"No anomalies."

The Heaven-Devouring Rat whispered.

In the deep of night within the Xiao family's ancestral hall, moonlight spilled inside.

Faintly visible were dozens of ancestral tablets inside, and seven or eight portraits hung on the walls of the hall, presumably all ancestors of the family.

"The secret chamber switch is behind the third portrait, go check if there's any hidden restrictions," Qin Ming cautiously instructed.

The Heaven-Devouring Rat immediately said, "Master, this is just a small Qi Cultivation family, shouldn't be any danger, right?"

"Why don't I just sneak in and capture that Artifact Spirit for you?"

Qin Ming's gaze flickered uncertainly. After pondering for a moment, he decided, "I have a feeling something isn't quite right."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Just then!

Qin Ming's powerful Divine Thought sensed three strong cultivator auras flying towards them.

He quickly hid himself along with the Heaven-Devouring Rat.

Shortly after, three streaks of light flashed, landing inside the Xiao family's ancestral hall.

Qin Ming looked closely from the dark, identifying them as two Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and one Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator.

'So, it's these three people.'

He had seen these three back in Moyuan Immortal City; they were the famous 'Three Friends of Mei Mountain' of Liang Country.

"Xu Yang bro, are you sure this is the place?" One of them asked the Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator.

Xu Yang affirmed, "This is definitely the place, no mistake."

"Second and third brothers, take out the items you have. Let's compare again."

Upon hearing this, the two immediately took out one-third of a map from their storage pouches.

Xu Yang also took out a fragment of the map.

After the three combined their pieces, excited expressions appeared on their faces.

"Unexpectedly, it really is here!"

"If there's truly a Secret Treasure inside, the Three Friends of Mei Mountain would rise instantaneously!"

"Second brother, do you think there's a chance for Core Formation inside?"

"Maybe there is!"

"Don't rush to excitement, we don't know what's inside yet."

"Let's see first."

The eldest of the Three Friends, Xu Yang, looking more composed and cautious, immediately interrupted the other two.

Then the three of them snuck into the Xiao family ancestral hall.

In the darkness.

Qin Ming and the Heaven-Devouring Rat exchanged glances.

They simultaneously thought of a plan.

"Baiting!"

Otherwise, how would the Three Friends of Mei Mountain obtain a map pointing to the Xiao family ancestral hall?

It's just that the map they have seems different from the silk cloth Qin Ming obtained.

The Three Friends of Mei Mountain knew nothing of what lay inside.

"Master, what should we do?"

"Seems like someone behind the scenes wants to use map dissemination as bait."

"It's most likely a trap inside."

The Heaven-Devouring Rat analyzed.

"However... we have them scouting ahead."

"We can follow behind them and see what's going on. If things look bad, we'll leave immediately."

Qin Ming slightly deliberated before speaking.

His words indicated confidence in his current strength.

"Alright!"

Qin Ming and the Heaven-Devouring Rat restrained their aura and silently followed.

Inside the ancestral hall.

They saw the Three Friends of Mei Mountain fiddling with a portrait on the wall, casting spells, as three complex runes gradually appeared and connected on it.

Suddenly.

A bright white light shone from the portrait, illuminating the center of the hall, where a white light gate appeared on the ground.

The Three Friends exchanged glances, hesitated for a long time, and after some discussion, decided to enter the light gate.

After testing it, the three's figures vanished into the white light gate.

Qin Ming was about to follow when he sensed commotion outside.

He did not act rashly.

Outside, two figures strode into the ancestral hall.

"Did those three go in?" A powerful voice echoed.

"Yes, clan leader, they all went in."

Qin Ming released his Divine Thought and saw a middle-aged cultivator with graying hair and a gray-robed elder stepping into his view.

Recently, Qin Ming had been gathering information near Tai Lake and naturally recognized the stout middle-aged man as 'Xiao Zhongren,' the Xiao family's clan leader.

But now, he displayed a shrewd demeanor, quite different from his usual behavior.

"After waiting so long, finally someone could break the ancestral hall's restriction."

"The Artifact Spirit is secondary; most importantly, to obtain that person's legacy from it." Xiao Zhongren spoke leisurely, his eyes glittered with brilliance as he did.

"Yes!" The gray-robed elder respectfully responded.

Then, the two also entered the light gate.

Once everyone had gone in and no one was around, Qin Ming and the Heaven-Devouring Rat's silhouettes slowly emerged.

"Golden Core Cultivator?" The Heaven-Devouring Rat uncertainly asked Qin Ming.

Qin Ming nodded lightly, "Indeed, didn't expect the Xiao clan leader to hide so deeply."

"Probably stronger than Linghu Yang."

"Seems this person knows something about what's inside."

"Heh! Still not my match."

"Should we?"

...

Afterward.

Qin Ming and the Heaven-Devouring Rat also followed the group, slipping into the light gate.

They both experienced a momentary dizziness, and when they reopened their eyes, they found themselves in an extraordinarily vast place.

The scene before them stunned both Qin Ming and the Heaven-Devouring Rat.

Because, surprisingly, they were at the bottom of Tai Lake, and the area they occupied was a trench stretching thousands of miles across the lakebed.

Above them was the emerald green lake water, where countless creatures swam.

Mysteriously, all lake water seemed to avoid this giant trench, as if some inexplicable force influenced the surrounding water.

The Human Race Cultivators could breathe freely here.

The trench before Qin Ming extended endlessly into darkness.

Resembling a massive canyon at the lakebed, gusts of chilling wind blew from within.

Like a long sword cleaved into the lakebed, forming a "wound" extending thousands of miles.

Strange and eerie wind howled from below, akin to wailing ghosts, sending chills down the spine.

A penetrating cold seemed to sweep up from the abyss below.

"This doesn't look like a place of goodwill." Qin Ming frowned.

Not rushing to descend, he sent his Divine Thought downwards.

After sinking for dozens of miles, Qin Ming's Divine Thought finally reached the bottom.

A vast space emerged in sight, resembling a giant cave, albeit somewhat sinister.

Bones of various demon beasts and cultivators littered the sandy ground as if paths paved with white bones.

Not only the ground but the surrounding rock walls were decorated with bones, giving an eerie impression.

The Three Friends of Mei Mountain appeared within Qin Ming's view.

At this moment, the three were cautiously following the path and finally reached the depths of the cave.

The scene before them made the trio ecstatic!

Innumerable Spirit Stones emanating astonishing Spiritual Qi, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures piled up like a small mountain not far away.

Various Secret Treasures and ornate chests were casually strewn in the corners, seemingly discarded.

"Oh my! Such an abundance of High-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"Ah! What's this?!"

"Golden Core Ancestor's legacy!"

"Haha! We're rich, even Golden Core Formation!"

"Tier Three Top-Grade spiritual materials, Three-Eyed Bodhi Fruit!"

"And Top-Tier Artifact!"

"..."

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