The afternoon sun blazed fiercely, its scorching heat making the air shimmer and hearts restless—just like the excitement burning in Liu Xi's eyes.
He released the unique spiritual wave of his Illusionary Heart Technique, sealing off the entire cliff.
In an instant, the area became completely isolated—neither human nor beast could sense anything happening here.
"Do you want to go down and take a look?" Liu Xi's calm voice echoed from within the forest as he stepped out, eyes fixed intently on the cliff. "There's a fateful encounter waiting for you below."
"Who's there?!"
Xiao Yixian, startled, turned sharply toward the sound.
When she saw Liu Xi—dressed in fine robes, his handsome features framed by the sunlight, his gaze fiery and intent—her delicate face tensed with alarm.
'He's so good-looking… no, wait! He's not one of the mercenaries. That look in his eyes—it's not right! Don't tell me… he's after me?'
Her heart skipped in panic. Slender fingers quietly slipped into her small pouch, gripping a white paper packet tightly.
With forced calm, she asked softly, "Um, big brother, you do know that's a cliff, right?"
Liu Xi continued walking toward the edge, replying casually, "Of course I know. The opportunity lies beneath it."
Seeing him approach, Xiao Yixian's anxiety spiked. Her grip on the packet tightened, ready to hurl it at a moment's notice.
Her tone turned cold as she snapped, "Don't come any closer! If you take another step, I'll scream! There are nearly a hundred mercenaries nearby—you'll never beat them!"
Liu Xi chuckled, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Threatening me… with a bunch of Dou Zhe-level mercenaries?" His lips curled into a teasing smile. "Go ahead, scream all you want. Even if you shout until your throat bleeds, no one will hear you."
Xiao Yixian's heart trembled as he continued advancing, his expression calm yet unreadable. Panic overcame her reason, and she cried out, "Help! Someone help me! There's a pervert here trying to assault me!"
But no one came.
Not a single mercenary responded to her desperate cries. The cliff remained silent, cut off completely from the outside world.
Liu Xi ignored her glare of pure vigilance and turned his gaze toward the cliff below.
A dense forest sprawled beneath, framed by jagged rock walls. His sharp eyes scanned the cliffside, and soon, they stopped upon a dark shadow concealed by thick vines and fallen logs.
There it was—the cave he'd sensed earlier. Though cleverly hidden, its faint aura of energy betrayed it to his perception.
He smiled faintly and looked sidelong at Xiao Yixian, who was clutching her hidden weapon with trembling hands. "Those little tricks won't work on me," he said lightly. "Still… this place holds something that belongs to you. I hope you make good use of it."
Xiao Yixian froze. Her beautiful face paled, and confusion flickered in her eyes.
Before she could react, Liu Xi raised a hand. Gentle yet irresistible Dou Qi energy enveloped her, lifting her from the ground despite her startled gasp.
A pair of translucent Dou Qi wings unfurled from Liu Xi's back as he stepped forward—and leapt off the cliff.
---
Suspended in midair, Xiao Yixian's eyes widened in disbelief.
'Wings of Dou Qi!'
That was the unmistakable sign of a Dou Wang—one of the true powerhouses of the continent!
Her heart sank. 'So strong… even if every mercenary in Qingshan Town attacked together, they couldn't stop him. No… I can't let myself be humiliated, even if I die today…'
---
Hovering before the cliff face, Liu Xi flicked his sleeve. A violent gust erupted, tearing away the vines and wooden planks concealing the entrance. Debris scattered like dust in the wind.
At last, the cave lay fully revealed—a narrow passage just wide enough for two or three people to enter, faint light glimmering from within like the breath of something ancient.
Landing lightly before the entrance, Liu Xi dispersed the Dou Qi holding Xiao Yixian. She stumbled forward, barely regaining her balance.
"T-this is…" she breathed, staring at the dark opening in disbelief.
"Let's go," Liu Xi said simply, already stepping inside without looking back.
Xiao Yixian hesitated, biting her lip as she glanced around. There was no way back up the cliff. After a long pause, curiosity won over fear. She gritted her teeth and called out, "Hey! Wait for me!" before hurrying in after him.
---
The tunnel was damp and silent, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly through the darkness. The deeper they went, the colder it grew.
Noticing Xiao Yixian rubbing her arms, Liu Xi conjured a small azure flame in his palm. Its warmth spread through the tunnel, casting rippling blue light along the walls.
Bathed in the soft glow, Xiao Yixian's tension eased. Watching the calm figure walking ahead, a faint hint of gratitude appeared in her eyes.
Under the flickering firelight, the cave no longer seemed as ominous. Eventually, they reached a massive stone gate blocking their path.
Xiao Yixian stepped closer, examining the faint yellow glow shimmering across its surface. "This is an Earth Attribute mechanism formation," she murmured. "There should be a switch nearby… if we can find it, opening the gate shouldn't be too hard."
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "No need for that much trouble."
He pressed his palm—wreathed in azure flame—against the stone.
Boom!
The Green Lotus Core Flame erupted violently. The light from the formation flickered once before melting away entirely. In seconds, the thick stone dissolved into molten slurry, then vanished into smoke.
The surge of heat forced Xiao Yixian to retreat several steps, shielding her face from the scorching wave.
Moments later, the barrier was gone, revealing a spacious stone chamber beyond.
With a wave of his hand, Liu Xi drew the flame back, dispersing the heat. Then, without hesitation, he stepped inside.
Behind him, Xiao Yixian muttered under her breath, "Show-off… using brute force just because he can."
She followed him in—and froze.
The chamber before her was vast and filled with treasures: piles of gold coins, shelves of medicinal herbs, ornate chests, and a single ancient skeleton seated solemnly at the center.
Her eyes widened in awe. "What… what is this place?"
Liu Xi didn't answer. He had already walked toward the skeleton, his expression calm yet focused.
Within this forgotten tomb, he could feel the lingering presence of power—and destiny.
(End of Chapter)
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