Chapter 2105: Selecting Treasures and Tasks

In the Xuanyang Realm, a blue lake spanning over a thousand acres teemed with colorful spiritual fish chasing each other. In its center stood a thousand-zhang blue stone platform.

Wang Changsheng and fourteen others sat by the stone platform, each holding a fishing rod with a straight hook. Liu Che sat to the side, engrossed in a thick ancient text he held in his hands.

After Liu Che recounted his experiences in the Profound Spirit Grotto-heaven, he sparred with them, pointing out their individual shortcomings and urging them to improve. Then, he had each group work together against opponents. For the remaining time, he simply let them fish here, without specifying how many fish to catch or until when they should fish.

Wang Changsheng held his breath and concentrated, his gaze fixed on the lake surface. A red spiritual fish lingered near the hook, seemingly curious. Wang Ruyan sat beside Wang Changsheng, calm and composed. A gentle breeze blew, causing the fishing line to sway slightly and scaring away the spiritual fish. Ning Lan flicked his wrist, causing his fishing line to thrash wildly. He failed to snare a spiritual fish; instead, he scared away all nearby spiritual fish.

A dozen or so communication talismans floated high in the air, but Liu Che paid them no mind. Zhao Hong looked at the communication talismans in the sky, his brows furrowed, and cautiously said, "Uncle Liu, perhaps you should check who sent them? What if it's the Grand Ancestor, the sect leader?"

Liu Che took out a constantly flickering Dharma disk from his robe, struck it with a spell, and Chen Yueying's voice suddenly rang out: "Nephew Liu, it's almost time. Bring them to the Ancestral Hall to choose their treasures!"

"Yes, Uncle Chen," Liu Che replied, assenting and putting away the Dharma disk. He looked at Zhao Hong and the others and asked, "Do you have any insights?"

"Remaining calm and collected, letting stillness counter motion, is the way to victory.""Never be greedy; greed kills.""Don't be deceived by illusions; think thrice before acting."

Wang Changsheng and the others voiced their opinions, their insights differing.

"All wrong," Liu Che said bluntly. "I just wanted to tell you that dead people don't talk. Only those who leave the Profound Spirit Grotto-heaven alive have a future. Rules are rigid, but people are adaptable." He emphasized that being alive was the most important thing, not treasures.

A thoughtful expression appeared on Wang Changsheng's face, and he secretly nodded.

"Alright, it's getting late, let's go!" Liu Che said, waving his hand and leading them away.

Upon arriving at the Ancestral Hall, Li Qian and the others had already been waiting for a long time. Chen Yueying was also present, but Song Yiming had not yet appeared. Liu Che and the others bowed to Chen Yueying one by one and lined up neatly.

A pot-bellied old man in a red robe stood beside Chen Yueying. A string of red Dharma beads hung around his neck. He had small eyes, no visible neck, and was fair and plump, resembling a mountain of flesh.

"Junior Sister Chen," the red-robed old man asked, "are these Nephew Wang and Nephew Wang who ascended from the lower realms? Their divine sense cultivation is quite good."

The red-robed old man's gaze fell upon Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, and Chen Yueying urged, "Nephew Wang, Nephew Wang, hurry and pay your respects to Senior Uncle Li." Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan quickly stepped forward two paces, bowed respectfully, and said, "This disciple greets Senior Uncle Li."

The red-robed old man was Li Yan, a cultivator at the mid-Integration stage. Li Yan nodded and said, "What a pity. If you were to become my disciples, I could impart to you a cultivation technique especially suitable for cultivators with strong divine sense."

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Uncle Li," Wang Changsheng respectfully replied, "but we prefer the cultivation technique chosen for us by Grand Ancestor Chen." Chen Yueying nodded with satisfaction, waved her hand, and motioned for them to stand properly.

Song Yiming walked in, his expression solemn. He took out a dozen or so shimmering Dharma disks, handed them to Zhao Hong and Ma Qianqian, and said, "Choose your own treasures from these. Each of you will receive one Grand Spirit Treasure, one Rank-six Talisman, and a bottle of healing pills. The pills will be distributed uniformly, but you can choose your own treasures and talismans."

Zhao Hong and Ma Qianqian passed the extra Dharma disks to the others, and they each began to choose. The surface of one Dharma disk displayed a glittering golden curved blade. Beside it were small characters: "Golden Tusk Blade," crafted from the tusks of a Rank-five high-grade Golden-winged Bat. If it merely scratched the skin, it would drain the enemy's blood.

Wang Changsheng gently scrolled through the Dharma disk, and the golden curved blade transformed into a black shield, also with small characters beside it. He scrolled through quickly and found over a hundred treasures available for selection, including items for flight, defense, attack, and support.

Wang Changsheng already possessed quite a few treasures for flight, defense, attack, and support. He genuinely wasn't impressed by ordinary Grand Spirit Treasures. He chose a support-type Grand Spirit Treasure, the Golden Chant Pendant, which could weaken sound wave attacks and counter sonic divine abilities. He also chose a Rank-six Talisman, the Heaven Escape Talisman, a type of escape talisman.

Wang Ruyan also chose a support-type Grand Spirit Treasure, the Two-Forms Umbrella, which could weaken the power of lightning-attribute attacks and counter lightning cultivators or lightning-attribute demonic beasts. She also chose a Rank-six Talisman, the Nine-Palace Caging Talisman, a confinement talisman that could trap even Void Refinement cultivators, preventing them from escaping quickly.

In addition to these, they each received a bottle of Golden Scale Jade-Yang Pills, which were healing pills. Wang Changsheng received a set of Rank-five high-grade formations, while Zhao Hong and Sun Yan each received a set of Rank-six formations.

Song Yiming gave each person a map. These maps indicated areas that Zhenhai Palace disciples had already explored, holding some reference value. Wang Changsheng carefully examined the map and memorized the locations marked as dangerous.

"Go back and get a good night's rest," Song Yiming said solemnly. "You will depart tomorrow, led by Junior Sister Chen and Junior Brother Li."

"Yes, Grand Ancestor, the sect leader," Wang Changsheng and the others replied in unison, their voices echoing in the Ancestral Hall.

"Nephew Wang, Nephew Wang, come to my residence; I have something to tell you," Chen Yueying's voice rang out in their ears. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan quickly assented. After leaving the Ancestral Hall, they headed straight for Chen Yueying's residence.

Upon arriving at Chen Yueying's residence, they found Zhao Hong and Sun Yan already there. Chen Yueying didn't waste words. She took out four maps and distributed them. Wang Changsheng glanced at his map, his expression unchanged.

The maps given by Chen Yueying differed from those given by Song Yiming, containing many more locations and marking numerous dangerous areas. This indicated that Liu Che had concealed quite a few things, a practice common among both the Ascendant faction and the native factions.

"Don't be surprised," Chen Yueying began, her tone full of temptation. "Senior Brother Li and the others also do this, concealing locations with important cultivation resources to facilitate treasure hunting for their own faction's disciples. Your main task is to find three items: first, the Nine-Thunder Bamboo; second, Profound Light True Water; and third, Primordial Magnetic Divine Crystal. The Nine-Thunder Bamboo is the most crucial. Bring these three items back, and you may ask for anything you wish."

"Yes, Grand Ancestor Chen," Wang Changsheng and the other three replied in unison. If conditions allowed, they could certainly do so.

Chen Yueying took out four jade boxes and distributed them among the four. Each jade box contained two Rank-six Talismans. "You are my people, but it's not the same for others," Chen Yueying said, a hint of sternness in her voice. "You must not reveal a single word of the task I've given you." Wang Changsheng and the other three repeatedly assented and accepted the jade boxes.

"Alright, go back and rest!" Chen Yueying instructed. "Refine your treasures, and gather at the Ancestral Hall tomorrow morning." Chen Yueying instructed, and the four bowed and withdrew.