"Alright, let’s go in,"
Xiao Buli took the lead and walked in. He thought about it for a moment and summoned a Talisman Soldier with a wave of his hand. It had been quite some time since he last summoned it, as it was only a level one spell with weak combat power. Even a level five Talisman Soldier summoned would have barely over three hundred health and possessed no skills other than a basic slash. For the current Xiao Buli, it was utterly useless. However, in this strange environment, it was best to be cautious. Xiao Buli thought it would be perfect for scouting ahead.
Of course, Xiao Buli could have summoned a Sealed Beast, but alas, all of his Sealed Beasts had perished in a previous battle. Since returning to the game, he had not had the chance to replenish his stock, so for now, he had to make do with this creature.
Yi Xuan looked on quizzically, "Why summon a Rune Soldier before we even start fighting?"
Xiao Buli explained, "We don’t know what’s inside the cave. Using it as cannon fodder to lead the way."
In Yi Xuan’s eyes, Xiao’s image grew a bit taller. Being able to summon something was seen as very cool, but he didn’t expect it to be used simply as cannon fodder.
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With this in mind, Yi Xuan didn’t want to be outdone. "Let me summon one too," he said, chanting words and gesturing with his Rune Sword. Suddenly, a bright light flashed, and a majestic lion appeared on the ground alongside a cloud of mist. At first glance, it seemed quite intimidating, but upon closer inspection, Xiao discovered that the lion was made entirely of paper, resembling the paper effigies burned at funerals. With the lion’s serious expression, it was a bit odd and even somewhat... foreboding.
"What is that thing??" Xiao Buli asked with a frown.
Yi Xuan proudly introduced it, "This is a Rune Beast, a secret technique exclusively passed down in my Sect. How about it, cool, right?" he said, looking proudly at his handiwork. It seemed to be the only impressive thing he had so far.
Xiao Buli nodded in a noncommittal manner, "Not bad at all, let them scout ahead then."
A Talisman Soldier and a lion made their way into the cave’s entrance. After listening to their progress for a while and sensing no danger, the two men followed a good distance behind.
The cave was pitch-dark without any light. Xiao Buli felt the air was filled with a damp smell, mixed with other strange odors, reminiscent of the scent of cats and dogs, as well as the stench of excrement. Yi Xuan, separated by a computer screen, did not have as many sensations.
As they walked, Xiao suddenly saw a small blue dot flash on his map, filling his heart with joy. The appearance of the blue dot meant there was another treasure chest to find. Since equipping the Tomb Raider’s Talisman, Xiao could receive such notifications before encountering any treasure chest. The dozen or so chests he had found before, all covered with dirt, contained from a dozen to several dozen Spirit Stones each. Now he had over five hundred, which he could certainly trade for some gold equipment when he got back. The thought alone was exciting. With such a Magical Treasure, how could he not make a profit?
Despite the cave’s less than inviting environment, Xiao, thinking of the Spirit Stones, headed in the direction of the blue dot. The Tomb Raider’s Talisman was indeed powerful, he mused as he walked. He had taken it for granted during the Corpse King Ancient Tomb instance, but now it proved to be an excellent tool for treasure hunting.
However, as he followed the blue dot for a while, Xiao suddenly noticed something strange. The treasure chest had initially been to his front left, indicating a fork in the road, not far from the main path. So, he felt that even if he went there, he wouldn’t stray from the main line. But when he reached the point parallel to the blue dot, Xiao was surprised to find that the road ahead was still straight, yet the position indicating the treasure chest appeared to be close to the inner wall. He felt the wall, and the soil and stones fitted tightly together, not looking like there was any mechanism or passageway. Could it really be that he needed to dig himself?
"What’s wrong?" Yi Xuan saw him stop and asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing, I just feel like there should be a fork here," Xiao said, puzzled.
"A fork?" After spending half a day with Xiao, Yi Xuan held him in nearly the same regard as his Taoist master, so when Xiao suggested there might be a fork, without hesitation, Yi Xuan began to help look around immediately. The light in the cave was dim, and they couldn’t see what was ahead unless they were close, so the two of them started searching the area in all directions. Seeing how eager Yi Xuan was, Xiao felt somewhat embarrassed. He thought it was just a treasure chest; perhaps they shouldn’t bother looking for it, as there would likely be more chances later. But before he could speak, Yi Xuan suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "Xiao, come see, is it this?"
Xiao Buli hurried over, and as he got closer, he saw Yi Xuan pointing upward. Only then did he realize there was a circular hole high up on the wall, about a meter in diameter, but so dark that it wasn’t very clear from afar. No wonder he had missed it. The map showed a flat view, which did not account for height differences between him and the treasure chest. Looking at the hole, Xiao thought there might indeed be something there. Enjoy exclusive chapters from freewebnovel
Given the size of the hole, it seemed it could easily allow one person to crawl through without obstruction. He checked the position of the treasure chest again—it was only a wall away. It would be a pity to give up now.