Passing Through the Treasures

Jade Capital's long street was paved with golden bricks, and the buildings on both sides featured upturned eaves, dougong brackets, and intricately carved beams and painted rafters.

The Sixth Prince walked with his hands behind his back, flanked by purple-robed cultivators.

Chen Qing followed half a step behind, his peripheral vision taking in the streetscape. Amidst the jade towers and pavilions, spiritual mist swirled, and immortal cranes circled. Cultivators flew back and forth on swords, creating a truly celestial scene.

"How do you find Jade Capital, Minister Chen?" the Sixth Prince suddenly asked.

Chen Qing replied, "The prosperity of Jade Capital is unlike anything I've ever seen."

My previous life couldn't compare, after all, no buildings there could fly.

The Sixth Prince chuckled, "What is this compared to? The true Immortal Realm is said to have thirty-three heavens, each vaster than the last. Immortal palaces stretch for billions of miles, and spiritual springs flow like the Milky Way." A hint of longing flashed in his eyes. "Once Father Emperor achieves his Dao and ascends, we will be able to witness such magnificent sights."

Chen Qing's heart jolted. "The Immortal Emperor is going to ascend?"

"Naturally," the Sixth Prince stated with certainty. "Father Emperor's cultivation has reached the pinnacle of Earth Immortality. He's only one step away. Once he ascends, he will attain the Heavenly Immortal fruit status and live as long as heaven and earth."

Chen Qing recalled his experience on Xuan Du Mountain and tentatively asked, "When I was on Xuan Du Mountain, I heard there were immortals there. Why would they need to ascend?"

The Sixth Prince burst into laughter. "Those are rogue immortals! They've shed their physical bodies, leaving only their spiritual cultivation. They seem carefree, but in reality, their lives are incomplete, and they face constant tribulations. Only by ascending to the Immortal Realm and achieving Heavenly Immortality can one attain true freedom and liberation!"

Chen Qing felt his mind sway, but he quickly regained his senses. In the current world, he had only just broken through to the second realm. These high-level discussions were best left as observations. If he became overly ambitious, he might lose sight of his true path.

"Minister Chen, do you know that your fifth brother and seventh sister are currently guests at my estate?" the Sixth Prince suddenly changed the subject.

Chen Qing's expression remained calm. He simply said, "My younger brother wrote to me saying he thanks Your Highness for your care."

"No need for pleasantries," the Sixth Prince chuckled. "I am the Empress's legitimate son. In terms of bloodline purity, my elder brothers and second elder brother are not my equals. My mother is the orthodox descendant of the ancient human race, and our ancestors produced three True Immortals."

Even in cultivation, they still emphasize lineage?

Chen Qing listened silently, analyzing the information in his words.

The Sixth Prince continued as they walked, "Once Father Emperor achieves his Dao and ascends, the position of Immortal Emperor will be vacant, and someone will naturally need to inherit it. Minister Chen, your strategy for pacifying the people has already demonstrated your great talent!" His tone was sincere. "If you are willing to assist me, your path to immortality will be promising. As for Xi Yao..."

He smiled meaningfully.

"She ultimately has foreign blood. She looks human, but she is not of our lineage. Not to mention, Xi Yao is nearly three hundred years old. Her spiritual power and combat strength are all based on her physical body, yet her cultivation realm is only the second stage. Without internal cultivation, she cannot grasp Life's True Solution. If her bloodline reverses, and she relies on her physical body to forcibly extend her life, with spiritual cultivation as her primary focus, she will become a Yao! One that must be suppressed!"

As his words fell, a nine-story golden pagoda appeared before them, its spire piercing the clouds, emitting a faint pressure.

"We've arrived," the Sixth Prince gestured. "This is the Treasure Pavilion. Jade Capital has seven treasure pavilions. Aside from the one in the palace, this Senluo Treasure Pavilion on Qinglong Avenue is the most comprehensive."

Chen Qing looked at the golden pagoda. At its entrance stood two golden-armored warriors whose auras were immeasurably strong!

However, since arriving in Jade Capital, almost everyone he had seen possessed an unfathomable aura. He was already somewhat accustomed to it.

"Minister Chen," the Sixth Prince said, seeing his gaze. "For your cultivation level to be involved in such matters is like an ant trying to shake a tree. However, what I value is not your cultivation. Your strategy for pacifying the people, transforming hostility into harmony, that is true capability."

Chen Qing's expression was calm. "You flatter me."

"No need for false modesty," the Sixth Prince raised his hand, and with a flash of light, a crimson jade token materialized in his grasp. He tossed it to Chen Qing. "With this token, you may freely enter and exit my estate. I am very interested in your strategies and plans. As for cultivation... whatever Xi Yao can give you, I will give you double. What she cannot give you, I can!"

Chen Qing took the token, neither bowing nor refusing, and simply said, "Minister Chen has noted it."

The Sixth Prince waved his hand, and the golden pagoda's main gate slowly opened.

The moment the gate opened, myriad treasures of light poured out like a river of stars.

"This pagoda is divided into nine floors. With your contribution, you may choose one item from the first three floors. The first floor contains ordinary magical artifacts. The second floor houses high-grade spiritual items. As for the third floor..."

He paused and glanced at Chen Qing. "Treasures have spirits and choose their masters. If you are fortunate, you may find something. Go ahead."

Chen Qing cupped his hands in thanks and stepped into the pagoda.

Just as the gate closed, the Sixth Prince suddenly said, "You don't need to return to Xi Yao for now. The Empress has issued a decree, ordering her to enter the palace to study the Qingqiu Secret Canon as a special favor."

Chen Qing's heart tightened. He looked back, but the gate had already closed.

Qingqiu Secret Canon? It sounds like a bloodline secret manual. Isn't the Empress wary of the Qingqiu bloodline? Why would she let the Princess study it? Is she trying to intentionally awaken Xi Yao's bloodline?

Despite his thoughts, he had entered the treasure vault and was isolated from the outside world by the array within. After a moment of thought, he set the matter aside for now.

Taking two steps forward, Chen Qing's pupils contracted.

In the great hall of the first floor, hundreds of magical artifacts floated like stars. Ancient bronze swords hummed in response, purple-gold cauldrons breathed in spiritual mist. Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, bells, tripods, and seals—a dazzling array, each emitting a faint spiritual light.

Although the Sixth Prince said these were ordinary magical artifacts, Chen Qing had never seen so many magical artifacts together in his life!

What a pity, magical artifacts can't be fed back to the main body...

With regret, he briefly examined them before ascending to the second floor via a jade staircase.

The second floor was slightly smaller, but the quality of the treasures had clearly improved.

In the center floated three spiritual items: a small, earth-yellow seal, a short crimson sword, and a piece of black iron. Each emanated a unique aura, clearly indicating they were high-grade.

As Chen Qing's gaze fell upon them, the three items trembled slightly!

Treasures have spirits! Once they gain sentience, magical artifacts will transform, eventually becoming magical treasures with their own spirits! Unfortunately, I can only use them in dreams. I wonder if there are any treasures that can be used by my main body...

Chen Qing's gaze did not linger. He directly stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor.

"Buzz—"

An invisible pressure suddenly descended! It felt like a mountain weighing down on him, and with each step he climbed, his bones trembled!

As expected, there's something strange about it. No wonder the third floor was specifically mentioned...

He activated his Supreme Harmony Qi, and as the Destiny Talisman's starlight flowed, he barely managed to negate some of the pressure. He climbed step by difficult step, and by the time he reached the final one, his shirt was soaked with sweat, and he was still catching his breath. When he looked up, he was stunned—

The entire floor of the pavilion was shrouded in mist-like, flowing light, with treasure radiance swirling all around.

The moment he stepped in, it felt as if dozens of gazes fell upon him—the treasures suspended throughout this floor seemed alive!

On a jade table to his left, a Bronze Wine Goblet poured its own drink. Amber liquor gurgled out, its aroma intoxicating. Seeing Chen Qing look over, two lines of golden script appeared on the cup's body: "He who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk shall have it."

On a screen to his right, an ink wash painting of mountains and rivers flowed on its own, filled with the aura of time. The woodcutter in the painting suddenly stopped, turned his head, and grinned. He actually spoke, his voice like the clashing of metal: "Take a journey through the painting, and return still a youth."

There was also a jade flute playing by itself, its melody intricate, requiring a response within three breaths; a Golden Bell swayed gently, conjuring a maze, demanding one walk a hundred steps straight with eyes closed without deviation; a Seven-stringed Zither played and sang on its own, needing a melody that moved heaven and earth to be obtained; a jade axe hung in the air, chopping down, requiring the one who wished to take it to split mountains nine thousand ren!

"All of them are magic treasures?!"

Chen Qing's heart trembled.

In the real world, even for major sects, magic treasures were their most prized possessions. Yet here, there were dozens of them, each with its own sentience, waiting to choose a master!

He suppressed his excitement, his gaze sweeping across them, his steps not stopping.

Whether he could get them or not, he'd at least feast his eyes first!

He suddenly stopped before a Green Jade Lotus Platform on the west side.

The lotus platform was completely translucent, hovering a few inches off the ground, slowly rotating. In its center rested a withered, scorched red orchid, with only three remaining tattered leaves, their veins showing faint golden patterns.

Six characters, like a brand, appeared on the lotus seat—

"Revive this orchid, obtain this treasure."

Chen Qing's pupils constricted!

The appearance of this withered, scorched red orchid... was exactly the same as the "Fire Tongue Orchid" described in the Record of Absolute Items!

So, my frantic memory recall before entering the dream wasn't in vain! he rejoiced inwardly.

According to the Record of Absolute Items, the Fire Tongue Orchid grew by volcanic lava, its roots feeding on the earth's fire poison to grow. Otherwise, it would wither.

"This means, as long as I obtain the earth's fire poison, I can revive this orchid. But this place is deep within the pavilion, where would I find earth's fire poison?"

"Do I have to go out and prepare?" Chen Qing frowned slightly, then suddenly—

A flash of inspiration!

"I remember that book also mentioned an Earthfire Crystal Scorpion. This creature's essence contains both fire and earth spiritual energy, similar to earth's fire poison! I paid close attention to it back then because it could regulate yin and yang imbalances. So, could it..."

With this thought, he held his breath, calmed his mind, and activated his Supreme Harmony Qi.

To step into the second realm, one needed to refine the Five Elements Spiritual Essence and merge it with the Supreme Harmony Qi. Now, he reversed his cultivation technique, and the Supreme Harmony Qi immediately differentiated into the Five Elements—

In Chen Qing's mind, his master's words before his death resurfaced, about the secret to nurturing the Five Elements—

"The Five Elements Spiritual Essence is within the body; balance must be maintained. If one element is allowed to become dominant, the other four will be gradually devoured, becoming nourishment, thus causing the Five Elements to become unbalanced..."

Acting against this advice, Chen Qing activated the fire and earth energies, causing them to intertwine. Driven by the momentum of the mountains, they gradually condensed into a wisp of dark red Turbid Qi!

This Turbid Qi was impure and crude, barely simulating a few characteristics of the earth's fire poison.

"It'll barely do."

Chen Qing didn't hesitate, flicking his finger!

"Chhh—"

The Turbid Qi entered the roots, and the withered orchid trembled violently!

Those three curled, tattered leaves, at a speed visible to the naked eye...

Slowly unfurled!

Arrived home quite late today