Chapter 290: The Secret of the Bamboo Pavilion

"You didn't take a single sip; that's truly a pity."

Xu Wanyun saw that Shen Yi was being cautious, but before drinking, she had already confirmed the tea water was fine.

"There's nothing to pity."

Shen Yi sat in the courtyard, his gaze seemingly sweeping around at random, yet his eyes burned with sharp light, taking in the entire terrain distribution of this mountain villa.

He could casually drink the turbid well water brought by a child in Liu Li Miao Village.

But he would absolutely never touch a precious medicine offered by a cultivator without cause.

Even if it were truly a good thing.

Shen Yi was also more accustomed to taking it into his hands and brewing it slowly himself before drinking.

Moreover, this time he had come for the Spirit Root.

Earlier on the road, Shen Yi had asked A Qing again about the Spirit Root.

The so-called Spirit Root was nothing more than the medium connecting the Dao Infant and the heavens and earth.

It mainly lay in that character "Spirit."

Whether Sui Mu could become a Spirit Root was unknown; after all, according to the books A Qing had read, no one had ever obtained a living Sui Mu.

But if it were truly cultivated into a filth-demon thing, it would certainly not lack spiritual nature.

It was just that the quality was hard to say.

According to conventional judgment, a Spirit Root with consciousness was an absolute supreme grade.

But one forcibly cultivated by others, its effect was unknown.

Regardless, such a rare thing was worth Shen Yi coming over for a trip.

He waved his hand slightly.

Soon, Jin Baowen was pulled over by some object.

Shen Yi retracted the thorn bracelet into his storage treasure: "Say it all at once."

Money and goods cleared; he was not someone who would betray after taking the money.

Jin Baowen smiled ingratiatingly, rubbed his arm, and said in a low voice: "There is a bamboo pavilion on the east side of the villa; the guard there is extremely strict. I am not sure if Sui Mu is there, but there must be something inside that they do not wish others to know."

Speaking, he made faces and said: "Once someone else invades there, the Zheng family will definitely become alert; at that time, watch where they stand guard, and among them must be news of Sui Mu."

To be honest, this old fellow's cultivation was not high, but when betraying the Zheng family, his brain was truly quite useful.

"Senior, if there is nothing else, I will leave first."

Jin Baowen quickly left the courtyard; now that the Zheng family was on guard, his chances of entering were few, and he had to hurry to gather information.

When only three people remained in the courtyard.

Xu Wanyun finally tightened her grip on the pebble in surprise: "You really came to snatch something?"

"Just looking around."

"Only a fool would believe you."

Xu Wanyun's expression was somewhat ugly, and at the same time she glared at A Qing, who stood silently beside her.

Wasn't it agreed that we were just here to look at Sui Mu?

This niece is so ruthless she even deceives her aunt, is that it?

It was true that she was a Limit Slain Hunyuan, and in most places she could defend herself, but this certainly did not include the home of a certain first-rate power.

Not to mention other things, the mountain-protecting formation alone was enough to make her drink from a pot.

"I will go check their formation."

A Qing took out her small notebook and eagerly prepared to act.

The Xu family and Xuan Guang Cave were mortal enemies.

The Zheng family was the vanguard under Xuan Guang Cave.

Where was this her helping Shen Big Brother? This was clearly Shen Big Brother helping the Xu family vent their anger!

"Be careful."

Shen Yi nodded and added another reminder: "Remember to change your form of address in front of outsiders."

A Qing's small face twisted, and she unwillingly shouted: "Got it, Dad!"

Having said that, she ran out of the courtyard in a gloomy mood.

"Fine! I'm afraid of you guys."

Xu Wanyun sighed, feeling as if she had been tricked into a wolf's den.

What was even more depressing was that although they clearly needed her help to do something, this youth still maintained a cold and indifferent manner.

Compared to herself, the other party looked more like someone from a great power.

Not just any great power; only an Immortal Gate or Great Qian could cultivate such an arrogant genius.

"..."

Shen Yi closed his eyes to regulate his breath, and at the same time urged Lady Qinghua again.

They had already infiltrated; now they just waited for the Golden Body to return.

Night fell.

The Zheng family, besides sending food, also sent three servings of clear tea.

After some time, they would send someone over to collect it.

But this time, only Xu Wanyun would touch that Spirit Tea.

Although A Qing did not know the reason.

Having already tasted it once and recorded it, since Shen Big Brother did not touch it, she simply did not move it recklessly either.

The food was brought back exactly as it had been served.

"Is the food not to the Master's taste?" asked the Zheng family disciple, concealing the oddness in his eyes.

"I practice the method of fasting from grains and meat," Shen Yi replied offhandedly.

"I see." The disciple glanced at the three empty teacups, asked no further questions, and bowed out of the courtyard respectfully.

"Big Brother Shen, I've figured out the pattern of their array formation."

After all, it was their own property — Qing knew it intimately; a single glance around was enough to grasp every detail.

"As long as they don't actively control the array, we can move freely within this manor."

"Get ready."

Shen Yi extended his hand; Qing, ever perceptive, retrieved several array discs and began arranging them.

Soon, their qi signatures were completely concealed, even their silhouettes grew hazy and indistinct.

"Wait… what about me?" Xu Wanyun blinked in surprise.

Qing looked at her in confusion: "Auntie is coming too?"

Without another word, she formed a hand seal and included the other woman within the concealment.

Xu Wanyun's lips twitched twice: "..."

A mid-level Slain Hunyuan and an Embracing Elixir Realm cultivator dared to roam freely through the Zheng household — and had completely forgotten to count themselves in.

Leveraging the cover of night.

Shen Yi seized Qing and shot straight toward the eastern bamboo pavilion.

"This is called 'heavily guarded'?"

Xu Wanyun followed behind, glancing at the bamboo pavilion now visible in her line of sight.

There stood a two-story structure, roughly three zhang tall.

Beside it, not a single figure could be seen.

"..."

Shen Yi activated his Golden Eagle Divine Skill and quickly locked onto three positions — each guarded by a powerful cultivator.

The next instant, he unleashed the Leisurely Riding the Wind Art, a technique long unused, slipping past all three with cunning angles.

He transformed into a breeze and slipped into the bamboo pavilion.

After a brief moment of closed-eye sensing, he said calmly: "No one inside."

"Understood!"

If no one was guarding it, it was almost certainly the array.

Qing circled the room once, then crouched to the ground and began probing.

Soon, a faint glow bloomed at her fingertips.

As she unraveled the array, her other hand manipulated the array discs to perfectly mask their qi.

After roughly one incense stick's time.

Qing tugged at Shen Yi's sleeve, glanced at Auntie Xu, who had just barely slipped in, then gripped her wrist — all three vanished from their original spot.

As light rippled, a cramped chamber unfolded before them.

The first thing to catch their eyes was a dark sword hanging on the wall.

Its blade was long, brimming with boundless icy chill.

Clearly no ordinary weapon.

Qing swiftly pulled out her small notebook and leaned close to examine it; after a moment, her pupils contracted sharply.

She covered her mouth and whispered: "This is the forging craft of Mount Wutong!"

(End of Chapter)