The Yinglong’s Legacy and a Disputed Entrance

At this moment, the struggle within the grand hall was nearing its end. The sounds of battle gradually faded. The number of cultivators in the hall had dwindled from over a hundred to barely fifty.

After Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing obtained the armor and the treasured bow, they ceased contending with other cultivators for opportunities. They understood that acquiring these two treasures was their limit. Should they attempt to seize more, they risked inciting public wrath, an outcome that would surely prove counterproductive.

Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing stood by the side of the grand hall, silently observing the ongoing conflict within.

“I can’t fathom why there are so many cultivators’ magical treasures within this Yinglong Tomb,” Chi Qiu remarked.

Su Hanxing replied, “This is hardly unusual. Any demonic beast above the Dharma Manifestation Realm can assume human form. They are also capable of cultivating human techniques and utilizing human magical treasures. As demonic beasts, their growth and advancement through realms are naturally exceedingly slow. Consequently, they often roam far and wide, constantly seeking treasures, which leads to them accumulating a multitude of magical artifacts.”

Su Hanxing then produced the treasured bow he had just acquired, preparing to subdue the spiritual energy within it.

“I see…” Chi Qiu understood.

Su Hanxing spent several breaths of time successfully taming the treasured bow. He held it, scrutinizing it with an undisguised fondness. He gently drew the bowstring, feeling the immense power contained within, before slowly releasing it.

“With this bow, I can boost the power of my divine ability by at least seventy percent,” Su Hanxing boasted. “Furthermore, it won’t snap under my strength; the number of arrows I can loose depends entirely on my cultivation.”

Su Hanxing proudly displayed the treasured bow to Chi Qiu. Upon its surface, golden dragons coiled and celestial phoenixes danced, all formed from the spiritual energy emanating from within. When Su Hanxing had slightly drawn the bow, the golden dragons and jade phoenixes seemed to come alive, exhaling spiritual energy that condensed upon the bowstring, truly making it an exceptional spirit treasure.

Chi Qiu lightly stroked the treasured bow, immediately sensing the turbulent spiritual energy within it. She nodded, offering unreserved praise. “This is indeed an excellent bow,” she affirmed. “When the time comes, I’ll don this armor and charge forward into battle, while you unleash arrows from the rear. With this strategy, even your Gong family’s forces won’t be able to hold us for long.”

Chi Qiu had already formulated a detailed plan in her mind for how they would engage in combat. Although Su Hanxing feared neither Tan Xiao nor Gong Lingfeng, he still needed to conceal his identity. With many of his ultimate techniques and divine abilities rendered unusable, his combat prowess naturally diminished.

“No, no, that won’t do at all!” Su Hanxing vehemently shook his head at Chi Qiu’s suggestion. “How can you be fighting at the front while I shoot arrows from the shadows?”

“I have precious armor protecting me; I’ll be fine,” Chi Qiu countered. “Besides, my current strength is not inferior to yours. Don’t underestimate me.”

As she spoke, Chi Qiu spread her hands, showcasing the dark scaled armor she wore. As if sensing its owner’s intent, the scales on the armor began to open and close on their own. A dense, battle-hardened spiritual energy slowly diffused from it, enveloping Chi Qiu’s entire body.

“I’m not saying your strength is lacking,” Su Hanxing hastily explained. “It’s simply that I genuinely cannot bring myself to let you, Little Chi, face the enemy alone.”

To send Chi Qiu, a woman who appeared so delicate, to the front lines while he hid in the back to shoot arrows—Su Hanxing would never agree to such a thing.

“Are you truly taking me for a mere female cultivator?” Chi Qiu was not foolish. Seeing Su Hanxing’s reaction, she naturally understood why he was unwilling. Yet, in Chi Qiu’s eyes, this was the best and most optimal combat strategy. How could they abandon it merely for the sake of face?

Su Hanxing offered no verbal reply. He simply gazed at Chi Qiu with a complicated expression. Though unspoken, his look was more telling than any words.

Chi Qiu, of course, understood Su Hanxing’s meaning. With a helpless shake of her head, she conceded: “Alright, I’ll defer to you. But if your identity gets exposed then, don’t you dare blame me.”

To accommodate Su Hanxing’s masculine pride, Chi Qiu abandoned the battle strategy she had proposed.

“Hehe, don’t be angry, Little Chi,” Su Hanxing chuckled. “Look, there’s some movement at the far end of the grand hall.”

Chuckling, he sidled closer to Chi Qiu. He bent slightly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Turning her gently in a new direction, he pointed towards the grand hall.

Chi Qiu tilted her head, glancing at the hand resting on her shoulder. With a faint sigh, she said: “You… never mind.”

She then looked in the direction Su Hanxing was pointing. There, golden divine power slowly converged. A golden archway, ten zhang tall, was gradually manifesting.

Chi Qiu was intimately familiar with this divine power. It was precisely the divine power of the Yinglong.

“The Yinglong’s ancestors once aided humanity in slaying great demons,” Su Hanxing explained slowly. “Hence, the human race holds the Yinglong lineage in profound respect. For this reason, this particular Yinglong left behind no excessive killing formations after its death. This golden archway, I presume, should be safe.”

Noticing Chi Qiu’s lack of resistance, Su Hanxing took advantage, pressing his face closer as he spoke. Chi Qiu instinctively recoiled with a hint of disgust. However, she was held firmly by Su Hanxing, unable to escape. Goosebumps rapidly sprouted on the fair, smooth skin exposed beyond her dark scaled armor.

She desperately tried to divert her attention, maintaining a steady tone as she spoke: “Indeed, we haven’t encountered many obstacles. It seems only that desiccated corpse proved rather troublesome along the way.”

“That desiccated corpse was quite peculiar,” Su Hanxing mused. “Who knows what kind of terror it concealed.” The thought of the corpse still troubled Su Hanxing. He had never encountered such black aura in his life. It was utterly bizarre and unforgettable.

“Look quickly,” Chi Qiu urged, patting Su Hanxing’s hand on her shoulder. “The Gate of Wonders and the steward have already gone ahead and entered that golden archway.”

“We should follow quickly,” Su Hanxing said, his face lighting up with joy. He immediately embraced Chi Qiu and walked towards the golden archway.

“I can walk by myself…” Chi Qiu, having no other choice, accompanied Su Hanxing towards the golden archway.

As the two of them, still somewhat entangled, arrived before the golden archway, they were abruptly stopped.

“Halt!” A cultivator stepped forward, blocking their path. “Our young master has informed us that Miss Chi may enter this door, but you may not.”

“What a joke! Is this archway owned by your Gong family? Retreat at once, or don’t blame me for showing no mercy with my sword!”

Seizing this opportunity, Chi Qiu subtly slipped out of Su Hanxing’s embrace. She stepped forward, her dark jade longsword flashing from its sheath. Her scaled armor vibrated, exuding a pervasive aura of battle. This startled the cultivators before them, causing them to retreat repeatedly.

“Miss Chi, please don’t be offended,” the leader said, bowing slightly and cupping his fists respectfully. “We are merely stopping this person; we have no intention of preventing your entry through this archway.”

“Little Chi, there’s no need to waste words with them! Take this arrow!” Su Hanxing had already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow. Golden dragons and celestial phoenixes danced upon the treasured bow. True qi and spiritual energy erupted, and a golden arrow suddenly materialized on the bowstring.

“We are not afraid of you,” the leader declared. Seeing Su Hanxing’s arrow already on the string, the cultivators each drew their weapons. They assumed defensive stances.

“Hmph, Little Chi, you don’t need to lift a finger,” Su Hanxing said. “Go ahead and enter the archway first; watch me take care of them alone.” Fearing that Chi Qiu might be implicated and incur the Gong family’s resentment, Su Hanxing urged her to proceed first.

“What kind of talk is that?” Chi Qiu’s eyes widened in anger.

Was Su Hanxing truly taking her for a timid woman afraid of death?

Instantly, her figure flickered. Golden lightning erupted alongside her true qi. Then, with a single swing, she brought her sword down towards the leader.

Snap—

Su Hanxing released his finger. The golden arrow shot forth like a piercing rainbow. Though this arrow still didn’t employ a divine ability, its power was immeasurably greater than before.

The moment the two attacks collided, the few Gong family cultivators couldn’t withstand the force. They were sent flying backward. Fortunately, the protective magical treasures on their bodies were quite extraordinary. Thus, although they were severely injured, their lives were spared.

“No need to bother with them, Little Chi,” Su Hanxing said. “Let’s enter that archway first.”

Seeing that those few couldn’t even withstand a single arrow from him, Su Hanxing couldn’t be bothered with them any longer. He immediately gestured for Chi Qiu to enter the golden archway.

Chi Qiu nodded, sheathing her longsword. She then accompanied Su Hanxing into the golden archway.