32: Chapter 32 Hidden Mission: The Secret History of the Yan Kingdom

There were only two days left until the Yaoguang Holy Land recruitment competition. Within the Heavenly Court - First Generation courtyard, a tense yet orderly atmosphere of Cultivation permeated the air. Chen Hao was sparring with Zhang Meng in the yard with spear and shield, the sound of metal clashing ringing incessantly; Su Qingyue was alone in the cultivation room nurturing her spiritual body, where ice-blue Spiritual Qi drifted like mist; meanwhile, Qian Duoduo was busy in the East Market with his business team, accumulating funds for the Heavenly Court - First Generation.

Lin Ye stood by the window of the main house, fiddling with the myriad mother qi bronze dart in his hand. The dart spun nimbly between his fingers, as the greyish Chaos Power flickered in and out of sight. These three days of Cultivation had stabilized his Rank at level 25, his Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body Awakening degree had reached 7.8%, and his comprehension of Chaos Heaven Opening had also risen to 11.2%. However, the pressure remained significant to meet the recruitment competition's requirement—at least placing in the top ten.

As a major Human Race power in the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness within the Big Dipper Star Field, the Yaoguang Holy Land attracted tens of thousands of players to its annual recruitment. Those who could stand out and enter the top ten were all top-tier talents of the same Rank, with no shortage of those possessing special Physiques or Heaven-Defying Opportunities.

“Brother Lin, want to go for a walk?” Chen Hao finished his sparring and walked over, wiping away sweat. “We've been cooped up in the yard for three days; it's time to relax. I heard from Qian Duoduo that a new ‘Baixiao Teahouse’ opened in the East Market. The storyteller there talks about interesting secrets and anecdotes within the game; it’s quite fascinating.”

Lin Ye thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright. Let’s call Qingyue and Xiaoyu to go listen together. The path of Cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation.”

The four of them packed up simply and left the courtyard.

Baixiao Teahouse was located in the most prosperous section of the East Market, a three-story wooden building with flying eaves and bracket sets, and a plaque hanging at the entrance that read “Discussing the Ancient and Modern.” It was currently mid-afternoon, and the teahouse was packed with a mix of players and NPCs, some drinking tea and others listening to the stories, making for a very lively scene.

When Lin Ye's group of four entered the teahouse, they immediately drew attention. Although Lin Ye had hidden the title above his head, the face of “Night God” had long been remembered by many. A low murmur rippled through the teahouse, as many players cast curious or reverent glances.

“Lord Night God! This way, please!” The teahouse manager was a lean middle-aged man with the ID [Cha Laoqi], level 30. He approached with a face full of smiles. “An elegant seat on the second floor has been prepared for you. It has the best view and you can clearly hear the storytelling.”

This was the convenience brought by reputation. Lin Ye’s current reputation was 23,200 points, making him a celebrity in the Capital City of Yan State, receiving special treatment wherever he went.

The four went up to the second floor and sat at an elegant table by the railing. This position was indeed excellent, allowing them to clearly see the storytelling platform in the center of the first floor while maintaining relative privacy. Cha Laoqi personally served tea and snacks—a pot of “Cloud Mist Spirit Tea” and four plates of exquisite pastries.

【Cloud Mist Spirit Tea (Common Drink)】

Effect: After drinking, Divine Sense +20 and Comprehension Ability temporarily increases by 5% for 30 minutes.

【Osmanthus Cake (Common Food)】

Effect: After eating, Blood Qi recovery speed +10% for 30 minutes.

Although the effects were average, the fact that they were free was a plus. Lin Ye's group of four sipped their tea while looking toward the storytelling platform.

Standing on the stage was an old man in a long robe, with white hair and beard, holding a gavel. He was the storyteller [Baixiaosheng · Old Man Tan], level 35. He was currently reaching a critical point in his story:

“...It is said that three hundred years ago, the seventh-generation monarch of Yan State, ‘King Zhao of Yan,’ was a man of great military and civil strategy. He expanded the territory of Yan State threefold and brought the national power to its Peak. In his later years, King Zhao felt the difficulty of governing and summoned the country's top Formation Masters, Artifact Refiners, and Talisman masters to pour the entire nation's strength into forging a ‘National Imperial Seal’.”

Old Man Tan struck the gavel with a “snap,” capturing the attention of all the listeners.

“This imperial seal was no simple thing! It was based on North Sea Profound Jade and infused with the cores of nine small Spiritual Veins, with eight Great Dao runes carved on its surface: ‘Received from Heaven, may he have longevity and eternal prosperity.’ It is said that once the imperial seal was completed, the Luck of Yan State condensed, leading to favorable weather and national peace. Holding this imperial seal, King Zhao could even mobilize a portion of the national destiny's power to suppress powerful enemies.”

A player below asked, “Old gentleman, where is such a powerful imperial seal now?”

Old Man Tan stroked his beard and sighed, “Alas, it is a pity. After King Zhao passed away, the imperial seal was passed to the eighth-generation monarch. But this monarch’s Aptitude was mediocre, and the national power gradually declined. Fifty years ago, the ‘Beiliang State’ to the north launched a massive invasion, and Yan State lost three cities in succession. The Yan King at the time took the imperial seal and led the army personally to a decisive battle against the Beiliang army in ‘Burial Dragon Valley’...”

He paused, heightening the suspense. “That battle was fought until the sky turned dark and rivers of blood flowed. Although the Yan King was brave, the Beiliang State Preceptor ‘Tuoba Lang’ had heaven-reaching cultivation. He used a secret method to draw upon the Yin Qi from deep within Burial Dragon Valley and laid down the ‘Ten Thousand Ghost Soul-Devouring Formation.’ The Yan King was trapped in the Formation and desperately activated the imperial seal, dying together with Tuoba Lang. The imperial seal was also... lost in that great battle.”

“Lost?” a player lamented. “Was it not recovered later?”

“They searched, but couldn't find it,” Old Man Tan shook his head. “After the battle, Burial Dragon Valley became a place of great evil, filled with Yin Qi and crawling with ghosts. Yan State sent three waves of people in to search, and only one soldier from the last wave came out alive, but he was already mentally unstable, only repeatedly muttering ‘imperial seal... Ancient Tomb... curse...’. Since then, no one has dared to venture deep into Burial Dragon Valley.”

A wave of sighs filled the teahouse.

Lin Ye’s heart, however, stirred.

National Imperial Seal? Able to mobilize the power of national destiny? This sounded like... a special quest item.

Sure enough, just as he thought this, a System notification rang in his ear:

【System Notification: You have heard the legend of the ‘Secret History of Yan State · National Imperial Seal’!】

【Hidden Quest Triggered: Recover the Lost imperial seal of the Yan King!】

【Quest Difficulty: Rank A (Suggested for a five-person party of level 30 or above)】

【Quest Objective: Head to Burial Dragon Valley, enter the Ancient Tomb of King Yan, and recover the ‘Yan King Imperial Seal’】

【Quest Reward: Unknown (Evaluated based on quest completion degree)】

【Quest Time Limit: None】

【Do you accept?】

Rank A difficulty! Suggested for a five-person party of level 30 or above!

Lin Ye’s pupils constricted slightly. This was the first Rank A quest he had encountered since his Rebirth. In the quest System of the covering the heavens era, quest difficulties ranged from F to SSS, totaling nine Ranks. Rank A quests already belonged to the high-end category, usually requiring elite team cooperation and often accompanied by immense risk.

But similarly, the rewards for Rank A quests were extremely generous. An unknown reward meant the possibility of obtaining legendary-grade items or even... treasures that touched upon the Law.

“Accept.” Lin Ye confirmed in his heart.

【System Notification: You have accepted the hidden quest ‘Secret History of Yan State · Recovering the Seal’!】

【Current Quest Progress: 0/3 (Investigate Clues → Explore Ancient Tomb → Recover imperial seal)】

【First Stage: Go to the Yan State Imperial Palace Library and consult the detailed records regarding ‘Burial Dragon Valley’ and the ‘Ancient Tomb of King Yan’.】

Quest accepted successfully.

Lin Ye looked at his teammates. Chen Hao, Su Qingyue, and Zhao Xiaoyu had clearly also received the notification, and surprise flashed in their eyes.

“Brother Lin, this quest...” Chen Hao lowered his voice.

“Let’s finish listening to the story first and talk when we get back,” Lin Ye signaled for him to stay calm.

Below, Old Man Tan had already changed the topic and started talking about recent anecdotes in the player circles. Things like “Overlord Pavilion and Zhan Tian Pavilion had a scheduled fight outside the city, only to attract a group of level 40 wild monsters, resulting in heavy losses for both sides,” and “some lucky person caught a gold-quality ‘Dragon Carp’ while fishing by the river and sold it for five thousand Spirit Stones, becoming rich overnight,” drawing bursts of laughter from the audience.

But Lin Ye’s group of four no longer had the heart to listen to these things.

Half an hour later, the four left the teahouse and returned to the courtyard.

After closing the courtyard gate and activating the soundproofing Formation, Lin Ye finally spoke: “You all received the quest, right?”

The three nodded.

“Rank A difficulty, suggested for a five-person party of level 30 or above.” Chen Hao was somewhat worried. “We’re only level 25 at most, and there are only four of us. Should we recruit a few more experts?”

Su Qingyue, however, said: “The quest suggestion is just a reference. When we were at the Bronze Ancient Palace, the suggested level was 30, but we cleared it even though our average level was under 20. The key is tactics and coordination.”

“Qingyue is right,” Lin Ye agreed. “But this quest is different. The Bronze Ancient Palace was a dungeon where you could respawn if you died. This quest is a hidden quest in the open world; if we fail, there might not be a second chance. Moreover, a place like ‘Burial Dragon Valley’ doesn't sound like a good place at all.”

He thought for a moment and made a decision: “We’ll take the quest, but we need to be fully prepared. First, we need to complete the first stage before the recruitment competition—go to the Imperial Palace Library to consult the data. This shouldn't be hard; I have the Guest Elder status and can apply to enter the library.”

“Then, we need to gather more intelligence regarding ‘Burial Dragon Valley’ and the ‘Ancient Tomb.’ Qingyue, I’ll leave this to you.”

Su Qingyue nodded: “I’ll go to the intelligence market tomorrow.”

“Additionally, we need to specifically improve our strength.” Lin Ye looked at Chen Hao. “Your God King Body has a restrictive effect on evil and ghostly creatures; you are the main force for this quest. Focus on cultivating the ‘Sacred’ attribute of the God King Body these few days.”

“Zhang Meng, Qingshan, and Tiezhu—the three of them are still a bit short of level 25. Have them hurry up and level. If they can reach level 25 before the quest starts, we’ll bring them along. If not, we’ll only take the elite squad.”

“As for myself...” Lin Ye’s gaze was deep. “I need a Magical Artifact that can restrain evil.”

He thought of the bronze lamp. That Buddhist artifact fragment from the Great Thunder Sound Temple had a natural restraint against the undead and ghosts. If he could repair or even strengthen it, it would be of great use in the Ancient Tomb.

“Alright, that’s all for today. Everyone prepare on your own. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the Imperial Palace.”

The next morning, Lin Ye went to the Yan State Imperial Palace alone.

The Imperial Palace was located in the center of the capital, covering a thousand acres with numerous palaces and heavy security. The vermilion palace walls were ten zhang high, with fully armed imperial guards patrolling the top. Eight level 60 golden-armored guards stood watch at the palace gate, their gazes as sharp as eagles.

Lin Ye presented his Guest Elder token and, after a strict inspection, was allowed entry.

A young eunuch led him through multiple palace gates to a seven-story tower. The tower was built entirely of white jade, its surface covered in protective Formations, and copper bells hung from the eaves, making a crisp sound in the wind.

“Lord Night God, this is ‘Wenyuan Pavilion,’ the place where the Imperial Palace’s books are kept,” the young eunuch said respectfully. “According to the rules, a Guest Elder can enter once a month for no more than two hours. You can only consult records on the first through third floors; the fourth floor and above require higher clearance.”

“Understood, thank you.”

Lin Ye walked into Wenyuan Pavilion. The first floor was the common books area, with dozens of rows of bookshelves packed with paper or bamboo slip books. A few NPC scholars were flipping through them; when they saw Lin Ye enter, they only looked up for a moment before continuing their work.

He didn't stay on the first floor and went straight to the second.

The second floor was the Cultivation Technique and Secret Manual area. There were even fewer people here, with only three old men in official robes studying ancient texts. Lin Ye glanced at the bookshelf labels—“Yellow Rank Cultivation Technique,” “Profound Rank Cultivation Technique,” “Basic Skills,” “Professional Insights,” and so on—all of which were relatively common cultivation Materials.

He continued up to the third floor.

The third floor was the historical secrets area, which was also Lin Ye’s goal.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

It was empty here, with far fewer bookshelves than the two floors below, only eight rows.

However, what was placed on the shelves were not ordinary books, but rolls of Jade Slips or animal skin books made of special Materials, their surfaces exuding the aura of time.

Lin Ye followed the index and quickly found the "History of Yan State" section.

He pulled out a few relevant Jade Slips and sat down at a table by the window.

Volume One: "Chronicles of the Successive Kings of Yan State".

Lin Ye probed with his Divine Sense and quickly browsed through it.

The Jade Slip recorded the history of the Yan State from its founding to the present, including the lives, political achievements, and cultivation levels of successive kings.

He focused on the sections regarding King Zhao of Yan and the eighth King of Yan (historically known as "Martial King of Yan").

King Zhao of Yan, originally named Ji Xuanyuan, had reached the Peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm (Rank 150). He reigned for sixty years, expanding the Yan State from a small nation into a medium-sized power in the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness.

In his later years, he refined the National Imperial Seal to condense the nation's Luck.

Martial King of Yan, originally named Ji Wushang, was the grandson of King Zhao and had a cultivation level at the third layer of the Four Extremities Realm (Rank 75).

During his reign, national power declined. Fifty years ago, he fought a decisive battle against the Northern Liang State in the Burial Dragon Valley, where he perished together with the enemy's state preceptor, and the imperial seal was lost.

Volume Two: "Geographical Record of Burial Dragon Valley".

Burial Dragon Valley is located at the northern border of the Yan State, about three hundred li from the capital.

It was originally an ordinary valley, but because of that great battle fifty years ago, the Spiritual Veins were destroyed, Yin Qi gathered, and it gradually turned into a place of great ominousness.

The valley is filled with Yin mist all year round, and a large number of undead creatures such as specters, zombies, and bone demons dwell there.

Deeper inside, there are naturally formed Yin-evil traps, as well as... what is suspected to be the entrance to an Ancient Tomb.

Volume Three: "Secret Chronicles of Northern Liang State Preceptor Tuoba Lang".

Tuoba Lang, the State Preceptor of Northern Liang, had a cultivation level at the Peak of the Four Extremities Realm (Rank 90) and was skilled in Yin-evil Spells.

Fifty years ago, he learned from ancient books that there was an ancient "General's Tomb" beneath Burial Dragon Valley, in which an ancient general who had slaughtered a million souls was buried, accumulating a massive amount of Yin-evil Qi.

Tuoba Lang used this as a foundation to set up the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul-Devouring Formation, almost wiping out the entire Yan State army.

Seeing this, Lin Ye had a guess in his heart.

The Yan King's Ancient Tomb was likely a modification of that ancient "General's Tomb".

After the Martial King of Yan died in battle, his corpse and the imperial seal fell into the tomb, combining with the original Yin-evil Qi to form a more complex situation.

Continuing his research, Lin Ye found detailed information about the imperial seal in a Jade Slip titled "Record of Yan State Secret Treasures":

[Yan King's National Imperial Seal (Legendary)]

Type: National Luck Divine Artifact (Damaged)

Effects:

1. [National Luck Blessing]: The holder can mobilize a portion of the Yan State's national Luck, increasing all attributes (the extent of the increase is related to the strength of the national Luck).

2. [Luck Protection]: Immune to instant-death skills, significantly increases Luck.

3. [Suppress Evil]: Increases damage against Yin-evil creatures by 300%, can purify low-grade Yin-evil Qi.

4. [Might of the imperial seal]: Actively released, consumes national Luck, deals massive damage to all enemies within range (currently insufficient national Luck, cannot be used).

Current Status: Lost in the Yan King's Ancient Tomb in Burial Dragon Valley, eroded by Yin-evil Qi, effects partially disabled.

Description: The treasure of the Yan State, condensing the Luck of the entire nation. If it can be retrieved and purified, it is not only a Heaven-Defying Opportunity for the individual, but also of great significance to the entire Yan State.

It really is a good item!

Although it is currently in a damaged state, just that 300% boost to damage against Yin-evil creatures is enough to make the value of this mission skyrocket. Not to mention rare special effects like National Luck Blessing and Luck Protection.

Lin Ye noted down all the key information and also looked up some Materials on Ancient Tomb mechanisms, Yin-evil creatures, and purification Spells.

Two hours passed quickly, and when the young eunuch came to remind him, he had already mastered enough intelligence.

Leaving the Wenyuan Pavilion, Lin Ye did not return directly to the residence, but went to the "Magical Artifact Store" in the East Market.

This was a shop run by an NPC; the owner was a chubby middle-aged merchant with the ID [Shopkeeper Jin], Rank 40.

The shop was filled with various Magical Artifacts, ranging from ordinary goods of White Rank to high-quality items of Purple Rank, and of course, the prices were not cheap.

"What does the customer need?" Shopkeeper Jin greeted him warmly. "Our shop has just received a batch of 'Evil-Warding Talismans', Green Rank. Sticking them on your body can resist the intrusion of low-grade specters, only ten Spirit Stones each!"

Lin Ye shook his head: "I want something better, something I can use to enter an Ancient Tomb."

Shopkeeper Jin's eyes lit up: "An Ancient Tomb? Is the customer going on an expedition? Then you have come to the right person! Our shop has a set of Magical Artifacts specifically for Yin-evil environments—"

He turned around and took out three items from behind the counter.

The first was a bronze lamp with a simple and ancient design, and a cyan flame was burning quietly inside the lamp holder.

[Qingming Lamp (Fine)]

Rank: Fine (Green)

Type: Lighting/Support Magical Artifact

Effects:

1. [Qingming Fire]: The flame deals extra damage to specter-type creatures, illumination range 20 meters.

2. [Disperse Yin Mist]: Can disperse low-grade Yin-evil mist.

3. [Fuel]: Requires 'Merfolk Oil' or 'Yao Beast Fat' as fuel (consumes 1 unit per hour).

Price: 150 Spirit Stones.

The second was a string of Buddhist prayer beads, strung together from eighteen sandalwood beads, with a Buddhist rune carved on each bead.

[Sandalwood Buddhist Beads (Fine)]

Rank: Fine (Green)

Type: Accessory/Support Magical Artifact

Effects:

1. [Buddha Light Protection]: Passive, reduces Yin-evil type damage received by 15%.

2. [Calm Heart]: Increases the wearer's Divine Sense resistance +20, not easily confused by illusions.

3. [Chanting]: Actively activated, can convert surrounding specters (low success rate).

Price: 200 Spirit Stones.

The third item made Lin Ye's eyes light up—it was a copper mirror, with the mirror surface in the shape of a Bagua, and complex runes carved on the back.

[Bagua Evil-Suppressing Mirror (Rare)]

Rank: Rare (Blue)

Type: Support/Attack Magical Artifact

Effects:

1. [Evil-Suppressing Light]: Within the irradiation range, all attributes of Yin-evil creatures are reduced by 20%.

2. [Reflect Yin-evil]: Can reflect some Yin-evil Spell attacks.

3. [Mirror World]: Actively activated, can temporarily Seal a specter-type creature into the mirror (success rate is related to the strength gap between the two sides).

Price: 800 Spirit Stones.

Good items, but too expensive.

Lin Ye only had over three hundred Spirit Stones on hand, and that was just the profit Qian Duoduo had just turned in. He could afford the Qingming Lamp and the Sandalwood Buddhist Beads, but the Bagua Evil-Suppressing Mirror was over budget.

He thought for a moment and took out his own bronze lamp: "Shopkeeper Jin, take a look at this and see how much it is worth."

Shopkeeper Jin took the bronze lamp and examined it carefully, surprise flashing in his eyes: "This is... a fragment of a Buddhist Magical Artifact? Although it is seriously damaged, the material is not simple, and there is still a trace of true Buddhist intent remaining inside. Customer, where did you get this?"

"Obtained by Opportunity." Lin Ye did not say much, "How much is it worth?"

Shopkeeper Jin pondered: "If it were a complete Buddhist Magical Artifact, it would be worth at least five thousand Spirit Stones. But now it is a fragment, and its functions are incomplete... Our shop can offer eight hundred Spirit Stones to purchase it."

Eight hundred, just enough to buy the Bagua Evil-Suppressing Mirror.

But Lin Ye shook his head: "Not for sale. I want to repair it; what Materials do I need?"

"Repair?" Shopkeeper Jin shook his head, "Difficult. Repairing a Buddhist Magical Artifact requires 'Buddhist Power Of Will' or 'consecration by a high monk'; this cannot be solved with ordinary Materials. However... if you just want to enhance its restraining effect on Yin-evil, you could try incorporating some 'Evil-Warding Gold Powder' and 'Sun Essence Stone' powder."

"'Evil-Warding Gold Powder' and 'Sun Essence Stone' powder?" Lin Ye noted down the two names, "Where can I buy them?"

"Our shop has the Evil-Warding Gold Powder, ten Spirit Stones per unit. The Sun Essence Stone powder is relatively rare; it is a material of extreme Yang and extreme hardness, having absolute restraint against Yin-evil, but the price is also expensive—fifty Spirit Stones per unit, and our shop only has three units in stock."

Lin Ye calculated: "I want ten units of Evil-Warding Gold Powder and three units of Sun Essence Stone powder."

"A total of two hundred and thirty Spirit Stones." Shopkeeper Jin nimbly took out the Materials.

Lin Ye paid the money and spent another one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones to buy the Qingming Lamp as a backup. He did not buy the Sandalwood Buddhist Beads for the time being; his bronze finger ring and bronze dragon ring already occupied two accessory slots, and wearing the Buddhist beads would exceed the limit.

Bringing the Materials and the Qingming Lamp back to the residence, Lin Ye immediately began the reinforcement of the bronze lamp.

This time he did not go to the Artifact Refiners Association, but chose to operate by himself in the residence. Repairing a Buddhist Magical Artifact requires "Power Of Will" or "Buddha Nature"; this is not a technical issue, but an enhancement at the essential level.

Lin Ye placed the bronze lamp on the table, and the ten units of Evil-Warding Gold Powder and three units of Sun Essence Stone powder were lined up in order. Then, he took out an unexpected item—the bodhi seed.

That special accessory obtained from the Great Thunder Sound Temple had been hanging around his neck. The bodhi seed is a Buddhist holy object, naturally containing Buddha Nature, and perhaps it could serve as a medium.

He first sprinkled the Evil-Warding Gold Powder evenly on the surface of the bronze lamp, then wrapped the lamp body with Chaos Power and heated it slowly. The gold powder melted under the high temperature, seeping into the tiny cracks of the lamp body, filling the damage.

Next was the Sun Essence Stone powder. This material of extreme Yang was extremely overbearing; Lin Ye did not dare to use it directly, but instead took out one unit, diluted it tenfold with Chaos Power, and then carefully applied it to the lamp wick position.

"Ssh..."

The golden flame at the lamp wick suddenly surged, expanding from the size of a bean to the size of an egg, and the flame color also changed from gold to pale gold mixed with a hint of crimson.

Effective!

Lin Ye was invigorated and followed the same procedure, incorporating the remaining two units of Sun Essence Stone powder into the lamp as well. When the last unit of powder was incorporated, the entire bronze lamp lit up.

The rust on the surface of the lamp body peeled off, revealing the simple and ancient bronze material underneath. The flame inside the lamp holder burned steadily, emitting a warm and sacred light. Wherever the light reached, the cold Yin aura in the air was dispersed, and even his mood became calm and peaceful.

Lin Ye picked up the bodhi seed and gently pressed it against the side of the lamp body.

The moment the bodhi seed came into contact with the lamp body, both vibrated simultaneously. A faint Buddha light emerged on the surface of the bodhi seed, and the Buddha light poured into the lamp like a stream of water. The ancient Buddhist runes on the lamp body lit up one by one; although most were still incomplete, three complete runes were already clearly visible.

The reinforcement lasted for a full hour.

When the light dissipated, the bronze lamp had taken on a new look.

[bronze buddha lamp (Under Repair)]

Rank: Rare (Blue) → Epic (Purple)

Status: Repair Degree 35%

Effects:

1. [Buddha Light Illumination]: Illumination range 50 meters, all friendly units within range get +10% to all attributes, Yin-evil creatures get -30% to all attributes.

2. [Evil-Expelling Holy Fire]: Flame damage against undead creatures like specters, zombies, and bone demons increased by 200%, and carries a 'Purify' effect (continuously eliminates Yin-evil Qi).

3. [Calm Zen Intent]: Increases holder's Divine Sense +50, significantly increases resistance to illusion, curse, and mental control skills.

4. [Buddhist Artifact Resonance]: When used simultaneously with Buddhist Cultivation Techniques or items, effects are increased by an additional 20%.

5. [Damaged Status]: Repair degree is insufficient, cannot exert full power, and durability is relatively low (180/300).

Description: A fragment of a Buddhist Magical Artifact from the Great Thunder Sound Temple that has drifted into the Mortal World; after preliminary repairs, some of its power has been restored. Continue searching for Buddhist Power Of Will or consecration by a high monk; it is expected to be restored to its complete state.

Promoted from Rare to Epic! Although it is still in a damaged state, the effects have undergone a qualitative change.

The area-of-effect buffs and debuffs from the Buddha Light, the special attack of the Exorcism Holy Fire against undead creatures, the Divine Sense boost from the Zen Mind, and the linked effect of the Buddhist Magical Artifact resonance—this lamp would become a Divine Artifact in the Ancient Tomb.

More importantly, it resonated with the bodhi seed.

When worn together, the effects could be further increased by 20%.

Lin Ye put away the bronze lamp with satisfaction.

With it, he had greater confidence in the mission to the Ancient Tomb of the Yan King.

At dusk, Su Qingyue returned with the intelligence she had gathered.

"The situation in Burial Dragon Valley is more complex than imagined," she said, spreading a hand-drawn map on the living room table.

"This is intelligence I bought from several players who had attempted to explore Burial Dragon Valley. Although incomplete, it roughly marks the dangerous areas."

On the map, Burial Dragon Valley was divided into three areas: the periphery, the middle section, and the core.

The periphery is the canyon entrance area, infested with Level 25-30 Yin spirits and zombies; they are numerous but not individually strong.

The middle section begins to have Level 30-35 Bone Demons and Corpse Generals, as well as naturally formed Yin Sha traps.

The core area is where the Ancient Tomb entrance is located.

It is said to be guarded by Ghost Generals above Level 35, and the concentration of Yin Sha is extremely high.

Ordinary players who enter cannot last more than ten minutes before falling into the 'Yin Sha Erosion' state, continuously losing health.

"Additionally, I learned an important piece of information," Su Qingyue said, pointing to a mark on the map.

"Three days ago, an elite squad from the Overlord Pavilion attempted to enter Burial Dragon Valley with the goal of finding a rare material called 'Yin Sha Crystal.'"

"They encountered an accident in the middle section—not by monster attacks, but by triggering some kind of ancient Formation."

"The entire five-man squad was teleported to an unknown location and has had no news since."

A Formation? Teleportation?

Lin Ye frowned.

This did not sound like it was naturally formed.

"What is the reaction of the Overlord Pavilion?"

"They sent a second team to search and rescue, but they also lost contact," Su Qingyue said.

"Now the Overlord Pavilion has listed Burial Dragon Valley as a 'High-Risk Restricted Zone' and has temporarily abandoned the exploration plan."

This news cast a shadow over the mission.

If even the elite squad of the Overlord Pavilion fell, it meant that the danger level of Burial Dragon Valley far exceeded what appeared on the surface.

But Lin Ye did not retreat.

"We still have to go to the Ancient Tomb," he said firmly.

"However, we need more adequate preparation."

"Qingyue, continue to collect information about the internal structure of the Ancient Tomb, especially regarding mechanisms and Formations."

"Chen Hao, take Zhang Meng and the others to level up outside the city, and try to reach Level 25 before we set off."

"Xiaoyu, prepare enough healing potions and purification Talismans."

"As for me..." Lin Ye looked at the bronze buddha lamp in his hand, "I need to go to the Artifact Refiners Association again to completely repair this lamp."

The plan was set, and everyone went their separate ways.

When Lin Ye arrived at the Artifact Refiners Association again, Iron Heart was instructing several apprentices.

Seeing Lin Ye, his eyes lit up: "Lord Night God! You are here! I have already written a report on your Artifact Refining process last time and submitted it to Great Master Wang. The Great Master was full of praise after reading it, saying that you are an Artifact Refining genius rarely seen in a thousand years!"

Lin Ye smiled and took out the bronze buddha lamp: "This time, I want to repair this Buddhist Magical Artifact."

Iron Heart took the lamp and examined it carefully, becoming more shocked the more he looked: "This... this is a standard-issue buddha lamp from the Great Thunder Sound Temple! Although it is severely damaged, the foundation is still there! Lord Night God, have you already repaired a part of it? This technique... is exquisite!"

"I used some evil-warding gold powder and sun essence stone powder," Lin Ye said.

"But the repair rate is only 35%. I want to know how to continue improving it."

Iron Heart pondered for a moment: "The core of a Buddhist Magical Artifact is its 'Buddha Nature,' which cannot be bestowed by ordinary Materials."

"To continue repairing it, there are three methods: first, find a high-ranking monk to consecrate it; second, find Buddhist Power Of Will to infuse it; third, use fragments of a Buddhist Magical Artifact of the same origin to repair it."

"The Great Thunder Sound Temple is far away in the Western Desert, and high-ranking monks are hard to find."

"Buddhist Power Of Will is even more ethereal," Lin Ye frowned.

"Where can I find fragments of a Buddhist Magical Artifact of the same origin?"

Iron Heart lowered his voice: "Lord Night God, I have heard... that the treasury of the Yan State imperial palace contains some war trophies from the previous dynasty, among which are fragments of Buddhist Magical Artifacts captured from the Western Desert."

"You are now a Guest Elder, so perhaps you can apply to view them."

The imperial palace treasury!

Lin Ye's heart stirred.

This was indeed a clue.

"Thank you," he said, putting away the buddha lamp.

"I will go and try."

Leaving the Artifact Refiners Association, Lin Ye did not return to his residence but went to the imperial palace again.

This time, he did not go to the Wenyuan Pavilion, but headed straight for the "Imperial Household Department"—the agency responsible for managing the palace's supplies.

The head of the Imperial Household Department was a fair-skinned middle-aged eunuch with the ID [Eunuch Li], Level 50.

He spoke in a soft, thin voice, but his eyes were shrewd.

"Guest Elder Night God wants to view the Buddhist Magical Artifact fragments in the treasury?" Eunuch Li twirled his orchid fingers.

"That is not in accordance with the rules. The treasury is a crucial place, and no one except royal family members or those with specific meritorious service is allowed to enter."

Lin Ye was well-prepared and took out his Guest Elder token: "Eunuch Li, I have accepted the mission to 'Retrieve the imperial seal of the Yan King' and need a Magical Artifact that can suppress Yin evil."

"The Buddhist fragments in the treasury might be able to help."

"If I can successfully retrieve the imperial seal, it will also be a great contribution to the Yan State."

Eunuch Li's eyes flickered: "Retrieve the imperial seal? That is indeed a major matter... However, empty words are no proof."

Lin Ye took a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone from his storage ring and quietly stuffed it into Eunuch Li's hand: "Please make it convenient for me, Eunuch."

"I only want to take a look. If there are suitable fragments, I am willing to purchase them at market price."

A Mid-Grade Spirit Stone is equivalent to one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones; this was not a small bribe.

Eunuch Li weighed the Spirit Stone and a smile appeared on his face: "Since Guest Elder Night God is serving the country, I naturally must support you."

"However... you cannot enter the treasury, but you can look at the inventory list. Please wait a moment, I will go get it."

A moment later, Eunuch Li brought over a thick booklet.

Lin Ye flipped through it quickly and found the descriptions of three items in the "Magical Artifact Fragments · Western Desert" section:

[Damaged Demon-Subduing Pestle Head (Fine)]: Originally part of a Buddhist demon-subduing Magical Artifact, it contains weak Buddha Power and has a suppressive effect on Yin evil. Estimated value: 300 Spirit Stones.

[Sanskrit Scripture Fragment (Fine)]: An Incomplete Manual recording Buddhist scriptures, from which a small amount of Power Of Will can be extracted. Estimated value: 200 Spirit Stones.

[Nameless Buddha Bead (Rare)]: Material unknown, Buddha Nature restrained, suspected to be one bead from a string of prayer beads. Estimated value: 800 Spirit Stones.

The Nameless Buddha Bead!

Lin Ye's eyes lit up.

This was very likely of the same origin as his bodhi seed!

"I want this buddha bead," Lin Ye said, pointing at the list.

Eunuch Li looked troubled: "This... this buddha bead is a registered item in the treasury and cannot be sold at will. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless you exchange it with military merit," Eunuch Li said.

"Guest Elders can earn military merit by completing imperial missions, and military merit can be used to exchange for most items in the treasury. This buddha bead requires... 1000 points of military merit."

"How much military merit do I have now?"

Eunuch Li checked: "You have just become a Guest Elder and have not yet completed any imperial missions, so your military merit is 0."

Lin Ye was silent.

Time waits for no one; he could not wait to slowly complete missions to accumulate military merit.

"Is there any other way?" he asked.

Eunuch Li looked left and right, then lowered his voice: "Actually... there is another way."

"Three days from now, the imperial family will release a 'Bandit Suppression' mission, targeting the 'Black Wind Stronghold' a hundred miles outside the capital."

"That gang of bandits has recently been plundering merchant caravans, affecting trade."

"If you can wipe out the Black Wind Stronghold, you should be able to obtain around 1500 points of military merit."

"Moreover, the mission reward already includes a Magical Artifact that suppresses Yin evil."

A bandit suppression mission? Three days from now?

Lin Ye calculated the time.

Three days later would be exactly when the Yaoguang Holy Land recruitment competition ended.

If the competition went smoothly, he would have time to do this mission.

"Okay, I accept this mission," Lin Ye decided.

Eunuch Li smiled: "Guest Elder Night God is indeed straightforward. Then I will register it for you."

"Three days from now, the mission details will be sent to you via your Guest Elder token."

By the time he left the imperial palace, it was already late.

Lin Ye walked on the road back to his residence, calculating his next arrangements in his mind: first, participate in the Yaoguang Holy Land recruitment competition and strive to enter the top ten to obtain the Ice Heart Art; then, complete the bandit suppression mission to exchange for the buddha bead and repair the bronze lamp; finally, form a team to go to Burial Dragon Valley to explore the Ancient Tomb of the Yan King.

One thing leads to another, and time is tight.

But this is the path of Cultivation; if you do not advance, you retreat.

Returning to the residence, Lin Ye told his teammates about today's findings.

Everyone felt the plan was feasible and went to prepare individually.

In the dead of night, Lin Ye was Cultivating alone in his bedroom.

The myriad mother qi cauldron slowly rotated in his Wheel Sea, and the chaos stele hovered to the side, both treasures emitting harmonious fluctuations.

The bronze buddha lamp was placed in front of his knees, its pale golden Buddha Light blending with the Chaos Qi.

Not only did they not conflict, but they actually formed a wonderful balance—the Buddha Light purified the violence within the Chaos, while the Chaos encompassed the rigidity of the Buddha Light.

Just as Lin Ye was immersed in this balance, he suddenly felt something in his storage ring heating up slightly.

It was that bronze finger ring.

Lin Ye took out the ring.

The ring emitted a cold, faint green light in the darkness, and the small line of words on the inner side, "Not to become an Immortal, but to wait for your return in the Mortal World," now seemed to have blood-colored light flowing within them.

At the same time, a blurry image appeared in his mind—

A huge bronze door with a ghost face pattern engraved on it.

Inside the door was endless darkness, and in the darkness, a point of golden light was flickering, as if calling out to something.

The image only lasted for three seconds before disappearing.

But Lin Ye had already memorized the style of that bronze door.

"Ghost face bronze door... Is it a clue to the Legacy of the Ruthless Emperor?"

He put the ring back on his finger, and an inexplicable premonition welled up in his heart.

The Ancient Tomb of the Yan King, Burial Dragon Valley, the bronze door... could there be any connection between them?

The night was deep, and Lin Ye looked out the window.

The big dipper was clearly visible in the night sky, and the starlight fell, covering this ancient city in a layer of silver veil.

And in the shadows that the starlight could not illuminate, three figures were quietly watching the Heavenly Court residence.

"This is the place," the young man carrying a long sword whispered.

"The aura is not weak," said the woman holding a magic staff, sensing it.

"That Lin Ye is indeed qualified to be our opponent."

The bare-handed, burly man grinned: "Then... shall we proceed according to plan?"

"No rush," the sword-wielding youth shook his head.

"Observe first. The Yaoguang Holy Land recruitment competition is a good Opportunity; we can openly... test his strength there."

The three looked at each other, their figures merging into the darkness and disappearing.

Only the night wind blew gently across the roof.

Carrying a trace... of a murderous aura.