Chapter 189: Secret Vault
Chapter 189: Secret Vault
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Huo Lian was on guard, and althoughher mind told her there was no reason to be wary of someone like him, her instincts whispered otherwise,
that the person before her was not someone to be underestimated.
It was a sensation only a few beings could evoke, especially to someone like her who had already reached the Spirit Realm.
So, she stayed alert.
Zhu Rong, on the other hand, simply smiled faintly upon noticing the woman’s cautious gaze.
With hands clasped together, he offered a polite greeting.
"Greetings, Pavilion Master. I hope I haven’t disturbed you," he said, his tone courteous but devoid of any unnecessary emotion.
Had it been any other man, cultivator or not, they would have shown her a level of reverence akin to what one would offer to a parent or even an emperor.
It was only natural, considering the woman’s status.
But this young man did none of that.
He greeted her calmly, with composure so natural it seemed as though nothing could faze him.
It didn’t bother her; in fact, she preferred it that way.
Even during their last encounter, his demeanor had been the same, and she found such honesty far more pleasant than false politeness born out of fear or ulterior motives.
"You... so it’s you, boy. What happened to you? I thought you had perished inside the secret realm," she said, lowering her guard a little.
"Let’s just say I came close," he replied evenly. "But as you can see, things turned out for the best."
"I see. It’s good to hear you’re well.
Losing a talent like you would’ve been a great pity, both for the Pavilion and the Human Empire.
That said, tell me, why are you here? If you are here, than you should aso know I don’t usually allow anyone to enter this place," she said, her voice growing more serious.
As much as she appreciated his personality, she couldn’t simply overlook such a transgression.
Zhu Rong, seeing the stern look on her face, could only chuckle softly.
He knew her better than most, and he could tell, despite her tone, she was more curious than angry.
But before he could say anything more, another voice echoed in the room.
"I was the one who told him to come here."
A female voice resonated, and before Huo Lian could even register who it was, a yellowish light burst from Zhu Rong’s abdomen,
forming into a woman’s figure beside him.
When the Pavilion Master saw who it was, her eyes widened. Her body trembled with disbelief and excitement.
"Master... you’ve returned!"
Just moments ago, she had been wondering what happened to her master, and now, here she was, appearing without warning.
To say she was surprised would be an understatement.
More than anything, she was overjoyed, so much so that Zhu Rong almost thought she might jump onto Yuan Lan at any moment.
Yuan Lan, however, remained calm, her face betraying no emotion, as usual.
"Hmm. I’ll be staying in the province for a while," she said.
"So it’s very likely we’ll have more opportunities to see each other."
"That’s great to hear! You always vanish the moment your affairs are done and never take me with you.
It’s been so long since I last saw you that I almost started thinking you were dead," said Huo Lian, half joking, half complaining.
"I’m not someone who can die that easily. Not anymore, at least," Yuan Lan replied with a faintly amused expression, as if thinking of something interesting.
Huo Lian didn’t quite understand, but she could tell that her master’s usually neutral mood seemed diffrent today,
she was...happy?
She wasn’t sure what it was about, but considering who she had come with, she wondered if it had something to do with him.
Speaking of him, she had appeared after he did, so her visit was most likely related to him, she thought, wondering if Yuan Lan also wanted him as her disciple, given his talent.
But Yuan Lan didn’t let her mind wander for long and went straight to the point.
"I came here to retrieve what I had entrusted to you some time ago," she said.
The moment Huo Lian heard those words, her expression turned serious, as the image of a certain object surfaced in her mind.
She said nothing, only nodded, and gestured for them to follow her.
Although the main headquarters of the Masters’ Pavilion was located in the imperial capital, the branch in Qiyan City was among the largest and most important.
However, this was not simply because Qiyan was the capital of one of the empire’s major provinces, but also because the very first Masters’ Pavilion had been founded here.
Due to its growing importance and other circumstances, the main base had later been moved to the imperial city.
Even so, the significance of this place had not diminished.
It was still regarded by many as a historical site, one that remained bustling with all kinds of people, from skilled workers and craftsmen to ordinary citizens seeking assistance or goods.
Yet few knew that beneath this ancient, majestic building, which had maintained its old splendor even after all this time,
lay the secret vault of the Masters Pavilion.
Normally, it would have been moved when the main branch was transferred to the imperial city, but that was not done, and the reason for this was none other than the woman who was now walking beside Huo Lian.
They descended into the underground passages, and after several minutes of walking, they reached a narrow corridor ending in two massive golden doors, each about four meters tall.
They were the entrance to the Vault, a place that hadn’t been opened in who knew how many years.
Huo Lian stopped and stepped aside, allowing Yuan Lan to move forward.
One might have expected that the Pavilion Master or someone of similar rank would hold the key to such a place, but that wasn’t the case.
In truth, no one in the Pavilion even knew this place existed, let alone possessed permission to enter it.
To most, the Pavilion’s vault was believed to be located at the headquarters in the Imperial City.
Only a handful knew the truth, and even fewer knew who held the key.
Yuan Lan stepped forward and pressed her right hand against the center of the doors.
The moment she did, a subtle ripple of energy spread outward.
Strange golden symbols began to surface across the golden surface, weaving together into intricate runes that turned the plain metal into a living masterpiece.
One that no one outside the pavilion would ever have the chance to see, and yet, for those who were seeing it at that very moment, it didn’t seem special at all.
Huo Lian had been here before, and so had her master.
But for the young man beside them, it should’ve been the first time, and yet, he stood there watching it all unfold, utterly calm, as if walking through a place long familiar to him.
That surprised her, and confused her even more, but she decided not to dwell on it.
The runic formation shimmered several times, the golden symbols flowing like streams of light until they aligned in a precise pattern.
Then, the line dividing the doors glowed from bottom to top, before trembling.
A deep rumble echoed as the doors began to move, slowly parting, releasing a radiant glow that spilled into the corridor, bathing it in a yellowish light.
As soon as the doors fully opened, what lay inside came into view,
A vast underground hall stretched out before them, its floors and walls carved from flawless white marble.
Piles of treasures were scattered throughout, some neatly arranged, others in disarray,
each radiating a majestic pressure that only high grade spiritual artifacts could produce.
This was the true wealth of the Master’s Pavilion, the legacy preserved and passed down through generations.
From high grade spiritual artifacts and rare manuals, to scrolls containing cultivation techniques and profound knowledge from various professions,
everything was here.
But the three ignored all of it, walking straight down the main path,
which led to an altar at the far end of the chamber.
There, upon a marble pedestal about one and a half meters tall, rested a glowing sphere that emitted a deep, sacred light.
The aura it released was almost divine.
Following behind her master with Zhu Rong, Huo Lian couldn’t help feeling awe and reverence wash over her.
It wasn’t her first time seeing it, yet the sense of wonder and admiration she felt was exactly the same as that first time.
It was, without a doubt, the most important object in the entire vault, the very thing her master had entrusted her to guard.
Yuan Lan, who was at the front, looked at it with calm expression, but instead of stepping forward to claim it, she stopped.
Under Huo Lian’s puzzled gaze, she moved aside,
making way for the young prodigy who had come with them.
"Eh?"
Huo Lian’s eyes widened as she watched Zhu Rong step forward, walking calmly toward the altar.