Chapter 116: The Treasure Passage
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Splash! Splash!
Several crystalline waves flickered briefly on the ocean’s surface. Beneath the sea, Yu Zhao and her group pressed forward, their spiritual energy shields warding off the crushing water as they descended along the mountain structure of the island.
Their plunge created ripples that shook the water, sending waves crashing above. As they continued their descent, the underwater scenery transformed. Fewer sea beasts and clusters of seaweed could be seen. The water darkened with depth, and the oppressive force of the deep sea pressed harder against them.
An unspoken anxiety took hold of the group. They had already descended hundreds of feet but still hadn’t reached the seabed. The looming uncertainty fueled a silent fear that gnawed at their hearts.
Amid this tension, a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy rippled through their senses.
Whoosh!
Zhao Xian and his wife reacted instantly. Like lightning, they darted forward, their speed leaving concentric ripples in their wake. Ji Han Zhou instinctively stepped forward but hesitated when he noticed Yu Zhao, Lady Hua, and Big Boss Wu remaining still.
“Don’t rush,” Yu Zhao transmitted calmly. “Let them scout ahead first.”
Ji Han Zhou nodded, silently reminding himself to observe more and act less. Being cautious could save him from trouble.
Moving at a steady pace, Yu Zhao’s group followed Zhao Xian and his wife. When they reached their position, Zhao Xian stood aside with a grim expression, revealing a passageway embedded in the seabed.
“This appears to be the entrance to the undersea passage, but there’s a restriction in place,” Zhao Xian explained, his frustration evident.
Restrictions, a variation of formations, were harder to dismantle. While formations typically relied on components like formation stones or disks, restrictions were woven using divine sense, making them adaptable and complex.
Breaking a restriction required one of two methods: brute force or understanding its mechanisms to dismantle it intelligently. Unfortunately, Zhao Xian and his wife excelled at neither, leaving them stumped at the entrance.
Big Boss Wu scratched his head. “I’m no good with formations. Does anyone here have expertise?”
Lady Hua and Yu Zhao shook their heads, and the group fell into silence until Ji Han Zhou hesitantly offered, “I can try.”
Everyone turned to him, startled.
Ji Han Zhou, who had barely registered in their minds aside from his striking looks, had been mostly overlooked. Even though Yu Zhao had defended him earlier, the group hadn’t given him much thought. For him to step forward now was unexpected.
Yu Zhao smiled warmly. “Junior Brother Ji, go ahead. With me here, no one will disturb you.”
The others exchanged awkward smiles but stepped aside to make room.
Ji Han Zhou approached the entrance with heavy steps. This was his chance to prove himself to Yu Zhao. He couldn’t afford to fail.
While his experience with restrictions was limited, Ji Han Zhou had a solid foundation in formations, having often practiced sword arrays with fellow disciples at the Heavenly Sword Sect. He understood that formations and restrictions shared underlying principles. By identifying their connections, dismantling a restriction became feasible.
Taking a deep breath, Ji Han Zhou focused his gaze on the intricate, glowing lines of spiritual energy etched into the rocky entrance. His mind worked furiously, deciphering their patterns and interplay.
Seven days passed as he stood motionless before the restriction.
The group’s initial hope gave way to doubt, and finally, disappointment. Big Boss Wu shook his head. “I knew this kid was unreliable. If he couldn’t do it, he shouldn’t have wasted our time.”
“Yu Daoist,” Big Boss Wu ventured cautiously, “perhaps we should stop him and consider another approach?”
Yu Zhao’s sharp gaze silenced him. “Feel free to share your brilliant ideas.”
Big Boss Wu faltered, unable to respond. He had no real plan and simply didn’t want to waste any more time.
Yu Zhao returned her attention to Ji Han Zhou, her confidence in him unwavering.
The principle “Employ without suspicion, and do not employ if suspicious” resonates deeply with Ji Han Zhou’s temperament. He is far from being blindly confident; his precision only reflects his firm assurance.
Yu Zhao, steadfast and loyal, would never drag her companions down when they need her the most.
Big Boss Wu, having returned in failure, kept his frustrations to himself. His demeanor discouraged others from voicing their own doubts.
Three more days passed in the blink of an eye.
Bored, Big Boss Wu pulled a strand of hair from his head and began slicing it meticulously with spiritual energy. Just as he reached his forty-eighth cut, Ji Han Zhou moved unexpectedly.
With intricate hand seals, Ji Han Zhou released a faint yellow ring of light from his palms. The ring flew rapidly towards the restriction on the cliffside.
Buzz~
The spiritual patterns etched on the mountain wall began spinning at an astonishing speed. A cataclysmic force seemed to brew within.
Did it fail?
Big Boss Wu and his group recoiled in shock, retreating in panic. Meanwhile, Yu Zhao clasped a defensive seal in her hand but moved forward instead of falling back. She was about to carry Ji Han Zhou away when her gaze froze on the restriction.
The yellow ring of light from Ji Han Zhou’s hands was merging seamlessly with the restriction. Within moments, they fused entirely. The overwhelming force dissipated, revealing a stone door on the mountainside before Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou.
“Senior Sister Yu, I did it.” Ji Han Zhou turned, a bright smile lighting up his weary face. His efforts had taken a heavy toll; dark circles framed his eyes, and his once-vibrant energy seemed subdued.
“Impressive,” Yu Zhao remarked without hesitation, her praise direct and sincere. For Ji Han Zhou to unravel a restriction that a group of Golden Core cultivators had failed to breach was no small feat.
Ji Han Zhou grinned, raising his eyebrows in delight before collapsing. Yu Zhao caught him, her expression caught between exasperation and amusement. A quick inspection confirmed her suspicion—his immense spiritual expenditure had driven him into a self-protective dormant state.
“Is Brother Ji all right?” Big Boss Wu and his three companions cautiously approached, emboldened by the cleared danger.
“He’s not dead yet,” Yu Zhao replied bluntly.
Big Boss Wu and his companions: …
Yu Zhao’s words, as always, were blunt to the point of being exasperating.
“Who’s going in first?” Yu Zhao scanned the four of them.
The group fell silent. Even Zhao Xian and his wife, known for their competitive streak, seemed reluctant to step forward this time.
“Surely, you don’t expect me to carry my junior brother through first? If so, I can’t promise I won’t leave something… interesting along the way.” Yu Zhao’s smile carried an edge of menace.
Big Boss Wu and the others, their intentions exposed, hurriedly denied her insinuation. After a brief discussion, they decided: Lady Hua would lead, Big Boss Wu would guard the rear, and Zhao Xian and his wife would position themselves ahead of Yu Zhao.
Lady Hua, her expression wary, approached the stone door and pushed it open.
Suddenly, a blinding light poured out, illuminating the once-dim underwater world.
Stunned, Lady Hua extended her divine sense into the chamber and gasped, her mouth agape in disbelief. Her eyes burned with fervent excitement.
The wide corridor ahead was lined with dazzling pearls, coral, gemstones of every hue, and even fist-sized Sea Beast cores. The passage twisted downward, its end obscured from view.
Even the treasures scattered along this single corridor were enough to secure their fortunes.
Big Boss Wu swallowed hard, his heart racing. Inwardly, he roared with triumph.
“The Merfolk Tribe’s Territory! This must be it! Hahaha! I’m rich! Big Boss Wu has struck gold!”
Zhao Xian and his wife couldn’t tear their eyes away from the scene. For rogue cultivators like them, the lack of resources was always a thorny issue. The tension among the Long Family’s three brothers over resource allocation spoke volumes.
Now, with these gemstones and cores, Zhao Xian and his wife could train in comfort for decades.