Chapter 630: Seeking Treasure

Should she notify the Wang family cultivators? Mo Caiyun quickly dismissed the idea.

Her parents were rogue cultivators, and she was one as well. She had always made a living by hunting demonic beasts, and her previous several husbands had all died, earning her the moniker 'Black Widow'. During one demonic beast hunt, she accidentally contracted an aphrodisiac poison and ended up having an intimate relationship with Wang Mingjiang. The two later became cultivation partners and had three children. However, their good fortune didn't last. Wang Mingjiang went on an expedition with others, was ambushed, and died from poison.

For years, she had lived with her three children in the Wang family's home. Truthfully, the Wang family had treated her and her children quite well.

Mo Caiyun, being a rogue cultivator by origin, still preferred to act independently. Upon discovering the inheritance shell, she had no intention of informing the Wang family cultivators. Everyone has selfish motives, and she didn't believe she was doing anything wrong. If she invited the Wang family cultivators to search for treasure with her, wouldn't she have to share the wealth? No one would dislike having more wealth. If she acquired the legacy of Rogue Cultivator Qingyun and advanced to the Core Formation stage, she could also help the Wang family.

She took a few deep breaths, calming her excited emotions and regaining her composure. Could this be a trap set by an evil cultivator? From all indications, it shouldn't be a trap. If it were, there would be no reason for this inheritance shell to fall into her hands.

She carefully recalled the origin of the inheritance shell. After a while, she suddenly remembered that half a year ago, when she hunted an Ice Toad, she had found many items inside its belly. Ice Toads enjoyed devouring various spiritual objects; from ores and cultivators to magical artifacts, all were targets for the Ice Toad. The inheritance shell must have been swallowed by the Ice Toad and, by a stroke of luck, fallen into her hands. This had to be the case; if the inheritance shell had fallen into anyone else's hands, Rogue Cultivator Qingyun's cultivation cave would have been discovered long ago.

The legacy of a third-grade alchemist — just thinking about it was enticing. Greed consumed Mo Caiyun's mind. She decided to retrieve the treasures herself. Upon acquiring them, she would attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage. Of course, she also prepared a contingency. She recorded the location of Rogue Cultivator Qingyun's cultivation cave and narrated the process of her discovering the inheritance shell. If she didn't return, the Wang family cultivators could use this information to track down the cave. Great wealth is found in danger. This was her opportunity, and she had to seize it.

The inheritance shell contained a sea map, showing Rogue Cultivator Qingyun's cultivation cave located on a tiny island. Mo Caiyun carefully examined it, and to her surprise, realized she had passed by that tiny island before.

She didn't inform anyone else, merely stating she was going out to purchase goods, and no one thought much of it. After leaving Sea Cucumber Island, Mo Caiyun piloted her flying artifact and flew towards the northwest.

Three months later, Mo Caiyun appeared above an oval-shaped island. The island had no spiritual veins, its trees were sparse, and rubble was visible everywhere. It looked quite desolate. If it weren't for the inheritance shell indicating this very spot, Mo Caiyun wouldn't have paid it any mind.

She controlled her flying artifact, slowly descending into a funnel-shaped valley. The ground was covered with grayish-white rubble, and vegetation was scarce. Not far away was a cave entrance about a *zhang* wide. Mo Caiyun released a puppet beast to go ahead, while she clutched a second-grade Fire Escape Talisman in her hand. She had previously explored ancient cultivators' caves, but they were all those of Foundation Establishment cultivators, never those of Core Formation cultivators.

After walking for over a hundred paces, a stone cavern several dozen *zhang* wide appeared before her. She controlled the puppet beast to run through the cavern. When no restrictions or traps were found, she finally relaxed and entered. She conjured four blue flying daggers and aggressively struck at a stone wall on the left.

Clang! Clang! Clang! A series of metallic clanging sounds rang out as large chunks of rock were cleaved off by the blue flying daggers. It didn't seem to have any restrictions. The four blue flying daggers shaved off a layer of the stone wall, revealing a faint yellow light screen. Seeing the yellow light screen, Mo Caiyun breathed a sigh of relief.

She released two second-grade high-rank puppet beasts and had them cast spells to attack the yellow light screen. The yellow light screen's defense was extremely strong. Mo Caiyun replaced spirit stones several times and attacked for over half an hour before finally breaking through it. A passage wide enough for only two people appeared before her.

The passage showed clear signs of being man-made. Mo Caiyun's face lit up with joy. She put away her two second-grade high-rank puppet beasts and consumed a Spirit Recovery Pill to restore her magic power. She released a small dog-like puppet beast to go ahead, and she followed behind it.

The passage wasn't long; after about a hundred paces, it reached its end. A stone chamber over ten *zhang* wide appeared before her. The chamber had two stone doors: one fan-shaped and one rectangular. Both doors were covered with restrictions. Mo Caiyun released two second-grade high-rank puppet beasts and had them cast spells to destroy the restrictions on the fan-shaped stone door. Inside was a stone chamber over ten *zhang* wide, containing a wooden shelf on which rested several dull-glowing artifacts, ores, demonic beast materials, and a few porcelain bottles.

Mo Caiyun's expression became exceedingly excited, and she quickly walked forward. There were nine high-grade artifacts, but they had been stored for too long and were almost completely ruined. The pills in the porcelain bottles were also damaged and unusable. The most precious items were two proto-artifacts: a cyan flying dagger and a cyan shield. These proto-artifacts were placed in two jade boxes, sealed with talismans, and were relatively well-preserved.

Mo Caiyun's expression was extremely agitated. With two proto-artifacts just in this side room, Rogue Cultivator Qingyun must certainly have had true artifacts on his person. The two proto-artifacts alone were worth at least 400,000 spirit stones. She collected all the items and left.

Having obtained two proto-artifacts, Mo Caiyun was incredibly excited. She commanded her two second-grade high-rank puppet beasts to destroy the other stone door. After passing through another man-made passage, a five-colored light screen blocked her path. Behind the five-colored light screen was a stone chamber over ten *zhang* wide. A white skeleton lay in the center, draped in a cyan robe, with a cyan storage pouch hanging from its waist.

“Rogue Cultivator Qingyun!”

Mo Caiyun's expression was incredibly excited. She quickly commanded her puppet beasts to attack the five-colored light screen. The five-colored light screen's defense was formidable. Even after attacking for over half an hour, it remained completely unharmed.

Mo Caiyun hesitated briefly, then took out a blue talisman with a small blue sword pattern drawn on it. It was a talisman treasure. During their first demonic beast hunt, they encountered an evil cultivator. After slaying the enemy, they obtained a talisman treasure. As Mo Caiyun led dangerous demonic beast hunts, this talisman treasure was given to her for self-defense. As long as she could obtain the treasures left by Rogue Cultivator Qingyun, it wouldn't matter if the talisman treasure's power was completely expended.

Mo Caiyun sat down cross-legged. Massive amounts of magic power furiously poured into the talisman treasure. Before long, the talisman treasure emitted a dazzling blue light, and a crisp sword hum echoed. Ten breaths later, the blue talisman transformed into a small, shimmering blue sword and fiercely slashed at the five-colored light screen.

Boom! A tremendous roar resounded. The five-colored light screen caved inward but quickly returned to normal. The small blue sword continuously struck the five-colored light screen, producing chaotic "bang, bang" sounds. The five-colored light screen's defense was exceptionally strong; even the talisman treasure could not destroy it.