197: Chapter 197 Treasure Hunt in the Secret Chamber

The next evening, he had Liu Mo and his team stand guard around the villa, as there might be complications while performing the Extraction of the Treasure Trove from the main hall tonight.

At midnight, Li Xin did not step out. He remained lying comfortably on his bed, took out some top-shelf whiskey from his space, and poured himself a glass. He took a light sip, feeling invigorated, and continued his work.

"AI System, initiate Extraction. Secret chamber behind the main hall."

[Extraction initiated. Initial rate: 50 tons/hour. Target: Secret chamber behind the main hall, approximately 25 tons of gold, approximately 3,000 pieces of jewelry. Estimated time: 30 minutes.]

[Target energy field intensity rating: C+ (residual consciousness of the priest), estimated interference level: mild.]

The progress bar began to jump. Five percent, ten, fifteen.

His temples didn't hurt, but his ears were buzzing slightly, very faintly.

The sound of bells rang out again in the distance. "Dang... Dang... Dang...", rhythmic, one after another.

Suddenly, Liu Mo's voice came to his ears.

"Boss, there is someone inside the temple, ringing the bell."

"How many people?"

"I can't see clearly, there is only one person, wearing an orange robe."

"Don't worry about it. Keep watching."

"Understood."

"AI System, check who that person was just now."

[AI System: Understood. Based on the characteristics, it should be the priest you encountered yesterday.]

The progress jumped to thirty percent.

The bell stopped, and it became quiet again.

But Li Xin felt that something was wrong. He couldn't put his finger on it, but his back felt cold, as if someone was watching him.

He looked up towards the temple; the lights on top of the tower were still on, which obstructed his view, so he couldn't see anyone. He could only ask Liu Mo. However, there was a person standing at the entrance, wearing an orange robe, standing there, motionless.

"Liu Mo, what's the situation on your end?"

"Boss, there is a person standing at the temple entrance, wearing an orange robe, standing there, motionless, looking in your direction."

Li Xin's heart skipped a beat, and he fell silent.

"Could it be that he knows I'm here? Forget it, never mind. I just need to hold on for half an hour."

Li Xin continued sipping his drink, staring at the system panel.

The progress jumped to forty-five percent.

Liu Mo's voice sounded a bit tense.

"Boss, that person has moved. He is coming towards your side."

"Alright, I understand."

"Boss, do you want me to take him out?"

"No, keep lying low."

A few minutes later...

Liu Mo's voice came again.

"Boss, that person has gone back. I saw clearly just now; it is a bald priest, holding prayer beads in his hand, muttering to himself. I don't know if he is chanting scriptures or reciting spells."

"Alright, just continue observing."

After saying that, he glanced at the System, and the progress jumped to sixty percent.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound came to Li Xin's ears, and gradually the sound began to become clear.

"Who are you? What are you doing?"

Li Xin's expression changed abruptly. This was the voice of the priest he had met yesterday, and his thoughts suddenly became chaotic.

"Damn... What is going on? Someone can transmit sound through the air? Have I encountered an expert? Or what is the reason?"

Li Xin didn't know how to answer for a moment; he didn't know if he was hallucinating.

Before he could think it through, the priest's voice came again.

"I can see you."

Li Xin remained silent.

The progress jumped to seventy percent.

The priest's voice became urgent.

"Who exactly are you? You cannot do such things here."

Li Xin finally confirmed one thing: this priest did not yet know who he was. The heart he had been holding could finally be put at ease.

The priest's voice became even more urgent.

"Who are you? You cannot take those things; they belong to the gods. Those things do not belong to you."

Li Xin remained silent.

The priest became manic, and his voice began to roar. Li Xin's head was buzzing from the shock.

"You cannot do this. These things belong to the gods. You will be punished by the gods. Put them down... Put them down... Put everything down for me. Ah..."

The progress jumped to eighty-five percent.

Li Xin could feel that the Extraction was still continuing. There were only a few minutes left.

The priest suddenly stopped being manic, calmed down, and spoke resentfully.

"Haha... You have something on you. I... I smell the aura of other gods on you."

Li Xin still said nothing.

The priest laughed wildly.

"Hahaha... You have been to Jaigarh Fort. I smell the Mughal scent on you."

Li Xin felt nervous, but his face remained expressionless, and he stayed silent.

The priest said hatefully.

"That day was not an ordinary place; it was a place guarded by 'people'. You have touched their things, and you will be cursed. Leave this place, otherwise, I will have the gods punish you."

The progress jumped to ninety-five percent.

Li Xin remained silent.

"Ah... You cannot take these things away. Oh gods, punish him, curse him, he has touched your things."

Suddenly, Li Xin felt a cold wind hit him, and the hair on his body stood on end.

"Damn... This isn't real, is it?"

The tension only lasted a few seconds, then a warm current flowed through his whole body. All the previous discomfort was swept away.

The priest's scream came through. "Ah... What is going on? How did you... You..."

Then there was no more sound.

The progress jumped to ninety-eight percent.

Li Xin stared at the system panel.

[Extraction complete. Secret chamber behind the main hall, approximately 25 tons of gold, 305 pieces of jewelry. Cumulative gold: 7402.7057 tons.]

[Cooldown countdown: 11:59:59]

Li Xin let out a long sigh of relief; it was finally done.

"AI System, what was that just now? How could I hear the priest's voice, and all those curses?"

[AI System: That was the Power Of Faith of the temple god, a guardian spirit body formed by condensation. This place is inherently a Holy Land, with abundant incense offerings.]

"Then why did I hear the voice of the priest I met during the day?"

[AI System: Since this priest is currently presiding over the sacrificial ceremony, the spirit body naturally became tainted with a trace of his aura.]

"Then, was I discovered? What about Liu Mo and the others seeing the priest standing at the door?"

[AI System: With me masking your aura, you will absolutely not be exposed, so you can rest assured. The reason the priest suddenly walked out of the temple just now is likely because the spirit body transmitted a faint mental sense to him. He was just suspicious and looking around; he has no idea about the treasure underground. Moreover, the origin of this Treasure Trove is quite interesting; no one in the temple knows of its existence. It seems someone hid it here secretly, and for some unknown reason, it has now become ownerless, which is why it fell to you; otherwise, the System would not have been able to extract it.]

"That puts my mind at ease. Also, was I cursed by them? Earlier, I felt waves of coldness hitting me."

[AI System: Yes, but you don't need to worry. I have already dealt with it, so you will not be affected.]

"That's good, that's good."

With his doubts answered, Li Xin felt at ease.

"Liu Mo, you guys can come back and rest. It's nothing."

Liu Mo hurriedly replied. "Received. Boss, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Bring everyone back."

"Understood."

Li Xin lay on the bed and looked at the system panel.

Cumulative gold: 7402.7057 tons.

Next, it is time to go and meet that "world's richest temple" — Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

He turned off the panel, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

The insects outside the window chirped all night.