The Treasure Map's Treatment

Bamboo Forest Valley, in the Herb Field.

Lu Gen was in Wang Kun's Bamboo House, helping him gather up scattered clothes and other belongings.

All the valuable things inside had been taken by others. What remained was mostly junk.

After hearing nothing for many days, the Five Elements Sect had confirmed Wang Kun's death and was preparing to send a new Herb Field laborer to take charge of Wang Kun's plot.

Lu Gen was an honest, simple man. Seeing that even Wang Kun's body was nowhere to be found after his death, he couldn't help sighing. So he came to gather Wang Kun's remaining clothes and build him a clothes tomb.

But after collecting all the clothes, he accidentally stepped on a corner of the Bamboo House and felt something was off underneath.

Lu Gen furrowed his brows and couldn't help knocking on it. The sound was strange, as if there were empty space below.

A glint flashed in his eyes. He opened it to take a look and found a piece of parchment inside. After carefully examining it, he realized it was a Treasure Map.

According to the notes on it, the Treasure Map most likely pointed to a treasure left behind by an expert of the Fifth Martial Realm or higher. If he could obtain it, he would surely reap considerable benefits.

Not only would reaching the Martial Artist realm be within his grasp, but even higher levels shouldn't be difficult.

Perhaps this was what people meant when they said good deeds were rewarded.

If Lu Gen hadn't taken pity on Wang Kun, whose body couldn't even be found after his death, and come to build him a clothes tomb, how could he have obtained such a Treasure Map?

But Lu Gen wasn't the only one to be rewarded for his kindness. Qin Dongcheng was, too.

After thinking it over, Lu Gen decided that although the Treasure Map was astonishingly valuable, the treasure lay in the Outer Prefecture, thousands of miles from Bamboo Forest Valley.

With his strength, who knew when he might be able to go treasure hunting? Even if he did go, whether he could obtain the treasure safely was still an open question.

So, after much hesitation, he decided to give the Treasure Map to Qin Dongcheng.

Qin Dongcheng had helped him so much these past few days. Before long, he would be able to begin his martial arts training and become a Body Phase Realm Martial Artist.

How could he fail to repay such a great kindness?

Although the Treasure Map could be sold for a hefty sum, it couldn't compare to Qin Dongcheng's kindness.

Lu Gen soon found Qin Dongcheng and gave him the Treasure Map. Qin Dongcheng was stunned; he hadn't expected Lu Gen to be so honest and generous.

This was a Treasure Map left behind by a powerful expert of the Fifth Martial Realm or higher. Even if Lu Gen didn't search for the treasure himself, he could have sold it for a considerable amount of resources and valuable items.

Yet he had simply given it to him. It far exceeded the help Qin Dongcheng had given him before.

He was truly a good person.

Even though Qin Dongcheng had no intention of searching for the treasure, he still accepted Lu Gen's kindness. In return, he gave Lu Gen dozens of bottles of pills. They were nowhere near as valuable as the Treasure Map, but they were at least a small token of appreciation.

He would help and guide Lu Gen more from then on. A man who knew how to repay kindness was worth helping, even if his talent and aptitude were limited.

He had no intention of searching for this treasure. It was too far from Bamboo Forest Valley, and who knew what dangers he might encounter along the way?

Heyuan Prefecture was far more chaotic than Luo Cloud Prefecture. Sects, gangs, and warlords carved up the land, while Demons and Ghosts ran rampant. The slightest misstep could mean death. He wasn't about to go treasure hunting.

Perhaps he might take a look after his martial arts had advanced, but for now, he would leave the Treasure Map in the Diligence Space. Without sufficient strength, he wouldn't even leave Bamboo Forest Valley, let alone venture beyond Luo Cloud Prefecture.

After all, he had the Heaven Rewards Diligence System. He wasn't short one treasure.

To put it bluntly, he could risk his life and finally find this treasure, only for it to be worth less than a single thousandfold critical hit.

And if he happened to trigger a Ten Thousandfold Critical Hit during that time, that would be even more incredible. How many treasures could compare to a single Ten Thousandfold Critical Hit?

Thinking no more of it, Qin Dongcheng continued his steady training and improvement, with no intention of searching for treasure.

After giving away the Treasure Map, Lu Gen didn't bring it up again. He, too, threw himself into training, hoping to become a Martial Artist as soon as possible.

For Lu Gen's safety, Qin Dongcheng asked some Herb Field laborers on good terms with him to come stay at Osmanthus Garden at night.

His residence at Osmanthus Garden was spacious, and he had no family to speak of at present. Letting the laborers stay there for their safety was no trouble.

After all, every few days Qin Dongcheng went to their Herb Fields to help harvest precious medicinal herbs.

Just for that alone, Qin Dongcheng was willing to look after them.

Besides, the Herb Field laborers were all decent people. After learning about Qin Dongcheng's preferences, they made a point of saving the precious herbs for him. They didn't mind even if the delay meant missing the best time to harvest. How could anyone not like them?

As for those who showed no gratitude, Qin Dongcheng had already given up on them. He had no desire to raise a pack of ingrates.

"You comprehended the Heaven Concealment Art. Congratulations, you triggered a tenfold critical hit and gained tenfold insight!"

With the gains from a tenfold critical hit, Qin Dongcheng fully comprehended the Heaven Concealment Art. Now he could begin training in it.

Its difficulty truly surpassed his imagination—at least dozens of times greater than the Mount Tai Body Strengthening Fist. No wonder no one had ever managed to master it over the years.

With such a difficult art to comprehend and such a difficult one to begin practicing, only a fool would spend so much time and effort on it.

Without the Heaven Rewards Diligence System, Qin Dongcheng wouldn't have touched it.

Now that he had comprehended it, he could begin training.

"You practiced the Heaven Concealment Art once. Your Heaven Concealment Art improved!"

"You practiced the Heaven Concealment Art once. Your Heaven Concealment Art improved!"

While training, Qin Dongcheng didn't notice anything unusual. In other words, he had practiced for nothing; he couldn't even get started.

Fortunately, he had the Heaven Rewards Diligence System. As long as he practiced, he was bound to gain something. So his Heaven Concealment Art improved directly, even though he hadn't managed to achieve anything through his practice.

Then he would just keep going. Qin Dongcheng plunged into arduous training.

One reaped what one sowed. In less than a few days, the Heaven Concealment Art had smoothly reached the entry level. This top-tier secret art, said to be impossible for anyone to comprehend or practice, had been mastered by Qin Dongcheng just like that.

Even at the entry level, it allowed Qin Dongcheng to easily rein in his surging Blood Qi, making him seem plain and unremarkable, as if he had only recently entered the Skin Phase Realm.

As expected of a top-tier secret art, its effects were beyond imagination.

Qin Dongcheng was quite satisfied. After realizing how formidable the Heaven Concealment Art was, he spent a little more time on it, making his days all the more fulfilling.

With the Heaven Concealment Art at his disposal, he now had an extra layer of protection when dealing with those around him and with Demons and Ghosts. They wouldn't be able to see through him easily, and he could effectively hide his true strength, giving them a huge surprise when the time came.

Good things came in pairs. Not long after the Heaven Concealment Art reached the entry level, another top-tier combat technique did as well. What's more, it had already reached the first layer upon entry, allowing it to produce some decent effects.