Chapter 1617: A Leak
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Qi Qingchen had gone to some ancient ruins and mystic realms before to treasure hunt; it was actually her first time hearing that there were a few methods to do so. She was very curious as she asked, “What do you mean by force? By using wits? And just picking them up?”
“Think about it from another perspective.”
Jiang Yi had gone on many treasure hunts and had been rather successful. He understood the thought-process behind the people who hid such treasures a little.
The owners of such treasures have gone through much to reach a certain level of achievement. Before they died, they normally would place all the treasures they have gotten somewhere for people to go and search for them. They always wanted to give youngsters a chance to try their fate, to help them to grow stronger.
These people were all intelligent, top-notch formidable martial artists. They would definitely not allow any imbeciles to get hold of their treasures and wouldn’t give them to people who were not strong enough; that would actually be harming them. Hence, these people would want to test the mettle and intellect of the treasure hunters; this was what Jiang Yi meant by using force and using their wit to obtain treasures.
Some treasures only required strength; as long as you were powerful enough, you could breakthrough restrictions and any obstacles in your way. However, some treasures required one to see from the owner’s perspective and think of how he would have hidden the treasures; this was a battle of wits. In the Mystic Divine Palace, Jiang Yi had managed to see through the Mystic Thearch’s designs and intentions. That was how he had managed to successfully surpa.s.s all obstacles and emerged victorious.
The third method was the easiest to understand. Luck was a part of one’s strength. Some people were born lucky and could make it in life easily. The owners of such treasures would also consider this and place some treasures without much thought in random locations. To be able to find these treasures would be one’s luck.
Of course, these treasures would definitely not be cardinal treasures; the owners would definitely not allow their most treasured belongings to just be randomly picked up by anyone.
“Oh, I understand now. Jiang Yi, you are incredible.”
Qi Qingchen nodded slightly. She understood immediately once Jiang Yi had explained. She had gone for many treasure hunts, and although she had some ideas about hunting for treasures, she had not thought deeply about it. Upon Jiang Yi’s explanation, everything made sense to her.
“Let’s go!”
A sliver of excitement appeared on her face. Although she might not care much for treasures, she was excited about the process of treasure hunting itself. This process allowed her to actually pit her wits and strength against the Demon-Killing Supreme Thearch.
Jiang Yi scratched his nose, embarra.s.sed as he followed along. The two sped through the forest. After traveling for two hours, they still did not encounter anyone or any treasures; Poison Spirit had also not returned yet.
Qi Qingchen paused as she looked at Jiang Yi worryingly, “Could Poison Spirit be in trouble? Why hasn’t he come back yet after so long?”
“Keke!”
Jiang Yi said very confidently, “If it was any other terrain, I might actually be a little worried. However, this first level is a forest; rest a.s.sured. Even a powerful King-Ranked formidable martial artist would not be able to kill Poison Spirit. He is a top-notch a.s.sa.s.sin and scout; he is probably waiting for us at the entrance to the second level.”
Since Jiang Yi was so confident, Qi Qingchen did not want to ask further. Her brows furrowed as she asked, “In that case, which direction should we head to? We only have a day to search for treasures in this Demon-Killing Palace; we can’t possibly try our luck and walk aimlessly, right?”
“What other choice do we have?” Jiang Yi smiled bitterly, shook his head, and said, “We don’t have a map of the Demon-Killing Palace. We can only try our luck to find the entrance to the second level.”
“Why not we fly above the forest? It might be easier to find the entrance then, right?” Qi Qingchen suggested. Jiang Yi hurriedly stopped her as a sword appeared in his hands, and he threw it up into the sky.
Tsk! Tsk!
The sword flew up a thousand feet into the high skies as a white light flashed, and the superior-grade divine artifact instantly disintegrated into a fine powder. Jiang Yi had never once thought of flying after entering this place. He knew that if he was the Demon-Killing Supreme Thearch, he would definitely not allow treasure hunters to fly in the skies and easily find the entrance.
Swis.h.!.+
Qi Qingchen could only continue running about with Jiang Yi aimlessly. This first level seemed to be extremely vast; no end could be seen. The two continued for a couple more hours and still did not find anything. The Demon-Killing Palace had been activated more than ten times already; how many Heaven Domain prestigious clans’ talents have entered this place? Even if the first level had been filled with treasures, they would probably have been swept clean.
“Eh? I seem to be able to hear the sound of water; there should be a river nearby, right?”
After walking for another hour, Qi Qingchen’s extremely sensitive hearing could vaguely hear the sound of river water. The two ran towards it and indeed saw a small river. The water was very rapid, though the river itself wasn’t that wide or deep. It was very shallow, and the river bed could be seen. There weren’t any living creatures in it, not even a small fish.
Qi Qingchen swept a few glances, found that there was nothing special with the river, and didn’t bother looking anymore. She was prepared to traverse the river and continue heading forward. Jiang Yi, however, did not move. He actually closed his eyes.
“Is there something special with this river?”
Qi Qingchen trusted Jiang Yi very much now as she hurriedly examined the river. However, after scrutinizing it for five minutes, she did not find anything special to it. After Jiang Yi’s eyes opened, she asked curiously “Jiang Yi, is there something special with this river?”
“Yes!”
Jiang Yi nodded and said very surely, “If I haven’t guessed wrongly, we have found the entrance to the second floor.
“Ah?”
Qi Qingchen’s mouth opened slightly as her face was full of shock. A very ordinary river actually contained the entrance to the second level?
“Could the entrance be downstream?” Qi Qingchen asked doubtfully, very confused.
“Wrong! It is upstream!”
Jiang Yi did not explain as he gestured and started running upstream along the river. Qi Qingchen could only follow along. She kept on asking Jiang Yi why he had come to such a conclusion. Jiang Yi, however, only smiled and said nothing.
Swis.h.!.+
After traveling for two hours, a figure floated towards them. Qi Qingchen immediately acted as if that was an enemy. Jiang Yi—however—motioned, smiled, and said, “Don’t be nervous. Poison Spirit is back. He must have found the entrance.”
As expected…
A figure appeared as Poison Spirit surfaced, cupped his hands, and said, “Young Lord, General, I have found the entrance to the second level. It is a few thousand kilometers ahead. If we go along this river, we will enter a cave. The entrance is within that cave. It is actually rather well hidden; I searched a long time for it.”
“Amazing…”
Qi Qingchen looked at Jiang Yi weirdly as she asked again, “Jiang Yi, how did you know that the entrance was upstream?”
“Young Lord knew?” Poison Spirit was stunned as well.
“Keke!”
Jiang Yi smiled lightly and said, “The logic is very simple. Qingchen, you might not have noticed; the first level’s terrain is very flat like flat land. Since that was the case, why was the river water so rapid? That could only mean one thing: the source of the river is at a very high place. This river could possibly be flowing from the second level. Since that was a possibility, we could then follow this river into the second level.
“That makes so much sense!”
Qi Qingchen finally understood. She nodded and said, “It seems as if the Demon-Killing Supreme Thearch had purposely left this clue, so that the treasure hunters could find this clue and follow it to the second level, right?”
“You are wrong.”
Jiang Yi shook his head. His gaze looked towards the upstream direction of the river as he said gravely, “The Demon-Killing Supreme Thearch would not leave such an obvious clue behind; this clue was probably a result of powerful restrictions on the second level being destroyed already, and so this river appeared. That meant that the second level had been broken through, and a leak had occurred. At this moment, there should be many formidable martial artists on the second level. We have to be careful when we arrive there… very careful!”