Chapter 144: The Tyrant Mountain Treasury

"Elder Hong, is there a Clan Leader's token..."

In front of a subterranean tunnel, Yang Fan and Bashan Hong were stopped by the guards. The guard questioned Bashan Hong and demanded the token!

Without a word of reply, Bashan Hong flipped his hand and produced a circular token. The guard then unlocked the heavy door of the underground tunnel.

As soon as they entered, a long tunnel stretched out before Yang Fan's eyes.

After walking for about a kilometer, another heavy door appeared. Sitting in front of it was an elderly man in ragged clothes.

Yet, Bashan Hong appeared exceptionally polite.

He hurried forward, bowed, and said, "Junior Bashan Hong greets Elder Hua. Per the Clan Leader's orders, I have brought this young friend Yang Fan from the outside world into the treasury to select some items. This is the Clan Leader's token..." With that, Bashan Hong respectfully produced the token and offered it with both hands!

Bashan Hua did not take the token from Bashan Hong. Instead, he opened his previously closed eyes and stared straight at Yang Fan.

Since Bashan Hua did not accept it, Bashan Hong did not stand up, maintaining his bowing posture.

After a long while, Bashan Hua asked Yang Fan, "You're from the outside world?"

Yang Fan stepped forward, saluted, and replied, "Yes, Senior!"

"What are you doing in our tribe?"

"If Senior would kindly examine the matter, Senior Bashan Hong brought this junior here, and Clan Leader Bashan Mo instructed this junior to stay..."

Even as Yang Fan answered, he felt the space around him being compressed... A suffocating pressure rushed toward him...

Sensing the change in the spatial pressure, Bashan Hong hurriedly stepped sideways, though still maintaining a slight bow, and shielded Yang Fan from the front!

Instantly, Yang Fan felt the pressure in front of him dissipate...

"Elder Hua, please allow us to enter..." Bashan Hong said again.

"Hehe..." A hoarse voice came from Bashan Hua, "Little Hong... Have you accepted your fate? Surely not. Weren't all of you so unwavering before?"

Hearing Bashan Hua's words, Bashan Hong's expression changed. He straightened his body, dropping his submissive posture.

In a cold voice, he said, "Elder Hua, you are a senior. Given the current situation, you must have realized it the moment you looked at young friend Yang Fan. There is no chance left, is there... Why must you still taunt us?" The more Bashan Hong spoke, the quieter his voice became, until at the end it sounded as though he were merely talking to himself, his voice so faint that even he could barely hear it...

Standing behind Bashan Hong, Yang Fan listened to the exchange in utter confusion. What was going on here?

Bashan Hua continued, "Do you regret it?"

Bashan Hong replied, "It's too late, isn't it..."

"Indeed, it's too late. If the four of you had possessed even a shred of resolve back then, today's situation might have turned out differently..."

"It's too late, Elder Hua. Who could have foreseen things as they are now? Everything is too late..."

"I don't think it's too late yet..."

"What further instruction does Elder Hua have?"

"Why not just kill the outsider behind you... Hehhehe." With that, Bashan Hua emitted a chilling laugh.

Yang Fan felt his scalp tingle at these words... Who was this old monster? He was ready to take someone's life at the drop of a hat... Was he truly this vicious?

Bashan Hong shook his head and said, "Elder Hua, let's not joke around. If Yang Fan were to die in this tunnel, both you and I would be executed by Bashan Mo on the spot. Besides, whether young friend Yang Fan lives or dies has no bearing on the overall situation. Everything that needs to be said has already been told to Bashan Mo. Moreover, the passage to the outside world is now open. With ferocious beasts roaming the Azure Plain, once the major tribes clear out the beasts, the presence or absence of young friend Yang Fan will mean nothing to Bashan Mo. Bashan Mo simply thought that taking young friend Yang Fan out with him might allow the young man to introduce some powerful figures from his world..."

"Little Hong, this old man hasn't lost his wits; of course I know the situation... I was merely joking. Yet, I still believe there is a chance, and it must be executed before Bashan Mo goes to the outside world. Otherwise, once he leaves, it truly will be too late..." Before he finished speaking, Bashan Hua suddenly let out a loud shout.

Yang Fan felt an overwhelmingly powerful aura surge upward from before him.

"Bashan Mo, you old immortal, I told you not to spy on me, but you never listen... You old immortal, sooner or later I will finish you off..."

Yang Fan watched as Bashan Hua, standing before him, roared like a madman.

Bashan Hong stood his ground in front of Yang Fan, blocking all the shockwaves!

Then, Bashan Mo's voice echoed through the space: "Heh, Little Hua, still such a fiery temper. All these underground years still haven't managed to wear down your temper, haha. Fine, fine. I never expected you to reconcile with me anyway. Do not obstruct Bashan Hong and young friend Yang Fan. Young friend Yang Fan is my esteemed guest; let them enter the treasury..."

The voice then faded away.

Bashan Hua sat back down, lowering his head and closing his eyes.

With a dark expression, Bashan Hong led Yang Fan forward, using his token to open the heavy door and proceed.

All the way, Yang Fan wondered just who Bashan Hua was.

Finally, he looked at Bashan Hong in front of him and asked, "Elder Hong, who was that Elder Hua just now?"

Without even looking back, Bashan Hong replied, "Do not ask what you ought not to ask."

Yang Fan was left speechless. What happened to the treatment of a young clan leader? What happened to freedom of movement and speech?

Helpless, and sensing that Bashan Hong was certainly not in a pleasant mood right now, Yang Fan kept his head down, walked forward, and decided not to press the matter any further.

After walking for another kilometer or so, another large door appeared. This one had no guards stationed outside. Bashan Hong stepped forward, slotted the token into the recess, and pushed the door open.

As the door swung wide, rows upon rows of wooden racks came into Yang Fan's view.

Every rack was filled with boxes, jars, and bottles. Further back were numerous weapon racks holding sharp weapons that gleamed with a cold light.

Upon entering, Bashan Hong said to Yang Fan, "Go browse the weapon racks yourself and see what suits you. I will go pick out some suitable medicinal pills for you." Without waiting for a reply, Bashan Hong walked off to the side!

Yang Fan no longer cared and walked toward the weapon racks.

Naturally, as he passed a few wooden racks on the way, he casually pocketed a few small, easily portable bottles...

Reaching the weapon racks, Yang Fan began inspecting the countless arms before him.

There were all kinds of weapons here.

Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, hooks, forks—every single one of the traditional eighteen weapons was present.

Yang Fan examined them one by one. Whenever he found one that seemed suitable, he would pick it up, test its weight, and then put it back down!

He walked past row after row.

Gradually, a look of disappointment crept onto Yang Fan's face!

The weapons here were completely different from what he had imagined.

He wasn't particularly picky about the design or style, but every time he picked up a weapon that caught his eye, he found a fatal flaw.

The material was far too inferior...

Just moments ago, he had picked up a saber, stroked the blade, and as his qi swept across it, the edge actually curled...

He simply could not comprehend how weapons made of such substandard material could be placed in a treasury!

There were many weapons here; he had already touched at least fifty of them.

Yet their durability was roughly on par with ordinary tempered steel from Earth.

They fell utterly short of any special alloy.

They were completely incomparable to the saber Li Tian had once given him!

The more he looked, the colder Yang Fan's heart grew.

"What is this? Even materials like this can enter the treasury?"

Yang Fan muttered under his breath!

"Materials like this certainly wouldn't qualify to enter the treasury..." Bashan Hong's voice suddenly rang out from behind him!

Startled by the abrupt voice, Yang Fan shivered and spun around to look!