From cute to empress

Chapter 347: The Dangerous Journey in Search of the Lost Treasure

Inside the secret room, the air seemed frozen. The monk's prophecy, the strange patterns on the wall, and the black rag all pointed to a terrifying truth.

I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "Master, what does this formation have to do with those men in black?"

The monk's face was solemn as he pointed to a strange symbol in the center of the pattern and said, "I've seen records of this formation in ancient books. It's called 'Ten Thousand Demons Blood Sacrifice' and is a forbidden technique used in ancient times to seal evil demons. This symbol is the key to unlocking the seal..."

"You mean, those men in black want to release the sealed evil demon?!" My heart sank suddenly. If this is true, the consequences will be unimaginable.

"It's very likely." Zhen Youcai, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up. He squatted down and carefully examined the scrap of cloth. "If my guess is correct, this piece of cloth should be a special sacrificial item from the Western Regions, only used by those who believe in evil gods."

The Western Regions, the evil god, all of this coincided with the information we had previously investigated. Those men in black came from a mysterious organization that believed in the evil god and attempted to use the power of demons to overthrow the dynasty.

"It seems that we must find the key to open the seal before they do and prevent this disaster." Zhen Youcai stood up with a determined light in his eyes.

"But where should we look?" I looked around, but there were no clues except these creepy patterns.

Zhen Youcai pondered for a moment and said, "According to the information we received earlier, those men in black have been secretly collecting an ancient treasure. It is said that this treasure possesses great power and may be the key to opening the seal."

"You mean, we have to find this treasure?"

"That's right." Zhen Youcai nodded. "For safety's sake, we'll split up. You'll be in charge of investigating the whereabouts of the treasure, and I'll continue to reorganize the army to prevent the enemy from attacking again."

"Okay, be careful." I clenched my fists, my heart full of worry, but I also knew that now was not the time to hesitate.

Following Zhen Youcai's instructions, I left the secret room and embarked on a solo treasure hunt. However, I had no idea that this journey would be filled with unknown dangers and challenges, and that what awaited me would be an unprecedented test...

I mounted my horse and galloped out of the city, facing the setting sun. The sunset dyed half the sky red, and also the corners of my clothes, but I could sense that something was quietly changing...

The clatter of horses' hooves kicked up clouds of dust. I left the capital and headed west, feeling a growing unease. Zhen Youcai's words echoed in my mind. Ancient treasures, powerful forces, and the enemy lurking in the shadows—all of this was like an invisible net, enveloping me tightly.

My first stop was a remote town. According to a tip, there had been reports of treasure there. I disguised myself as an ordinary traveler and inquired around the town, but found nothing. However, just as I was about to leave, I unexpectedly discovered I was being followed.

The man following me was a thin, furtive figure, always hiding in crowds. I remained silent, deliberately walking down a quiet alley, and sure enough, the man followed me in. I turned sharply, and the man, clearly not expecting my sudden turn, froze in his tracks.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?" I asked coldly.

The man's eyes flickered, and he stammered, unable to speak. I grabbed his collar and pushed him against the wall. "If you don't tell the truth, don't blame me for being rude to you!"

Perhaps my gaze was too sharp, and the man finally couldn't stand it anymore. He said tremblingly: "Lady, lady, spare my life! I am only following orders. Someone paid me to follow you..."

"Who is it?" I demanded.

The man hesitated for a moment, then finally uttered a name. I was shocked. It turned out to be a high official in the imperial court! It seemed the secret of this treasure was far more complex than I had imagined.

I let him go, but a wave of anxiety welled up inside me. If even the ministers of the imperial court were implicated, how vast would this power be? I must be even more cautious.

Over the next few days, I continued to search for the treasure, only to encounter various traps and attacks. It dawned on me that my every move was under enemy surveillance. They seemed to know everything about me and could always predict my actions.

I was forced to constantly change my route to avoid being hunted. Through these life-or-death trials, the power within me gradually awakened. I discovered I could control the elements around me and even foresee danger.

However, just when I was about to find the treasure, I received a letter from Zhen Youcai. The letter said that there was a traitor in the army and he was secretly investigating, so I had to be careful.

My heart sank. It looked like the enemy had already begun their movement. I had to find the treasure quickly and rush back to help Zhen Youcai. I climbed over a mountain and suddenly saw an ancient temple. The map indicated this was where the treasure was. However, when I arrived at the temple, I found it deserted, a mess.

On the ground, there was a piece of paper with the words written on it: "You are still a step late after all, hahahaha..."

My heart sank to the bottom in an instant.

Anger burned within me. How dare they play a trick on me! I clutched the note tightly, my knuckles turning white from the strain. Had all my efforts ultimately served only to benefit others? No, I would never give up!

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself. Since the enemy had deliberately left this note, it meant they were trying to lure me somewhere. They were overconfident and underestimated me. I looked around, trying to find any clues.

Just then, I noticed something pressing down on the incense burner in the corner of the temple. I walked over, moved the burner, and a half-burned piece of paper was revealed. I carefully picked it up, pieced it together, and could vaguely make out a few words: "...Moon...Sacrifice..."

"July? Sacrifice?" I muttered to myself, a flash of inspiration suddenly coming to mind. Could it be... the legendary July 15th Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony? According to legend, on this day every year, a mysterious organization would hold a grand sacrificial ceremony at the ancestral temple, offering sacrifices to the gods they believed in and praying for strength. And that ancestral temple was located...

"Not good!" I exclaimed, immediately jumping on my horse and galloping towards the capital. If my guess is correct, then their ultimate goal is likely to use the powerful power of the treasure during the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony to overthrow the entire dynasty!

I rushed all the way back to the capital three days later. Without even taking a break, I immediately found Zhen Youcai and told him what I had discovered. After hearing my description, his expression grew serious.

"It seems we underestimated their ambitions," Zhen Youcai said in a deep voice, "If they succeed in the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony, the consequences will be disastrous."

"We must stop them!" I said firmly.

"You're right," Zhen Youcai clenched his fists. "The time for the decisive battle has come! This time, we must go straight to Huanglong and completely wipe out this evil organization!"

As darkness enveloped the land, Zhen Youcai and I, leading an elite force, quietly infiltrated the deep mountains where the ancestral temple stood. The mountain wind bit with a chill, but the rage burning within me burned even hotter. I knew that what awaited us would be a battle that would determine the fate of our nation... and my gaze was fixed on the magnificent, brightly lit temple atop the mountain.

The ancestral temple sat solemn and majestic in the night, like a sleeping giant, and we were about to awaken it. I dismounted, my nightgown rustling in the cold wind. Zhen Youcai walked over to me, his deep gaze reflecting the flickering fire on the mountaintop. "Are you ready?"

I took a deep breath, put all my fear and hesitation behind me, and replaced them with determination and resolve. "Ready! Let's go up the mountain!"

According to the plan, Zhen Youcai and I split into two groups. He led a large force to attract the enemy's attention, while I led an elite team to attack the enemy directly through a secret path, targeting the leader of the mysterious organization.

The mountain path was difficult to navigate, but fortunately we were well prepared. Our elite squad consisted of battle-hardened warriors, each one agile and nimble. Under cover of darkness, we silently moved through the trees, steadily approaching our goal on the mountaintop.

"Your Majesty, the Eagle Sorrow Gorge is ahead. After passing this natural barrier, we will reach the mountain behind the ancestral temple." A scout knelt on one knee and reported to me.

I nodded. Yingchoujian is a steep terrain that is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is the only way to the back mountain of the ancestral temple and also the biggest challenge of our trip.

"How's General Zhen doing?" I asked in a low voice.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, General Zhen has led his troops to the front gate of the ancestral temple and is fighting with the enemy. The battle situation is currently tense, but General Zhen has successfully attracted the main force of the enemy. The pressure on our side will be much less." The scout replied.

I felt a little relieved. It seemed that Zhen Youcai was making good progress. It was now up to us.

"Pass the order down, everyone be alert and be cautious. Once you find any trace of the enemy, kill them without mercy!" I lowered my voice, but my tone was firm and powerful.

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.

I took a deep breath, gripped my sword tightly, and took the lead as I stepped into the Eagle Sorrow Gorge. Beneath my feet was a bottomless abyss, and the mountain wind whistled past my ears. I dared not let my guard down for even a moment, taking every step with extreme caution. Suddenly, I felt my feet go empty, and I fell straight down...