233: Chapter 233 Treasure Pavilion

Ye Tian felt a surge of joy in his heart.

This proved that his understanding of the Dao of the Sword had been recognized by this ancient Restriction!

"Wow! Senior Brother, you can open it too?"

Hou Xiaojie was both surprised and delighted.

"Let's go, let's go inside and take a look, but be careful."

Ye Tian whispered, then brought Hou Xiaojie and the Mini Dragon Ape as they swiftly slipped into the gap.

The gap closed immediately.

The scene inside the valley was completely different from the outside.

The Spiritual Qi was much denser, and the air was filled with a faint, fresh fragrance of vegetation.

The valley was not very large. In the center stood a half-collapsed stone hall, with some broken stone swords and stone tablets scattered in front of it.

Jing Wutian and a few members of the Li family were examining something in front of the stone hall. Hearing the commotion, Jing Wutian turned his head sharply and saw the three of them. A flash of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He clearly had not expected that anyone else could open this Restriction, and that the ones who entered were two youths in the Ningyuan Realm and a strange little monkey...

The Li family members immediately gripped their weapons.

"Who is Your Excellency?"

Jing Wutian scrutinized Ye Tian with a sharp gaze. He could not sense any strong True Yuan fluctuations from Ye Tian, but being able to open the Restriction meant he was definitely no ordinary Martial Artist.

Ye Tian cupped his fists and said, "I am a Loose Cultivator named Ye Tian. I was passing through this area and, seeing the mystery of the Restriction, I was curious and tried to open it, accidentally entering this place. I apologize for disturbing you all."

"A Loose Cultivator?"

The surprise in Jing Wutian's eyes deepened. A Loose Cultivator with such exquisite insights into the Dao of the Sword? He found it hard to believe.

However, his character was quite upright. Seeing that Ye Tian was courteous and seemed to have no ill intent, he returned the salute: "Jing Wutian. Brother Ye's ability to open this Restriction alone is truly admirable regarding Sword Cultivator cultivation. This Broken Sword Valley is an ownerless land. Since you have arrived, let us each rely on our own Opportunity."

"Many thanks, Brother Jing."

Ye Tian nodded and took Hou Xiaojie toward the other side of the stone hall, maintaining a certain distance.

He did not want to come into conflict with the other party, but he would not lower his necessary vigilance.

Jing Wutian took a deep look at Ye Tian, said nothing more, and continued to study some vague carvings on the walls of the stone hall.

Seeing Jing Wutian's attitude, the members of the Li family also relaxed, but they still glanced vigilantly toward Ye Tian's side from time to time.

Ye Tian also began to investigate around the stone hall.

His Divine Sense, combined with the perception of the chaos bead, carefully scanned every inch of the land and the ruined walls.

Hou Xiaojie and the Mini Dragon Ape also helped by looking around.

Suddenly, under a collapsed stone pillar, Ye Tian felt a faint sense of attraction coming from the chaos bead!

He crouched down, brushed away the rubble and soil, and found half of a rusted broken sword buried underneath. The blade was almost completely decayed, but something seemed to be embedded in the hilt.

He carefully dug out the hilt and wiped away the rust, discovering a gray-white bead the size of a grain of rice embedded in the end of the hilt.

The faint sense of attraction was coming from this very bead!

"This is... a 'sword soul stone'?" Ye Tian's heart stirred.

He had seen records of it in the Sect's ancient books. It was a rare Artifact Refining material, a crystal formed when the Sword Intent of an ancient Sword Cultivator combined with special Ore while nourishing their natal sword weapon. It contained pure Sword Intent and was beneficial for Sword Cultivators to gain insights into the Dao of the Sword.

Although this one was very small and of average quality, it might be of some help to his cultivation of the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art.

He calmly put away the hilt and the sword soul stone.

On the other side, Jing Wutian also seemed to have gained something from the wall carvings and was closing his eyes to contemplate.

The members of the Li family found a few small metal fragments containing faint Spiritual Qi in a corner, which counted as a small gain.

About half an hour later, both sides finished exploring the valley almost simultaneously.

Jing Wutian opened his eyes, nodded at Ye Tian, and then took the members of the Li family out of the valley; it seemed they were heading elsewhere.

Ye Tian did not linger either; he took Hou Xiaojie and the Mini Dragon Ape and left Broken Sword Valley by the same path.

"Senior Brother, what treasure did we find?" Hou Xiaojie asked curiously.

Ye Tian took out the half-hilt: "I obtained a small bead; it's somewhat useful. As expected, there aren't many good things in this outer area."

However, this exploration was not without gains.

He had personally experienced the Restriction of the Ancient Sword Manor, felt the residual Sword Intent, and unexpectedly obtained a sword soul stone. More importantly, he had made initial contact with a young expert at the level of the "Five Heroes of Cangya".

"Jing Wutian... his strength is indeed very strong."

Ye Tian looked toward the deeper part of the mountain range, where the area was shrouded in thicker fog; that was the sealed core area.

"The core area, the sword manor key order..." A flash of brilliance appeared in Ye Tian's eyes.

The minor scuffles in the outer area could no longer satisfy him.

It seemed he had to find a way to obtain the qualifications to enter the core area.

It was time to return to the city and inquire about more specific information regarding the "key order".

By the time they emerged from Broken Sword Valley, the sun was already setting in the west.

Ye Tian did not continue to linger in the outer area of the Jianming Mountains; he took Hou Xiaojie and the Mini Dragon Ape and returned straight to Cangya County City.

Returning to the "Tingsongju" inn, Ye Tian first carefully checked the room, and after confirming that no one had tampered with it, he sat down to regulate his breath.

Although he had not experienced any fierce battles today, opening the "Sword-Testing Restriction" and dealing with Jing Wutian had consumed quite a bit of his mental energy.

He took out the grain-sized sword soul stone obtained from Broken Sword Valley, held it in his palm, and circulated the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art, carefully contemplating the trace of ancient Sword Intent contained within it.

Wisps of cool essence flowed along his Meridians into his Sea of Consciousness, mutually validating his own understanding of the Dao of the Sword, giving him new insights into several obscure points of the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art.

Although this sword soul stone was of average quality and very small in quantity, for him at this stage, it was like a guiding beacon with significant effects.

"This Ancient Sword Mansion Ruins truly lives up to its reputation. Just an outer valley had such a harvest. The core area must surely have even greater treasures."

Ye Tian pondered inwardly, "I must find a way to go in and take a look."

The "sword manor key order" was the key.

According to the teahouse waiter and what he had seen today, the key order seemed to be in the hands of a few major forces like the Governor's Mansion and the Jing Family, and ordinary people could not reach them at all.

"It seems I must plan carefully; perhaps... I can make use of some 'external force'."

Ye Tian thought of "Duobao Pavilion," which was owned by the family of that playboy, Qian Duobao, whom he had met at the teahouse yesterday.

Places of business like this were the most well-informed; perhaps he could find out some news about the circulation or private transactions of the key order.

After resting for about an hour, when the lights began to glow at twilight, Ye Tian set out with Hou Xiaojie and the Mini Dragon Ape.

This time he did not go to the teahouse, but instead directly inquired about the location of "Duobao Pavilion."

Duobao Pavilion was located on the most prosperous "Baichuan Street" in Cangya County. It was an imposing five-story pavilion with glazed tiles shimmering under the lights. The entrance was bustling with traffic, and the guests coming in and out were either wealthy or noble; it was clearly not a place where ordinary Cultivators could afford to spend money.

Ye Tian still maintained his aura at the eighth level of the Ningyuan Realm, and with Hou Xiaojie, who looked like a "lackey," and the "pet" Mini Dragon Ape, he walked into the main entrance of Duobao Pavilion.

Immediately, a waiter dressed appropriately with a professional smile came up to greet them.

"Welcome to Duobao Pavilion, three guests! I wonder what you would like to see? Weapons, Medicinal Pill, Cultivation Technique, spiritual Materials—our shop has everything!"

The waiter had a sharp eye. Although Ye Tian's superficial cultivation was not high, his demeanor was calm and steady, not like a Mortal, so his attitude was very polite.

Ye Tian's gaze swept across the first-floor hall, where various goods were displayed, dazzling and filled with shimmering precious light.

He asked directly: "May I ask if the shopkeeper is in? I would like to inquire about something."

The waiter was slightly taken aback but still maintained his smile: "You want to see our Shopkeeper Qian? May I ask what business you have? The shopkeeper is busy with official business; if it is a small matter, perhaps I can help."

Just then, a slightly panicked voice sounded from the side: "It's... it's you?"

Ye Tian turned his head to look, and it was the playboy Qian Duobao, whom he had disciplined at the teahouse yesterday.

Today, he had changed into a more magnificent brocade robe, but his face was a bit pale, and his eyes were evasive. The two new lackeys following him also subconsciously took half a step back, clearly still remembering the miserable state of having their eyebrows and hair burned yesterday.

When Hou Xiaojie saw it was him, he immediately put his hands on his hips and snorted.

The Mini Dragon Ape also recognized this annoying guy, bared its teeth at him, and let out a low "woofing" sound in its throat.

The waiter saw this and was somewhat confused, but still bowed to Qian Duobao and said, "Young Master."

Qian Duobao tried to act calm, but his voice was still a bit weak: "What... what are you doing coming to my shop? Didn't... didn't yesterday's matter end?"

He remembered clearly that the flames spat out by that strange monkey yesterday were very evil, and this guy named Ye Tian had eyes that were terrifyingly calm; he was definitely not an ordinary Ningyuan Realm Cultivator.

Ye Tian glanced at him indifferently: "I am looking for Shopkeeper Qian to discuss some matters; it has nothing to do with you."

Qian Duobao was swept by Ye Tian's calm gaze, and his heart felt even more uneasy, but thinking that this was his own territory, his courage grew a bit more, and he said with a show of toughness: "Looking for... looking for my father? As an outsider, what big matters could you have? You wouldn't be here to extort us, would you?"

Other customers in the hall were also attracted by the commotion here and looked over one after another. Some people who were at Baiweizhai yesterday recognized Ye Tian and Qian Duobao and began to whisper.

"Eh? Isn't that the kid who made Young Master Qian eat humble pie at the teahouse yesterday?"

"Why did he come to Duobao Pavilion? Young Master Qian seems a bit afraid of him, doesn't he?"

"Interesting. It seems this young man is not simple; Qian Duobao doesn't dare to be arrogant this time."

Hearing the surrounding discussions, Qian Duobao lost face and braced himself to say: "My father has no time to see someone of unknown origin like you! Get out immediately!"

Just then, a calm, middle-aged voice came from the staircase: "Duobao! Do not be rude!"