Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Restoring the Dynasty?! The Nation’s Treasure Key! Yan Hanling!

So many bandits, if I charge out directly, there’s indeed the risk of being surrounded and exhausted.

Chu Ming pondered briefly, his figure flickering as he stealthily moved to the place where the Black Wind Stronghold stored supplies.

First, he took most of the kerosene and sprinkled it around the Black Wind Stronghold, paying particular attention to a few exits, where he applied more oil.

Inside the stronghold.

"Did anyone smell something?" a patrolling bandit took a few sniffs of the air.

"A woman’s scent?"

"Seems like it..."

Chu Ming, hidden in the shadows, remained expressionless as he lit a fire...

"Kerosene, fire!"

"Not good!"

"Fire’s broken out, put it out quickly."

"Call people, call people, it’s on fire!"

Chaos erupted first in this spot, and before long, the entire stronghold was in turmoil, with cries echoing everywhere.

Clamoring, noisy, a large number of gang members frantically fetching water to extinguish the fire.

The mountain stronghold was mostly made of wood; if the fire wasn’t put out in time, it would burn the entire stronghold to ashes.

However, fire isn’t so easily extinguished.

Starting a fire is easy, but putting one out is hard; moreover, it wasn’t just one fire point that Chu Ming created. Wherever kerosene was doused, he would light it up.

In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Black Wind Stronghold was engulfed in roaring flames.

Tonight, he intends to unleash a massacre.

...

Elsewhere.

Blood Vine Castle master Wang Meng, after drinking several bowls of wine, seemed to have gathered enough courage, leaving the hall and arriving in front of a secluded rock with great familiarity.

That rock was part of the mountain at Black Wind Ridge, common throughout the Black Wind Stronghold, unremarkable.

"Black Pockmarks, with you dead, this messy business of extracting blood falls to me!"

Wang Meng hefted his giant axe, extended his right hand, pausing in mid-air, eyes shifting several times before finally pressing it against the rock.

Rumble!

Rocks crumbled, and a trapdoor opened beneath his feet.

As the trapdoor opened, a foul stench wafted out from within.

"Yuck!"

Wang Meng spat, covering his nose and mouth, hesitating for a moment before entering.

He followed the dim passage for a short distance before coming upon a fork in the path.

Without a second thought, as if having traversed it many times, Wang Meng chose the very left path.

Following this was another stretch of dim stone wall passage, after a short walk, flashes of blood-red light danced in front of him, and the bloody stench in the air grew stronger.

A few steps further, a horrific underground prison appeared before him.

Dark, bloody, damp could only describe the first impression of the dungeon.

At the center of the dungeon, there was a pit, and above the pit were eight sinister iron chains as thick as a man’s arm.

One end of the chains was fastened to the stone wall, the other pierced through a person.

That person was disheveled, emaciated as a stick.

But when Wang Meng stepped in, this seemingly dying person slowly lifted his head, a pair of clouded eyes gazing at Wang Meng.

Hiss——

Wang Meng, whose strength rivaled that of Black Pockmarks, couldn’t help but shudder.

"Prince Yan, why do you persist in this? Our goals align, why not disclose the whereabouts of the ’Yan Hanling’ and assist my lord?"

Though sweat beaded on Wang Meng’s forehead, seeing those eight large iron chains, the fear in his heart abated.

The one addressed as Prince Yan just stared vacantly at Wang Meng for a long time, saying nothing without any extra movement.

"Prince Yan, my lord said, as long as you hand over the ’Yan Hanling’, you can still be the revered Prince Yan admired by millions."

Wang Meng saw the other person make no move, feeling more reassured.

Clang clang clang——

As soon as he spoke, the eight suspended iron chains in the dungeon trembled slightly, producing a deafening sound of gold and iron.

Prince Yan lifted his face, resembling dried tree bark, without a hint of blood: "Is Black Pockmarks dead?"

Wang Meng didn’t answer.

His appearance here already indicated Black Pockmarks was dead, it wasn’t unusual for this Prince Yan to deduce that.

"The Yan Hanling, I gave it to Black Pockmarks."

"What? Impossible!"

Wang Meng’s first reaction was, impossible!

If Black Pockmarks had the ’Yan Hanling’, he surely would have reported it up...

No, that’s not right!

Black Pockmarks might not report it, he might have kept it for himself.

After all, it’s the Yan Hanling, the key to the wealth of the Great Yan Dynasty for a millennium!

The gold and silver treasures pile up, the treasure medicine, martial arts cultivation techniques are innumerable.

But...

Did Prince Yan really hand over the Yan Hanling?

Wang Meng took a deep breath, looking at the emaciated figure with a half-smile: "Can I trust the words of this Prince of the Yan Dynasty?"

This prince of the Great Yan Dynasty was deeply scheming, sinister and cunning, many formidable figures in the sect had perished under his hand.

Upon hearing this, Prince Yan lowered his head again, as if unwilling to say more.

The dungeon fell silent, the air filled with the stench of blood.

Wang Meng’s mind whirled, his gaze sweeping over the cold eight iron chains, finally landing on the bowed and silent Prince Yan.

"Prince Yan, my task is to extract blood, forgive the offense."

He strode forward, stopping two or three meters from Prince Yan.

This position was just at the edge of the pit, and upon looking down, there was quite a bit of blood-colored liquid in the pit.

"My Qi blood is already depleted." Prince Yan suddenly spoke: "I... won’t survive till tomorrow..."

Wang Meng turned a deaf ear, producing a container the length of his palm, placing it under an iron chain, then struck the chain with his palm.

Immediately, drops of bright red liquid dripped downward.

And the source of those drops was Prince Yan’s own body.

"My whole life, I have strived for the restoration of the Great Yan, yet who would have thought, I end up like this..."

Prince Yan muttered like an old man nearing his end.

"Alas..."

He let out a long sigh, that bloodless face lifted once more, eyes filled with both pity and lament.

"Royal Guard Wang, I, Yan Huan, ask you one favor." Prince Yan fixed his gaze on Wang Meng, "Could you take my body to the Yan Imperial Mausoleum."

Royal Guard?

Wang Meng paused, a sneer curling his lips: "Your Highness, the Yan Imperial Mausoleum is long gone, and I am no royal guard of the Great Yan." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"There, I’ve left some gold and silver..."

Prince Yan acted as though he hadn’t heard, continuing his own narrative, seeming already delirious.

Gold and silver?

Wang Meng remained disdainful.

"Also, my life’s insights, the cultivation technique of Meridian Unlocking and Bone Marrow Cleansing, and treasure medicine..."

"Another piece of the Yan Hanling..."

Hmm?

Upon hearing this, Wang Meng’s hand holding the container trembled slightly.

"It’s just... just in the... Yan Imperial Mausoleum’s..."

Prince Yan’s voice grew increasingly faint.

Clang... clank...

The iron chains rung with a low hum, and Prince Yan’s head drooped weakly.

"Where?!"

Wang Meng hurriedly ceased the blood extraction, sensing Prince Yan’s breath.

At this moment, Prince Yan’s Qi blood was weak as a flickering candle in the wind, at risk of extinguishing at any moment.

The gold and silver treasures didn’t matter to him, but the value of the Yan Hanling was different.

The Yan Hanling had three pieces in total, each representing a hidden treasure of the Great Yan.

If the three pieces were gathered, it could lead to the national treasure house of the Great Yan.

Moreover, there was the lifelong insight of this Prince Yan, as well as the treasure medicine and cultivation techniques of the Meridian Unlocking and Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm. If acquired, he would surely soar to unimaginable heights.

Wang Meng’s expression changed erratically, and suddenly grit his teeth, taking out a white porcelain bottle from his bosom.

Opening the bottle, a refreshing fragrance wafted out immediately.

Wang Meng looked at the white bottle, hesitating only briefly, then aimed it at Prince Yan’s mouth, pouring the liquid inside.

"Cough cough..."

After a moment, the liquid seemed to take effect, as Prince Yan softly coughed a few times, exerting himself to lift his head, fixing his gaze on Wang Meng.