Chapter 155: The Mysterious Scroll

Chapter 155: The Mysterious Scroll

The remaining bandits dropped their weapons one by one, fleeing down the mountain in a panic. Only the bearded man remained, trembling and hunched in submission, too frightened to move.

Once the others had fled, Mu Feng's sharp gaze fixed on the bearded man, who didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, his head bowed.

"Tell me, do you know where your treasure vault is?" Mu Feng asked, resting the tip of his spear on the man's shoulder, his voice cold and authoritative.

"Yes, yes! I know! Please, spare my life!" the man stammered, his voice shaking.

"Good. Take me there," Mu Feng ordered, nodding slightly. The bearded man immediately moved ahead, leading the way.

The Treasure Vault

The trio arrived at the largest and most luxurious building in the camp—Ma Li's private quarters. Inside the bedroom, a heavy iron door stood firmly shut, evidently guarding a hidden chamber.

"This is the boss's treasure vault, but the key was always kept by him," the bearded man explained, pointing at the iron door.

Mu Feng frowned. He hadn't found any key when he searched Ma Li's body earlier, which meant the key was likely hidden elsewhere.

Stepping closer, Mu Feng knocked on the iron door, judging its thickness from the sound. It was at least a foot thick—far too strong to break open with ordinary methods.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Feng gathered Fire Elemental Energy into his fist. With a low growl, he punched the door.

Boom!

The door dented but remained intact, sending dust and debris scattering.

"Huh, this thing's tougher than I thought," Bai Ziyue commented, raising an eyebrow.

"This door is made of tempered steel, reinforced for extra durability. Even a second-tier weapon would struggle to cut through," Mu Feng observed, running his fingers over the ornate patterns etched into the metal. But a door like this wouldn't stop him.

Summoning the Shura Blood God Blade, Mu Feng hefted the massive weapon, which weighed over a thousand pounds, and swung it down with all his strength.

Slash!

The blade cut clean through the iron door as if it were butter. In two more heavy swings, the door was completely severed into large chunks that clattered to the floor, revealing a hidden passageway.

A Deadly Trap

The passage beyond the door was pitch black, the air damp and still. Mu Feng conjured a flame in his palm, illuminating the way forward.

"You go first," Mu Feng said, gesturing to the bearded man.

The man hesitated but dared not disobey. He stepped cautiously into the darkness, leading the way.

Click!

A sudden, sharp sound echoed through the passage. The bearded man froze, his face pale.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

From the walls on either side, a volley of sharp arrows shot out.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Arghhh!" the bearded man screamed as the arrows pierced his body, turning him into a human pincushion. He fell to the ground, dead before he hit the floor.

Mu Feng and Bai Ziyue exchanged uneasy glances. "Ma Li really was a paranoid bastard to have rigged his own treasure vault with traps like this," Bai Ziyue muttered.

Inspecting the walls, Mu Feng noticed rows of small holes where the arrows had emerged. "No wonder Ma Li thought his treasure was safe."

Using his spear, Mu Feng probed the floor ahead. A burst of Lightning Energy from the spear triggered another hail of arrows. After repeating this process three more times, the trap was finally exhausted.

Only then did Mu Feng and Bai Ziyue proceed deeper into the passage, eventually arriving at a locked chamber door.

The Hidden Treasures

Bai Ziyue kicked open the door, and a golden glow illuminated the room. Inside, the floor was heaped with coins and treasures—gleaming gold, scattered weapons, and stacks of wooden chests.

"So much gold! We've struck it rich this time!" Bai Ziyue exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy. "There's got to be at least 100,000 gold coins here."

While Bai Ziyue eagerly examined the gold, Mu Feng turned his attention to the wooden chests. Opening one, he found it filled with jewelry and ornaments. Another contained fine art and scrolls.

"Huh? What's this?" Mu Feng muttered as he pulled out a peculiar scroll. Unrolling it, he was immediately struck by the intricate patterns etched onto the parchment—swords drawn in exquisite detail.

Looking closer, Mu Feng realized the sword designs were composed of countless fine lines that formed a dense and complex weave. A sharp, almost oppressive aura radiated from the scroll, as though it embodied a powerful sword intent. A chill ran down Mu Feng's spine as cold sweat formed on his brow.

Quickly, he rolled the scroll shut, and the suffocating aura dissipated. He exhaled deeply, his heart pounding.

"What kind of strange diagram is this?" Mu Feng murmured, examining the scroll with renewed interest.

Curiosity piqued, Mu Feng unrolled it again, bracing himself for the onslaught of Sword Intent. As he studied the intricate lines more closely, a thought struck him.

"These lines… Could they be… Runic Patterns?"

Mu Feng's eyes widened in realization. "This is a Runic Diagram!" he exclaimed, his excitement mounting.

If his hunch was correct, this diagram was no ordinary object. He decided to consult Xiyue about it once she woke.

Placing the scroll carefully in his Spatial Ring, Mu Feng's attention turned to another object in the chest—a small, black fragment.

The Black Fragment

The fragment was palm-sized and gave off a faint heat. Mu Feng picked it up and found it unusually heavy for its size, weighing several dozen pounds. Its surface, etched with faint patterns, resembled runes.

"This is no ordinary material," Mu Feng mused, running his fingers over its warm surface. The fragment seemed to radiate an ancient, enigmatic energy.

Satisfied, he stored the fragment alongside the scroll. After searching the remaining chests and finding nothing else of note, he turned his attention back to Bai Ziyue, who was busy stuffing his Spatial Ring with gold coins.

"Feng-ge, my ring is almost full! You should grab some, too," Bai Ziyue called out, grinning.

Chuckling at his companion's enthusiasm, Mu Feng joined in, sweeping the remaining coins into his own Spatial Ring.

A Sudden Threat

As the last of the treasures were secured, the two exited the chamber. Bai Ziyue was jubilant. "Feng-ge, we've hit the jackpot! This mission was worth every second!"

Mu Feng smiled but suddenly froze, his expression darkening.

"Careful!" he shouted, his body tensing as an ominous presence filled the air.