CHAPTER 638: VARIABLES, FOUND

Chapter 638: Variables, found

...

While Chen Huaian was sharing a bed with Li Qingran.

Hua Jin the True One was leading Zhang Mengchu and Gu Changsheng to explore the treasures hidden within Great Thunder Temple.

"This is the treasure vault of Great Thunder Temple."

After passing through a winding corridor, Hua Jin brought the two to an inconspicuous small door. It appeared the vault was quite sturdy—despite Chen Huaian and the Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python fighting so fiercely above, this small door had only slightly deformed.

"Sister Hua Jin, how come you're so familiar with finding Great Thunder Temple's treasure vault?"

Zhang Yibai looked at Hua Jin with suspicion.

This young woman seemed to have x-ray vision, leading them through layers of ruins to find this place.

Yet Hua Jin currently had no cultivation whatsoever.

"Monk Faming once invited me here to show me his treasures. At that time, he thought he had hidden it well, using various formations to conceal the vault's location.

Little did he know I possessed a supernatural ability that could enhance the penetrative power of divine sense. His formations were completely useless against me—I quickly found it by following the direction he left."

When she reached this point, Hua Jin seemed somewhat embarrassed.

She had indeed entertained the idea, just hadn't acted on it yet.

After all, Great Thunder Temple's treasures weren't easy to obtain.

With Zhang Yibai's assistance, the crude restrictions around the vault were all removed in less than half a minute.

They expected to find something valuable inside.

But when Zhang Yibai and Gu Changsheng saw it, they shook their heads repeatedly.

"Senior, these are the relics of Great Thunder Temple's eminent monks! Eating them can increase your power!"

Hua Jin the True One pulled out a handful of agate-like objects from the golden skeletons of deceased Buddhist cultivators.

Zhang Yibai felt his vision darken.

What damn relics—weren't these just brain stones?

These things indeed contained some energy and could boost cultivation when consumed, but the cultivation gained would be impure—better left untouched.

The relics from Buddhist cultivators in Cangyun Realm were the true relics, completely composed of their understanding and achievements in the Buddhist path. ŕᴀ𝐍ô₿ÊS̈

Only by consuming those could one enhance comprehension without side effects, barely qualifying as treasures.

But he said nothing, simply letting Hua Jin the True One keep them herself.

This deep vault constantly emanated an inexplicable aura—that aura was his true target.

...

Subsequently, under Hua Jin the True One's introduction, the two observed Great Thunder Temple's so-called divine weapons and various powerful techniques.

Hua Jin the True One indeed gathered enough to fill an entire storage ring, her smile impossible to suppress.

But for some reason, the two seniors remained calm throughout, seemingly uninterested in everything around them.

Until the three arrived before a statue with a snake body and human face.

Above this statue corresponded to that undamaged Buddha statue.

The moment Zhang Yibai saw that statue, his gaze was captivated.

If they were to find one true treasure in Great Thunder Temple, only this statue could be considered a genuine treasure.

"This statue actually carries Dao Rhythms!"

Zhang Yibai narrowed his eyes.

The process of transitioning from Great Ascension Stage to immortality was the process of understanding Dao Rhythms, which were also called divinity.

If one could contact more Dao Rhythms before becoming immortal, it would greatly enhance understanding of one's own Dao Rhythms.

The stronger one's personal Dao Rhythms, the greater the resistance to Heavenly Tribulation.

Simply put, Heavenly Tribulation was a thunder attack empowered by Dao Rhythms.

With Dao Rhythms protecting one's body, the power of Heavenly Tribulation would naturally decrease.

He reached out to touch the statue but was stopped by Hua Jin the True One: "Don't! That cannot be touched!"

Hua Jin the True One blocked Zhang Yibai and the statue with a serious expression.

"Why can't it be touched?" Zhang Yibai's outstretched hand paused mid-air.

This was the first time he had seen such gravity—even a trace of fear—on Hua Jin the True One's face.

The warning in her eyes was unmistakable, absolutely no joke.

He slowly withdrew his hand, placing it on the sword hilt at his waist, and asked again in a deep voice: "Why?"

Hua Jin the True One took a deep breath, her face still pale.

She looked at Zhang Yibai, then at the equally puzzled Gu Changsheng, her lips trembling slightly as if struggling intensely within.

Some secrets, once spoken, would bring unimaginable consequences.

But facing the inquiring gazes of her two saviors, she couldn't remain completely silent.

"That statue..." Hua Jin's voice dropped extremely low, carrying a slight tremble, "It... is the 'anchor point' of the... great existence worshipped by Great Thunder Temple. More ancient, more unfathomable than those demon immortals."

She paused, struggling to organize her words while avoiding forbidden terms: "Demon immortals are but dust to Them. Therefore, no matter how fierce the battle outside, no matter how terrifying the power, it couldn't damage this statue in the slightest. It... is the 'mark' They left in this realm."

Zhang Yibai's heart sank heavily.

Existence more terrifying than demon immortals?!

Great Thunder Temple's waters ran much deeper than imagined...

Perhaps Kunlun Immortal Palace might also have such anchor points?

He immediately pressed: "Then have we... already been noticed?"

Hua Jin the True One quickly shook her head, her tone urgent: "As long as we don't touch it, don't actively disturb it, it remains like an inanimate object.

That 'gaze'... can only be briefly awakened when Great Thunder Temple's selected Buddhist Prince performs a specific sacrificial ritual!

Let's leave quickly—this is no place to linger!"

Gu Changsheng also felt a chill crawling up his spine—the faceless statue appeared increasingly eerie in the dim light.

"Just leave like this? What about this object... how should we deal with it?" Zhang Yibai stared at the statue, his brow tightly furrowed.

Such a dangerous object left here would eventually become a calamity.

If only they could completely destroy it.

Unfortunately, even the massive commotion from Chen Huaian and the Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python couldn't shake it.

Probably only power at the level of Cangyun Realm immortals could crush it.

"Can't touch it!" Hua Jin the True One said resolutely, fear and apprehension swirling in her eyes, "Moving it recklessly is seeking death! It might bring unimaginable disaster... We can only leave it here. Let's go quickly!"

Zhang Yibai took a deep look at the snake-bodied, human-faced faceless statue, firmly memorizing its location and form.

He didn't make any reckless judgments, choosing instead to trust Hua Jin the True One.

"Let's go!" he shouted lowly, no longer lingering, turning to leave immediately.

Gu Changsheng and Hua Jin the True One followed closely behind as the three quickly retreated from the dark treasure chamber, rapidly departing along their original path.

The heavy stone door of the treasure vault slowly closed behind them, cutting off the faint external light.

Just as the stone door sealed shut.

On the smooth "face" of the perpetually silent, lifeless faceless statue, near the brow area, a fine crack silently appeared.

A cold, indifferent, utterly emotionless vertical pupil slowly opened within.

The vertical pupil rotated, seemingly penetrating the thick stone door, locking onto the three departing figures.

An extremely faint, dry, chilling voice like sandpaper rubbing together echoed eerily in the dead-silent treasure vault:

"Heh heh... the variable..."

"...found!"

...