Chapter 1026: Outrageously Vicious
Entering the treasure vault, the stone door behind them did not close. Mu Hanyi was in front, his expression becoming rather grave: "Senior Brother Yun Che, follow my footsteps exactly, and restrain your aura as much as possible. Do not trigger any mechanisms or arcane formations under any circumstances. The Qilin Horn is at the center of the treasure vault; we will see it very soon."
Yun Che restrained his aura and walked slowly behind Mu Hanyi. Although he had been mentally prepared, his heart was still deeply shaken. Stretching out of sight, the enormous treasure vault was filled with towering piles of high-grade purple crystals and purple jade, their purple light dazzling. There was a dazzling array of various mysterious armors and mysterious weapons, and the aura of medicinal herbs was overwhelming in its variety. Although those treasures whose auras could easily dissipate were sealed within premium ice jade boxes, the overall aura within the vault was still so intense it was nearly viscous.
"As expected of the empire with the longest history in the Yin Xue Realm, just this treasure vault alone is enough to show how powerful the Icewind Empire is," Yun Che remarked with admiration.
"Hehe, Senior Brother Yun Che flatters me." Mu Hanyi smiled. "No matter how strong Icewind is, it is ultimately just a small nation. Even if it were ten times more prosperous, before the Ice Phoenix God Sect, it would still be nothing but a humble existence. Compared to Senior Brother Yun Che's status, what is a mere emperor of a small country worth?"
"Oh?" Yun Che showed surprise. "Junior Brother Hanyi's words seem a bit extreme. I cannot fully agree."
"Hehe," Mu Hanyi laughed meaningfully, a faint, profound smile, and did not continue the conversation. He led Yun Che forward for a good while longer before stopping. Yun Che's steps also halted almost simultaneously, his gaze fixed ahead.
Ahead was a massive sealing arcane formation. Within the formation was a giant horn fully three zhang tall. Its shape was half like a deer, half like a dragon. Its entire body was azure blue, surrounded by a crystal-like luster, yet without any of crystal's clarity and transparency. Although sealed by the formation, it still clearly conveyed to Yun Che a primeval and weighty aura.
"Is this... the Qilin Horn?" Yun Che looked up.
"That's right." Mu Hanyi turned around, his gaze calm as he looked at Yun Che. "This Qilin Horn comes from an Ice Qilin. Its size far exceeds all recorded examples. Therefore, it is very likely not from an ordinary Ice Qilin, but from a high-grade Qilin like the Qilin King."
"This Qilin Horn contains extremely powerful power. However, over so many years, successive emperors and ancestors have exhausted all methods, yet have been completely unable to draw out that power. Later, it was sealed here as a sacred national treasure."
"..." Yun Che nodded, his gaze remaining fixed on the Qilin Horn within the formation.
Before him was the target that Mu Xuanyin had sent him to acquire. But this formation sealing the Qilin Horn...
While Yun Che looked at the Qilin Horn, Mu Hanyi was watching him, a peculiar curve appearing at the corner of his mouth almost imperceptibly. "Speaking of which, I once mentioned to my imperial father that if I were fortunate enough to become the Sect Master's personal disciple, I would present this Qilin Horn to the Sect Master."
"Oh?" Yun Che's eyes flickered with surprise. "But it is your Icewind Empire's sacred national treasure. Your imperial father probably wouldn't agree, would he?"
"No," Mu Hanyi said with a calm smile. "My imperial father agreed immediately. If I could become the Sect Master's personal disciple, then no one in the Yin Xue Realm would dare to oppose Icewind; its status would reach the pinnacle. What need would there be for a so-called sacred national treasure? Heh, to be honest, I have never believed in such things as national fortune. Calling it a sacred national treasure, it's essentially nothing more than a useless dead object that comforts the heart. We couldn't draw out its power, but the Sect Master definitely could. Trading such a useless dead object for the Sect Master's high regard—what a deal! Why wouldn't my imperial father agree?"
"..." Yun Che frowned deeply, clearly sensing the change in Mu Hanyi's tone and expression.
"I even deliberately revealed this matter to my master, hoping it might reach the Sect Master's ears and let her know my sincerity. But in the end, the Sect Master chose you. That left me with no choice." Mu Hanyi looked up slightly. "It seems this Qilin Horn will have to obediently stay here. Oh no, no, no. It would be better to present it to the Sect Master after all. But..."
"Not by you, but by me!"
The corner of Mu Hanyi's mouth twisted sharply, and his eyes suddenly emitted a sinister, eerie light.
"..." Yun Che's gaze shifted, and he took a small step back. "Junior Brother Hanyi, what do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean? Heh!" The perpetual gentle, water-like smile suddenly turned extraordinarily dark and gloomy. His gaze towards Yun Che no longer held any of the previous respect, but was clearly filled with undisguised mockery and resentment. "If you want to present it to the Sect Master yourself, that's not impossible. Just kill me right here, then use my blood to unlock that formation, and you'll get your wish."
He extended a finger and slowly beckoned to Yun Che. "Come on, kill me. Then you can take the Qilin Horn back to the sect and earn even more of the Sect Master's favor. Come on!"
Yun Che's pupils constricted slightly as he silently moved back. "Junior Brother Hanyi... you're joking, right?"
"What do you think?" The corner of Mu Hanyi's mouth curled back, revealing teeth that normally never showed when he smiled, now glinting with a cold white light. He suddenly swung his arm, crushing a blue-glowing object in his hand, releasing a blazing blue arcane formation.
Clang!!
A blue barrier instantly formed. Before Yun Che could react, he and Mu Hanyi were both trapped within the barrier.
The barrier was only about ten zhang wide—a distance that for cultivators at the Divine Way level was merely a hand's reach. But the aura released by the barrier made Yun Che's expression change drastically.
This barrier was not only exceptionally tough, impossible for him to break through, but also isolated everything beyond light—space, sound, even sound transmission, all completely sealed!
"This barrier requires at least peak Divine Tribulation Realm strength to blast open. Even I can't forcefully escape from it." Mu Hanyi lowered his arm, letting out a low, cold laugh. Yun Che, trapped inside the barrier, had become a turtle in a jar.
Yun Che quickly retreated until his back hit the edge of the barrier. "Mu Hanyi, you... what are you planning to do?"
"Why don't you first tell me what you came to Icewind Empire to do?" Mu Hanyi said with a faint smile. If any Ice Phoenix disciple had seen his face at that moment, they would surely not believe he was the respected Senior Brother Hanyi. "To offer birthday congratulations? Hah, do you take me for a fool?"
"..." Yun Che's expression shifted again.
"On the way back, I kept wondering why the Sect Master would send you to Icewind. Given her abilities, what could Icewind possibly have that she would covet? Then, at one moment, I suddenly recalled mentioning the Qilin Horn to my master, and everything became clear—the only possibility was the Qilin Horn!"
"Major events are about to happen in the God Realm, so the Sect Master is eager to make a breakthrough. Her demand at the sect assembly for Huo Rulie to submit the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record for review is proof enough. And the Sect Master must have learned about the Qilin Horn from my master. She thought the power contained within it might help her break through. But since she didn't choose me as her personal disciple, and the Qilin Horn is Icewind's sacred national treasure, she couldn't very well ask for it openly... After all, the Sect Master also has her dignity! That's why she sent you to scout! Once you found out where the Qilin Horn was, she could silently take it at any time!"
"Later, I heard from my imperial sister, Han Jin, that you had asked her about national fortune. That dispelled my last doubts."
"You..." Every word Mu Hanyi said made Yun Che's look of shock deepen. "How do you know all this..."
But then, as if he had realized something, the fear and shock on his face quickly vanished. Instead, he stepped forward, his gaze turning fierce. "Since you already know, then it's even simpler. Obediently hand over the Qilin Horn willingly, or... do you want to defy our master's intention?"
"Hehe, I wouldn't dare defy the Sect Master's intention. Didn't I just say? I will personally present the Qilin Horn to our master. As for you, you won't live to see that moment, because you..." Mu Hanyi's tone turned sharp. "Are going to die right here!"
Yun Che's pupils contracted. "What did you say? You... you're going to kill me? You dare to kill me!?"
"No, no, no, I wouldn't dare. Senior Brother Yun Che is the Sect Master's personal disciple. I wouldn't dare lay a finger on you, even if I had the guts." Mu Hanyi squinted his eyes into thin slits. "Of course, you weren't killed by me. You died... from the mechanisms here, while trying to steal the Qilin Horn!"
Yun Che was momentarily stunned, then finally understood, his face instantly showing terror. "You..."
"Senior Brother Yun Che, don't be nervous." Reveling in Yun Che's current fear, Mu Hanyi's smile was sinister and gleeful. "I will cover it up very well. Even if the Sect Master comes in person, she will never see any flaws. You can trust me on that."
"After all, this is the most perfect and flawless tomb... that you walked into of your own accord!"
"You... you've gone mad!" Yun Che snarled. "This is... this is your Icewind Empire! If I die here, even if our master truly believes I died by the mechanisms, given her temperament... you will all be buried with me in her wrath!"
"Oh! Well said, absolutely right." Instead of being frightened, Mu Hanyi nodded in deep agreement. "Even if you 'died because you tried to steal my Icewind Empire's sacred national treasure,' the Sect Master would, in her fury, raze the entire imperial city—quite normal. But... even if the entire Icewind Empire is destroyed, the Sect Master will definitely not kill me!"
Yun Che: "???"
"Because you are dead, and Feixue..." At the mention of Mu Feixue's name, Mu Hanyi's body uncontrollably trembled for a good while, and his voice suddenly filled with gnashing hatred. "Her Yin essence was defiled by you! So she no longer has her former talent! And the Sect Master must choose a new personal disciple... then it can only be me!!"
"Besides me, no one else is qualified! If she kills me, the Sect Master won't be able to find another suitable personal disciple!"
"At that time, I will confess my guilt to the Sect Master—after all, I failed to protect the beloved Senior Brother Yun Che. And the Sect Master knows perfectly well why you died by the mechanism in front of the Qilin Horn. She knows Icewind is innocent. If she destroys Icewind, she will only feel guilty towards me. Then I will personally present the Qilin Horn... Everything will fall into place! Everything I lost, everything that was taken from me, will return!"
"You... for this goal alone, you not only want to kill me, but are also willing to put the entire Icewind Empire in great danger!?" Yun Che said, breathing heavily.
Mu Hanyi spread his hands, saying leisurely, "If it can elevate me alone, what does it matter if the entire Icewind is destroyed?"
"..." Yun Che's brow sank deeply. "You really are outrageously vicious."