Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Chapter 393: Chapter 285: Danger Strikes

A large crowd from the great families and sects had gathered around the newly discovered cave entrance. This included the hosts, the Qin Family, who had sent a large contingent of their own. The Qin Family was likely in the foulest mood of all. To think that something on their own territory had remained undiscovered for ages, only for someone to stumble upon an Ancient Ruin here during the grand gathering of families and sects!

If the Gu Family hadn’t been present, it wouldn’t have been a problem; the Qin Family could have simply claimed the place was one of their warehouses. But as luck would have it, some low-ranking Qin disciples were on the scene and personally confirmed it was no Qin Family structure. After they opened an outer door, the murals and ancient inscriptions carved into the walls confirmed it beyond doubt: this was a previously undiscovered Ancient Ruin.

But anything discovered on Qin Family land should belong to the Qin Family by right!

However, the Qin Family was currently maneuvering to seize the position of Alliance Leader. They had been working to build good relations with the other great families and sects, so they couldn’t just drop all pretense and start a fight over an unexplored ruin, could they?

Thus, after some deliberation, the representatives of the major families—including the Qin, the Gu, and the disciple who made the discovery—reached an agreement. The Qin Family would have seventy percent ownership of anything found inside, the Gu Family would have twenty percent, and the disciple from the insignificant family would have ten percent. As for the disciples from the other great families and sects, they were all granted the right to enter and observe.

The implication was obvious. If they found nothing of value, all would be well. But if they unearthed genuine ancient treasures, it would be a miracle if the members of the other great families didn’t make a move to seize them.

Therefore, the Qin Family had already sent for their three Sword Venerable ancestors. With three experts at the Sword Venerable level holding down the fort, anyone itching to make a move would have to think twice.

No one objected to the Gu Family receiving a twenty-percent share. After all, Ancient Ruins—especially large ones—were filled with all kinds of traps and secret passages. Without an expert in Mechanical Skill present, no one would dare venture inside, regardless of their cultivation level.

However, the fact that the disciple who discovered the ruins would also receive ten percent of the treasure made many people burn with envy. They started getting ideas about him, thinking, ’If the hoard below is vast, a ten-percent share would be enough for his family to rise to immediate prominence, wouldn’t it?’ Besides, the disciple himself was weak, and his minor sect had only sent two people to the gathering.

If Qin Feng, the young master of the Qin Family, hadn’t had a sudden bout of kindness and let them board the ship, they never would have had the chance to be here. Then again, if that were the case, this Ancient Ruin would likely have remained undiscovered. Indeed, every action has its consequence; it was all fated.

Song Mingyue leaned close to Ling Xiao’s ear and whispered, "The Yu Family of Yanzhao and the Dragon Valley Gou Family are here! Look..." With a slight tip of her chin, she indicated the direction, and Ling Xiao looked over.

"The Yu Family of Yanzhao is easy to spot; they mostly favor yellow clothing," Song Mingyue whispered by his ear. "As for the Dragon Valley Gou Family... don’t you think that man over there looks a lot like the late Gou You?"

Ling Xiao nodded. He had noticed even before Song Mingyue pointed it out. ’So Gou You really was from the Dragon Valley Gou Family,’ he thought. ’But I heard the Gou Family has always kept a low profile. How did they produce a black sheep like him? I suppose after this gathering is over, they’ll... be planning a little visit to my Penzes City.’

Just then, a small commotion broke out. The disciple from the insignificant family who had discovered the Ancient Ruin suddenly knelt before Patriarch Qin Zhaoran with a THUD. He pleaded with Qin Zhaoran to take him in, declaring his willingness to join the Qin Family!

At this, the many who had been scheming against him couldn’t help but curse inwardly. ’What a cunning brat!’ they thought. ’If Qin Zhaoran really accepts him, we’ll lose any chance to make a move! Besides, the Qin Family is powerful and established; they likely won’t go back on their word and will give him his promised ten percent of the treasure.’

The disciple wasn’t stupid, either. He could feel the predatory intent in the stares directed at him. If they really found something valuable in the ruins and he received his share, he knew he’d never make it off the Qin Family Island alive. He would be ambushed and killed for it.

He was merely a Tier Six Great Sword Master; just being here felt like a dream. More importantly, his insignificant family wasn’t large, and he wasn’t even a direct-line disciple. The one who had accompanied him was the family’s direct-line disciple, a Fourth-tier Mad Sword Master. The two of them had just conferred and decided it was best for the discoverer to pledge allegiance to the Qin Family. That way, he would eventually have a chance to bring some of the treasures back to their family. It was far better than being targeted for assassination!

Just then, Ling Xiao spotted a familiar face: Li Yan of the Western Li Family. The man, a Tier Six Sword Sect, stood amongst a group of people, watching the commotion with an impassive expression. A single glance was enough to send a chill through Ling Xiao. ’The Li Family’s control over the Lanyue Empire’s Royal Family for all these years is no fluke,’ he thought. ’Their power is immense!’

Among the seven or eight people with him, three or four were Sword Emperors, and the rest were all at the Sword Sect level!

Li Yan clearly hadn’t expected to see Ling Xiao here. Right now, like most of the other great families, his group was making their own calculations, determined to seize any opportunity to gain an advantage.

Qin Zhaoran hesitated for only a moment before accepting the man. The Qin Family was currently focused on building its public image; refusing the man would be tantamount to sentencing him to death. Therefore, Qin Zhaoran readily accepted him as a nominal disciple, even offering a few words of hypocritical encouragement.

Qin Feng stood beside Qin Zhaoran, his gaze flickering with unreadable thoughts. Watching him from a distance, Song Mingyue thought of the Qin Family’s methods for improving their strength, and her stomach churned with revulsion.

Shangguan Yutong, for her part, had spotted her master, Qiuyue Yao. She was with Palace Master Leng Qianqian of Lengning Palace. True to Lengning Palace’s typical indifference, they seemed to have little interest in the ruins. Only the Third Elder accompanied them; the Grand Elder and Second Elder were nowhere in sight.

To this day, Shangguan Yutong had no idea how powerful Ling Xiao’s enraged Spiritual Power attack had been; she still assumed the Grand Elder and Second Elder had only sustained minor injuries.

In such a short amount of time, a crowd of over a thousand people had gathered.

Many others had yet to hear the news. Still more knew but, aware of their own status and strength, had no interest in getting involved.

A steady stream of people continued to arrive, though most were merely there for the spectacle.

Qin Zhaoran stood on high ground and suddenly boomed, "Friends, if I may have your attention! I am Qin Zhaoran, Patriarch of the Qin Family. As the host of this grand gathering, I welcome all of you from the great families and sects! My newly accepted nominal disciple was fortunate enough to discover these new Ancient Ruins, and this is a joyous occasion! The Qin Family has no intention of keeping it all for ourselves! However, we cannot possibly divide the contents among everyone. Therefore, friends, if you wish to observe the excavation, you are more than welcome! But let me be blunt: should anyone harbor ill intentions... the Qin Family’s three Sword Venerable ancestors are not to be trifled with!"

After Qin Zhaoran’s speech, many of those with ulterior motives couldn’t help but tremble. Three Sword Venerable experts—such power was terrifying, no matter where you were.

Many in the crowd began to shout, "Patriarch Qin, we only want to watch! We promise we won’t cause any trouble!"

"That’s right! We’re just here to watch, we won’t cause any trouble!"

A faint, mocking smile touched Song Mingyue’s lips. The whole world bustles with people seeking profit. Of the families that truly had the power to vie for the treasure, not a single one was speaking up. They all just stood there calmly, watching.

It was true that the Qin Family had three Sword Venerable experts, and the strongest individuals among the other visitors were likely only Sword Emperors. But one mustn’t forget... many of the other families were by no means weaker than the Qin Family.

The members of those powerful families stood about listlessly, watching the spectacle. They neither voiced their support nor caused any trouble.

Watching them, Qin Zhaoran felt a surge of frustration. ’Useless fools, all of them!’ he cursed inwardly. ’A second Ancient Ruin on our own land, and it took this long for someone to find it!’

Now, not only did he have to give away thirty percent of the profits, but he also had to guard against the covetous gazes of the other families and sects. Thankfully, his report to the three ancestors had been met with their assurance: if anyone dared to seize the treasure by force, they would never leave the Qin Family Island.

Even so, Qin Zhaoran still felt uneasy, as if he had overlooked something crucial.

But things had reached this point, and he could only see it through. The Gu Family disciple was quite direct. He was a man in his thirties with a goatee, small but shrewd eyes, and a sallow complexion. Once all the arrangements were made, he immediately set to work on the mechanisms.

Ling Xiao and his two companions followed the crowd inside.

Even from its small entrance, it was clear that the scale of this Ancient Ruin was beyond imagination.

The Gu Family disciple explained that this couldn’t be the main entrance—it was likely just a side door. Yet even this "side door" opened into a passageway over twenty meters wide and more than ten meters high. After entering through the mountainside and walking for several hundred paces, they came upon a second, enormous Stone Gate.

As he circled the Stone Gate, studying it, the Gu Family disciple announced, "Opening this gate will mark our true entry into the Ancient Ruin!" With that, he pressed his hand against a moss-covered bump on the wall.

A sudden sense of alarm seized Ling Xiao. "Watch out!" he shouted, yanking Shangguan Yutong and Song Mingyue to the ground with him!

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