From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 256 Treasure Hunt in the Maze: Xiao Yao's Clever Path

Standing at the entrance of the maze, gazing at the intricate passageways, I felt an indescribable sense of urgency welling up inside me.

Sunlight filters through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the stone slabs at the entrance.

The contestants from all around gathered here, each with an expression of either confidence or nervousness, their eyes gleaming with a desire for the treasure.

Ling Yun stood not far away, his arrogant posture seemingly proclaiming his confidence to everyone.

Qingfeng, on the other hand, looked confident and shrewd, with a hint of cunning in his eyes.

Blood Shadow stood in the corner, his eyes cold and unsettling.

I know these people are my formidable opponents in this treasure hunt competition.

"Xiao Yao, are you ready?" Ling Yu's voice rang in my ears. His fair gaze seemed to remind me that this competition was not only a test of strength, but also a test of wisdom.

"Ready?" I nodded, silently resolving that no matter how many difficulties lay ahead, I must overcome them.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the maze.

As soon as I entered the maze, I found a mark that seemed to lead to the depths.

I followed the markers, my heart filled with hope.

But after walking for a short while, I found myself in a dead end.

The surrounding walls seemed to mock my mistakes, making me feel frustrated.

I suppressed my frustration and retreated to the entrance, re-examining the markings.

"These markings are clearly traps," I thought to myself, and began to carefully observe my surroundings.

The runes on the wall seemed to be shimmering slightly, and a faint spiritual aura permeated the air.

I closed my eyes and tried to feel the atmosphere around me.

Suddenly, I sensed an unusual fluctuation, as if something was guiding me.

I opened my eyes and noticed a tiny crack in the wall not far away, through which a faint ray of light shone.

I stepped forward and gently touched the crack with my hand; a faint spiritual energy flowed through my fingertips.

A thought struck me, and I immediately unfolded the talisman in my hand and stuck it onto the crack.

With a "whoosh," the crack widened instantly, revealing a hidden passage.

I smiled slightly and stepped into this new passage.

"Xiao Yao, you are indeed extraordinary." A languid voice sounded behind me. I turned around and saw Wen Chen still leaning against the ancient tree, gently shaking the wine jug in his hand. "However, treasures are not easy to find. Are you ready to face even greater challenges?"

I smiled and replied firmly, "Nothing is impossible if you have the determination." I turned and walked into the passageway, my heart filled with anticipation and confidence.

The passage was dimly lit, with only the occasional flashing runes on the walls emitting a faint glow that illuminated the rugged path beneath my feet.

I groped my way forward, the air filled with the damp smell of earth, mixed with a faint odor of decay, which made me feel somewhat uncomfortable.

I quickened my pace, my heart pounding faster, the thumping echoing in the silent passage like the beating of drums.

"Haha, I've found a treasure!" A triumphant voice drifted from afar, followed by Ling Yun's disdainful snort: "A mere trick, the real treasure is yet to come!" Their voices faded into the distance, and my anxiety grew. Had I already fallen behind?

No, I have to speed things up!

I ran wildly along the passage, the runes on the walls flashing past my eyes, forming a blurry blur of light and shadow.

I felt my breathing becoming more and more rapid, and sweat slid down my forehead, soaking my clothes.

The surrounding walls seemed to be constantly pressing in on me, making it hard for me to breathe.

Suddenly, a fork in the road appeared ahead, with three paths winding forward, leading into the unknown depths.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering which option to choose.

The walls of the left passage were covered with complex runes, emanating a faint spiritual energy fluctuation; the right passage was gloomy and terrifying, with a bloody smell permeating the air; the middle passage looked ordinary, but it had a strange attraction for me.

I gritted my teeth and decided to choose the middle path.

As soon as I stepped into the passage, I felt a powerful pressure coming towards me, as if an invisible hand was blocking my way.

I took a deep breath, mobilized the spiritual energy within my body, resisted the pressure, and walked forward step by step.

"Xiao Yao, give up. You have no chance of finding the treasure!" Blood Shadow's cold voice suddenly rang in my ears, making me shiver.

I turned around abruptly, only to find that there was no one behind me, except for the eerie glow of the runes flashing on the wall.

Is it an illusion?

I shook my head, trying to stay calm.

I know now is not the time to give up.

I continued walking forward, but the passage became narrower and narrower, and the pressure around me increased. I felt like my body was about to collapse under the weight.

"Wen Chen..." I murmured softly, as if this would grant me a sliver of power.

Just when I was about to give up, suddenly, a glimmer of light appeared ahead...

"It seems I need to change my strategy..."

I stopped, took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and felt the change in the surrounding atmosphere.

Everything around seemed to quiet down at that moment, and even breathing became clearly audible.

I could hear the voices of the contestants in the distance, some excited, some anxious, but their voices seemed distant and indistinct at that moment.

The walls of the maze seemed to sense my focus, becoming less cold and indifferent, as if waiting for my next move.

I slowly opened my eyes, my gaze becoming unusually focused.

The surrounding environment seemed to become clearer at this moment, and every inch of the wall seemed to be conveying some kind of message to me.

I carefully observed the patterns on the wall. Some of these patterns were rough, some were delicate, some were winding and twisting, and some were straight lines.

I gently stroked the textures with my hands, feeling their warmth and feel.

Suddenly, I noticed several almost invisible fine lines, arranged in a very regular pattern, as if they were a hidden code.

A thought suddenly struck me: could these patterns be shortcuts in the maze?

I quickly recalled my previous exploration and found that these patterns appeared at certain key intersections.

I gradually gained confidence and decided to follow these patterns.

As I walked along these patterns, the sense of accomplishment grew stronger with each step.

The maze's passages seemed to become more welcoming because of my wisdom; the runes on the walls shimmered with a soft light, as if encouraging me.

My steps grew firmer and firmer, and the voices of the other contestants around me faded into the distance. I could even hear Qingfeng and Lingyun arguing in the passageway.

Just as I was about to enter a wide intersection, a familiar voice suddenly rang in my ears: "Xiao Yao, you really know how to surprise people." I turned around and saw Wen Chen still standing not far away, with a hint of appreciation and encouragement in his eyes.

I smiled slightly, my heart filled with determination: "The real surprise is yet to come." I continued along the shortcut, as if the entire maze was cheering for my wisdom.

I followed those almost invisible lines, each step filled with confidence.

The passage seemed to have become wider, and the runes on the walls had become brighter, as if illuminating the path ahead for me.

Soon, I came to a wide intersection, where the air was noticeably fresher than before.

I took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze caress my face, and my heart was filled with anticipation.

Just then, I suddenly noticed a slightly ajar stone door in front of me, and the light shining through it flickered at the end of the passage.

My heart raced as I strode toward the stone door, a surge of uncontrollable excitement welling up inside me.

Could the secret treasure chamber be behind this stone door?

I pushed open the stone door, and a rich spiritual energy rushed towards me. The scene inside the secret chamber dazzled me.

The walls were inlaid with countless gems, which emitted a dazzling array of colors, illuminating the entire secret chamber as if it were daytime.

In the center of the secret chamber stood a huge crystal platform, upon which were displayed various precious treasures: spirit stones shimmering with dazzling light, elixirs emitting a faint fragrance, and magical artifacts engraved with mysterious runes...

These treasures appeared even more precious and alluring under the light.

I was so excited I was almost trembling, and an impulse drove me to rush toward the treasures.

I quickly put these precious treasures into the storage bag I carried with me. When I got my hands on each treasure, I could feel the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from them.

My hands trembled slightly, and my heart was filled with joy and satisfaction.

These treasures will not only greatly benefit my own cultivation, but also add more possibilities to my future.

Just as my emotions were gradually calming down, a strange sound suddenly came from the depths of the secret room.

The voice was deep and cold, as if something was stirring in the shadows.

I immediately became alert, slowly stopping what I was doing, tensing up, and scanning my surroundings warily.

What is hidden behind this sound?

"Xiao Yao, be careful. This secret room isn't as simple as it seems." Wen Chen's voice rang in my ears, his tone full of warning.

I nodded, my eyes fixed on the direction from which the sound came, a sense of urgency running through my mind.