Chapter 998: Treasure Vault

The Lingxiang Palace was grand and towering. Although this place was littered with treasures and opportunities, it was equally fraught with danger. Unlike the "Golden Great Hall" that Li Luo and the others had experienced before, this place was filled with countless protective strange arrays. If one were to touch them rashly, it might trigger a counterattack from the array, and under an attack from a strange array of this level, even a high-star Tian Zhu Jing strong practitioner would likely be reduced to ashes in an instant.

The correct way to explore was to advance cautiously step by step, then use clever methods and the advantage of numbers to wear down the flaws in those strange arrays before seizing the opportunity to slip in.

After all, although the strange arrays were powerful, they were ultimately in an uncontrolled state, and there were still many loopholes to be found.

Li Luo and the others sped past the outer perimeter of the Lingxiang Palace. Some ruined buildings could be seen all around, the strange array light patterns on them long since dissipated, and their interiors were empty, clearly having been swept clean — the work of the forces that had previously entered the Lingxiang Cave Heaven.

And as the Lingxiang Cave Heaven had opened more and more times, countless explorers had continuously extended their reach toward the deeper parts of the Lingxiang Palace.

"Our main objective in entering the Lingxiang Palace this time is here." While hurrying along, Li Li Wuyuan pulled out a somewhat sketchy map. After all, the Lingxiang Cave Heaven had already opened several times, so the Li Li Tianwang lineage naturally had plenty of intelligence about it in hand.

Li Luo's gaze swept over and saw that where Li Li Wuyuan was pointing was a glaring crimson dot.

"Based on a great deal of past intelligence, this place is called the 'Lingxiang Treasure Garden.' It must certainly contain extremely high-grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures that have been planted and cultivated within. After such a long period of fermentation, any one of these strange objects, if placed outside, would inevitably spark fierce contention and be worth a fortune."

"Once, a lucky rogue cultivator entered it by chance under some circumstance, and obtained a strange object inside called the 'Scorching Sun Divine Flame Fruit.' Once this thing is consumed and refined, it can cause one to be born with an auxiliary phase of the fire attribute."

Hearing these words, even though everyone present came from a Li Tianwang-level faction, they could not help but show blazing eyes in their gaze. A strange object capable of birthing an auxiliary phase — if this were put up for auction at the Golden Dragon Treasure House, the price would likely be quite terrifying.

Only Li Luo was relatively calm. An auxiliary phase was very rare for others, but for him, its appeal was not that great, because an affinity could have at most one primary and one auxiliary. Even if he obtained one, it would be impossible for him to give birth to a second auxiliary phase.

So compared to this kind of strange object that births an auxiliary phase, he was more interested in those strange objects that could raise the grade of his affinity.

He just didn't know whether he could obtain some opportunities in that "Lingxiang Treasure Garden" to raise his affinity once again. Although his affinity had already improved extremely significantly since coming to the Lingxiang Cave Heaven this time, Li Luo's ambition clearly had not yet been fully satisfied.

"The Lingxiang Treasure Garden is protected by an extremely vast and powerful strange array. If one were to force the issue, even a titled marquis-level strong practitioner would be unable to destroy it. So, after years of continuous detection and probing by predecessors, some patterns have actually been discovered."

"In the area surrounding the Lingxiang Treasure Garden, there exist seven treasure vaults. These treasure vaults appear to be scattered at random, but in fact they are tightly connected to the protective strange array of the 'Lingxiang Treasure Garden.' As long as these treasure vaults are destroyed, it can cause flaws to appear in the protective strange array of the 'Lingxiang Treasure Garden' — that is where our chance to enter lies."

"This intelligence is only available to a few top-tier factions, so for now, everyone's objective is fairly consistent: destroy the treasure vaults first. Additionally, these treasure vaults are actually quite desirable in themselves — they may contain large quantities of spiritual water, strange light, pills, and other treasures. So if we want to obtain more benefits, we'll have to pick up the pace."

Li Li Wuyuan relayed all the intelligence he knew in one breath, and at the same time his gaze turned toward Li Li Lingjing. Li Li Lingjing, whose strength had now reached the nine-star Tian Zhu Jing, had unknowingly become the strongest person in their team on this trip.

"Miss Li Lingjing, do you have any opinions?" Li Li Wuyuan showed a gentle smile toward Li Li Lingjing, with a hint of eagerness in his smile.

The potential Li Li Lingjing now displayed compelled one to take her seriously. If she were to join the Dragon Fang Guard in the future, it would surely cause the guard's strength to surge greatly. Thus, Li Li Wuyuan wanted to test whether he could use some tactics to poach her over to the Dragon Blood Guard. After all, from the information he had obtained, Li Li Lingjing's relationship with the Dragon Fang Branch was actually not particularly close.

Moreover, Li Li Lingjing seemed to have a rather cold personality. If the Dragon Blood Branch were willing to offer some weighty promises, there might still be some chance. Or, choosing a direct-line descendant of a branch leader to form a marriage alliance with the Xiling Li Shi — such an opportunity to elevate one's clan would also be very attractive.

But toward Li Li Wuyuan's suddenly much-improved attitude, Li Li Lingjing was somewhat uninterested. She had no intention of answering, and instead turned her gaze toward Li Luo, seeking his opinion.

Li Luo glanced at Li Li Wuyuan. He had also vaguely sensed that this fellow had suddenly become much more eager toward Li Li Lingjing, so he casually replied, "Cousin Li Wuyuan makes a lot of sense. Let's act according to what you said."

Li Li Wuyuan nodded with a smile, but a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes. The relationship between Li Li Lingjing and Li Luo seemed to be quite deep, but as far as he knew, the two of them had only known each other for less than half a year. From this, if the Dragon Blood Guard wanted to poach Li Li Lingjing, Li Luo was actually the biggest obstacle.

Then the group sped up. After quite a while, a dense forest appeared ahead. Deep within the forest, traces of an ancient stone hall with a simple, unadorned structure were revealed among the tree shade, and on that stone hall, numerous light patterns could be faintly seen.

Li Luo and the others landed on the treetops outside the stone hall, their gazes sizing up the stone hall before them.

The stone door of the stone hall was tightly shut, covered with mottled, ancient marks. The faintly visible light patterns indicated that the power of the strange array still remained here. Outside the stone door, two rows of stone statues standing silently drew everyone's attention.

"They're guardian puppets." Li Li Lingjing glanced at the flowing light patterns on those stone statues' bodies and said softly.

Li Li Wuyuan was not surprised by this. He took a step forward, and the vast phase power of his half-step Tian Xiang Jing unfurled like a storm. Then he charged out ahead: "Let's deal with them first."

As Li Li Wuyuan approached the stone hall, those stone statue puppets suddenly had flowing light rotating in their eyes. The next moment, as if they had come back to life, they wrapped themselves in majestic energy and attacked Li Li Wuyuan.

At this moment, Li Li Fuling, Li Guan, Li Luo, and the others also struck one after another, fighting those stone statue puppets into a melee.

A chaotic battle erupted. Although fierce, it did not last long.

After all, these guardian puppets had endured the erosion of time, and their energy was already running low. So with the combined efforts of the Li Li Tianwang lineage's group, in just half an incense stick's time, the last puppet was blasted to pieces under Li Li Lingjing's green serpent staff.

As the last guardian puppet turned into fragments scattered all over the ground, cracks also appeared on the mottled stone door of the stone hall. The light patterns on it grew fainter and fainter, and finally, the tightly shut stone door slowly opened a crack.

Joy appeared on everyone's face.

However, although the treasure vault had opened, no one rushed in en masse. Li Li Wuyuan proposed that the team split into two groups—one to enter the treasure vault and sweep it clean, and one to guard outside, while also deterring those locust-like rogue cultivators so they would not dare to lay a finger on this place.

This suggestion was fair, and even Li Luo expressed his agreement.

So next, the group divided by drawing lots. In the end, Li Li Lingjing led a group of people into the treasure vault, while Li Li Wuyuan led another group to guard outside.

However, Li Luo, Li Li Fengyi, Li Li Jingtao, and others drew lots to guard outside, and could only temporarily part ways with Li Li Lingjing.

Once the allocation was done, everyone took up their respective duties. Li Li Lingjing said a few words to Li Luo, then led her people into the ancient treasure vault first.

And Li Li Wuyuan led his people to guard outside the treasure vault, deterring the rogue cultivators who were gradually sweeping over.

Li Luo casually sat down among the broken stones outside the treasure vault. Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi also kept him company at his side, chatting and laughing.

Time gradually passed.

During this period, some rogue cultivators did indeed come. They coveted the treasure vault, but upon seeing the cold gazes of the Li Li Tianwang lineage's group, they hesitated briefly and could only silently retreat.

So the guarding task was fairly easy.

Until at a certain moment, a streak of flowing light sped over. The powerful phase power emanating from it even caused Li Li Wuyuan's eyes to suddenly narrow, and at the same time, he waved his hand, signaling everyone else to ready themselves.

Under everyone's gaze, that streak of flowing light drew from far to near and landed outside the treasure vault.

Everyone looked and saw that it was a tall woman. Her expression seemed somewhat cold and fierce, and the phase power fluctuations emanating from within her body were actually no weaker than Li Li Wuyuan's.

"My friend, this place was sought out by our Li Li Tianwang lineage. If you wish to seek treasures, please go elsewhere." Li Li Wuyuan said in a deep voice.

The tall woman glanced at Li Li Wuyuan and said, "I'm not here to snatch treasure. I'm here to find someone—to find Li Luo!"

Li Li Wuyuan was startled. Just as he was about to say something, Li Luo had already stood up. He looked at the somewhat familiar tall woman and immediately recognized her, because the "Nine Orifices Refining Gang Pill" had been sent over by her.

"Miss, what business do you have with me?" Li Luo stepped forward a few paces and asked, somewhat puzzled.

The tall woman was naturally Jin-Zhong Jie. She looked at Li Luo, and in her heart she could not figure out exactly what relationship he had with her own Young Lady, nor did she know whether the other party would be willing to risk going to the rescue. But at this point she had no more choices, and immediately said in a deep voice, "My Young Lady says an old friend is in trouble, and asks for your aid."

Li Luo was somewhat stunned: "Old friend?"

Jin-Zhong Jie looked at his expression and added one sentence: "An old friend from the Great Xia."

Li Luo's heart suddenly jolted violently. In that instant, he recalled the other party's identity with the Golden Dragon Treasure House, recalled the precious "Nine Orifices Refining Gang Pill" that had been sent over for no reason, and also recalled that accidental glance back at the Bai Yu plaza.

That sense of familiarity.

All the many puzzles were suddenly answered at this moment.

That girl...

Was actually Lv Qing'er!