yunxi, and Tang Yunxi looked at Zhang Xingyu.

Zhang Xingyu thought for a moment, then softly said to Tang Yunxi and Gu Yuyao: "Senior sister, junior sister Gu, stay here for now. I'll sneak over to take a look."

"No!" Tang Yunxi and Gu Yuyao shouted in unison, objecting.

Tang Yunxi and Gu Yuyao exchanged a glance, then fixed their eyes on Zhang Xingyu and said: "Zhang Xingyu, you promised you would never abandon me."

"Senior sister, I'm not going to abandon you. The situation ahead is unclear; I'll just sneak a peek and be back shortly," Zhang Xingyu hurried to explain.

The longer he interacted with this senior sister, the stronger the premonition grew in his heart: "In this lifetime I'm bound to end up a simpleton."

"No. We're going together!" Tang Yunxi said resolutely.

"Senior sister, the more of us, the bigger the target, the easier we'll be spotted. It's better if I go alone and sneak over!" Zhang Xingyu suggested.

"If it's a no, it's a no; even if I beg the heavens it's still a no. Either we all stay, or we all go." Tang Yunxi clutched Zhang Xingyu's hand and wouldn't let go.

Zhang Xingyu was at a loss. After a moment, he nodded: "Fine. We'll go together. I'll go ahead, and you two stay a hundred meters behind me. If danger arises, you must retreat immediately."

The operation began.

The three each draped a white cloak over themselves, then split into three white specks, slowly walking forward.

Whenever those puppet warriors turned, the three instantly froze. From a distance, they looked like a few white bones scattered in the endless yellow sand.

After walking for about an hour, the puppet warriors' features became clear. Zhang Xingyu, who was leading, suddenly stopped. Looking ahead, at the foot of the mountain near the puppet warriors, he saw a dozen delicate women sitting quietly. In the center sat a woman stunning as a flower, exuding wealth. Zhang Xingyu couldn't help but blurt, "Kind auntie?"

"Aunt!"

Behind him, Tang Yunxi suddenly stood up, shouting loudly as she rushed toward the Hundred‑Flower Palace Master.

In no time, she tightly embraced the Hundred‑Flower Princess.

"Aunt, why are you here too?"

"Girl, how did you get here?"

Zhang Xingyu first greeted A Róu, then chatted with A Chou for a while. When Tang Yunxi and the Hundred‑Flower Palace Master finally separated, he shyly approached and said, "Aunt, what a coincidence!"