Chapter 149: Fame-Seeking Opportunists
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After returning home, Qin Feng immediately entered a state of cultivation.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and began circulating the Nine-Turn Golden Body Technique. With the support of the uncut jade stone, streams of pure spiritual energy surged into his body from every direction, flowing along his meridians and gathering in his dantian.
As time passed, Qin Feng felt the spiritual energy within him growing increasingly abundant, as though it were about to break through some invisible restraint.
He knew that he had already touched the bottleneck of the Third Realm!
Yet no matter how fiercely he attacked it, he remained unable to break through that unseen barrier.
“Could there be something wrong with my cultivation method?” Qin Feng knitted his brows, his heart filled with confusion and anxiety.
Just then, a hurried telephone ringtone shattered the silence of the room.
Qin Feng picked up his phone. When he saw the caller ID read “Mr. Long,” his heart stirred.
“Hello, Mr. Long. Is something wrong? Why are you calling so late?” Qin Feng answered, getting straight to the point.
“Hahaha, little brother Qin, you finally decided to come back to Jianghai!”
Long Xiaotian’s hearty laughter came from the other end of the line. “So, what are your plans now that you’re back?”
“I only returned recently and haven’t had the chance to notify you.”
Qin Feng smiled faintly. “What is it? Do you have some profitable business and want to let your little brother in on it?”
“Hahaha, money is all you ever think about!” Long Xiaotian cursed him jokingly, but his tone soon turned serious.
“Speaking of serious matters, I really do have something important to discuss with you. I wonder if you’d be interested in taking a trip with me to Panlong Mountain?”
“Panlong Mountain?”
Qin Feng’s heart stirred. An imposing mountain surfaced in his mind. Its terrain was treacherous, and it was perpetually shrouded in mist. It was said to have been the site of numerous supernatural incidents and had long been regarded as one of the Qinling Mountains’ infamous cursed places.
“That’s right, Panlong Mountain!” Long Xiaotian said gravely. “I received word that an ancient tomb has recently been discovered there. It may contain quite a few treasures!”
“An ancient tomb?”
Qin Feng grew interested. Although he had little interest in money, he possessed a particular fondness for antiques and historical artifacts.
“Exactly. They say it’s the tomb of a prince from the Warring States period, and that it contains vast quantities of gold, silver, precious jewels, and rare antiques!” Long Xiaotian’s voice was full of temptation. “So, little brother Qin, how about joining me on an expedition?”
Qin Feng fell silent for a moment. He had already made up his mind.
He had been troubled by his inability to break through the bottleneck. Perhaps this expedition would bring him an unexpected gain.
“Fine. I agree!” Qin Feng said firmly. “When do we leave?”
“Hahaha, I knew you wouldn’t refuse!”
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Long Xiaotian burst into laughter. “There’s no time to waste. We leave tomorrow! I’ve already sent someone to pick you up. Get ready!”
After ending the call, a sharp glint flashed through Qin Feng’s eyes, and a playful smile curled across his lips.
Early the next morning, a series of deep engine roars shattered the tranquility of the villa district.
Qin Feng drew back the curtains. Three pitch-black Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUVs were parked below, their surfaces reflecting a cold gleam in the morning light.
“Long Xiaotian certainly knows how to make an entrance.”
Qin Feng chuckled softly. After a quick wash, he dressed casually and strolled leisurely downstairs.
“Little brother Qin, sorry to keep you waiting!”
Long Xiaotian had already been standing beside the vehicles. When he saw Qin Feng come downstairs, he greeted him enthusiastically and offered him a cigarette.
“How did you sleep last night?”
“Thanks to you, Brother Long, I slept quite well.”
Qin Feng accepted the cigarette but did not light it. Instead, he brought it lightly beneath his nose and inhaled.
“This is a fine cigarette, Brother Long. It must have cost a fortune, right?”
“Hahaha, little brother Qin, you really know your stuff!”
Long Xiaotian laughed heartily and patted Qin Feng on the shoulder.
“Come on. We’ll talk in the car!”
On the way, Long Xiaotian introduced Qin Feng to the expedition’s detailed plans and the people taking part.
Aside from the two of them, the expedition included several experts and scholars from various fields. One elderly man with graying hair and thick glasses stood out in particular. He was said to be a foremost authority in the country’s archaeological circles and was known as Professor Zhao.
“Professor Zhao is practically a national treasure. It took me considerable effort to persuade him to come out of retirement for this expedition.”
Long Xiaotian lowered his voice, unable to conceal the pride in his words.
Qin Feng smiled faintly without replying.
Although he was quite interested in antiques and historical artifacts, he had little regard for these so-called experts and scholars.
In his view, most of these so-called experts were merely seeking fame and profit. Those with genuine ability were few and far between.
After reaching the foot of Panlong Mountain, everyone rested briefly before beginning their ascent.
The terrain of Panlong Mountain was treacherous, with sheer cliffs everywhere. The group proceeded cautiously, afraid that one careless step might send them plunging into an abyss thousands of feet deep.
“Brother Long, Panlong Mountain really lives up to its name. There are cliffs everywhere. If someone fell from here, I doubt even scraps of bone would remain, right?”
Zhang Hu followed behind Qin Feng, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he spoke with lingering fear.
“Enough nonsense. Stay close!”
Qin Feng rebuked him in a low voice, while his gaze continued sweeping across the surroundings.
After walking for more than two hours, the group arrived before a valley. Strange crags surrounded it, while the entrance was completely sealed by dense vines and thorny brush, making it impossible to see what lay within.
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“This is the place!”
Long Xiaotian pointed toward the valley, excitement flickering in his voice.
“According to the information we received, the entrance to the ancient tomb lies somewhere inside this valley!”
“Boss Long, what do we do now? Should we go straight in?”
A burly bodyguard stepped forward and asked respectfully.
“Not yet.”
Long Xiaotian waved a hand, then turned to Professor Zhao.
“Professor Zhao, what do you think?”
Professor Zhao pushed his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose and carefully examined the surrounding terrain. After pondering for a moment, he said, “This valley is perilous, and the vegetation is extremely dense. There may well be poisonous miasma or other dangers inside. We should proceed with caution.”
“Professor Zhao is right. Safety comes first.”
Long Xiaotian nodded, then turned to the bodyguard.
“Biao, take two men inside to scout the way. Remember, be careful. If anything seems wrong, withdraw immediately!”
“Yes, Boss Long!”
Biao acknowledged the order and led two other bodyguards into the depths of the valley, each carrying a machete as they advanced cautiously.
“Little brother Qin, what do you think?”
Long Xiaotian handed Qin Feng a bottle of water and asked in a low voice.
“Something feels wrong.”
Qin Feng accepted the bottle but did not drink. His brows drew together slightly.
“It’s far too quiet inside this valley.”
At those words, Long Xiaotian’s expression changed as well.
Just then, panicked shouts suddenly rang out from deep within the valley, followed by the chaotic sound of running footsteps.
“Oh no! Something’s happened!”
Long Xiaotian’s face paled. He seized the collar of the bodyguard beside him.
“Quick! Come with me and take a look!”
Everyone hurried toward the depths of the valley. Before they had gone very far, they saw Biao and the other two men stumbling out. Their faces were deathly pale, their bodies covered in blood, and they looked as though they had seen a ghost.
“What happened? What’s going on?”
Long Xiaotian grabbed Biao and questioned him anxiously.
“Snakes... snakes...”
Biao was terrified beyond words. Pointing toward the depths of the valley, he stammered, “There... there are so many snakes inside...”
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