They pressed forward into the second path, their nerves already taut from the earlier gauntlets of traps.

Chitterfang scurried ahead as always, sniffing the air and brushing its whiskers against the stone. The corridor seemed to stretch on without end, the silence broken only by the soft tap of boots against stone.

Yet there was a strange change in the air. The cold draft that had earlier slithered through cracks in the walls now grew stronger, as though they were approaching some enormous void.

At last, the path widened and they emerged into a space so vast it swallowed the flickering glow of their talismans whole. For a moment, they stood frozen at the threshold, peering into a darkness so thick it felt alive. Even cultivator senses could not fully pierce the gloom.

"Light more talismans," Senior Brother Duan instructed.

Several seniors quickly complied, igniting one after another until nearly a dozen spheres of pale golden light floated into the air. Slowly, the illumination spread, revealing walls that soared upward until they vanished into a ceiling so far above that it seemed like the heavens themselves had been captured underground.

Gasps filled the group as the immensity of the place became clear.

The hall stretched nearly five hundred meters across, and at least a hundred meters in height. The lights made the shadows dance across carved stone pillars thicker than the width of three men standing shoulder to shoulder.

But what truly caught their breath was not the size. It was what filled it.

The walls were lined with towering shelves, their breadth staggering. Each shelf contained row after row of books, scrolls, jade slips, and countless documents stacked with meticulous care. The sheer weight of knowledge stored there felt suffocating.

Yet it was the central section of the hall that set their hearts racing.

Arrays of pedestals filled the open floor, and upon them rested boxes, sealed vials, pill bottles, and even ornate cases that glimmered faintly with runes. The air smelled faintly of herbs and age, as though centuries of alchemical refinement still lingered.

For a long breath, no one spoke.

Then Wu Shuan's voice trembled. "We… we found it. The repository. The true repository."

The words broke the silence like a spark to oil. Joy erupted through the group as everyone began exclaiming, their voices overlapping in disbelief and excitement.

"We made it!"

"It is all real!"

"Look at those pedestals, there are over a hundred of them!"

The eyes of even the most stoic seniors widened, their self-control cracking under the weight of temptation. The fatigue and danger of their journey seemed to vanish, replaced with a feverish energy.

Fatty Kui, however, was the first to notice something else. He turned his head toward a shadowed corner where another archway stood, identical to the one they had just come through.

He raised a pudgy finger and pointed. "Wait… is that another entrance?"

The others followed his gaze and their joy faltered slightly. The second archway indeed led to a similar corridor, almost certainly the other path they had scouted earlier.

Fatty Kui scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Could it be… that both paths led here?"

A silence hung over them before several broke out in nervous laughter. The irony was clear. They had endured trap after trap, carefully scouting two paths, only to realize either one would have brought them to the same destination.

"A trick," Xuan Qing muttered bitterly. "Another trap of the mind. To prey on paranoia and over-caution."

The group shared wry smiles, their pride smarting at the realization. Yet the sting of wasted effort could not outshine the dazzling wealth before them. Their laughter soon gave way to grins once more, for the treasures outweighed every misstep.

"Forget it," Wu Shuan said with a chuckle. "What matters is that we are here now. We can sort out the rest later."

The others nodded quickly, and as if on cue, they surged toward the pedestals with the eagerness of starving men at a feast.

Han Yu walked with them, though his eyes remained sharp and calculating. He saw what they saw, but he also thought of Meng Jueyan's words, and now her claims stood fully confirmed.

The repository was real. The secrets, the treasures, the hidden legacy of alchemy and knowledge, all lay before him.

They began with the pedestals, their hands trembling as they reached for bottles and boxes. Most of the vials were sealed with talismanic paper or spiritual wax, preserving their contents through centuries if not more. The group could only guess at what lay within, but the weight of history pressed on their hearts.

"This one… it looks like a healing pill," one of the seniors murmured, lifting a small round bottle filled with green-tinted pills.

Another broke the seal on a dusty jar, only to find common Qi replenishing pills. Even these made their eyes widen, for though common, they remained valuable to many disciples.

But then one of the Core Condensation disciples gave a sharp cry, drawing everyone's attention. He held a small glass jar aloft, and within it lay ten perfectly round, golden-hued pills. Their faint medicinal fragrance spread quickly through the hall.

"These… these are Core Formation Pills!" the disciple exclaimed, his voice shaking.

The entire group froze, eyes snapping toward the jar. For several heartbeats, no one dared move, as though even the slightest breath would shatter the treasure. Then the whispers began, carrying awe and hunger alike.

"Core Formation Pills… ten of them!"

"Each one increases the chance of breaking through to Core Condensation by fifty percent. With ten, we could help ten disciples ascend!"

Fatty Kui swallowed hard, his eyes reflecting the golden pills. "Do you have any idea how rare these are? Even sect elders hoard them. One pill alone could trade for more merit than a disciple could hope to earn in years."

Though the disciples of Core Condensation realm themselves had no direct need for the pills, their value was undeniable. They could be exchanged for resources, cultivation manuals, or favors so great that even elders would pay heed.

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