Treasures (Part 1)

Chapter 48: Treasures (Part I)

The commotion here finally drew the attention of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm elder left behind to guard the Nangong Mansion. However, only one of the Nangong Family's three Tribulation Transcendence elders appeared.

Generally speaking, once a cultivator reaches the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, most enter a state of deep seclusion, severing their six senses and ignoring all external disputes.

After all, the Tribulation Transcendence Realm is the gateway for a cultivator to ascend to the heavens. Once they cross it, they can be called a Void Immortal. Although cultivators in this realm possess immense combat power, they are also extremely fragile; any injury sustained could directly impact their ability to transcend the tribulation.

The Nangong Family only kept one mid-stage Tribulation Transcendence cultivator in the public eye. In daily life, while this cultivator occasionally appeared in Moon-Gazing City, he spent most of his time in seclusion.

But at this moment, the Nangong Family's vital treasury was under attack, and the defensive array was nearly shattered—how could he not know?

Without hesitation, this mid-stage Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, Nangong Xianglu, the uncle of Nangong Shenhe, flew out directly from his place of seclusion.

When he saw the dense crowd of cultivators surrounding the family treasury, his head spun, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

This was one of the Nangong Family's secret treasuries. It held the true wealth of the Nangong Family, all the treasures and riches they had accumulated in Moon-Gazing City over the years, including several vital artifacts.

Nangong Xianglu hurriedly steadied his mind. With one hand forming a seal, he cast streaks of golden light into the protective array, instantly patching the breach.

"What kind of petty thieves dare to run wild in the Nangong Family?"

Nangong Xianglu glared, his voice booming like thunder.

Because his cultivation had reached the peak of the mid-stage Tribulation Transcendence Realm and he was preparing for his second heavenly tribulation, he was unaware of the events that had transpired in the family over the years. However, as the former head of the Nangong Family, how could he not know the purpose of the family's presence in Moon-Gazing City?

Nangong Xianglu wore a long grey robe and appeared to be in his forties. Three long wisps of beard drifted across his chest, giving him an ethereal, immortal-like air.

Facing Nangong Xianglu's interrogation, everyone turned their gaze toward Ao Xie. After all, they had only come to scout, and it was Ao Xie who had taken the lead in attacking the treasury.

A wicked smile curled the corners of Ao Xie's mouth. His body moved in a blur, and the long halberd in his hand transformed into a streak of golden light, thrusting toward Nangong Xianglu.

"A martial cultivator? Are you from the Immortal Martial Sect?"

Although Nangong Xianglu's cultivation was inferior to Ao Xie's, this was the Nangong Family's headquarters; even when facing a Mahayana Realm powerhouse, he felt no fear. Seeing Ao Xie wielding a halberd and attempting close-quarters combat, he mistook him for a member of the Immortal Martial Sect.

Those who enter the path of immortality through martial arts are known as Martial Immortals, and before achieving immortality, they are called martial cultivators. In the Glazed Heaven, the only martial cultivation sect was the Immortal Martial Sect—the very sect Chen Xiao had joined in his previous life.

"Hmph!"

Ao Xie neither confirmed nor denied it. With a cold snort, he brought his halberd down in a direct strike toward Nangong Xianglu.

"Strike!"

Nangong Xianglu retreated in a hurry. With a flick of his sword-fingers, the array below was instantly activated. The purely defensive formation shifted abruptly, transforming into a vast killing array that enveloped the entire Nangong Mansion in an instant.

The Gengjin energy, carrying a biting, murderous intent, shrouded everyone present.

Nangong Xianglu did not know what had happened or why so many cultivators had descended upon the Nangong Mansion, but he understood one thing: he could not let these people leave alive.

Inside this Nangong Family treasury lay a crucial item. If news of it leaked, it would be a catastrophe for the entire Nangong Family, including their backer, the Southern Overlord.

Now that this treasury had been exposed, even if it meant revealing the Nangong Family's true foundation, he could not let these people leave alive!

"Heavens! It's the immortal-grade Taiyi Gengjin Immortal-Slaying Array! It truly is the handiwork of the Southern Overlord!"

As soon as the killing array activated, someone recognized it immediately.

"Nangong Clan, don't go too far! I am Chu Tiankuo, an outer sect deacon of the Tianxuan Sword Sect. Today's events were our fault, but if you Nangong Clan members insist on killing us all, do you intend to forge a blood feud with the Tianxuan Sword Sect?"

A middle-aged man in green robes immediately summoned his flying sword to shield himself, shouting loudly.

"Chu Tiankuo, you are merely an Body Integration Realm outer sect deacon; how can you represent the entire Tianxuan Sword Sect? What does it matter if I kill you?"

At this moment, two more figures flew out—they were two late-stage Tribulation Transcendence cultivators.

"Nangong Xiangluan, Nangong Xiangque! How can it be you two? Didn't you both die five hundred years ago when you failed your tribulations?"

Chu Tiankuo had recognized the two late-stage Tribulation Transcendence cultivators who had appeared.

The next moment, Chu Tiankuo shrieked again, "It really is you! What is the Nangong Family's true intention in hiding here in Moon-Gazing City?"

"Heh heh..."

Nangong Xiangque did not speak. His hands moved rapidly to form a seal, and in an instant, the entire array was filled with countless silver-white blade lights.

Caught off guard, Chu Tiankuo was hacked to pieces in a single exchange.

The other cultivators were struck with terror, frantically releasing their protective artifacts to desperately fend off the elusive yet terrifying Gengjin blade lights.

Meanwhile, Ao Xie wielded his long halberd, clashing with Nangong Xianglu in a fierce battle. Though the array's offensive power was immense, it could not break through Ao Xie's defenses.

Ao Xie was the Crown Prince of the Crystal Palace and a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius of the Dragon Clan. Ever since he was ambushed during his last tribulation, he had long since abandoned his arrogance and armed himself from head to toe with high-grade immortal artifacts. This mere Taiyi Gengjin Immortal-Slaying Array could not inflict any substantial damage on him.

However, by utilizing the power of the array, Nangong Xianglu was able to maneuver and hold his own against Ao Xie, leaving Ao Xie unable to overcome him for the time being.

"Xiangluan, leave these people to me. Take that object and head to Mingyu Mountain quickly. I don't know what kind of chaos has broken out in the family, but Shenhe and the others should be at Mingyu Mountain. That item must never be leaked."

Nangong Xiangque transmitted his voice to Nangong Xiangluan.

"Brother, take care of yourself."

Nangong Xiangluan nodded. With a flash, he opened the treasury's protective array and stepped inside.

"It seems the plan needs to change."

Seeing the Nangong Family put on such a grand display, Cai Di immediately realized they were guarding some secret—a secret they would protect even at the cost of slaughtering scouts from major powers and burning bridges with them!

The two wisps of dark energy that had been emerging from Cai Di's hands dissipated instantly.

"Ao Xie, do your best to entangle Nangong Xianglu and Nangong Xiangque; don't let them finish off these cultivators."

A sinister smile also appeared on Cai Di's face. "Shadow, follow them in and see what kind of treasures are actually in that vault."

Shadow had already dissolved into nothingness by this point; even before Cai Di could give the order, he was already trailing behind Nangong Xiangluan as he entered the interior of the grand formation.