"Initially, I suspected the treasure map concealed the remains of Zhang Xianzhong himself. But upon actually entering the cavern, I found the place far too humble—utterly lacking in burial accompaniments befitting Zhang Xianzhong's stature."

Wang Guan spoke eloquently: "Therefore, I believe the remains clad in armor might belong to one of Zhang Xianzhong's trusted generals. In a desperate situation, he was ordered to protect something and retreat. Perhaps during the breakthrough, that confidant general was gravely wounded and ultimately died within the cave."

"However, before his death, that general also commanded his loyal subordinates to silence everyone else, seal the cavern completely, draw the guiding map, and conceal it within the bead that housed the Seven-Star Precious Saber."

Wang Guan conjectured: "Afterward, that loyal subordinate probably never made contact with the main force and met his end at the hands of the enemy. Then, this secret was lost to memory. And that broken Seven-Star Precious Saber was thus passed down through generations, eventually falling into the hands of Old Mr. Song, allowing him to coincidentally discover the map within the saber sheath's bead..."

"And then, after decades of painstaking, heart-wrenching research, it all ends up benefiting you," Yu Feibai grumbled with indignation. "This sort of thing is completely unscientific. It makes no sense how it's always you stumbling upon fortune; I never encounter anything like it."

"It’s a matter of character; you can’t envy that," Wang Guan chuckled.

Yu Feibai pounded his chest in frustration. "My character isn't bad either! I even helped an old lady cross the road when I was a child."

"That was in the past. Do you still help them now?" Wang Wang asked coolly, hitting the nail on the head.

"Who dares to now?" Yu Feibai slumped, crestfallen.

"Alright, enough banter. I’ll let you borrow whatever is in the casket for a few days," Wang Guan said with a smile, though he himself was quite eager. After all, the situation back then had been dire, and he hadn't had the composure to examine the treasures inside the iron box.

However, in the cavern, when he activated his special ability for self-preservation, Wang Guan had sensed the absorption of immensely dense vital energy, which meant the contents of the iron casket must be extraordinary.

Wang Guan had thrown out the bait, but Yu Feibai didn't take it immediately, shaking his head instead. "That’s a blank check. Maybe the iron box just contains emergency military intelligence from that time, nothing of value."

"Do you really think so?" Wang Guan chuckled lightly. "Once I get it out, don't try to snatch it."

"How can you say that after promising? You can’t go back on your word!"

In an instant, Yu Feibai’s face changed to a bright smile, and he scurried over to bring the iron casket closer. He wasn't a fool; he naturally understood that military intelligence would amount to just a few sentences on a scrap of paper—it certainly wouldn't warrant such a large iron box.

His hesitation was merely an attempt to extract more benefits, but Wang Guan hadn't fallen for it.

Yu Feibai shook his head regretfully, straining as he placed the heavy iron casket beside the bed, panting, "This thing is really heavy. I suspect it’s either filled with rocks or a massive horde of gold and silver."

"We'll know once we open it," Wang Guan smiled, but after examining the iron casket for a long time from the outside, he couldn't find any sign of a lock.

"Huh, something’s odd."

Yu Feibai, standing nearby, also noticed the situation and leaned in curiously, reaching out to feel the surface carefully.

At the same time, Wang Guan took a towel and wiped away the rust from the iron casket, only then realizing that this box seemed far from ordinary. The entire casket was about 1.2 to 1.3 meters long, with a width and height approaching twenty centimeters. The iron was a deep, dark black, clearly indicating thick walls.

Furthermore, the exterior surface was remarkably smooth and flat. Where the long and short iron plates met, the join was sealed so tightly that not even a hairline gap remained.

Moreover, there was no visible latch or lock on any of the box’s six faces. If it weren't for the hollow dong-dong sound they heard when tapping it, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai would have doubted whether the iron box was solid.

"Is this... a keyhole?"

After observing for quite a while, Wang Guan finally spotted an irregularly shaped aperture on one face, about the size of a soybean.

"Probably," Yu Feibai squinted at it, uncertain, frowning. "It seems this is the only opening on the entire box. But judging by its look, it requires a specialized key to open."

"Even the container for the item is this cautious; the contents must be extraordinary," Wang Guan said optimistically.

"Mmm." Yu Feibai nodded in agreement, then frowned with worry. "No key, how do we open it?"

"That’s simple enough. You contact the masters at the factory or hardware store and have them cut the iron casket open."

Saying this, Wang Guan hesitated again. "But that might be too violent; it could damage whatever is inside. How about buying some aqua regia and melting the iron wall around the keyhole? That should allow us to open it."

"OK!" Yu Feibai eagerly responded. "I'll go buy it right now."

"No rush," Wang Guan quickly raised a hand to stop him. "Wait until I’m discharged. Otherwise, this sanatorium definitely won't allow you to bring such dangerous materials in."

"Heh, I almost forgot," Yu Feibai laughed. "The doctor instructed that you need a few days of quiet recovery since you've just overcome a serious illness."

"Yes, a few days of real rest," Wang Guan raised his arm. "My entire body feels limp right now, completely without strength."

"Be content," Yu Feibai advised. "The doctors originally diagnosed that you wouldn't wake up for another day. Waking up this early, and looking so energetic, is proof enough of your strong constitution."

Wang Guan covered his mouth and yawned, weariness coloring his expression. "Don't mention being strong; I’m tired just talking about it."

"If you're tired, then rest," Yu Feibai placed the iron casket and the backpack into the locker, turning back. "I'll take the token with me. I'll find someone to appraise it and see what connection it has to Zhang Xianzhong."

"Good," Wang Guan nodded. "Whenever you have time, bring Zhao Qian along so I can sign the contract for the Ink Bamboo Scroll. It’s been delayed for a few days; I feel quite bad about it."

"Deal, I’ll bring him over tomorrow," Yu Feibai said, then walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.

A wave of exhaustion washed over Wang Guan. He lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

When he opened his eyes again, Wang Guan was awakened by hunger. He glanced up at the window; it was already pitch dark outside. Checking his phone, he saw it was past eight in the evening.

With his stomach rumbling, Wang Guan vaguely smelled cooking food. He quickly scrambled up and looked around, immediately spotting several insulated containers arranged on the bedside table. He swiftly flipped open the lids. Crystal-clear white rice and vibrant, fragrant stir-fried dishes made his mouth water instantly.

Wang Guan picked up his chopsticks and proceeded to devour the meal like a whirlwind, eating ravenously.

A while later, Wang Guan patted his full stomach and sighed with deep contentment. Soon, however, he felt a sense of boredom; it seemed once the hunger was satisfied, there was nothing else to do.

The room also had a large television, but Wang Guan wasn't in the mood to watch programs. Instead, he leaned back against the headboard, calmly organizing his thoughts and reviewing his recent experiences.

Wang Guan recalled his rash decision to go up the mountain for treasure hunting, the perilous dive into the cavern, and the near-death experience, realizing he had indeed been far too impulsive and careless. If he hadn't possessed his special ability, he would surely be dead.

"But I didn't expect the special ability would also have detoxification effects. I wonder if it can restore my stamina."

With this thought, Wang Guan immediately calmed his mind and focused his energy, instantly spotting the crimson gold coin lodged near his pineal gland. The brilliant light and the surrounding vital energy seemed to have grown even denser.

At that moment, a thought sparked in Wang Guan’s mind, and streams of cool air began to flow through his body following his will. Gradually, Wang Guan felt the soreness and stiffness in his bones, sinews, and muscles melt away like ice and snow evaporating.

Sensing this change, Wang Guan’s eyes lit up with joy. He focused even more intensely on directing the cool airflow, sweeping it through his entire body. Then, he instantly felt completely refreshed, restored to his usual healthy state.

Not only that, Wang Guan also noticed that the site of the snakebite on his left foot, which had been throbbing with an indescribable pain, now felt completely normal, as if it had never been injured.

Wang Guan reached out and pressed the bandaged wound; it felt normal, just as if he hadn't been hurt at all. To confirm his guess, he carefully tore away the gauze wrapping the wound. He immediately saw that the skin, which should have been red, swollen, and festering, had returned to normal, leaving behind only a faint scar.

Of course, Wang Guan understood that this was because the residual toxins in his body had been neutralized by the medication the doctors had administered. The special ability had only served to dredge the stagnant blood and dissipate the swelling and pain.

However, this was more than enough. Wang Guan felt deeply satisfied. He had expected to rest for several days, but now it seemed he could be discharged tomorrow.

Amidst his happiness, Wang Guan continued to test his special ability. He vaguely sensed that after experiencing such danger, his body's potential had erupted, making his special ability seem significantly stronger and improved. At the very least, Wang Guan estimated he had been using the special ability continuously for over ten minutes, yet he detected no sign of diminishing energy or depletion.

Of course, "stamina" was secondary; the crucial factor was "vision." At this point, Wang Guan covered his eyes with the cool airflow and focused his attention. A three-dimensional microscopic image immediately presented itself before his eyes.

Upon looking, Wang Guan realized his visual range had expanded, and his gaze was almost tangible, possessing intense penetrating power. Concentrating on the wooden bedside table, the vital energy easily passed through the dense rosewood, allowing him to see its internal structure.

It should be noted that before this, when Wang Guan activated his special ability, he could at most penetrate items with low density like water, paper, or silk fabric. Now, he could penetrate wood—this was a clear improvement.

"I wonder if I can see through metal."

After seeing completely through the bedside table, Wang Guan felt a lingering desire for more. He promptly got out of bed and walked over to the standing cabinet, concentrating all his focus on gazing at the iron casket.

..................... Thanks to readers "hongmeiluoye, Youyou Baidu, Pei Du Xiao Tong" for their rewards. I must say, I’ve been incredibly anxious these past two days. Please give me collections and recommendations for some comfort. C