Chapter 444 330: The Search (2)

"So, besides bringing you the Dragon Essence Pill, I came here to ask you to make a trip. We're hoping Palace Master Han can find that Nautical Chart... and then destroy it,"

Cheng Xuan said.

The existence of the Nautical Chart was too great a risk.

The Great Li Royal Family, the Celestial Net Department, and the Profound Celestial Alliance had reached a consensus long ago.

Once the Nautical Chart was found, it must be destroyed immediately, leaving the Immortal Sect Organization no chance to obtain it.

"I was wondering why you were all being so generous."

"So this is what it was all about."

Han Yuan smiled.

He put away the Dragon Essence Pill and stood up. "Alright, I'll go with you."

"Then I must thank you, Palace Master Han." Cheng Xuan laughed heartily.

Inviting Han Yuan this time was an act of desperation.

After all, if even Ling Yunzi couldn't find it, their only hope was him.

The two of them quickly arrived at the Celestial Net Department.

The Celestial Net Department was currently undergoing massive renovations.

The area around the Treasure Pavilion was heavily guarded.

Han Yuan finally met the Director of the Celestial Net Department, Liang Ze.

He was a middle-aged man with a strong scholarly air, a goatee, and a tall cap, carrying the demeanor of a classic intellectual.

To his surprise, National Preceptor Ling Yunzi was there as well.

He nodded slightly upon seeing Han Yuan.

"I am Liang Ze. It is a pleasure to meet you, Palace Master Han."

"I must apologize for the trouble of having you come all this way, Palace Master Han,"

Liang Ze said with a slight smile.

"You're too kind, Director Liang,"

Han Yuan said softly.

"Then let's go in,"

Ling Yunzi said.

Only Han Yuan, Ling Yunzi, and Liang Ze entered the Treasure Pavilion.

Cheng Xuan stood guard outside, preventing anyone from entering.

"Director Liang, how many Secret Treasures are in the Treasure Pavilion?"

Han Yuan asked.

"Excluding Elixir Pills, Weapons, and Martial Arts Secret Manuals, there are still over seven thousand Secret Treasures…"

"Ling Yunzi and I have gone through these Secret Treasures time and time again, but we still haven't found anything,"

Liang Ze sighed softly.

"That many…"

Han Yuan frowned slightly.

'This is a true needle in a haystack.'

"Yes… so this time, we'll have to trouble you, Palace Master Han," Liang Ze said, cupping his fists.

"You're being too polite, Director Liang. After all, I accepted your generous gift,"

Han Yuan said with a smile.

He thought for a moment, then asked, "Are all the Secret Treasures here now?"

The main hall of the Treasure Pavilion was now filled with densely packed cabinets, all holding various items.

"Yes… It's more convenient for us to inspect them this way, without having to climb up and down."

Liang Ze nodded.

"Then let me take a look first."

Han Yuan began to walk among the cabinets, picking up the Secret Treasures. The sheer variety was dizzying.

"Who do you two think… left this Nautical Chart behind?"

"Senior Li Qingxuan?"

Han Yuan asked casually.

Ling Yunzi said softly, "Director Liang and I have discussed this and even contacted the Profound Celestial Alliance."

"Although there are no definitive records, we've all come to the same conclusion…"

"It was most likely left behind by Senior Li Qingxuan."

"Because back then, when the Profound Celestial Alliance wanted to figure out what was going on with the Source Seed within the Immortal Sect, they made one final trip to the Immortal Sect's island. They even brought back that small piece of Source Seed Flesh."

"Since then, no one has ever returned to the Immortal Sect,"

Ling Yunzi said.

"So, what were Li Qingxuan's hobbies?"

Han Yuan asked.

"Drinking."

"It was his only vice."

Liang Ze said, and then it dawned on him. "That's right! We can start from that angle."

After all, if the Nautical Chart really was left by Li Qingxuan, then it made sense to start with the things he was fond of.

"Then how many alcohol-related Secret Treasures are there here?"

Han Yuan asked.

"Not many… a dozen or so."

"Let me pull them out first,"

Liang Ze said in a deep voice.

After the past few days, he knew all seven thousand-plus Secret Treasures here like the back of his hand.

Soon, Liang Ze found the dozen or so Secret Treasures from the main hall and placed them on a tabletop.

"This is Hundred Flowers Honey. When added to wine, it gives off a unique, exotic fragrance."

"This is a Fire Gourd. Any wine put inside will heat up rapidly."

"And this wine cup… pouring wine into it improves its purity…"

Liang Ze introduced the dozen or so alcohol-related Secret Treasures.

Of course, throughout this process, Liang Ze was also secretly observing, trying to see which Secret Treasure might contain the Nautical Chart.

Ling Yunzi and Han Yuan were observing as well.

Finally, Han Yuan's gaze locked onto a Cyan Jade Gourd.

Liang Ze noticed Han Yuan's gaze and explained, "This gourd is quite magical. The wine inside is endless; you can never pour it all out."

"And if you add different ingredients, it can create different flavors."

Hearing this, Han Yuan said thoughtfully, "If that's true, what could be more attractive to a drunkard?"

In truth, the reason he was focused on the Cyan Jade Gourd was because the Sword Talisman inside him seemed to have sensed something, and had begun to tremble faintly.

The vibration was very faint, but Han Yuan could still feel it was because of the Cyan Jade Gourd.

'Li Qingxuan's surname is Li… Li Baozhou's surname is also Li…'

Han Yuan had a bold theory.

'This Li Qingxuan might just be Li Baozhou's ancestor.'

'And Li Baozhou's Sword Talisman contains his own Sword Intent. It might be resonating because it senses the presence of the Cyan Jade Gourd.'

"That makes sense."

"But where in this Cyan Jade Gourd would the Nautical Chart be hidden?"

Liang Ze said with a frown.

'The Cyan Jade Gourd is only so big, and there are no markings on its surface. Are we supposed to cut it open?'

"Perhaps we'd have our answer if we could invite Senior Li Baozhou here,"

Han Yuan suggested.

"Li Baozhou is not in the Great Li Dynasty right now… He's tangled up with the Nether Dragon and has gone to the Storm Sea… Now, not even the Profound Celestial Alliance can get in touch with him,"

Ling Yunzi said softly.

"The Storm Sea again…"

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes.

He thought for a moment, then looked at Ling Yunzi. "Daoist, let's try that method we used before."

"Let's see if I can establish a mental link with this Cyan Jade Gourd."

Hearing this, Ling Yunzi said softly, "If this Cyan Jade Gourd contains a spiritual imprint left by Senior Li Qingxuan, it might actually be possible to establish a link."

"But if not… it means this Cyan Cloud Gourd wasn't left behind by Senior Li Qingxuan."

He understood Han Yuan's thinking.

"Yes, this is the best way to be sure,"

Han Yuan nodded.

In his heart, he was already about seventy or eighty percent certain.

Ling Yunzi spoke with Liang Ze for a moment, explaining how the method worked.

After listening, Liang Ze said directly, "I will stand guard for you two."

"Then let's begin."

Ling Yunzi cleared an open space in the middle of the hall and quickly drew an Array Pattern.

Han Yuan sat cross-legged in the center of the Array Pattern, holding the Cyan Jade Gourd in his left hand and the Primordial Spirit Talisman in his right.

This wasn't Han Yuan's first time performing this ritual, so Ling Yunzi didn't need to give any special instructions. He directly activated the Magic Technique, summoning an ethereal soul-thread that connected Han Yuan to the Cyan Jade Gourd.

Han Yuan circulated a trace of his Five Emperors Great Demon True Qi and infused it into the Primordial Spirit Talisman.

HUMMM~~~

Soon, the Primordial Spirit Talisman spontaneously combusted.

Han Yuan instantly felt the world spin around him before he found himself in a wondrous world.

It was an illusory world, shrouded in white fog.

'So this Cyan Jade Gourd really does contain a spiritual imprint.'

Han Yuan muttered to himself, looking at his surroundings.

The fact that he could see all this meant he had successfully entered the spiritual imprint within the Cyan Jade Gourd.

However, he couldn't see anything clearly in this world of white fog. Unsure of what was around him, Han Yuan simply picked a direction and began to walk.

Before long, Han Yuan heard a burst of wild, unrestrained laughter.

"I'm such a waste!"

"No one can save me!"

"Hahaha!!!"

Hearing this, Han Yuan frowned slightly and walked toward the sound of the laughter.

Before long, he saw a drunkard with disheveled hair, reeking of alcohol, lying on the ground and laughing wantonly.

Han Yuan's brow furrowed. He never expected the legendary Li Qingxuan to look like this.

He ventured, "Senior Li Qingxuan?"