Jiangli told Yang Qing that the foundations buried beneath the loose soil bore quite a few of the Golden Pagoda Inscriptions he had been searching for.
"I still urge you not to read those inscriptions, lest you regret it when it's too late."
Jiangli spoke to Yang Qing in all seriousness, though it knew full well that if this master of its ever listened to its advice, nothing in the world would be difficult.
After hearing Jiangli's words, Yang Qing formed some rather ominous guesses about the origins of those inscriptions. Still, he felt it was time to uncover this secret that had remained buried in the Underground Palace.
Bu Er had already fetched a large jar of vinegar from the nearest tavern. Following Jiangli's instructions, he poured it over the pagoda's foundations.
The foundations had been covered in loose soil, leaving everything a murky gray. But once the vinegar was poured over them, the soil rapidly dissolved, revealing something pitch-black that resembled a low earthen wall before Yang Qing and the others.
Sure enough, inscriptions of the same origin as those on the golden pagoda Yang Qing had obtained appeared on its surface.
He still could not understand a single word.
But as long as Jiangli could read them, that was enough.
Seeing Yang Qing turn his gaze toward it, Jiangli briefly closed its eyes and sighed silently to itself.
Perhaps this was fate.
Not a shred of it lay in anyone's hands.
With an imperious air, Jiangli jumped down from Yang Qing's arms, raised a little forepaw, and slapped it against the pagoda's foundations with magnificent bravado. Then its mouth began to move.
To Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou, however, it sounded like nothing more than repeated cries. Yang Qing had Jiangli temporarily enhance their abilities as well,