"Could this little cauldron be one of the legendary Nine Cauldrons?"
Gu Sheng sighed. "The Nine Cauldrons were originally massive cauldrons that Emperor Yu used to suppress the nine great sources of spiritual power in this world. After the sources of spiritual power were suppressed, these nine massive cauldrons underwent an inconceivable transformation, becoming divine objects that even Emperor Yu himself could not completely control.
"The legendary Nine Cauldrons could choose their own masters. Every master they chose achieved extraordinary accomplishments; at the very least, all those whose names were known had been Xiantian experts. It even seemed that the strongest experts had obtained one of the Nine Cauldrons.
"The Nine Cauldrons possessed spirits. Once they acknowledged a master, outsiders could no longer forcefully seize them. Even if someone without the necessary fate managed to snatch one, they could not keep it. In the past, even a Void Realm ancestor of Yu Emperor's Gate had been unable to stop a Nine Cauldron from returning to its master after seizing it.
"I've heard a little about the Nine Cauldrons' functions. They have already surpassed the scope of divine weapons and sharp armaments, and are more like the legendary Mystic Items.
"Its function is somewhat like the spatial rings in games. In the hands of someone destined to become its master, it can change size at will according to their thoughts, possessing the effect of containing a mustard seed within Mount Sumeru. No matter how many things are placed inside, its master will not feel any change in weight."
"What!"
Chu Xin's little mouth opened adorably, and her bright, sparkling eyes shone. This little girl loved traveling, and every time she carried a large pile of luggage, she still felt it was not enough. If she had this item...
Chu Xin sank into a reverie, a cute smile appearing on her lips.
"Little Xin'er, what kind of sweet dream are you having?"
Gu Sheng spread his hand and pinched Chu Xin's tender, smooth cheek. Mm, as expected of his beloved treasure. The familiar feel was still there; it felt really good to touch.
"You're so bad. You only know how to bully me!"
Chu Xin's little lips pouted so far they could have held an oil jar. However, for the sake of the Nine Cauldrons, she endured Gu Sheng's mischief and his unruly hand, tentatively asking in a flattering tone, "Gu Sheng, after the mission is complete..."
"Mission? What mission?"
Gu Sheng looked at the adorable, absent-minded girl in surprise. Had she suddenly changed, or was she hinting that he could take things further? Normally, if he treated her like this, she would have slapped his hand away long ago.
"It's this master-recognition mission! Wei Dan's dying wish!"
Chu Xin was extremely dissatisfied with Gu Sheng's feigned confusion. She pushed away his increasingly outrageous hands with both of her own, then put her hands on her hips and said coquettishly, "I'll just say it outright! After the mission is complete, this little cauldron is a team resource, so it should be entrusted to me, the team's logistics personnel, for safekeeping."
"You haven't got a fever, have you? Why are you talking nonsense?"
Gu Sheng reached out and touched Chu Xin's forehead, then tested his own, looking at her as though he were showing concern for a mentally challenged child.
"Gu Sheng, what do you mean by that? Do you want to keep the little cauldron all to yourself? Don't forget the terms you agreed to back then: I get first pick of the good stuff."
Gu Sheng's gaze made the girl furious. If she had not been unable to beat him, she would have made this lecher who kept taking liberties with her—and was now shirking responsibility and pretending to be stupid—pay the price.
"Little Xin'er, do you understand the core of this mission?"
Gu Sheng was at a loss for words. He spread his hands helplessly and explained, "Wei Dan's dying wish is to kill the murderer who killed him... Wei Dan was a Xiantian Golden Core expert listed on the Heavenly Rankings when he was alive. The person who killed him had also gone through a fierce battle, which means that swordsman was a Golden Core expert on the Heavenly Rankings as well.
"Look at the sword marks around us. Do you think our tiny arms and legs could withstand even one sword strike from him?"
"Big Brother Gu, I know you're unfathomably profound, brilliant at strategy, and capable of planning everything from a thousand miles away..."
Chu Xin's soft, sweet voice was extremely soothing to hear. Sometimes, a beauty's flattery really was a kind of poison.
"No!"
Gu Sheng swallowed the sugar-coated words and sent the cannonballs back. Only after Chu Xin's mouth had gone dry from talking did he shake his head and say no.
Chu Xin asked in confusion, "Why? Don't we have Azure Spirit? Its strength isn't inferior to those on the Heavenly Rankings! Once we complete the mission, we'll get 10% Conquest Progress! Aren't you tempted?"
Based on her understanding of Gu Sheng, this fellow was a merchant through and through. Even 1% Conquest Progress was enough to make him rack his brains and risk his life. This was ten times as much, so why was he not tempted?
Gu Sheng wore a helpless expression. "Did you even listen to what I just said? Did I mention when Wei Dan lived?"
Chu Xin lowered her head and thought for a moment before answering uncertainly, "I think you said he was a Heavenly Rankings expert from six hundred years ago."
Gu Sheng nodded, then sighed. "That's precisely the problem. Wei Dan was a figure from six hundred years ago, so his enemy must also have been an expert from that era.
"A Xiantian expert has a lifespan of two hundred years, while a Void Realm expert seems to live for four hundred. Even if that person had been lucky enough to break through to the Void Realm, they still could not have lived until now.
"The target of this mission has already been dead for at least two hundred years. Tell me, how are we supposed to complete the mission?"
Gu Sheng's words left Chu Xin dumbfounded. The little girl stammered for a while, unable to come up with a solution. Somewhat dejected, she said, "Then what do we do? Do we leave empty-handed after entering a treasure mountain? This feels awful."
Gu Sheng narrowed his eyes and studied the skeleton on the ground for a moment. A trace of amusement curved his lips. "We can't use it, but that doesn't mean we can't take it away. Since the Nine Cauldron hasn't acknowledged a master, we'll simply take the skeleton with us. I know someone who can definitely become its master."
You mean your cousin, that cool little brat, Teng Qingshan?
Chu Xin asked uncertainly. She had been deeply impressed by Teng Qingshan as well.
So far, he was the character with the highest Conquest Progress she had encountered. Killing him would actually grant no less Conquest Progress than a key node. It was truly baffling.
"Mm."
Gu Sheng nodded, then continued, "Besides Qingshan, Li Jun might be able to do it too."
Gu Sheng thought of Li Jun, the main female character of The Nine Cauldrons. Her appearance closely resembled Little Cat, Teng Qingshan's wife in his previous life. Like the Female Martial Saint of the Eastern Glory Region on the North Sea continent, she was very likely connected to Little Cat in some way.
The Nine Cauldron Teng Qingshan had possessed in his previous life had been his wife Little Cat's family heirloom and keepsake. According to Teng Qingshan's memories, the little cauldron had hung from Little Cat's body for a long time. This showed that Little Cat had also been someone recognized by a Nine Cauldron.
As the female lead, Li Jun herself possessed great fortune, along with the rare beast-language talent of the world. Added to that was her vague connection with Little Cat. It was possible that she could become the little cauldron's master as well.
"Then when are we leaving?"
At this moment, Chu Xin was even more anxious than Gu Sheng. She desperately wanted to witness the legendary effect of containing a mustard seed within Mount Sumeru.
"Don't rush. There are still good things beneath the water."
Gu Sheng smiled without answering and flipped into the water again.
With a splash, he dove underwater once more. Centering his search on the place where he had just discovered Wei Dan's corpse, he searched continuously. Before long, he discovered a black metal fragment.
The prompt in his mind sounded again. "Ding! Key item discovered: Emperor Yu's Treasure Map (fragment). Conquest Progress increased by 1%. Exploration Mysteries unlocked. You can obtain 5% Conquest Progress."
"Ding-ling! The Heavens..."
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