Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 203: Chapter 156: Mysterious Object! Stealing Celestial Secret

Night fell, and the lights of Holy City flickered in the distance.

Inside the room, a desk lamp was on, its dim yellow halo illuminating only the area immediately around the table.

The doors and windows were shut tight, the curtains drawn completely without leaving even the slightest gap.

Sun Beixi sat at the table and slowly took an object from inside his jacket—a book.

Or rather, a booklet, palm-sized. Its cover was made of some kind of dark leather, so severely worn that its corners were rounded.

Sun Beixi took it out carefully. He didn’t try to hide it, simply placing it openly in front of Wan Ze. Lowering his voice, he explained, "This was entrusted to me by an elder. I don’t know what it is, and I certainly don’t know why Qin Jiu would know I have it."

Wan Ze glanced down at the booklet.

The cover was blank.

He took it and flipped it open. The pages within were yellowed and brittle, covered in dense, winding symbols that looked like a cross between drawings and some sort of ancient inscription.

"This..."

Wan Ze suddenly hesitated.

"What’s wrong?" Sun Beixi asked anxiously.

Wan Ze said thoughtfully, "I’ve seen this script before."

"You’ve seen it? Can you decipher it, then?" Sun Beixi asked eagerly.

"No."

"Huh?"

"Just because I’ve seen it doesn’t mean I understand it," Wan Ze shot back, annoyed.

Sun Beixi gave a sheepish smile.

Wan Ze ignored him, lost in thought. ’I vaguely remember seeing a similar script somewhere... right, at Professor Song’s.’

’It was on a rubbing hanging on his wall. I’m pretty sure it had symbols that looked just like this.’

Snapping out of it, Wan Ze looked up at Sun Beixi. "Have you shown this script to anyone?"

Sun Beixi shook his head. "No. The elder who entrusted it to me specifically said to keep it hidden. If it weren’t for Qin Jiu coming after me, I wouldn’t have... Sigh... do you know any experts I can trust?"

"I do know one person..." Wan Ze mentioned Professor Song.

Sun Beixi had vaguely heard of him, but he trusted Wan Ze’s recommendation.

But then he scratched his head, his expression turning a bit awkward. "Um..."

"Hm?"

"About the payment... how will that work?"

Wan Ze looked at him. Sun Beixi said bashfully, "Right now... I’m actually a bit short on cash, but I will definitely pay you. I’m willing to share whatever information we find... As for the money, I can only scrape together five thousand right now. Can I pay you the remaining balance later?"

Wan Ze was speechless. "You’re trying to get something for nothing, huh?"

Sun Beixi looked mortified. "I... I own an apartment. I’ll contact an agent tonight..."

Wan Ze waved his hand dismissively. "That’s enough. We can talk about money later. Let’s focus on getting it deciphered first."

Sun Beixi was stunned,

then immediately filled with gratitude.

He nodded solemnly.

’As soon as I get back, I’m selling everything I can for cash.’

Wan Ze handed the booklet back, then took out his communicator right in front of Sun Beixi and dialed a number.

RING... RING...

It rang three or four times before someone picked up. An aged voice came through the line.

Wan Ze smiled, introduced himself, and then said, "Professor Song, sorry to bother you. I have something I’d like you to take a look at."

The voice on the other end asked something.

"That’s right, it’s a type of script. I don’t recognize it." Wan Ze paused. "Are you available tomorrow morning?"

The voice replied.

"Okay, 9:30 AM at National University," Wan Ze said before hanging up.

Sun Beixi watched eagerly from the side. "Professor Song agreed?"

"He agreed. He’s a veteran expert... has a wide range of expertise, and he’s trustworthy." Wan Ze nodded. "So it’s settled. See you at National University tomorrow at 9:30."

Sun Beixi nodded eagerly, exchanged a few more pleasantries, then got up to take his leave.

The door closed softly, and the sound of footsteps faded into the distance.

The room fell silent.

Wan Ze stood by the table, looking down at his hand.

He had deliberately suppressed the sensation just now.

The moment he touched the booklet, a cold Perception had surged from his fingertips.

He looked at his data box.

...

[Stealing Celestial Secret: Spiritual Form 100%]

...

"Just as I thought."

’Just as I guessed. What he’s holding is related to Qi Refiners.’

Wan Ze slowly raised his head.

Outside the window, the night was still.

’If Qin Jiu is after this thing, does that mean they also know about Qi Refiners?’

’Not necessarily.’

Wan Ze shook his head.

Old artifacts could involve any number of things. No one could be certain what the little booklet in Sun Beixi’s possession truly represented.

Everything would have to wait until it was deciphered.

’I hope it has nothing to do with Qi Refiners...’

After the incident with Tao Zhixi, he was increasingly aware that the world of Qi Refiners was deeper than he had ever imagined.

’But... to hell with it! As long as I’m strong enough, there’s nothing I can’t beat!’

Pulling his gaze back, Wan Ze took a deep breath.

’The ability to Steal a Celestial Secret just by touching it meant the booklet’s value to me went far beyond the script inside.’

’But that was something I couldn’t say.’

...

Under the night sky, the Saint City Railway Station was enveloped in a flurry of fine snow.

The platform’s lights were a dim yellow, illuminating the figures coming and going.

In the distance, a green-skinned train was slowly pulling into the station, its engine spewing great clouds of white steam that billowed and rose into the cold air before being quickly scattered by the wind.

The train whistle blew.

Passengers poured out of the carriages, carrying bags of all sizes and hurrying on their way.

People waiting for arrivals stood on tiptoe to look, shouting names and waving their hands. The platform quickly became a clamor of noise.

A figure stepped down from the train amidst the crowd and walked onto the platform walkway.

He was a young man with a sharply angled face, a prominent brow, and slightly deep-set eyes. He looked to be in his late twenties.

He wore a black trench coat, its collar turned up to hide the lower half of his jaw, and his gaze was unnervingly calm.

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