Treasure Map

When he unfolded the parchment, he found a remarkably detailed map inside, far more detailed than the one Elder Song had left on the hourglass, with all manner of markings upon it.

There was also a note wrapped inside the parchment.

When he opened it, he saw Elder Song's handwriting.

"Li Gan, since you have found this item, it means you have solved the riddle. Congratulations. A great opportunity awaits you, but it also contains immense danger. You must wait until you become a Ranked Martial Artist before following this map."

In the letter, Elder Song mentioned the origins of this parchment map. It was said to have been left behind many years ago by a powerful Xiantian Martial Artist. Before that Xiantian Martial Artist passed away, he hid all his cultivation techniques and possessions in a secret place, then recorded the information about the Treasure Trove on this parchment map.

"A Xiantian Martial Artist?"

A flash of astonishment appeared in Li Gan's eyes.

Elder Song had told him about several Martial Arts realms.

A Xiantian Martial Artist was far more powerful than a Ranked Martial Artist.

A so-called Ranked Martial Artist was merely at the Postnatal Realm.

Only after the nine ranks of the Postnatal Realm could one qualify to step into the Xiantian Realm.

As a powerful martial sect whose fame shook three prefectures and twelve counties, the Divine Sword Sect naturally had Xiantian Martial Artists.

"I once found the Treasure Trove, but my Cultivation Base was too shallow, and I had no power to enter it. It remains a lifelong regret. Aside from me, several others know of the existence of this Treasure Map. You must be extremely cautious and never let word leak out, or great trouble will surely follow."

Li Gan's expression turned grave.

The value contained in a Treasure Map left behind by a powerful Xiantian Martial Artist was easy to imagine. If word spread, even the True Disciple Elders of the Divine Sword Sect might develop greedy designs.

"Could Elder Song's death be related to this Treasure Map?"

Li Gan's heart stirred.

With that thought, he carefully studied the information on the Treasure Map, forcing himself to commit it to memory.

His memory had already been fairly good.

After being reborn into this world, it seemed to have been strengthened. He could practically remember everything at a glance.

If possible, he felt that destroying this Treasure Map would be the safest course.

In his view, while the opportunity represented by this Treasure Map was precious, it also came with enormous risks.

He had the Sacrificial Artifact System. As long as he kept a low profile and cultivated in silence, the day would inevitably come when he rose to prominence.

There was no need to take such risks.

"So I should try not to leave the Divine Sword Sect."

Li Gan made his decision.

He suddenly understood a little why Elder Song had remained in the Divine Sword Sect for his entire life and even dared not reveal that he had relatives. He probably understood the dangers brought by the Treasure Map as well.

Only within the Divine Sword Sect was it safest.

After a long while, Li Gan silently memorized the contents of the Treasure Map. He closed his eyes and reconstructed it in his mind, then compared it against the map. Once he confirmed there were no omissions, he took out a small knife without hesitation and scraped away every line of the map.

The entire parchment was left blank.

Even then, he cut it apart with the knife, smashed the box along with it, and finally buried everything in a pit of earth, filling it in and tamping it down.

To leave no trace, he scattered dead leaves, grass clippings, and gravel over it as camouflage.

After returning to the Bell Tower, Li Gan acted as though nothing had happened, ringing the bell and cultivating according to his usual routine.

Thus, more than half a year passed.

Although he had gone down the mountain several times, he never saw Song Yingying again.

Still, Song Yingying was at the Hundred Herb Garden, so she should not be doing too badly.

Besides, there was nothing he could do to help her anyway.

Over the past half year, he had initially worried that Elder Song's death might bring trouble, yet nothing ever happened. Apart from Chen Yong, no one had come up the mountain at all.

Afternoon.

After cultivating by ringing the bell.

Li Gan's thoughts stirred, and he summoned the System Interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Gan.

Cultivation Base: Foundation Establishment (Internal Force).

Sacrificial Tool: Chen Bell (Treasure 312/1000).

Martial Arts: Sword Piercing Fist (Great Accomplishment).

Of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, he had now opened five—the Yangwei Meridian, Yinwei Meridian, Yangqiao Meridian, Yinqiao Meridian, and Dai Meridian. More than half of the sixth, the Chong Meridian, had also been opened. In another ten days to half a month, it would likely be fully opened.

The truly difficult ones to open were the Ren and Du Meridians.

They were also the crucial meridians for transforming Internal Force into Internal Qi.

It was said that eight or nine out of every ten Menial Disciples became stuck at the Ren and Du Meridians, unable to open them.

To go from Internal Breath to Internal Force, one needed the Force Transformation Method.

But to go from Internal Force to Internal Qi, the required Qi Refining method could only be found in a true Internal Cultivation Technique.

With the Chen Bell assisting his cultivation, opening the Ren and Du Meridians should not be too difficult for Li Gan.

After coming down from the Bell Tower, Li Gan was preparing dinner when his ears suddenly twitched. Hearing movement outside, he walked out and saw someone approaching the Bell Tower.

It was an old man with a black beard, dressed in a gray robe and walking with swift, vigorous strides.

Li Gan had never seen him before.

Now that he had suddenly come to the Bell Tower, Li Gan could not help becoming vigilant.

"May I ask what business this Senior has at the Bell Tower?"

Li Gan took the initiative to ask.

"Young fellow, I came to visit old Song. Where is he?"

The black-bearded old man stroked his beard and spoke with a smile.

"Senior, Elder Song left more than half a year ago and has yet to return. You didn't know?"

Li Gan asked with a surprised expression.

"He left? It has been that long?"

The black-bearded old man was greatly surprised. "Hasn't he sent back any message? Or before he left, did he tell you when he would return?"

"No. Before Elder Song left, he only told me that if he did not return, I could only go to the Chore Hall to collect my monthly stipend, supplies, and Contribution Points. He did not explain anything else."

Li Gan shook his head.

The black-bearded old man looked at Li Gan, seemingly trying to determine whether he was lying.

Although the black-bearded old man's gaze was highly oppressive, Li Gan remained calm in response, lest the other man spot any flaw.

Fortunately, he had lived two lives and was no naive youth.

"I see."

The black-bearded old man failed to see anything suspicious. Old Song Shijie probably could not have truly trusted a Menial Disciple who had only entered the Bell Tower a few months earlier.

He smiled, took out a medicine bottle, and tossed it to Li Gan. "This Blood Vitality Pill shall count as a small gift from me."

Li Gan caught the medicine bottle and put on an overwhelmed expression. "Senior, this Junior has rendered no service and cannot accept such reward."

"Enough, take it. If old Song returns, or if he brings back any letter, come to the Chore Hall and inform me at once. I am a steward of the Chore Hall. My surname is Zhao."

The black-bearded old man waved his hand, then turned and left.

Li Gan looked at the medicine bottle in his hand. So it was meant to buy him over.

A Blood Vitality Pill?

This was the first Medicinal Pill Li Gan had ever obtained. He had only eaten Medicinal Meals before, or a few small pieces of Exotic Beast Jerky.

Elder Song had only mentioned Medicinal Pills to him before. He had heard that Official Disciples received a dedicated supply of Medicinal Pills for cultivation.