Even the veteran Jianghu wanderers who have traversed the martial world for many years are no match for him.

Despite this impression, no matter how amiable his smile, Ximen Huai couldn’t help but worry whether this person might just turn around and sell him out.

After all, he plans so astutely; how could he possibly not know someone would come to capture him?

Now, with both of them here, it speaks volumes.

Su Mo chuckled softly:

"Forgive me, Brother Ximen, this place is a secret chamber located beneath Cui Xin Temple.

"The door can only be opened using your Jade Crown Quenching Heart Scripture technique, Brother Ximen.

"Having come here today, we cannot return empty-handed from a treasure mountain. Please, Brother Ximen, make it possible."

Upon hearing this, Ximen Huai finally sighed:

"Young Alliance Leader Su... did you know about this when you were on Tianqi Island?"

"Indeed."

Su Mo did not deny anything.

"So... I didn’t actually need to beg you to let me board the ship that day?"

Ximen Huai asked again.

Su Mo nodded once more:

"That’s right. If Brother Ximen hadn’t boarded, even if tied up, we would have brought you along."

Ximen Huai raised an eyebrow upon hearing this:

"Young Alliance Leader Su, speaking so candidly, aren’t you worried I might refuse to open the door for you?"

"At this stage, it’s clear that Brother Ximen already understands the before and after."

Su Mo smiled: "This is not something that can be glossed over by concealing the truth. Since Brother Ximen has doubts, I might as well be frank. Whether Brother Ximen opens the door or not is entirely in your hands.

"If you open the door, we will proceed to explore.

"If not, we turn around and leave..."

Ximen Huai laughed heartily:

"Truly deserving of the title Young Alliance Leader Su.

"Such openness and integrity makes me deeply admire you.

"Coincidentally, my Ximen Family has explored this place several times, but later never mentioned a word.

"The things inside have long been coveted...

"Today, with Young Alliance Leader Su’s skills, we can finally unveil them."

After saying this, he approached the door, looked at the grand door, and began to channel his Inner Strength, preparing to act.

When suddenly the Hidden Sword Hermit called out:

"Hold on."

Ximen Huai, who was focusing intently, shivered in fright, almost letting out a cry.

Once he calmed down, he angrily demanded, "What is it?"

"You’ve done it wrong."

The Hidden Sword Hermit casually took out a brush from his small box.

He dipped it into some ink and then drew an undulating line on the door.

Pointing to a spot, he said:

"With the Inner Strength of your Jade Crown Quenching Heart Scripture, start here and slowly move to the other end.

"Remember to listen for changes in sound. If there’s a change, you must start over."

"..."

Skeptical, Ximen Huai glanced at Su Mo, who nodded, and so Ximen Huai took a breath, applied a palm, and began moving slowly as instructed by the Hidden Sword Hermit.

His hand moved, and immediately there came a ’thud thud thud’ sound from within the door.

Clearly, something inside was moving.

Upon hearing actual sounds from within the door, Ximen Huai couldn’t help but be delighted.

The motion of his palm accelerated by threefold.

Soon he felt a lightness in his hand, followed by a clattering sound, then finally a click.

Ximen Huai looked at Hidden Sword Hermit in disbelief:

"What is this?"

"Just a failure, no need to worry, simply try again."

Hidden Sword Hermit waved his hand:

"As expected, you must precisely control your Inner Strength, avoiding hastiness and sluggishness. Try a few more times...

"However, let me warn you.

"You cannot keep trying endlessly.

"This chamber is surrounded entirely by Xizhou Fire God Oil.

"Starting over once or twice is insignificant.

"Too many attempts may disrupt the delicate balance inside the door.

"If the Xizhou Fire God Oil bursts out.

"Then... this chamber will be ruined."

"!!!!"

Ximen Huai’s eyes widened in shock; such a circumstance exists here?

Unable to resist, he turned to Su Mo.

Su Mo smiled broadly:

"Brother Ximen, please feel free to proceed... no need to be nervous."

Ximen Huai’s scalp tingled; isn’t this more nerve-racking?

But with things as they were, he had no choice.

He could only grit his teeth and go for it.

He immediately repositioned himself, slowly extended a palm, and let his inner breath enter the door, suddenly feeling a tug from something inside.

Moving his hand gradually, ensuring the object remained linked with his Inner Strength at all times.

If too fast, the link with the Inner Strength weakens and eventually breaks. If too slow, the Inner Strength depletes excessively, potentially failing to reach the destination.

To grasp the proper rhythm, one must concentrate wholly.

Ximen Huai simply closed his eyes, forgetting all surroundings, focusing solely on himself and the stone within the door.

As the stone inside the door approached the target, Ximen Huai felt it increasingly burdensome.

The depletion of Inner Strength increased exponentially, leading to a sweat-soaked brow.

Especially in the final short stretch, each advance felt like moving a mountain.

He was on the brink but his Inner Strength was thoroughly exhausted.

Unable to resist, he opened his eyes:

"Not good!"

At the moment those two words landed, he felt a hand resting on his shoulder.

The next second, a surge of Inner Strength rushed in, pushed forward smoothly, resulting in a clicking sound.

Followed by the sound of mechanisms working within the door.

Ximen Huai stood there in disbelief:

"It’s...it’s open!?"

He turned to see Su Mo standing right behind him.

Su Mo smiled:

"Thank you for your cooperation, Brother Ximen."

As those words ended, the door separated vertically into two.

A musty aroma surged from within the door.

Su Mo flicked his sleeve, casually dispelling the unpleasant smell out of the passage.

He looked up.

The chamber wasn’t large, piles of gold and silver jewelry stacked in a corner.

Shelves lined the sides, loaded with bamboo scrolls in abundance.

On a desk directly at the front lay two items.

A black umbrella.

In front of the umbrella were two rolls of bamboo scrolls.