Chapter 1111

Cole gave a confirming nod. “Calling it ancient hardly does it justice. Based on the construction methods, this place could easily date back hundreds of years, perhaps even a full millennium.”

Elliana stood quietly, her attention completely captured by an imposing stone barrier embedded in the far wall of the chamber. After examining it carefully for several long moments, she finally broke her silence. “Whatever secret we’ve been searching for, it’s sealed behind that entrance.”

The entire group moved forward to get a closer look at the stone barrier. The barrier consisted of a single enormous block of solid stone, so incredibly heavy that no…

Amount of physical strength could possibly budge it. It became obvious that the door must be controlled by some kind of hidden mechanism.

As Elliana’s fingers traced across the smooth, cold surface of the stone, she discovered what she’d been searching for — a perfectly round depression carved into each side of the doorway, its dimensions exactly matching the circumference and contours of the two bracelets she carried. Could these pieces of jewelry actually serve as keys to unlock this door?

Her pulse began racing with anticipation as she retrieved the bracelets from where she’d been keeping them safe.

One bracelet had been fashioned to represent a male serpent, while its companion depicted a female. Following an unexplainable impulse — perhaps the echo of some long-forgotten ceremony — Elliana carefully positioned the male serpent bracelet into the depression on the left side and the female into the one on the right.

A profound, grinding noise that seemed to vibrate through the very bones of the earth began emanating from the stone barrier. The massive door started sliding aside, and as it moved, an explosion of dazzling, almost blinding radiance came flooding through the widening gap, forcing everyone to raise their hands to protect their vision.

When the overwhelming brightness finally diminished enough for the group to lower their arms and look again, they could only stand frozen in place, completely unable to form words as they tried to comprehend the incredible sight that had been revealed before them.

The sight before the group was breathtaking, leaving them frozen in awe. Beyond the stone door stretched a chamber far larger than the last. Its marble walls gleamed, both strong and elegant, like an underground palace.

Yet it wasn’t the hall’s grandeur that silenced them. It was what lay inside.

Piles of gold, silver, jewels, and relics stacked higher than they could count. Elliana, Cole, and Jason had seen wealth before, but nothing of this scale. The treasure was staggering. Who would have guessed that deep in this ancient forest, a hidden vault like this existed? Every item inside was worth more than most could earn in a thousand lifetimes. Whoever claimed it would instantly rise among the world’s richest.

But whose fortune was it? And how did it end up here?

The same questions struck all three at once. And just as quickly, the answer followed. The bracelets that had opened the door came from the Serpent Society. This treasure must be theirs.

Their suspicion was soon confirmed. At the far end of the hall, a massive totem loomed. Two serpents — one male, one female — were carved into the wall, so vivid that they seemed alive. Their design matched perfectly with the bracelets in Elliana’s hands.