The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

Full moon night.

The cool, silvery light spilled like mercury, coating the stone bridge, the frozen river, and the surrounding streets with a hazy, frosty hue.

As midnight approached, the night, which should have been filled with the sounds of night watchmen's clappers, was eerily silent. Within a hundred feet of Yuema Bridge, the area was completely sealed off by the Imperial Guards under the Crown Prince's command, under the pretext of "searching for remnants of the previous dynasty."

Squads of soldiers in gleaming armor, wielding long halberds, stood expressionless at various crossroads and key points. The torchlight flickered in the night, mingling with the cold moonlight, exuding an air of grim determination. Ordinary civilians had long since been dispersed, and not even the barking of the watchmen's dogs could be heard.

Pi Shouxuan, dressed in an indigo Confucian robe, stood in the shadows at the bridgehead, his eyes sharp as a hawk, scanning his surroundings warily, while he toyed with a jade pendant in his hand.

In the night breeze, three figures, almost blending into the darkness, appeared silently like ghosts by the Yuema Bridge.

Leading the group was none other than the stunningly beautiful Zhu Yuyan, still dressed in a dark palace gown, which appeared even more mysterious and unpredictable under the moonlight. Wen Caiting and Danmei followed closely behind, one with alluring eyes and a radiant smile, and the other with a cold and aloof demeanor and snow-white hair.

Pi Shouxuan immediately stepped forward, bowed and whispered, "Sect Master, everything has been arranged properly, and there are absolutely no outsiders in the surrounding area."

"very good!"

Zhu Yuyan nodded slightly, her voice cold: "You shall guard this place. Without my permission, no one may approach or enter."

"Understood!" Bi Shouxuan replied respectfully.

Zhu Yuyan's gaze swept across the bridge, examining every minute detail, before finally settling on an inconspicuous stone animal head sculpture on one side of the bridge railing. The sculpture had weathered many storms, its surface somewhat blurred, but the animal's mouth held what appeared to be a rusted iron bead.

She extended her slender finger, and a wisp of pure demonic energy from her fingertip gently touched the iron bead. The iron bead sank into the stone carving with a very faint "click".

Immediately afterwards, a low, rumbling sound of machinery turning broke the silence of the night.

Beneath the bridge pier near the riverbank, a huge, moss-covered stone slab slowly recedes inward, revealing a dark opening just wide enough for one person to pass through. A chilling wind, carrying the earthy smell of damp earth, rushes out from the opening.

"Walk."

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhu Yuyan swayed slightly and, like a wisp of smoke, was the first to enter the cave. Wen Caiting and Danmei exchanged a glance and followed closely behind.

After the three entered, the sound of a mechanism came again from the cave entrance. The stone slab slowly returned to its original position, sealing the entrance tightly, making it impossible to see anything unusual from the outside. The Leap Horse Bridge returned to silence, as if nothing had ever happened.

Pi Shouxuan stood still, hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the bridge pier that had been restored to its original state, the respectful expression on his face gradually fading.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, three eerie figures, like venomous snakes lurking in the dark, moved from different directions with incredible speed, bypassing the patrol routes of the Imperial Guards, and quietly converged on Bi Shouxuan's side.

The first man, dressed in an apricot-yellow Taoist robe and wearing a hibiscus crown, with a gaunt face and carrying a strangely ancient longsword on his back, was none other than the Dao Ancestor's true disciple and guardian elder—"Midnight Sword" Zuo Youxian. His gaze swept around, finally settling on Bi Shouxuan's face.

Following closely behind Zuo Youxian was an old man with an ugly appearance, tall and thin like a bamboo pole, wearing a black eyepatch over his right eye, and exuding a wicked and fierce aura. His mouth twisted, revealing yellowed teeth; this was none other than the "perverse and tyrannical" You Niaojuan. A strange, hoarse laugh escaped his throat, his single remaining eye fixed intently on the bridge pier.

The third person was a middle-aged, plump man dressed as a wealthy man, wearing a brocade robe and a large jade ring on his finger. He had a friendly smile on his face, but in his hands he held a glittering gilded abacus, his fingers unconsciously moving the beads, making a soft, crisp "click" sound. This man was the abbot of Laozi Temple—Bichen.

"Elder Pi, what a skillful method."

Zuo Youxian spoke first, his voice like the clang of metal, sharp as a sword: "He actually managed to lure that woman into his trap."

When Pi Shouxuan saw the three of them, he showed no surprise. He simply lowered his voice and said, "You three have come at the right time. Zhu Yuyan has already led her people in, and now is the perfect opportunity."

Yu Niaojuan's single eye gleamed with greed, and he chuckled strangely, "Heh heh, the Evil Emperor's Relic! Yang Gong's Treasure Vault! It's our destiny to have this opportunity! Bi Shouxuan, are you sure that woman came for the Evil Emperor's Relic?"

Pi Chen fiddled with the abacus beads for a moment, then slowly said, "Sect Master Zhu's Heavenly Demon Great Art has reached the eighteenth level, yet he still needs the power of the relic. The wonder of this relic is unimaginable. However... the treasure vault is probably not an easy path."

A sinister glint flashed in Bi Shouxuan's eyes: "Zhu Yuyan is arrogant and thinks she has everything under control because of her superior martial arts. Little does she know that the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The three of you, if you don't enter now, when will you? Do you want to wait until she gets her hands on the relic and her power increases? Will we still have a chance then?"

Zuo Youxian snorted coldly: "That's right! This is a golden opportunity! If we join forces, even if Zhu Yuyan's martial arts are unparalleled, she might not fare well in the complex environment of the treasure vault! Moreover, there's also..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his gaze drifted towards the darkness in the distance, hinting at something.

"go!"

You Niaojuan could no longer contain himself. He leaped forward like an owl towards the entrance of the bridge pier. Zuo Youxian and Bi Chen exchanged a glance and immediately followed. Bi Shouxuan did not go with them. He simply stood there, watching the three of them find the mechanism, open the entrance, and quickly sneak in, just like Zhu Yuyan had done before. A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

The basement entrance closed again.

A brief silence returned to the bridgehead, broken only by the distant footsteps of the Imperial Guards and the crackling of burning torches.

Pi Shouxuan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the bright full moon in the sky, calculating the time in his mind. After about half a cup of tea's time, a figure appeared out of thin air and silently landed beside him.

This man was tall and thin, with a sinister face. He wore a dark purple Turkic robe, with ferocious wolf head patterns embroidered on the sleeves and hem. His eyes were deep, like two bottomless ancient wells, and his aura was unfathomable. He seemed to be shrouded in a faint layer of bloody killing intent. He was none other than Zhao Deyan, the Turkic national teacher and the sect leader of the Demonic Appearance Sect.

"They went in?"

Zhao Deyan's voice was hoarse and deep, with a metallic, abrasive quality.

Pi Shouxuan was not surprised by Zhao Deyan's arrival. He turned around and bowed slightly, saying, "The Imperial Preceptor has come at just the right time. Zhu Yuyan, as well as Zuo Youxian, You Niaojuan, and Pi Chen, have all been captured."

A satisfied look appeared on Zhao Deyan's cold face: "Well done. Zhu Yuyan thinks that because she is a peerless martial artist, she can act recklessly. But she doesn't know that in this world, wisdom is sometimes more terrifying than force. If she obtains the Evil Emperor's Relic, she will inevitably clash with Zuo Youxian and the others. When both sides are injured, that will be the time for you and me to reap the benefits."

Bi Shouxuan smiled, his gaze fixed intently on Zhao Deyan: "The Imperial Advisor's calculations are brilliant. But... does the Imperial Advisor truly have no interest in that Evil Emperor's Relic?"

Zhao Deyan glanced at him and said indifferently, "The relic is good, but what I value more is the power of the Yin Kui Sect and the wealth and weapons in this Yang Gong Treasure Vault. If we can use this to severely damage or even control the Yin Kui Sect, it will be more beneficial to our Turkic cause. As for the relic... if we are fortunate enough to obtain it, that would be even better. Elder Pi, rest assured, the benefits I promised you will not be less than promised."

Bi Shouxuan felt somewhat relieved, and his smile widened: "With the Grand Preceptor's words, I am at ease. Shall we stay here and await good news? However, should we send someone down to investigate..."

Zhao Deyan waved his hand, his gaze lingering on the silent bridge entrance: "No need. The treasure vault is riddled with traps; let them scout ahead. You and I only need to guard this exit, and we'll have the upper hand. Zhu Yuyan… if she's smart, she should have already sensed something's wrong. Unfortunately, once she's in this trap, escaping won't be so easy." Under the moonlight, the two stood side by side, their shadows stretched long, cast on the cold stone bridge, like two venomous spiders waiting for their prey to tire.

………………

Upon entering the basement, a stifling, damp atmosphere, thick with the stench of rusting metal, immediately hits you. The air is stagnant, as if it hasn't circulated for centuries. Underfoot are rough, carved stone steps, slippery, cold, and covered in greasy moss.

Zuo Youxian and his two companions held their breath and concentrated, suppressing their auras to the extreme, and carefully ventured deeper into the only downward passage.

The stone walls on both sides of the passage were cold to the touch, and occasionally some blurry murals and seal script could be seen on them, all of which were mottled and worn.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the space ahead suddenly opened up, revealing a huge underground space.

The space was far beyond imagination, with a high dome suspended in the darkness, its top difficult to see even with the three of them's eyesight. The first thing they saw was a mountain of wealth!
Near the entrance, countless huge iron-clad wooden crates were piled up haphazardly, some with broken lids, from which flowed dazzling light—piles of gold ingots, silver coins, and various pearls, agates, jade, cat's-eye stones... randomly piled up like sand, reflecting a heart-pounding brilliance under the faint light of the luminous pearls in the hands of the three.

Further away, rows of neatly arranged weapon racks could be seen, displaying gleaming knives, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks, their blades still sharp despite the passage of time; and sets of finely polished and maintained armor, thick plates gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, numbering probably in the thousands! This wealth and weaponry was enough to arm a powerful army and sustain a protracted war.

However, the three men's gazes lingered only for a moment on these treasures and weapons that would drive any tycoon mad before they quickly looked away.

"Damn it! That old bastard Yang Su really knows how to rip people off!"

Yu Niao licked his chapped lips, a glint of greed flashing in his single eye, but it was quickly suppressed by an even greater desire: "Where is that woman? And the Evil Emperor's Relic!"

Zuo Youxian frowned, his hand still on the hilt of his sword behind his back, and said in a deep voice, "Be careful. Zhu Yuyan can't possibly ignore these things. They must have gone deeper."

Bichen, on the other hand, appeared the calmest, his small eyes gleaming as he carefully surveyed his surroundings: "This isn't the core of the treasure vault. Judging from the layout, there should be a secret room. Let's find it!"

The three dared not separate and slowly searched forward in a triangular formation. The underground warehouse was astonishingly large, containing not only areas piled with treasures and weapons, but also places storing provisions, books, and scrolls (most of which had been reduced to ashes).

After searching for about half an hour, the three of them had practically turned the area upside down, but they still couldn't find any trace of Zhu Yuyan and her companions. There wasn't even a trace of them passing by, which showed that they were skilled in movement and had deliberately concealed their whereabouts.

"Strange, could they have vanished into thin air?"

Zuo Youxian looked puzzled, his Meridian Qi slowly circulating within his body as he sensed the fluctuations in the surrounding energy.

Yu Niaojuan grew agitated, a fierce glint flashing in his single eye, and he growled, "Impossible! There must be some hidden mechanism or trap!"

Bichen didn't speak. He squatted down and ran his fingers along the ground. Suddenly, he stopped in front of a seemingly ordinary stone wall. The stone wall blended seamlessly with its surroundings, but as he approached it, he could vaguely sense a very faint flow of air, different from the stagnant air inside the warehouse.

"here!"

Bi Chen said in a low voice, tapping several inconspicuous protrusions on the stone wall with his finger.

"Zha zha zha..."

A softer, more subtle mechanical sound than at the entrance rang out, and the stone wall quietly slid open a crack, just wide enough for one person to pass through sideways. An even colder aura emanated from the crack!

The three of them perked up, exchanged glances, and became even more careful to conceal their auras, slipping into the crevice one by one like three shadows.

A moment later, the three of them saw a secret room that was not very spacious.

The secret chamber was circular, no more than ten zhang in circumference, appearing rather cramped compared to the vast treasure vault outside. Yet, the sight within took even the three seasoned demons breath away!
In the center of the secret chamber, instead of the expected altar or coffin, was a slightly sunken pool. The pool wasn't filled with clear water, but with a viscous, ink-like liquid that faintly shimmered with a dark purple glow. Tiny bubbles constantly rose from the bottom, releasing a chilling aura as they burst. Around the pool were eight luminous pearls, each the size of a pigeon's egg and emitting a soft white light, arranged according to the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) arrangement, illuminating the entire chamber.

The most eye-catching scene was the one by the pool.

Danmei and Wen Caiting stood silently on either side of the pool, like two guardian deities. Danmei remained expressionless, her silver hair gleaming coldly in the light of the luminous pearl. Her hands hung naturally at her sides, but a faint chill swirled around her fingertips, her Soul-Locking Silk poised to be unleashed. Wen Caiting's usual alluring smile had vanished; her colorful brocade dress fluttered without wind, and a subtle demonic aura emanated from her, protecting the area around the pool.

At the center they were guarding, on the edge of that eerie ink pool, Zhu Yuyan sat cross-legged.

She was facing away from the entrance, her dark palace dress spread out on the cold ground like a blooming ink lotus. Her figure was upright, her cloud-like black hair held back only by a black jade hairpin, revealing her beautifully shaped, fair neck.

With his hands forming a mudra and placed in front of his dantian, he held a crystal about the size of an egg, perfectly round, radiating a soft yet unsettling yellow aura in the palms of his hands!
The yellow crystal didn't appear dazzling, but the radiance flowing across it seemed alive, undulating slowly, as if containing boundless energy and a chaotic, violent, and alluring will. A powerful, pure, yet extremely sinister energy wave emanated from the yellow crystal, spreading outwards like a tide, causing the air in the entire secret chamber to slightly distort. The viscous liquid in the ink pool seemed to be stimulated, churning even more violently!

The Evil Emperor's Relic!

Zuo Youxian, You Niaojuan, and Bichen's hearts skipped a beat almost simultaneously, and their eyes instantly blazed with undisguised greed and fervor! They had gone through countless hardships and risked their lives to infiltrate this place, all for this very thing!

However, this greed was barely aroused when it was instantly suppressed by an even stronger fear.

A visible halo, like black glass, enveloped Zhu Yuyan. This halo was incredibly solid, enveloping her and the yellow crystal in her hand, slowly circulating as if forming its own world. A terrifying aura, vast as the sea and deep as an abyss, emanated from her. This aura was cold, domineering, and carried a majesty that surpassed all living beings—the external manifestation of the "Heavenly Demon Field," the ultimate state achieved by cultivating the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Great Art!

At this moment, Zhu Yuyan was clearly at a crucial juncture in refining the Evil Emperor's Relic. Her entire being seemed to be connected to the entire secret chamber, the ink pool, and even the relic in her hand. Although her back was to everyone, her invisible aura, like the most sensitive tentacles, enveloped the entire space. Any trace of external hostility or energy disturbance could trigger a devastating attack!

The greed in You Niaojuan's single eye almost materialized into flames. A suppressed gurgling sound escaped his throat, and the rebellious true energy within him stirred restlessly, yearning to rush forward and snatch it. But his remaining reason fiercely suppressed this impulse—facing Zhu Yuyan at her full power, wielding the Evil Emperor's Relic, he had no doubt that if he dared to rashly step forward, he would be utterly annihilated! He might not even be able to withstand a single blow from her!
Zuo Youxian's knuckles, gripping the sword hilt, turned slightly white from the force. He could clearly feel the terrifying power of the "Heavenly Demon Field" surrounding Zhu Yuyan. If his own Meridian Qi got close, it would likely be instantly disintegrated and devoured by that pure and refined Heavenly Demon True Qi. His eyes flickered as he rapidly calculated the angle and timing of his attack, but all his calculations pointed to the same outcome!

Bi Chen's fat face twitched slightly. The golden abacus in his hand had been put away sometime earlier. His small eyes narrowed into slits as he stared intently at Zhu Yuyan's retreating figure and the alluring relic, his mind racing. Forcibly taking it was absolutely impossible; that would be tantamount to suicide. His only hope was to wait! To wait for Zhu Yuyan to make a mistake during the refining process, or… to be devoured by the remnants of the evil emperors' wills within the relic!

The three of them retreated slowly in perfect unison, completely concealing themselves in the shadows beside the stone gate. They barely breathed, exchanging glances that conveyed their shock and apprehension.

An eerie silence fell over the secret chamber. Only the gurgling of the liquid in the ink pool, the buzzing of the energy fluctuations from the Evil Emperor's Relic, and Zhu Yuyan's long, steady breaths, seemingly in harmony with heaven and earth, could be heard.

Time passed slowly. The yellow crystal in Zhu Yuyan's palm seemed to grow brighter and brighter, and the energy fluctuations became more and more intense. The black glass aura surrounding her also flickered, as if it were engaged in a fierce battle and fusion with the energy within the relic.

Yu Niaojuan's patience was wearing thin, and the anxiety in his single eye grew stronger. Zuo Youxian's sword energy had reached its peak, ready to unleash a thunderous strike at any moment, while Pi Chen's fingers trembled slightly...

The three men, like hungry wolves lurking in the darkness, stared intently at the seemingly defenseless yet incredibly dangerous tiger, waiting for the moment it would show signs of fatigue. (End of Chapter)