Chapter Forty-Six: The Mysterious Artifact Disappears

After searching for a long time aboard the Chen family’s great ship, Qin Yi and his companions found nothing.

On the deck, Zhang Chen said, “If we continue searching like this, I’m afraid we’ll never find it.”

Jiang Yao replied, “But we’ve already searched everywhere we could.”

Qin Yi shook his head. “There’s still one place left.”

Jiang Yao frowned. “You mean…?”

Qin Yi said, “Something that could attract a primordial spirit beast like Little White and make it risk so much to come here—how many such things could there possibly be? I imagine only what’s in that place would have that effect.”

Zhang Chen said, troubled, “But we can’t get in there!”

It wasn’t that they lacked the strength; the guards there were only at the Nascent Soul stage. But after all, this was Uncle Chen’s territory. To barge into such a secret place would be a grave breach of manners.

Qin Yi said, “Judging by Uncle Chen’s preparations, he’ll probably use whatever’s in there tonight. We’ll just have to thicken our skins and follow him.”

Jiang Yao said, “I suspect that, even if we don’t say anything, she’ll want us with her.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than they heard Chen Yuxuan call from behind, “Jiang Yao, Qin Yi, Zhang Chen, have you found that little pet yet?” Chen Yulei was with him.

Jiang Yao turned and smiled. “Not yet, Uncle Chen.”

Without hesitation, Chen Yuxuan said, “Then come with us.” He led the way, and the three followed.

Soon, they arrived two decks below the main one, stopping before an unremarkable wooden door.

“Master, Third Uncle.” The two Nascent Soul guards at the door saluted as Chen Yuxuan and Chen Yulei approached.

“Mm.” Chen Yuxuan gave a brief nod and waved them off. “You may go.”

“Yes, Third Uncle.” Both guards bowed and withdrew.

With a creak, Chen Yuxuan opened the door and walked straight in, the others close behind.

Inside, the three were astonished to find a massive, tightly closed, multicolored flower bud. The colors were so dazzling they knew no words to describe them, save “brilliant.” Not only was the bud itself vivid, but a radiant, colorful glow surrounded it, filling the space with a magnificent light.

Jiang Yao asked in amazement, “What is this?”

Though Qin Yi and Zhang Chen had not spoken, they too were clearly astonished.

Chen Yuxuan smiled. “I imagine you’d already guessed there was something like this here, though you didn’t know what. Truth is, neither do we. We only know we seized it from the South Sea, and that it’s undoubtedly a rare treasure.”

Jiang Yao asked, “Uncle, you mean to—?”

Chen Yuxuan was silent for a long time before finally speaking, his tone resolute. “I intend to take this treasure a step further—perhaps, with it, to reach enlightenment in a single bound.”

At these words, all three were shocked—especially Jiang Yao, who was already at the Golden Core stage, and Qin Yi, who had reached that stage in his previous life. They knew all too well how difficult it was to take even one step further at this level, let alone achieve true enlightenment. Whatever the outcome, after tonight, no one would ever again call Chen Yuxuan the weakest of the Peak Masters on Mount Taiyi.

Jiang Yao asked, “So you want us to…?”

Chen Yuxuan laughed. “Don’t play the fool, girl. Of course, I need you to guard me.”

Jiang Yao smiled. “As you command, Master. Your disciple will obey.”

Qin Yi and Zhang Chen, for their part, did not bother with formalities—their attitude mattered little.

Chen Yuxuan said with a smile, “Girl, I won’t keep you from searching for your little pet. Whether I succeed or fail, what happens afterward is none of your concern.”

Jiang Yao nodded, understanding everything without further words.

Without delay, Chen Yuxuan’s gaze shifted to the flower bud.

He drew his sword from his waist and prepared to cut into the bud.

Jiang Yao, being a young woman, could not bear to see something so beautiful destroyed and asked softly, “Uncle, are the petals themselves of any use?”

Chen Yuxuan replied, “The petals are useless; their energy is all concentrated inside the bud.”

Jiang Yao fell silent.

Chen Yuxuan began to cut, slicing off petal after petal with each stroke of his sword. The three watched his technique intently, especially Jiang Yao and Qin Yi, who were nearly entranced. If Jiang Yao was the second-best sword cultivator on Mount Taiyi, Chen Yuxuan was the unquestioned first—otherwise, he would not be the master of Sword Cliff Peak.

After some time, the bud had shrunk considerably; now only three petals remained, tightly embracing each other. Chen Yuxuan sliced them away as one might carve a melon, while the discarded, now-colorless petals piled up on the floor like so much refuse—their essence had departed in an instant.

At last, only one layer remained. All five in the room stared curiously at the bud, now reduced to three petals.

Finally, after a moment’s pause, Chen Yuxuan stepped forward and struck once more.

His sword sliced into a petal, and though the light was dazzling, the others could not help but look.

And then, suddenly, the room fell as silent as a tomb.

They were witnessing something utterly unexpected.

Within the three remaining petals—there was nothing.

After a long stunned pause, Chen Yulei was the first to speak, incredulous. “What happened? How is this possible? Lin himself told me there was a multicolored fruit inside!”

Chen Yuxuan frowned—not because he doubted his elder brother, but the fact was undeniable: the treasure was gone.

The three young companions exchanged glances, each entertaining an absurd suspicion—only to dismiss it as unreasonable.

Jiang Yao asked, “Uncle Chen, what’s going on?”

Chen Yuxuan, somewhat confused, replied, “I’m certain that since the treasure arrived, no one has entered this place, and there’s no sign it was disturbed.”

Jiang Yao pressed, “Then…?”

Chen Yuxuan shrugged with a wry smile. “No matter what, I won’t need you to stand guard anymore. Go on, search for your little pet.”

Jiang Yao, her voice heavy, said, “Master…!”

With a sharp laugh, Chen Yuxuan said, “Girl, what’s this now? Have you grown so bold you won’t obey? This matter has nothing to do with you—don’t get involved.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Yao could only bow and say, “Take care, Master.”

Then, with Qin Yi and Zhang Chen, she left to find Little White—to confirm the suspicion in their hearts.

Watching them go, Chen Yuxuan laughed. “Second Brother, even without this stroke of fortune, I think tonight we’ll have to avenge our elder brother.”

Chen Yulei grinned, though his smile radiated a chilling murderous intent. “Indeed. We have no other choice.”

If they went out now and claimed the treasure had simply vanished, the Qian and He families would never believe them. They’d assume the brothers were lying to deceive them, and the brothers would have no way to prove otherwise.

Such is human nature—in the face of profit, people believe only what they want to believe.

…

What none of them knew was that, at this moment, not far from the dock, out at sea, a tiny white rabbit was bounding across the waves like a dragonfly skimming water, fleeing at great speed. Thunder and storm raged behind it, waves surging and crashing. In the midst of the tumult, two indistinct figures could be seen—one, a tall, white-bearded old man, and the other, a beautiful woman in palace robes. The two seemed not only to be pursuing the rabbit, but also to be fighting each other. Whether the raging seas were due to the weather or to their battle, no one could say…

No one would believe that, beyond the immortals, such things could happen in all of Shenzhou.

Chen Yuxuan and Chen Yulei, just as in their wandering days in Lingzhou, walked arm in arm, each carrying a battered wine gourd, onto the deck. Gazing out at the dock square, where the atmosphere was as turbulent as the sea, they strolled toward the far end of the deck, drinking and laughing together.