The fox narrowed its eyes.
"Well, lead the way," it said.
Li Zhen met its gaze and replied calmly, "If that's what you want."
Without another word, he turned and began descending the stairs, his face expressionless.
The fox followed in silence, its sharp eyes watching every movement.
The air between them was heavy, weighed down by unspoken tension.
Step by step, they descended until the stairs finally ended—before them stood a towering black iron door.
Its surface was etched with faintly glowing runes, pulsing softly in the dim light.
At the center of the door, a complex formation seal shimmered.
The fox's eyes gleamed with interest.
A door made of black iron… and sealed with a formation? it thought.
At least Earth-grade, possibly High-tier.
To use such valuable materials and a formation of this level just for a door…
It smirked inwardly.
Then again, it makes sense.
The entirety of the clan's future and power is sealed behind this door.
Once I take what's inside, the clan could collapse overnight.
Its gaze lingered on the door, glinting with greed and anticipation.
I can only imagine how many spirit stones, pills, and artifacts are hidden inside… And if I were to tear this massive slab of black iron apart, the metal alone would fetch a fortune.
Spirit stones for days.
Li Zhen stepped forward, raising a jade token.
He pressed it to the center of the formation, and the runes began to unravel, dissipating like mist in the wind. Slowly, the great black door creaked open.
He turned to the fox and said, without ceremony:
"This is it. The inner treasury of our clan."
----
Inside, rows of silent shelves stretched endlessly, lined with jade boxes and delicate pill bottles.
The walls were heavy with the weight of countless treasures.
The fox's turquoise eyes gleamed as it stepped eagerly into the treasury.
"Heh. So this is where they kept their true treasures," it muttered, voice low and filled with greed.
"Artifacts, pills, jade slips, spirit stones... enough wealth to raise a sect—or bury one.
I wonder how long they've guarded this place.
And now... it's mine.
All mine."
Suddenly, the black iron door slammed shut behind it with a thunderous boom that echoed through the chamber.
The fox spun sharply, eyes narrowing. Its claws ignited with spiritual energy, crackling fiercely.
SCRAAAAATCH—its claws raked across the black iron, carving deep, furious gashes into the metal.
"Tch.
Trying to lock me in? Idiots," it hissed through clenched teeth, fury rising.
With a vicious swing, it struck again—this time fiercer, louder.
CLANG!
But the blow rebounded with a sharp burst of force, knocking it back.
The door showed no sign of damage—not even a scratch.
The fox froze, eyes locked on the door.
A faint glow pulsed across its surface.
Then—fwoom—a translucent barrier of light shimmered into existence, covering the entire door like a veil.
Countless glowing formation runes crawled across it, shifting, intertwining, alive with power.
Its eyes narrowed.
Stepping closer, it studied the formation, ears twitching.
A low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat.
"Bastard… you dare lock me in here? Must've gotten tired of living."
It raised a clawed paw, spiritual energy flaring violently.
"I'll rip your head off once I'm out!"
With a furious roar, it swung again—
CLANG!
Its claw smashed against the barrier.
The light rippled, but the formation held firm.
---
Outside the treasury, Li Zhen stood before the now-sealed door, his jade token still glowing faintly in his hand.
The hum of the active formation vibrated in the air around him.
He exhaled slowly.
"Arrogant beast," he muttered, eyes cold.
"You were so eager to get inside…"
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, bitter and grim.
"…But did you ever stop to wonder why it was so easy?"
From within, another violent CLANG! echoed through the thick black iron.
The ground trembled slightly from the force of the impact.
Li Zhen didn't flinch.
"Sure, the formation was built to keep thieves out…" he said, turning his back on the door.
"…but it can also be used to keep them in."
---
CLANG!
Another thunderous crash rang out from within the vault as the fox struck the door again, the sound reverberating like a war drum.
Li Zhen didn't look back.
"Struggle all you like," he said coldly. "Even if you tear apart every last treasure in there, you'll never break free."
His voice rose, tinged with pride and simmering vengeance.
"That's a high-tier Earth-grade formation you're up against—one that even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would struggle to scratch."
He stood tall, confidence swelling in his chest as he watched the glowing runes shimmer on the door.
"You'll be sealed in there until the Grand Elder returns... after he finishes dealing with your so-called master. Until then—"
He never finished the sentence.
A sudden flash of movement.
The fox's jaws closed around his head and shoulder—
CRRUNCH!
He stared bloodied gaze widen.
Blood erupted in thick arcs across the stone floor.
Half his body vanished in an instant, torn away in a spray of meat and shattered bone.
His remains hit the ground in twitching, steaming chunks.
The fox stood over him, chest rising and falling, blood dripping from its fangs.
It lowered its head, staring at the mangled corpse with contempt.
He was trapped in an illusion the whole time—frozen the moment his eyes met the fox's.
---
The fox licked crimson from its muzzle, standing at the entrance of the treasury.
"You should've seen your face," it said softly. "So calm.
So satisfied.
Like a man watching the sunrise… believing he's safe.
You looked happy."
Its tail flicked lazily behind it, a glint in its eye—cold, calculating.
"Did he really think I'd walk in first?" it murmured. "As if I ever trusted you.
I've been around far too long to fall for something that obvious."
It gave a slow chuckle—the kind that echoed like cracking ice.
"As if I'd ever let my guard down."
A flick of its tails.
"I only needed you to open the door."
Then it stepped lightly through the black iron door, eyes gleaming.
Jackpot.
Rows of pill furnaces, still warm.
Chests of spirit stones stacked like salted gems.
Shelves lined with gleaming spiritual tools.
Stacks of attack talismans shimmered—mortal grade, high-tier, and low-tier Earth grade, humming with latent power.
---
The fox blinked, then grinned wide.
"I'm rich."
So many Earth-grade pills.
Talismans.
Even a few low-grade spirit stones—
but of the highest quality.
A dramatic tear welled in one eye.
"Guess all my hard work finally paid off. I didn't risk my life for nothing."
With this much treasure, might be able to cultivate to at least the late stage—maybe even higher.
No time to waste.
It moved fast, stuffing everything into its pouch, arms shaking with adrenaline.
Grab everything.
Fast.
Get out of the city before that mid-stage cultivator returns.