Dragon Palace Obtains Treasure

After Ao Yun told Ao Shun about the events of their recent outing, Ao Shun's treatment of Jiang Yun was elevated another notch. Ao Shun also shared this information with the other three great Dragon Palaces.

Jiang Yun had previously given their Dragon Race such a brilliant idea, and Ao Shun hadn't had a chance to express their gratitude yet. Upon discovering Jiang Yun's capabilities this time, Ao Shun, under the guise of thanks, directly took Jiang Yun to the Dragon Race's secret treasure vault and told them to pick any treasure they desired.

The Dragon Palace treasure vaults were divided into three tiers.

The first tier was the common treasure vault, also known as the outer vault. It primarily stored relatively common aquatic treasures and more valuable items imbued with Spiritual Energy. Ordinary treasures included pearls and coral used for decoration or daily use, while relatively valuable items included the inner cores of sea beasts and rare ores containing Spiritual Energy. These vaults had relatively weak defenses, usually protected by simple water curtain restrictions and guarded by low-level Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals to prevent ordinary aquatic creatures from trespassing.

The second tier was the inner storage vault, also called the inner vault. This was the Dragon Palace's important wealth storage location, typically holding extremely precious treasures. For example, it contained Dragon Pearls of fallen dragons, powerful Houtian Spiritual Treasures, and medicinal herbs grown from Spiritual Roots. The items stored in this vault were capable of greatly enhancing cultivation or combat power. The inner storage vault's defenses were considered airtight, with complex bloodline restriction formations set up around it. The guards were powerful Dragon Princes and Grandchildren with profound cultivation. Most importantly, their own bloodlines could connect with the vault's defense system, allowing for rapid reinforcement from the entire Dragon Palace's power in case of danger.

Finally, the third tier was the core treasure vault, also known as the secret vault. The secret vault was the Dragon Palace's most mysterious and important place, representing its foundation. It housed the Dragon Palace's most treasured artifacts. Some of these treasures were top-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasures with extremely strong functions or special effects, while a small portion were Innate Spiritual Treasures, or secret records of Daoist methods, divine abilities, and secret techniques passed down through generations of the Dragon Race, as well as some secrets of the Primordial Desolation. The defenses of the core secret vault were the Dragon Palace's top priority. Formations and restrictions meticulously carved by past Dragon Palace powerhouses, along with hidden Dragon Race experts guarding it, protected the vault, which was hidden within a special space. Only the successive masters of the Dragon Palace could open it through specific bloodline secret methods.

Jiang Yun followed Dragon King Ao Shun to the entrance of the secret vault. The entrance was hidden behind a deep, dark blue water curtain that shimmered with a mysterious light, like a barrier separating it from the mortal world.

Ao Shun stopped before the secret vault and softly uttered a string of ancient and obscure Dragon Language. The sound echoed in the water, like a call from the distant past. As the Dragon Language was chanted, a soft blue light emanated from Ao Shun's Dragon Horns, drifting like silken threads towards the water curtain.

The water curtain seemed to sense the Dragon Race's aura and the incantation, and it began to ripple gently, like silk disturbed by a breeze. Ripples spread outwards, gradually forming a rotating vortex in the center of the water curtain. The vortex spun faster and faster, emitting a faint humming sound. The center of the vortex gradually became transparent, revealing a passage glowing with blue light. The walls of the passage were covered with ancient Dragon Race Runes, which flickered with a faint glow, as if recounting the long history of the Dragon Race.

Ao Shun led Jiang Yun into the vortex, and in an instant, they arrived in another space.

This secret vault space was a vast palace. Numerous Luminous Pearls were embedded in the ceiling. Judging by the palace's structure, it seemed to be divided into several layers, and they were currently within the first layer. The first layer of the secret vault was filled with crystal shelves, upon which various treasures radiating powerful Spiritual Energy were placed. Some treasures were enveloped in soft glows, while others occasionally flashed with dazzling electric light or chilling cold light.

Jiang Yun briefly sensed the quality of these treasures. Most of them were top-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasures, and the few Innate Spiritual Treasures were all of lower grade. Better ones were likely hidden in the secret vaults beyond the first layer.

He wasn't lacking in Spiritual Treasures, and these Spiritual Treasures with ordinary effects didn't impress him.

Ao Shun also noticed his lack of enthusiasm and knew that Jiang Yun might not be interested in the treasures of the first layer. Thus, he led Jiang Yun through another vortex behind it and into the second layer.

There were far fewer treasures in this second layer, with only three crystal shelves holding about a dozen items in total. However, the quality of the Spiritual Treasures in this layer was much higher. The best was a seal-like, high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, with a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon coiled upon it. Upon seeing this seal, Jiang Yun felt a strange sensation and immediately chose this treasure.

For him, no matter how many layers were behind the secret vault, they would not be opened to him. Since he had encountered something that resonated with him, he would take it immediately.

After selecting the Spiritual Treasure, Ao Shun took him out of the vault and then recited an incantation to close it.

Jiang Yun asked Ao Shun to arrange a secret chamber for him. He had previously collected the Wood Spirit Pearl and Kunlun Wood from the outer seas, and now he had received the seal artifact from the Dragon King as thanks. He needed to go into seclusion in a secret chamber for a period to refine and absorb these items, turning them into his own strength as quickly as possible.

Upon entering the arranged secret chamber, Jiang Yun set up some warning formations inside. Caution is the parent of safety.

He first took out the seal artifact that had evoked a sense within him. Upon contacting the artifact with his Nascent Soul and obtaining its information, he was greatly surprised. This was actually the Kongtong Seal!

Wasn't the Kongtong Seal at Shouyang Mountain? How could it have appeared so early? And how did it end up in the Dragon Race's treasure vault?

A series of questions flooded Jiang Yun's mind, causing his thoughts to race, yet he couldn't form a clear picture.

Since he couldn't figure it out for now, he decided to stop thinking about it. Clearing his mind of chaotic thoughts, he became joyful after his initial shock.

The Kongtong Seal was a future supreme treasure of the Human Race, capable of suppressing the Human Race's Fortune and even deposing or enthroning Human Emperors. Furthermore, its holder would share thirty percent of the Human Race's Fortune.

Following the Kongtong Seal's function, Jiang Yun couldn't help but ponder: a supreme treasure of the Human Race... the Human Race... the Way of Man...

"Could the Kongtong Seal be a supreme treasure of the Way of Man? Does it suppress the Fortune of the Way of Man!" At this thought, a flash of inspiration struck Jiang Yun's mind.

If the Kongtong Seal was a supreme treasure of the Way of Man, then it made sense. The fact that the Dragon Race obtained this treasure back then proved that the Dragon Race itself was considered the most likely race to unify the Primordial Desolation and gather the Fortune of the Way of Man. Unfortunately, Luohu later struck from the shadows, inciting the war between the Three Races. Hongjun took advantage of the situation, eventually defeating Luohu and reaping the rewards. The first opportunity for the Way of Man to awaken was thus extinguished.

Presumably, if the Ancestor Dragon could have unified the Three Races and gathered Fortune, the Kongtong Seal, under the influence of such immense Fortune, would have become a true supreme treasure of the Way of Man, rather than the high-grade Spiritual Treasure it was now.

The reason the Kongtong Seal could evoke a response in Jiang Yun was likely related to his past life as a human. After all, the Human Race eventually became the sole protagonists of the Primordial Desolation.

With these thoughts clarified, Jiang Yun quickly picked up the Kongtong Seal and began to refine it.