Once there, they saw an elder guarding the treasury. He stood up, about to salute, but the ancestor simply said, "Open the gate."
The elder was dazed for a moment—he had not seen this serious side of their ancestor in a long time. Now that he saw him like this, he naturally complied without hesitation and followed the order.
He opened the gate but did not enter, standing outside and waiting for the two of them. Lingshe smiled at this. She was proud to have been born into a family that adhered to rules and principles so strictly. She knew that if the family she had been born into was more corrupt, it would be difficult to successfully put her plans into action.
Seeing firsthand how respected her ancestor was, she acknowledged that she had entered an easier path than most. Or rather, instead of calling it the easy path, it would be more accurate to say she had entered the path meant for a truly talented descendant. Unfortunately, the Yu Lingshe in the story had not behaved this way until much later—after the second female lead had died. That had been a wake-up call for her.
She was determined not to repeat such mistakes. Walking behind her ancestor with confidence, she was sure of the future she would build for herself.
Her ancestor glanced at her over his shoulder, satisfied that he had such an able granddaughter. He walked past the many entry halls and treasures in the treasury without stopping. And there were many—ancient weapons, scrolls that seemed to hide countless secrets, and even seals representing all the titles the family had gained throughout their long history.
Yet, he ignored them all and led her to the very last room of the treasury.
The room was empty, save for three towering glass pillars that reached into the ceiling. They were see-through, except in the middle section, where jade inlays concealed their contents.
The ancestor walked calmly to the left pillar, his steps unhurried but precise, as if following a hidden pattern. When he arrived before the pillar, the jade panel opened on its own without him even touching it.
He reached inside and retrieved a jade box. It was intricately carved with the patterns of the Pixiu, the treasure-keeping divine beast.
The Pixiu was a creature that defied fortune itself. Unlike others who lost opportunities when acquiring wealth, the Pixiu only accumulated fortune with every treasure it gained. Nothing was ever lost once it entered its inner space, making it the divine beast all merchants wished to have.
The image of the divine beast was carved all around the box—its wings folded at the sides, four clawed paws standing upright at the base, an open-mouthed face in the front as if swallowing all treasures, a single horn reaching backward at the top, and a tail hanging down at the back, sealing the exit.
Just looking at it, there was no visible seam—it truly appeared as though it were a solid block of jade refined into a box.
The Yu ancestor handled the box with great care and walked back toward Lingshe. Near the entrance, there was a table where he gently placed the box before beginning his explanation.
"This box is called the 'Myriad Fortune Blessed Land,' as recorded in the ancient scrolls of our clan."
He traced his fingers over the engravings before continuing. "It is said that this box contains a world within—a sealed domain capable of gathering and preserving a clan's fortune for eternity. It ensures that our family's prosperity never fades and even has the ability to generate treasures from the accumulated fortune."
His gaze darkened slightly as he added, "However, some old texts state that because of this treasure, our clan itself cannot gain any new opportunities, aside from those achieved by individual members. This makes it difficult for the clan to expand but also embodies the principle of contentment—of maintaining wealth rather than constantly seeking more."
After saying this, he turned and walked toward the rightmost pillar, following a different but equally deliberate pattern. Once again, the jade panel opened on its own, revealing a jade book with ten thick jade plates inside.
He carefully took it and returned to Lingshe, placing it on the table beside the box.
"This is the Sutra of Jade Essence," he explained. "It was compiled over ten generations of our ancestors. The first generation of our Yu clan wrote the foundational sutra. The next three generations added the three Immortal Chants, followed by the three Enlightened Chants. Finally, the three Mortal Chants were completed a few hundred thousand years ago."
Although he explained it in detail, Lingshe's eyes were drawn only to the last page when her ancestor flipped through the book. She placed her hands on the jade plates, her fingers tracing over the imprinted words.
"Flow and fill, strong and still…" she murmured.
The words were short, like a simple chant, but every syllable carried a deeper resonance. Just speaking them aloud while touching the jade book seemed to awaken something.
She didn't know what it was, but her body suddenly felt as if she had just eaten a full meal—completely replenished with energy. A strong desire to move surged within her. Just as she was about to act on it, she noticed her grandfather staring at her in shock.
"You… you can read it?" he asked in disbelief.
He placed a hand on his own chest, his expression shifting further into astonishment. Although he was a martial artist, his body had aged. His strength, while greater than that of an average man, was not what it had been in his prime.
Yet now, he felt something unbelievable. He felt rejuvenated.
Lingshe's eyes widened in realization. She spread her palm flat against the last page and, this time, spoke with conviction.
"Flow and fill, strong and still!"
The moment the words left her lips, a warmth spread through her hand. Unlike before, she did not feel replenished—rather, she felt drained, as though all her energy was being poured into the chant.
At the same time, a transformation took place before her eyes.
Her grandfather's sparse hair thickened, his wrinkles softened, and a powerful aura radiated from his body. She recognized this aura from the stories her father had told her when she was younger—this was the unmistakable presence of a powerful martial artist!
Her grandfather's eyes became watery with emotion.
"I… I seem to have regained my strength!" he said, his voice trembling with excitement.
Lingshe nodded, then slowly removed her hand from the jade plate. A flood of instinctual knowledge entered her mind.
She let out a wry smile.
"Grandfather… this chant… it cannot be repeated." She frowned slightly. "I feel as though all my energy was temporarily drained. A small voice in my heart tells me that this was a blessing chant—one that can only be bestowed upon a person once in their lifetime."
She closed her eyes, grasping the understanding she had just gained.
"The three Mortal Chants can be spoken by anyone, but their effects are limited. Those with true conviction, the Yu clan's bloodline, and a proper medium can use them to their full potential. Though I am weak, the jade book itself is an incredibly strong medium, which allowed me to invoke the blessing.
Your body has been nourished with potent vitality, restoring you to the peak of your strength. Unfortunately…" She hesitated before finishing, "…it does not extend your lifespan. It only allows you to maintain your power until your final moments."
Her grandfather's expression softened as he listened. He gazed at her with a mix of gratitude and awe, his hands clenching into fists, feeling the strength he had thought lost forever.
The secrets of the Yu clan were beginning to unfold.
And Yu Lingshe was at the center of it all.