Treasures Left by the Black Emperor

Rein stepped onto the stone steps leading to the throne statue of the Black Emperor, Moises.

But as soon as he took the first step, he immediately noticed something was wrong.

The system also sent a warning message immediately.

[WARNING! Abnormal gravity, abnormal magnetic field, and unknown energy fluctuations. Host, please be cautious.]

"Gravity has increased by about 1.1 times."

When Rein heard the system notification, he frowned.

Even without any prompting, his senses were now keenly aware of the changes around him.

It felt as if an invisible force was pressing down on his body. However, this increase in gravity had a negligible effect on his current physical condition.

Seeing that Rein had stopped, Canossa's eyes flashed with concern as she asked, "Rein, what's wrong?"

Rein frowned slightly and said bluntly, "The gravity has increased. There must be some kind of magical restriction on these stone steps."

Canossa didn't immediately understand what the increased gravity meant, and asked again, "Should I come up too?"

Rein thought for a moment and shook his head, "No. I think this might be a test. It's best if I go up alone."

Above the steps lies an unknown.

After all, being sealed away for tens of thousands of years, some things in this tomb may have undergone unpredictable changes.

But he, as the city lord, was not so cowardly as to need others to take risks for him.

Moreover, it's quite clear that if the Black Emperor truly intended to kill those who entered this tomb, then this step wouldn't be as simple as a change in gravity. With his divine power, he could easily create a deadly restriction and take their lives instantly.

No matter how you look at it, the sudden change in gravity on these steps doesn't seem like a fatal trap.

Upon hearing this, everyone in Black Dragon City agreed with Rein's assessment.

Since only he could hear that voice, it was clear that among those who entered this place, only he was qualified to step onto those steps.

Canossa had naturally thought of this as well. She glanced at Rein and said, "Then be careful."

Rein nodded. "Yes."

With that, he stepped onto the second step with a determined expression.

"Huh, the gravity has increased again, reaching 1.3 times the normal level. That 'unknown magnetic field anomaly' seems to be a special kind of pressure."

Rein muttered to himself, becoming increasingly certain of his guess.

Based on the previous inscription on the Stone Tablet, the system has now concluded that these "gravity stone steps" are very likely a setting to test physical strength.

The Third Tier, Fourth Tier, thirtieth, and fifty-ninth stages.

When Rein reached the halfway point, the surrounding gravity had reached about ten times the normal level.

Moreover, with each step up the stairs, the increase in gravity and magnetic field seems to follow a certain pattern.

Rein glanced at the system's calculations and muttered, "To climb all ninety-nine steps, the final gravitational force might reach over a hundred times."

Without giving it much thought, he continued walking upwards.

Even ten times the gravity wouldn't be a problem for him.

However, the speed is getting slower and slower.

He himself is a top doctor, so he naturally knows the effects of changes in gravity and magnetic fields on the body.

But in terms of muscle strength, even a hundred times the force of gravity wouldn't be a problem for him.

The challenge lies in the endurance of the internal organs and various bodily systems.

If the speed is too high, the gravity at First Tier may suddenly change abnormally, which could lead to instant death.

Gradually, Rein felt as if his legs were filled with lead, and he could no longer climb higher steps with his bare body.

Then his fighting spirit surged, his golden body materialized, and he resolutely continued upwards.

However, the steps that follow are not so simple.

After fifty steps, there will be a major change at each step.

It wasn't just gravity, but also various levels of power he couldn't comprehend at his current level. It was somewhat like the pressure of bloodlines, somewhat like the pressure of a cultivation realm, or perhaps some other kind of negative energy.

But the purpose was to prevent him from going any further.

By the time he reached the ninetieth step, Rein felt his muscles burning hot, a sign that they hadn't had a chance to rest for a long time.

Even stopping to rest on the steps felt like being roasted over a fire; every second was torture.

If you can see beneath the skin, you can definitely see that some muscles inside the body can no longer withstand the strain and are beginning to break.

The veins on his forehead were bulging, and every step he took was a huge burden on his body.

However, as he walked up to this point, Rein looked up at the statue of the Black Emperor so close to him and became even more determined in his decision.

This is a test.

Below the steps, the people of Black Dragon City watched as Rein struggled to walk, and they all felt a pang of worry for him.

They knew all too well how strong Rein was physically.

It's fair to say that if even Rein can't make it, these legends aren't guaranteed to succeed either.

For anyone else, once a muscle rupture begins, it means there's no turning back.

Otherwise, if he tries to hold on, the accumulated injuries might lead to his sudden death on the spot.

However, Rein now has plenty of healing power and a lot of fighting spirit. With the [Divine Healing Technique] activated, although the pressure is still great, there is no fatal danger.

Finally, as blood began to seep from every pore of Rein's body, he stepped onto the last First Tier.

Then, the pressure vanished instantly, making him feel as light as if he were about to fly.

"Call"

Finally on the platform, Rein supported himself on his knees, panting heavily.

A moment later, the discomfort dissipated.

By this time, he was already at the foot of the throne.

Previously, when I was at the bottom of the steps, I could only vaguely see a sculpture sitting on a throne. Now that I'm closer, I can finally see clearly what the "Black Emperor" Moises looks like.

A man with a serious expression, exuding an imposing aura without anger. Even though it's just a stone sculpture, one can see a domineering air of looking down on the world from its face.

Just as he glanced at it, the same voice rang in Rein's ears again.

Congratulations on passing this little test!

Upon hearing this, Rein's gaze sharpened, and he continued to look at the statue.

Indeed, it was a test.

Descendant of my people, you may be wondering why I set this little test. Because only by passing it will you be qualified to access the treasure I left you.

When Rein heard the word "treasure," his eyes suddenly lit up.

It turns out there's a threshold to access this treasure?

It was at this moment that he noticed a treasure chest had suddenly appeared at the feet of the throne in front of him.

Without hesitation, Rein stepped forward and opened the treasure chest. A burst of golden light shot out, illuminating the entire mausoleum hall.

Those who witnessed this scene below the Black Dragon City were all shocked.

Master Cavo sensed something and blurted out, "That oppressive aura is... 'Divine Power Crystal'!"

The Great Shaman Mafat was equally incredulous. "If it is Divine Power Crystal, this pressure is terrifying. Just who left this Divine Power Crystal? Even its pressure is so astonishing."

Bazel blinked. "Could it be a crystallization left behind by the Black Emperor himself?"

Canossa was also beaming with excitement, "Even if it isn't, it definitely isn't any of the 'Seventy-Two Divine Generals'."

Regardless, it's a great thing for Black Dragon City that Rein has gained the Black Emperor's approval and obtained the treasure.

On the other hand...

Rein looked at the contents of the treasure chest, his expression slightly complicated.

The treasure chest contained a drop of golden blood the size of a dragon fruit.

He naturally heard what Master Cavo and the others said and recognized that this thing should be a "Divine Power Crystal".

However, Rein had seen Divine Power Crystal before, but those blood-red amber-shaped crystals were quite different from the one in front of him.

"Could it be the Divine Power Crystal of the Black Emperor's divine power?"

The same thought popped into Rein's mind.

However, before he could think further, the mysterious voice rang out again.

[This is one of the few Divine Power Crystal of the 'Great Black Heaven Ancient Demon' that our ancestors found. Now only the last one remains. It contains extremely powerful supreme law power.]

Upon hearing this, Rein finally understood.

It turns out to be the Divine Power Crystal of that mythical demon god from underground.

Countless prodigies in my clan have attempted to comprehend this Divine Power Crystal, but all have failed.

[In the previous one, I was fortunate enough to comprehend it. What sets me apart from others is that I comprehended three fundamental principles simultaneously.]

Later, I determined that to comprehend the power contained within this 'Ancient Demon Crystal,' one needs to understand at least two fundamental laws. This might also be a specific condition required to break through to the High God level. Of course, there is no being in this world beyond the High God level; it's all just my speculation.

The fact that you passed the test means you are 'qualified' to uncover this secret.

[.]

Upon hearing this, Rein finally understood what the previous step test was all about.

Although he doesn't know what conditions he meets, he does have a chance of comprehending the three laws before reaching the Fifth-tier Extraordinary: Healing, Power, and Lightning Element.

Looking at the entire world, those who have comprehended a fundamental law are Transcendent.

[I've implemented some measures within our 'Black Demon Tribe,' which will make your path to Transcendent extremely difficult. But since you were able to defeat that black dragon, it means my plan has likely succeeded. Descendants of my 'Black Demon Tribe,' once you venture out and see the wider world, you will realize just how extraordinary you are!]

This will be the foundation upon which you establish yourself beyond this realm, and the source of our race's renewed strength.

Rein listened, a look of realization dawning on his face.

No wonder those guys from beyond the realm can advance to the Fifth-tier Extraordinary just by taking potions. Meanwhile, the Transcendent beings on the Ice Ridge Wasteland have to undergo life-or-death trials to comprehend things like "momentum," "intention," and "laws."

Is the reason that this Black Emperor deliberately arranged it tens of thousands of years ago?

Did they deliberately increase the difficulty of promotion to filter out the real geniuses?

Rein suddenly felt he could understand.

Those Transcendent can survive in harsh environments are definitely more powerful than those raised in a greenhouse.

They have already verified this in practice.

"The strength of my Black Demon Tribe lies in our robust physique. Your ability to ascend the steps indicates that your healing and power have met my expectations. This 'Ancient God Crystal' will allow you to comprehend the 'Ancient Demon Power' when you advance to Legendary status in the future. That will lay a crucial foundation for your future advancement to High-tier Extraordinary Transcendent."

When Rein saw the "Ancient God Crystal", his eyes lit up with joy.

Although Black Dragon City has many legendary masters, "Divine Power Crystal" are a rare commodity everywhere.

Whether I can find another one in my lifetime is a question.

But once you find one, whether it suits your own attributes is another question.

Now that such a high-level crystal, even surpassing the Seventy-Two Divine Generals Crystal, has arrived, how can one not be overjoyed?

Besides the crystal, another treasure chest appeared in front of Rein at this moment.

Upon opening the box, one finds an ancient scroll made of animal hide.

As for that black dragon, if you didn't kill it, I left you a little something here. It's a dragon-taming secret technique left behind by a 'Dragon Knight' I once slew. If you're good at languages, you can try to master that tongue-twisting dragon language.

There are no more cultivation techniques or Cultivation Method arts skills. The legacy of the Seventy-Two Divine Guards left in the main hall is already a top-tier legacy, directly connecting to the origin of the laws. You will always find a suitable one.

Rein picked up the ancient animal-hide scroll and examined it closely, only to find that it was also a treasure whose material and craftsmanship were incomprehensible.

It was just a piece of animal hide the size of a palm, but it looked like it contained a great deal of information.

It feels like you're looking at a USB drive; the moment you pick it up, a flood of information rushes into your mind.

It's not just text and images, but also "audio materials" and even content at the level of "meaning".

[Ding! Unknown language detected. Named 'Dragon Language'. System is automatically recording.]

"Dragon Language" is a high-level language, just like "Ancient Demon Language".

Learning it is much more difficult than learning ordinary writing; it requires exceptional language talent and cognitive ability.

It still requires people's subjective "understanding".

Moreover, the pronunciation of dragon language is very unique, and human vocal organs cannot fully simulate those "dragon roars".

Even with the system's assistance, Rein felt his scalp tingle.

It was like seeing a book written in heaven; my mind was very resistant to understanding this "higher animal language."

He instantly lost his enthusiasm for learning "Dragon Language," at least not now.

Rein thought of something and muttered to himself, "I'll show this animal hide to everyone later. Perhaps the Great Shaman Mafat and Wudo have a better talent for animal language."

Meanwhile, the group from Black Dragon City were excavating the Black Emperor's tomb.

Outside the territory.

The Mapson Empire in the south of the "Dark Alliance" has been engulfed in war.

Countless Steam Airship swept in from the east and directly captured the capital of the Mapson Empire.

On this day, in the imperial palace of the Mapson Empire, a young man in white robes sat on the throne that was originally reserved for the emperor.

He was handsome, but appeared somewhat effeminate.

The vertical pupil between his eyebrows further revealed his identity; he was a member of the "Three-Eyed Race."

At this very moment, the middle-aged man who was originally the emperor of the empire was now prostrate in the palace hall, pleading for something.

He was surrounded by a group of concubines and princes.

"Credo, our Mapson Empire is willing to join the Radiant Alliance and worship the great 'Supreme God Jaliad'. But we truly do not know of the place you speak of. There is indeed a connection to the 'God-forsaken Ruins' in the western part of the Empire, but it is a dead land; any creature that enters there never returns."

Before the emperor could finish his explanation, the three-eyed young man impatiently interrupted him, coldly saying, "That's your problem. You have one month to find the place I'm talking about, otherwise, your Mapson royal family has no reason to exist."

As he spoke, his expression was full of sneers, as if the people in front of him were a group of livestock to be slaughtered.

He said January, so it's only January.

Just when the Mapson royal family was at their wits' end, a guard suddenly brought news.

"Your Majesty, we have received news regarding the bounty notice we issued earlier!"

"What? Tell me quickly!"

"It's a captured leader of the 'Red Shark Phantom Thief Group,' who claims they obtained a Treasure Map pointing deep into the ruins of the gods."