"Wait! Wait for the court’s experts to arrive! Or perhaps wait for those martial world experts to come! The water of the Yellow River is so unusual, coupled with your disturbance, the phenomena of Transformed Dragon and Walking Flood Dragon can’t be hidden. When the time comes, experts will surely arrive, and we can take advantage of the chaos to profit." As she spoke, the Fox Spirit looked at Zhang Chen, feeling that his strength was somewhat weak:
"I’m afraid we’ll end up as cannon fodder without gaining any benefits!"
Zhang Chen said nothing, his gaze fixed on the receding waters of the Yellow River, constantly weighing the pros and cons in his heart.
"What attack methods does the opponent have now, before Walking Flood Dragon and Dragon Transformation?" Zhang Chen asked.
"Probably just Water Control, or Yang God’s methods. I haven’t Transformed into a Dragon or Walking Flood Dragon, so how would I know the intricacies within." said the Fox Spirit.
If the opponent only mastered the Water Control Technique, Zhang Chen felt he could handle it. His Divine Techniques allowed him to control all water within fifty meters, which was a ’Conceptual’ skill; as long as it was within fifty meters, it was under his control, even if it were water controlled by a Flood Dragon, it would be under his control within fifty meters.
As for Yang God?
If the opponent’s Yang God emerges, it would be like fish on a chopping block to him.
"I can take the risk and try." Zhang Chen made a decision because waiting for the court or the martial world’s experts to come and profiting from it would be extremely difficult.
Zhang Chen’s thoughts flickered: "The opportunity is huge!"
As Zhang Chen pondered, the crowd saw the Yellow River receding and approached again, looking at the deep and endless hole with unease.
"Sir, what should we do now?" someone asked the leading general.
The general fell into silence, his eyes full of unwillingness, for there was a crystal coffin. If he could dig it out, break it apart and polish it into glasses, how much could he sell it for?
This would be an incredible profit!
And the burial items inside were the real treasure. If he could extract the wealth inside, it would be enough for several lifetimes.
"I just don’t know how deep the hole is. If the crystal coffin fell, it must have shattered. If we could enter now, we could directly collect the burial items inside and salvage its material." The general spoke with temptation, standing by the cave.
The crowd’s eyes reddened but held in their greed. The cave’s depth was unknown, and if there was a flood again, escaping would be impossible, likely resulting in drowning. They had the chance to take treasures, but not the chance to escape alive.
Seeing the workers not responding, the general’s eyes shifted, and he looked at Zhang Chen from afar, remembering the letter from Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. The general thought, "This is a chance to kill this boy openly! The Crown Prince told me to move slowly, to avoid gossip spreading, but if I could find a legitimate reason to kill this boy beautifully, the Crown Prince would surely reward me!"
Then the general withdrew his gaze from Zhang Chen without notice, cleared his throat, and said righteously:
"Everyone, I am here by the court’s orders to clean the river channel. Now the Yellow River has undergone such changes, and I cannot sit idly by..."
Zhang Chen looked at the righteous general and said to the Fox Spirit beside him, "It seems I don’t need to make the choice myself; someone has already decided for me."
The Fox Spirit performed a Blinding Technique, not completely concealing Zhang Chen, but disguising him as an ordinary person, making the same movements as those around him.
"I’ll kill him for you!" The Fox Spirit’s eyes showed a trace of Evil Qi.
Zhang Chen glanced at the Fox Spirit, surprised that the Fox Spirit would consider him now, causing him to feel some emotion: "No need to cause trouble. I’d better go down first; if I win the prize, all the better. Waiting until the court arrives, the good stuff won’t fall to me."
As Zhang Chen spoke, the Fox Spirit transformed into a rune and was put away, while Zhang Chen quietly watched the general’s performance among the crowd.
"I have orders from the court to clear the river silt, build a three-hundred-mile dike, and reinforce another three hundred miles of dike. But now the Yellow River has a hole of unknown depth and a mysterious crystal coffin. If such anomalies can’t be investigated, wouldn’t it be my dereliction of duty?" The general spoke righteously.
The crowd felt uneasy, lowering their heads and shrinking, hoping not to be chosen to explore the cave.
Seeing the workers lowering their heads, the general’s eyes showed satisfaction; this was the power of authority.
"Therefore, I must choose someone to go down and explore, to see what secrets lie in the cave. Who among you is willing to go? If anyone is willing, I will let them take one burial item from the crystal coffin." the general said.
Upon hearing this, no one dared to look up, all playing the ostrich.
The treasures below were fine, but if there was no flood, there were brave people among the populace. But the key was now the Yellow River kept flooding; who knew if it would suddenly flood again and drown the cave, where the treasure would be useless?
"Oh, there’s always a brave man for a heavy reward, are you willing? Since you are willing, I will give you the opportunity, come forward." the general suddenly turned his gaze to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen was baffled. What do you mean I’m willing? How am I willing?
I was standing here properly when did I say I was willing?
As the general’s words fell, a supervisor came forward and grabbed Zhang Chen, bringing him closer.
The crowd looked at Zhang Chen with surprise, some whispering, "There’s really people who want money more than their life!"
"Make him a rope, hand him a torch, and send him down." The general didn’t give Zhang Chen a chance to object, directly ordering.
Zhang Chen didn’t object, just looked at the general meaningfully; once he escaped, he would surely kill him.
With his wisdom, he knew it must be Prince Pingbian’s Mansion involved, the general wanting to use him to please the Mansion?
"May I ask the general’s name?" Zhang Chen didn’t resist, allowing the supervisor to bind him, then looked at the general.
"I am General Ping, called Pingtao." The general looked at Zhang Chen with a smirk: "What? Planning to find a chance to repay me?"
"If I have a chance, I will surely repay the general’s great kindness, granting me a chance to stand out." Zhang Chen wasn’t weak, filled with sarcasm.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, the general smiled, speaking cryptically: "Do your job well; I trust your courage. If you return from below, we can talk about repayment." the general anticipated Zhang Chen’s repayment.
Zhang Chen smirked coldly, not wasting words. Someone handed him a lit torch, and he directly took it, inserting three torches at his waist, lighting one, calmed as he walked to the cave.
Watching Zhang Chen’s calm figure, Pingtao showed a hint of emotion: "A real man, but he offended Prince Pingbian’s Mansion; either way, he’s going to die. Better to die by my hand, for my advancement."
Several men pulled the rope, Zhang Chen sat at the cave edge, and gently descended, hanging in midair.
"Lower the rope." A supervisor commanded, then over ten men pulled the rope, slowly lowering Zhang Chen into the cave.
In darkness, Zhang Chen slowly descended, the torch flickered, the light beginning to dim.