Ch 181: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The demon cult’s stronghold was quite large, covering the entire valley, with extensive fields of medicinal plants. The botany and medical experts carefully excavated for several hours before they managed to collect everything.

There was also a snake pit, filled with venomous snakes, many of which the animal experts had never seen before. However, the system could not bring living creatures from another world back with them, so they had no choice but to carefully kill the snakes and seal them in jars before handing them over to Shen Yunxuan.

The special forces soldiers woke up a few members of the demon cult and interrogated them separately, eventually discovering two hidden chambers. One of them had a wall covered in strange inscriptions. The shapes of the characters were peculiar, and neither the historians nor the archaeologists could decipher what they meant, though they recorded everything with cameras to study further after returning.

When Shen Yunxuan heard about it, she curiously went in to take a look. After observing the wall, she hesitated before saying, “Are these really words? They feel more like… combat techniques.”

“Techniques? Martial arts techniques?” The archaeologist was stunned. He moved closer to the wall and studied it carefully again, but to him, it still looked like a form of writing. How could it be related to combat techniques?

Since increasing her intelligence and learning martial arts, Shen Yunxuan felt as if she had gained an intuitive understanding of the subject. She was confident that she wasn’t mistaken, so she began mimicking the motions she sensed from the first symbol. Then the second, then the third—gradually, she became completely immersed, entering a state of deep focus.

Everyone tactfully stepped back without disturbing her. Though they couldn’t be sure if she was correct, her movements carried an indescribable rhythm. Since she could string together the characters into a coherent series of combat techniques, she was likely on the right track.

According to the captured cult members, this chamber was originally the retreat of a mysterious master. When the demon cult occupied the place, they couldn’t understand the wall inscriptions and turned the area into a hidden chamber. Only those at the level of cult elders or above were allowed to enter, and if they couldn’t decipher the writings, they were barred from returning. So far, no one had managed to unlock the secrets.

Given this background, the writings might very well contain an advanced martial art technique. The experts even began filming Shen Yunxuan, fearing that if she couldn’t reach the same level of realization after returning, they would lose the opportunity to document this moment.

While Shen Yunxuan was engrossed in her breakthrough, Elder Xu led a team into the second hidden chamber. This chamber was filled with elaborate traps; the moment they stepped inside, a stone door dropped automatically, sealing them in. The archaeologist carefully examined the area and noticed that one of the steps looked slightly different from the others. He quickly raised a hand to signal everyone to halt.

He tossed a small stone onto that step, triggering poisoned arrows that shot out from both sides!

Had a person stepped on it instead of the stone, they would have been dead on the spot.

Xu Wen’an, feeling uneasy, said, “This place is too dangerous, Dad. Let’s not go further. See if there’s a way out. If we really can’t leave, we can just wait for the time limit to send us back automatically.”

The fact that they would be automatically transported back was one reason they had dared to enter this hidden chamber. They just hadn’t expected the traps to be this deadly.

Elder Xu frowned. “For such a heavily fortified chamber, there must be something important hidden inside. We need to stay focused—our mission in traveling between worlds is to bring as much value back to the country as possible. This is a rare opportunity that comes only once a month. We can’t waste time, waste opportunities, or let excessive caution make us miss something vital.

“So far, most of what we’ve acquired in this world has been of mid to low quality—nothing of the highest caliber. These two hidden chambers in the demon cult’s stronghold might contain exactly the superior martial techniques we’re looking for. We must find a way to obtain them.”

Xu Wen’an nodded. “Alright, then I’ll take the lead. You and Grandpa Chen, be careful.”

Xu Wen’an had no choice—his father was already over seventy, and while still vigorous, this was not the kind of place he should be risking his life in. However, it seemed that fate had decided he would be saved by Shen Yunxuan at the brink of death and drawn into this extraordinary adventure.

Expecting Elder Xu to sit safely in the rear was unrealistic. As his son, Xu Wen’an could only do his best to protect him.

The archaeologist continued carefully exploring, while Xu Wen’an and the others cautiously inspected their surroundings. Twice more, they managed to evade deadly traps. Then the archaeologist noticed an exquisitely crafted candelabrum on a table. He reached out and turned it slightly, and a small door in the wall slid open, revealing a sword inside.

The archaeologist wiped his glasses, stepped forward to examine it, and then gasped in excitement. “This is a Xuantie Heavy Sword! A sword made from a type of black iron we can’t forge! And judging by its craftsmanship, it doesn’t match the technological level of this era—it must have been created by a highly skilled master using a special method.”

In other words, there might only be this one in existence. If the master who forged it was gone, and their technique lost, then there would never be another Xuantie Heavy Sword.

Elder Chen immediately said, “This is a treasure—wrap it up and carry it. When we get the chance to leave, hand it over to Xiao Shen for safekeeping.”

As Xu Wen’an packed up the sword, the archaeologist discovered something else. Among a row of circular carvings on the wall, one was subtly different from the others. He reached out and rotated it, and a stone tile in the floor slid open, revealing a rolled-up sheepskin scroll inside.

When they unrolled it, they found it contained a sword technique—one specifically designed to be used with the Xuantie Heavy Sword. However, the requirements for mastering it were extremely high. Only someone with an overwhelmingly strong yang-based martial foundation could practice it; otherwise, it would cause severe self-injury.

“This is also a great find! Having a matching technique doubles its value. Whether or not we can find a compatible pure yang martial art, we should take it back first and figure it out later.”

The archaeologist continued to meticulously search the hidden chamber and managed to uncover three more concealed mechanisms. These contained a list of demon cult members, a sacred medical and poison scripture, and a rare healing elixir.

After ensuring there was nothing else left to discover, they carefully located the exit switch and left the chamber.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan had finished comprehending the writings on the wall. When she saw Elder Xu and the others emerging, she quickly ran up to them. “Grandfather, was it dangerous in there?”

Elder Xu waved his hand dismissively. “It was nothing serious. How about you? What kind of technique did you learn? And don’t just recklessly practice techniques like that in the future—what if it turned out to be demonic arts? This is the demon cult’s territory, after all.”

Shen Yunxuan replied sheepishly, “I just saw it and started practicing without thinking too much. I’ll be more careful next time.” Then she excitedly added, “Grandfather, this is an absolutely amazing qinggong technique! It’s agile and fluid, and the speed is incredible. It’s truly a miraculous qinggong! Let me show you!”

She activated the technique and, in an instant, she had gracefully moved dozens of meters away. It was as if she had sprinted, yet the speed was impossible for an ordinary human. It felt like an illusion—before their eyes could even register her movement, she had already returned.

It was as if reality had been fast-forwarded. Just a blink, and she was back in place!

Elder Chen was astonished. “That’s real qinggong! I never thought such a thing actually existed in the world. I have to learn this. Old Xu, let’s train together. We’re getting old—if we can’t win a fight, at least we can still run!”

Shen Yunxuan nodded enthusiastically. “Grandpa Chen is right! Everyone should train. I’ve only grasped the basics, yet I can already move like this. If I fully master it, I’ll be able to move as fast as the characters in TV dramas! This is my favorite martial art from this entire journey!”

As Elder Chen said, if you can’t win, you can at least escape. Shen Yunxuan had to travel through worlds every month, but mastering martial arts wasn’t something that could be rushed. Having a superior qinggong technique would allow her to evade attacks at any time, greatly enhancing her ability to survive. She felt that raiding the demon cult’s stronghold had been an excellent decision.

If there were more time, she would have loved to explore the demon cult’s headquarters. There had to be even better treasures there!

By this time, it was already past midnight. Shen Yunxuan gathered everyone in the main hall to take stock of their loot. They had plundered an astonishing amount from the demon cult—several large chests of gold and silver, numerous rare weapons, and uniquely crafted arms used by the cult members.

The demon cult had accumulated its wealth through looting and violence, so naturally, it had plenty of valuables. They had also obtained various poisons, miraculous healing medicines, disguising masks, and even golden-threaded soft armor.

The experts were most excited about a library they had discovered. There were multiple bookshelves filled with rare texts—many of them were one-of-a-kind!

Shen Yunxuan was now convinced that this place had once belonged to a reclusive master. The books and the qinggong technique inscribed on the wall were likely left behind by this master before the demon cult either forced them out or killed them. The demon cult had then taken over the site.

The books covered an astonishing range of topics—music, chess, calligraphy, painting, astronomy, geography, agriculture, engineering, medicine, and even books on imperial strategies. The demon cult had not hidden these books in a secret vault, nor had they taken them to their headquarters, probably because they had no direct relation to martial arts or dominating the martial world, so they were undervalued.

However, for modern society, these were priceless treasures. Many of these subjects contained lost knowledge, and if these texts proved useful after returning, they could have a profound impact on various fields.

Shen Yunxuan emptied her system storage, and everyone repacked the items. Fortunately, the system grid didn’t have size restrictions—each slot could hold one consolidated package. This meant that as long as they bound the books together, they could fit an entire collection into one slot.

When she first arrived, Shen Yunxuan had stored most of her supplies in a single large slot and used separate slots for items she might need immediately. This made access more convenient. But now, as they prepared to return, that wasn’t necessary anymore. They bundled multiple large packages and placed them into different system slots. They had truly gathered an enormous amount of valuable goods.

For the large chests of gold and silver, the experts selected historically significant antiques, filling two chests for Shen Yunxuan to store. They also had the special forces soldiers carry as much as possible. The loose jewelry and accessories served as an excellent test case to see if they could transport a large quantity of items back with them. The remaining gold ingots, silver bars, and extravagant jewelry were simply too cumbersome to take.

Xu Wenyu asked, “If we leave these behind, won’t we just be handing them over to the demon cult? Their headquarters is bound to send people.”

Shen Yunxuan grinned. “Nope! I’ll just send them to my sworn brother and sister!”

She wrote a note and had the treasures transported to the Qingyun Sect.

That night, Xie Yun’er lay in bed, unable to sleep. Today had been an incredible day—she had gained an elder sister, confessed her feelings to the person she loved, and resolved the Qingyun Sect’s financial struggles. It was the luckiest day of her life.

Lying there, she repeatedly switched her flashlight on and off, her mind full of thoughts about Shen Yunxuan. Suddenly, she heard a slight noise coming from the front courtyard. She quickly dressed, grabbed her flashlight, and ran outside.

Xie Feng also heard the commotion. The two of them, holding flashlights, ran into each other outside, both momentarily stunned before breaking into laughter at the same time.

“Let’s take a look.” Xie Feng and Xie Yun’er went to the courtyard wall. With a sweep of the flashlight, they immediately spotted a tightly bound person and three large chests.

As they approached, they gasped. “Chen Dong?! How is he here?”

Xie Feng checked Chen Dong’s breathing and found that he was still alive, just unconscious. He kicked Chen Dong in the side. “This traitor has finally fallen into our hands!”

Xie Yun’er opened one of the chests and was nearly blinded by the gleaming gold ingots inside. She quickly shut the lid and picked up a note resting on top, reading it with disbelief. “This… this is a gift from Sister!”

Xie Feng immediately understood. “It seems that when Second Sister saved me, Chen Dong must have been nearby. But why did she lie about it?”

Xie Yun’er, having already placed her full trust in Shen Yunxuan, said firmly, “Sister must have had a reason for doing so. If she intended to deceive us, she wouldn’t have sent Chen Dong here, nor would she have given us all these riches, the business formulas, and even taught us Tai Chi.”

“That’s true. I’m just curious why she didn’t say it outright. But at that time, we weren’t acquainted yet, and Second Sister doesn’t know martial arts—it was wise for her to be cautious. Since she sent all of this over, she must have already left.”

Xie Feng pieced everything together and quickly saw through Shen Yunxuan’s motives. It was likely that following him back to Qingyun Sect was her way of using the life-saving debt to learn martial arts. However, he wasn’t upset at all. In fact, it made perfect sense—Shen Yunxuan had saved his life and given them so many precious gifts. It was they who should be grateful to her.

Xie Yun’er held onto the note, her voice filled with disappointment. “Now that we’ve parted, who knows when I’ll see Sister again? She loves martial arts so much, yet her father forbids her from practicing. He must not treat her well. I wonder if she will suffer when she returns. Now that she has learned martial arts, will her father find out and punish her?”

Xie Feng recalled how Shen Yunxuan had mentioned something about a dowry estate and even establishing a sect of her own. He wasn’t sure if it was true or not. He turned to look at Chen Dong. “Let’s ask him and see if he knows anything.”

They first hid the treasure in a secret chamber, then dragged Chen Dong into the firewood storage room and woke him up for questioning.

Chen Dong, ever since being captured, had spent his time in the inn identifying martial arts manuals, weapons, and medicinal items. Then, he overheard talk of a “Young Pavilion Master” arriving. Shortly after, he was drugged and lost consciousness.

Now, as he groggily woke up, he shook his head to clear his vision. When he finally managed to focus, his face turned pale with horror.

How was he back at Qingyun Sect?

How had he ended up in Xie Feng and Xie Yun’er’s hands?!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆