Chapter 47: Chen Pi A-Si

Seeing that the audience below had already started bidding for the compass.

Zhang Lin struck his wooden gavel, pulling everyone’s attention back to the stage.

“Everyone, I can make this compass, but even if I did, you wouldn’t know how to use it!”

“Is there anyone here who knows the *Book of Changes* and the *Calculation Classics*, or the *Mysterious Gates and Hidden Jia*?”

"If you haven't mastered these two basic things, a Luo Pan is nothing more than a toy in your hands."

"At most, you could use it as a compass; it won't serve any other purpose."

Hearing this, the crowd lost their impulsive urge to bid.

It was indeed as Zhang Lin said; if the Luo Pan was useless in one's hands, buying it would just be for show.

But aside from the rational ones, there were always those who loved to join in the excitement.

Young Master Zhao, who had come to listen to the storytelling that day, was present again.

And just like before, despite being filthy rich, he refused to sit in a private box, insisting on sitting in the main hall!

Hearing Zhang Lin say it was useless, Young Master Zhao immediately retorted: "You storyteller, you have money to be made, yet you're pushing it away?"

"Don't worry about whether I know how to use this Luo Pan. Since you can make it, I want to buy it."

"How about this: one million for one, are you selling or not?!"

Hiss—

Hearing this price, many people gasped.

Spending a million on a useless Luo Pan—this person truly had more money than sense!

Zhang Lin had clearly stated that the Luo Pan was useless for everyone and would only be a decorative piece.

Yet Young Master Zhao was still willing to shell out a million to buy it.

If this wasn't a fool and his money being easily parted, what was?

Zhang Lin looked at the arrogant Young Master Zhao in the audience and didn't find him annoying at all.

How could a simpleton who only existed to hand over money be annoying?

The more Zhang Lin looked at him, the cuter he became; after all, he was radiating a golden glow!

Thus, Zhang Lin didn't hold back in the slightest: "Sold!"

"Young Master Zhao, please go find the manager of Sancui Garden to settle the bill."

As soon as Zhang Lin’s voice fell, the beautiful manager of Sancui Garden popped out from who knows which corner.

Swaying her hips, she was actually holding a card reader in her hand!

Put on the spot, Young Master Zhao glanced at Zhang Lin and swiped his card.

"One million yuan, payment received!"

Zhang Lin’s phone immediately chimed with the machine's notification.

Seeing the deal was done, Zhang Lin tapped his gavel and prepared to continue the story.

Only Young Master Zhao stood there looking bewildered, finally unable to help but ask: "Hey, storyteller!"

"I've paid the money, when are you delivering the goods?"

Zhang Lin replied thoughtfully: "As for the time, it's uncertain. After all, you can see I'm quite busy with the storytelling."

"I'll make it whenever I have the time."

Hearing this, Young Master Zhao was so angry he nearly cursed out loud.

He’d spent a million, and there wasn't even a delivery date?

Seeing this, Zhang Lin said with great interest: "Young Master Zhao, you don't want a refund, do you?"

"You look wealthy and radiant; you don't seem like someone who can't afford to wait, right?"

Young Master Zhao had no choice but to grit his teeth: "I certainly won't ask for a refund; this million is nothing."

"Then please, Mr. Zhang, make it as soon as you have time."

"After all, everyone wants to see what this Luo Pan actually looks like!"

Zhang Lin smiled, "Naturally!"

He then ignored Young Master Zhao and continued his story.

……

"Chen Pi A-Si estimated that once the Miao people left, it would take them an entire night to go and return."

"With his skills, that should be enough time to find the entrance to the Mirror Palace and make a round trip."

"After wandering aimlessly in the jungle for a full four hours, relying on the Luo Pan and the courage he had built up over years of traveling the country,"

"Chen Pi A-Si finally arrived at the area he had mapped out on Reclining Buddha Ridge—the ruins of the temple surrounding that tower!"

"After climbing over a hill, he suddenly froze."

"He saw a massive stone tower collapsed at the base of the hill in front of him."

"The tower body appeared to be hexagonal, imposing and grand, with dense eaves and wide beams."

"Scraping away the moss and tangled plants with his knife, he found the relief carvings on the tower to be incredibly exquisite."

"But it was clear the tower had been burned; every part bore black scorch marks, likely from a fire."

"At this point, Chen Pi A-Si couldn't care less. He lit a fire, pretending he had lost his way."

"He wanted to have an excuse ready for when the Miao people found him later."

"Then, following his intuition, he pressed against the tower base and began to dig."

"Soon, he reached the ceiling of the underground palace. It wasn't stone, but a wooden roof made from squared-off logs."

"Chen Pi A-Si was overjoyed. He used a wire saw to cut a corner; the falling wood block dropped into the palace, and soon a thud echoed up. He hurriedly shone his flashlight inside!"

"The structure of the Mirror Palace was symmetrical; meaning, however many levels the tower had above, there should be as many levels of underground palace below, making it extremely deep."

"Looking down from above, there were no floorboards between the levels, and the very bottom was pitch black."

"When the flashlight beam hit it, there was a mass of white mist; it was impossible to tell what it was!"

"Chen Pi A-Si couldn't help but recall what the Miao people had said about a monster being suppressed beneath the tower, and he felt a flicker of worry."

"But this worry vanished in an instant; his blood was pumping and his head was hot."

"He tested the air in the palace and found it fine, so he hooked his feet onto the curved wooden ceiling, performed an inverted hang, and lowered himself head-first into the palace, putting all his weight onto his feet!"

…….