Heavenly Treasures

After Li Long disappeared around the corridor corner, Qian Shengyuan withdrew his gaze.

He did not immediately deal with the documents awaiting his signature on the desk. Instead, he reached beneath the long table and pulled out a wooden box from the lowest compartment at the side.

The entire box was dark red, its surface uncarved, yet the wood grain was fine and dense, and it felt heavy in his hand.

He opened the lid. Several ancient volumes were neatly stacked inside, their scroll edges worn and frayed from having clearly been read many times.

Qian Shengyuan took out the top volume and spread it open on the table.

This was one of Spirit Hall's secret ancient manuscript copies, containing detailed records of various rare heavenly treasures across the continent.

The pages had yellowed, and the ink had faded slightly with age, but the contents remained clear and legible.

He flipped to a page marked with a folded corner, his eyes settling on a passage.

"Aptitude Cleansing Fruit, ripens once every hundred years. It grows in places of extreme yang, rooted in volcanic rock veins and formed by absorbing the essence of earthfire. After consumption, it can cleanse the meridians, broaden soul power channels, and improve one's innate soul power foundation. First-grade specimens can raise innate soul power by one to two levels, while exceptional-grade specimens can raise it by three to five levels."

Below it was an even smaller annotation: This fruit has extremely high age requirements. A hundred-year specimen can only cleanse the meridians; only a thousand-year specimen can transform one's foundation. There are three known places of origin on the continent. Two have already withered away. The last lies deep within the Earthfire Lava Cavern in Sunset Forest, guarded by an ancient soul beast. The risk is exceedingly high.

Qian Shengyuan's gaze lingered on the words "Sunset Forest" for a moment before he turned to the next folded page.

"Dragon Marrow Golden Lotus grows above the nest of a ten-thousand-year soul beast, nourished by soul beast remains. It takes five hundred years to take form. After consumption, it can reshape the marrow and improve soul power affinity, producing miraculous effects for those with low innate soul power. However, harvesting it is extraordinarily dangerous. One must act right under the original soul beast's nose; the slightest mistake means near-certain death."

He continued flipping through the volume.

The third folded page recorded the Profound Ice Jade Marrow, produced in the depths of ten-thousand-year cold pools in the far north. After consumption, it could strengthen the toughness of one's meridians while increasing the speed of soul power circulation.

The fourth folded page described the Nine-Leaf Spirit Ginseng. It grew deep within mountain ranges rich in spiritual energy, able to consolidate one's foundation and nourish vitality while slightly increasing innate soul power.

Qian Shengyuan read through every entry from beginning to end, then closed the volume and leaned back in his chair.

"Ordinary heavenly treasures would be a drop in the bucket for someone with innate soul power at level three. At most, they could raise it by one or two levels, barely reaching innate level five."

He muttered softly, tapping the table twice with his fingers. "To truly push him higher, I must obtain exceptional-grade specimens: a thousand-year Aptitude Cleansing Fruit, a mature Dragon Marrow Golden Lotus of over five hundred years, or ten-thousand-year essence from Profound Ice Jade Marrow. None of them will be easy to obtain."

He remained silent for a long time.

The hall was so quiet that only the glow of the soul guide lamps slowly drifted through the air.

Qian Shengyuan's eyes rested on the ancient volume as his fingertips lightly stroked the edge of its pages.

The scene of Li Long coming to seek credit for Fanolan replayed in his mind.

That ten-year-old boy had stood before the long table with his back straight and his gaze open. The first thing he asked for was not something for himself, but a reward for the kindness shown by an old deacon from a branch hall.

Such character was rare in the soul master world.

Especially at his age, after reaching such a position, to still be willing to turn back and lend a hand to someone who had once helped him—that was even rarer.

"Innate level three is a serious flaw, but character and perseverance are worth more than innate soul power."

Qian Shengyuan made his decision inwardly.

He returned the ancient volume to the wooden box, then took out a blank piece of parchment from the long table's drawer and began writing.

His handwriting was as steady and forceful as when he had written the letter of appointment, but the contents were much longer.

He listed several items: the location of the Earthfire Lava Cavern in Sunset Forest, an estimated level of the known guardian soul beast, the caliber of personnel needed to accompany him, and an approximate departure window.

After finishing, he added another note: This journey is dangerous. Do not make a grand display. Limit the accompanying party to no more than three people.

He folded the parchment but did not put it in the drawer. Instead, he placed it in the center of the table.

Then he looked out the window, his gaze passing over Spirit City's rooftops and landing on the faint outline of mountain ranges along the southern horizon.

Sunset Forest. That region lay southeast of Spirit City. It was famous for its earthfire resources and rare medicinal herbs, but it was equally known for its perilous environment and the prevalence of high-level soul beasts.

The Earthfire Lava Cavern was the core region of the entire forest. Temperatures remained high year-round, while scorching volcanic gases continuously erupted from cracks in the ground. Ordinary soul masters would be dehydrated by the heat before they could remain inside for even half an incense stick's time.

And in the deepest part of the cavern stood the thousand-year Aptitude Cleansing Fruit tree recorded in the ancient texts.

But he knew very well that the soul beast guarding that tree would be no easy opponent.

"At the very least, it's a ten-thousand-year soul beast. It may even be stronger."

Qian Shengyuan withdrew his gaze and lightly tapped the table twice.

He was a level ninety-three Titled Douluo with nine soul rings. Across the entire continent, there were not many soul beasts capable of confronting him head-on.

But high-level soul beasts guarding heavenly treasures often possessed a terrain advantage. The environment of the Earthfire Lava Cavern favored soul beasts and disadvantaged humans. Recklessly venturing deep inside carried the risk of failure.

"I need to prepare carefully. I can't rush this."

He locked the parchment away in the drawer, deciding to wait until the effects of the first batch of resources appeared before arranging the journey according to the situation.

Li Long was only ten years old, with soul power at level twenty-four. His foundation was still in a period of rapid growth. This was the best stage to temper him with top-tier resources.

If he missed this window, then even if his aptitude improved later, he might not be able to catch up to his most golden years of cultivation.

"I hope you can reach above level twenty-seven within half a year."

"Six months, three levels. With these resources to assist him, along with that ruthless drive of his, it shouldn't be a problem."

Qian Shengyuan murmured, then picked up the document awaiting his signature once more and resumed his usual work rhythm.

Yet the dark red wooden box remained in the most convenient spot atop the long table instead of being put away, as though constantly reminding him of an important matter still unfinished.

The sunlight outside gradually rose higher, gilding the Six-Winged Angel statue atop the Papal Palace's dome in brilliant gold.

A faint hum caused by circulating soul power drifted from the direction of the eastern courtyard. It was the sound of Li Long attempting the first cycle of the guidance method.

Qian Shengyuan's pen paused. He listened for a moment, then the corner of his mouth shifted slightly before he lowered his head and continued signing documents.

After the ink on the parchment had completely dried, Qian Shengyuan folded it and pressed it into the bottom layer of the drawer, placing it together with the file numbered 037.

When he closed the drawer, his fingers lingered on the wood for a moment longer.

"Aptitude Cleansing Fruit... Dragon Marrow Golden Lotus... Profound Ice Jade Marrow..."

He reviewed the names of those three heavenly treasures once more in his mind.

The first was the most suitable for Li Long's condition and also best matched the metal-attribute foundation of the Iron Rod Martial Soul. The environment of the Earthfire Lava Cavern was naturally compatible with the Iron Rod's metal-attribute origin. If he could truly obtain a thousand-year Aptitude Cleansing Fruit, Li Long's innate soul power could be raised to at least level five, perhaps even level six, while the essence of earthfire would temper his meridians to become even tougher.

"Once he becomes proficient with the guidance method and his soul power rises a little more, I'll make the trip personally."

Qian Shengyuan settled on that thought. Then he pushed back his chair, rose to his feet, and walked to the window to look toward the East Courtyard.

Dull sounds of a rod splitting the air came from that direction, mixed with faint aftershocks of soul power. The rhythm was steady and powerful, like an untiring machine operating with unwavering regularity.

He watched for a while, then turned and headed for the door, his steps slightly faster than usual. He still had much to do today, but now he suddenly wanted to see his direct disciple's cultivation for himself.