After searching for seven or eight days straight, the fragments of the Primordial Bell were finally all found. Jiang Ping'an then began his return journey, leaving the rapidly collapsing Shagu Secret Realm.
He did not come across that Cosmic Light Divine Crystal along the way, but he did pick up a Sacred Artifact. It was precisely the Sacred Artifact left behind by that Ancient Ferocious Beast at the Demon Emperor Realm.
After smoothly exiting the Shagu Secret Realm, Jiang Ping'an returned safely to Great An Kingdom and made a detour to Hook East Peak to find the Chaos Gourd.
When the Chaos Gourd heard Jiang Ping'an asking for Myriad Mother Qi again, it could not help but pull a long face. "Do you take this place for a charity hall?"
Jiang Ping'an explained, "This time, I'm not borrowing it—I'm trading for it. I'll exchange a Sacred Artifact for Myriad Mother Qi."
As he spoke, he took out the Sacred Artifact he had obtained from the Shagu Secret Realm.
Trading a Sacred Artifact for Myriad Mother Qi was certainly a bit of a loss, but the Chaos Gourd had helped him hold back the Celestial Race army for thirty years. Even giving the Chaos Gourd three Sacred Artifacts outright would not have been excessive.
The Sacred Artifact "saw" the Chaos Gourd and realized that it was about to be devoured by an Emperor Weapon. It resisted fiercely, but it simply could not break free from Jiang Ping'an's hand.
Without another word, the Chaos Gourd sucked the Sacred Artifact into itself, then released a clump of Myriad Mother Qi.
"Thank you, Senior Gourd." After expressing his thanks, Jiang Ping'an put away the Myriad Mother Qi, took his leave, and returned to the imperial palace in Ping'an City.
Deep within the imperial palace,