86: Seven-Star Lock

So, she must have studied it privately for a long time, yet she still hadn't found the mechanism within.

In the years since The Golden Lion King obtained the dragon-slaying saber, he hadn't been able to comprehend its secrets either.

If this divine weapon truly meant what the saying suggested—that whoever obtains the dragon-slaying saber rules the world—then why would people still fight to snatch it once someone already had it?

"Husband, I've observed this heavenly sword for a long time and tried every method, but I still haven't found the mechanism," Zhao Min said with a frown.

"Let Xiao Zhao take a look; she is meticulous and has a good understanding of mechanisms," Duan Zhengchun said.

After hearing this, Xiao Zhao took the heavenly sword and began to examine it.

She observed it very carefully, focusing primarily on the hilt.

The blade was as smooth as a mirror, making it impossible for a mechanism to be set there.

The most likely place was the hilt.

Xiao Zhao carefully inspected the hilt, her fingers gently stroking it, not missing any abnormalities.

She didn't find it the first time, and after searching carefully again, she still found nothing.

On the third pass, Xiao Zhao's eyes suddenly lit up, and a smile appeared on her face.

"Husband, I think I've found the issue," Xiao Zhao said excitedly.

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, and they all gathered around.

They were all curious about where the mechanism actually was.

However, Zhao Min and the others looked at it for a long while without seeing where the problem lay.

"Xiao Zhao, where is this mechanism? Why can't I see it at all?" A Li asked in confusion.

"Yeah, there's nothing on here; where could a mechanism be?" Yang Buhui said as she picked it up to check after A Li.

Duan Zhengchun took the heavenly sword, gently stroking the hilt to feel its condition while releasing a faint trace of Internal Energy.

Closing his eyes to sense it carefully, Duan Zhengchun suddenly opened them, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"So that's how it is; no wonder the issue couldn't be found," Duan Zhengchun said with a smile.

"Husband, you found it?" Zhao Min asked in surprise.

"Indeed. This hilt is made of Phoebe zhennan wood, using a very clever mortise and tenon structure, and then the traces were covered up with extremely sophisticated techniques."

"It's hard to distinguish the differences with the naked eye. To find it, besides using certain tools, one needs a very keen perception."

"If you feel carefully, you'll notice that this area is different," Duan Zhengchun said.

Hearing Duan Zhengchun's explanation, they took the heavenly sword and observed it again, but they still found nothing.

This left Zhao Min and the others feeling quite helpless and frustrated.

Even though they had been told the situation, they still couldn't find it.

"Argh... my eyes hurt from staring, but I still can't find it. I'm giving up," A Li said gloomily.

"I can't find it either. It seems I have no talent in this area," Yang Buhui said helplessly.

Zhao Min also had a helpless expression on her face.

Duan Zhengchun and Xiao Zhao glanced at each other, both seeing the amusement in the other's eyes.

"Sister Minmin, Sister A Li, come here, I'll show you where it is." As Xiao Zhao spoke, she took out a small knife, found the right spot, and began to scrape the hilt.

However, she didn't dare use too much force, lest she damage the hilt and have to find someone to rebuild it later.

Following Xiao Zhao's movements, a layer of pale gold powder was scraped off.

At first, there was nothing unusual, but as the powder fell away, a fine line thinner than a strand of hair soon appeared before their eyes.

Seeing this, their eyes immediately lit up.

"Heavens, it's actually true! This method was hidden way too well," Yang Buhui said in shock.

"This person's methods are indeed very clever. Presumably, the person who forged the heavenly sword, this divine weapon, also didn't want anyone to have both."

"This matter should be related to the founding Ancestral Master of the Emei Sect; she likely didn't want the Disciples within the sect to rely too much on divine weapons."

"No matter the time, only one's own strength is true strength."

"Weapons are merely auxiliary. Relying too much on them leads to an inferior state. Abbess Miejue's end is a perfect example," Duan Zhengchun said.

"Hmm, that makes sense."

"Senior Guo Xiang really put a lot of thought into this."

The group sighed with emotion. Soon, Xiao Zhao removed the outer layer of the hilt, revealing the true hilt inside.

However, when she saw the hilt, Xiao Zhao's face immediately fell.

Everyone was waiting for Xiao Zhao to open the mechanism so they could see its true form.

But they saw Xiao Zhao stop with a helpless expression.

"Eh? Sister Xiao Zhao, why did you stop? Keep going!" A Li looked at her in confusion.

"Sister A Li, it's not that I don't want to, but I'm just not sure."

"Do you see these seven dots? If I'm not mistaken, this is a mechanism called the Seven Star Lock."

"There's a specific order to unlock it. If the order is pressed incorrectly, not only will it fail to open, but the contents inside will also be destroyed," Xiao Zhao said helplessly.

"Ah? There's another mechanism? This is such a trap!"

"Using a mortise and tenon structure on the outside was one thing, but how can there be such a mechanism inside as well?" A Li said with a look of disappointment.

"Xiao Zhao, since you said this is the Seven Star Lock, you must know something about it, right?" Zhao Min looked at Xiao Zhao.

"I do know a bit, but the Seven Star Lock has seven times seven, forty-nine possible solutions. Moreover, this mechanism can change its opening method after each use."

"Most importantly, this lock only gives three chances to be opened."

"If all three attempts are wrong, it will be impossible to open, and the contents will be destroyed," Xiao Zhao said helplessly.

"Forty-nine solutions? Three chances? This is too twisted!"

"It's bad enough there are so many solutions, but only three chances? Doesn't that mean even though we know there's a mechanism to open it..."

"...we still have no way to open it?"

"It's like having a beautiful woman standing naked right in front of you, but you can only look and not touch. It's pure torture," A Li said gloomily.

Hearing A Li's explicit words, Xiao Zhao, Zhao Min, and Daiqisi didn't react much. However, Yang Buhui, who was newly experienced in such matters, blushed and didn't dare to look at anyone.

"Sister A Li, what are you saying? I'm not omnipotent."

"The method to unlock this is only known by the person who created it."

"Forty-nine methods and only three chances; I'm not confident," Xiao Zhao said, looking at the Seven Star Lock helplessly.

"It's fine. Just follow your own instincts. It doesn't matter if you get it wrong; it's just a Secret Manual," Duan Zhengchun said.

"Husband, that's the Nine Yin Manual, a legendary Cultivation Technique in the Song Dynasty Martial Arts World."

"Do you really not mind?" Xiao Zhao looked at Duan Zhengchun in surprise.

"It's just the Nine Yin Manual. It doesn't matter if we have it or not. If you want it, I'll get it for you later," Duan Zhengchun said.

Xiao Zhao was speechless, but she was also very curious.

Curious whether her method could actually open the Seven Star Lock.

"Xiao Zhao, since Husband has said so, don't feel any pressure. Open it!" Zhao Min said with a smile.

She knew Duan Zhengchun's abilities very well; a Cultivation Technique really wasn't much in his eyes.

Xiao Zhao nodded, took a deep breath, and began to think about the method to unlock it.