Zhu Gaochi stood there, stunned, wondering if his prolonged illness had left him weak and feverish, and made him hallucinate.
When he came to his senses, he hurriedly rubbed his eyes, only to find that the familiar, tall, vigorous figure with his spirited features had not vanished.
"What, it's only been a few months, and you don't even recognize your own father anymore?"
Zhu Di walked up to Zhu Gaochi with a smile.
He had forbidden Zhu Zhanji and the others from telling Zhu Gaochi beforehand because he wanted to see the look of shock on his big, chubby son's face.
"Father, you... how did you become young again?"
Once Zhu Gaochi was sure he wasn't imagining things, his astonishment only grew. Disbelief filled his face.
"Haha."
"I was blessed by Immortals and Spirits. That's how I was able to shed my old body and regain my youth!"
Zhu Di laughed heartily, hands on his hips, in an excellent mood.
"Immortals and Spirits?"
Zhu Gaochi was even more confused. The existence of Immortals and Spirits had always seemed elusive, confined to ancient legends and strange tales.
"It's true."
Seeing that his father didn't believe him, Zhu Zhanji immediately explained:
"When Grandpa was at Yumuchuan, he suddenly received the blessing of Immortals and Spirits. Not only did he regain his youth, his strength soared too. He single-handedly carried a Red-Clad Cannon and cut down three thousand Oirat cavalrymen."
"The reason we were able to sweep across the Grassland tribes so quickly this time was also because Grandpa was so powerful. He beat Mahamu and the others into complete submission."
"Later, the Immortals and Spirits bestowed Divine Water on us. After the brothers of the Three Thousand Camp and I drank it, our physiques improved tremendously. We're not what we used to be."
To keep his father from doubting him, Zhu Zhanji casually lifted the stone lion at the entrance.
"Good heavens..."
Seeing Zhu Zhanji lift the thousand-pound stone lion over his head, Zhu Gaochi's eyes nearly popped out. The last trace of doubt in his heart crumbled before this superhuman display of strength.
"So Immortals and Spirits really do exist in this world."
"Of course."
Zhu Di stroked his beard and smiled, then took a gourd from his waist and tossed it to Zhu Gaochi.
"This is the Divine Water I saved for you. Hurry and drink it. Once you're done, your illnesses will be cured, and you'll be full of vigor."
Looking at the expectant faces of Zhu Di and Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Gaochi didn't hesitate. He tipped his head back and gulped down all the water in the gourd.
After drinking it, Zhu Gaochi immediately felt a warm energy surge through his body.
His discomfort vanished in an instant. His every movement felt light and easy, and his body seemed filled with boundless strength.
"A miracle! This really is a miracle!"
As happy as a child, Zhu Gaochi cheered and leaped about on the spot.
He had thought he didn't have much longer to live, yet a single gourd of Divine Water had cured all his ailments.
After his excitement passed, Zhu Gaochi began to feel a little guilty. He shouldn't have drunk all the Divine Water in the gourd; he should have saved some for his wife and children.
"Have a little more ambition." Zhu Di noticed the change in his eldest son's expression and chided him with a laugh. Then he took out another gourd and tossed it over. "Here. Do you think I'm the sort of person who only looks after himself?"
Zhu Gaochi hurriedly caught it with both hands and held it against his chest as if it were a priceless treasure, afraid he might spill even a drop.
"How is the task I gave you going? Have you collected those rare treasures?"
Zhu Di got down to business.
"After the decree was issued, we did collect quite a few treasures from among the people. They've all been gathered in the Treasure Vault."
Zhu Gaochi replied respectfully.
"Good. I'll go take a look."
Zhu Di hurried toward the Treasure Vault.
Soon, he arrived at the Great Ming's Treasure Vault.
More than a hundred rows of tall rosewood shelves stood in neat lines. They were packed with countless pearls, jades, ancient artifacts, paintings, calligraphy, and unusual stones, all gleaming with a faint radiance.
Among them were treasures the Imperial Family had accumulated since the founding of Great Ming, as well as recent tributes from all over the realm.
Zhu Di walked between the shelves, looking over the rare treasures that could cause a sensation if even one of them were to find its way outside. Yet none of them satisfied him.
After all, Ye Hei and Xiao Yan had offered up the seeds of Immortal Medicine and Heavenly Flames from their worlds.
The Great Ming World was nowhere near comparable to the worlds of Ye Hei and Xiao Yan, but Zhu Di still wanted to choose the most precious treasure he could find and offer it to Immortal Master Qingxu as an expression of gratitude.
"Hm?"
"Is that... a sword?"
Suddenly, Zhu Di's gaze was drawn to a precious sword hanging on the wall.
The sword was golden all over, its blade glimmering with a cold light. Ancient patterns were carved into the blade and hilt, and it radiated a dignified, imposing aura, like a towering mountain above a deep abyss. It was none other than the legendary Chixiao Sword, wielded by Liu Bang, the founder of the Han dynasty, when he rebelled after slaying the White Serpent.
Zhu Di hadn't expected his big, chubby son to be so capable. He had even managed to track down the Chixiao Sword.
He took the Xuanyuan Sword down from the wall, examined it carefully, and made his decision:
"Good."
"I'll offer up this sword!"
As Zhu Di opened the Sacrifice function and placed the Chixiao Sword inside, Li Qingxu, who was meditating at the foot of Kunlun Mountain, heard the system's voice in his mind:
Group member Emperor Yongle has offered the Chixiao Sword as a sacrifice. The system's billionfold critical enhancement has transformed it into a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure: the Chixiao Sword!
Hearing this, Li Qingxu couldn't help feeling excited.
Every Innate Spiritual Treasure possessed tremendous power. Some could even suppress time and seal space.
If a cultivator possessed an Innate Spiritual Treasure, they could sweep aside enemies of the Same Realm who lacked one with overwhelming strength. They could even use the treasure's power to overcome opponents of a higher realm.
Quasi-Saints also needed to rely on Innate Spiritual Treasures if they wanted to sever their corpses.
Unfortunately, there were only a fixed number of three thousand Innate Spiritual Treasures in the Primordial World, and the vast majority were held by the likes of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the Six Sages, the mightiest beings of all.
Even ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortals could hardly get their hands on a low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
But now, thanks to the system's billionfold critical enhancement, the Chixiao Sword offered by Emperor Yongle had transformed into a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!
It was an enormous surprise, one that could raise his strength by an entire level!
Still, as the saying went, a man's wealth could bring him ruin. Li Qingxu suppressed his excitement and didn't take the Chixiao Sword out right away.
Then he thought of a question of vital importance.
Every Innate Spiritual Treasure contained Innate Restrictions, and the higher its grade, the more restrictions it had.
This High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure contained a full twenty-four Innate Restrictions. With his current strength at the Earth Immortal Realm, it would probably take him tens of thousands of years to refine them all.
Just as he was about to ask the system about it, he realized that his divine sense was already connected to the Chixiao Sword in the System Space. It felt as easy to control as his own arm.
"The system really is reliable!"
Li Qingxu was even more delighted.
This would save him at least ten thousand years of painstaking work. He could wield the treasure right away and focus all his efforts on improving his Daoxing!
Suddenly, an immense aura of supreme authority and majesty, towering above the myriad Dao of the heavens, burst forth from the Peak of Kunlun Mountain. It transformed into an invisible, towering tidal wave that swept across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, enveloping the mountains and rivers for hundreds of millions of miles!
At the foot of Kunlun Mountain, billions of cultivators and living beings stretched as far as the eye could see. Regardless of their race or cultivation level, their souls trembled and their blood surged. A primal sense of insignificance and awe welled up within them.
Every face was alight with intense excitement, longing, and nervousness. All eyes turned toward the Peak of Kunlun Mountain.
The trials to become disciples of Yuanshi and Saint Tongtian were finally about to begin!
Before you continue