CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: THE ’FORMER PRINCIPAL’ IN THE SECRET VAULT_1

"Phew~ Good thing I ran fast." Wang Linchi couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief; he had successfully entered the secret vault before the high-ranking Cult Follower arrived.

The lock was supposed to be engaged, but it appeared to have been broken.

The Baylong Religion had broken into the treasury using brute force.

Wang Linchi couldn’t help but wonder how a Mountain Copper Level adept, leading a group of Black Iron Level followers, had managed to breach the treasury’s defenses.

This is a big problem.

This thought sent a chill down his spine; he realized things were not as simple as they seemed.

If the Elite Gold Level Blood Dragon Envoy had made a move, he would have considered it normal.

I hope there won’t be any issues.

Wang Linchi cursed inwardly. It wasn’t that he insisted on thinking this way, but he had to. Otherwise, how could such a good opportunity have fallen into his lap?

He even suspected he had been exposed long ago and was deliberately captured to scout the way.

"Whatever. I’ve come this far, might as well... Excuse me, may I ask your name?"

Just as Wang Linchi was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a pair of eyes open in the depths of the secret vault. They gleamed, as if afraid Wang Linchi wouldn’t see them.

Judging by their size and condition, the eyes belonged to a normal person.

However, aside from the eyes, the rest of the figure was immersed in darkness.

"Are you from Qinghe Academy too?" The voice was somewhat hoarse.

Wang Linchi shook his head. "No, I am from the Baylong Religion."

He denied it without hesitation because he had seen the glint of iron chains in the darkness and heard them clink when the other person moved.

I wonder if this place is soundproof; if not and they hear me, I’m screwed, thought Wang Linchi.

"You don’t have that dragon stench of the Baylong Religion members on you." The hoarse voice instantly saw through Wang Linchi’s lie.

"Rest assured, I am the former Dean of the academy."

The figure spoke again.

Wang Linchi really wanted to say that he had personally witnessed the previous Dean’s arrest and that the man was still waiting for his son-in-law to bail him out.

"I’m sorry, I have no impression." He hardly paid attention to the academy’s various deans, much like how few students would care who the previous school principal was.

Hearing Wang Linchi’s words, the other party clearly faltered before asking, "How did you get in here?"

"This is a prison; by rights, you shouldn’t be able to enter without a key."

"Oh, the Baylong Religion invaded Qinghe City, and the academy is completely done for. I impersonated a Baylong Religion member. They probably found me out and let me come in to scout. Luckily, one of my Soul Kinds is Inspirational Field of View. I saw an opening and climbed in."

Wang Linchi gave a brief summary.

He discovered that this place was indeed a prison, but also a secret vault.

It held a large number of Soul Forging Methods and Soul Kinds... well, their empty shells, at least.

Evidently, these Soul Kinds had all been used to maintain the chains binding this ’former Dean’.

"What?! It seems they were all targeting me."

"I never thought they’d find me after so many years."

"Go to the end of this path, open the seal, and let me out."

"I’ll deal with this situation."

The other party spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.

"Wouldn’t that be unwise? Things are already chaotic enough." Wang Linchi wanted to say that this matter had nothing to do with the speaker; after all, the invaders were here to intercept the Peacock Sword Sect.

However, Wang Linchi had also discerned that the other party’s strength was not weak.

"At the end, there is an Epic Level Soul Kind, the Space-series Secret Land Return." The figure spoke again.

"No problem, I’ll get right on it." Wang Linchi agreed without hesitation.

Secret Land Return—this Soul Kind allowed one to return from a Secret Realm prematurely, even if the exit hadn’t reopened. It was considered a life-saving Divine Artifact in Secret Realms.

Of course, Wang Linchi wasn’t coveting the Soul Kind; it was because he had just seen the chains on the figure begin to disintegrate.

And the aura emanating from him made Wang Linchi feel as if needles were pricking his back; if he dared to refuse, he would surely die in the next second.

He suspected the other party could, to some extent, interfere with the treasury and the secret vault. Perhaps he even played an undeniable role in the treasury being breached.

All for the sake of finding someone to rescue him.

Following the other party’s directions, Wang Linchi quickly reached the end of this secret vault and indeed saw the seal and the Epic Level Soul Kind, Secret Land Return.

Using an Epic Level Space-series Soul Kind paired with a sealing Soul Skill... so what they’re giving me is the core of the seal.

Wang Linchi knew this was a hot potato; taking it would likely lead to trouble.

Whether the other party was the ’former Dean’ no longer mattered.

Because the other party had already half-broken free from the seal. Just as he reached the seal’s location, his Thought Field sensed a wisp of spiritual power manifesting behind him.

Before he could reach it, that spiritual power transformed into a torrential flood, bombarding the seal.

CRACK...

The seal shattered instantly. The Epic Level Soul Kind, Secret Land Return, also disintegrated, exploding into countless fragments. He was sent flying by the shockwave, tumbling to who knows where.

Not only that, but the entire secret vault caved in, and the entire treasury collapsed along with it.

The other party didn’t need me to break the seal at all; he just needed someone to lead the way to pinpoint the seal’s core for him.

In that instant, Wang Linchi understood the cause and effect. The other party was very strong, but the one who sealed him had made prior arrangements. The location of the seal was undetectable to the sealed individual, likely similar to ’a single leaf obscuring the eye’—it was right under his nose, yet he couldn’t see it.

Thus, he needed someone to guide him to it.

So, as long as Wang Linchi reached the location, the other party could successfully break the seal.

"It’s over. The other party spared me, but now I’m buried underground." Wang Linchi didn’t know who that person was, but he knew one thing: he was likely to be wanted by the Dajing Court.

After all, he had released such a personage. Even if it was for self-preservation, this world recognized no ’imminent peril’ defense; what mattered was absolute loyalty to the monarch and the state.

"But it’s not all bad news. I found an Epic Level Soul Kind..."

Wang Linchi looked at an Epic Level Soul Kind not far away, a trace of excitement in his expression.

"I wonder if I’ve profited or lost out."

At this moment, Wang Linchi couldn’t be bothered with much else. He tucked the Epic Level Soul Kind into his clothes and then carefully searched his surroundings for anything else.

The ’former Dean’s’ escape had caused a huge commotion. Coupled with the explosion’s shockwave, Wang Linchi was seriously injured.

More importantly, many items had been blasted by the impact to where he was underground.

"Damn, a complete Elite Gold Level Soul Forging Method! Too bad it’s not for a book-type Soul Resemblance." Wang Linchi was somewhat regretful, but he quickly memorized its contents before tossing it aside.

"My luck is good! The complete Hundred Treasures Soul Refining Method."

"Huh, is this a Soul Skill?"

Wang Linchi then fumbled upon a Soul Skill manual. It wasn’t on the academy’s exchange list and could only be obtained by rendering significant meritorious service.

As soon as he opened it, his face fell.

"Damn my luck, why is it this thing?" This Soul Skill manual, to his dismay, contained Soul Seed Burning.