Chapter 109: The Boundless Divine Treasury

"We shall discuss this later."

After weighing the temptation of the Infinite Scripture against the authority of his Master for a long while, and considering the oath he had just taken under the Gu-Dao, the Black Giant Spirit ultimately chose to endure for the time being.

"But..."

The effeminate Yang Guardian furrowed his brows, his expression darkening instantly. Compared to the Black Giant Spirit, he could be considered a true confidant of the Master. He understood the magnitude of the Master's schemes and was well aware of the vast prospects awaiting those in their circle. Consequently, he felt absolutely no temptation toward the Infinite Scripture, which the rest of the martial arts world coveted so desperately.

However, the Yang Guardian’s enlightened perspective did not mean the Black Giant Spirit shared it. To put it bluntly, the Black Giant Spirit was merely a low-level pawn in the organization, far removed from such core secrets. While the Master had bestowed upon him many benefits—such as the elixir that suppressed the power of the ten thousand beasts within him, sparing him the constant fear of exploding—how could these compare to the Infinite Scripture, the foremost of the four great martial arts canons?

Seeing the Yang Guardian lose his composure, the well-informed Yin Guardian quickly tugged at his sleeve. Although the Black Giant Spirit was only a peripheral member of the organization, his cultivation was solidly above theirs. Furthermore, the Thirty-Six Allied Cities were the stronghold of the Black Fiend Legion. Provoking the Black Giant Spirit would surely lead to consequences they could not bear.

"What? Do you two have more to say?"

The Black Giant Spirit’s large eyes glared. Having long been accustomed to lording over others, he had already found these two envoys grating. If not for the sake of that person, he would have skinned them the moment they arrived and displayed their arrogant, superior attitudes. While one must respect the master when beating a dog, the dog must first be obedient.

To the Black Giant Spirit, these two peak eighth-heaven guards were nothing more than dogs.

He might have shown restraint before making his decision, but once he had set his heart on the Infinite Scripture, a demonic titan like the Black Giant Spirit began to act with reckless abandon. If not for the final shred of caution he held for the mysterious Master, he would have sentenced the Yang Guardian to death for his attitude just now.

"No, everything shall be as you decide, my lord. Afterward, we will certainly report your contributions to the Master in full. As long as we can confirm the number and identities of those who escaped and ensure no one returns to the Zongshang Kingdom in the short term, nothing will have exceeded the Master’s plans."

The Yin Guardian offered a hurried, charming laugh and forcefully pulled the indignant Yang Guardian aside, fearing that the Black Giant Spirit might suddenly lash out and kill them. She knew that no one else was aware of their presence here; if they died, their deaths would simply be attributed to the Tianluo Stronghold, and it was highly likely no one would ever avenge them.

"Hehe."

The Black Giant Spirit’s eyes rolled as his expression softened. "Rest assured, two of you. Judging by that woman’s appearance, she must be a disciple of Fairy Feng of Lingfeng Mountain. I will instruct my subordinates to keep track of her movements. Given that Fairy Feng appeared so openly, she likely knows nothing of the Master’s secret plans. Do not be impatient. Once I obtain the Infinite Scripture, I will capture her personally. But until then, please do not make a scene, lest you complicate matters."

"Then we thank you, my lord. We wish you success in obtaining the Infinite Scripture, mastering the divine art, and becoming the right-hand man of the Master."

The Yin and Yang Guardians could only nod helplessly.

However, their words left the demonic titan feeling displeased. Although he had witnessed some of the Master’s methods, they remained as elusive as flowers seen through a fog. While he admitted he could not confront the Master now, it did not mean he would be unable to do so forever—especially after obtaining the Infinite Scripture. The Black Giant Spirit was not a man who would bow to others for long.

*Who will be whose right-hand man remains to be seen. You damned fools, daring to look down on your grandfather. You’re tired of living. Once I have the Infinite Scripture, hehe...*

As these thoughts swirled within him, his killing intent condensed, though a smile remained on his face.

"Brother Giant Spirit, is something the matter?"

At this point, the others present noticed the Black Giant Spirit’s unease. Zhou Ba, leader of the Thirty-Six Allied Cities Martial Alliance, was the first to speak.

"Haha, just some trivial matters within my sect, nothing of importance. Let us focus on the task at hand. Brother Chu, there are many who know of the Infinite Scripture’s appearance. You and I should act quickly to avoid any unforeseen circumstances. I suggest you stop being so secretive, Brother Chu, and reveal your findings so we may discuss them together."

The Black Giant Spirit glanced briefly at the purple copper behind Fairy Feng. Seeing that she had not noticed his scrutiny and showed no signs of reaction, he felt relieved.

"That is not fair, Brother Giant Spirit. Everyone here has sharp eyes and can clearly see who was stalling for time and delaying our progress. I almost thought you were looking to violate your Gu-Dao oath!" Chu Qian retorted with a huff.

Seeing that the discussion was drifting away from the core issue, Shen Fang, the representative of the wandering cultivators known as "Tianya Mingyue Dao" (Blade of the Horizon and Moon), could not help but interject: "Brother Giant Spirit’s delay was unintentional; there is no need for Sect Leader Chu to dwell on it. Brother Giant Spirit is right—this matter brooks no delay. I assume everyone has a map of the Infinite Treasury. If not, I happen to have one. I ask Sect Leader Chu and Young Hero Jiang to share their knowledge so we may find the Infinite Cave Mansion early and set our minds at ease."

As he spoke, Hu San noticed Shen Fang produce a scroll from his robes. He unfurled it before the crowd, revealing an ordinary ink-wash landscape painting. It lacked even a single seal of a famous artist; if placed in a shop, it would be worth very little. Yet, the paper was yellowed with age, suggesting it was an ancient relic.

The appearance of the map caused a stir among the five factions. Clearly, they had all heard of the Infinite Treasury Map’s reputation, but aside from the leaders, this was likely the first time the others had seen it. Although Hu San did not know of the map’s reputation, he mimicked a look of fanaticism to avoid attracting attention.

Seeing that Shen Fang had truly produced the map, a flash of deep disappointment crossed Chu Qian’s eyes. He had to abandon his last shred of hope. "Brother Shen, you are truly worthy of the title 'Beiluo Wanderer.' This map has fine brushwork and clear inscriptions. It is likely one of the eight copies of the original, yet it is far clearer than what the Chushan Sect found. With this, I believe my confidence in finding the Infinite Cave Mansion has increased by twenty or thirty percent."

"Everyone, please step closer. Young Jiang, come here and greet our seniors. Let us use Brother Shen’s precious map to determine where we must search for the Infinite Cave Mansion."

Chu Qian pulled the pale-faced Jiang Nansheng, who had just recovered, into the circle of masters. The other members of the Chushan Sect were led away by Chu Tian and his group.

With the Chushan Sect setting the example, the other four factions also dismissed their subordinates, leaving only the high-level experts and masters to discuss the location of the Infinite Cave Mansion. Although Shen Fang did not give the order, seeing the other four factions withdraw, the wandering cultivators who relied on his presence retreated dozens of steps.

"The water here is getting muddy. Chu Qian, the Black Giant Spirit, Shen Fang, Fairy Feng, and Zhou Ba—these five are the absolute peak among experts. Don't be fooled by the five-faction setup. Once the Infinite Cave Mansion is found, we wandering cultivators will instantly become prey for the other four factions. At that point, Shen Fang will not say another word on our behalf. Kid, it’s not too late to turn back. Otherwise, even if you have a few tricks up your sleeve, you’ll end up dead. I’ve seen this scene too many times over the years."

The white-clad old man who had been with Hu San finally unknitted his brows, his expression returning to its former calm. However, seeing Hu San watching the figures in the center with great interest, he could not help but stroke his beard and offer a piece of advice.

"Since you understand this, old man, why not leave earlier? Do you think your cultivation is enough to compete with those five? In my view, it would be better for you to avoid the sharp edge of the blade. As you said, these waters are too muddy!" Hu San smiled. He ignored the old man’s warning and instead tried to probe his background.

"Young man, you truly do not know the height of the sky or the depth of the earth. Very well, this heroic spirit is exactly what a man of the pugilistic world should have. You made the right choice. When I was young, I, too, was the kind of man who dared to reach for the moon in the sky. It seems I really am old—I have to admit it!"

The old man shook his head, stopped paying attention to Hu San, and sat down at random, as if he had determined that the group in the center would not reach a conclusion anytime soon.

The facts proved the old man’s judgment was accurate. It seemed Chu Qian was right; Jiang Nansheng had not grasped much from the Infinite Bone-Melting Map he carried. Combined with the Chushan Sect’s investigations, they only had a twenty or thirty percent chance of finding the mansion. Now, with Shen Fang’s superior map and the fact that both the Black Giant Spirit and Zhou Ba were local overlords well-versed in the terrain, the probability had only risen to forty or fifty percent.

They deliberated for two hours. It was not until the sun reached its zenith, and everyone had hastily eaten their lunch, that they finally arrived at a rough plan, choosing a location on the outskirts of Wu City.

However, as for the specific location, Hu San and the other wandering martial artists who were merely "soy-sauce drinkers" on the sidelines had no way of knowing. Perhaps only the elites of each sect and the top experts knew.

Yet, judging by the calm demeanor of the white-clad old man beside him, this lack of knowledge was not a concern for their treasure hunt. Thus, Hu San was not afraid of losing the trail to the Infinite Cave Mansion. He was content to save his strength, hiding among the crowd while remaining a spectator.