“What, ten times?”
Upon hearing this, the elders of the All-Heavens Sect were visibly shocked.
They all knew what Master Huang’s original compensation demand was.
It was already an extremely generous reward, and now… he was asking for ten times that amount? This was outrageous.
It was practically extortion.
“I’m risking my life to help you. Ten times isn’t much,” Master Huang said. “Elder Tuoba, you can think it over. If you’re unwilling, that’s fine. Don’t you still have *that person* you invited?”
He glanced at the Blood Mist Heavenly Sovereign’s chariot, a mocking smile curling his lips.
“Fine, Master Huang, I agree,” Tuoba Cheng’an surprisingly conceded. “However, your requested reward is quite special, and I’ll need some time to gather it. But I assure you, once the task is complete, it will be delivered.”
“Good. But before we open the true entrance, we may need some sacrifices,” Master Huang said, looking at the black-robed army behind them.
“Is ten thousand enough?” Tuoba Cheng’an asked.
At this, not only did the black-robed army tremble, but even the All-Heavens Sect members’ faces changed.
Using ten thousand lives to test the entrance?
That was far too cruel.
“No need, no need. If I can’t open the true entrance within a thousand lives, I’ll return all the compensation,” Master Huang said, then resumed using the compass to set up the formation.
However, he didn’t immediately break the barrier.
Instead, he used the formation to close the previously opened entrance.
Then, he reopened the barrier entrance.
After opening it, as before, he handed out a hundred talismans to a hundred black-robed individuals, who then used their lives to test the entrance.
After the second attempt, Master Huang shook his head and repeated the process.
He closed the entrance and reopened it.
This puzzled the All-Heavens Sect members.
If the entrance was wrong, shouldn’t he try a different spot?
Yet Master Huang insisted on closing and reopening the same entrance.
It wasn’t until he explained that the All-Heavens Sect members understood.
The greatest flaw in the barrier was at that spot, so it had to be opened there.
The reason for repeatedly opening and closing was that the Demon-Slaying Emperor had left multiple entrances.
All but one were Gates of Death; only one was the Gate of Life.
His actions were to find the Gate of Life.
“This so-called Master Huang is utterly useless,” one of the Secret Cave Saints remarked.
“Multiple Gates of Death? There are clearly only two entrances.”
“One leads to the true Demon-Slaying Emperor’s tomb.”
“The other leads to the dwelling of ancient creatures.”
“He lacks the ability to open the true entrance, so he claims there are multiple Gates of Death. He’s nothing but a fraud.”
“And to use so many lives to test it? That’s utterly shameless.”
Inside the tomb, the Secret Cave Saints watched through their barrier mirror, observing everything outside.
They were furious at Master Huang’s actions.
“Big Brother, the Blood Mist Heavenly Sovereign isn’t acting, and this Master Huang is incompetent,” said Little Eleven of the Secret Cave Saints. “Some treasures in the tomb can’t even be opened by us and require the treasures held by the All-Heavens Sect. We need them to come in and help us open them. But waiting like this isn’t working. Why don’t we secretly help Master Huang open the true entrance, let them come in to unlock the treasures, and then we steal the treasures from them?”
“Hmm, this Master Huang is indeed useless. In that case, let’s give him a hand,” the leader agreed.
True to their word, the Secret Cave Saints used the power they had gained to secretly assist Master Huang.
With their help, Master Huang finally succeeded in opening the entrance to the Demon-Slaying Emperor’s tomb.
After confirming it was safe, Master Huang, carrying the treasures entrusted to him by the All-Heavens Sect and accompanied by their experts, entered the tomb.
Though the tomb was finally opened, Tuoba Cheng’an remained outside.
He didn’t enter immediately because he feared the dangers within and didn’t want to risk his life.
Instead, he entrusted everything to Master Huang.
With his people accompanying Master Huang, he wasn’t worried about the treasures being taken.
So, he remained excited, eager to see the treasures left by the Demon-Slaying Emperor.
“Grand Elder, something’s wrong!”
Not long after, an elder and disciples from the All-Heavens Sect rushed out.
“What happened?” Tuoba Cheng’an asked, seeing the elder’s panicked expression.
“Grand Elder, with Master Huang’s help, we quickly opened a door hiding treasures. He told us how to break the formation and led others to the next treasure location,” the elder explained. “We followed his method and successfully obtained the treasure. But as soon as we got it, someone appeared and stole it.”
“What? Stolen?” Tuoba Cheng’an was baffled, as were the others.
The tomb had just been opened.
They were the first to enter.
And Tuoba Cheng’an and his group had been guarding the entrance.
No one else had entered besides the All-Heavens Sect and Master Huang.
How could someone steal their treasure?
“Not only was it stolen, but they left this letter,” the elder said, handing over a letter addressed to Tuoba Cheng’an.
“I’d like to see who’s playing tricks on me!” Tuoba Cheng’an said, opening the letter.
*Bang!*
As soon as he opened it, a yellow gas burst out.
The gas didn’t harm anyone but carried a foul stench that swept through the area.
It was the smell of a fart.
“Damn it!” Tuoba Cheng’an’s face turned green with rage.
He knew he’d been pranked.
But who would use such a childish method to mock him?
Thinking carefully, the method seemed oddly familiar.
“Grand Elder, something’s wrong!”
At that moment, another group of elders rushed out from the tomb.
“What now?” Tuoba Cheng’an asked.
“Grand Elder, the treasure we just obtained was stolen,” the elder said. “And the thief left a letter for you.”
Seeing the letter, Tuoba Cheng’an was fuming.
He knew it was another prank, not a real letter.
“Grand Elder, we’ve failed you.”
“Grand Elder, something’s wrong!”
“Grand Elder…”
…
One after another, All-Heavens Sect elders poured out of the tomb’s entrance.
Without exception, every treasure they obtained was stolen.
And each held a letter.
All addressed to Tuoba Cheng’an.
