The air in the secret chamber froze.
Lin Qingzhu's fingers clenched around the jade slip, her knuckles white.
"The Myriad Spirit Origin Fetus..."
Zhou Xuan rolled those words over his tongue, his voice soft, as though afraid of disturbing something.
He asked no more questions, merely tucked the black communication token back into his sleeve.
The message from the elder serving as their mole was brief, but it contained far too much information.
Before Grand Hua Old Ancestor left the sect, he had taken the thing from the forbidden land with him, leaving the entire Grand Hua Immortal Vein an empty shell.
Lin Qingzhu gritted her teeth.
"He's fucking pulled the firewood out from under the cauldron!"
Zhou Xuan gave a cold laugh.
"That old bastard never intended to defend his home."
Lin Qingzhu abruptly raised her head.
Zhou Xuan tapped his fingers lightly against the tabletop.
"He treated the entire sect as bait. Or, rather, an obstacle."
"He knew we would come to raid his lair."
"Then..."
"So he cleared out everything worth taking ahead of time."
Zhou Xuan finished her thought, his tone frighteningly calm.
"Including the Myriad Spirit Origin Fetus."
He stood and walked over to the Geomantic Map of Central Province hanging on the wall.
His finger landed on the area representing the Grand Hua Immortal Vein.
"An empty shell."
He spoke.
"But an empty shell covered in thorns."
"There are still thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of disciples inside who didn't have time to evacuate, a Mountain Protection Array passed down for ten thousand years, and mountains of resources."
He turned back.
"More importantly, it's where the foundation of Grand Hua Old Ancestor's Longevity Anchor lies."
Lin Qingzhu understood at once.
"So... he's betting we'll hesitate to throw a stone at the rat for fear