Jiang Ding studied the small pond inside the palace.
It was a classic immortal-Dao technique for containing vast spaces within a tiny vessel, but it far surpassed the highest standards of this era. The little pond held countless secret realms on the scale of lesser thousand worlds, middle thousand worlds, and great thousand worlds. Each world contained all manner of dragon beasts that ascended step by step, until the most gifted among them reached their peak and turned into wisps of origin dragon blood.
Those wisps of origin dragon blood accumulated over hundreds of millions of years, eventually forming this Dragon Emperor Immortal Blood Crystal.
"This senior Sun Ancient Emperor appears to have been an extreme human supremacist. Cold-hearted, too."
Jiang Ding offered that brief assessment.
The technique for containing vast spaces within a tiny vessel was ingenious as well, beyond the limits of the present age. Archaeological cultivation had always had a place in immortal-Dao practice, and this was another example of why.
"Glory to the ancient emperor."
Yuan, Great Sun Bright Light Sword Emperor, Empress Fusang, and the others spoke with deep respect.
The group continued deeper into the palace.
Beyond the pond lay an antique corridor. At its end hung a star chart depicting ten thousand stars across the star domains. Beneath it dangled an unremarkable jade bead, swaying in the breeze. It showed no strange phenomena and looked no different from a glass marble.
Jiang Ding's steps faltered slightly, and his expression changed.
"This was left by the ancient Taiyin emperor: Taiyin Immortal Soul Crystal. It offers immense benefits to the immortal soul."
"In soul cultivation, that ancient Taiyin emperor must have stood at the pinnacle among the human emperors."
Admiration showed on Jiang Ding's face.
"Ancient emperor" was a title even older than "Human Emperor."