Treasure Artifact

This cave was where Asura Sect disciples went into seclusion to break through to the Refining Qi to Spirit stage. In other words, its former occupant should have been at the tenth layer of the Return to Simplicity Realm, the final stage of Refining Essence to Qi. Anything left behind by such an expert was bound to be far from ordinary.

The group followed the stone path through the Poison Pool, crossing its highly toxic waters to reach the platform at the very back.

On the platform, a deathly pale skeleton lay sprawled over a table. Countless shattered artifact fragments were scattered around it; clearly, the artifacts on his body had already collapsed before his death.

At the tenth layer of the Return to Simplicity Realm, failure during a breakthrough could very easily lead to qi deviation. Heart Fire would blaze up and burn one to ashes, and even the artifacts worn on one's body would struggle to escape destruction. Looking at the artifact fragments carpeting the ground, everyone sighed inwardly. What a waste. Otherwise, these artifacts should all have been exceptionally formidable.

Still, there was not nothing besides those artifacts. A jade box on the table had been opened at one corner. Inside were six small slots, five of which held pills, while one was already empty. Beyond that, a pitch-black ring was looped around one of the finger bones. It looked utterly ordinary, and there was nothing else.

"This is a Storage Ring, but it's a Treasure Artifact. It needs to be appraised. With our current abilities, we can't open it at all." Lu Yuling removed the black ring from the finger bone and examined it. She shook her head, both delighted and helpless.

Treasure Artifacts were equipment that stood above artifacts. The gap between them was as vast as clouds and mud, like the difference between an ordinary Refining Essence to Qi cultivator and a Refining Qi to Spirit cultivator. Yet Treasure Artifacts possessed their own spirituality. Once they left their master, they would tarnish themselves.

"Spiritual objects tarnish themselves, quietly choosing an enlightened master"—that described beings like Treasure Artifacts. To obtain a Treasure Artifact that did not belong to oneself, it had to be appraised. Only by calling forth its abilities could one awaken the Artifact Spirit's awareness. Otherwise, the Treasure Artifact would remain asleep, no different from an ordinary object, inferior even to the lowliest artifact.

That this Storage Ring was actually a Treasure Artifact was certainly delightful, but the fact that it needed appraisal was helplessly frustrating.

A Treasure Artifact? Zhuge Xiang was curious as well. This was something said to surpass twelve-star artifacts, an item truly worthy of being called a "treasure." He took it from Lu Yuling and lowered his head to inspect it.

Summoning Treasure Ring (One-Star Treasure Artifact): Requires appraisal.
Note: Can be appraised after unlocking the Life Profession System and obtaining the Junior Appraiser title.

Appraising a Treasure Artifact meant calling forth its inherent abilities and making its Artifact Spirit sense them, thereby awakening it. Zhuge Xiang had originally thought that, with the abilities of his Super Game System, he might be able to see through its information as he could with other things. Unexpectedly, he could only tell that it was a one-star Treasure Artifact. As for its attributes and abilities, he could see nothing at all. It still needed to be appraised.

As for unlocking the Life Profession System, Zhuge Xiang truly had no idea when he would manage that. It seemed that although this Treasure Artifact ring was good, it was currently something far beyond his reach.

Though it was a Treasure Artifact, without appraisal it could only make people covet it. Unless they encountered an appraiser someday and had it successfully appraised, it was useless. But appraisers were a highly sought-after profession and held lofty status. Even Refining Qi to Spirit cultivators might not be able to meet one, much less disciples like them who had only just entered the Refining Essence to Qi stage. Whether this ring could ever be opened was truly uncertain.

Since the Treasure Artifact ring could not be opened, the group turned their attention to the other jade box. It had six small slots, but only five pills inside. Clearly, one had already been used.

Zhuge Xiang picked one up first and lowered his head to examine it. Its information naturally surfaced.

Nine Aperture Profound Pill (Special Consumable): Upon consumption, cleanses the marrow and remolds the body, improving one's cultivation aptitude and casting off the fate of mediocrity. Limited to one pill per person. The lower one's cultivation, the better the effect.

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath when they heard Zhuge Xiang describe the Nine Aperture Profound Pill's effects. They had never imagined that a mere disciple who had not comprehended the Spirit Transformation Stage could possess such miraculous pills.

It could cleanse the marrow, bring Rebirth, and improve one's aptitude? Such a pill was incredibly powerful. It seemed to be the sort that altered one's constitution. The lower one's cultivation, the better the effect. That made sense: the higher one's cultivation, the farther one had traveled down the path of cultivation. Turning back then to improve one's constitution would naturally yield far poorer results.

The Nine Aperture Profound Pill truly was a good thing, and everyone's hearts burned at the sight of it. Though they were all geniuses of this generation and their talent was beyond doubt, any improvement in aptitude was always a good thing. Even a slight improvement meant cultivating faster than others and traveling farther along the path. Who would not covet it?

But there were six people present, and only five Nine Aperture Profound Pills in the jade box. How were they to divide them? There had originally been six pills, but for some reason, one was missing.

"If I'm not mistaken, one of the six Nine Aperture Profound Pills was probably eaten by that Demonic Moth. That must be how it gained intelligence—its aptitude was likely improved." Lu Yuling sighed softly. Looking at the five pills in the jade box, she said, "Since the effect of the Nine Aperture Profound Pill worsens as one's cultivation rises, and my cultivation is the highest, I won't take one."

"Senior Sister Lu..." Hua Nongying called out anxiously, but she did not know what else to say. There were only five pills, so someone was bound to be left empty-handed. Whoever it was, they would surely be dissatisfied.

"Well, I contributed the least. I wasn't any help in the battle, so I'll pass," Niu Geng said, scratching his head with an honest, slightly awkward look.

Faced with something as precious as the Nine Aperture Profound Pill, Lu Yuling's kindness and Niu Geng's honesty still allowed them to give it up. Zhuge Xiang shook his head inwardly. All he could say was that they did not seem like disciples of a Demonic Sect at all.

Shaking his head, Zhuge Xiang said, "All right, stop arguing. I'll be the one to give up this Nine Aperture Profound Pill."

"How can that be?" Even Ling Wufeng and Ji Wuxue, who had remained silent at the side, felt embarrassed now. Zhuge Xiang's contributions in the battle had been plain for all to see. Without him, they would all have died. Anyone could go without a Nine Aperture Profound Pill—except him. If he did not get one, everyone would feel awkward.

Zhuge Xiang was fairly satisfied by their reactions. Everyone wanted good things, especially something that could improve one's aptitude; there was nothing wrong with that. Yet from their responses, they at least still had their own principles. That was rare and precious. They were not like Lei Potian, who, for the sake of equipment, could slaughter fellow disciples wave after wave.

"All right, we'll do as I said. You all know I'm a combat-type genius. Something that improves cultivation aptitude doesn't mean much to me. The place where I'm destined to grow is on the battlefield, in battle." Without giving them room to argue, Zhuge Xiang stuffed the five incomparably precious Nine Aperture Profound Pills into their hands.

Zhuge Xiang was indeed right. Though he had now reached the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, he had tested it. If he devoted himself entirely to sitting in meditation and cultivating, he would gain only around 10 experience points a day. Over a year, that would amount to merely 3,600 points. At that rate, it would take him a full year just to barely reach the Qi Cultivation Realm Fourth Layer. It was far too slow.

If he wanted to grow quickly, he could only rely on battle to gain experience. Thus, while the Nine Aperture Profound Pill that improved cultivation aptitude was highly effective for the vast majority of people, it was little more than chicken ribs to Zhuge Xiang.

"Fine. Since you've put it that way, we won't stand on ceremony any longer. But since we've divided all the Nine Aperture Profound Pills among ourselves, this Treasure Artifact Storage Ring should go to you. Even if we can't open it now, once we return to headquarters, it can fetch a very good price if sold," Lu Yuling said. She understood Zhuge Xiang's personality well. He was not someone who would let himself suffer a loss for no reason. Since he said he did not need it, then he probably truly did not.

Lu Yuling's suggestion won nods of agreement from Hua Nongying and the others. Everyone had received a Nine Aperture Profound Pill, and considering the role Zhuge Xiang had played in the battle, giving him this Treasure Artifact ring was only fair.

Without wasting time, the five each swallowed a Nine Aperture Profound Pill, sat down cross-legged, and began absorbing its medicinal power. Looking at Niu Geng, Zhuge Xiang knew this was the key for Niu Geng to catch up to the geniuses. It could cleanse the marrow and bring Rebirth, and Niu Geng himself was only at the Qi Cultivation Realm First Layer. Clearly, the Nine Aperture Profound Pill would have the greatest effect on him.

While the five absorbed the medicinal power and improved their aptitudes, Zhuge Xiang had nothing to do, so he quietly took stock of his gains from this expedition.

Piercing Arrow: Skill Book. Requires 1 Skill Point.

Wolf Fang Arrow Crafting Recipe: Requires a one-star blacksmith, Cloud Refined Steel, and Shadow Locust Wood.
Wolf Fang Arrow: Attack +8, ignores 5 Defense.

Besides the Repair Oil, these were the other two items dropped by the Demonic Moth, and both were things Zhuge Xiang needed. With the Demonic Moth slain, Zhuge Xiang was only 1,000 experience points away from the Qi Cultivation Realm Fourth Layer. Once he leveled up, he could learn Piercing Arrow. And the attack power of Wolf Fang Arrows was clearly far superior to ordinary arrows. With the two-star artifact Hundred Refinements Bow, and then Wolf Fang Arrows on top of that, Zhuge Xiang's ranged attacks would become terrifyingly fierce.

Afterward, Zhuge Xiang took out several items he had looted from Lei Potian. Lei Potian had been schemed to death through the joint efforts of Zhuge Xiang and Niu Geng, so his belongings were rightfully the spoils of those two and did not need to be distributed.

Besides Lei Potian's One-Star Artifact Great Axe and Breath Concealing Jade, there were three other artifacts. They appeared to have been obtained from the fellow disciples he had lured to their deaths, but now they had fallen into Zhuge Xiang's hands. As Zhuge Xiang examined them, the information for the three artifacts automatically surfaced.