arrot from the ground. The chains hung like ropes, but they didn't notice because with a metallic clang, the right side of the cave wall seemed to respond by slowly cracking open, revealing a deep an...She racked her brains, trying to figure it out. The sophistication of modern technology both awed and worried her; she feared that a wrong move could have unforeseen consequences.

Gazing at the spiral cipher disc, she recalled Ma Xiangdong's passion for research. She tried inputting the unit number she had once discovered, but the rotating handle remained unresponsive.

Jiang Yan shook his head, self-deprecatingly thinking, who would use such an obvious password.

She suddenly thought of the 731st unit and casually typed in "7313". In an instant, the safe creaked open. Jiang Yan's eyes widened, as if she had witnessed a miracle.

She understood that Ma Xiandong's safe didn't hold gold and silver treasures, but a surprising pile of pills. They looked strikingly similar to the ones she had seen in the tomb of the old Taoist Immortal. Could this be a sign that the world was entering a realm of fantasy

However, Jiang Yan knew that the legends of those immortal pills were just fantasies of the common folk. True power stemmed from science.

She pulled out a file in a brown paper bag, placed it back without emotion, then took another from the hard cardboard box. She breathed deeply several times, organized all the documents, and decided to find a suitable opportunity to give them to He Jianguo.

This data reveals the location of mineral resources in Northeast mountainous regions, as well as Ma Xiangdong's vast wealth overseas. As a former "international trade" expert, his riches span the globe, making him a difficult target to track. After all, the legal system at the time was not yet well-equipped to pursue transnational crime.

Jiang Yan carefully examined the lotus crown in her hand. The delicate craftsmanship seemed to be telling stories of the past. Although she hesitated, she knew deep down how important Xiaoyuan was.

Amongst the dazzling treasures, she finally selected a pearl from the pile of jewels bestowed by the empress. It resembled a small ball. After examining it carefully, she regretfully found that this pearl lacked artistic beauty and seemed unable to match the grandeur of the crown.

Although the pearl is precious, it does not harmonize with the overall design of the lotus crown, especially the Ruyi part. Originally, it should be inlaid with more brilliant jewels.

After weighing his options, Jiang Yan decided to temporarily put the pearl aside and turn his attention to the mysterious small sphere.

When she carefully removed the small orb, her mind was completely captivated by the newly discovered silk.

This silk scroll records the legendary life of a Taoist priest.

This Taoist priest came from a family so wealthy they rivaled nations. Although his title wasn't as high as a Qing dynasty prince, his wealth was several times greater.

He was originally a wastrel until he met an immortal master in the mountains, which made him determined to pursue immortality. From then on, he traveled the world with his master.

After eating a strawberry, Jiang Yan savored this similar experience, realizing that the Cloud Walking technique only worked in mountains and forests.

Continuing to read, she was surprised to find that the Taoist's wisdom far surpassed that of the Qing Dynasty prince. In just three years, he had sensed something amiss and began making plans for his future destiny.

From Dao Chang's account, he was convinced that the rumors about the white snake swallowing numerous small snakes and being able to transform into a elixir after living for a hundred years were true, but there was one crucial condition - they had to live to be a hundred years old.

Each month, the master bestows a marrow-washing and hair-removing elixir. It is said that completing a ten-year course will grant one an additional hundred years of life.

However, many emperors throughout history died from taking pills, and the Taoist priest was skeptical of this.

He secretly investigated his master's alchemy secrets, and at the same time, he used his own servants as experimental subjects. Watching his servants become abnormally unhealthy, he almost believed the legend and was about to try alchemy himself, but unexpectedly, an accident occurred.

His loyal servant's sudden death came as a bolt from the blue, deeply shocking the old Daoist.

Unexpected occurrences in life always catch people off guard. The sudden departure of his servant left him deeply moved by the impermanence of life.

In the midst of his loss and confusion, the conviction he held so firmly was completely shattered by another statement from the King, as questioned by his younger brother, Jiang Yan.

The prince told the old Taoist that the true efficacy of the snake's pill still required a rare medicinal ingredient - the legendary flesh-shaped lingzhi.

And their master had devoted many years to collecting all kinds of alchemy materials, actually in search of the secret information about the royal jade seal containing the spirit of Reishi mushroom. That was a treasure Qin Shi Huang had longed for deeply.

Jiang Yan witnessed this scene, as if she had discovered a treasure, and was excited. She hurried forward and examined the jade seal carefully, trying to uncover the mysterious golden horns, but because of its exquisite craftsmanship, she couldn't budge it even slightly, so she could only regretfully stop.

Putting down the jade seal, Jiang Yan continued reading, revealing his master's astonishing secret.

Originally, the master wasn't a genuine enlightened person, but rather a cunning swindler from his younger days. He was once the leader of a scam group and, after being caught, changed his name to become a Taoist priest, deceiving followers under the guise of cultivation.

Those stories about raising white snakes to refine alchemy are just part of the deception. Their true purpose is to use the name of the white snake to swindle people. The search for the national jade seal has another purpose entirely—to find the vast fortune buried with it.

Jiang Yan read this and was filled with anger and sorrow. His master's lifetime of lies had been so thorough.

Jiang Yan thought silently, feeling both sorrow and admiration for his deceased master.

He not only deceived his two disciples but also spent his life weaving a false paradise, trapping himself within it and firmly believing he could become immortal.

This is a truly "living" fraud, and a "death" of dignity.

Jiang Yan shook her head and sighed, her gaze falling on the golden petals of the lotus crown. She suddenly turned around, raising the lotus crown towards the light and carefully examining the patterns between the petals.

Gradually, she focused her gaze. Through the crisscross of gold thread, she vaguely discerned eight characters: "Hidden in the black mountain, concealed in white water."

"Mother, sister, look! This is our new home. It used to belong to a big landowner, and now we're using it. There are plenty of rooms, and I have one all to myself."

Lu Hong's voice interrupted Jiang Yan and the kitten's play. She quickly grabbed the kitten by the neck and threw it aside, putting on her shoes and preparing to go out.

Opening the door, they were met by Zhang Qingfang who was equally rushed. They smiled at each other and welcomed the unknown visitor together.

On the third day after Zhang Qingfang was discharged from the hospital, the educated youth point returned to its usual tranquility after celebrating her recovery.

The pickled mustard greens have sunk to the bottom of the jar, and the warehouse is piled high with cabbages, radishes, and sweet potatoes. This year's harvest from their own land was abundant, making it a bountiful season.

Lu Hong led a mother and daughter in plain gray clothes, their hair styled like Liu Hulan's, into the room. Their arrival caught Jiang Yan and Zhang Qingfang's attention.

Lu Hong smiled and immediately introduced the two parties to each other.

"You're finally here, the road is all waiting for you with bated breath."

Jiang Yan and Zhang Qingfang greeted each other warmly but politely, and hurriedly invited them into the house.

Lu Hong's mother was a talkative and witty elder. She held Jiang Yan and Zhang Qingfang's hands, scrutinizing them from head to toe, especially lingering on their white wrists, her smile as radiant as a blooming chrysanthemum.

All the words Jiang Yan had accumulated in his heart vanished instantly. He listened quietly to Zhang Qingfang and Lu Hong's mother's conversation, his gaze unintentionally falling on Lu Hong's younger sister, Lu Jing.

Lu Jing was scrutinizing their clothes with the same discerning eye as her mother, which gave Jiang Yan a subtle sense of displeasure towards this girl who bore a striking resemblance to Lu Hong.ght in the heart of the news. 。Jiang Yan was full of interest in her words, and upon closer inspection, he found that although the woman was dressed plainly, her gestures and demeanor bore a striking...