Yu Nan Explains the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud; Dugu Yan Is Shocked: "This Is Actually a Divine Treasure?!" (Please Support the Series!)

Dugu Bo clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking as his voice trembled with excitement.

"I thought I'd have to wait years before I broke through again...

I never expected it to happen so soon!"

For a Titled Douluo, every step forward was like ascending to a new heaven.

Once they reached Level 90, each subsequent level became incredibly difficult to attain. It took more than just hard work; one also needed an opportunity.

And today, this Geng Metal Ghost Vine had helped him cross that threshold in one fell swoop!

"And it's not just your Soul Power."

Yu Nan's voice rang out, tinged with satisfaction.

"Old Poison Freak, test your poison."

At his words, Dugu Bo casually pointed at a half-man-high granite boulder in the distance.

Pfft!

A streak of poison energy, green threaded with gold, shot out.

There was no violent explosion, no billowing smoke.

The incredibly hard granite was instantly riddled with countless tiny holes.

It looked as if it had been pierced by countless steel needles, then, under the poison's effects, melted into a puddle of sludge.

"What terrifying penetrating power!"

Dugu Bo drew in a sharp breath, then burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha!

With this Geng Metal Poison Energy, who would dare call me the weakest Titled Douluo?

Even that Chrysanthemum Yue Guan, that old freak, would get skewered like a sieve if he tried to take this head-on!"

The improvement this Geng Metal Ghost Vine had brought him was nothing short of a complete transformation.

In terms of value, it was no less precious than an Immortal Herb!

"Congratulations, Grandpa, on mastering your divine art!"

Seeing this, Dugu Yan ran over excitedly.

"All right. Now that we've gotten what we came for, we should head back."

Yu Nan interrupted the grandfather and granddaughter's celebration, his tone turning serious.

"Our business in Gengxin City is finished. Those blacksmiths can't stir up any trouble, so let them do as they please.

Our next goal is to return to Heaven Dou City."

"Back to Heaven Dou?"

Dugu Bo paused, reining in his aura as he asked in confusion:

"Senior, we've only been away a few days. Why are we in such a hurry to go back?

Are you worried about Prince Xue Xing?"

"Xue Xing?

That good-for-nothing isn't worth my concern."

Yu Nan gave a cold laugh. The enormous Dragon Soul drifted through the Sea of Consciousness as he looked toward Heaven Dou City.

"Old Poison Freak, as a retainer of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, you should know that they have a national treasure passed down from generation to generation, don't you?"

Dugu Bo knitted his brows and thought for a moment before asking tentatively:

"Senior, are you talking about the thing enshrined in the deepest part of the imperial treasury, the one even Emperor Xue Ye is reluctant to bring out?"

"That's right."

Yu Nan replied calmly:

"That thing is called the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."

"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?"

Dugu Yan blinked curiously. She had never heard of it.

Dugu Bo's expression changed, and he lowered his voice.

"Senior, I've heard Xue Xing mention it once.

It's a blue triangular object. It looks quite pretty, but apart from being able to create a protective barrier, it doesn't seem to have much use.

Besides, it's a symbol of the Heaven Dou Empire, and it's heavily guarded at all times..."

"Not much use?"

Yu Nan scoffed, his tone full of scorn for mortals' ignorance.

"That's because they're blind, unable to recognize a jewel even when it's right in front of them.

It's no ordinary Soul Tool. It's a... divine treasure."

"A divine... divine treasure?!"

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan cried out in unison.

"More precisely, it's a token of inheritance left behind by the Sea God, known as the 'Heart of the Sea God.'"

Yu Nan didn't hide anything, laying out this astonishing secret plainly.

"Whoever possesses it has the right to begin the Sea God Inheritance, and might even...

get a glimpse of the supreme realm of godhood!"

As far as Yu Nan was concerned,

a First-Level God wasn't quite powerful enough.

But having a sure path to godhood would still be a great advantage.

Yu Nan's current goal for Dugu Yan

was to venture to Sea God Island and the Capital of Slaughter,

and see if she could obtain the inheritance of the Sea God or the Asura God.

That way, he could achieve his goal of eternal life.

Of course, creating a godhood of his own would be best!

(Note: Later, he'll inherit the Asura God's godhood and then create another godhood of his own. The protagonist and Dugu Yan will each have one.)

At the words "realm of godhood," Dugu Bo's breath caught in his throat.

That was the ultimate dream of every Soul Master, a legend that stood above even Titled Douluos!

And an object like that had been gathering dust in the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's treasury all this time?

"Normally, this would have nothing to do with us."

Yu Nan's tone shifted, turning cold and domineering.

"But since we're going to establish ourselves in this chaotic age, we can't let such a top-tier strategic resource fall into someone else's hands."

"Yan Yan's Martial Soul has evolved, but she'll need more trump cards if she wants to truly stand at the pinnacle of the continent.

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is an artifact of the Sea God, so it doesn't suit her poison attribute.

But the Vast Sea Power it contains, if put to good use, could raise her spiritual power to a terrifying level."

"More importantly..."

Yu Nan paused, his voice tinged with amusement.

"That thing would be wasted in the hands of that old Xue Ye, and it might even attract the attention of others.

Better for us to strike first than give an advantage to our enemies."

Dugu Bo swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

Rob the Heaven Dou Imperial Family of its national treasure?

If word got out, Dugu Bo would immediately become a wanted criminal throughout the empire, hunted by both empires and Spirit Hall.

But...

It was a divine treasure!

And Senior was right. Great riches were found in the midst of great danger!

He'd even dared to steal a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone right under Tang Hao's nose. What was a useless old trinket by comparison?

Besides, he was now Level 94, and his poison skills had improved immensely. With the world so vast, where couldn't he go?

"Senior, just tell me what to do."

A ruthless glint flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes—the madness of an old poison master.

"Should we sneak into the imperial treasury and take it by force, or should I find a way to 'borrow' it from Emperor Xue Ye?"

"Taking it by force is what a brute would do."

Yu Nan replied calmly.

"We're civilized people, so naturally, we'll use a civilized method."

"Once we're back in Heaven Dou City, go see Emperor Xue Ye. Tell him you've found a way to treat his chronic illness.

And as payment for the treatment... ask for that 'ornament' no one knows how to use."

"Remember, act as though money means nothing to you. Say you're only interested in strange little trinkets."

"With Xue Ye's health as it is, he'd give you half the treasury to stay alive, let alone an incomprehensible old shroud!"

"Treat that old Xue Ye's illness?"

Dugu Bo frowned at that, hesitating.

"Senior, I may be confident that my poison skills are unmatched under heaven, and I know a fair bit about medicine too.

But I've seen Emperor Xue Ye's condition from a distance a few times.

His vital energy is failing, and he's weighed down by age. It's a natural illness brought on by old age and frailty, not poisoning or some sudden disease.

Even if I treated him, all I could do would be to use medicine to help him recuperate and prolong his life by a year or two.

That hardly seems like enough to justify trading away the national treasure for a complete cure, does it?"