Global Exploration: Starting from Decrypting Chernobyl

199: Searching for immortals in the sea of ​​corpses! The origin of Qi!”Harmony brings wealth?”

”Hehe...”

Upon hearing what the man from the Li Family said, Huo Nanfeng and Chen Jie’s expressions darkened in unison, especially Chen Jie, who had just suffered a great loss at Wu Tian’s hands.

He thought about how his pathetic state had been seen by the Li Family as well.

His expression became even more sour.

”You people from the Li Family are worthy of saying such words?”

”In the early years when our families partnered in business, it was your Li Family that loved playing tricks the most, swindling us out of quite a bit of money!”

”Forget about that!”

Chen Jie picked up the iron hook from the ground and assumed a defensive stance.

”When entering tombs, you Li Family members didn’t hesitate for a second to sell out people from other families when facing danger!”

”Li Xiaotie!”

”You kid better get lost!”

”Be careful, or today our Huo and Chen families will settle all our old and new scores with you!”

”...”

”Oh my!”

”I’m so scared!”

”I’m really so scared!”

”Huo Nanfeng, Chen Jie!”

”If you two team up against me, what ever shall I do?”

”Then...”

”Am I, Li Xiaotie, going to die here today?”

Shasha... As the footsteps drew closer, Li Xiaotie’s figure appeared at the corner outside the second door. His eyes, fixed on Huo Nanfeng and Chen Jie, flickered with a dangerous light.

”However...”

”It’s not just your Huo and Chen families who came here today!”

”If you can team up against me, don’t I have helpers too?”

”Isn’t that right?”

”Head of the Zhao Family?”

”...”

Shasha... As Li Xiaotie’s voice fell, another figure appeared in the darkness behind him, slowly passing Li Xiaotie and walking to the front of the group.

He smiled slightly at the dumbfounded Huo Nanfeng and Chen Jie.

He gave them a small wave.

”Head of the Huo Family, Head of the Chen Family...”

”Long time no see!”

”...”

”Zhao Wu?”

”Why are you here too?”

”What?”

Huo Nanfeng’s expression darkened further as she looked at him and asked with a frown.

”From what Li Xiaotie says...”

”You’ve teamed up?”

”Collaborating with someone who sells out teammates as easily as eating or drinking—aren’t you afraid of being sold and still helping them count the money?”

”...”

”Hehe...”

”The Huo Family Head is indeed sharp-tongued. Compared to the Huo Xiangu of back then, you really don’t yield an inch!”

Zhao Wu chuckled.

”Collaboration is just what Li Xiaotie said; I haven’t admitted to a collaboration!”

”Rather than the word collaboration, I prefer to call it...”

”Each taking what they need!”

”Oh?”

Chen Jie gave a cold laugh.

”Zhao Family Head, care to explain?”

”What does ’each taking what they need’ mean?”

”What does Li Xiaotie have on him that’s worth you coming personally to take?”

”...”

”No!”

Facing the questioning of Huo Nanfeng and Chen Jie, Zhao Wu smiled slightly and waved his hand at them.

”I think you two family heads have misunderstood.”

”When I say ’each taking what they need,’ I’m not referring to Li Xiaotie, nor am I referring to you two!”

”Instead...”

”It’s for everyone present here!”

”Including...”

”You, General Wu!”

”...”

”Me?”

Wu Tian, who was standing to the side watching the drama with Zhang Meng, Fatty, and a group of his subordinates, was suddenly bewildered. He pointed at his own nose and asked Zhao Wu.

”What does this have to do with me? I’m just a bystander!”

”The show’s over now!”

Wu Tian shrugged.

”I’ve got soup simmering at home, so I’ll be going now!”

”You guys carry on!”

”See ya!”

”...”

”Wait!”

”Stay!”

”General Wu, please wait a moment!”

”General Wu, don’t leave yet!”

”...”

Huo Nanfeng, Chen Jie, Li Xiaotie, and Zhao Wu watched as Wu Tian turned around. Their eyes widened, and looks of urgency flashed across their faces as they hurriedly shouted to stop him.

”Hmm?”

”What?”

Wu Tian turned his head, his face darkening as he saw the urgent expressions of the four people.

He asked coldly.

”Does the business between your families have anything to do with me?”

”Or...”

Wu Tian looked at them and slowly raised the main map and the sub-map of the treasure map in his hands, giving a cold laugh.

”Is it the treasure map in my hands that you want?”

”...”

The group was momentarily speechless. Then, after exchanging glances, Chen Jie spoke to Wu Tian with a smile.

”No, no, no!”

”That’s not what we meant!”

”These two treasure maps are yours now; we have no right to interfere!”

”But!”

Chen Jie said with a grin.

”Besides the main map and the sub-map you just got from me, there are eight other maps in the hands of the other family heads!”

”And...”

Chen Jie appealed to both emotion and reason.

He continued to Wu Tian.

”We’ve been doing this for a long time!”

”We combine all the maps, we provide the money and manpower, and we study them together!”

”That is the real solution!”

”...”

”Solution?”

”You mean tomb robbing?”

”Sorry!”

Wu Tian gave a faint smile.

”I don’t have the slightest interest in the tomb robbing you’re talking about!”

”And...”

Wu Tian shrugged.

”I don’t have the time!”

”...”

”Then you...”

Chen Jie was stunned, then looked at Wu Tian and asked with some confusion.

”You studied the main map and won the sub-map from me—what are you trying to do?”

”You get the maps and don’t use them, you just keep them... for fun?”

”...”

”Little comrade!”

Wu Tian chuckled.

He pointed a finger at Chen Jie and said.

”Your awareness is really lacking. These two maps in my hand, and the remaining sub-maps in your hands—these are actually things the country has specifically asked for!”

”I’m getting them...”

”To hand them over to the country, of course!”

”Otherwise, what did you think I wanted them for?”

”To breed them?”

”...”

”But...”

Chen Jie was quite embarrassed.

”But isn’t this something everyone is interested in? Since we’re all here today, shouldn’t we settle this matter and then pick a good time to go straight to the Soul-Bewitching Cave?”

”Wouldn’t that be a win-win for everyone?”

”Each taking what they need?”

”...”

”Right!”

”I very much admire the Chen Family Head’s phrase ’each taking what they need.’ Doesn’t that match what I said when I first walked in?”

”Each taking what they need!”

Zhao Wu smiled slightly and looked at Wu Tian, saying.

”Little General Wu, let me analyze this for you!”

”You have two maps, one main and one sub!”

”However, we the remaining families have the rest of the maps. Only by combining all the clues in our hands can we go to that place!”

”Besides!”

Zhao Wu chuckled.

”Why does the country want these treasure maps? Just for fun?”

”I doubt it!”

”I suspect...”

Zhao Wu narrowed his eyes slightly and said to Wu Tian.

”The country must have also heard the secrets on this map and wants to explore the tombs of Li Xiong or Zhang Daoling in the Soul-Bewitching Cave, right?”

”...”

”So what if they do?”

”My mission is to get all the maps I can get and then hand them over to the country. Whether the country personally finds people to explore these two ancient tombs or wants me to lead people...”

”That’s not happening!”

”At least for now...”

Wu Tian yawned.

”I’m going back to continue my vacation!”

”I’ve only been resting for half a month!”

”Damn!”

”Even a donkey in a production team wouldn’t work like this!”

”If I keep working like this, sooner or later I’m going to drop dead from exhaustion!”

”Ha...”

Wu Tian patted his mouth with his hand and waved at the family heads behind him.

He turned and walked toward the entrance.

”Bye-bye!”

”As for us...”

”We’ll meet again if fate allows!”

”...”

...”No!”

”Little General Wu, wait a bit longer. Let’s talk this through properly; we can discuss things. We can yield any profits we’re able to yield; we don’t want much!”

Chen Jie’s face looked terrible.

On this trip, he had not only lost his map to Wu Tian but hadn’t even managed to keep Wu Tian there.

This was truly losing the bait along with the fish!

”...”

”Yes!”

Huo Nanfeng, beside Chen Jie, also had a look of earnestness.

”Little General Wu!”

”Although we’ve only met once, we’re willing to be sincere friends!”

”Let’s collaborate!”

”You can have whatever you want!”

”Even...”

Huo Nanfeng chuckled and reached out to touch her own fragrant shoulder.

Her voice was charming as she said.

”Anything is fine!”

”Hehe...”

”...”

”Heh...”

When Li Xiaotie saw Huo Nanfeng and Chen Jie humbly trying to persuade Wu Tian, a look of disdain flashed in his eyes, and he said coldly.

”How can the Nine Gates have such spineless things like you?”

”You might be humble, but I, Li Xiaotie, will not!”

”Wu Tian!”

”General Wu!”

”Join us!”

”All the money from the various treasures found inside that would belong to the Li Family’s share will be given to you; we won’t take a cent!”

”We only need to get one specific thing!”

”As for the rest!”

”The Li Family has no interest!”

”...”

”Right!”

Hearing Li Xiaotie say this, Zhao Wu beside him also smiled slightly and echoed Li Xiaotie’s words.

”We in the Zhao Family feel the same way!”

”We only want to find the things we need in these two tombs. As for all the valuable items in the tombs, hehe...”

”We won’t take a cent!”

”Whether you take them for yourself, General Wu, or hand them all over to the country, we won’t interfere!”

”It’s all at your disposal!”

”How about it?”

”...”

Just as the four family heads were doing their best to persuade Wu Tian, who had already turned to walk out the door.

The system’s voice, which might be late but never absent, sounded in Wu Tian’s mind.

[Ding-dong!]

[Detected that the host’s conversation with members of the Nine Gates involves the Target location of the next mission. Issuing the next mission now!]

[Searching for Immortals in the Sea of Corpses!]

[The place you are to explore this time is the Soul-Bewitching Cave in Hongya, Sichuan, within the borders of the Dragon Country!]

[This is a place of outstanding people and abundant treasures. Since ancient times, it has been a place of strategic importance and a gathering point for the spiritual energy of mountains and rivers. It is the ’small dragon head’ of the Dragon Country’s ley lines. Although emperors disdained being buried here, many princes flocked to it!]

[Among them, the most famous is Li Xiong, the emperor of a small state during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, who is buried here!]

[Even... according to rumors!]

[Earlier than Li Xiong, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was another very powerful figure. Zhang Daoling, the founder of the Way of the Celestial Masters, also seems to be buried here. There are many hidden secrets within that you need to uncover!]

[Gold and silver treasures, Taoist techniques...]

[Even...]

[The Ultimate Secret!]

[Mission Objective: Lead truly capable people from the Nine Gates, using the assembled map, into the Soul-Bewitching Cave in Hongya to explore. Find the tombs of Li Xiong and Zhang Daoling, and uncover the secrets of the Soul-Bewitching Cave!]

[Additional Mission: Explore the Ultimate Secret!]

[Mission Duration: One month!]

[Due to the difficulty of the mission and the need for the host to possess specific skills, the system is withdrawing the abilities granted in the previous secret realm: Spiritual Communication, Yin-Yang Eyes, and Tianlus Claw!]

[Reissuing new skills: Double Finger Cave Exploration (Purple)! Auspicious Beast Bloodline! (Orange!) Eight Origins of Magic—Origin of Qi!]

”...”

”Holy crap?”

As the cold notification voice in his mind faded, Wu Tian’s eyes widened!

It wasn’t because of this mission or the skills provided that he was surprised... but because... damn it, was he going to be forced into another ’true fragrance’ moment?

No way!

Immediately, a look of determination flashed in Wu Tian’s eyes!

Although everything eventually falls victim to the law of ’True Fragrance,’ this time... he would never let himself be controlled by it again!

A mission is a mission!

And this is a separate matter!

Today, he was truly determined to leave. Anyway, the sub-maps in the hands of these families weren’t going anywhere!

He could come to take them or cooperate at any time!

A day’s delay wouldn’t make a difference!

After all... damn it, he had already put on such a big front; he couldn’t just end it so abruptly, could he?

*Cough, cough...*

Just as Wu Tian was about to turn around and wave to Fatty and Zhang Meng to tell everyone to pick up the pace, a second voice appeared in his mind.

And this voice... was filled with a sweet, cloying sensation.

[Detected that the host has issued a new mission. Narrator-kun, who has been slacking off lately, is back at full health!]

[You just heard the system issue a new mission, but in your heart, you feel a deep resistance to it. You believe that since you are now a General, you can no longer lose face in front of so many outsiders because of the ’True Fragrance’ law. Therefore, you decided to take things slow and plan for the long term!]

[However...]

[After you finish your long-term planning and go to find the people from the Nine Gates next time...]

[The Huo Family, who still held a map, was beaten by a mysterious force until they retreated overseas, and the Zhao Family was completely wiped out by this same mysterious force. The two sub-maps disappeared without a trace along with them. From then on...]

[You will never have another chance to enter the Soul-Bewitching Cave to complete the mission, and you will miss out on the world’s greatest secret of the past few millennia!]

[Years later, lying on your sickbed in your old age, you are filled with regret!]

“...”

”Damn!”

Wu Tian’s face darkened instantly. Hearing Narrator-kun’s voice in his head, his brow furrowed.

He cursed inwardly.

”Motherfucker!”

”You show up when you’re not needed, but when you are, you’re as quiet as a damn mouse!”

”Damn it!”

After cursing a few times in his heart, Wu Tian turned around slowly with a dark expression.

Looking at the four people watching him with expectant looks on their faces, Wu Tian forced a smile.

”Heh heh...”

”What did you just say...”

”That no matter how many treasures and how much money we get on this trip, it’s all mine?”

”You only want one thing?”

After saying that,

Wu Tian shifted his gaze to Zhao Wu and Li Xiaotie!

”Is that true?”

“...”

The two were stunned for a moment, then exchanged a delighted look. Zhao Wu then looked at Wu Tian and nodded frantically.

”That’s right!”

”Little General Wu!”

”Whether there are two tombs or several inside, whether it’s Zhang Daoling’s tomb or that Li Xiong’s tomb, our two families won’t take a single cent’s worth of the valuables inside!”

”All we seek is a single item that might be completely useless to you!”

”This kind of sincerity...”

...is surely much more than what those who arrived first were willing to offer, right?”

Zhao Wu chuckled.

He straightened his back and spoke to Wu Tian.

“...”

”Exactly!”

When Li Xiaotie saw Wu Tian stop his departure and even confirm the truth of their words, his heart brightened instantly.

This Wu Tian... was tempted!

”Although we arrived a bit late, our sincerity is absolute!”

”When doing business and discussing cooperation, the order of arrival doesn’t matter; it’s about the highest bidder!”

”Haha...”

”You...”

Chen Jie, who was standing nearby, could naturally tell that Zhao Wu and Li Xiaotie were intentionally mocking them.

He frowned.

He also spoke to Zhao Wu and Li Xiaotie with hidden barbs.

”Some people talk a big game, but who knows what they’re really thinking!”

”Maybe...”

...they’ll sell us out once we’re in the tomb!”

”But our Chen Family is different!”

”Little General Wu Tian...”

He immediately addressed Wu Tian.

”Our Chen Family as well!”

”No matter what is found in the Soul-Bewitching Cave, it’s all yours. We won’t take a single cent!”

”We keep our word!”

”It’s just...”

”We also only want one thing!”

”The remaining gold and silver items can be considered our tribute to you!”

“...”

”Us too!”

Huo Nanfeng frowned. Although he was somewhat reluctant, since the other three families were doing this, he couldn’t afford to be left behind.

He couldn’t risk not even getting a ticket onto the ship!

In the end, he chimed in and made the same offer.

”Hmm...”

Seeing that the four families had all proposed that any wealth found in the Soul-Bewitching Cave would belong to him, Wu Tian nodded with a smile.

He spoke to the four of them with satisfaction.

”You’re sensible!”

”Actually...”

”Thinking about it, whether I go to the Soul-Bewitching Cave early or late, I’m going anyway, right?”

”So I might as well prepare to set off now!”

”Hehe...”

Wu Tian smiled slightly.

He spoke to the four of them with an air of righteousness.

”But!”

”You must understand!”

”I’m not doing this because I’m greedy for those treasures. It’s mainly because this kind of mystery and adventure easily gets my blood pumping. If I don’t go, I’ll feel restless!”

”Got it?”

”It’s purely because my hands are itching for action!”

”If we can cooperate, then let’s cooperate!”

”I have no objections!”

“...”

The four family heads were stunned for a moment, then their expressions turned into deep disbelief. Although they couldn’t help but criticize him in their hearts, they quickly returned to normal on the surface.

However, they all cursed silently in their hearts.

”Not greedy for treasures?”

”Who the hell would believe that?”

”Damn!”

”What a hypocrite!”

But... once they were in the tomb, it wasn’t certain who would be playing whom!

The amateur would have to listen to the professionals. With their methods of sabotaging in the dark and using appropriate threats and bribes, even though this Wu Tian was terrifyingly strong on the surface, inside the tomb... that was the territory of the Nine Gates!

They weren’t afraid at all!

As long as Wu Tian agreed to cooperate and enter the tomb with them today, this matter... was essentially settled!

“...”

Catching the deeply hidden looks in their eyes, Wu Tian lowered his head, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He muttered to himself in his heart.

[Damn it, you really think you’ve got me figured out, and you really think I only agreed to cooperate for the money!]

[Naive!]

[If the system hadn’t suddenly given me a mission, would I have agreed to your request for cooperation right now?]

[Hehe...]

[Just wait and see!]

[Once we’re in the tomb...]

[We’ll see who ends up eating whom!]

...”How’s it going?”

”Has that Little General Wu Tian gone back yet?”

Reminder: The website will be revised soon, which may cause loss of reading progress. Please save your ’Bookshelf’ and ’Reading Records’ in time (screenshots are recommended). Sorry for any inconvenience!

”Did you see a look of disappointment or thoughtfulness on his face?”

Master Xie the Fourth was on the phone.

He asked with a smile to a subordinate responsible for tracking.

“...”

”Uh...”

”To be honest, Fourth Master, don’t get excited yet. Just stay calm.”

“...”

Master Xie the Fourth was taken aback.

Then he raised an eyebrow and asked the subordinate on the phone with a frown.

”What do you mean?”

”Hurry up and stop dawdling!”

”Just say it!”

”Your Fourth Master has been through so many ups and downs in this industry for so many years; is there anything I can’t handle?”

”Speak!”

“...”

”Fine... okay!”

”Well... Fourth Master!”

”The Chen Family, Huo Family, Li Family, and Zhao Family have all come to the Qi Family’s suburban villa. Moreover, they’ve all entered the Qi Family’s secret room. It’s been over half an hour now, and not a single person has come out.”

”These people...”

...could they have reached some kind of agreement?”

“...”

Master Xie the Fourth was startled upon hearing this.

He immediately pulled the phone away from his ear, placed it on the table in front of him, pressed the speakerphone button, and glanced at Third Master Xie across from him.

Licking his lips,

He then asked the subordinate on the phone.

”Keep talking!”

”What’s the situation now?”

”Have any other families gone there?”

”Can you hear what they’re talking about?”

“...”

”Currently... no other families have come!”

”But if you’re asking me what they said inside...”

The subordinate’s voice on the phone sounded troubled.

”Fourth Master!”

”Aren’t you making things difficult for me?”

”What skills do I have compared to what those masters in there have? If I get caught, wouldn’t you be exposed?”

”I can’t hear anything!”

”You...”

“...”

”Forget it!”

At this moment, the black-robed Third Master sitting across from Master Xie the Fourth spoke.

He waved his hand at Master Xie the Fourth.

”Don’t push him!”

”Kid!”

”Just stay right where you were!”

”You have only one job now!”

”Keep your eyes peeled and see clearly!”

”See if any other families go to the Qi Family!”

”Finally, when that group of people comes out, you must see the expressions on their faces very clearly!”

”Do you understand?”

“...”

”Third Master?!”

The subordinate on the other end of the phone was startled.

Then he nodded frantically while holding the phone.

”No problem!”

”No problem!”

”Third Master, Fourth Master, please rest assured!”

”I will definitely keep a close watch on this place!”

“...”

”Hmm!”

Third Master nodded and reached out a wrinkled hand from beneath his black robe, gently pressing the end call button.

“...”

”Third Brother...”

”Your hand... did you let those poisonous insects bite you again?”

”Let’s talk business!”

Third Master’s brow furrowed beneath his black robe.

His tone became slightly heavier.

”Oh, right...”

”I wanted to ask, since four families have already gone, shouldn’t we also take action? After all...”

”We’re holding onto two items!”

”Now only Adjutant Zhang’s and Old Dog Wu’s lineages haven’t gone!”

”If we’re the last family, the situation might turn unfavorable for us!”

“...”

”What’s the panic?”

Third Master calmly picked up the teapot and poured some tea into the cup in front of him.

After taking a sip,

He spoke indifferently to Master Xie the Fourth.

”Aren’t there still two families who haven’t gone?”

”As far as I know, Old Dog Wu’s lineage will definitely want a piece of the pie, but as for Adjutant Zhang...”

”Hehe!”

Third Master Xie gave a cold laugh.

”Have you forgotten what is recorded on that map?”

“...”

”This...”

Master Xie the Fourth raised an eyebrow.

He opened his mouth and said in surprise,

”The Ultimate Secret!”

”Indeed!”

Third Master chuckled.

”Do you think the Zhang Family, who have guarded the Ultimate Secret for generations, would hand over the clues in their possession to others?”

”Wouldn’t that be encouraging others to seek the Ultimate?”

”Hehe...”

”Based on my understanding of Adjutant Zhang!”

”That remnant map in his hands...”

...must never fall into the hands of Wu Tian and the others!”

“...”

...*Creak...*

Just as Wu Tian, the other two, and the four family heads standing nearby were piecing together one main map and four sub-maps to study the clues on them... a commotion broke out outside the secret room.

“...”

”What are you doing?”

”This is not a place you can enter. Please go back!”

“...”

”I’m looking for Wu Tian!”

“...”

”I said, please go back!”

”Why are you still pushing your way in?”

”Hey, hey, hey!”

”You’re squeezing in!”

”If you keep pushing your way in, I won’t be polite anymore!”

“...”

*Whoosh!*

*Rip!*

*Crunch, crunch... Thud!*

While everyone was frowning and listening to the noise outside the door... a series of muffled sounds came from outside, followed by cries of pain and the sound of bodies hitting the floor and walls.

Then... a few seconds later!

To the bewildered looks of the four family heads.

A young man with silver-white hair stood with one hand behind his back and the other clutching a piece of dark yellow cloth. He scanned everyone in the room while sucking on a lollipop.

He asked expressionlessly,

”Which one of you is Wu Tian?”

”Our boss has some business with Wu Tian!”

...

Wu Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He looked at the silver-haired young man standing at the doorway and asked with a smile,

”I am Wu Tian!”

”Little brother!”

”What do you want with me?”

...

Hearing this, the silver-haired young man shifted his gaze toward Wu Tian, who had just spoken. He gave a nod and pulled his right hand out from behind his back.

Click!

A short telescopic fishing rod was instantly flicked open by the young man!

The fishing line, equipped with a heavy hook, flew toward Wu Tian with lightning speed!

”Oh?”

”Good timing!”

...

Wu Tian’s eyes instantly sharpened.

He quickly raised his right hand in front of him, pressing two fingers together!

Screech!

The sound of flesh rubbing against fishing line echoed in everyone’s ears. The transparent line was firmly caught between Wu Tian’s two fingers!

Then... Wu Tian twisted his wrist!

He directly wound the fishing line around his two fingers.

...

”Courting death!”

The young man’s expression was solemn, his eyes flickering with an extreme sense of confidence.

He let out a cold sneer.

The hand gripping the fishing rod suddenly exerted force!

He pulled back toward his chest!

Rip!

The sound of the line grinding against flesh rang out once more in the quiet secret room.

The thin, transparent, and sharp fishing line instantly tightened around Wu Tian’s fingers.

...

Feeling the immense pressure on his fingers,

Wu Tian flashed a small smile at the young man.

”Oh?”

”Young man, it seems you’re after my fingers!”

”That won’t do!”

”These two fingers of mine...”

”They have a very important use!”

...

With that said,

Wu Tian’s exceptionally long fingers were suddenly imbued with immense strength, and he pulled hard in the opposite direction!

Screech... Snap!

The sharp, tough fishing line, made of some unknown material, was instantly snapped by Wu Tian’s great strength!

The massive force of the sudden release caused the silver-haired young man’s body to stumble backward.

...

Thud!

It wasn’t until the young man extended his right foot and braced it against the wall behind him

that he slowly regained his balance.

Clack!

The young man flicked his right hand lightly.

The extended fishing rod instantly collapsed shut.

Looking at Wu Tian... a look of admiration appeared in the cold young man’s eyes as he spoke icily.

”You are the first person who could snap my fishing line with just two fingers!”

”Not bad!”

”You...”

”Are qualified to receive the gift my boss has brought for you!”

...

With that said,

the silver-haired young man, without a hint of a smile, paced over to Wu Tian in front of everyone and handed him the yellowish-brown parchment from his other hand!

”This is the Zhang Family’s portion of the treasure map!”

”My boss is giving it to you!”

...

”Oh?”

Wu Tian raised an eyebrow, took the map from the young man’s hand, and began to slowly look it over.

As he looked,

Wu Tian inquired,

”The Zhang Family’s boss gave this to me?”

”Then...”

”Why didn’t he come in person?”

...

”Our boss is quite busy, but...”

”He said that once you receive this item, you will fully understand what he is saying to you!”

”Our boss also said!”

”On this expedition, everyone must follow your orders!”

”Regardless of any conditions!”

”However... Brother Wu Tian...”

”Do you have the courage to take on this mission?”

...

”I do!”

”Why wouldn’t I?”

After glancing at it, Wu Tian knew that the map fragment in his hand was indeed genuine!

He let out a chuckle.

He nodded at the silver-haired young man and said with a smile,

”I’ll take this mission!”

”However...”

”Since you’ve also come to talk cooperation, why...”

”I’ve been sitting here for quite a while now, who exactly is this elusive boss of yours?”

”Why didn’t he come himself?”

...

”Me coming...”

”is enough!”

The silver-haired young man gave Wu Tian a sidelong glance and spoke indifferently.

...

”You coming is enough?”

”No matter how you look at it...”

”I still feel it would be more reliable if Zhang Rishan came to see me directly!”

”But...”

”Your President Zhang is still so busy with a myriad of affairs!”

”To meet him...”

”one probably needs a damn appointment!”

”But, forget it...”

Wu Tian looked at the silver-haired young man before him, whose moves were as fast as lightning, and asked softly,

”Since your Adjutant Zhang refuses to see me, there’s no other way!”

”I’ll just have to fleece the manpower needed for our cooperation from you!”

”Young man!”

”What’s your name?”

Wu Tian chuckled and asked him.

”Luo Que!”

The silver-haired young man remained expressionless, answering Wu Tian’s question with a simple, flat response.

”Luo Que...”

”Good name!”

”How about this!”

”That Adjutant Zhang you mentioned gave me this map fragment, which means he’s joined our cooperation, but he didn’t bring me any kind of greeting gift!”

”So...”

”You’ll follow me and act together with me!”

”How about it?”

...

Luo Que was taken aback, then looked up at Wu Tian.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Luo Que slowly nodded to Wu Tian.

”Fine!”

Luo Que answered cleanly and decisively!

...

Now... it was actually Wu Tian who was a bit stunned. Looking at the free-spirited young man standing before him and hearing his crisp response,

Wu Tian almost started to doubt his life!

”Really?”

”No regrets?”

”You should know exactly how dangerous the Soul-Bewitching Cave is. Young man, this isn’t a place where you can run rampant just because your martial arts are good!”

”There’s a method to it, you understand?”

...

”Mm!”

Facing Wu Tian’s series of questions, Luo Que looked at him and answered flatly!

”No regrets.”

”For me, Luo Que, I will only serve someone stronger than myself for the rest of my life!”

”Excellency Wu Tian, you are that person!”

”The strong...”

”I, Luo Que, admire!”

”I am willing to follow your lead!”

...

”Good!”

Wu Tian nodded with a smile and waved Luo Que over. The latter understood and slowly walked behind Wu Tian, watching everyone around him like a hawk.

”We have another piece of the map.”

”Friends.”

”Come on!”

”Don’t hesitate!”

”Let’s complete the map with this piece first!”

”Then we’ll see what clues we have!”

...

Everyone nodded without a word, waiting silently as Zhang Meng and Huo Nanfeng assembled this fragment onto the main map.

Only then did everyone slowly breathe a sigh of relief.

Looking at the main map on the table, where most of the blank areas had been filled, they smiled slightly.

...

”Haha...”

”After decades, we’ve finally found this main map!”

”And even assembled it.”

”A few years ago, this was something we wouldn’t have even dared to imagine!”

”Hehe...”

”It’s all thanks to Little General Wu!”

The brash Chen Jie flattered Wu Tian with a laugh from the side.

...

”Is it not?”

Huo Nanfeng smiled slightly.

Two sweet dimples appeared on her face.

”After all these years.”

”This secret buried deep underground is finally going to see the light of day again!”

”To say I’m not excited...”

”would be a lie!”

...

”Hehe...”

”Don’t get too excited yet. Look at the map first. Even with that fragment added just now, look... do you see any obvious changes?”

Wu Tian chuckled.

He asked the optimistic family heads around him.

”Hmm?”

Everyone was taken aback, and following Wu Tian’s words, they lowered their heads to look at the map.

Then... after they had looked at the map for a long time... ”This...”

”Forgive my poor eyesight, but I don’t see any changes at all?”

”Except...”

”it seems the areas filled by our fragments have slightly different shades of color!”

”I don’t know if that counts as a change?”

Chen Jie scratched his head, adjusted the mink coat on his shoulders, and spoke to everyone.

”It does!”

Huo Nanfeng’s eyes sharpened.

”Have you noticed? After these fragments were pieced together, small dots of varying shades of color faintly appeared in those areas!”

”And because we’ve pieced together six fragments, six clusters of small dots have appeared.”

”If...”

Suddenly!

Huo Nanfeng’s eyes flashed with excitement as she spoke.

”If we connect these dots according to their different shades, would...”

”there be more discoveries?”

...

”Different shades?”

”Connect the dots?”

”I say...”

Fatty looked at the excited and eager Huo Nanfeng, scratched his head, and asked her,

”Are you people of the Nine Gates always this meticulous?”

”I can barely even see the dots, yet you can see different shades?”

”Am I blind?”

...

”Hehe...”

”Each of our eyes has undergone special training. In our line of work, observation is paramount. If your observation isn’t up to par, you deserve to die in a tomb!”

”Hurry up!”

Huo Nanfeng reached out and patted Fatty’s shoulder.

”Go find me a pen!”

”And a magnifying glass!”

”I’ll connect these dots, and then we’ll see what’s written on here!”

...

A minute later, Fatty handed the pen and magnifying glass he’d found to Huo Nanfeng.

Then... she took the pen and began to carefully observe the areas with dots of different colors using the magnifying glass.

She then connected the dots stroke by stroke according to the sequence of their shades.

Ten minutes later... Huo Nanfeng finally finished and slumped back into the chair behind her.

The others immediately crowded around.

They looked at the map on the table!

A few seconds later.

Wu Tian’s brow twitched.

He spoke flatly.

”I recognize these. These characters are in the Clerical Script used during the Eastern Han Dynasty. It says...”

”Qian is three continuous lines, Kun is six broken lines, Zhen is like an upright jar, Gen is like an overturned bowl, Li is hollow in the middle!”

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