Chapter 1688: Chapter 1720: The Current Situation Is Very Tense
Li Xiaobai roamed through the Qin Family estate, searching through each courtyard for clues from the past.
Although Qin Ming was a junior, his status in the Qin Family’s residence was quite high. No matter where he went, people bowed to him, and there were no restrictions on his movements.
“If that passage truly leads to the Boundary Sea, it certainly wouldn’t be hidden in such an ordinary courtyard. It must be concealed either in the estate of the Qin Family Head, Qin Tian, or guarded by some important family ground, inaccessible to ordinary people.”
Li Xiaobai searched around but found nothing. Running around aimlessly like a headless fly would not yield any clues.
He determined that there were only two possible locations, but the residence of the Qin Family Head, Qin Tian, was difficult to enter, with a high risk of exposure. Among the crucial family grounds, the only place with substantial authority and guarded by experts was the Scripture Pavilion.
It housed all the Cultivation Techniques of the world for the disciples of the family to study, and the cultivator in charge of the Scripture Pavilion was the Great Elder of the Qin Family, whose cultivation level was unfathomable.
“I’ll take a look in the Scripture Pavilion first!”
After considering for a moment, Li Xiaobai immediately set off towards the location of the Scripture Pavilion.
A quarter of an hour later.
He stepped through the grand door of the Scripture Pavilion, finding it crowded beyond expectation, lacking the solemnity he had imagined. Countless family disciples were flipping through Cultivation Techniques, searching for their desired arts.
There were also quite a few disciples of other surnames searching for Cultivation Techniques within the Scripture Pavilion.
No Elders were in sight, so Li Xiaobai entered amongst the shelves of Cultivation Techniques, wandering around.
“Greetings, Young Master Qin!”
“Greetings, Senior Brother Qin!”
Upon seeing Li Xiaobai enter, the disciples inside the Scripture Pavilion all stood and bowed in respect.
“Stay as you are, choose your Cultivation Techniques wisely, don’t make mistakes, and don’t mind me.”
Li Xiaobai waved his hand, speaking indifferently.
The Scripture Pavilion had several levels, and they were currently on just the first level. Above were two more levels, but he reckoned that a passage such as he was looking for wouldn’t be built there; it should be hidden deep underground.
He walked to the end of the first level and began to look around, having never seen a Scripture Pavilion with a basement.
If there was indeed a hidden passage, there must be a secret door leading downwards.
“Young Master Qin Ming, what are you doing here, are you planning to go upstairs?”
An elder suddenly appeared beside him, speaking kindly.
“My uncle commanded me to come here, to go to the lower passage and retrieve something.”
Li Xiaobai maintained his composure, his hands behind his back, speaking quietly: “I trouble the Great Elder to lead the way.”
“The lower passage?”
“How do you know about it? Why would the Family Head send you here? What is the Family Head intending to retrieve?”
The elder was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting this Young Master of the Qin Family to mention the passage.
This was one of the most confidential secrets in the entire Qin Family, with very few knowing the exact location of the passage even at the senior level, yet this Young Master knew it so accurately.
“This is a confidential matter. If the Great Elder wishes to know, you may ask the Family Head later. For now, please lead the way.”
“You are aware of the recent unrest within the family, with the Wu Clan’s cultivators infiltrating, intending to harm the Family Head. The Family Head even mistakenly killed my brother, Qin Yu, because of it. Now everyone in the family is on edge, and the Family Head must have his plans.”
Li Xiaobai maintained a solemn demeanor, gazing firmly at the Great Elder before him.
He needed to act serious enough to gain the elder’s trust.
“Do you have the Family Head’s Token?”
The Great Elder frowned, asking in a deep voice.
“The matter of the main hall is well-known. Nowadays, in the Qin Family, it’s difficult to distinguish the identities of cultivators. The Identity Token must be firmly held, or it could lead to catastrophe.”
Li Xiaobai took out Qin Ming’s Identity Token and said earnestly.
Upon hearing this, the Great Elder hastily took out his own Identity Token, featuring a large ‘Qin’ character with carved dragons—a Token of the highest rank in the Qin Family.
Though he was not present for the main hall incident, he had heard of it. Qin Yu’s disguise was so convincing that even Qin Tian didn’t see through it, leading to the accidental killing of the real Qin Yu. This demonstrated the power and cultivation level of the imposter, likely reaching an extraordinary level.
If the Family Head couldn’t recognize it, it was indeed difficult for him to as well. Qin Ming’s words reminded him that he also needed to prove his identity.
“Thus, it can be proven we are both genuine, with no chance of being switched.”
Li Xiaobai nodded and said, “I heard about the passage for the first time as well. The Great Elder should know that I could only have learned this from the Family Head. The matter is urgent, no time for explanations, quickly, let’s go down.”
“Very well, let us go down!”
“Once this matter is settled, I need to consult the Family Head. Never did I expect the Qin Family to face such a crisis, spending my days guarding this dark and sunless Scripture Pavilion, almost missing this critical matter.”
The Great Elder’s eyes gradually became sharp, realizing the seriousness of the situation. There might be spies within the Qin Family, with core family cultivators replaced by imposters, and yet they hadn’t discovered it.
After resolving this matter, he intended to have a good talk with Qin Tian. Such a significant issue must be tackled immediately.
The elder formed a Seal Spell with his hand, and the staircase leading upstairs suddenly cracked open, revealing a stairway down to the Underground World.
Li Xiaobai followed behind and descended; the path was long and dark yet lacked coldness, instead feeling somewhat warm.
“Young Master Qin Ming, do you know where this passage leads?”
The Great Elder asked from ahead.
“The Family Head did not say, just mentioned to be extremely careful not to mistakenly enter the passage, or you may never return.”
Li Xiaobai fabricated this response.
“The Family Head is right; neither I nor the Family Head dares venture lightly into that passage. It is a world separate from the Immortal Gods Realm. Some say it’s the starry sky of the Universe, while others say it’s the true realm of death, where souls go after death.”
“It’s very dangerous. Young Master, don’t wander off.”
The Great Elder explained.
The surroundings gradually illuminated, with torches lighting the underground level as bright as day.
Ahead of Li Xiaobai appeared a massive, multicolored vortex with a captivating allure, compelling one to walk in unwittingly.
However, it had no effect on him, as the System automatically blocked all mental influences.
“Is this the passage?”
“Indeed, the most alluring is the most dangerous; don’t be deceived by its appearance.”
“What was the Family Head asking you to retrieve?”
The Great Elder pointed to a row of shelves on the wall, indicating for Li Xiaobai to search.
Li Xiaobai went over, checking carefully; all were things he had never seen before. There were no Cultivation Techniques or Magic Treasures, just oddly shaped stones of various colors, brimming with immense energy.
Among them, a purple stone was particularly striking.
Li Xiaobai picked it up: “This is it, take it with us.”