"What's going on? Why is there smoke coming from outside?"

  Hua Rou and Yu'er rushed into the secret room together, then froze in place.

  "Eh, where's the stone plate gone?" Yuer immediately went to look at the wall, and the names of those materials on the wall couldn't be seen either.

  I entered and scanned the room, looking at Tang Liu'ersitting on the ground with his head hung low: "What's going on? How did the barrier break?"

  Tang Jian came in with Tang Xiao at this time, and Tang Liu jumped up with a swoop, shouting at Tang Xiao: "Tang Xiao, your family's Tang Feiyan is being unreasonable!"

  Tang Xiao was stunned, his eyes scanning the surroundings: "What do you mean? The checkpoint was broken by Tang Feiyan?"

  "Right! There's nothing edible or wearable in their luggage, just various materials. They broke through this level as soon as they rushed in, and we...we were robbed!"

  Everyone was shocked and looked at each other in dismay.

  Tang Jin took a step forward excitedly: "Are you sure there are materials in their luggage?"

  "Of course I'm sure! I saw it clearly!" Tang Liu exclaimed, "They have everything! Not only do they have guns, but also crossbow components!"

  "Mu Jun, I looked directly at Tang Xiao: "How many combinations of materials are there for this level?"

  "Ten kinds."

  Hua Rou's eyebrows furrowed upon hearing this: "If they knew what all ten combinations were going to be and prepared ahead of time, wouldn't that be the end of it?"

  "No! It's hard to do!" Tang Xiao shook his head and said: "The trial is only open once every three years, and the number of people who can enter is already very small. The pillars also have many changes, and Grandma has an order that forbids discussing the content of the trial levels with outsiders. So it's very difficult to figure out what materials are needed..."

  "It's difficult, but not impossible." Mu Junwu glanced at the wall with the standing pillars: "If we find all the disciples who have come in over the generations and ask them one by one, it's not hard to gather ten combinations. After all, not everyone's mouth is tight, it just can't be done in a day."

  Tang Liu'ertu suddenly shouted at Tang Xiao: "I knew I shouldn't have let you join our group! You and Tang Feiyan are at odds, but now you're dragging us down too. And by the way, she just told me to tell you that you'll never get all ten tokens!"

  Tang Xiao's face sank as soon as he heard the words, and Mu Jun immediately glanced at Tang Xiao.

  "Alright! Now that things have come to this, getting angry and blaming each other won't do any good. Let's just hurry up and go find the next checkpoint!"

  "Right, right, go find the next one!" Yu'er immediately responded.

  Tang Liu was about to say something else, but Tang Ji patted him on the shoulder: "Say a few less words!"

  At this time, Tang Jing led the way out with Tang Liu, followed by Yu'er and Hua Rou, while Mu Junwu and Tang Xiao walked at the end.

  As they walked to the door, Mu Junwu suddenly turned his head and looked at Tang Xiao: "Are you hiding something from us?"

  Tang Xiao immediately shook his head: "No."

  "Why did Tang Fei Yan say something like that?"

  "She... She's giving me the cold shoulder!"

  "Really?" Mu Junwu stared at Tang Xiao: "But I think you're not telling the truth."

  Mo Jun finished speaking and walked out. Tang Xiao's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, but he immediately took a deep breath to calm himself down and quickly followed him out.

  ……

  In the royal palace of Chu Wang, in the imperial hall, Ma Xi Sheng, who had retired early, did not remove his court attire and casually rolled up his sleeves to lean on the table, shouting at the eunuchs to start the game.

  He won two games in a row, and his new black go piece won both times, which delighted him: "Ah! You're not bad at all! Winning two more games makes me very happy. I'll promote you to a higher rank, how about that? From now on, you won't be called the Black General, but the Black Marshal!"

  At this time, Zhao Jichang brought in a small eunuch and saw that Ma Xisheng was like this again. A look of disdain flashed in his eyes, and he immediately signaled the little eunuch to wait on one side, while he himself stepped forward.

  Zhao Jichang's face was flattering: "Your Majesty, take a look at this."

  Zhao Jichang took out a small, finger-length birdcage from his sleeve and handed it to Ma Xisheng. Ma Xisheng was overjoyed: "It's so big! Quick, quick, give it to me! Give it to me!"

  Zhao Jichang handed the carved cage to Ma Xisheng: "This is what the slaves brought with dozens of little ones in the backyard, and finally found such a big one."

  "Good job! Good job!" Ma Xi's face was filled with great joy: "What reward do you want? Speak!"

  "The king's words have hurt this humble servant's heart. I only sought to bring joy to the king, not to seek any reward."

  Ma Xi's eyes never left the birdcage: "You're a good slave! Indeed, you're the most capable slave."

  Ma Xi hastily poured out the mantis, letting it fight against Hei Yuan Shuai.

  Two quails were fighting in the enclosure, and Mahesh was excitedly shouting beside them: "Bite! Bite! Whoever wins, I'll make him the Grand Marshal of the Guardian!"

  Zhao Jichang straightened up and gave a wink to the little eunuch.

  The little eunuch immediately ran up: "Report to Your Majesty, the Left Prime Minister has an urgent matter to request an audience!"

  Ma Xi Sheng was enjoying himself, why would he bother?

  "It's gone!"

  "Hold on!" Zhao Jichang bent down and whispered to Ma Shi, "Your Majesty, if the Left Prime Minister has come to ask, it must be something important. Otherwise, I'll go out and help you ask, and if it's not a big deal, I'll help you handle it."

  Ma Xi Sheng waved his hand repeatedly: "Alright alright alright, go go go!"

  Zhao Jichang immediately walked out and exchanged a smile with the little eunuch.

  Inside the hall, Ma Xi's voice was excited and watchful: "Bite, bite hard! Right, right!" He didn't care at all what he had agreed to.

  Zhao Jichang took Xiao Taijian out of the palace, but there was no sign of Zuo Xiang outside.

  The little eunuch lowered his voice and approached Zhao Jichang: "Uncle, is this really okay?"

  "It's nothing, he can't move at the moment!" Zhao Jichang said in a low voice, then suddenly raised his voice and shouted into the air: "Prime Minister Zuo, His Majesty is busy right now, if there's anything I can help you convey."

  The little eunuch covered his mouth and smiled secretly. Zhao Jichang raised his hand and poked him on the forehead, saying in a low voice: "Hold it in! You're not dignified at all."

  Zhao Jichang raised his voice again: "Alright, I know. I'll go and inform the king right away. Please return, Left Prime Minister!"

  Zhao Jichang waved his hand, and the little eunuch also cleared his throat: "Prime Minister of the Left, please come this way."

  Xiao Taijian walked away alone. Zhao Jichang looked around at the other eunuchs who had called him "Dry Father" and slowly returned to the palace.

  As soon as he entered the hall, Zhao Jichang bowed his head and hunched his back to get close to Ma Hisheng's side. At this time, a battle had just ended in the cricket fighting arena.

  Ma Xi shook his head and said: "Your big guy is big, but not useful. The lonely Black General, no, the Black Marshal is more powerful!"

  "The great king has a discerning eye for talent, and I am willing to concede defeat."

  Ma Xi Sheng used a straw to gently push the cicada into the carved cage: "Speak, what is it that you want to say, Left Prime Minister?"

  "Your Majesty, the Left Chancellor says he wants to personally oversee the grand burial of Chen Zhaoyi."