605: Chapter 601 The Third Picture 605: Chapter 601 The Third Picture So, Ye Tian spent a while playing games in the break room, and three hours later, the communication staff of the network sent Ye Tian three pictures.
Which meant, there were actually only three cultural relics in the stolen ancient tomb!
The first picture was of a snuff bottle, which was quite popular during the Song Dynasty—it was not surprising to find one in an ancient tomb.
But the snuff bottle didn’t catch Ye Tian’s interest, so he couldn’t be bothered to examine how finely crafted it was…
The second picture was of a general’s jar, also a product of the Song Dynasty, equally exquisite.
From these two pictures, Ye Tian could almost determine that the stolen ancient tomb was from the Song Dynasty, and the owner of the tomb must have been wealthy, as the buried artifacts were all fine goods!
However, Ye Tian felt somewhat disappointed because he was not an antique enthusiast.
He had no interest in these bottles and jars, so he lazily clicked on the third picture sent by the network.
It was probably some finely crafted cultural relics as well.
It seemed that the money spent on the network search this time was a waste…
The third picture was of a Peach Wood Sword!
“A sword?”
Ye Tian looked at the Peach Wood Sword with some surprise.
During the Song Dynasty, Taoism was prominent, so objects like the Peach Wood Sword, used in Taoism to ward off evil spirits, were common in households.
So, the appearance of a Peach Wood Sword in this tomb was not unreasonable.
However, the fact that a Peach Wood Sword from the Song Dynasty had lasted over a thousand years without decaying was somewhat unexpected to Ye Tian!
Therefore, Ye Tian couldn’t help but gaze at the Peach Wood Sword for a few more moments…
“Eh?
What’s happening??”
At that moment, something surprising happened to Ye Tian.
His own wooden sword, which he always carried, began to tremble!
You should know, this divine weapon, crafted from the core of a millennium ancient tree, only trembled like this when he exerted powerful force in combat with an enemy.
But why was the wooden sword moving now?
Ye Tian felt immensely puzzled.
What exactly was going on?
But then Ye Tian recalled that the last time the wooden sword trembled outside of combat, it was when he had placed it next to the black sword obtained from Tian Shisan.
This was a phenomenon of resonance; both the wooden sword and the black sword were divine weapons containing no small amount of energy, so indeed, they would affect each other when placed together.
The fact that the picture of the Peach Wood Sword sent by the network could also make the wooden sword resonate surprised Ye Tian deeply…
He and the wooden sword, as well as the core of the millennium ancient tree, had long been in harmony, so naturally, the images he saw with his eyes could also be transmitted into the world of Shu Xin.
Excited by this, it seemed he indeed needed to acquire this Peach Wood Sword!
“The Peach Wood Sword in the third picture, tell me its location!”
Ye Tian once again entered his request on the network’s interface, and the communication staff immediately replied.
“Information in one hour!”
It took less time than the first inquiry.
Ye Tian continued playing his game, and one hour later, the network accurately provided the address.
“The home of archaeologist Xue Yunfu in Jiangcheng.”
“It’s at his place?”
Ye Tian’s expression darkened.
The cultural relic lost from the ancient tomb had appeared in the archaeologist’s home.
You should know that this Xue Yunfu was the leader of the national team excavating the Jiangcheng ancient tomb.
However, that such a person could possess a Peach Wood Sword stolen from the ancient tomb suggested something complex was afoot…
Ye Tian vaguely felt that this tomb robbery was not simple; it was very likely an inside job…
After closing the network page and the computer, Ye Tian left the security team’s break room.
The time was three in the afternoon, not yet off work hours, but that didn’t stop Ye Tian from leaving early.
He directly left the office building of Yun Corporation.
Xue Yunfu was a native of Jiangcheng and a second-generation rich, thus living in a well-off family, making his home in a villa area.
Although he was a rich second generation, Xue Yunfu’s interest was not in inheriting the family business but in archaeology!
He studied archaeology in college and after graduating, worked in the cultural relics protection department in Jiangcheng, always diligent and meticulous.
Xue Yunfu’s accomplishments had once been widely reported by the media in Jiangcheng, thus he became an archaeologist admired by the people of Jiangcheng.
He was even the leader of the excavation team for the ancient tomb on the outskirts of Jiangcheng, which showed the high hopes the cultural relics protection department had for him.
However, due to technical reasons, this ancient tomb had not been excavated yet.
Xue Yunfu and his team could only do protective work on the periphery and had not begun the excavation.
It was believed that the theft of the tomb was not Xue Yunfu’s fault but rather because the tomb raiders were too cunning, and Xue Yunfu, along with his excavation team, simply did not have enough strength to protect the tomb.
“One may know a person’s face, but not their heart.” Likely, no one would have guessed that Xue Yunfu, who was forgiven by all, was the mastermind behind this tomb-robbing incident, since it was his home where the stolen precious relics from the ancient tomb appeared!
Ye Tian employed his Light Skill Steps and slowly made his way to the residential villa area where Xue Yunfu lived.
Xue Yunfu’s residence was the largest mansion in the villa area, extremely imposing and stretching over three floors.
Despite the mansion’s size, inside there were no other people, no servants or housekeepers, and Xue Yunfu had been single to this day…
Upon arriving at the villa, Ye Tian concealed his presence; his Qinggong had reached a transcendental level, so he wasn’t worried about being discovered while investigating the place.
After observing the outside of the villa for a while, Ye Tian found that the second floor of the villa housed Xue Yunfu’s study.
He lightly leaped to the study’s window.
This leap was effortless, making not the slightest noise; neither Xue Yunfu nor the security guards in the villa area could possibly detect him.
After entering the study, Ye Tian hid behind the curtains.
The study was empty, presenting a perfect opportunity for Ye Tian to use his abilities!
Generally, precious items are liked to be kept in studies, so Ye Tian used his clairvoyant ability to carefully search every corner of the room.
Bookshelves, desks, murals, small sofas, coffee tables…
Ye Tian spared no suspicious spot!
However, he did not find any clues.
Could it be that the Peach Wood Sword acquired by Xue Yunfu wasn’t hidden in the study?
As Ye Tian was pondering, someone entered the study!
In his forties, pot-bellied, it was indeed Xue Yunfu, the head of the tomb excavation team!
Since Xue Yunfu had no martial arts skills, he couldn’t sense that someone was hiding behind the curtains of the study.
Thus, Ye Tian did not plan to escape; he wanted to see what Xue Yunfu would do in the study.
“Mr.
Deng, come in,” Xue Yunfu said.
After entering the study, Xue Yunfu did not consult any ancient books, but instead sat on the small sofa and gestured towards the study’s door.
A tall man entered the study and sat directly in front of Xue Yunfu.
This man, referred to by Xue Yunfu as “Mr.
Deng,” carried himself with an air of arrogance.
Xue Yunfu also showed great respect for him, personally pouring him a cup of tea.
This man seemed to possess martial arts skills, and they were not weak…
Ye Tian distinctly sensed a powerful energy emanating from Mr.
Deng!
Who exactly was this man?
After all, unlike Xue Yunfu who had no martial arts skills, Ye Tian dared not be careless.
He held his breath, for any martial artist proficient in sensing changes in the air could detect one’s presence by the sound of breathing.
Fortunately, Ye Tian was among the top experts; just by holding his breath and concealing his presence, few could detect him…
Even if Mr.
Deng was skilled, he was oblivious to the fact that someone was hiding behind the curtains in the study!
“Mr.
Deng, about my initiation this time, is there a chance?” Xue Yunfu asked, bowing and scraping, as he carefully pulled out an item from his person and handed it to Mr.
Deng.
—That item was the Peach Wood Sword, the very one Ye Tian had seen in the photos provided by the online network!
“Hmph!”
Upon receiving the Peach Wood Sword, Mr.
Deng’s face showed an amused expression as he carefully played with the sword.
But Mr.
Deng’s facial expressions did not look good.
Xue Yunfu grew anxious; after all, this Peach Wood Sword was tied to his own destiny!
“Mr.
Deng, what do you think?” Xue Yunfu asked cautiously, while Mr.
Deng immediately made a disdainful expression.
“Xue Yunfu, to bring such an item before me, making a fool of yourself.
Thinking this would get you into our ranks with just this, are you dreaming?”
“Mr.
Deng!
Please, I beg you!
This Peach Wood Sword is the best thing I could manage to acquire.
Moreover, I exerted much effort to obtain this sword, risking betraying my country.
So, please, speak some good words for me to the higher-ups!” Xue Yunfu pleaded.
But Mr.
Deng’s facial expression remained unchanged.
“But this wooden sword does not even qualify as a ‘Life Weapon’; it’s totally unworthy of initiation!
Why should I speak on your behalf?
I certainly don’t want to be punished because of you!”
Life Weapon?
This term made Ye Tian’s expression twitch slightly; no wonder his own wooden sword reacted to this Peach Wood Sword!
But from Mr.
Deng’s words, it seemed the Peach Wood Sword retrieved by Xue Yunfu from the ancient tomb didn’t even count as a Life Weapon…
Ye Tian was taken aback.
What standards define whether it is a Life Weapon?
Why is the wooden sword in his possession considered a Life Weapon by Tian Shisan, while Mr.
Deng’s Peach Wood Sword was not?