Qian Renxue: The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud? It's Just a Vase-You Really Think It's a Treasure? (Please Read On!)

Watching Dugu Yan look as though she was about to cry from worry, Yu Nan couldn't help finding it a little amusing.

This girl might usually seem cold and aloof, but she truly cared about her grandfather.

That filial devotion seemed rather endearing in this world of the law of the jungle.

Yu Nan didn't answer right away. Instead, he deliberately paused.

The silence made Dugu Yan even more anxious, like an ant on a hot pan, unable to sit still.

Just as Dugu Yan was on the verge of despair, Yu Nan finally stopped teasing her and chuckled.

"There is a way, of course."

"It's not as though no god might take a liking to your grandfather.

After all, besides the top-tier First-Level Gods, there are plenty of Second-Level Gods and Third-Level Gods. Their standards might not be quite so high.

And besides..."

At that, Yu Nan deliberately drew out the final word, as if savoring the mischievous pleasure of keeping everyone on tenterhooks.

"And besides what?

Please, senior, tell me!"

Dugu Yan stamped her foot anxiously. If not for Xue Qinghe being right in front of her, she might have already shouted.

"And besides, even if Old Poison Freak doesn't win a god's favor in the end, it doesn't matter."

Yu Nan's voice turned casual, with a teasing lilt.

"Silly girl, what do you think becoming a god is for?

It's not just about gaining power. It's also about the privilege of one person ascending to godhood and even the chickens and dogs rising to heaven!"

"If you really become the Sea God, you'll be a First-Level Main God in the Divine Realm!

According to the rules of the Divine Realm, a First-Level God can bring their family along and enter the Divine Realm, where they can enjoy eternal life!"

"As long as you're strong enough to bring your grandfather with you, he can live as long as heaven and earth, even without cultivating into a god."

"This... really?!"

Dugu Yan stopped abruptly, her eyes alight with an unprecedented joy.

Bring someone to the Divine Realm!

Enjoy eternal life!

That was actually possible?!

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Yu Nan said with a smile.

"So, instead of worrying about whether your grandfather can find a godhood, you should worry about whether you can pass the Nine Trials of the Sea God.

Once you become a god, isn't your grandfather's future in your hands?"

"I understand!"

Dugu Yan drew a deep breath and looked at Dugu Bo's back. All the uncertainty in her eyes vanished.

In its place burned an even fiercer determination!

For her grandfather, for her family, she, Dugu Yan, was determined to claim the Sea God Godhood!

"Come on. The treasury is just ahead,"

Yu Nan reminded her.

Dugu Yan nodded firmly and hurried after them.

As the heavy stone doors slowly swung open, an air of age and opulence washed over them.

The imperial treasury glittered with gold and jewels.

Rare gemstones, precious herbs, and unknown ores were piled up like mountains. Even a few low-year Soul Bones, emitting faint Soul Power fluctuations, had been casually left on the shelves.

But to Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, these treasures—enough to drive ordinary Soul Masters wild—seemed utterly unremarkable.

They had only one target: the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

"Senior, where is it?"

On the surface, Dugu Bo casually surveyed their surroundings, but in the Sea of Consciousness, he asked urgently.

"Third floor, the innermost shelf, right in the middle."

Yu Nan's voice was languid, as though he looked down on all these so-called "treasures."

At his words, Dugu Bo led Dugu Yan and Xue Qinghe straight up to the third floor without changing his expression.

Soon, the blue triangular object tucked away on a high shelf came into view.

It lay quietly in an inconspicuous corner, its entire surface a strange, crystalline blue.

Though only palm-sized, it gave off a faint, unsettling energy fluctuation.

"This is..."

Dugu Bo stopped, pretending to be surprised, and pointed at the blue triangle.

"Your Highness, this object has such a peculiar shape. What sort of treasure is it?"

Xue Qinghe followed his finger. A flicker of disdain passed through his eyes, too subtle to notice, before he smiled.

"Mr. Dugu has a keen eye.

This object is called the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It's one of the Heaven Dou Empire's national treasures.

They say it possesses unimaginable power, but over the past few centuries, no one in the imperial family has ever truly uncovered its secrets.

Apart from being incredibly hard and able to block some forms of mental probing, it doesn't seem to have any other use. It's just a decoration, really."

In Xue Qinghe's eyes, the thing was useless.

It was no good to eat, yet too good to throw away.

If it hadn't been passed down by his ancestors, it would have been tossed into a corner of the storeroom to gather dust long ago.

"Oh?

Even the imperial family couldn't figure it out?"

A gleam flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. He pretended to be fascinated and picked up the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

He turned it over in his hands.

"I've always enjoyed studying strange and unusual things.

Since no one wants this 'vase,' I'll take it. I can use it as a decoration and tinker with it in my spare time."

Xue Qinghe secretly laughed at Old Poison Freak's poor judgment. He could have chosen a perfectly good Soul Bone, yet he'd picked a worthless trinket.

But he nodded magnanimously.

"If you like it, then by all means, take it.

As you said, a treasure belongs in the hands of a hero. Perhaps the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud will shine again in your hands."

It was no wonder that Qian Renxue—Xue Qinghe—hadn't understood.

A few years earlier,

Qian Renxue had tried to uncover the secrets of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

But she hadn't learned a thing.

So she'd instinctively assumed the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was nothing but a pretty vase with no practical use.

"Then I thank Your Highness."

Dugu Bo chuckled and unceremoniously stowed the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in his storage soul tool.

In the Sea of Consciousness, Yu Nan sensed the aura of the Sea God. His Dragon Soul trembled faintly and let out a satisfied groan.

"Excellent!

We got it without lifting a finger!

Those blind fools actually treated the Heart of the Sea God like a decoration!

Yan Yan, this means you've taken the firmest first step on your path to godhood!"

With the most crucial treasure in hand, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan both relaxed.

They began casually choosing the other two treasures from the treasury.

Yu Nan had already lost interest in everything else and was about to retreat into the depths of the Sea of Consciousness for a nap.

However,

just as Dugu Bo casually turned over a dust-covered parchment scroll,

Yu Nan's eyes happened to pass over the densely packed ancient characters written on it.

The next instant,

Boom!

It was as if a bolt of thunder had exploded in Yu Nan's mind!

His enormous Dragon Soul shuddered violently. He froze—body and soul—and an expression of utter disbelief appeared in his eyes!

"Wait!"

Yu Nan's voice suddenly rose, exploding in Dugu Bo's mind.

"Old Poison Freak! Don't move!

Hold that tattered map steady!

Take a close look at the writing on it!"