"Master, could this... could this be the Gold Essence Coin personally cast by the True Martial Great Emperor, along with the legendary Gate-Sealing Stone?!"
Only after a long while did Dugu Qingxiao speak, disbelief written across his face.
"Yes!"
Zhao Qian's hands trembled slightly as he held the jade box.
"With these two items, the Demon Grotto beneath our Qingxuan can remain stable for at least another sixty years, and Junior Martial Uncle will have a chance to catch his breath."
After his astonishment passed, Dugu Qingxiao's eyes filled with delight.
As the Sect Master's disciple, he had learned about the Netherdark Demon Grotto several years ago.
"Yes."
Zhao Qian nodded again.
This time, however, the excitement in his eyes gradually gave way to heaviness.
"Damn it!"
Suddenly, with a bang, he smashed the entire desk before him with a heavy punch, then said in a voice full of self-reproach:
"He did it all. Everything I entrusted to him, he did it all."
"He ventured into Youyun Heaven alone, defeated the disciples of the Aristocratic Clans, and claimed the Golden Scale Champion title, winning sixty years of martial fortune for True Martial Heaven and Qingxuan."
"He brought back this True Martial Back Tai Shang Mantra Flower Coin."
"He brought back this Gate-Sealing Stone, a treasure that would be considered exceedingly rare across all the Five Heavens!"
"But we not only failed to keep him safe, we even let him lose his Spirit Bone!"
"I deserve to die!"
"As Sect Master, I deserve to die!"
Overcome with agitation, Zhao Qian unleashed powerful Sword Qi that surged uncontrollably from his body, as though it would tear the entire study apart.
He truly felt he had let Taiping down.
"Master!"
Dugu Qingxiao circulated the True Essence within him and shouted.
That shout finally