The night at the foot of Mount Lam Son was thoroughly torn apart by the glint of sabers, the flash of swords, and furious, echoing roars. The battle between the Black Dragon Stronghold and the Azure Cloud Sect, ignited by an inconceivable stratagem, erupted with savage intensity.
The Black Dragon Stronghold, long accustomed to operating in the shadows, unleashed all their ferocity and wickedness after being deceived and provoked. Their saber techniques were sinister and venomous, every strike aimed at fatal acupoints. Conversely, the disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, carrying the pride of the Orthodox path, wielded upright and luminous sword arts, forming impregnable formations that steadily repelled the enemy's assault. Two distinct auras—one Yin, one Yang, one Demonic, one Orthodox—collided, generating explosive blasts of spiritual energy that resonated through the mountain forests.
The Sixth Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect and the peak Qi Condensation scarred man of the Black Dragon Stronghold lunged at each other like two fierce tigers. No one noticed that the true prey—three diminutive figures—had exploited that extreme chaos to silently detour to the rear, vanishing into the ancient trail leading up to the summit.
This path was far more desolate and treacherous than Tran Kien had imagined. Wild weeds grew taller than a man, the moss-covered stone steps were incredibly slick, and vines tangled together like spiderwebs. Yet, for the three of them at this moment, this was the safest route.
Uncle Sword still took the vanguard, his movements ethereal and untethered. The wooden sword in his hand would occasionally flick out—not to attack, but to sweep aside obstructing branches or sever hidden venomous snakes in the underbrush. His Sword Intent was completely withdrawn, fusing seamlessly with the night, not leaking the slightest trace of aura.
Tran Kien and Lam Vy walked in the middle. Tran Kien held his dull black saber in one hand and grasped Lam Vy's hand with the other, leading her forward. The Primordial Qi circulated ceaselessly within his body, allowing him to sense every latent danger. He could feel that upon this sacred Mount Lam Son, there were not only enemy eyes and ears, but also ancient restrictive spells left behind by predecessors. A single misstep would instantly trigger the spell formations' backlash.
However, the Shamanic Map hidden within his robes acted as a guiding lantern, radiating a warm aura that pointed him toward the absolute safest path, bypassing all those restrictions.
They walked in silence. Behind them, the sounds of slaughter and screaming gradually faded into the distance. Ahead, the summit of Mount Lam Son stood tall and majestic beneath the moonlight, drawing ever closer. The air grew purer, and the spiritual energy grew increasingly abundant. He could feel it; the Dragon Veins were very close.
After nearly an hour, they finally reached a clearing near the peak. There were no dense trees here, only a verdant meadow dotted with scattered boulders. The moonlight poured down, illuminating the area as brightly as day.
And right in the center of that clearing, there was a cave.
The cave was not large; its entrance was only about two men tall. But it was not naturally formed. The entrance was chiseled perfectly square, flanked by two stone statues that had been almost entirely eroded by the passage of time, their forms only vaguely recognizable as two guardian deities. An ancient aura, desolate yet boundlessly majestic, emanated from within.
"This is the place," Tran Kien said, his voice trembling slightly. The Shamanic Map against his chest was burning hot, vibrating intensely.
But just as they were about to step forward, Uncle Sword suddenly raised a hand to stop them.
"Hold on."
He didn't look at the cave entrance. His gaze was fixed on a massive boulder off to the side.
"Since an old friend has arrived, why haven't you shown your face?" Uncle Sword's voice was tranquil, yet it echoed clearly across the entire clearing.
The area remained silent. Only the wind rustled through the grass.
Uncle Sword chuckled softly. "Sixth Elder, how long do you intend to hide there? Could it be that your esteemed Azure Cloud Sect also enjoys sneaking about like the rats of the Black Dragon Stronghold?"
"Hahaha..." A hearty laugh rang out. From behind the boulder, the Sixth Elder and the handsome youth of the Azure Cloud Sect slowly stepped out.
"Brother Sword's Sword Intent truly lives up to its reputation. This old man had completely concealed his aura, yet I was still discovered by you."
The Sixth Elder showed no signs of having just been in a fierce battle. His robes were pristine, his aura unhurried and calm. It was glaringly obvious that he had only participated half-heartedly in the battle at the foot of the mountain; his true objective had always been this very place.
"Sixth Elder truly calculates like a divine entity," Uncle Sword remarked, a trace of mockery in his tone. "Using your own subordinates to stall the Black Dragon Stronghold, while you casually stroll up here to 'reap the spoils'?"
"You wrong me with those words, Brother Sword," the Sixth Elder waved his hand, his face the picture of righteous indignation. "I was merely worried for your safety, and thus followed behind to escort you. The Lac Viet Heritage is a national treasure of Great Viet; it absolutely cannot fall into the hands of demonic heretics. In my view, handing it over to an Orthodox sect like our Azure Cloud Sect for safekeeping is the most reasonable course of action."
An incredibly high-sounding justification. But the greed glinting in his eyes could not be hidden.
"Safekeeping, or seizing?" Tran Kien spoke up coldly. This was the first time he had directly confronted a major figure of the Orthodox path. Yet he saw no luminous righteousness, only boundless greed and the hypocrisy of a gentleman in name only.
The Sixth Elder glanced at Tran Kien, a flash of astonishment in his eyes. He hadn't expected a mere Qi Condensation youth to dare speak to him with such an attitude.
"This little friend must be Tran Kien, yes? A hero emerging from the youth, truly extraordinary," he laughed. "But children shouldn't interject in the affairs of adults. As long as you hand over the token and the heritage, my Azure Cloud Sect guarantees we will not make things difficult for you."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense. A clash between two tigers was, in the end, unavoidable.
"It seems," Uncle Sword sighed, his hand resting on the hilt of his wooden sword, "we cannot resolve this with reason today."
"Wait, Uncle Sword!"
Tran Kien suddenly stepped forward, blocking Uncle Sword. He didn't look at the Sixth Elder. He stared straight into the dark cave entrance behind them.
"Sixth Elder, you are absolutely right," he suddenly said. "The Lac Viet Heritage truly should be handed over to someone qualified to safeguard it."
Everyone was stunned by his words, even Uncle Sword and Lam Vy.
"Big Brother Tran, you..."
Tran Kien raised a hand, gesturing for Lam Vy to stay silent. He looked at the Sixth Elder, the corners of his mouth curling into an enigmatic smile.
"But before handing it over," he said, "do you dare to venture inside with me for a trip? Let us see if the legacy of our ancestors truly chooses your Azure Cloud Sect or not."
The Sixth Elder narrowed his eyes. He couldn't fathom what kind of ghost tricks this brat was trying to play. But with his cultivation at the peak of Foundation Establishment, he didn't believe a small cave could pose a threat to him. Furthermore, his curiosity regarding the secrets within triumphed over his caution.
"Fine!" he nodded. "This old man wants to see just what capabilities you actually possess."
"After you!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Tran Kien was the first to turn around, marching straight into the pitch-black cave entrance.
The Sixth Elder snorted coldly and immediately followed. The handsome youth hastily tailed his master.
Uncle Sword, Lam Vy, and the others stood outside, their hearts filled with anxiety and incomprehension.
The life-and-death chessboard had reached a turning point no one could have anticipated. Tran Kien had, once again, chosen the most maddeningly insane path. He had personally invited the tiger into his home.