Mount Tai stood tall, its peak piercing the clouds. Under the soft morning light, the South Heaven Gate shimmered with golden brilliance. The cool mountain air carried the scent of wild grass and trees, while distant birdsong broke the peaceful silence, adding a touch of mystery to the scene.

A black luxury SUV slowly drove up a hidden path and came to a stop near a desolate cave. Surrounding them were towering cliffs and ancient stone steps—there was no one else in sight.

Kane stepped out of the car, his movements slow and deliberate. He wore a finely tailored dark coat, and his polished shoes gleamed under the early sunlight. In one hand, he held an elegant cane. His steady steps echoed as if every footfall carried a sense of unshakable authority. His cold, sharp gaze was like that of a lone eagle surveying the mountain heights.

The lead henchman hurried to meet him, his voice filled with respect.

"Mr. Kane, everything is proceeding as planned. The targets have been captured. They will lead us to the stone formation."

Kane’s lips curled into a faint smile as he responded icily.

"Good. Don’t disappoint me. I don’t tolerate wasted time."

He turned to Noah and Li Lian, who were being dragged out of another vehicle. Noah's face was defiant as he glared at Kane, while Li Lian looked anxious. Xiaolong growled softly from inside a metal cage, his eyes full of fury.

Kane strode up to Noah, towering over him. "I must thank you, boy. Without you, I might never have found this place."

"You'll never win!" Noah growled through clenched teeth.

Kane chuckled coldly, leaning down slightly. He used his cane to lift Noah’s chin. "Sometimes, a little cooperation is the key to great success. I suggest you cooperate."

Straightening up, Kane waved his hand toward the henchmen. "Take them inside. Let’s put the boy to good use."

As they were led deeper into the mountain cave, Noah quietly observed his surroundings. He noticed that one guard had a knife strapped to his waist, while another carried a small blade in a side pouch.

When the group paused to adjust their formation, Noah stumbled deliberately, falling to the ground. He took advantage of the moment to sidle closer to one of the guards and, with a swift motion, slipped the blade out of the pouch into his sleeve.

"Get up! No tricks!" the guard barked, roughly pulling Noah to his feet. The man didn’t notice the missing blade.

Keeping his head low, Noah hid a smirk. He nudged Li Lian gently with his elbow and gave her a subtle look. She nodded slightly, understanding his silent message.

Bit by bit, Noah used the blade to cut through the ropes binding his wrists, careful to avoid drawing attention.

"We’ll have our chance," he told himself as they ventured deeper into the cave.

The group finally reached a vast underground hall. The air was damp and filled with the earthy scent of stone and moss. In the center of the chamber stood an ancient stone formation. The walls around it were etched with intricate patterns of mountains and rivers. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the ceiling, bathing the formation in a faint, golden glow.

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The formation was composed of dozens of massive square stone slabs, each engraved with detailed symbols—some depicted mountain landscapes, while others displayed the Gen trigram. At the center of the formation lay a beautifully carved fragment embedded in a raised platform, as if waiting to be claimed.

Kane walked to the edge of the formation and tapped his cane lightly on a nearby stone pillar. The sharp sound echoed throughout the chamber. His eyes glinted as he took in the scene.

"This is the secret of the Gen trigram," he murmured, his voice calm and confident. "Thanks to you both for leading me here."

He turned to Noah and Li Lian, his gaze cold and calculating. "Your usefulness ends here." He motioned for his men to restrain them by the chamber wall.

One of the guards approached the central formation and pushed on a stone slab marked with mountain symbols. The slab moved slightly but then halted with a harsh, metallic clank. Suddenly, sharp stone spikes shot up from the edges of the formation, stopping further movement.

"Something’s wrong! It’s a trap!" the guard shouted, retreating quickly.

Kane showed no fear. He calmly tapped one of the nearby stone pillars and remarked,

"This place is full of clever mechanisms. You need more than brute force—you have to move the stones in the correct order to activate the symbols. Otherwise, we may all be trapped here."

Under his orders, the guards resumed their work. They carefully followed the engraved patterns, moving the stones step by step. Slowly, bronze lamps around the chamber flickered to life, casting an eerie glow as the symbols on the pillars began to shine.

Noah and Li Lian watched helplessly, their hearts pounding. Xiaolong whined softly from his cage, his tail twitching nervously.

"We can’t let them succeed," Li Lian whispered.

Noah nodded. "Wait for my signal."

After what felt like an eternity, the final stone slab slid into place. The central platform rumbled as the Gen fragment rose, bathed in soft light. Kane walked forward and gracefully took the fragment, a satisfied smile on his lips. He looked at Noah and sneered.

"This is the prize you helped me find, boy."

In that moment, Noah sprang into action. He leapt toward a nearby guard and knocked him off balance.

Li Lian dashed to Xiaolong’s cage, quickly twisting the lock open. The corgi bounded out and lunged at the nearest attacker, clamping down on his arm with surprising force.

"Get them!" the lead guard roared.

The chamber erupted into chaos. Noah and Li Lian used the stone formation as cover, evading the guards while Xiaolong darted between them, causing further confusion.

Seizing an opportunity, Noah snatched the box containing the other fragments from Kane and hurled it to Li Lian.

"Run!" he shouted.

Li Lian caught the box and sprinted toward the exit, Xiaolong at her heels. Guards scrambled to block their path, but Noah intercepted one, swinging a heavy stick to knock him aside.

Dust and shouts filled the air. Through the chaos, Noah and Li Lian finally broke free from the chamber and raced into the dense forest outside.

Exhausted but determined, they didn’t stop until they reached a quiet, secluded spot among the trees. Li Lian opened the box and sighed in relief.

"The fragments are still here."

She pulled out the map hidden at the bottom. Her eyes lit up as she held it up.

"And the map is safe, too!"

Noah leaned in to examine it. "Good. The map shows our next destination—Xi’an. If we can solve its secrets, we can stop Kane once and for all."

Li Lian nodded resolutely. "We can’t let him get ahead of us. This time, we have to move faster."

Noah’s eyes burned with determination. "We will."

Meanwhile, back at the cave entrance, Kane watched the fleeing figures disappear into the forest. His face was calm, though his eyes gleamed with cold calculation.

The lead guard approached nervously. "Sir, they escaped with the fragments and map. What should we do?"

Kane chuckled softly. "Let them run. It’s all going according to plan."

The guard frowned. "Plan? But they have the map—"

"Exactly," Kane interrupted, his voice as sharp as ice. "I’ve already uncovered Mount Tai’s secrets. But Xi’an... they will lead me to the final adventure."

He turned to gaze at the moonlit peaks of Mount Tai. "Keep watching them. I want to know their every move."

As his men obeyed, Kane stood in the shadows, his voice a cold whisper. "Run, little ones. The treasure of Xi’an will soon be mine."