Chapter 354: The Impregnable Royal Secret Vault

Lin Moyu, Xia Xue, and the others hadn’t seen each other for quite some time, so they spent a while catching up.

Xia Xue quickly noticed something different about Lin Moyu. Although he was still reserved, he was far more approachable than before. The cold indifference that once defined him had softened. He could now carry on a normal conversation without shutting people out.

Watching the children interact harmoniously, Xia Bojian nodded in satisfaction.

Lin Moyu's reputation had soared—he was the youngest godly general of the human race and a disciple of White God, brimming with limitless potential."

During the Shenxia Tower's trial, Meng Anwen had deliberately used 500 students as stepping stones to sharpen Lin Moyu's skills. Xia Bojian could see the results clearly: Lin Moyu’s aura was calm and restrained, a hallmark of someone with a solid foundation for ascending to God-level.

Barring any unforeseen mishaps, Lin Moyu was destined to become a God-level powerhouse—perhaps even surpassing Xia Bojian himself. Recognizing such talent, Xia Bojian resolved to maintain a good relationship with him and avoid any unnecessary conflict.

The cheerful chatter between Xia Xue and Lin Moyu brought a smile to Xia Bojian’s face.

All of a sudden, the air was tinged with a pleasant fragrance. Lin Moyu looked up and saw Dongfang Yao approaching with poise and grace.

Dongfang Yao, a royal princess, exuded nobility in every movement. Her arrival instantly captured the attention of everyone present.

Her beauty and elegance radiated a charm so captivating that even Xia Xue and Zuo Mei—both remarkable women in their own right—found themselves mesmerized.

It was not uncommon for women to feel a pang of inadequacy upon meeting Dongfang Yao.

With a graceful bow, Dongfang Yao addressed them, her voice clear and melodic, “Dongfang Yao greets Lord Simplicity God [1] and Godly General Lin.”

Although she held the title of princess, Dongfang Yao’s status was no match for the God-level Xia Bojian or the godly general Lin Moyu. Her title was symbolic, carrying little actual power.

Xia Bojian was intrigued by her presence. The royal lineage was famously aloof and eccentric, rarely involving themselves in the Shenxia Tower trial.

While Dongfang Yao was officially a student of Xiajing Academy, she seldom engaged in its missions or trials. Instead, she pursued her own cultivation path, only occasionally leveraging academy resources like the Dungeon Hall.

“Why have you come, Princess Yao?” Xia Bojian asked, his tone tinged with curiosity, “It’s rare for someone of royal lineage to take an interest in the Shenxia Tower trial.”

Dongfang Yao smiled brilliantly, her expression as dazzling as a blooming rose, “I’m here to see Godly General Lin.”

Lin Moyu looked at her, puzzled. He had no idea why she was seeking him out.

She continued, “Thank you, Godly General Lin, for carrying me through the dungeon last time. I’ve prepared what I promised you. When are you free?”

Lin Moyu had nearly forgotten about the matter. If Dongfang Yao hadn’t mentioned it, it might never have crossed his mind again. Since she had taken the initiative, he saw no need for pretense, “Now is fine.”

Dongfang Yao’s smile deepened, “Alright, I’ll lead the way, Godly General Lin.”

As the two departed together, Xia Bojian’s brows furrowed slightly.

Xia Xue let out a soft sigh, “So that’s Princess Yao? She’s so beautiful. Compared to her, I feel like an ugly duckling.”

Feng Xiu interjected, shaking his head, “You’re just as beautiful as she is. So is Zuo Mei.”

Zuo Mei shot him a glare, “What does this have to do with me?”

Feng Xiu gave an awkward smile, realizing his attempt at flattery had backfired.

Both Xia Xue and Zuo Mei were undoubtedly beautiful, but Dongfang Yao’s noble temperament set her apart.

Xia Xue shrugged, “There’s no comparison. She’s a princess, after all.”

Xia Bojian laughed heartily, “So what if she’s a princess? Xue, you’re also a princess of the Xia Family. In terms of status, you’re not inferior to her.”

Feng Xiu nodded in agreement, “Although Dongfang Yao is known as an imperial princess, her title essentially stems from her being a princess of a God-level family. That’s the extent of her standing.”

Even Feng Xiu, a descendant of the renowned Swordsman Feng Family, held a status equal to Dongfang Yao’s.

Turning to Zuo Mei, Xia Bojian added with a chuckle, “Young girl, if we’re talking about status, you might actually outrank Dongfang Yao.”

Zuo Mei looked startled, “No way.”

Xia Bojian’s eyes gleamed with amusement, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

…

Outside the imperial royal palace, a teleportation formation flared to life, and Lin Moyu and Dongfang Yao emerged.

Dongfang Yao quickly formed several intricate hand seals. The formation hummed in response, initiating a secondary teleportation, which transported them into the palace.

No teleportation formation could lead directly into the Shenxia Empire’s palace. Entry required passing through the external formation and performing specific hand seals, all part of the palace’s stringent security protocols.

Dongfang Yao performed the hand seals openly, not hiding them from Lin Moyu. These seals acted as a password, and by demonstrating them so transparently.

She glanced at him after completing the final seal, hoping her gesture had left an impression. But to her disappointment, Lin Moyu wasn’t even paying attention.

The interior of the royal palace was breathtaking. Birds sang melodiously, and vibrant flowers filled the air with their fragrance.

As the heart of the Shenxia Empire, the palace was colossal, spanning an immense area. It even featured several small mountains, each towering dozens of meters high, rumored to have been relocated here by a God-level powerhouse.

For an ordinary visitor, exploring the palace would take days.

Dongfang Yao observed Lin Moyu’s reaction closely. Unlike others who had entered the palace for the first time, Lin Moyu showed no signs of astonishment or awe.

Most people would have been awestruck by the grandeur of the royal palace, but Lin Moyu remained unfazed. With his calm demeanor and a history of razing entire cities, there was little left in the world that could truly surprise him.

As they walked through the palace, Dongfang Yao broke the silence, “Our royal family is entrusted with a secret vault. It houses ancient texts that cannot be found anywhere else—not even your teachers have seen them. You must promise me that you won’t disclose anything you see today, not even to them.”

Lin Moyu considered her words before giving a simple nod, “Alright.”

Reassured by his words, Dongfang Yao continued, “Besides showing you the texts, I also want to propose a new deal.”

“Let’s hear it.” Lin Moyu replied, his tone neutral. Some deals were worth considering, while others were not.

“Our royal family possesses a dungeon.” Dongfang Yao explained, “Currently, it only has normal and nightmare rank difficulties. According to my father’s calculations, the dungeon should also have a hell rank difficulty, but we’ve never been able to unlock it. Can you help us?”

Lin Moyu didn’t agree immediately, “What level is the dungeon?”

“Level 45.” Dongfang Yao replied, “It’s a perfect fit for you.”

After a brief moment of thought, Lin Moyu nodded, “If it’s really a level 45 dungeon, then I can give it a try.”

Dongfang Yao’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Then I’ll take that as a yes! Feel free to state any conditions you have. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll agree.”

Lin Moyu’s response was measured, “I can’t guarantee success. Naming conditions now would be meaningless. Let’s discuss that if and when I succeed.”

Dongfang Yao smiled radiantly, “I believe in you.”

After a lengthy walk, they arrived at a palace. Its ancient, unassuming design bore no external markings or clues to hint at its identity as the empire's secret vault.

Dongfang Yao stepped forward and knocked on the palace gate, calling out in a crisp voice, “Grandpa Li, it’s me!”

Moments later, the gate creaked open, releasing an unusual and potent aura.

Lin Moyu immediately recognized it: God-level aura.

This was not the fake God-level energy radiated by the imperial Grand Councillors, but the genuine article. However, compared to the powerhouses he had encountered, such as Yan Kuangsheng and Bai Yiyuan, it felt somewhat weaker.

For the royal family to have one or two God-level powerhouses wasn’t surprising, so Lin Moyu didn’t dwell on it.

“Let’s go.” Dongfang Yao said, leading Lin Moyu inside.

The gate slammed shut behind them. The secret vault was surprisingly bright, its illumination surpassing that of the world outside.

“This is a secret realm.” Lin Moyu quickly realized that had stepped into a secret realm.

The palace gate served as a cleverly disguised entrance to a vast secret realm.

Scattered throughout the secret realm were large wooden cabinets, seemingly placed at random. However, Lin Moyu’s sharp perception soon told a different story.

With a spirit attribute exceeding 100,000—far surpassing his peers—Lin Moyu possessed exceptional sensitivity. His training in the Shenxia Tower, which included insights from a Formation Master of the military, had netted him some understanding of formations.

Studying the cabinets more closely, he discerned that their placement and orientation were anything but random. They marked key nodes in a massive formation, intricately woven into the very fabric of the secret realm.

The formation extended from the sky to the ground, creating an impenetrable defense. Any intruder attempting entry without authorization would likely trigger its deadly mechanisms.

Protected by such a formidable formation, concealed within a secret realm, and guarded by a God-level powerhouse, the secret vault was virtually impregnable.

The extreme measures intrigued Lin Moyu even more. Who—or what—was this level of security meant to deter?

If Abyssal Demons could reach this place, humanity would already be doomed. So, what purpose did this secret vault truly serve? Besides, Abyssal Demons might not even care for human possessions.

For now, Lin Moyu couldn’t make sense of it.

[1] - the character jian (简) in Xia Bojian's name means simple, hence the moniker Simplicity God