AZI Volume 5 Chapter 52

The interior of the third mountain's chamber is designed a bit differently from the one seen on the first island. 

The ceiling of this chamber is decorated with light emitting crystals—making it possible to see everything below clearly. 

From base floor to ceiling, the entirety of the chamber measures at a rough height of 80 or so meters. 

Jutting outwards from the cave entrance is a stone road, which looms 50 meters above the center of the base floor. From here, one can easily see the weapon spirit that dwells at the bottom. 

"Holy, surnamed Long, you actually lived?"

Seeing Long Hua approaching with Yu Ji and Tian Cheng, Shao Tianming widens his eyes. 

"…"

Turning around, Ye Chen smiles faintly. 

"Me being alive isn't anything to be surprised by."

Saying this, Long Hua walks pass the group with Tian Cheng, and looks downwards. 

"…"

Expecting there to be tension real soon, Yu Ji decides to stay back a bit. 

(Figured as much, surnamed Long is indeed alive.)

In the same instance, Qing Yue arrives, while thinking of this. 

"Hmm."

Taking out a pair of binoculars, Long Hua looks pass the weapon spirit, and sees 22 glazed ceramic bottles displayed on top of a stand. 

Surrounding the stand is an energy barrier—a product of the talisman that is pasted onto the stand itself. 

Seeing how new the talisman looks, the barrier most definitely possesses a state-preservation effect—demonstrating how much value the ancients had placed on the Spirit Extracts. 

"So, those are the Spirit Extracts?" 

"Those are typically the bottles they come in."

Answering Long Hua's question is Wang Yongning. 

"What's that behind the stand?"

A door of some kind is present right behind the stand, and towards Long Hua's question, not a single person had an answer. 

Eventually, Shao Tianming replies—

"Maybe it will lead into another treasure room? One with more valuables than… Even the Spirit Extracts?"

Despite using his divine senses, Long Hua isn't able to peer pass the door. 

"So no one knows, got it."

As soon as Long Hua says this, the Tai Xuan Emperor remarks—

(Must be the door that is reserved exclusively for the Chosen Child of the Heaven. There's bound to be great treasures behind it, *-laoban.)

"…"

Recalling his experience with Wang Bei Mu, Long Hua is somewhat inclined to both agree and disagree with the Tai Xuan Emperor. 

"Hmm…"

Moving onto the weapon spirit, which serves as the Spirit Extracts' guardian, Long Hua sees it surrounded by puddles of blood. 

The corpses that should have been in these puddles have most likely been eaten—since there is a blood trail that connects back to the weapon spirit to suggest this. 

At this time, the weapon spirit has coiled itself up like a slumbering beast. 

Its appearance can only be described as skeleton-like—due to the ribcage-like structure that makes up its upper body. 

The shape of its head is reminiscent of a dragon, but it possesses no eyes or horns. 

In total, the weapon spirit possesses three tails—with the most obvious one extending from its tailbone, while the other two extended from its shoulder blades. 

Protruding from the side of its five-clawed hands is a dagger-like blade that is pointed forward. 

Finally, this creature—from head to tail, it's as black as the night itself, causing it to give off a sinister vibe.

"Hm? A cuff?"

Cuffed around the weapon spirit's neck is a thick collar, which is connected to three silver chains. 

Following these chains to their source, Long Hua sees that they are all connected to the half-rings, which are embedded into the walls of the chamber.

"…"

Looking at the patterns that surround the half-rings, Long Hua frowns, while thinking—

(Those patterns, they seem to be a magic array… If these are just normal chains—made from mortal steel, it shouldn't be difficult for a weapon spirit of this level to break them with ease. But the fact that it isn't able to… They're not mortal steel products; and with them being in the center of the magic array—their practical purposes of binding aside, they're probably also meant to act as the Formation Eye. And the magic arrays that are drawn onto the walls of this place—they're either there to reinforce the chains, or are meant to weaken the weapon spirit that the chains are meant to bind. …Someone purposefully made these arrangements.) 

Placing a hand to his chin, Long Hua continues to think—

(The older the weapon spirit is, the higher their value because of their strength. These arrangements, was it all to age the weapon spirit in a more controlled environment? Hmm, in that case, this is… An experimental ground?)

Throwing glances at other portions of the walls, Long Hua remarks—

"Those claw marks on the walls…"

Shrugging a shoulder, Shao Tianming replies—

"Let's just say, it tends to bounce around often…"

"I see. Anything else I should know?"

Walking over, Ye Chen answers—

"Those daggers on the side of its hands, it can extend them."

Storing the binoculars away, Long Hua contemplates for a moment, before saying—

"Has anyone tried opening that door?"

"We can't even get near the protected stand, so no."

Looking at those who are gathered here, Long Hua says—

"My maid and I are going to try rushing pass it. If we manage to get into the room… Well, no one minds—if I just grab everything in there, and keep it to myself, right?"

"…"

"…"

Towards this question, everyone turns silent with an expression of clear disagreement. 

In the same instance—

"…"

"…"

Arriving here just in time to hear Long Hua's words are Duanmu Chen and Dan Hong. 

Without turning around, Long Hua continues to say—

"Words are cheap, and from where I come from… No one cares. So long as you have the skills needed, you're free to do as you wish."

With an uncaring look on his face, Duanmu Chen says—

"…Whatever, do what you want."

Not a single person here thinks highly of Long Hua—despite him having returned from the maw of that black crocodilian weapon spirit. 

To them, Long Hua's current action is akin to seeking death right after narrowly escaping from its maw. 

Taking two steps forward, Dan Hong asks—

"Might I ask, why you wish to attempt this?"

"Because… I'm not willing to go home empty handed."

"You're free to pick one treasure from the first mountain's chamber."

Towards Dan Hong's words, Long Hua turns his head to the side, and replies—

"I'm not a fan of having my storage pouch being looked at on the way out."

Considering how many Immortal-related trinkets were contained inside of his storage pouch, Long Hua wouldn't want anyone here to see its contents. 

Facing forward, Long Hua says—

"Speak your objections now, or forever hold your peace."

Taking a step forward, Dan Hong asks—

"Let's assume you do manage to enter that room, but what if you end up being trapped in there afterwards?"

"…"

Glancing at Dan Hong, Long Hua thought—

(I see. So they have a plan to subjugate this thing? Hmm, the most simplistic method of dealing with this thing would be to bombard it, which would also explain why he asked me if I mind being trapped under rubble afterwards.)

Shrugging a shoulder, Long Hua replies—

"If being buried beneath a mass of rubble is enough to do me in, then… It just goes to show that I wasn't skilled enough to survive."

"…Do as you will then."

Following Dan Hong's words, Long Hua waits for five more seconds, prior to concluding—

"No more objections then? Good."

Following these words, Tian Cheng opens her magenta-colored eyes.