Human Skin Mask Exposed, Receiving a Fortuitous Opportunity

"Two lashes, three lashes, four lashes, five lashes!" Four more bolts of lightning struck in succession, each lash stronger than the last!

These bolts of lightning were not chaotic. Instead, they shifted in coordination, every change targeting the gaps between the sword shadows' attacks, breaking through their defenses and striking directly at their source. They used the force of the attack against itself, achieving the effect of "receiving, redirecting, and releasing."

After several more attacks, the sword shadows were finally shattered through the pair's cooperation, turning back into blades of grass and flowers. The traces of battle around them swiftly vanished as well. Everything returned to calm, and the entire Secret Realm regained the appearance it had when they first arrived: beautiful, peaceful, and serene.

"Mm, Miss Huangfu, why are you staring at me like that?" Zhuang Xingyu asked in confusion when he saw Huangfu Ruiyao glaring fixedly at him.

"Your face... the mask you were wearing fell off." Huangfu Ruiyao stared at the face before her—handsome brows, sharp eyes, and a bearing as graceful as jade. Especially those deep eyes of his, quiet and unfathomable like an ancient well, seemingly capable of seeing through one's heart. Paired with his black outer robe, his overall demeanor was simple yet elegant, with an air of nobility beneath it. For a moment, she was completely mesmerized.

Zhuang Xingyu hurriedly touched his cheek and discovered that his Human Skin Mask had indeed fallen off. It lay in fragments in the battle area ahead, evidently destroyed by the sword shadows during the fight.

Huangfu Ruiyao inwardly lamented, Ahhh, Huangfu Ruiyao, Huangfu Ruiyao, you've utterly embarrassed yourself! Isn't he just a little handsome?

Huangfu Ruiyao quickly changed the subject and said resentfully, "Young master, you're truly low-key! Judging from your appearance, you seem to be only a little over ten years old. If you hadn't acted just now, I never would have imagined that your Soul Power had already reached over level forty. It would not be an exaggeration to call you the continent's greatest genius! I was merely astonished by your talent and shocked for a moment. Please do not misunderstand, young master."

She even tried to justify her earlier embarrassment, but she did not understand the principle of protesting too much. Instead, the more she explained, the worse it looked.

"You flatter me, Miss Huangfu. Also, I must clarify one thing: I am not little at all, so don't call me 'young master.' Let's quickly figure out how to open the palace gates and go inside to retrieve the treasures!"

"No rush. There are no more dangers here. With my family's secret technique, this hall can be opened easily." Huangfu Ruiyao was unusually composed now. "Speaking of which, we have gone through life and death and adversity together, so we can be considered friends. I have always treated you with my true face and real name, yet you appeared before me under a false face. Lin Yuanqi isn't your real name either, is it?"

"One should naturally be cautious when traveling outside. Besides, Miss Huangfu, didn't you also withhold the truth? From the way you discovered the Treasure Map, to the fact that you showed no surprise when facing the sword shadows' attacks after entering the Secret Realm, and then the family secret technique you just mentioned—it is obvious that you are extremely familiar with this Secret Realm."

"Haha, we're both the same. Since that's the case, let's go claim the treasures!" Huangfu Ruiyao waved her hand and headed toward the palace.

When they reached the palace gates, Huangfu Ruiyao took out a token from her Storage Ring and pressed it into a groove in the center of the gates. Her hands rapidly formed seals while her lips continuously chanted.

Zhuang Xingyu could not understand what she was saying. It was probably some kind of code phrase or incantation.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Huangfu Ruiyao finally finished chanting and respectfully bowed to the gates.

With a creak, the gates slowly opened!

The light sources inside lit up as well. They were actually precious Jade Marrow Treasure Beads, which could not be artificially produced. The entire hall was filled with them; there were at least over a hundred by rough estimate.

One had to know that the entire Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan possessed only one.

It was not that the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan could not afford them. Rather, apart from illumination, they were only good for looking pretty, while the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan valued practical worth.

If not for the fact that their Jade Marrow Treasure Bead had been presented as tribute by a subordinate force when it submitted to the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan back when the family had yet to decline—

—and carried tremendous symbolic meaning, representing the family's glorious history—it would have long been exchanged for cultivation resources.

Although these Jade Marrow Treasure Beads had no function beyond automatic illumination, the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan's lack of interest did not mean that imperial nobles and members of the Upper Three Sects would not like them!

They adored such things. The rarer an item was, the more they liked it, believing that only such things could display their status.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in particular had little resistance to such treasure beads because the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was a treasure-type martial soul.

If they were taken out for auction, they would certainly trigger a scramble among countless nobles and sects. These beads alone could sell for one to 1.8 million Gold Soul Coins, nearly enough to cover the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan's expenses for an entire year.

"Wow! It's so beautiful!" Huangfu Ruiyao could not help exclaiming at the incomparably magnificent palace hall.

The palace hall was dazzling in gold and jade. Its ceiling was decorated with seven-colored glazed glass that sparkled under the light. Yet the vermilion walls surrounding it gave the palace a solemn and mysterious air, filled with the weight of history without the slightest sense of gaudiness or nouveau riche vulgarity.

The shelves on both sides were filled with treasures: exquisite porcelain, carefully carved jadeware, and brilliant, dazzling jewels. Every single piece was priceless.

Three jade boxes sat in the very center of the hall. Though they had yet to be opened, it was certain that they contained the most valuable treasures in the entire hall. The Spirit Bones were most likely stored within them.

Twelve great pillars supported the hall. They were richly carved and painted, their surfaces hollowed with all manner of vivid designs.

"Wait! There's something wrong with these carvings!" Zhuang Xingyu thought in confusion.

The carvings included a qilin stepping on coins, flanked by auspicious cloud patterns, signifying the warding off of evil and the attraction of wealth; two lions playing with an embroidered ball, symbolizing endless prosperity and an unbroken line of descendants; as well as engravings of dragons and phoenixes bringing good fortune, golden lions, silver elephants, and more. The decorations beside them in particular were clearly not those of a residence. They resembled a grand tomb instead.

In his previous life, Zhuang Xingyu had traveled far and wide and visited quite a few ancient tomb sites, so he could recognize such things.

Forget it, there was no need to dwell on it. As long as it was valuable, that was enough. Perhaps it had been designed this way due to someone's peculiar preferences.

Zhuang Xingyu quickly walked to the box in the middle and was just about to take it when he was blocked by a layer of light. It actually bore a Shangqing Level seal. If he forcibly broke it with the Chaos Bead, the item inside would explode along with it.

"Divine power... Could there be a divine artifact inside?" Zhuang Xingyu muttered.

"You can actually recognize divine power! Well, that makes sense. The force capable of nurturing a genius like you would surely have relevant records. This is an opportunity left for future generations by my ancestor, the Rank 1 God, the Five Elements Qilin Sword God. It can also be considered a challenge. Below the god level, no one other than members of my Huangfu Family can take it or use it. Only those of the Huangfu Family may use their bloodline as a seal and employ the secret technique. No one else can." Huangfu Ruiyao explained from the side.

After a pause, Huangfu Ruiyao continued, "I only want this item. You can have everything else here. What do you think? The other two boxes contain two Forty Thousand Year Spirit Bones and two Twenty Thousand Year Spirit Bones. There are other treasures as well, all of them definitely extremely valuable. But I have one condition: after we leave, you must have the force behind you help me find something!"