I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 212

## Chapter 210: The Treasure Vault Space

At that moment, everyone present held their breath, their eyes fixed on the gold and copper gate that had opened a sliver.

Lu Chang’an stood behind the crowd, faintly smelling an old, herbal scent.

“Could it be a storage vault for herbs and pills?”

Old Master Hu’s beard quivered slightly, his eyes gleaming.

The six doors of this palace building likely correspond to six different categories of storage vaults.

If the first one they cracked was a pharmacy vault, then their luck was good.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, please send a puppet to investigate.”

Old Master Hu and Old Master Tan exchanged glances, suppressing their excitement and impatience.

The more critical the moment, the less haste was needed.

“My exploration puppets are already used up. The ones I use next are more valuable. These losses…”

Lu Chang’an hesitated.

“Don’t worry! We, Old Master Tan and I, will fully compensate you for any puppets lost in this secret realm. Later, when we enter the pharmacy vault, you can choose an additional item.”

Old Master Hu assured him readily.

“I hope you will keep your promise.”

Lu Chang’an nodded, took out a second-tier late-stage armored puppet, and controlled it to the gold and copper gate.

The armored puppet used its hands to push open the gate slowly, then stepped inside.

Its figure was quickly swallowed by the night pearl-like light within.

The materials and formations of the hexagonal palace building had the effect of blocking divine sense.

Even a True Monarch (Nascent Soul Zhen Jun) couldn’t probe inside from the outside.

“It is indeed a pharmacy vault.”

As a puppet master, Lu Chang’an had a connection with his puppet and could receive some basic feedback.

After a short while, the armored puppet returned, carrying an empty medicine basket.

“Excellent!”

Old Master Tan was overjoyed. His figure turned into a blur as he quickly rushed into the vault.

“Old Master Tan!”

Old Master Hu’s face changed. He had planned to send a Foundation Establishment (Zhu Ji) cultivator to investigate first, but Old Master Tan had rushed in ahead of him.

Old Master Tan was the strongest among them. If he got to the most important opportunities first, they would be at a disadvantage.

After entering, Old Master Tan did not trigger any restrictions.

Seeing this, Old Master Hu also flashed into the pharmacy vault.

The girl in long hair and a gauze dress, Wei, followed close behind.

The high-nosed young man at the peak of Foundation Establishment and the middle-aged man in his sixties who was at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment stood outside, not entering.

They watched Lu Chang’an and Shi Xianzi closely.

Since entering the ruins, the two True Monarchs had not allowed Lu Chang’an and Shi Manrong to act alone.

After all, there were still some unexplored dangerous areas inside the ruins. If they let the two of them act freely, there was no guarantee that uncontrollable variables wouldn’t arise.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, wouldn’t you like to take a look?”

Shi Manrong was a little moved. She noticed that Lu Chang’an was standing still, looking lazy.

“No rush, rushing won’t help.”

Lu Chang’an smiled.

Shi Xianzi pondered. Even if they managed to grab rare and precious pills and herbs, they couldn’t keep them if they weren’t strong enough.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, this time the array gate that was opened is completely different from the one that Qi Zhenren temporarily broke through back then.”

Taking advantage of the two True Monarchs searching the vault, Shi Manrong sent a voice transmission.

“Oh, you mean that the array gate that Qi Zhenren broke through back then is not among these six?”

“Yes! Qi Zhenren discovered this place earlier and explored it for a while before me. He might have掌握了 some crucial information that we don’t know.”

Shi Manrong nodded.

The two exchanged only a brief conversation.

Lu Chang’an stayed outside as a lookout, letting the Earth Rock Rat (Di Yan Shu) follow Shi Manrong into the vault.

The Earth Rock Rat’s sense of smell was more acute. Through his spiritual pet contract with it, Lu Chang’an learned the general situation inside the vault.

The vault’s interior space was larger than they had estimated from the outside.

It was divided into several areas, with hundreds of medicine cabinets lined up, stacked from the ground up, extending dozens of meters high.

However, nine out of ten medicine cabinets were empty.

The two True Monarchs and Wei who had entered first had found some herbs and bottles containing pills and potions.

However, most of the herbs had withered and rotted.

A few herbs and pills had been preserved relatively well under the effects of the restrictions, but their medicinal properties had greatly diminished.

“Foundation Establishment Pill? Sadly, most of its potency is gone.”

Wei picked up a jade bottle, poured out the dull-colored pill inside, and shook her head regretfully.

Second-tier pills were common in this vault.

Occasionally, they found third-tier pills and herbs.

Lu Chang’an was prepared for this situation.

This ancient ruin, as a refuge or a backup treasure vault, had likely been abandoned long ago and forgotten in the passage of time.

Before evacuating, the valuable treasures that were easy to carry would have been taken away by the owner.

Even if there were treasures secretly stored, they should be hidden in a hidden place, not in such an obvious vault, which could be breached by a third-tier array master with fake dan (Jia Dan) cultivation.

…

After half a day of exploration.

The disappointment on the two True Monarchs’ faces became increasingly apparent.

It wasn’t that they had gained nothing.

The herbs and pills they had obtained from the vault, even with the loss of medicinal properties, were still a valuable treasure, easily worth tens of thousands of spirit stones.

They had only explored less than half of the vast vault.

However, this fell far short of the two True Monarchs’ expectations.

They wanted opportunities that could help fake dan cultivators progress further.

In the world of cultivation, there existed celestial treasures, and even artificially refined rare pills, that could help fake dan cultivators successfully achieve true dan.

These were extremely rare in the current world of cultivation. In earlier times, they were relatively easier to obtain.

From the current situation, it was impossible for this abandoned vault to contain such precious objects.

“Damn rat! Leave your demon core for this True Monarch!”

Suddenly, a thunderous roar came from the vault.

“Squeek!”

The Earth Rock Rat scampered out in a panic, a dark purple oval-shaped object about the size of a human fist in its mouth.

“A third-tier demon core?”

Lu Chang’an scanned it with his divine sense, identifying its origin.

Due to the dust, it was difficult to tell its specific origin and quality for now.

Demon beast cores were often used as ingredients for pill refining, so it was normal for them to appear in an ancient ruin’s pharmacy vault.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, let your spiritual pet hand over the third-tier demon core.”

Old Master Tan pursued him, his tone unfriendly.

The Earth Rock Rat handed the demon core to Lu Chang’an and hid behind its master, afraid.

Lu Chang’an took the demon core, preliminarily identifying it as a third-tier mid-to-late stage great demon’s core.

Sadly, the demonic energy had severely dissipated, and it was not earth element.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, that’s not something you should take.”

Old Master Hu also came out of the vault. Perhaps because he hadn’t met his expectations, his expression was gloomy, and his tone was dissatisfied.

“If I’m not mistaken, Old Master Hu, you promised earlier that you would compensate me for the loss of my puppets. After entering the vault, I could also choose an additional item.”

Lu Chang’an held the demon core and spoke slowly and deliberately.

Old Master Hu’s expression faltered, explaining, “That’s a different matter! We will settle the compensation together when we’ve explored the ruins more thoroughly.”

“Is there anything wrong with me choosing this item?”

“The value of a third-tier demon core cannot be simply offset by a single item.”

Old Master Hu chuckled, “How about this, we both get a share of this demon core, Old Master Tan and you. Let me hold onto it for now.”

“Alright.”

Lu Chang’an thought for a moment and tossed the demon core to Old Master Hu.

The two True Monarchs were in a terrible mood. If they fought now, they would have to start a battle prematurely, which would be detrimental to his plan.

Old Master Hu caught the demon core and probed it with his divine sense, a smile appearing on his face.

Demon cores with good bloodlines and quality were strategic resources in the world of cultivation. They could be traded with True Monarchs and sect forces for rare spiritual objects that could help with achieving true dan.

“Squeek!”

The Earth Rock Rat rubbed against Lu Chang’an’s clothes, seeming a bit aggrieved.

Lu Chang’an patted its head, giving it a comforting look.

Actually, this demon core, due to its incompatible attributes, wasn’t particularly beneficial to the Earth Rock Rat.

It was just expressing its dissatisfaction at the results of its efforts being taken away.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, you can go back into the pharmacy vault and choose another item yourself.”

Old Master Hu, having put the demon core away, generously offered.

Lu Chang’an did not refuse and went back to the vault with the Earth Rock Rat.

By now, only two-thirds of the vault had been explored.

Lu Chang’an’s divine sense, experience, and even the Earth Rock Rat’s sense of smell gave him an advantage in obtaining high-value items that others were unaware of.

Half an hour later.

Lu Chang’an found a black medicine jar on the topmost level of the vault. After a brief examination, he discreetly put it into his storage bag.

The two True Monarchs noticed this but didn’t pay much attention.

In this vault, all the pills and potions had significantly diminished medicinal properties.

Even if the black medicine jar Lu Chang’an obtained was a rare third-tier herb, it wouldn’t be worth much.

…

After a whole day, the pharmacy vault was finally explored completely.

Although they didn’t meet their expectations, their harvest was quite valuable, and the two True Monarchs’ expressions eased somewhat.

Lu Chang’an exchanged a glance with Shi Xianzi.

Shi Manrong understood and took the initiative to discuss the next step in breaking the formation with Old Master Hu.

“You mean that there might be a hidden array gate on top of this palace building?”

Old Master Hu looked up at the top of the hexagonal palace building. A pair of halos floated there, with a blue crystalline sphere in the center, emitting a surge of spiritual energy.

“My guess is that these six array gates protect ordinary storage vaults, which are so conspicuous. The real treasure vault should be hidden.”

Shi Xianzi analyzed with reason.

“The six array gates are connected, and no hidden array gates have been found…”

Old Master Hu was confused and fell into thought.

“Huh! The center of the six array gates should be where the array eye is located? The array eye is deeply hidden, protected by the six array gates. If there’s a hidden array gate, then it can only be…”

A flash of inspiration came to Old Master Hu’s mind. After discussing it with Shi Xianzi for a while, he reached a preliminary conclusion.

Shi Xianzi’s clear eyes flickered as if she understood.

“Everyone, please step back a little.”

Old Master Hu and Old Master Tan exchanged voice transmissions and then told the five Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Lu Chang’an’s expression changed. He and Shi Xianzi and the others stepped back ten meters.

They saw Old Master Hu, who was in front, take out a rustic, rusty copper token from his storage bag.

“I got this half a year ago from under a corpse in the ruins. I don’t know its purpose, and it hasn’t reacted at all.”

Old Master Hu’s expression was solemn as he pondered.

He held the copper token, glanced at the Foundation Establishment cultivators behind him, and hesitated.

“Fellow Daoist Hu, if your guess is correct, it’s best not to let outsiders try. The opportunity may only be once.”

Old Master Tan sent a voice transmission.

“Fellow Daoist Hu, if you don’t dare, let Old Master Tan take the risk.” His words displayed his boldness to be the first.

“Old Master Tan doesn’t understand formations. It’s better to let Old Master Hu do it.”

Old Master Hu sighed and finally made a decision.

Old Master Tan smiled, not insisting. This kind of attempt also had risks.

As a fake dan True Monarch, his future was uncertain. If he encountered an opportunity to potentially progress further, many would be willing to give it a try.

Old Master Hu held the ancient copper token, placed it in his sleeve, and secretly injected dan force into it.

The token still didn’t react.

Old Master Hu closed his eyes, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

Through the token, he sensed the hidden seventh array gate, located at the center of the hexagonal palace building.

“The six outer array gates, one of which is broken, is the best point of entry.”

After a long time, Old Master Hu opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance passing through them.

Before Old Master Tan could ask.

He stepped forward, unleashed his Restriction Breaking Bead (Po Jin Zhu), and struck the broken gap in the gold and copper gate above.

The Restriction Breaking Bead turned into a twisted black and white beam of light, passing through the array flaw behind the array gate, triggering a blue and red flame.

Boom!

The array light above the hexagonal palace building was blown open, leaving a huge hole.

On the other side of the hole, a scene of otherworldly light and shadows flickered, projected into Old Master Hu’s eyes.

The scene was obscured by the chaotic array light, and the cultivators behind could not see clearly.

“Could it be a small space created by someone? Is it the secret vault of this ancient ruin?”

Lu Chang’an observed the large hole from afar. Although he couldn’t see what was inside, he noticed signs of overlapping space.

The leaking aura was somewhat similar to the opening of the Azure冥 Secret Realm, but much weaker.

“Indeed, a seasoned third-tier array master. He’s more stable and precise than Qi Zhenren back then, breaking through the key point with one strike.”

Shi Manrong memorized the details, silently sighing.

…

“Yin-Yang Water… Exquisite Crystallization Pill…”

Old Master Hu exclaimed, his eyes filled with狂喜, his face flickering in the fragmented array light.

Excited, he activated his protective罩, holding the copper token, and flew towards the large hole in the array light.

The copper token flickered with a red light.

The array light around Old Master Hu condensed into a blue and white interweaving net, forming a vortex that enveloped him.

“Old Master Hu, be careful!”

Old Master Tan’s pupils contracted, and he immediately waved his pre-prepared golden rope artifact.

Swish!

The golden rope, like a golden-scaled serpent, instantly wrapped around Old Master Hu’s waist and pulled him back.

A flash of light.

Old Master Hu’s short body was pulled back.

Looking closely, Old Master Tan’s heart turned cold.

The golden rope, his top-grade artifact, snapped inch by inch.

The Old Master Hu pulled back was a charred corpse.

“Fortunately, I reacted quickly. If I had been swallowed by that array trap, there would have been no chance of survival…”

A hoarse voice came from the heart, filled with lingering fear.

Swish!

The charred corpse turned into a charcoal-black straw man.

The pale-faced Old Master Hu stood up from under the straw man, which had turned to dust.

“An item that can take the blow for you?”

Lu Chang’an’s eyes widened. He had only seen this kind of magical道具twice in the Great坤 of his past life.

Of course, this kind of life-saving道具usually had a limit.

If Old Master Tan hadn’t intervened just now, Old Master Hu wouldn’t have escaped.

“Old Master Hu, what was that scene just now? Do the ‘Yin-Yang Water’ and ‘Exquisite Crystallization Pill’ you mentioned really exist?”

Old Master Tan’s breathing was rapid, and he couldn’t help but ask.

“The array hole I broke through just now leads to a separate small space. In there, I saw the scenery of an ancient garden, and there were stone platforms covered by light shields.”

“Stone platforms with light shields?”

Everyone present was drawn in.

“On each stone platform, there was a treasure floating, and the name and purpose were engraved…”

Old Master Hu spoke softly, and the subsequent content was blocked by the sound-insulating罩 that Old Master Tan had set up.

“Old Master Hu, judging by your agitated appearance just now, I suspect you were influenced by an illusion.”

Old Master Tan said bluntly.

“An illusion? If it really was an illusion, I would be able to distinguish it after I ‘woke up’. But the scene I saw just now was completely real, there’s no flaw…”

Old Master Hu took a pill and shook his head.

“Two True Monarchs.”

Outside the sound-insulating罩, Lu Chang’an walked towards them.

“What is it?”

The two True Monarchs were interrupted in their conversation and their expressions were unpleasant.

Lu Chang’an sensed that the two True Monarchs’ attitudes had become increasingly cold.

Now that the ancient ruins had been conquered this far, his and Shi Xianzi’s usefulness was dwindling.

“Old Master Hu, I’d like to remind you, the token you used to sense the hidden array gate…”

Lu Chang’an lowered his voice.

Although his voice was soft, everyone else heard it.

“The token? Not good!”

Old Master Hu realized what was going on, his face changed drastically, and he subconsciously reached for his body, but he couldn’t find it.

“The token is gone?”

The two True Monarchs and several Foundation Establishment cultivators looked towards the broken array gate of the hexagonal palace building.

“Old Master Hu, you heal your injuries first, Old Master Tan will help you find it.”

Old Master Tan offered kindly.

With that, he took the lead in walking towards the array gate.

At that moment, Old Master Hu sensed a subtle spiritual energy fluctuation, and his heart inexplicably turned cold.

Sss—

A needle-like ray, radiating an almost artifact-like sharpness, pierced through Old Master Hu’s back from his chest.

“Ugh…”

Old Master Hu’s body froze. He turned his head with difficulty, his face filled with disbelief.

(To be continued)

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