Chapter 56: Breaking into the Imperial Treasure Pavilion at Night

No way, this can’t be happening, I shouldn’t be this unlucky.

As the armored guard approached and reached to retrieve the stolen item, Zhao Erdong steeled herself. With a swift flip of her palm, she sprang up, her hand striking the guard’s nape like a flash of lightning.

The armored guard was no ordinary fighter, but at that moment, entangled by a sleep-inducing insect and engaged in a remarkably relaxed task, she had let down all her guard. Zhao Erdong’s strike landed cleanly.

The guard collapsed silently. Zhao dragged her into a cluster of elm trees, stripped off the specially crafted armor, and donned it herself. Though ill-fitting, the armor was worn all the same. With its matching helmet partially obscuring her face, it was difficult for anyone to discern her true identity at a glance.

She tore off the gilded badge from the guard’s waist, noting the inscription: Ninth Level, Number Five. A surge of joy washed over her—it really was effortless. With this badge, she could ascend directly to the pinnacle of the ninth floor. From there, the Palace Treasure Chamber was just one step away.

She hung the badge prominently, but the first-class guards patrolling the tower didn’t even glance at her. Letting her pass unchallenged, she climbed to the fourth floor before understanding why. Each floor’s guards wore distinct armor. Without needing to check her badge, they could identify her as a guard of that level, so no one questioned or detained her.

“Constipated? Been peeing in there forever. Hurry up, it’s your turn to patrol,” a man dressed exactly like Zhao Erdong yawned as he walked under a distant pillar to nap.

Such was the advantage of the top floor; even if there were thieves, disturbances would be noticed below first, giving guards ample time to awaken and prepare. Besides, this tower had nine floors, and no thief had ever breached through eight layers of defense.

A patrol? This truly was divine providence.

Swaggering through the corridors of the ninth floor, she appeared to be conducting a routine inspection but was in fact furtively searching for the entrance to the Palace Treasure Chamber.

Above the ninth floor were three rooms. Although seven first-class guards slept nearby, they were spread across the rooms so that any disturbance would prompt an immediate response, surrounding and eliminating any intruder.

Noticing the dark clouds slowly dispersing and dawn soon breaking, she knew it would soon become far harder to escape.

She had only one chance.

Casting another glance at the dozing guards, she activated her divine sight. Golden flames flickered in her eyes, and through this vision, all barriers appeared as illusions.

Behind the lacquered red doors lay rows of neatly arranged shelves. On them rested radiant spirit crystal stones of varying grades, shimmering with myriad colors.

She scanned the entire treasure chamber—nothing but spirit crystals.

Her gaze shifted to the next room. Its furnishings were much the same, rows of shelves holding spirit crystals of different hues, but these were considerably larger.

Cursing inwardly, Zhao Erdong thought, “Could all three rooms be filled with spirit crystals? Then this trip would be in vain.”

The third room contained rows of shelves as well, but upon them sat black boxes—oddly made of some unknown material impenetrable even to her divine sight. They appeared utterly void of light.

What were these things? Martial arts manuals? Could the secrets be hidden inside these boxes?