Chapter 165: Bashan Hua, the Liar

Burning with bitter grievance, Yang Fan was forced by Bashan Cangmang toward the first heavy gate!
At the threshold, the tokens were inspected as per routine, and then the gates swung open!
Just as Yang Fan and Bashan Cangmang stepped inside and before the massive doors could fully seal shut, three streaks of brilliant rainbow light crashed down with a deafening roar!
"Bashan Cangmang, you bastard, get your ass back out here..." The voice echoed through the air, but the gates had already slammed shut!
Beside Yang Fan, the corner of Bashan Cangmang’s mouth curled into a faint smile, entirely unconcerned with the commotion outside. With a rough shove of his massive hand, he sent Yang Fan stumbling two steps forward!
Walking down the long, gloomy corridor, Yang Fan felt utterly humiliated and enraged! Bashan Cangmang shoved him from time to time, sending him staggering with every single push.

Meanwhile, just outside the treasury's first gate, Bashan Hong, Bashan Gui, and Bashan Wujiang were practically cursing Bashan Cangmang to death!
The three of them simply could not fathom what this moron was actually thinking. Was he really in such a rush? He hadn't even finished asking his questions, nor had they finalized their plan.
According to Bashan Gui and the others, at least two people were supposed to accompany Yang Fan down so they would have a safety net when facing Bashan Hua. Even though Bashan Hua likely wouldn't harm them right now, it pays to be vigilant—caution never hurt anyone!
Moreover, just as the gates closed, Bashan Gui and the others had clearly spotted a trace of fresh blood at the corner of Yang Fan’s mouth... Who couldn't guess how that happened?
Useless as Yang Fan might be to them at the moment, he shouldn't have been treated quite like this yet. There were still numerous things left to ask; discarding the millstone the moment the grain was ground was far too shameless! Of course, that was a minor detail.
Furious, Bashan Hong stepped forward two steps. Those two steps alone instantly put the treasury guards on high alert, their weapons leveling directly at the three of them. The captain of the guards spoke in a stern voice: "Three Elders, without the Patriarch's token, you are not permitted to cross... Please do not make things difficult for us subordinates..." The guard captain’s ringing, resolute response abruptly cut off whatever Bashan Hong was about to say next.
"Bashan Cangmang, the moment you come back out, I'm going to rip you apart..." Bashan Wujiang muttered under his breath in anger!
Helpless, the three of them stood lingering outside the treasury entrance. After a long moment, Bashan Gui said, "Forget it, let's leave first. It looks bad for all three of us to just linger here, and things haven't reached the point of a complete fallout yet. Let's clear out of here for now..."
"Leave now? Bashan Cangmang is already inside. What if he actually manages to break Elder Hua's seal?" Bashan Wujiang argued.
"Not a chance. With that brainless idiot Bashan Cangmang, what could he possibly accomplish?" Bashan Hong said, his face dark and gloomy!
At this moment, Bashan Hong was boiling with rage. Bashan Cangmang was utterly impossible, completely refusing to play by the rules. They had all just forged a binding pact, yet he was still playing these petty mind games—was he out of his mind?
Everyone knew what Bashan Cangmang was scheming... A good dog always looks to cozy up to a powerful master. He was simply going down there to grovel and fawn in front of Elder Hua...
"Enough, scatter for now. Don't go too far, just wait nearby for Bashan Cangmang to come out..." With that, Bashan Gui turned and walked away, shooting straight up into the sky like a rocket!
Bashan Hong and Bashan Wujiang exchanged helpless glances and departed as well.
......
When Yang Fan once again found himself standing before the elderly man seated cross-legged on the floor, Bashan Cangmang violently flung Yang Fan aside! Crashing hard against the stone wall, Yang Fan stared at him with eyes slowly filling with murderous intent.
Bashan Cangmang completely ignored Yang Fan’s gaze, casting him a single fleeting glance before striding forward!
"Bashan Cangmang pays respects to Elder Hua!" Bashan Cangmang saluted respectfully.
Bashan Hua did not reply immediately. Instead, his eyes snapped open, and an invisible surge of power erupted from his body, washing over everyone in the vicinity!
This was spiritual force. While the seals locked away true Qi, one's own spiritual force was merely suppressed and could still be barely utilized!
Feeling the shroud of spiritual force wash over him, Bashan Cangmang visibly relaxed.
He hurriedly spoke up: "Elder Hua, this junior has come to confess his mistakes. A century ago, our hesitation caused Elder Hua's grand undertaking to fall short at the final hurdle. This time, I have come specifically to rescue Elder Hua from this prison!"

Upon hearing Bashan Cangmang’s words, Bashan Hua still remained silent, his gaze shifting back and forth between Yang Fan and Bashan Cangmang.
After a brief pause, seeing that Bashan Hua offered no response, Bashan Cangmang looked on in confusion. At that moment, Bashan Hua’s expression turned solemn, as if he had finally made a decision!
Looking at Bashan Cangmang, he said, "Let us not speak of matters from a century ago. Since it has already come to pass, placing blame serves no purpose. The fact that you could come here today shows that you have truly reached a consensus... The mistake of a century ago will not be repeated!"
"Exactly, Elder Hua. We have forged a binding pact this time; none of us can escape, and whoever tries dies... You can rest assured this time, we will definitely turn the tables! You should tell us about your seal—how can it be undone?"
Standing off to the side, Yang Fan watched the exchange between the two. For some reason, Yang Fan couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about Bashan Hua... He felt different from their last meeting, though Yang Fan couldn't quite put his finger on what had changed. Moreover, the glance Bashan Hua had just cast his way had plunged him into an icy cellar, chilling him to the bone.
Bashan Hua nodded, bypassing further questions, and continued: "For a hundred years, I have been suppressed beneath this earth. In all this time, almost no one has ever come down here—not even my heartless eldest brother, Bashan Mo, who only visited a handful of times. For a century, I have relentlessly battered against this seal, and its power is now a far cry from what it once was. You are currently at the absolute peak of the Ninth Grade, fully capable of shattering my seal. Come, strike me with your fist and break these chains binding my body..." By the end of his sentence, Bashan Hua’s voice had risen to a raspy roar.
The more Yang Fan listened, the more wrong Bashan Hua's words sounded, and the more unnatural his emotional state appeared!
Bashan Cangmang also hesitated slightly. Pondering for a moment, he asked, "Is my strength truly sufficient to break it? Given the Patriarch's immense vigilance toward you, that hardly seems likely!"
Bashan Hua frowned slightly before replying, "Have no doubts. Over the years, that old bastard has never once set foot in my domain; he has likely forgotten my current state entirely. Furthermore, the four of you have had zero contact with me over the past century, so his guard against you has undoubtedly lowered. Among the Bashan Clan, only the few of you possess the capability to rescue me. Since he has let down his guard toward you, he has naturally let down his guard toward me as well. Coupled with my century-long assault on the seal, it is already on the verge of fracturing. All it takes is an inside-and-outside coordinated strike from you and me to break it completely! Hurry and make your move. Once I am free, I will keep Bashan Mo occupied while the four of you go make your breakthroughs. Once you break through, we will join forces and kill Bashan Mo together... No matter how strong he is, he cannot fight five opponents at once!"
At that moment, Yang Fan was certain that Bashan Hua was lying through his teeth. What "Bashan Mo hasn't come here in a long time"? When Yang Fan had entered previously, Bashan Mo had clearly probed this very place. If the seals here were truly deteriorating to that degree, Bashan Mo would have definitely made a move back then!
Bashan Hua was hiding something sinister! A rough realization began to form in Yang Fan’s mind!