Above the High Platform (5)

Though Ao Chi roared inwardly, he had no choice but to maintain the solemn dignity of an imperial envoy on the surface. Yet the color of his bronze face seemed to have deepened, faintly revealing a suppressed purplish red.

He drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the urge to curse his mother. In a dry voice, he said, "My Azure Sea Dynasty... dwells in the remote seas, with limited resources. We cannot compare to the profound foundations of you great landbound powers. These humble gifts are merely tokens of our sincerity. Please do not laugh at them."

As he spoke, he stiffly took several shell-shaped storage artifacts from his sleeve. Each was no larger than a palm, yet shimmered with flowing radiance. He placed them one by one upon the table before him.

"These are three pairs of Spirit-Calming Pearls. Every pearl was produced by a millennium-old spirit clam at the bottom of a ten-thousand-zhang ocean abyss. Placed within one's abode, they can stabilize the spiritual energy of an area, disperse inner demons and distracting thoughts, and offer some aid when cultivating in seclusion or breaking through a realm."

He pointed to the first pair of shells. Within lay six dragon-eye-sized pearls emitting a gentle blue-white glow. Spiritual energy misted around them; they were indeed extraordinary.

When the second pair of shells opened, a warm, translucent jade pendant carved with intricate ocean waves and cloud patterns lay quietly within. Water-aspected spiritual energy rushed toward them.

"This is the Celestial Pivot Pendant, forged from ten-thousand-year warm jade mixed with deep-sea sunken silver, refined through a secret imperial method. Its wearer may travel freely through the depths of a ten-thousand-zhang sea and breathe without hindrance. It can also resist deep-sea pressure and cold toxins to a certain degree, as well as