“Is this key for unlocking the door?”
Standing before the Treasure Vault, Xuefei asked doubtfully.
The fact that her own Treasure Vault was no longer under her control in the Snake Demon Country was suspicious enough already. And no matter how she examined this massive stone door, there wasn’t a single keyhole—she had no idea where to even insert it.
“Could it be… the key to unlocking the Endless Treasure? No, that can’t be right…”
At that moment, Celi spoke up to explain.
“Lady Xuefei, truth be told, I’m not entirely sure myself. The Treasure Vault was built by our ancestors to store their treasures, but for various reasons, it’s been sealed away for ages. Only the ‘Endless Treasure’ remains untouched inside. That’s an established fact.”
She didn’t know either, huh…
Well, then there was only one option left!
“Xuefei?”
Laer hesitated, staring in disbelief at Xuefei as she cracked her knuckles.
“At this point, it’s time for brute force to work a miracle!”
What, can’t open it?
Then she’d just smash it open herself!
Was there any door in the world that could stop an Evil Dragon? If there was, it sure as hell wasn’t this one!
Just as Xuefei reached out to rip the stone door apart with her bare hands, Laer swiftly intervened, halting her master’s one-handed mountain-shattering strike before she could reduce the entire place—Endless Treasure included—to ashes.
“Let me handle it. A door like this… have you forgotten, Xuefei?”
“Kind of…”
Her memories of it weren’t clear, but if the Great Sage said so…
What Xuefei regretted most right now was not having any space abilities. If she could open Space Gates like Leia did, how convenient would that be?
Laer stepped forward and placed her hand on the door. Purple-red veins surged up her arm and into the stone.
Suddenly, it was as if she’d triggered a hidden mechanism. With a faint vibration, the stone door slowly rose, releasing a thick cloud of dust and stale air.
Xuefei watched her with wide eyes.
“A humanoid lockpick?”
“…Lady Xuefei, I’ve heard that one countless times before.”
“R-Really?” Xuefei said, a bit embarrassed. “I’m not too familiar with it myself. Sorry~”
“Masters don’t apologize to their servants, Lady Xuefei. You need to keep up appearances, you know?”
Laer brushed past Xuefei, shooting her a sidelong glance with those sharp little eyes of hers before slowly advancing ahead to lead the way.
She was the diligent sort.
Whether serving in the Evil Dragon Palace or as part of the Hero Party, Laer toiled without complaint. As Head Maid, she never acted superior—instead, sacrificing her rest time for Xuefei and Leia was par for the course.
Especially during the Dragon Nest construction period, when Leia worked nonstop from nine in the morning until nine at night.
All to avoid any mishaps that might result in fewer Dragon Eggs…
On a side note, Laer even studied noble etiquette in her spare time, always carrying herself like a proper lady. As for Xuefei herself, she knew the basics, but next to Laer, she was like a dabbler next to a master.
So, of course she’d know how to unlock a door.
Xuefei sighed and followed along, with Celi close behind.
The cave interior was pitch black—you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. But under the glow of white illumination magic, it wasn’t rough stone walls or Barriers. Instead, it revealed an angular, looping corridor. Every circuit through the darkness, lined with murals, led to stairs descending to the next looping level.
The structure stretched on endlessly, with no apparent end in sight.
Celi cast her illumination magic, gazing absently at the various murals on the walls.
Noticing this, Laer spoke up. “If you’re scared, little sister Celi, you can hold my hand.”
Xuefei jolted in shock. She shuddered from head to toe but kept walking forward without looking back, deliberately taking the lead while straining her ears to eavesdrop on their exchange.
Talk about a bold move!
Laer really did have designs on her. Who knew she wasn’t just collecting girls’ contacts—she was the type to make a move on anyone cute!
“It’s fine~” Celi tilted her head with a smile, though a flicker of sadness crossed her face.
“Really, it’s nothing. It’s just… these murals. They depict our ancestors’ glory and prosperity. But we’ve squandered that wealth, leaving our people destitute…”
“To be blunt, little sister Celi,” Laer said, her tone stern as ever. But Xuefei could hear the underlying concern—this must be Miss Great Sage’s unique way of showing care.
“That was your father, and your father’s father, who threw away that golden age with their own hands. They drowned in wine and women, ignoring the affairs of state. Without you, the Snake Demon Country would have collapsed long ago.”
Celi’s steps slowed. She bowed her head, her smile vanishing completely.
“Will I be a wise Queen?”
She seemed to ask out of mere curiosity, but Laer gave Celi no quarter whatsoever.
“To be frank, you’re not.”
“So that’s how it is…”
“Yes, you’re not a qualified queen. Only one who acts with lightning speed and ruthless decisiveness can win acceptance.”
“Yes, I’ll keep Sister Laer’s words etched in my heart.”
Laer furrowed her brow.
In truth, she simply couldn’t stand the smile perpetually plastered across Celi’s face, so she had never caught even a glimpse of the woman’s sorrow.
What a scheming vixen.
It had been obvious ever since Laer disguised herself as the former Great Sage and tricked her. Though Xuefei didn’t resent that choice from her current vantage point…
No, no, no…
It’s not like she liked Leia! The child was just too important!
Right at that moment, as Xuefei flushed red, she suddenly sensed a vast and mighty power entering her perceptual range.
Ah, before she knew it, they were almost there~
It wasn’t exactly familiar ground, but according to her memories, the Endless Treasure was indeed buried right beneath her feet.
The tunnel didn’t end in more stairs but in a stone door that could be pushed open at any moment. Beyond it lay the Endless Treasure, without a doubt.
“The contract will end soon. I hope you’ll govern the nation well under the Evil Dragon Lord’s protection and safeguard your little sister,” Laer said. She halted, turned back, and flashed Celi a smile.
“Yes, I will protect her.”
The fluorescent glow shifted to before the stone door, cloaking Celi’s expression in shadow. No one could make it out.
When Xuefei pushed open the stone door and stepped into the vast, pristine space, there atop the central stone platform sat the divine artifact known as the Endless Treasure—a glowing green cube.
Found it.
After who knew how many years, even though she had to present it to Lady Leia, holding it in her hands again stirred a touch of sentiment.
Xuefei took a step forward. She drew out the key, which drifted slowly toward the top of the green cube embedded in the platform, drawn like iron to a magnet. Moments later, it slotted neatly into the cube’s apex.
She remembered clearly: that was the required unlocking procedure. The Endless Treasure’s radiance flared brighter, its internal mechanisms whirring at high speed, unfolding layer by layer… until at last, a green polyhedral crystal treasure lay revealed before their eyes.
The barrier parted, and Xuefei advanced to claim her prize…
But in that instant, something changed.
Boom! The door behind her slammed shut tight. The others hadn’t even entered the sealed space, and she was cut off from them just like that.
A mechanism? Or a trap?
Magic rendered the chamber exceptionally soundproof. Xuefei had no clue what was happening outside. But just as she moved to smash the door and confront Celi, the Endless Treasure activated. A pale green, semi-transparent barrier enveloped her from all sides.
Xuefei sneered.
“Looks like I walked right into it. Want to get through? Guess I have to smash the Endless Treasure, huh? Heh…”
That Celi…
She wasn’t as straightforward as she’d seemed, after all?
