54: An unexpected "treasure map"

Inner District, a secluded side courtyard on the east side.

The wind and snow continued, but this small alley had already been dyed red with blood.

Zhou Wannian stood beside Wealthy Chen's corpse, playing with the heavy bundle in his hand.

He was in no hurry to open it; instead, he skillfully cast several Cleaning Talismans to erase the lingering scent of thunderfire, the smell of blood, and the footprints he had left behind.

After finishing all this, he finally looked up at the wooden door that had a large hole blasted through it by the "Thunder Duke Drill."

"This place is somewhat interesting."

Zhou Wannian activated his Spiritual Sight Technique, his gaze penetrating the damaged door to look inside the courtyard.

It was just a seemingly ordinary residence with an overgrown courtyard, clearly neglected for a long time. However, in Zhou Wannian's eyes, several extremely subtle spiritual energy fluctuations were hidden beneath this dilapidated appearance.

"Isolation Formation, Warning Formation, and a small... Self-Destruction Formation?"

Zhou Wannian raised an eyebrow.

Wealthy Chen, this corrupt official, might have been mediocre in combat, but he was truly a Genius when it came to self-preservation and hiding money. If Zhou Wannian had rushed in recklessly just now, or if Wealthy Chen had triggered the Restriction before dying, the contents of this courtyard would likely have turned to ash long ago.

Unfortunately, he died too quickly and too peacefully.

"Since the owner is no longer here, I'll let myself in."

Zhou Wannian fished out a set of Formation Flags from Wealthy Chen's corpse. Relying on the Formation attainments he had learned from Gu Fan, he tinkered with them for a bit and found the flaw in the Formation's core.

"Release."

With a soft click, those subtle fluctuations in the courtyard slowly dissipated.

Zhou Wannian pushed open the door and entered.

The courtyard was empty, containing only a long-dried well and a withered old tree.

But Zhou Wannian did not hesitate and walked straight toward the old tree.

He tapped rhythmically three times on an inconspicuous burl on the trunk, then turned it half a circle.

"Clack."

The sound of a mechanism turning came from the bottom of the dry well.

Immediately following that, the stone slab at the bottom of the well moved aside, revealing a deep opening from which a dry scent carrying a faint hint of ink drifted out.

"The scent of ink?"

Zhou Wannian was somewhat surprised.

He slapped a Vajra Talisman on himself and cautiously jumped down... The underground secret chamber was not large, only about twenty feet square.

There were no mountains of Spirit Stones as he had imagined, nor were there any dazzling arrays of Magical Artifacts.

This place was actually arranged like a... study?

A mahogany desk, a row of curio shelves, and a prayer mat for resting.

"This fatty actually has such refined tastes?"

Zhou Wannian walked to the desk and casually picked up an account book lying on it.

Opening it for a look, he was amused.

[Chongning Year 3, March: Withheld thirty Spiritual Plants from a Loose Cultivator's tribute in the Outer District, valued at two hundred Spirit Stones, entered into private account.]

[Chongning Year 3, May: Helped the Third Elder conceal the embezzlement of public funds, received five hundred Spirit Stones as hush money.]

[Chongning Year 4...]

This wasn't just an account book; this was clearly a "Record of Chen Family Corruption!"

Every transaction was recorded clearly: who embezzled, who gave bribes, and who took kickbacks. If this thing were leaked, half of the Chen Family Elders would have their skin flayed.

"No wonder he could live so long; with the dirt on so many people in his hands, who would dare touch him?"

Zhou Wannian shook his head and casually stowed the account book away.

His gaze turned toward the curio shelf.

The shelf was empty, as Wealthy Chen had obviously taken everything valuable when he fled.

Only a dusty old wooden box, which looked like it had been used as a footstool, remained abandoned in the corner.

"Hmm?"

Following the principle of a thief never leaving empty-handed, Zhou Wannian walked over and picked up the wooden box.

The box had no lock. After opening it, there were two items inside.

A damaged azure Jade Slip and a yellowed parchment scroll.

Zhou Wannian first picked up the Jade Slip and extended his Divine Sense into it.

Boom!

An obscure flow of information flooded into his mind.

[Second-Tier Talisman Manual · Incomplete Manual (Chen Family Scripture Pavilion Rubbing Edition)]

[Contains: Second-Tier Low Grade · Golden Light Shield Talisman (Complete), Second-Tier Low Grade · Divine Speed Talisman (Complete), Second-Tier Medium Grade · Five Thunder Incantation (Incomplete)...]

Zhou Wannian's breathing instantly quickened.

This was exactly what he had been dreaming of!

He had been stuck at the Realm of a First-Tier Talisman Master for a long time. Although he had used the "Spiral Drawing Method" to find an alternative path and create the "Poison Thunder Drill," that was ultimately an unorthodox method lacking systematic Second-Tier theoretical support.

And this Jade Slip, although an Incomplete Manual, contained talisman structures and spiritual energy circuits that were part of an orthodox Second-Tier Legacy!

"Wealthy Chen, oh Wealthy Chen, you aren't just a corrupt official; you're practically my wealth-bringing boy!"

Zhou Wannian was so excited his hands were trembling slightly. With this item, combined with that turtle spirit brush, his path to ascending to a Second-Tier Talisman Master could be described as a smooth road!

After calming his emotions, he picked up the parchment scroll again.

Unrolling it, it was a map.

But this wasn't an ordinary map; it was a... Complete Map of Qinghe Market Underground Water Systems and Secret Passages!

The map was densely marked with over a dozen red lines, which were secret tunnels dug by successive generations of the Chen Family for escaping. One of them happened to connect right here.

And what made Zhou Wannian's eyes burn even more with desire was the center of the map—directly beneath the Chen Family Ancestral Residence, marked with a striking golden skull.

Beside it was a line of small notes:

[Family Treasury (Backup Vault). Entrance: The third blue brick under the rockery in the ancestral residence's back garden. Opening incantation: ...]

"..."

Zhou Wannian looked at these words and fell into deep thought.

This man Wealthy Chen was not only greedy but also cowardly to the extreme. He had actually managed to get the backup entrance and incantation for the Family Treasury?

This was likely a backup plan he kept in case the Family collapsed and he needed money to spend. Unfortunately, before he could go and retrieve it, he was intercepted by Zhou Wannian right at his doorstep.

"To not take what Heaven offers is to invite misfortune."

Zhou Wannian carefully put away the map, hiding it against his chest.

"I was originally thinking about how to sneak into the Chen Family Ancestral Residence to get some leftovers; now, I even have the key."

"The Chen Family Treasury... that's the accumulation of hundreds of years."

Although the ancestral residence has now been blown into ruins and a rampaging corpse puppet Old Ancestor is wreaking havoc above, the treasury is deep underground and should still be intact.

As long as I find the right timing... "Hehe."

Zhou Wannian let out a low chuckle, which sounded particularly eerie in this dark secret chamber... After finishing his looting, Zhou Wannian did not linger.

He returned the way he came, resealed the well opening, and restored the Formations in the courtyard to their original state (except for the blasted door).

After completing all this, he quietly sneaked back to Yard No. 88, Ding Block.

By this time, the sky outside was already starting to brighten.

The sounds of killing still shook the heavens, but they seemed slightly further away than last night. It appeared the Black Wind Stockade people were already blinded by greed in the Inner District and had scattered to every corner, temporarily having no time for this remote Ding Block alley.

Zhou Wannian pushed open the shop door.

A wave of warmth greeted him.

The cellar cover was open, and the faint sound of snoring came from below.

"They really are thick-skinned."

Zhou Wannian shook his head and walked over to kick the cover.

"Come out, I'm not dead yet."

A moment later, Chen Zhaozu climbed out with messy hair like a chicken coop, looking dazed: "Old Zhou? Is it over?"

Tang Ruyan also climbed out, still holding the Pill Furnace she had cracked, seemingly studying the fissures on it.

"It's not over; it's just beginning."

Zhou Wannian pulled two Storage Pouches from his bosom and tossed one to each of them.

"Take them."

"What's this?" Chen Zhaozu took it and looked, his eyes instantly widening, "Spirit Stones? So many?"

Each pouch contained five hundred Spirit Stones!

"Dividends."

Zhou Wannian said indifferently, "Weren't we business partners before? This is your share."

In reality, this was hush money and also relocation funds.

The next actions would be too dangerous; he couldn't bring these two burdens along.

"Listen, the Inner District is no longer safe."

Zhou Wannian pointed at the simple map on the table (the escape route part he had copied from Wealthy Chen's map), "This path leads to the sewer exit on the north side of the market. No one usually takes it, and it's remote, perfect for avoiding the main forces of the Black Wind Stockade."

"Take the money and follow this path. Once you're out of the market, run east to the nearest 'White Cloud City' to take refuge."

"Old Zhou, what about you?"

Chen Zhaozu grew anxious, "You're not coming with us?"

Tang Ruyan also looked up, her gaze complex as she watched him.

"I still have some things to do."

Zhou Wannian straightened his sleeves, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Chen Family Ancestral Residence, which was still emitting black smoke.

There, that was the true battlefield.

And the final feast.

"You go first. If we're lucky, we'll meet in White Cloud City."

"If you don't leave..."

Zhou Wannian suddenly revealed a sinister smile and pointed outside the door, "When those Robber Cultivators slaughter their way here—one of you is too fat to run, and the other can only explode furnaces and has no combat power—are you staying to be my meat shields?"

Chen Zhaozu: "..."

Tang Ruyan: "..."

Although the words were harsh, they made a lot of sense.

"Take care!"

Tang Ruyan was a decisive person. She gave Zhou Wannian a deep look and pulled the still-hesitating Chen Zhaozu, "Let's go! Don't get in his way!"

The two of them followed the route Zhou Wannian guided them through, disappearing into the shadows of the back alley.

Watching them leave, Zhou Wannian closed the shop door and hung up a "Closed for Business" sign.

"The bystanders have all been cleared out."

"Next, it's the Thunder Duke's solo performance."