739: A creation artifact!

"Half-step Integration Stage... Ye Wushang..."

Yao Delong's lips curled into a cold and confident arc as he felt the majestic power surging within him like a galaxy, yet one he could control with ease.

"If I encounter that old ghost again, there's no need for any tricks. In a head-on fight, I have 100% certainty... of crushing him completely!"

This confidence, stemming from the absolute increase in strength, made his Dao Heart clear and bright, leaving him fearless.

He stood up, his black Daoist robe fluttering without wind. With a single step, his figure appeared in the small courtyard where Luo Yan and Qiong Shuang were.

Beside the stone table in the courtyard, Luo Yan was quietly brewing spiritual tea, its fragrance curling in the air.

Beside her, the Ancient Heavenly Flood Dragon Qiong Shuang was sprawled ungracefully on the stone table, her pink little mouth pouted high as she grumbled at the teacup in front of her:

"Stinky Big Brother! Bad Big Brother! All you know is secluded cultivation! Last time you went to the Xuan Ye Dynasty, it was so much fun, but you didn't take me!

"Locking me on the mountain every day, it's so boring, boohoo... Next time I'll definitely sneak..."

Before she could finish, there was a crisp "thud"!

A familiar flick to the forehead, carrying a hint of punishment, landed precisely on her smooth and full brow.

"Ouch!"

Qiong Shuang clutched her head in pain and was about to explode in anger, but when she turned her head crossly and saw that familiar black Daoist robe and Yao Delong's half-smiling gaze,

All her dissatisfaction vanished instantly, and a look of surprise and joy burst from her large eyes!

"Big Brother! You've come out of seclusion!"

Qiong Shuang pounced over like a gust of wind, then proudly puffed out her little chest.

A powerful and matchless pressure, carrying an aura of prehistoric ferocity, suddenly erupted from her, causing the Spiritual Qi in the courtyard to become turbulent.

"Look! I haven't been lazy! I've already stepped half a foot into the Peak of the Ninth Rank! I'll catch up to you soon!"

Yao Delong looked at the little dragon before him, whose aura had indeed surged significantly but whose playful nature remained unchanged, and shook his head helplessly.

The Ancient Heavenly Flood Dragon Bloodline was just that Heaven-Defying; even if she spent every day eating, drinking, and sleeping, as long as there was enough energy, her cultivation would rise, truly a source of envy for others.

"Yes, yes, yes, our Qiong Shuang is the most amazing." Yao Delong smiled and rubbed her head, his tone full of doting.

"Next time we go out, as long as circumstances allow, I'll definitely take you along, alright?"

"That's more like it!" Qiong Shuang finally beamed with satisfaction.

After soothing this little ancestor, Yao Delong turned his gaze toward Luo Yan, who was sitting quietly to the side, and said gently:

"Yan'er, the time has come. I need to go to the Immortal Mausoleum. You and Qiong Shuang stay here at Luoxia Peak and wait for my return."

Luo Yan put down her teacup and nodded gently: "Go ahead, be careful."

Her gaze fell upon Yao Delong, sensing his profound aura that was like the vast starry sky, yet carried a certain dao rhyme of perfect harmony.

She felt incredibly proud of him in her heart, but a strong sense of urgency also arose.

She was currently at Golden Core Perfection, not far from forming her Nascent Soul, and her progress was already lightning-fast, but compared to the man before her... the gap was simply too large!

She secretly clenched her fists, her eyes becoming more determined: I must increase my cultivation as soon as possible!

At least to be able to stand by his side, rather than only being able to look up from afar!

"Mhm." Yao Delong felt the determination in Luo Yan's eyes, and his heart warmed as he nodded slightly.

"Sister Luo, you're going into seclusion too?" Upon hearing this, Qiong Shuang's little face slumped again; the playmate she had just gotten back was about to be gone.

"Yes, I'm going to practice in silence and strive for the Nascent Soul stage," Luo Yan said softly.

"Ahhh! You're all going into seclusion!" Qiong Shuang spun around twice in frustration, her large eyes darting around before she suddenly gave a mischievous laugh.

"Hehe, Big Brother's confidantes aren't limited to just Sister Luo! I'll go find Sister Liu, Sister Lin, and Sister Cang to play! Heavenly Sword Peak, here I come!"

Before her voice faded, a streak of green light soared into the sky, shooting straight toward Heavenly Sword Peak, leaving behind crisp laughter.

Looking at Qiong Shuang's energetic back, Yao Delong and Luo Yan looked at each other and smiled, both somewhat helpless.

Yao Delong delayed no further, his mind moving slightly.

Swish!

His figure instantly vanished from the courtyard as if merging into space. The next moment, he appeared silently outside the familiar Forbidden Ground in the back mountains of the Yin Yang Sect.

That simple stone tablet engraved with the words "Forbidden Ground" still emitted an aura of age and solemnity.

In just a moment, the space in front of the stone tablet rippled slightly, and the thin old man guarding the mausoleum, whose aura was as obscure as an ancient well, quietly appeared as if walking out of time.

Yao Delong did not hesitate at all, bowing to the old man with his attitude as respectful as ever: "Senior!"

The thin old man's face, which was originally as calm as an ancient well, now showed a heartfelt smile, and he quickly stepped half a pace to the side.

He did not fully accept the bow, his tone carrying emotion and a faint, hard-to-detect respect:

"Little friend... no, Your Highness the Dao Seed is being too polite. You're over-honoring this old man."

He scrutinized Yao Delong carefully, a hint of undisguisable amazement flashing in his cloudy old eyes:

"In the path of cultivation, the one who achieves more is the Senior. Your Highness the Dao Seed has reached the Void Refining stage at such a young age, with such a profound Foundation and harmonious aura—it's truly the first time this old man has seen such a thing in his life!"

"Looking at myself, I have wasted hundreds of years in this Forbidden Ground, and I am still lingering in the Spirit Transformation Realm... I am ashamed, truly ashamed!"

These words were from the heart. The dao rhyme on Yao Delong's body, which faintly resonated with the Immortal Mausoleum, made even him feel startled.

Yao Delong's expression was calm. He did not become arrogant because of his change in status and still maintained his respect for the Senior:

"Senior, you are mistaken. The path of the Dao is long, and each has their own destiny. Those who achieve more have simply taken a step ahead; how can there be a distinction between high and low?"

"Senior guards the Immortal Mausoleum and protects the Sect's Foundation, a merit that will last for ages. This Junior only has respect in his heart."

"If not for the protection of the Seniors, how could the Sect's Legacy continue? How could this Junior have today's Opportunity?"

Yao Delong's sincere and earnest words were not hypocritical in the least; every word came from the bottom of his heart.

He knew deeply that if not for these Senior experts who had weathered many storms and silently guarded the Sect's Foundation like steadfast rocks,

The Legacy of the Yin Yang Sect would likely have long since vanished in the long river of history.

This deep understanding and heartfelt respect for the Sect's guardians made the smile on the mausoleum guard's face even thicker, and a light of gratification flickered in his cloudy eyes. He felt a myriad of emotions in his heart:

This child's talent and bone structure are rare in eternity. Despite being the Dao Seed, he has no arrogance, but is instead steady, polite, and grateful.

Being able to see clearly and empathize with the hardships of his predecessors... For the Yin Yang Sect to have such a Dao Seed is truly a sign of the Sect's great prosperity! This child's future is limitless!

"Your Highness the Dao Seed has entered the Second Layer of the Immortal Mausoleum before, so you must know," the Old Mausoleum Guard's expression became more serious as he continued to advise,

"Dao Artifacts have spirits and will choose their own masters; they cannot be forced. However..."

His withered finger pointed again toward the depths of the dark gate of light, his voice lowered even further, carrying a hint of guidance:

"This old man suggests that on this trip, the Dao Seed might as well explore the deepest parts of the second layer."

"Ordinary Dao Artifacts are good, but they are ultimately limited by the Law Hills. In that core land of undefined Chaos, perhaps... a higher level of Opportunity lies hidden!"

The old man's eyes shone with sharp light as he spoke word by word:

"creation dao artifact!"