"As for the final faction, although Western Demons entered the territory a few years ago, they were found and executed by martial artists within the country long ago. The threat in entering the relic this time is not great; it is merely a question of how much we can gain. The only things we need to deal with are the creatures within the relic. If an opponent proves too powerful, we can simply flee and search around the outer regions of the relic instead."
"Besides, others may not know how strong you are, Feng'er, but how could I not? I would not dare say you could contend with a Spirit Condensation Realm expert, but within the Void God Realm, I think it would be difficult to find anyone capable of fighting you. We may well come away with a fine harvest this time."
Hearing Jiang Changtian lay out his analysis so methodically, you pondered for a moment before ultimately deciding to explore the Holy Land Relic with him. After all, the items within the relic tempted you greatly. If you truly obtained Heaven Grade Treasure Materials, your cultivation progress could advance by another great leap.
After all, in Jiang State, Earth Grade Treasure Materials could perhaps still be exchanged for or purchased with Sky Flame Gold Coins. But Heaven Grade Treasure Materials were already things one could encounter only by chance and never seek out. No faction would ever think it had too many Heaven Grade Treasures. Even if one could acquire them, it would only be through barter. And the most valuable item on you now was only that High-grade Earth Grade Treasure Artifact you had obtained in the Inheritance Secret Realm.
This journey into the Holy Land Relic might add to your foundations. Such an opportunity truly came only by chance and could not be sought; it would likely be difficult to encounter such fortune again.
Afterward, you and Jiang Changtian left the Snow Mountain Sect's grounds and flew toward the place you had sensed before. Along the way, you sensed several factions, including familiar presences such as the Yicheng City Lord, the Liu Family Ancestor, and the Min Family Ancestor. But there were even more Great Powers from elsewhere whom you had never crossed paths with before.
When you sensed their auras, they sensed you as well, yet none intended to stop you. The Liu Family Ancestor, who knew you, immediately darkened when he noticed you. He could clearly sense that you had grown stronger again.
In less than a hundred years, you had actually advanced once more. Such cultivation speed made Liu Yuanjin tremble with fear. Yet there was nothing he could do about it. Because of the Martial Oath, he could no longer act against you. Besides, he was no match for you to begin with. Even if you grew stronger, he still could not defeat you. To him, it seemed the situation had not changed much.
Thinking of this, Liu Yuanjin felt somewhat relieved. Fortunately, he did not share a deep and irreconcilable hatred with you, so it would not come to the Liu Family being wiped out once you had fully risen.
The Min Family Ancestor on the other side was different. Last time, they had actively tried to seize your Copper Ore Vein, which already counted as forging no small grudge. Fortunately, no one had been injured, and they had sent compensation afterward. But at the time, the Min Family had not truly regarded you as much of a threat. In their view, at worst, they simply would not compete for similar resources in the future. You would not go to Pingcheng to occupy their resources either. After all, the Min Family differed from the Liu Family; they were not competing with you on the same track.
But now, it seemed that with your astonishing rate of advancement, you truly might break through into the Spirit Condensation Realm. When that time came, even if they remained in Pingcheng, they would not feel safe. Thus, throughout the journey to the relic, the two Min Family Ancestors kept pondering countermeasures.
You knew nothing of the Liu and Min Families keeping watch on you. But even if you had known, you would not have cared. Enemies defeated by your hand had never been worthy of being regarded as opponents. You could give them all the time in the world to catch up, and they would only ever see your back.
Three days later, you arrived at the outskirts of the Holy Land Relic. The outer region was already packed with people, but a passage leading into the relic had been left open. Those able to enter the relic were all Great Powers at or above the Void God Realm, and no one dared block their way. Among these people were guards and soldiers from the various City Lord's Mansions, retainers and courtyard guards from renowned families, and relatives and friends of independent cultivators.
These people had remained here to wait for their relatives and friends to emerge from the relic after treasure hunting, then escort them away.
You merely swept your gazes over them before heading toward the relic's teleportation array. During this time, many more people continued rushing over.
Before long, because you and Jiang Changtian entered together, you were teleported to the same place within the relic. Upon entering, you discovered that you had arrived near a lake. Jiang Changtian quickly took out a map, hoping to find a location resembling the surroundings. The relic ruins recorded on the map were so ancient that they did not entirely match the area around you, but you could still find some rough similarities.
Soon, you confirmed that the lake where you had arrived lay at the outer edge of the relic and was not very dangerous. This lake had once been Shuiyue Lake of the Holy Land's hidden heaven. The Demonic Beasts dwelling within were not strong, and Heavenly Origin Realm Demonic Beasts would generally not appear. According to the records, this race could reach the Earth Origin Realm upon adulthood and existed in vast numbers, but posed little threat to you.
A pearl-like treasure called the Shuiyue Treasure Pearl might appear in the lake. It had a chance of becoming an Earth Grade Treasure Material and could be used to forge Earth Grade Treasure Artifacts. This Shuiyue Treasure Pearl was formed through the entire race tempering it day and night with their essence.
This Demonic Beast race spent all day nurturing the Treasure Pearl with its vital energy. After a thousand years of nurturing, the pearl would turn pale cyan. At that time, it would be a Profound Grade High Rank Treasure Material. After five thousand years, its color would sublime into deep cyan. A deep-cyan pearl was already an Earth Grade Treasure Material, reaching Earth Grade Low-Rank. It could be used to forge Earth Grade Low-Rank Treasure Artifacts, grant a Treasure Artifact water-manipulating properties, or serve as material for inscribing Water Attribute inscriptions into a Treasure Artifact.
If it was nurtured for over fifty thousand years, the Treasure Pearl would transform into deep blue. A deep blue Shuiyue Treasure Pearl contained Primal Force at the High-grade Earth Grade level and was already an exceedingly rare treasure.
Before long, you and Jiang Changtian leaped into the lake and headed into the deep waters to investigate, wanting to see whether the Treasure Pearl had been taken by others who had entered the relic.
Fortunately, you had not entered the relic too late, and no one had taken this Treasure Pearl yet. Its color was a deep, profound cyan, meaning it had already reached Earth Grade Low-Rank. You and Jiang Changtian were overjoyed. You swiftly cleared out the Demonic Beasts in the lake without taking their lives, then departed after taking only the Treasure Pearl.
After leaving, you planned to immediately head for the next treasure ground and obtain as many treasures as possible before the relic closed.
Thirteen days later, you and Jiang Changtian emerged from the relic. Jiang Changtian had suffered severe injuries, yet the smile on his face could not be suppressed no matter what.
This relic treasure hunt had brought you immense gains. After leaving the relic, you did not dare linger and immediately prepared to return to the Snow Mountain Sect. Your hurried departure did not arouse anyone's suspicions, because nearly everyone leaving the relic was much the same as you, rushing away in haste. Fortunately, this was the heartland of Jiang State, so there was no danger of bandits emerging to rob you.