"This is a sealed magic artifact, also equipped with a destruction restriction. If the seal is forcibly opened, the treasure will self-detonate. It appears the owner of this artifact did not wish for outsiders to break the seal."
After a while, Xu Yi conveyed the information she had analyzed with her divine sense to Ji Buwang, her brows furrowed with an unshakeable confusion.
If the other party did not want this lotus platform to be seen by outsiders, why then place it in the Xuanji Sect's treasury? Were they not worried that it would eventually be discovered?
Furthermore, how did the other party manage to place the lotus platform into the Xuanji Sect's treasury without anyone noticing?
Xu Yi narrowed her eyes, a disbelieving speculation forming in her mind.
Unless the person who placed the lotus platform was someone from the Xuanji Sect, or even an important figure within the sect who possessed the authority to open the sect's treasury.
Upon thinking this, the most suitable candidate immediately came to Xu Yi's mind.
However, Xu Yi then shook her head.
Perhaps it was her own prejudice against that person that led her to think of them first. This was merely her speculation, lacking any concrete evidence.
"Do you have someone in mind?" Ji Buwang suddenly asked, his voice cold.
Xu Yi brought the words to her lips but swallowed them back. "No."
"I do."
A flicker of surprise flashed in Xu Yi's eyes.
Why did she feel Ji Buwang's tone was slightly off?
"I suspect Liu Jinghong was the one who placed the lotus platform in the sect's treasury. Only she could have done it."
As Ji Buwang's words fell, Xu Yi, for some unknown reason, felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
It seemed it wasn't her prejudice against Liu Jinghong that led to this suspicion.
It was simply that Liu Jinghong bore significant suspicion.
"Only Liu Jinghong could have had connections with both the demon and fiend races and been able to move freely in and out of the sect's treasury," Ji Buwang stated, his entire being radiating an icy aura. "Furthermore, I suspect that what is sealed within this lotus platform is the remaining remnant soul of the Demon King."
Xu Yi remained silent.
Ji Buwang's speculation was highly plausible, yet Xu Yi was somewhat unwilling to believe it.
If things were as Ji Buwang described, then the perpetrators who harmed the Demon King back then were not solely the fiend race, but Liu Jinghong as well.
Even if Liu Jinghong hadn't taken direct action, she was still one of the knowing parties.
Did she know why the fiend race targeted the Demon King, and what role did she play in all of this?
Liu Jinghong's character was selfish, greedy, and jealous, but there was one thing Xu Yi couldn't fault her for: Liu Jinghong had signed an equal treaty with the demon and fiend races back then.
Although this equal treaty was merely drinking poison to quench thirst, it had at least brought a thousand years of peace to the Jiuzhou Continent.
But now, it seemed that the matter of signing the equal treaty wasn't as simple as she had thought, and there seemed to be more complex secrets hidden behind it.
What was Liu Jinghong truly thinking?
"There is no evidence for this matter; it is still not advisable to jump to conclusions."
Ji Buwang did not refute Xu Yi's words, but the coldness in his eyes revealed his true thoughts.
He firmly believed that this matter must be directly related to Liu Jinghong.
However, as things stood, delving further into the reasons behind it would be of no use. What was more important now was how to break the seal on this lotus platform and rescue the remnant soul of the Demon King trapped within.
"Is there any way to break the seal?" Ji Buwang asked.
Xu Yi shook her head. "This sealing method is extremely obscure and profound, and it's a case of pulling one thread and affecting the whole. I cannot attempt it without complete certainty. Any mistake and the lotus platform will be ruined."
The one who refined this lotus platform must have been a top-tier Qi refining expert of that era.
Xu Yi's current level was still quite far from matching that.
"Hand this artifact over to Teacher Li of Kunlun Academy. He might be able to figure out a solution," Xu Yi said, a trace of guilt appearing on her face as she made this suggestion.
As Teacher Li's disciple, not only was she unable to stay by her teacher's side and serve him, but she also kept presenting Teacher Li with difficult problems, causing him to worry incessantly. It was truly unfilial.
"Teacher Li is devoted to artifact refining. If you give this treasure to him, he will be delighted. You need not worry so much," Ji Buwang said softly, sensing Xu Yi's burden.
"Mm." Xu Yi nodded, about to place the lotus platform into her storage ring. After leaving the treasury, she would contact Teacher Li and arrange for the treasure to be sent to Qiming Academy in Mo City.
Unexpectedly, as Xu Yi moved, the Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird flapped its wings and stood firmly on the lotus platform again. It stretched out its wings, protecting the lotus platform tightly, preventing Xu Yi from taking it.
Xu Yi: ...She had forgotten about the even bigger problem before her.
The Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird had a peculiar obsession with the lotus platform and refused to let it out of its sight.
Even after Xu Yi had spoken many kind words, the Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird did not change its mind.
Xu Yi looked helplessly at Ji Buwang.
Ji Buwang knew how difficult the Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird was to deal with and couldn't think of a solution for a while. He could only say, "Take the lotus platform and it to the Vermilion Bird Tomb. Let's see if it changes its mind along the way."
"That's the only way."
Xu Yi extended a fingertip and lightly tapped the Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird's small head. Then, together with Ji Buwang, she went to retrieve the Vermilion Bird Tomb's spiritual key.
The spiritual key was sealed within an exquisite and elegant jade box.
As Ji Buwang took out the spiritual key, Xu Yi noticed many similar jade boxes next to it, most of them dim and lusterless.
Those jade boxes contained the spiritual keys to other secret realms left by the ancestors.
The dim jade boxes symbolized that the respective secret realms had lost their spiritual energy and had dispersed into the void, vanishing into nothingness.
Ji Buwang handed the spiritual key to Xu Yi. "When do you plan to head to the Vermilion Bird Tomb?"
The Vermilion Bird Tomb was not far from the Xuanji Sect. Starting from the Xuanji Sect and traveling without the aid of a teleportation array, it would take two days to arrive.
Xu Yi pondered for a moment. "I plan to set off immediately."
She waved the lotus platform in her hand, a look of helplessness on her face.
She couldn't possibly parade around the Xuanji Sect with the lotus platform and the Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird.
It would be better to first head to the Vermilion Bird Tomb to investigate.
"I will accompany you."
"You will accompany me?" Xu Yi's expression began to subtly change.
Ji Buwang feigned calmness, allowing Xu Yi to scrutinize him without revealing any abnormality. "Yes."
"Alright, let's set off now, Sect Leader Ji."
Xu Yi suddenly broke into a smile, a hint of teasing in her tone.
Ji Buwang felt a strange warmth in his ears, but he managed to suppress the distractions in his heart and calmly walked out of the treasury with Xu Yi.
Before leaving, he restored all the mechanisms in the treasury to their original state. Then, together with Xu Yi, they transformed into streaks of light and flew out of the Xuanji Sect's territory.
Two days later.
Xu Yi and Ji Buwang stopped in a place of picturesque mountains and clear waters.
"The Vermilion Bird Tomb is here?"
Xu Yi curiously surveyed the surroundings, not detecting any spiritual energy fluctuations.
"Take out the spiritual key and inject spiritual energy into it."
Xu Yi complied, retrieving the spiritual key from her storage ring and infusing it with her spiritual energy.
Instantly, a strong sense of guidance surged within Xu Yi.
She looked towards the west, her eyes bright. "It's that way."