I'm Already the Richest Man, Why Did My System Just Arrive?

Chapter 307: Chapter 182: Contention

The most striking detail was one of the swallows. Its wings were spread wide, and it held a blood-red worm in its beak. For an instant, the red worm seemed to squirm in the bird’s mouth as if alive, but a second glance revealed it was only a painting. The lifelike movement had been an illusion.

"Just as I suspected." Dugu Xiang gently stroked the *Spring Pond Willow Swallow Map* and remarked, "The paper used for the Gongsun Painting Saint’s *Four Seasons Map* is made from a type of Bamboo Silk found only in the Western Regions. Though not impervious to fire or water, it’s exceptionally resistant to decay. Legend says a painting on Bamboo Silk Paper can last for centuries without fading."

Dugu Xiang walked to the side, lifted an oil lamp from its stand, and held the scroll directly over the flame in front of everyone.

"You suspect there’s some secret hidden within the Bamboo Silk Paper itself?"

Zheng Xiu asked, rubbing his chin. Dugu Xiang’s approach was a revelation to him. When he’d gotten the other two scrolls of the *Four Seasons Map* from Xie Luohe, his focus had been entirely on the paintings’ content; he’d never considered the material they were made of.

Certain special materials could be added to ink to make it visible only when heated. But the process was usually irreversible. No sooner had Zheng Xiu asked his question than he shook his head. ’Even though I don’t know why Dugu Xiang is using a fake painting as a lure, there are no signs of revealed Invisible Ink on the scroll. It’s obvious he must have already tested this method.’

And when Zheng Xiu thought ’tested this method,’ he didn’t just mean on the fake *Four Seasons Map*. It was highly likely Dugu Xiang had also tested it on the real one he owned.

’Zheng Xiu was still trying to figure out Dugu Xiang’s motive. Perhaps the reason Xie Luohe had said "the plan has changed" was that she knew Dugu Xiang wouldn’t bring out the real painting, forcing her to alter her strategy on the fly.’

Everyone leaned in, their eyes fixed on Dugu Xiang, waiting for him to solve the puzzle.

It wasn’t that they weren’t thinking. They simply couldn’t make any sense of the *Four Seasons Map*. So they resigned themselves to waiting for the answer, hoping Dugu Xiang might inadvertently let a clue slip and reveal its secret.

Sure enough, after heating each of the two scrolls over the oil lamp for a moment, Dugu Xiang shook his head in resignation. "It’s no use. Unless we’re willing to risk destroying the scrolls by submerging them in water, exposing them to acid, or setting them on fire, it’s impossible to uncover the secret from the Bamboo Silk Paper itself."

Zhang Da’er suddenly let out a cold sneer. "Hero Dugu, you’re being a bit disingenuous, don’t you think?"

Dugu Xiang paused. "Brother Zhang, what do you mean by that?"

Zhang Da’er just chuckled coldly, his fleshy body jiggling. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Dugu Xiang, offering no explanation.

Just then, Yue Chongyang frowned. ’Something’s not right,’ he thought.

’If no one here can find Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault with just these two scrolls, then what was the point of Dugu Xiang going to all the trouble of hosting this gathering for the Martial World?’

The others were lost in their own thoughts, their eyes darting about. After Dugu Xiang’s explanation about the "Bamboo Silk Paper," they were all hoping for a sudden flash of insight that might reveal a clue.

Everyone knew what a rare opportunity this was. The *Four Seasons Map*, as the name suggested, consisted of four scrolls: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. With two of them present, half the secret to Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault was laid out right in front of them. If they couldn’t solve the puzzle now, they would likely have to wait until all four scrolls were brought together.

Those who remained were neither incompetent nor foolish. The thought of brazenly snatching the two scrolls had crossed every mind, yet no one dared to make a rash move. For one, they were inside Hidden Sword Manor, a fortress teeming with masters. For another, whoever moved first would be instantly set upon by all the others. Cheng Xiao’s Swift Saber alone would be enough to give them a world of trouble. It was one thing to think about it, but everyone valued their life. No one was stupid enough to die for these *Four Seasons Maps* whose true significance remained a mystery.

"Could it be... that we have to find the real-world locations depicted in the scrolls? And that will lead us to Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault?"

Someone finally broke the tense silence, unable to hold back the question any longer.

Everyone looked at one another in stunned silence.

They wanted to laugh.

But no one could.

In truth, it was the very first thought that had occurred to every single person when they saw the paintings.

But the "answer" was so simplistic that no one had dared to voice it. Besides, trying to pinpoint the location of a treasure vault, which could be anywhere in the world, based on the scenery from just two paintings was an impossible fantasy.

The seconds ticked by.

No one answered his question. A moment later, the man who had asked it seemed to realize his folly. He flushed red and lowered his head, thoroughly mortified.

「By midnight.」

Dugu Xiang, who had been silent ever since his explanation of "Bamboo Silk Paper," suddenly roared, "Look out!"

WHOOSH!

A powerful whistling sound tore through the air, grabbing everyone’s attention. In the same instant he shouted the warning, the Sword Box on Dugu Xiang’s back clicked open, and the Dragon-Embossed Longsword leaped from its sheath.

CLANG!

A sharp arrow shot straight for him. Dugu Xiang stood his ground, and with a deft flick of his sword’s tip, effortlessly deflected the projectile behind him.

"Assassins!"

Cries of alarm erupted outside as arrows pierced the roof one after another, raining down on Dugu Xiang in a relentless barrage. After parrying the third arrow, Dugu Xiang’s pupils constricted. "The legendary Twelve Linked Arrows!" he exclaimed in shock. "It’s Xie Luohe!"

At her name, the others’ faces changed dramatically, and they scrambled to raise their weapons.

Zheng Xiu, however, was secretly delighted. He quickly pulled Xiaotao aside, out of the way.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

WHOOSH!

PFFT!

The gust from the arrows extinguished the oil lamp, plunging the room into darkness. With a thunderous CRASH, a section of the roof caved in. Bright, silvery moonlight poured through the gaping hole, illuminating a dark figure descending like a ghost, landing without a sound before the long table.

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