Chapter 984: There Really Is Something

Chapter 984: Chapter 984: There Really Is Something

The black light grew even stronger as the door slowly opened. Demonic Qi surged out from the crack like dense mist. The air in the cave became heavier and colder, as if even breathing was being suppressed by this power.

Jiang Qi’s gaze grew increasingly grave. Although he had a faint sense that something was wrong, retreat was already impossible at this moment.

He clenched his teeth, staring at the slowly opening door, a nameless mixture of anticipation and fear rising in his heart.

What exactly was hidden behind that door?

Was it the legendary Supreme Treasure, or a trap Xue Wei had set up to take revenge on him?

These questions churned in Jiang Qi’s mind, and the trembling of the cave seemed to answer his doubts, forcing him to face the answer that was about to be revealed.

Jiang Qi took a deep breath, trying his best to calm himself. He knew there was no way back; he could only edge forward into the doorway with utmost caution.

He placed each step with extreme care, afraid of triggering some mechanism or causing an even greater crisis.

His eyes were fixed intently ahead, his body leaning slightly forward, ready at any moment to respond to the unexpected.

When he had fully stepped through that mysterious door, the sight before him made him pause for a heartbeat.

The space within was far less vast than he had imagined—merely a cramped little room.

The room was only a few zhang across. The four walls were smooth as mirrors, showing a strange dark-black color, as if they devoured all light.

The entire space was extremely simple, even bare. Aside from the circular platform at the center of the room, there was nothing else.

The platform was about as high as an adult’s waist, a simple, ancient bronze color, its surface mottled with rust and densely covered in complex patterns.

A faint black light seeped from within the patterns, making it appear extremely mysterious.

Resting atop the platform was an exquisite wooden box. The box was pitch-black all over, as if made from some exceedingly precious wood.

The surface of the box was carved with intricate Runes that echoed the patterns on the platform, as though engaging in some secret conversation.

Jiang Qi’s gaze locked firmly onto that wooden box, a trace of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

His heartbeat quickened. Although there was no other movement in the room, he could still feel a vague sense of oppression.

This pressure seemed to emanate from some unknown existence within the box, inspiring involuntary dread.

He slowly approached the platform, every step taken with extreme care, fearful of provoking any anomaly.

Stopping before the platform, Jiang Qi stretched out his hand to hover over the box, but did not hurry to touch it.

His hand trembled slightly, his eyes filled with expectation.

Could what lay inside this box really be the Supreme Treasure Xue Wei had spoken of?

Or was it another kind of unpredictable danger?

Countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Qi’s mind, but in the end, he still chose to trust his own judgment.

He took a deep breath and forced down the unease in his heart. His fingers lightly touched the surface of the box. The box was bone-chillingly cold, completely devoid of any sign of life; only the faint glow of the Runes still pulsed, like the remnants of some ancient power.

Jiang Qi slowly gripped the edge of the box, feeling a faint vibration coming from within it, as if the thing inside were responding to his touch.

This sensation made him even more vigilant, yet at the same time drove him more strongly to open the box and see what was hidden inside.

The entire room was eerily quiet, as though everything in the world had been shut out. Jiang Qi’s breathing sounded exceptionally clear; each heartbeat pounded like a heavy drum, reverberating through this cramped yet mysterious space.

The box was pitch-black all over, as though eroded by countless years. Yet on its surface, a faint layer of Demonic Qi could be seen seeping out.

That Demonic Qi was like black mist, slowly flowing around the box, exuding an extremely oppressive aura, as if it contained some terrifying power.

Inlaid at the four corners of the box were four strange, dark-red gemstones. These gemstones seemed to be the source of the Demonic Qi, continually emitting a weak crimson glow that drove the circulation of the Runes on the box.

The Runes were complex and sinister, seemingly some ancient Demonic Path script. As the Demonic Qi flowed, they appeared to be chanting a soundless Spell, enough to make one’s skin crawl.

Jiang Qi knew that an extremely intricate Demonic Path seal had been laid upon this box; only by wielding sufficiently powerful Demonic Qi could it be opened smoothly.

He first carefully sensed the seal on the box.

As he released a trace of Demonic Qi, the fluctuations of Demonic Qi on the box’s surface immediately grew more violent, as if sensing his approach and beginning some fierce resistance.

Jiang Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly. He drew a deep breath and began carefully mobilizing the Demonic Qi within his body.

His hands slowly rose, and a faint stream of black air surged from his palms. That stream seemed almost sentient as it slowly approached the sealed area of the box.

The instant his Demonic Qi touched the Demonic Qi on the box’s surface, the box shuddered violently and emitted a low hum.

Jiang Qi was taken aback for a moment, then immediately increased the outpouring of Demonic Qi. His hands firmly steadied the box’s trembling as he slowly forced his Demonic Qi into the seal.

As Jiang Qi’s Demonic Qi continued to infiltrate, the Runes on the box’s surface gradually lit up. Dark-red light flowed between them like countless tiny snakes crawling forward. That Demonic Qi seemed to resist Jiang Qi’s intrusion, but under the oppression of his powerful Demonic Qi, it gradually grew feeble.

At last, when Jiang Qi’s Demonic Qi had completely enveloped the box, the layer of Demonic Qi seal wrapping it suddenly shattered, turning into countless strands of black aura that dispersed in all directions.

The glow of the Runes on the box’s surface dimmed along with it, as if losing all sources of Energy.

Jiang Qi let out a subtle breath of relief. He knew the seal had been broken. He slowly extended his fingers toward the edge of the box; with a light flick of his fingertips, a soft "click" rang out, and the box opened in response.

As the lid was lifted, an even denser surge of Demonic Qi poured from within the box, churning in the air as though a confinement of countless years had been released.

Inside the box lay a snow-white Crystal Core, quietly resting there. It was called the "Snow Core," the Supreme Treasure of the Xue Family.

The Snow Core was crystal-clear throughout, like a piece of pure ice jade, radiating a faint chill.

It was perfectly spherical, about the size of a baby’s fist. A soft blue radiance faintly shimmered on its surface, as if endless power of ice and snow were contained within.

However, the surface of this Snow Core, which should have been utterly pure and flawless, was tainted by thick, dark Demonic Qi. That Demonic Qi was like threads of black smoke tightly coiling around the Snow Core, as if trying to devour its radiance completely. These strands of Demonic Qi made the Snow Core appear eerie and ominous. The power of ice and snow clashed with the Demonic Qi within the Crystal Core, causing the Snow Core—which should have emanated tranquil cold—to brim instead with a restless and agitated aura.