Chapter 421: Indeed, We Are Fake

Her voice was not loud, but it was clear in the quiet environment of the cafe.

As soon as she finished speaking, the largest sunflower in the painting began to rotate slowly.

The center of the flower disk gradually twisted and deformed, countless tiny seeds rearranged and combined, eventually forming the outline of a human face.

It was a slightly comical face with an exaggerated nose and thick lips, but the eyes were exceptionally sharp:

"Evidence? Just saying it isn't enough.

There are many people impersonating Crown Clan members now; a thousand years ago, there was a guy who tried to muddle through."

The sunflower’s tone carried a kind of pedantic seriousness, but its expression was full of playfulness:

"I need bloodline verification; standard procedure, can't be sloppy."

Eve took out a small silver dagger without hesitation and gently cut her finger.

A few drops of bright red blood dripped onto the frame and were immediately absorbed by the wooden frame.

The sunflower extended a tiny vine and tasted a bit of the blood.

Its expression was like a senior sommelier identifying fine wine:

"Hmm, indeed it is a pure Crown Clan bloodline, the lineage is very pure... however..."

It frowned, showing a confused look:

"Why is there a taste of black tea? And a little... lemon fragrance?"

"I drank lemon black tea this morning."

Eve explained helplessly, a slight blush appearing on her face.

"Oh! So that’s it!"

The sunflower nodded as if suddenly enlightened:

"Then there’s no problem. Young people today really have taste; lemon black tea is indeed a good choice.

I personally recommend adding a little honey; the taste will be richer."

After speaking, the entire painting began to rotate slowly.

It wasn't the frame rotating, but the world within the painting undergoing spatial reconstruction.

The sunflower field gradually dissipated, replaced by a stone staircase passage extending downward.

"I wish you a pleasant mood today!"

The sunflower face said last, then turned back into an ordinary flower pattern, as if everything just now was an illusion.

The stairs in the passage presented a strange transparent texture, as if carved from crystal.

But these stairs were clearly not ordinary building materials—they had their own consciousness and emotions.

"No, no, no!"

When they walked to the seventeenth step, that step suddenly protested, emitting a middle-aged man’s voice:

"I’m in a bad mood today! I don't want to be stepped on! Whoever wants to be stepped on can be, anyway, I’m going on strike!"

After speaking, this step really disappeared, leaving a hole in the staircase.

"This"

Eve froze for a moment; this situation was clearly beyond her experience range.

"It’s okay!"

The eighteenth step next to it immediately said, the voice sounding like an enthusiastic young man:

"I’ll replace him! Although it’s a bit against the rules, helping others is a virtue!"

Saying this, this step really jumped away from its original position and moved to the hole.

"Wow! So cool!"

"So loving!"

"This is the spirit of the stairs!"

Other stairs expressed admiration one after another, and the entire staircase was full of laughter.

"Thank you, sir!"

Luo En politely expressed his gratitude to the helpful step.

The step immediately turned pink shyly, and its voice became coy:

"You’re welcome~ It’s my honor to be able to help you! Actually... actually, I’ve always wanted to do something special for guests..."

Eve shook her head helplessly: "The ancestor’s bad taste is truly everywhere..."

Finally, they reached the end of the passage.

The gate of the treasure vault was a huge archway, made of some kind of metal emitting starlight.

But this door clearly suffered from severe multiple personality disorder.

"Welcome! Welcome!" The left half of the door said enthusiastically, the voice as warm as a spring breeze:

"Distinguished guest, you have finally come! We have been waiting for you for a long time!"

"Get out! Danger!"

The right half of the door roared viciously, the voice as biting as a winter cold wind:

"This is not a place you should come to! Run! Run while you still can!"

"Don't listen to his nonsense!" The left half explained hurriedly:

"My 'roommate' is always overly pessimistic. Please come in; there are the most precious treasures waiting for you inside!"

"Blind optimist!" The right half retorted angrily:

"You don't even know what terrifying things are hidden in the vault! Every one of those treasures is stained with blood!"

The two halves began to argue fiercely, their voices getting louder and louder:

"You pessimist!"

"You dangerous guide!"

"You are the dangerous one!"

"You are!"

The arguing sound echoed in the passage, and even the walls began to complain that the noise was too loud.

Eve sighed helplessly:

"Please be quiet; we need to go in, and... also..."

She looked at Luo En, attachment appearing in her amethyst-like eyes:

"This is my mentor, someone worth trusting."

The door suddenly went quiet, both halves turned to her, and then said in unison:

"Oh, it’s little Eve! We didn't recognize you just now; you’ve grown up so much!"

"Sorry, we argued again." The right half was somewhat ashamed:

"Old habit; can't control emotions whenever we see strangers."

"How about this." The left half suggested:

"We guess fingers to decide; the winning side makes the call. Fair and reasonable, no cheating."

So the two halves of the door began to guess fingers seriously.

This process was exceptionally comical because they could only use the door knocker to represent three choices.

After three rounds of fierce competition, the left side won by a narrow margin.

"Yay! I won!" The left side cheered excitedly:

"According to the prior agreement, I have the right to decide whether to open the door. The answer is, of course—welcome to the treasure vault!"

The door began to open slowly, accompanied by the sound of ancient mechanisms rotating.

But when it opened halfway, the right half suddenly protested unconvinced:

"I want to apply for a rematch! Your move just now was suspicious of cheating!"

"Protest invalid!" The left half resolutely refused:

"The game rules were stated beforehand; you can't go back on your word afterward!"

"Then I want to appeal! Appeal to a higher authority!"

"There is no higher authority here! The Master doesn't care about these trifles anyway!"

The door stayed half-open like this, with both sides still engaged in a fierce "court debate."

Luo En and Eve could only turn sideways helplessly, preparing to enter.

Just as the two were about to step into that gorgeous gate, ripples appeared in the air.

Purple light flowed like mercury, condensing into Cassandra’s projection in front of them.

"Luo En, before you enter the vault, I must remind you of some things."

Her voice carried gravity, completely different from usual:

"The ancestor’s collection is indeed precious, but every piece is full of his unique... bad taste."

Cassandra’s projection paced slowly:

"The ancestor never plays by the rules; his vault is not just a place to display treasures, but a huge testing ground."

Luo En noticed that when Cassandra said this, her eyes flickered somewhat.

Clearly, she herself had paid some price in this vault.

"Also." Cassandra looked at Eve, then looked at Luo En again:

"After you finish your selection, I need to talk to you alone... about the expedition."

Her tone carried a kind of imperceptible urgency:

"The situation of the Vital civilization is more... complex than the public report."

Luo En sensed the urgency in her tone and gave Eve an apologetic look:

"It seems our plans for tonight will have to be postponed."