Legend has it that twenty years ago, the Huangfu Family hid half of their treasures and resources in Tianduan Mountain. But no one had ever seen it, nor had anyone ever found it. So, it was eventually dismissed as a rumor and came to nothing.

Since these treasures were found in Tianduan Mountain, they very likely belong to the Huangfu Family.

I never expected you to find it, my lord. This means the legend is true. And it also means there’s still more to be found in Tianduan Mountain.

Just then, a Soul Slave brought in four cleaned belts.

"My lord, Steward, these four waist tokens have been cleaned."

Luo Dingran took them, and the Soul Slave withdrew to continue cleaning the other items.

Luo Dingran examined the four waist tokens. They were made of bronze, with the word ’Huangfu’ engraved on one side and ’B’ on the other.

"It really is the Huangfu Family!" A sharp glint flashed in Luo Dingran’s eyes. "Level B guards of the Huangfu Family!"

Cheng Zongyang’s eyes flickered. "Tell me about this Huangfu Family," he asked.

Luo Dingran spoke with a grave expression. "I was once a core disciple of a Noble Family, so I learned many of their most guarded secrets.

Da Liang was founded over four hundred years ago. But more than two centuries ago, one of the families grew powerful enough to become a Royal Family. They later left Da Liang, taking all of their clan’s resources with them, and traveled to what is now known as the Land of the Thirteen Royal Families. Their departure was a tremendous loss for Da Liang.

After that, Da Liang began to systematically suppress the growth of the Gate Valves.

The Huangfu Family was a Da Liang Gate Valve that, twenty years ago, came closer than any other to becoming a Royal Family. They were world-renowned for forging Divine Weapons. In terms of power, wealth, and influence, they were the strongest of all the Gate Valves. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

At the time, the prefectures of Xiangyang and Linchuan were almost entirely within the Huangfu Family’s sphere of influence.

Later, to prevent the Huangfu Family from gaining true Royal Influence and seceding with the two prefectures, the late emperor launched a plan to exterminate their clan, using rebellion as the pretext.

The operation was carried out by the Six Paths Bureau, the Reincarnation Bureau, and all the top masters from seven Gate Valves, including the present-day Su, Zheng, and Zhu Families. They annihilated the Huangfu Family in just seven days.

However, they only eliminated the middle and upper echelons of the family. As for the rest, they captured who they could and simply put out bounties for those they couldn’t.

Since then, the fugitive members of the Huangfu Family have changed their names, no longer daring to use the surname Huangfu."

Having said that, Luo Dingran returned to the topic of the treasure. "Therefore," he added, "the Huangfu Family must have hidden these treasures in advance, knowing that Da Liang was about to move against them. They were likely intended to fund a future rise to power, or perhaps simply left for the Huangfu descendants.

Likewise, after the Huangfu Family’s fall, the weapons they had forged were highly sought after and seized by various factions. The Divine Weapons they created could cut through iron as if it were mud, much like our Refined Long Blades, or your Tang Blade."

Cheng Zongyang understood now.

’It made sense when he thought about it. With Da Liang preparing to make a move, how could a family as powerful as the Huangfu not know? But all they could do was hide half of their wealth beforehand.’

’The other half was left as bait for the other Gate Valve factions to fight over. This would buy time for their bloodline to escape, preventing those factions from frantically hunting down every family member to interrogate them about the treasure’s location.’

’A single whale fall gives life to myriad beings. With the fall of the Huangfu Family, countless other factions were able to feast. Sacrificing half their fortune for a chance at survival for their kin... it was worth it.’

’Cheng Zongyang guessed that the direct lineage of the Huangfu Family had been sent away long before the attack. There was no way they would have been left behind to be slaughtered.’

’Taking a more conspiratorial view, the Huangfu survivors had probably infiltrated the various Noble Families, Gate Valve factions, or even the inner workings of Da Liang by now.’

’The grudge from having their entire clan wiped out... anyone with an ounce of pride who escaped back then would surely seek revenge.’

’But how they would get that revenge, that was anyone’s guess.’