Chen Xu nodded and said, "That's right. I saw that box under the cat's eye stone in that photo before, at Mivad's place." He said this half-truthfully, without explaining how he saw it: "That box is the one that used to hold the imperial seal. But I don't know if Mivad put that box in with the treasure when he hid it." At this point, Chen Xu deliberately smiled: "That's right, Mivad's treasure has more than just the imperial seal. It doesn't matter if the imperial seal is given away; I'd definitely get shot if it were sold overseas, and no one would dare buy it domestically. But the other things in the treasure, hehehe… it's enough for us to make a fortune!"
The three women rolled their eyes, thinking that this guy really didn't care about money.
The topic returned to how to find the treasure. Guan Yi had personally gone into the water and seen the sturdy iron gate, knowing that it was impossible to open it underwater by individual strength. To open the gate and enter, they would need to find professionals, but that would inevitably alert more people, which would not conform to Chen Xu and his group's current principle of "entering the village quietly, without firing a shot."
But with just a few people, how easy would it be to open that iron gate?
Just as Chen Xu's brows were furrowed into a deep knot, Zhan Jing suddenly asked, "Have you tried searching for the treasure in other places?"
"What's the meaning?"
Guan Yi's eyes lit up: "You mean, maybe there's more than one entrance?"
Zhan Jing smiled and nodded, touching her nails as she said, "If, well, I mean if. If Miwad had put this box in with him when he was digging for treasure. Of course, let's assume for now that the box was inside, but the imperial seal wasn't there. Because we've seen that the box is also a very valuable antique."
“Hmm!” Guan Yi interjected, “If we assume this, then we need to think about how that box suddenly appeared in that antique shop.”
"Because of any unforeseen events, such as an earthquake, a tsunami, or a typhoon, a hole might have appeared in this hollowed-out mountain. Of course, someone might have gotten there first. But it's also possible that due to any of those reasons, the box just popped out on its own... As long as there's a glimmer of hope, we can't give up!"
Hearing Zhan Jing say that, Chen Xu's hope was rekindled.
That's right! We're far from despairing yet. There's a saying that goes: when God closes a door, he often opens a window.
I can't get through that door, so I'll find a window that I can get through!
To be honest, Chen Xu really does have the temperament and character of a bachelor; he thinks this way and he acts this way.
Chen Xu went into the water again with an oxygen tank on his back. This time, he didn't let Guan Yi come with him because the small hill in the water was quite large. It would take a lot of time to find the way into the cave, and one oxygen tank would obviously not be enough. So he told Guan Yi and the others to wait on the shore while he went into the water to search.
This small hill in the water isn't actually that big; it can hardly be considered a mountain. But as everyone knows, mountains are often cone-shaped, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top.
Moreover, this small hill is situated on a seabed slope, with the water getting deeper as you go down, so the area Chen Xu needs to search is very large. It's also very tiring.
Because it's so dark now, we can't see anything at all, so we have to use a flashlight to search little by little.
Moreover, it's not guaranteed that you'll be able to find it.
On the shore, Guan Yi sighed and said, "I don't know if this is all in vain. This place may not be where Mivad's treasure is, and even if it is, there may not be any other caves that can lead in. You've given him a glimmer of hope, but what if that hope is dashed again?"
Zhan Jing shook her head and said, "That's not quite right. At least he tried. That way, even if he can't find it, he won't feel guilty."
"Guilt?"
"Didn't you see the hint of guilt in his voice when he talked about how he learned about the Imperial Seal from Mivad? He and Nangong Lan killed Mivad in self-defense that day, but they also killed the only person in the world who knew the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal. Given his personality, if he didn't feel guilty, why would he have been so excited when he saw that photo on the yacht? He's looking for the Imperial Seal not because he's greedy for its value and wants to keep it for himself or sell it."
As Zhan Jing spoke slowly, a strange feeling suddenly arose in Guan Yi's heart.
She's usually so quiet and composed, yet she sees people so clearly and understands them so well? And she knows Chen Xu so well?!
Guan Yi felt a faint sense of threat. To be honest, she was really wary of Zhan Jing. Because of her extraordinary demeanor, and... those eyes that seemed to see right through people.
Chen Xu's search underwater was indeed arduous. Although the buoyancy of the water was great, carrying such an oxygen tank was still very tiring, especially after swimming such a long distance. Moreover, Chen Xu was already exhausted today; he had searched all day and had only slept a little while last night when Zhan Jing woke him up. Although he felt refreshed in the cold water, the fatigue couldn't be washed away.
Several times, Chen Xu wanted to give up, but he gritted his teeth and continued searching.
Chen Xu has that kind of ruthless streak.
Although he knew this place might not be where he was looking, he wouldn't give up without searching thoroughly and finding a way to get behind that iron gate!
Whether it was Chen Xu's ruthlessness that prompted even the heavens to lend a hand, or perhaps even the heavens couldn't bear to watch any longer, Chen Xu finally found a crevice at the foot of a mountain, just wide enough for one person to pass through.
Having learned from his previous experience, Chen Xu didn't rush up to call for help; instead, he went inside first.
The crack wasn't deep, and it was probably caused by an earthquake or something else, just as Zhan Jing had said. After swimming for a while, Chen Xu noticed the water had become shallower. He struggled to swim upwards, and as soon as his head broke the surface, he saw solid ground in front of him!
This is a natural cave!
I never expected that such a cave would exist in such a place.
Chen Xu immediately understood. Perhaps it was because Miwad had accidentally discovered the cave that he had gone to great lengths to open a tunnel and hide the treasure inside! Otherwise, how much resources would it have taken to open up a mountainside out of thin air? Chen Xu climbed ashore, tossed the oxygen tank aside, and found that the cave wasn't large. After walking a few steps, Chen Xu spotted a large metal box near the water's edge...
Chapter 276 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada
There was only a large metal box, and the lid was already open. When Chen Xu stepped forward and took a look, he couldn't help but gasp.
Jewelry!
A whole box full of jewelry!
Moreover, Chen Xu knew that all the jewelry here was antique! All of it was valuable and had historical significance!
Although Chen Xu had already witnessed what splendor and magnificence meant in the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, it was here that he truly saw what priceless value meant!
Diamonds, agate, rubies, sapphires, jade, precious stones...
Necklaces, rings, bracelets, bangles, vows...
It's no exaggeration to say that anyone who sees this box will get dizzy, and any woman will go crazy seeing so much jewelry.
The thought that these things would soon become his own filled Chen Xu with a frenzied excitement.
But Chen Xu quickly bit his tongue. He wasn't there to sigh; he was there to find the Imperial Seal!
Chen Xu carefully took all the jewelry to the ground and began to rummage through the metal box.
At this point, Chen Xu was also puzzled. He recognized the box; he'd seen it before. In Miva's memory, he'd thought it was a safe. But now, the lid was missing, clearly indicating it wasn't a safe. The lid was probably missing due to the earthquake. But why didn't Miva use a safe?
Did Miwad really think that an iron gate could keep people out? Thinking of this, Chen Xu suddenly chuckled.
Please, if everyone has already found this place and entered this cave... then what's the point of using a safe?
Even if you use a safe, they can't steal it, right? We've already come all this way, what's a little effort to open a safe?
Perhaps that's why Mivad didn't implement any deep protection.
As Chen Xu was thinking this, suddenly his hand touched something square.
Could it be...?
Chen Xu suppressed his excitement. He switched hands and carefully lifted the object from the bottom of the box… and there it was!
This square object features five lifelike dragons, while one corner is strikingly gold. Turning it over, one sees several seal characters below… Chen Xu didn't recognize many of the characters, but he did recognize one of them, "天" (tian, meaning heaven). And there were exactly eight characters. Based on historical records, deducing backwards, it must be the eight characters: "受命于天，既寿永昌" (Shouming yu tian, ji shou yong chang, meaning "Having received the mandate of heaven, may your longevity be everlasting").
The Imperial Seal of the State!
It truly is the Imperial Seal of the State!
At this moment... to put it in a very melodramatic way, Chen Xu couldn't help but burst into tears!
It's not that Chen Xu was so incredibly patriotic, but you have to understand what the Imperial Seal of the State represents for the entire Chinese nation... or rather, the Han people.
It represents the beginning of feudal society in China, the absolute symbol of imperial power. From this jade seal, one can imagine how many emperors throughout history have been captivated by it, and how many people have coveted it! It is the object of ambition for many, and the subject of extensive historical writing…
To conquer the world?
It is often said that when Qin lost its deer, everyone in the world chased after it; this is the so-called "chasing the deer and vying for the throne".
What could be pursued? It was the Imperial Seal of the State!
Looking at the entire history of China, there is only one thing that can be compared with the Imperial Seal of the State, in terms of both significance and value... the Nine Tripods of Yu the Great, which helped establish the rule of the world.
The legend of the Nine Tripods is more like a myth. This jade seal is a national treasure, and when Chen Xu saw this small seal, he truly felt an urge to prostrate himself in worship… He wasn't worshipping the imperial power it represented, but rather the brilliant civilization it symbolized—over two thousand years of splendid civilization!
Chen Xu rubbed his nose. He wasn't in a hurry for the other things in the box, but he had to get the jade seal up first. He'd been underwater for so long, and Guan Yi and the others were probably getting impatient. So Chen Xu gripped the jade seal tightly, put on his oxygen tank, and jumped back into the water.
The speed at which they emerged was naturally very fast. After Chen Xu surfaced, he saw Guan Yi and the other two lying next to the tent.
At this moment, Chen Xu was filled with excitement and didn't think much about it. He just laughed and scolded the three girls for being so unfair.
But after Chen Xu dug himself ashore, he suddenly felt something was wrong.
Because it's impossible for Guan Yi and the others to be asleep at this time! It's even more impossible for all three of them to be asleep at the same time!
Oh no! Something's happened!
But just then, a pretentious voice rang out: "Oh my! Isn't this Chen Xu? You got your hands on the Imperial Seal of the State?"
Chen Xu was startled, and then saw Xu Jiang walking out of the tent with a smile, his back bent. Behind him, besides the young, armed princelings who had come with him, there was another person!
The woman looked at Chen Xu with an incredibly smug yet incredibly resentful gaze, making Chen Xu feel as if he were being watched by a cobra.
What surprised Chen Xu even more was... how did Xu Jiang know that he was looking for the Imperial Seal of the State?!
Chen Xu was certain that it couldn't have been Guan Yi and the others who told him; he absolutely believed them! Could it be a bugging device? But that was impossible too. Chen Xu had a habit of using Xiao Min's signal detector to check for any listening devices when entering an unfamiliar place.
Chen Xu immediately dismissed those two thoughts based on his trust in Guan Yizhan, Jing, and Gao Xiaojie, as well as his trust in Xiaomin. He glanced at Guan Yi and the others on the ground and said in a deep voice, "What did you do to them?!"
"Oh, they're fine, at least for now." Xu Jiang said with a pretentious smile, "You'd better hand over the Imperial Seal first, or else..." He pointed the gun at Guan Yidi's head and laughed, "Otherwise, I really can't say what will happen next!" "You!"
Chen Xu was furious, but he knew he couldn't act rashly at this moment. So he took a deep breath, produced the imperial seal, and said, "Release them, and you can have the imperial seal. But you must tell me how you knew I was looking for the imperial seal?"
"You think I came to Dubai for a vacation?" Xu Jiang laughed smugly. "Place the jade seal gently on the ground, don't throw it. Don't use force. This is a valuable item; even the slightest bump or scratch would be too much for you, let alone your worthless teacher SMMH! Put it down first, and we'll talk properly after you've put it down... Put it down!"
Circumstances dictate actions. Although Chen Xu was extremely frustrated, he was worried about Guan Yi and the others' safety, so he gritted his teeth and slowly lowered the jade seal. As he did so, several people nearby pointed their guns at him, fearing he might suddenly attack.
"Take off your liquid body armor too." Xu Jiang wasn't in a hurry to take the jade seal, but looked at Chen Xu and smiled, "I know you're a good fighter. With this body armor, you might really be able to turn your life around. I'm a very careful person, and we can't afford any accidents today. So, now, take off your clothes."
It's a turtle's shell!
Chen Xu wanted nothing more than to tear this guy apart. He knew that once his bulletproof vest was off, there was truly no way out except to wait for a miracle. But this was all he could do… because Xu Jiang, that treacherous fellow, was hiding behind the two of them, pointing a gun at Guan Yi's head the whole time!
If they pointed guns at him, Chen Xu wouldn't be too worried. He figured if he was quick enough, he could take care of these small fry. He just needed to be careful not to get shot in the head.
But when he pointed at Guan Yi... Chen Xu really had no choice.
He couldn't risk Guan Yi's life!
Chen Xu let out a long sigh and began to undress. He decisively removed his entire bulletproof vest, leaving only his swimming trunks, revealing his muscular physique. He coldly said, "I'm warning you, you can take the Imperial Seal, but if you dare harm a single hair on their heads, I will search the heavens and the underworld to tear you to pieces and grind your bones to dust!"
These words were chilling, and Xu Jiang and several of his men couldn't help but shiver.
Xu Jiang paused for a moment, then grinned maliciously, "Oh, I'm so scared, I'm really scared!" He then winked at one of his men, who nodded, put down his gun, stepped forward, and punched Chen Xu hard in the stomach, knocking Chen Xu doubled over. Xu Jiang then grabbed the jade seal from the ground, kicked aside his bulletproof vest, and walked back, saying, "Brother Jiang, is this real?"
Xu Jiang looked at it, but he couldn't tell either. Then he did something that surprised Chen Xu... He handed the jade seal to Xin Xin and said, "Take a look, is this jade seal real?"
Xin Xin glared at Chen Xu with resentment, then looked at the jade seal, examining it carefully over and over again, and said, "It should be real. Humph, he had no idea we would scheme against him before, why would he make a fake to fool us? Besides, where on his body is there anywhere to hide the jade seal?"
Chen Xu looked up at Xin Xin in surprise... because from Xu Jiang's tone just now, he had vaguely heard a hint of... respect?!
That's right, it's respect!
How could Xu Jiang possibly be respectful to this socialite?!
Actually, Chen Xu isn't in pain at all right now.