Catching a Turtle in a Jar, But the Turtle Is in the Jar

A massive haul!

A gleam of excitement flashed through Ning Fan's eyes. However, this was entirely predicated on leaving Qihua Peak safely. If they were caught by the Qihua Peak disciples...

Then everything would be ruined.

"Husband, I suspect they might already harbor doubts about us."

Yun Qingyao spoke with a hint of worry.

Ning Fan's earlier tactic of crying 'stop thief' had indeed helped them escape, but the ruse contained quite a few flaws. Given enough time to ponder, those Qihua Peak disciples would certainly notice something amiss. When that happened, Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao's movements would become far more difficult.

"Mmm."

Ning Fan nodded, deeply agreeing with Yun Qingyao's judgment.

"Originally, the plan was to stay on Qihua Peak for two or three days. Looking at the situation now, tonight is likely our only chance. Whatever treasures we can take away tonight..."

"...will have to be enough."

"Yes."

Yun Qingyao offered a slight bow.

Now, a pressing issue lay before Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao. The Martial Skills Pavilion had already been swept clean. Where should they set their next target?

Suddenly.

Ning Fan's eyes lit up.

Qihua Peak's Chief Disciple, Chang Yue, had once mentioned in front of 'Che Shuai' and 'Lu Qing'an' that the Lu clan had presented a cultivation treasure to the Peak Master of Qihua Peak. If they could get their hands on that treasure, this venture would be a massive success!

"The Treasure Pavilion."

A glint of greed flashed through Ning Fan's eyes. No matter what, he and Yun Qingyao had to make a trip to Qihua Peak's Treasure Pavilion.

The Treasure Pavilion was not too far from the Martial Skills Pavilion.

Navigating through unfamiliar paths, it took about half an hour for Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao to arrive before the Treasure Pavilion.

The two exchanged a glance, then confidently swaggered toward the entrance.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Lu, Senior Brother Che."

Upon seeing Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao approach, the disciple guarding the Treasure Pavilion immediately bowed with utmost respect. Judging by his demeanor, this person appeared to be an ordinary disciple of Qihua Peak.

Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Ordinary disciples were far easier to handle.

"The two of us wish to enter the Treasure Pavilion."

"Please allow us passage, Junior Brother."

Yun Qingyao spoke in a hoarse, cold voice.

"Right away, Senior Sister Lu, Senior Brother Che."

"Please head inside."

The Qihua Peak disciple guarding the Treasure Pavilion stepped aside, watching Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao cross the threshold. The look in his eyes as he stared at their retreating backs...

...carried a trace of chilling gloom.

Upon entering the Treasure Pavilion, Yun Qingyao and Ning Fan were instantly thrilled. As far as the eye could see, a vast array of heavenly materials and earthly treasures filled the room.

Low Grade and Middle Grade Yellow-tier items were too numerous to count.

And this was only the first floor of the Treasure Pavilion. If they ascended to the third floor, wouldn't there be an inexhaustible supply of Profound-tier cultivation treasures?!

Heavens.

This was simply too exhilarating!?

At this moment, Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao were like two plump rats scurrying into a granary, their eyes entirely filled with glittering 'grain.'

However, in the very next instant.

Boom-

The heavy doors of the Treasure Pavilion were violently slammed shut, sending a shower of dust drifting down from the ceiling. In a flash, the excitement on Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao's faces came to a grinding halt.

Something was wrong!!

Under normal circumstances, the doors to the Treasure Pavilion remained wide open, for they were engraved with defensive formations and restrictive seals.

Once closed, it meant those restrictions and formations had been triggered.

"..."

Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao quickly rushed to the entrance, pounding fiercely against the thick doors. Ning Fan even delivered two heavy kicks, yet the doors refused to budge an inch.

"Husband!"

A look of deep anxiety surfaced on Yun Qingyao's face.

Ning Fan merely raised a finger, signaling for Yun Qingyao to remain calm. He could vaguely hear the voice of the disciple outside the door conversing.

"Are you there?"

"Those two really did come to the Treasure Pavilion. They are locked inside now. Rest assured, the restrictions are fully activated. Even if they grew wings, they wouldn't be able to fly out."

"..."

"Those two definitely aren't Junior Sister Lu and Junior Brother Che. They actually had the nerve to call me 'Junior Brother.' However, I still don't know who they truly are."

"Come quickly. Let us catch these turtles in a jar!"

Hearing the voice murmuring outside the door, Ning Fan's heart sank heavily. It was a messaging jade pendant. Most likely, before he and Yun Qingyao had even reached the Treasure Pavilion, the Qihua Peak disciples had already sensed something amiss. They had used the messaging jade pendants to inform the others about the anomalies surrounding 'Lu Qing'an' and 'Che Shuai'.

The disciple standing guard outside the Treasure Pavilion earlier was no ordinary disciple either. In truth, his seniority placed him above Lu Qing'an and Che Shuai. He had merely laid a trap, and that simple bluff was enough to expose Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao's true colors.

In a flash.

The entirety of Qihua Peak blazed with bright lights. Aside from Chen Chen and Yu Gu, who were still resting to heal their injuries, every single disciple mobilized.

They set out to catch the grand thief.

Ever since Qihua Peak was established, it had never encountered such an audacious thief-one who would sneak into the Martial Skills Pavilion and abscond with a vast number of martial skills.

And now, they had even set their sights upon the Treasure Pavilion.

Thieves of this caliber were entirely unprecedented!!!

Soon enough.

The area surrounding the Treasure Pavilion was surrounded so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through. Disciples held torches high, illuminating the nearby grounds until they were as bright as day.

Outside the Treasure Pavilion.

Several figures stood side by side, led by the very disciple who had been guarding the doors.

"Senior Brother Qin Li."

"Are you certain they are inside the Treasure Pavilion?"

Someone asked.

"Mmm."

The cultivator named Qin Li nodded slightly, a look of absolute certainty flashing in his eyes.

"I let those two scoundrels in myself. The thieves are unequivocally inside the Treasure Pavilion. I ask all Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters to stand with me."

"Let us open the Treasure Pavilion's restrictions and enter together."

"To apprehend the thieves!"

"Yes."

"We shall follow Senior Brother Qin Li's lead and enter the Treasure Pavilion to capture the thieves!"

The crowd of disciples behind him answered in unison.

As their voices settled, Qin Li took a step forward and pressed both hands against the tightly shut doors. As spiritual energy surged around his body, the doors flickered with a burst of radiant light.

But a moment later, the light faded, and nothing happened.

Qin Li: "?"

What was going on!?

Why couldn't he open the restrictions even after channeling his spiritual energy!?

His method was not wrong.

He hastily tried several more times, but the doors remained as unmoving as a mountain.

"Senior Brother Qin."

"Could these restrictions... have been closed from the inside?"

A voice suddenly rang out.

Qin Li's expression instantly changed.

Almost every building possessing restrictive seals within the Yin Yang Divine Sect could be sealed from both the inside and the outside. This design ensured that, in the event of a major crisis, these buildings could serve as a solid defensive barrier for the Sect.

Looking at the current situation...

It truly seemed as though someone had triggered the restrictions from within, locking the doors shut.

"That's not right."

"Ordinary individuals would not know the method to lock the restrictions. It is knowledge reserved only for the Chief Disciple of each peak and the specific disciples tasked with guard duty."

"Who exactly are those two!?"

Qin Li frowned deeply.

"Senior Brother Qin, what do we do now?"

Someone asked.

They could not simply allow the two thieves to run rampant inside the Treasure Pavilion, could they? Even though they would inevitably capture the thieves in the end...

This current stalemate was hardly a solution.

"The Chief Disciple."

"Summon the Chief Disciple. The Chief Disciple and the Peak Master hold the highest authority over the defensive formations and restrictions. It has been a while since this incident began. Has no one notified the Chief Disciple!?"

Qin Li roared loudly.

"We did, but the Peak Master is not present, and the Chief Disciple is in Secluded Cultivation..."

A disciple replied.

"..."

Qin Li gritted his teeth.

"Hurry."

"Forcefully notify the Chief Disciple. Tell Chief Disciple Chang Yue she must come here, no matter what!"

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