Chapter 425: Divine Will Inverted, Indestructible Divine Art

Inside and outside the secret chamber, everyone fell silent.

The moment he regained his senses, Jin Sanding reached for the item in the compartment.

But in the next instant, his hand was caught.

He looked up in shock to find that Jiang Ran, who had been outside the secret chamber a moment ago, was now standing right before him.

He had a firm grip on his wrist and said with a smile,

“Brother Jin, you’ve done a fine job. As for the rest, we won’t trouble you any further.”

Jin Sanding’s heart tightened. He hurriedly tried to put on an appeasing expression and say something to smooth things over.

In the next moment, however, Jiang Ran’s finger was already on the center of his brow.

The force of the touch pierced through him. Jin Sanding’s head slumped to one side, and he breathed his last.

‘Keeping him alive was for this very moment.’

Now that the job was done, Jiang Ran certainly wasn’t going to leave a loose end like him alive.

After shoving the corpse aside, Jiang Ran turned his attention to the secret compartment.

Ruan Yuqing and Tang Huayi also came closer, craning their necks from behind Jiang Ran to peek inside.

Inside lay an object that glittered with golden light.

Jiang Ran paused for a moment before reaching in and taking it out.

It was a thin sheet made of pure gold.

Engraved upon it was a series of characters.

But compared to modern script, these characters were intricate and complex, looking vaguely familiar yet alien.

For a moment, Jiang Ran was at a loss.

“What script is this?”

“Wind and Fire Mountain has existed for far too long, and writing has never been static… With such a great span of time, it’s only natural for there to be differences.”

Ruan Yuqing said softly, “Nowadays, perhaps only a few learned scholars who specialize in this kind of script would be able to decipher it.”

“This…”

Jiang Ran’s expression darkened.

‘After having the Jiaowei for so long, I finally get my hands on its secret, only to find out I need someone else to decipher the script?’

‘What a hassle.’

Just as he was pondering who might qualify as a “learned scholar,” he felt his hand go light.

He turned his head and saw that Tang Huayi had already taken the golden sheet into her hand. After examining it carefully from top to bottom, she said,

“This is Old Zhao script. It is indeed much more complex than what’s used today.

“However, you don’t need a ‘learned scholar’ to decipher it. I recognize these characters…”

As she said this, she glanced at Jiang Ran, her eyes practically screaming, ‘You’re so uncultured.’

Jiang Ran was genuinely surprised. ‘Is the Demon Sect’s curriculum really this comprehensive?’

‘Is it really a good idea for them to learn all of this stuff?’

“Brother Li, you can actually decipher Old Zhao script?”

Ruan Yuqing was no less surprised.

Tang Huayi waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s a minor skill, that’s all. Ahem. It says here that to play the Jiaowei, you must strike its body using a special technique before you begin.

“By doing so, you will reverse the direction of the zither’s sound.

“Everything you play will be projected outward, rather than inward.”

Jiang Ran became thoughtful upon hearing this. He glanced at Jin Sanding and sighed.

“I killed him too soon, after all.”

“Why not test it on Ximen Feng?”

Tang Huayi said lightly, “It’s not like he’s useful for anything else. It wouldn’t matter if he died.”

Jiang Ran was speechless, but Ruan Yuqing shook her head.

“Brother Li, have you forgotten? Young Hero Jiang promised the Hundred Treasures Association that he would hand Ximen Feng over to them when we leave Qifeng Manor.”

“But Ximen Feng gave us a fake Jiaowei.”

Tang Huayi glanced at Jiang Ran. “Are you really comfortable handing this man over to the Hundred Treasures Association?”

“Rest assured.”

Jiang Ran smiled. “In fact, it works out perfectly.”

“…”

Tang Huayi immediately sensed that Jiang Ran was plotting something again.

But he wouldn’t say what, and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure it out.

She sighed. “If that’s the case, we’ll just have to take the risk ourselves.”

“Let me do it.”

Jiang Ran asked, “What’s the sequence?”

“Tap the tail twice, once lightly and once heavily. Tap the head three times, once heavily and twice lightly. Then, tap both ends simultaneously three times—light on the left, heavy on the right.”

Jiang Ran’s brows furrowed slightly.

It wasn’t that he found the sequence simple—on the contrary, it seemed overly complicated.

‘If I have to perform this little show before every fight, I’ll be hacked to pieces before I even get started.’

Then he heard Tang Huayi add,

“This is the activation sequence. Once used, it will remain active unless you use a different sequence to deactivate it.”

“I see.”

Jiang Ran finally nodded and began to follow the sequence.

As the final tap landed, the zither let out a series of humming notes. BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.

The sudden sound startled Jiang Ran and the others.

But before they could dodge, a series of mechanical whirring sounds came from within the Jiaowei.

The CLICKING and CLACKING was incessant.

After a full three breaths, everything finally settled down.

Looking down again, he felt that the Jiaowei seemed somehow different.

But as for what, exactly, was different, he couldn’t quite say.

Jiang Ran thought for a moment, then said to the other two,

“Get behind me.”

Ruan Yuqing and Tang Huayi immediately moved to take cover behind Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran let out a soft breath. Then, with a sweep of his hand, the zither’s sound suddenly sharpened. WHUM, WHUM, WHUM. Three cracks appeared on the wall in front of them.

Seeing this, the three of them exchanged a look, their eyes filled with delight.

Ruan Yuqin clasped her fist in a salute and said,

“Congratulations, Young Hero Jiang, on finally mastering the Jiaowei.”

Jiang Ran shook his head slightly.

“It has been a difficult road. Thank you for your help, Miss Ruan.”

“Young Hero Jiang, your martial arts are peerless. Where would you need the help of others?”