300: The reward of [Eye of the Emperor]!

From the relevant information about this demigod-grade forbidden treasure, it appears that the Martial Emperor originally crafted this forbidden treasure specifically for the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect.

The Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, as the Great Wu Dynasty's protector sect back then, had a formidable reputation.

It was deeply valued and trusted by the Martial Emperor.

For this reason, the Martial Emperor specially created this demigod-grade forbidden treasure for the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, making it the sect's most powerful foundation.

In that era, many people feared the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect precisely because it wielded this demigod-grade forbidden treasure.

However, with the Martial Emperor's demise and the collapse of the Great Wu Dynasty's imperial power, the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, as the protector sect, suffered devastating blows.

Not only did its Sect Master fall, but four Clerics within the papacy also perished!

Only one Cleric remained.

At the same time, for some reason, this demigod-grade forbidden treasure of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect also went missing from within the sect.

As a result, the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect has lacked this powerful foundation for all these years!

Now, after understanding this demigod-grade forbidden treasure through its item information, Xiao Shi immediately had an idea.

“First, I’ll try to awaken it with my Crimson Tiger Totem.”

He took a deep breath.

He gently closed his eyes.

He concentrated his Soul Consciousness, gathering all of it.

When he first broke through to the Martial Soul Realm, he primarily used the Crimson Tiger Totem to transform his soul into a Crimson Tiger Soul.

Now, as he gathered his entire Crimson Tiger Soul, the Soul Consciousness and soul power emanating from him instantly formed a gigantic, illusory Crimson Tiger head.

This illusory Crimson Tiger head floated above his head.

Roar!!

A mighty tiger roar suddenly erupted from the mouth of this illusory Crimson Tiger head.

It stirred up vibrations in the air, directly transmitting into the giant eyeball within the Camphor Tree ahead.

This caused the entire closed eyeball to tremble.

Xiao Shi watched with considerable tension.

As the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect’s treasure, this demigod-grade forbidden treasure inherently contained the sect’s aura.

Logically speaking, anything originating from the four symbols—Evil Ghost, Crimson Tiger, Dream Witch, or Mountain God—should be able to elicit a reaction from this demigod-grade forbidden treasure.

Under Xiao Shi’s focused attention, he clearly saw the entire closed eyeball’s eyelids twitching continuously, looking as if it was struggling to open its eyes.

But its eyelids seemed to weigh a thousand jun.

No matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't open them.

“It seems it’s still lacking something…”

Xiao Shi furrowed his brows, feeling that his Crimson Tiger Soul alone might not be enough to awaken it.

He thought for a moment.

He then bit his finger, dripping his blood onto the eyeball.

He believed his blood also contained the power of the Crimson Tiger, which might enhance the eyeball’s awakening strength.

Indeed, when Xiao Shi’s blood dripped onto the eyeball, the struggling eyeball’s intensity suddenly increased, and it faintly opened a negligible slit.

However, such a small slit was clearly not enough to fully awaken it.

Nor could it break free from the Camphor Tree’s seal.

“Still not enough, huh…”

Xiao Shi fell into contemplation, though without much surprise.

After all, this was a demigod-grade forbidden treasure.

If any random member of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect could awaken it, then this demigod-grade forbidden treasure would be far too cheap, severely incongruent with its status.

In fact, what Xiao Shi didn’t know was that his Crimson Tiger Soul and blood being able to make the eye of imperial judgment open a tiny slit was already a terrifying feat.

If this were seen by the high-ranking members of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, they would undoubtedly be incredibly shocked!

This time, to reclaim this sect treasure, the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect specifically gave Xiang Zizhen an item capable of awakening the eye of imperial judgment.

Only this treasure could awaken the dormant eye of imperial judgment.

If they were to rely solely on the aura and blood of Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect members for awakening, they would need to gather tens of thousands of them.

And all four symbols would need to be present; it couldn't be just one Crimson Tiger.

Now, Xiao Shi, by himself, caused the eye of imperial judgment to open a tiny crack, meaning he alone was equivalent to thousands of Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect members!

If it weren't for him only possessing the Crimson Tiger among the four symbols… at his current level, he could even awaken the eye of imperial judgment completely by himself!

Yet, even so, he still couldn't awaken the eye of imperial judgment.

“If that’s the case…”

“Then I’ll have to use another method!”

An idea surged in Xiao Shi’s mind.

With a thought, a black mask suddenly appeared on his face.

At the same time, two flat, entirely black shoulder guards with intricate black patterns appeared on both his shoulders.

On his feet appeared battle boots resembling ancient black boots, high-cut with thick soles, entirely golden-yellow, and embroidered with exquisite cloud patterns!

In an instant, he simultaneously activated the three pieces of Emperors Armor he currently possessed.

Since this eye of imperial judgment was crafted by the Martial Emperor, in addition to the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect’s aura being able to awaken it, the Martial Emperor’s aura could also do so!

With this thought, Xiao Shi immediately used the Martial Emperor’s aura contained within the Emperors Armor on his body to awaken the eye of imperial judgment before him.

Under the Martial Emperor’s aura from the three pieces of Emperors Armor, the eyeball’s eyelids immediately struggled and trembled more violently.

At the same time, the degree to which the eyeball opened also gradually expanded, directly opening halfway from its previous tiny slit, presenting a semi-open state.

Xiao Shi thus saw… the eyeball of this eye of imperial judgment was not like the eyeball of a human or some creature; rather, its entire interior was a profound world like the starry sky.

It was like a crystal-clear and brilliant mirror, seemingly capable of reflecting all things in the world.

Before this eyeball, Xiao Shi deeply felt his own insignificance, as if he was just an inconspicuous speck of dust in this profound world.

Although with his current strength and cultivation, he was already considered mid-level in martial arts, before such a demigod-grade forbidden treasure, he was merely a slightly larger speck of dust.

This was a feeling of insignificance Xiao Shi had never experienced since entering the Martial Soul Realm.

He took a deep breath.

Although he had successfully made this eye of imperial judgment open halfway through the Emperors Armor, it was still not enough!

In response, Xiao Shi directly used the martial emperor mask to generate a wisp of Martial Emperor’s aura!

If the Martial Emperor’s aura carried by these three pieces of Emperors Armor was merely a trace, then the Martial Emperor’s aura generated by the martial emperor mask was far greater than all three pieces of Emperors Armor combined.

After all, the Martial Emperor’s aura from these three pieces of Emperors Armor was passive… while the Martial Emperor’s aura generated by the martial emperor mask was an inherent ability of this Emperors Armor!

They were completely incomparable.

Instantly, when the Martial Emperor’s aura generated by the martial emperor mask reached the eye of imperial judgment, Xiao Shi clearly saw the profound, starry-sky-like world within the entire eye of imperial judgment instantly brighten!

At the same time, the eye of imperial judgment’s degree of opening expanded again, directly opening to two-thirds.

Xiao Shi gazed at the eye of imperial judgment before him.

Although the entire eye of imperial judgment had opened for the most part, he could feel that the eye of imperial judgment was still not awake!

It was still in a dormant state, just on the verge of awakening.

However, it was still a tiny bit short of a complete awakening.

“Just the last step remains…”

Xiao Shi’s eyes sharpened.

If he failed at this step, it would be too frustrating for him.

Fortunately, he had one last preparation.

Whoosh!

Xiao Shi flipped his hand, directly retrieving an item from the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree’s storage area.

This was none other than a cloak!

It was the Martial Emperor’s Cloak!

When Xiao Shi first obtained the Martial Emperor War Boots, the fourth piece of Emperors Armor, the Martial Emperor’s Cloak, also dropped—or rather, it was the fifth piece of Emperors Armor, because the Martial Emperor’s Cloak corresponded to the Martial Demon Grade!

However, with Xiao Shi’s current strength and cultivation, he was unable to wear this piece of Emperors Armor.

Although he couldn't wear this Emperors Armor, now that he had taken it out, he immediately used the Martial Emperor’s aura on it to awaken the eye of imperial judgment before him!

Buzz!

When the Martial Emperor’s aura from the Martial Emperor’s Cloak reached the eye of imperial judgment, it instantly caused the entire eyeball of the eye of imperial judgment to open completely!

At the same time, the profound world within the entire eyeball seemed to come alive, no longer in its previous static state, but regaining its vitality.

Moreover, a vast and boundless aura diffused from the entire eyeball, shaking the heavens and earth, giving Xiao Shi the feeling of gazing upon an immense world.

“Is this… a demigod-grade forbidden treasure?!”

Xiao Shi’s mind trembled, his entire body unable to move.

Both his body and soul were in a stiff state, feeling as if the other party could turn him into dust with just a breath.

“…It was you who awakened me?”

An ancient, deep voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Shi’s mind.

This was none other than the artifact spirit of the eye of imperial judgment!

As a demigod-grade forbidden treasure, it naturally possessed an artifact spirit.

Xiao Shi swallowed, trying his best to keep his voice from trembling.

This wasn’t out of personal fear, but an instinctive reaction stemming from the suppression of life-level and cultivation realm.

After all, what he was facing now was a demigod-grade forbidden treasure!

“Yes!”

Xiao Shi replied.

“I sense the aura of the Crimson Tiger on you… Oh? And the Martial Emperor’s aura! No wonder you could awaken me.”

The artifact spirit of the eye of imperial judgment observed Xiao Shi.

Meanwhile, with the awakening of the eye of imperial judgment, the Camphor Tree’s bark and internal fibers that sealed it began to shatter like shredded paper.

Wood chips flew, bark peeled, and the eyeball within the trunk continuously protruded.

Although this Camphor Tree was one of the Nine Divine Trees, it was still in its growth phase.

It hadn't reached its peak.

Therefore, at its current stage, the Camphor Tree could only seal the dormant eye of imperial judgment, but it was insufficient to seal the awakened eye of imperial judgment.

In an instant, this giant eyeball had already detached from within the Camphor Tree, allowing Xiao Shi to clearly see the long tentacles behind it.

“Since you helped me, I should also give you some rewards…”

As the voice from the artifact spirit of the eye of imperial judgment conveyed, the tentacles behind it suddenly pierced into the Camphor Tree, directly pulling out a green light spot from within the tree.

This green light spot was circular, emanating a verdant glow, and carried an incredibly lush vitality.

“This is… a Divine Tree’s Heart!!”

“You’ve hit the jackpot!”

The incomplete consciousness in the black coffin conveyed excited words, stating that the Divine Tree’s Heart was equivalent to the core essence of the Nine Divine Trees.

Its value was immeasurable!

Xiao Shi immediately saw that when the Camphor Tree’s Divine Tree’s Heart was extracted, the once lush Camphor Tree withered and died at a visible rate.

Without its Divine Tree’s Heart, these Divine Trees could no longer survive, just like mortals whose hearts were removed.

If it were anyone else, even if they wanted to extract a Divine Tree’s Heart, it would be impossible!

Even a Saint would not possess the ability to extract a Divine Tree’s Heart.

But for a demigod, such a capability existed!

“I can feel that you also seem to have a Divine Tree on you… In that case, I’ll give you this Divine Tree’s Heart.”

Following the artifact spirit’s words, this green light spot floated on its own before Xiao Shi.

Xiao Shi looked at the green light spot suspended before him, feeling the excitement emanating from the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree within him.

For the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree, this Divine Tree’s Heart was the best tonic in the world, bar none!

It could bring the greatest degree of enhancement and evolution to the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree!

It meant that while the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree enhanced its own abilities, it could also acquire some of the Camphor Tree’s abilities, essentially a combination formed by two Divine Trees!

The immense value of this reward!

Even a demigod would be tempted by it.

After all, there were only nine Divine Trees in total in the world, and four of them had yet to be born.

Xiao Shi also realized the preciousness of this reward.

His heart thrilled, and he reached out, grasping the green light spot before him.

The moment he grasped this green light spot, it directly merged into Xiao Shi’s palm and was absorbed by the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree within his body.

“Since you are a member of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, it is only right that I perform a baptism for you,” the artifact spirit of the eye of imperial judgment continued.

Clearly, the Divine Tree’s Heart was just one part of its reward for Xiao Shi!

It would also bestow a baptism upon Xiao Shi!

This was a privilege only enjoyed by members of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, and it had always been eagerly sought after by countless disciples!