Chapter 66: Unleashing the Forgotten Power

The underground chamber hummed louder, the glow of the ancient symbols growing brighter as if they recognized Tang Xiu's power. He ran his fingers over the inscriptions, his expression calm yet focused.

"These runes…" Tang Xiu murmured. "They aren't just decorations. This chamber is a formation, one tied to a source of energy long forgotten by this world."

Lei Xian glanced around nervously. "Boss, are you saying this place still has power? I thought Earth was barren."

Tang Xiu smirked. "Barren to the ignorant, maybe. To someone who knows where to look, treasures lie hidden everywhere."

Above them, the sound of the Yan Clan's guards echoed through the stone walls. Heavy footsteps pounded as they prepared to seal the chamber.

"Seal the exits!" a voice barked. "They can't escape!"

Tang Xiu ignored the commotion, focusing entirely on the ancient symbols. His fingers traced over a particularly intricate rune, and his eyes gleamed with recognition.

"This… this is a qi reservoir," he muttered.

Lei Xian frowned. "A what?"

"A place where spiritual energy is stored and concentrated," Tang Xiu explained. "This chamber must have been built by cultivators centuries ago, back when Earth still had an abundance of qi. The Yan Clan doesn't even realize what they're sitting on."

Lei Xian blinked, then grinned nervously. "So… does that mean we're safe?"

Tang Xiu let out a low chuckle. "Safe? No. It means we have the upper hand."

He placed his palm flat against the center of the largest rune. A surge of energy shot through his body, sharp and pure, like a spring of life opening up within him. Tang Xiu's aura flared, the dormant power within the chamber responding to his command.

The glow of the runes intensified, spreading across the walls like fire racing along dry grass. The entire chamber lit up, the inscriptions pulsing with ancient energy.

Above, the guards froze mid-step as the ground beneath them trembled.

"What's happening?" one of them shouted.

"It's the chamber!" another cried. "Something's activating!"

In the hall above, the Yan elders exchanged panicked glances.

"This can't be!" one of them stammered. "No one should be able to awaken the chamber's power!"

"He's not an ordinary man," another elder growled, his face pale. "We've underestimated him."

Back in the chamber, Lei Xian gawked as the air around them grew heavy with energy.

"Boss, you're glowing," he said, his voice a mix of awe and fear.

Tang Xiu smirked. "That's the power of real cultivation. This reservoir may be ancient, but it's more than enough to teach the Yan Clan a lesson."

He raised his hand, and the energy within the chamber obeyed his will. The glowing symbols lifted off the walls, swirling around Tang Xiu like a storm of light.

"Now," he said, his voice calm but commanding, "let's see if the Yan Clan is ready to face their reckoning."

The ceiling above them cracked, and the ground shook violently. Stones and debris rained down as the formation's power surged upward, breaking through the barriers between the chamber and the estate above.

The guards stumbled, some falling to the ground as the tremors grew stronger.

"Retreat!" one of them shouted. "This whole place is going to collapse!"

In the hall, the elders clung to the table, their faces pale with fear.

"Stop him!" one elder barked. "We can't let him leave alive!"

But before they could act, a blinding pillar of light erupted from the center of the estate. The energy shot into the sky, illuminating the entire area like a second sun.

Tang Xiu and Lei Xian emerged from the light, the formation's energy swirling protectively around them. Tang Xiu's expression was calm, but his eyes burned with a cold intensity.

The Yan elders stumbled backward, their bravado crumbling in the face of Tang Xiu's overwhelming presence.

"You thought you could trap me," Tang Xiu said, his voice sharp and cutting. "But all you've done is awaken power beyond your comprehension."

One elder tried to speak, but his words caught in his throat as Tang Xiu stepped closer.

"I'll give you one chance," Tang Xiu continued. "Tell me everything you know about the treasure you're seeking. Lie to me, and I'll bring this entire estate down around you."

The elder who had betrayed Tang Xiu earlier fell to his knees, his face drenched in sweat.

"The artifact…" he stammered. "It's in the ruins… deep in the Northern Mountains. We don't know its full power, but it's said to grant unparalleled strength…"

Tang Xiu studied him for a moment, then nodded. "At least you're honest. For now."

He turned to the other elders, his expression colder. "As for the rest of you, let this be a lesson. The next time you try to trap me, make sure you're prepared for the consequences."

With that, he turned and walked away, the swirling energy around him dissipating as he left the estate. Lei Xian followed close behind, his heart pounding with adrenaline.

"Boss," he said, his voice shaking, "I don't know whether to be terrified or impressed."

Tang Xiu smirked. "Get used to it. This is just the beginning."

As they disappeared into the night, the Yan Clan elders were left to pick up the pieces, their plans shattered and their pride wounded. But Tang Xiu's next steps were already clear. The artifact in the Northern Mountains was now within his sights, and nothing would stop him from claiming it.