Chapter 746: Shall We Go Find Some Treasure?

TL: FoodieMonster007

A new star blazed to life and completed another constellation.

"Haa…" Saintess Ga Ye sighed as she stared at the ceiling. Several constellations now glowed, centered around the largest star. "He's breaking the seal faster and faster. At this rate, he'll shatter the Seventy Two Stars Soul Sealing Formation and emerge much sooner than expected."

The Darkness Palace Lord Hwa Mugyeong stood behind the Saintess as she reported with trembling eyes, but he remained unmoved. He simply gazed up at the ceiling in silence. Deep, layered wrinkles on his face completely hid his emotions. A faint aura of darkness wrapped around him, making his thoughts impossible to read.

Ga Ye had to ask him directly. "Aren't you afraid, Palace Lord?"

"I am afraid." His voice resonated like an ancient bell, speaking only truth.

Ga Ye knew this well. The only person in the world the Darkness Palace Lord feared was the man trapped inside that seal. That's why their Grave of Swords plan absolutely had to succeed. "This is our last chance. Can he handle the Young Cult Leader alone? Besides, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Flower Sword Supreme are with him."

Hwa Mugyeong said something unexpected. "He isn't alone."

Ga Ye's eyes lit up. "Who did you send?"

"Someone trustworthy enough."

There was another, more important fact.

"And he's completed the song."

Ga Ye's voice trembled. "How? Wasn't he still far from achieving complete mastery?"

Hwa Mugyeong revealed something startling. "I gave him the Heaven's Will Divine Pill."

Ga Ye knew about the pill. The Heaven's Will Divine Pill was the Heavenly Fate Palace's greatest miracle herb. The Darkness Palace Lord had been saving it for the most critical moment, and it seemed he'd decided that moment was now.

"We'll recover all of the Six Elements Origin Qi, and the Young Cult Leader will die this time."

"The entrance to the Grave of Swords is through a hidden underwater cave beneath the lake." Tae Su's voice shook as he revealed the entrance. He was tense inside. Now that he'd played his last card, his life hung in the balance. Fear overwhelmed him and he didn't dare test Geom Mugeuk.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk wouldn't miss the chance to tease the nervous man. "Looks like you're not needed anymore," he said coldly.

Tae Su flinched before putting on a brave front. "Do you really think I told you the real location?"

"If it's not the left lake, I'll just check the right one."

"It might not even be this mountain, right?"

"Not this mountain?"

Faced with such a direct question, Tae Su was momentarily speechless. He'd witnessed Geom Mugeuk's ridiculous martial prowess several times during their journey here. How could he possibly dare claim it wasn't the right place now?

Instead of answering, he simply sighed.

"Don't worry, I'll bury you in a sunny spot by the lake," Geom Mugeuk reassured.

"No, please bury me somewhere else. Otherwise, I'll become a regretful ghost that haunts this lakeshore. I'll keep thinking, why didn't I run away then?"

The playful look vanished from Geom Mugeuk's face. "I'll give you a chance now so you won't have any regrets," he said seriously.

Tae Su tensed up.

Geom Mugeuk offered, "From now on, think carefully before you decide. You know well that even if I don't kill you, the danger of dying in that place is high, right? You can leave now. If you want to go, I'll let you."

Tae Su considered Geom Mugeuk's offer. If he left now, he could certainly survive.

He'd survived after meddling with a treasure map he never should've touched. This wasn't a bad outcome. He could live if he just let go of his greed. Leaving when offered his life would be the wise choice, but…

"I want to see this through to the end."

This time, he had a reason to stay until the very end.

This choice wasn't given to him alone.

Geom Mugeuk turned to Ji Han. "What about you? You don't need to take the risk. You can wait for me in the village at the foot of the mountain."

Ji Han answered immediately, as if he'd already thought about it. "How can I stay in a safe place when you, my Liege, are in danger? I want to serve you until the end as well, but please promise me one thing."

"What thing?"

"Please treat me as if I'm not here. Even if my life is at stake, don't save me. Don't spare even a single glance in my direction."

He said this because he worried that his inferior martial arts would burden Geom Mugeuk. Although his martial arts skills weren't something to be ashamed of anywhere else, his new liege's abilities were so extraordinary that such worries arose naturally.

"I wouldn't have paid you any mind, but now that you've said that, I'm already worried."

"Ah! That's not what I meant."

Geom Mugeuk enjoyed watching the flustered Ji Han before speaking, "Okay, don't expect my help. I'll help if I can, but when things get urgent, you must survive on your own."

"That's perfectly reasonable. I absolutely won't be a burden."

Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Geom Mugeuk offered reassurance with a gentle gaze. "When you're with me, you don't need to worry about that. If an enemy is strong enough that I can't protect you, then it's an enemy I couldn't beat even if I fought alone anyway."

Ji Han was sincerely grateful that Geom Mugeuk was taking him along. He didn't know what kind of work he would do in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in the future, but he thought this experience with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Young Cult Leader would be his first and last.

It wasn't just the Young Cult Leader, too. To be with two Demon Supremes as well… this was truly the greatest moment of his life.

He didn't want to give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity just because he was afraid.

Geom Mugeuk gave orders to Tae Su and Ji Han. "You two, go to that village over there right now. Get a room and leave the carriage. Wait, take this luggage down first."

He grabbed his leather backpack from the carriage.

"Surely you're not planning to take that luggage with you?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked.

"I have to. You two might need to sleep there, you know."

"We're fine with camping."

"I'm not fine with it. One must be even more particular about their sleeping arrangements when away from home."

Once the leather backpack was unloaded, Ji Han and Tae Su took the carriage to the village.

Now, only Geom Mugeuk and the two Demon Supremes remained.

Geom Mugeuk took a small piece of leather from his backpack and spread it on a rock. "Please sit here."

The two sat side by side. The soft leather felt surprisingly comfortable.

Just then, the sound of clashing weapons echoed from up the mountain.

They'd already seen martial artists flocking to Zhejiang on their way here. However, even within the vast province of Zhejiang, they were gathering specifically at Mount Tianmu. This meant someone was luring them here.

"This is a trap, isn't it?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked.

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "Yes, it seems so."

"Is there any point in setting such an obvious trap?"

Geom Mugeuk glanced up the mountain. "It's effective, isn't it? Everyone has gathered here like this."

The Flower Sword Supreme, who'd been listening quietly, asked, "Are those masterminds involved in this too?"

"It's not certain yet, but I believe so."

"If you think so, then it's definitely their doing," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon concluded firmly. Geom Mugeuk was speculating, but he was certain the young man was right. That was how much he trusted Geom Mugeuk's judgment. "Did you know about this from the start?"

"I suspected it might be the case, so I invited both you Elders. If my prediction is correct, this will be a tough fight."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Flower Sword Supreme exchanged glances.

"We'll have to earn the price of the miracle herbs, won't we?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon grumbled.

The Flower Sword Supreme smiled and replied, "We'll have to earn it and then some. After all, both my face and yours have gotten a lot younger because of them, Orabeoni."

A smile naturally formed on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's lips. The massive increase in his inner arts wasn't important. These days, being told he looked younger made him happier than any other words.

In the meantime, Ji Han and Tae Su returned.

"On our way, we saw martial artists arriving here one after another."

It seemed the rumors had spread quite effectively.

"Well then, shall we go find some treasure?"

With Geom Mugeuk in the lead, they began to ascend Mount Tianmu.

Hearing the sounds of fighting from all around, Tae Su said quietly, "The treasure map stated this place was Mount Tianmu, but the fact that the entrance was through the lake on the western peak could only be known by solving a cipher. I was able to solve it because my father trained me in deciphering codes since I was young, but others won't be able to solve it easily."

Some time later, they walked into a huge fight taking place in a large clearing halfway up the mountain. It wasn't just a skirmish. People were stabbed by swords and died one after another.

"Hand over the treasure map!"

Surprisingly, even here, they were fighting because of the treasure map.

"I told you I don't have it!"

"That bastard has the treasure map!"

"That's a lie!"

It was utter chaos. People killed others to search their bodies for the treasure map, while some framed others.

Looking at the situation, it was clear that most of them had been swept up by rumors, unaware that the entrance to the Grave of Swords was here.

However, the true masters weren't joining the fight. They watched the situation from a distance.

Geom Mugeuk's group also kept their distance, waiting for the fighting to calm down.

Just as the deadly fight continued, someone spoke with a voice laced with inner qi, "Everyone, stop fighting! I will guide all of you to the Grave of Swords!"

The fighters all stopped and stepped back. Guide them to the Grave of Swords? To think someone would say such a thing in this situation.

Everyone turned to the person who'd spoken in surprise, including Geom Mugeuk, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Flower Sword Supreme, Ji Han, and Tae Su. The person who offered to guide them wore a mask made of iron. Perhaps because of the iron mask, his voice sounded peculiar, making it difficult to guess his age.

"How do you plan to guide us there? Do you have the treasure map?" someone asked.

As if to confirm it, the man in the iron mask took something from his robes. "That's right. I have the treasure map to the Grave of Swords."

A greedy killing intent surged in the eyes of those surrounding him.

The next moment, the man in the iron mask unfolded the treasure map in front of the crowd. "Here, I'll let everyone get a good look at it. Just don't fight."

The martial artists approached to look at the treasure map. They wanted nothing more than to snatch it and run, but the unique and composed aura emanating from the man in the iron mask didn't allow it.

The location written on the treasure map was indeed Mount Tianmu, but the exact spot wasn't shown. Instead, there were unknown characters and a grid of numbers.

"As you can see, the exact entrance is written in a cipher. Therefore, even if you were to obtain this, you couldn't go there right away."

"How can we believe that your treasure map is real?" someone shouted.

"The treasure map is real. I discovered the entrance to the Grave of Swords by solving this cipher."

The martial artists murmured among themselves.

"And yet you'll take us to the Grave of Swords?"

"That's right."

Naturally, the martial artists didn't believe him.

"That's ridiculous. You expect us to believe that? In a situation where it wouldn't be enough to kill everyone present, you're saying you'll take us all?"

There were many among them with hearts despicable enough to kill their own companions. How could they believe his words?

The man in the iron mask revealed his reason. "Because I can't break through and enter that place alone."

Everyone's eyes widened in shock.

"It's a place that can only be entered if many people combine their strength. It's impossible to pass through alone."

Someone from the crowd asked again, "Who are you?"

"Later, rumors will spread about who obtained the treasure. Is there anyone here who wants to reveal who they are? Then you reveal your identity first. I'll reveal mine too."

After he said that, no one asked who he was anymore.

Just then, someone else stepped forward.

"This is a trap," said a middle-aged martial artist with a long sword scar running from his forehead to his chin. It was an unforgettable face.

"Why is it a trap?"

He took something from his robes and unfolded it before the crowd. "Because there's a treasure map here too."

Those who were close confirmed its contents.

"It's the same treasure map!"

It was indeed the exact same treasure map as the one the man in the iron mask had shown. It was completely identical, without a single character out of place.

The scarred man said to everyone, "What reason could there be to make multiple copies of the same treasure map? Isn't this a conspiracy by someone to kill us all here?"

The martial artists murmured, agitated. With two treasure maps appearing, the situation was certainly suspicious.

"So? Are you not going to go in?" the man in the iron mask asked loudly. He understood their desires more accurately than anyone. "Whether there are two treasure maps or three, even if ten were circulating, are you going to leave without checking the place out? If so, leave right now. Anyone who thinks it's a trap should leave immediately."

Circumstantially, the probability of it being a trap was high. However, no one left. What if it was real? Couldn't multiple treasure maps have been made? What if the ones who remained found the treasure of the Grave of Swords after they left? That would be unbearable.

"Someone must have made two treasure maps to make people think it's a trap and stop them from going to the Grave of Swords!"

Then other martial artists yelled.

"I'm not leaving. Take me with you!"

"I'll go too!"

"We won't leave."

"We'll follow you!"

Do they even know who the person inside that iron mask is?

Everyone's eyes were blinded by the treasure of the Grave of Swords.

The man in the iron mask said to the scarred martial artist, "You said you think it's a trap, so why don't you leave?"

The scarred martial artist said nothing, but in the end, he didn't leave.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who was watching, immediately suspected the man in the iron mask. "That masked man is suspicious."

Geom Mugeuk looked at the scarred martial artist who'd tried to warn them it was a trap. "In that case, that scarred man is suspicious too."

"Why do you think that?"

"The one who insists on taking everyone is suspicious, but why did that man go out of his way to try and stop them?"

The explanation made sense, so the Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded.

Geom Mugeuk looked around at the numerous people and whispered "Our enemy is surely hidden among those present here."

Suddenly, Ji Han inhaled sharply through his nose with a surprised expression. "Wait! I smell something."