Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Tattered Tomes
Lu Chao was silent as he looked once more at the barrier to the seventh floor of the Forbidden Land.
The Azure Flame Sect was still shrouded in many unsolved mysteries, but the answers likely lay within this Forbidden Land.
But first, they had to break through the remaining levels.
Suddenly...
Lu Chao’s gaze shifted to the surrounding skeletons, and his mind raced. ’For two hundred years, no one besides us has been able to set foot in the space beyond the 6th Floor. That means all the Azure Flame ancestors who died here are from two centuries ago.’
’They must have held many of the Azure Flame Sect’s secrets.’
Hearing this, Sun Shijin’s eyes lit up as he looked around at the skeletons.
But Fan Changcun immediately gave a bitter smile. "To be precise, these skeletons are from two hundred years ago, from the internal conflict within the Azure Flame Sect."
Upon hearing this, Lu Chao and Sun Shijin looked at Fan Changcun in confusion.
"If the ancestors who met with disaster were still alive, they would never have allowed these bodies to remain here, uncollected."
"Everyone who died here did so as a result of the internal fighting that broke out within the Azure Flame Sect after its core ancestors were wiped out."
"In other words, the internal conflict within the Azure Flame Sect was terrifying. Some rushed in to escape the bloodshed, while others came for the treasures inside the Forbidden Land. Only then did they discover they couldn’t get out."
As Fan Changcun explained, Lu Chao understood.
If the core experts were still around, breaking through the 6th Floor of the Forbidden Land would have been a simple matter. Even if someone had died here, their body would have been taken out for burial. The only reason these skeletons remain uncollected is that the core experts had already perished outside.
To put it bluntly...
These skeletons all belonged to those involved in the Azure Flame Sect’s internal conflict two hundred years ago.
Sun Shijin quickly asked, "Even if they’re just from that group two hundred years ago, they should have had plenty of good stuff on them, right?"
Nodding, Fan Changcun smiled weakly. "Correct. It’s all here. I’ve already collected everything useful."
As he spoke, Fan Changcun suddenly produced two simple, ancient-looking rings. "These are Storage Rings," he said softly. "I found them here."
At his words, the eyes of both Lu Chao and Sun Shijin lit up.
Given their status and background, they were certainly no strangers to Storage Rings.
But in this region, such items were exceedingly rare.
Lu Chao knew from his time in the Great Wu Empire that His Majesty Da Wu possessed a few and Lu Dingtian had one, but Lu Chao himself did not.
In the Hundred Countries, aside from the Saint Bone Family, only the Seven Great Flame Kings possessed Storage Rings.
It was said that apart from the Dragon Flame King, the other Six Great Flame Kings had each only obtained one or two after carving up the Azure Flame Sect.
Of course, aside from the Six Great Flame Kings themselves, few knew exactly how many they had obtained.
Just then, Fan Changcun spoke again, explaining...
"The reason I managed to get within a single step of the seventh floor of the Forbidden Land is thanks to the relics left behind by the Azure Flame ancestors who died here. I was able to collect a great deal of knowledge about the Soldier Dao."
"It’s just that due to their great age, some have weathered and will need to be slowly restored."
As he said this, Fan Changcun took out several tattered manuals from one of the Storage Rings.
Just as he had said, the manuals were ancient and in a state of extreme disrepair.
Fan Changcun returned the tattered manuals to the Storage Ring, then suddenly grabbed Lu Chao’s hand. Placing one of the Storage Rings in Lu Chao’s palm, he said gravely, "Child, one for you and one for me."
Lu Chao was stunned and quickly protested, "Marshal Fan, Storage Rings are precious. You should give it to Master Fan..."
But Fan Changcun cut him off forcefully.
"Don’t refuse. You are the future Azure Flame Sect Leader, and also the current Sect Leader of the Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect."
"As for Jinhu and Jinxiang, they will certainly have their own in the future."
He gazed deeply at Lu Chao and continued, "Your ring contains some weapons and Martial Arts Secret Manuals from the Azure Flame Sect. Mine holds materials related to the Soldier Dao..."
"After we get out, I will dedicate myself to restoring the Soldier Dao materials. In the future, they will all be yours."
At this, Fan Changcun stared at Lu Chao, his aged eyes filled with hope...
Lu Chao’s expression gradually turned grave. He no longer refused.
Accepting Marshal Fan’s gift meant accepting a great responsibility: the responsibility for the future of the Azure Flame Sect.
It was also his way of telling Marshal Fan that he, Lu Chao, would pour all his effort into reviving the Azure Flame Sect.
Seeing Lu Chao accept the Storage Ring, Fan Changcun smiled benevolently. "Some of the Martial Arts Secret Manuals inside," he added, "are things the Azure Flame Sect hasn’t had in two hundred years... Some are even more powerful than those seized by the Six Great Flame Countries."
"But they have also weathered with age and will need to be restored."
As he spoke, Fan Changcun slowly rose to his feet. "Child, we must hurry out now, mustn’t we? If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already led the Dragon Flame Academy and forces from half the Hundred Countries to the doorstep of what is now the Beast Flame Academy, correct?"
At these words, Sun Shijin’s entire body trembled slightly. He marveled inwardly at how formidable Fan Changcun truly was.
’He really did anticipate Lu Chao’s actions upon entering the Hundred Countries and deliberately stepped into the Forbidden Land to avoid being taken hostage by the Six Great Flame Countries.’
Lu Chao nodded gravely in response. He didn’t glance at the contents of the Storage Ring, instead putting it away quickly and helping Fan Changcun up. "Marshal," he said, "let me get you out of here first."
’This isn’t the time to inspect the Storage Ring’s contents. We have to get out of here now.’
They had already been inside for two or three days, and getting out meant breaking through the Martial Arts Illusion Realm again. That would take at least half a day.
It had taken two days to break through it the first time; a second time wouldn’t take nearly as long, of course.
And so, Lu Chao supported Fan Changcun, walking step-by-step toward the barrier leading out of the 6th Floor. Sun Shijin rushed over to the Tiger Flame expert, hauled him up, and followed behind Lu Chao.
What followed happened just as it had when they entered.
Lu Chao connected with the so-called Martial Arts Illusion Realm...
The other three made no such attempt, simply staying by Lu Chao’s side and waiting quietly for him to break through the level.
"I don’t believe it. I just don’t believe it," the Tiger Flame expert was still muttering to himself.
...
「Outside the Forbidden Land...」
Just as Lu Chao was leading the three others to break through the exit of the 6th Floor, Cheng Yunsu and Yu Xiaoping were waiting anxiously in that very spot.
"It’s been three days! Why isn’t Brother Lu out yet?"
The speaker was Yu Xiaoping, who was pacing back and forth anxiously. By all rights, it shouldn’t have taken this long.
"Even if they were delayed for Grandmaster Fan’s sake, they should have sent Elder Sun out to tell us!" Yu Xiaoping couldn’t conceal her anxiety and was on the verge of tears.
Cheng Yunsu, meanwhile, just bit her lip and waited.
She was able to keep her composure, but she was still incredibly worried. The Azure Flame Forbidden Land was, after all, too mysterious and unpredictable.
Just then... THUD, THUD, THUD.
The sound of footsteps came from inside the Forbidden Land, and a graceful figure slowly walked out. It was none other than Fan Jinxiang.
Yu Xiaoping quickly went forward to ask, "Sister Jinxiang, what’s going on?"
Fan Jinxiang looked equally distraught. She shook her head heavily and said, "I could only break through to the third floor. I couldn’t get through the fourth at all. I didn’t see Brother Lu or Elder Sun on the first three floors, nor did I find any trace of my grandfather."
Fan Jinhua had no knowledge of the Soldier Dao, whereas Fan Jinxiang’s skill was decent, but even so, she could only reach the area beyond the third floor.
This news made Yu Xiaoping even more frantic.
Suddenly, more hurried footsteps approached from the direction of the Beast Flame Gate. It was Tan An.
