Van hid his frown. The way that Timothy had explained the situation made one want to directly oppose the suggestion. After all, most people would choose to take the treasures themselves and let other people distract the guards. If Van chose to enter the treasury, it was highly likely those 9th rank ghost guards would wipe him out – this could be the ulterior motive.

Van thought about letting the Broken Cloud Sect disciples enter first, but if they triggered the 9th rank ghost guards and got wiped out, the two ghost guards would definitely come after Van next. Wouldn't it be better to at least risk getting the treasure?

The red-haired youth's expression tightened. He needed more information.

Van powered up his spiritual sense and pored over every inch of the treasury. This time, he noticed something he hadn't before. A slight s.h.i.+mmer in the corner of the treasury and a slight susurration in the air.

The wrinkle between Van's brows disappeared.

So that was what the game was!

Too bad Van's spiritual sense wouldn't be fooled twice but such a simple array like that.

"No. I will enter the treasury; you guys distract the guards," Van said placidly.

The Broken Moon disciples showed unhappy expressions but Van could sense an underlying sense of satisfaction. This was the result they had apparently wanted.

Timothy frowned and said slowly, "I don't think that's a very good idea. After all, if you go in alone all the treasures will belong to you. What if you decide to run off, won't we take all the heat and get nothing in return for our troubles? It would be better the other way…"

Van tried not to roll his eyes. Really, this Timothy should be given a medal for 'Best Actor.' His words were saying one thing but his meaning was completely the opposite. Anyone who was weak minded would hear 'all the treasures belong to you' and 'run-off' and immediately decide to do just that, further cementing their desire to be the one to rush into the treasury.

Van cut off Timothy's soliloquy, "I insist. Since you already said that my movement skill is the highest here, I might be able to move past the two sentry ghost guards without triggering them. If I do trigger them, I still have enough time to pick a few treasures. Just lead them on a merry chase around the mansion, I will meet you outside after two incense sticks worth of time."

After hearing this detailed explanation from Van, Timothy's doubting expression gradually faded away.

"You have the highest cultivation here," the timid youth said grudgingly, "We'll go with your plan."

Van nodded. Without another word, he lightly dashed down the stairs. Like a puff of smoke, he disappeared and reappeared behind the two 8th rank ghost guards.

Click!

With a light tap, Van disabled the locking array on the door and opened it. Behind him, the two 8th rank ghost guards didn't so much as stir.

In front of him, a dazzling array of treasures greeted Van's eyes. The red-haired youth didn't appear moved. Instead he suddenly shot forth for the s.h.i.+mmering patch of air.

BANG!

A tyrannical kick with the full force of his body cultivation was aimed on the s.h.i.+mmering patch.

Two screams filled the air. Van sneered.

The air warped.

Cordelia held a hand to her forehead, which had a red print the shape of Van's foot on it. Her eyes were s.h.i.+ny with disbelief and anger that Van had found them out before they could spring their plot. Daphne crouched beside her sister, pale-faced.

 "I'm flattered," Van said with his arms crossed, "That you would set this up just for little old me."

"Shut up!" Cordelia shouted, "You'll die here! Everyone, fall in!"

Van heard the rush of footsteps behind him. When he turned his head to look, he saw that the Broken Moon disciples had spilled into the treasury. Each of them held up their weapons threateningly. Timothy's expression was smug and satisfied. When he saw Van looking, he sent him a ridiculing smile as if to say 'in the end you're just too gullible.'

Van couldn't be bothered to look at them for a second more. The Broken Moon disciples were just a dagger being used in the Zephyr Sect's hands.

With Van's exit blocked, he was trapped within the treasury.

"All these people – you two have spent a lot of time and effort to set this up for me. Am I that scary?" Van taunted lazily.

Cordelia smiled imperiously, "So what if we set this up to capture you? All that matter's is who wins in the end!"

Van nodded, "Indeed, that is all that matters."

Daphne frowned. Why did she feel that this fellow's reaction was not quite right?

Cordelia's grin widened, "It's good that you agree. I don't think there's anything more for me to say. It is only your bad luck that caused you to face off against us. Your time in the Mausoleum ends here!"

"Captains of the Ghost Guard, activate!"

Nothing happened.

Cordelia stamped her feet, "Captains of the Ghost Guard, activate!"

Neither the two sentries outside of the treasury doors nor the hidden 9th ranked guards inside the treasury activated.

Van suddenly laughed. He bent double and wiped the tears from the side of his eyes.

The twin's smiles dropped.

Van's figure went hazy. When he finally reappeared, he was holding something in his hand.

"Looking for this?"

Cordelia's face paled. She patted the area around her waist.

f.u.c.k! When had she dropped it?

Her eyes darted side to side. Eventually she arrived at an answer – it had been knocked out of her hand when Van suddenly rushed up and drop-kicked her on the head.

"Give that back!"

Van rolled his eyes, "No."

Did she think he was r.e.t.a.r.ded?

Cordelia puffed up, "You don't even know what it does! It-it actually curses the person who uses it to have rotten teeth for the rest of their life!"

Van smiled mysteriously.

"I think I know exactly what it does."

Cordelia and Daphne felt a chill run down their spines.

The more powerful twin suddenly shouted.

"Broken Moon Sect, like we said before, our Zephyr Sect is willing to welcome you with open arms as outer disciples if you help us out here. s.n.a.t.c.h that command medallion from his hands!"

With this rallying cry, all the disciples in the treasury rushed for Van all at once, however the red-haired youth was like the calm at the centre of the storm. They watched, completely unable to do anything as Van's lips opened and moved.

"Captains of the Ghost Guard, activate!"

BANG!

BANG!

Two immense golden suits of armour with gleaming axes suddenly dropped from the ceiling. Their impact with the ground sent dust billowing upwards in great plumes of grey. Suddenly, the overwhelming aura of two peak 9th ranked Ghost Guard Captains shot outwards.

Van smiled. He lifted a finger and pointed it to the gathered disciples. With these two 9th ranked monsters under his command, this finger was the finger of a G.o.d.

 "Kill!"

Their hollow eye sockets flared red. The two Ghost Guard Captains nodded and set upon their duty.

Horrified screams filled the air.

Cordelia and Daphne exchanged a glance. 

The twin's auras suddenly merged to form one singular, thrice more powerful one. A giant blast of wind hurtled towards the Ghost Guard Captain that was charging them. The giant blast sent the Ghost Guard Captain back two metres but didn't make a single dent on the s.h.i.+ning golden armour. It gave the twins only a half a millisecond gain in distance between them and the Ghost Guard Captain.

"Not good, we need to escape now!" Daphne shouted.

Cordelia was unwilling but her head knew that the logical decision was to escape. With the Ghost Guards in his command, Van was now invincible within the Ancient Abandoned Manor.

Cordelia grit her teeth – they should have attacked him with all the Ghost Guards as soon as he entered the manor! The reason they had lured him into the treasury was to make extra sure that Van would be eliminated. They needed him to be trapped in the treasury with no exit and incredibly powerful Ghost Guard Captains. They had gotten what they wanted, and yet the result was completely wrong.

Cordelia finally felt a small fissure open in her heart. From the beginning it was like the red-haired youth in front of them was always a step ahead, predicting their moves and reading their intentions as if he were flipping a book. Could it be that he was more talented than her?

Daphne grabbed Cordelia's hand, "Move!"

Van grinned, "Not so fast!"

With the Undying Guard Command Medallion in his hand, Van could sense the life force hidden within each ghost guard stationed within the manor. With this medallion, he controlled who they attacked and if they awoke or remained in slumber. Cordelia and Daphne had come to the Ancient Abandoned Manor at least 24 hours before Van had and powered through to the treasury. Then they had hidden themselves in there with a concealment array that even tricked Van's spiritual sense when he had scanned the treasury. It was only when he looked more carefully a second time that he had sense the fine and almost invisible array that hid two annoying brats. Once he identified the location of the array, he soon was able to see through it. The curious thing was that there was a glowing circle of energy emanating from Cordelia's hand – thin streams of power emitted from this glowing circle and stretched to every corner of the manor. Within a few milliseconds, Van realised that each strand emanating from the circle was connected to a ghost guard in the manor. The youth immediately guessed that this medallion was able to control the ghost guards in the manor, and that the twins' plan was to trap him inside the treasury before making him mincemeat.

Bang! Bang!

The two 8th ranked Ghost Guards standing sentry at the doorway shuddered to life. Immediately they sensed Van's intentions and blocked the doorway to the treasury.

Clang!

Their giant axes crossed over each other - the meaning was clear: You shall not pa.s.s!

The remaining Broken Moon disciples were frightened out of their wits. In front of them were two 8th ranked monsters, behind them two 9th ranked monsters. There was simply no way out apart from death!

Weng! Weng! Weng!

Bright flashes of light went off as they were eliminated from the battlefield.

The two twins rushed towards the exit. Compared to the 9th ranked Ghost Guard Captains these two 8th ranked monsters were much more manageable.

Van suddenly appeared in front of them.

"Not so fast!"

Both twins suddenly felt like they had made a terrible mistake. Madam Sophia, their aunt, had activated the Illusion Wind Flute to send a message into the Monster Mausoleum just once. They had thought their aunt wouldn't use the Illusion Wind Flute until a critical moment, but in her message, she expressed her with for the twins to eliminate Van as soon as possible. She even implied that this red-haired youth was their greatest threat in the Mausoleum, causing the two twins to feel greatly disturbed. They had listened to their elder and acted according to the plans. Not only did Madam Sophia predict that Van would head for the Ancient Abandoned Manor, she used her previous experience here to help them find the item that would allow them to control all the Ghost Guards within the manor.

That was precisely the Undying Guard Command Medallion that Van was now using against them!