37: Chapter 37 Mission Completed, Generous Rewards Received

When Lin Ye woke up, he found himself lying on a soft wooden bed.

The room was simple but clean. Several landscape paintings hung on the wooden walls. A desk was placed in front of the window, with a bronze buddha lamp on it. The wick was burning quietly, emitting a faint sandalwood fragrance. Sunlight spilled in from the half-opened window, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor.

He tried to move, and a feeling of soreness and weakness spread throughout his body, but the deep, bone-chilling weakness had disappeared. The dragon blood backlash should have ended.

[System Prompt: Dragon blood backlash state has been lifted]

[Current status: All attributes restored to 100%, Divine Power limit restored to normal]

[wheel sea secret realm damaged: Cultivation efficiency -35% (originally -85%), Breakthrough to Dao Palace Second Layer difficulty +150% (originally +300%)]

[Prompt: The Secret Realm crack is not yet fully repaired, please find a repair method as soon as possible, otherwise it may affect subsequent Realm Breakthroughs]

His condition had recovered by about 70%, but the cracks in the wheel sea secret realm still existed. However, compared to his previous near-death state, he was much better now.

Lin Ye sat up and checked his storage ring. The imperial seal, soul general core, and the tattered battle flag were all there. The bodhi seed was also there, but the golden light on its surface had dimmed significantly, obviously having entered a dormant state. The bronze buddha lamp and myriad mother qi cauldron were both severely damaged and needed to be warmed and repaired.

He got out of bed and walked to the window. Outside was a small courtyard with a few bamboo plants, lush and green. The faint sound of noisy crowds came from outside the courtyard wall; he should still be in the Capital City of Yan State, and the location was relatively close to the central area.

The door was pushed open gently, and Bai Zhi walked in carrying a wooden tray. Seeing Lin Ye standing at the window, her eyes lit up: "Brother Ye, you're awake!"

"How long have I slept?" Lin Ye asked.

"Two full days." Bai Zhi placed the wooden tray on the table. In the tray was a bowl of steaming medicinal porridge, "You haven't woken up since you fell into a coma, and we were all very worried. Qingyue's injuries have stabilized, but her spirit body Origin still needs time to recover. She is resting in the room next door."

Lin Ye nodded and walked to the table to sit down. The medicinal porridge emitted a faint medicinal fragrance, obviously brewed from various medicinal herbs.

"This is porridge made from [Qi-Boosting Grass], [Blood-Nourishing Vine], and [Spirit-Condensing Flower]. It is good for your Secret Realm damage," Bai Zhi explained, "Although it cannot cure the root cause, it can at least alleviate the symptoms."

Lin Ye picked up the bowl and drank the porridge slowly. The warm medicinal porridge entered his stomach, turning into a warm current that surged into his limbs and bones, and the hidden pain in his wheel sea did indeed ease a little.

"What about Chen Hao and the others?" he asked.

"They are outside," Bai Zhi said, "A lot has happened in the capital these past two days. Qin Ruoxue has been gathering information, while Chen Hao and Zhang Meng are responsible for security, preventing anyone from coming to make trouble while you are injured. Qian Duoduo is raising funds, preparing to purchase Materials to treat your and Qingyue's injuries."

She paused, lowering her voice: "Brother Ye, the matter of the imperial seal... I'm afraid it can't be hidden anymore."

Lin Ye's movements paused: "How so?"

"Yesterday morning, the palace sent an envoy, saying that the Emperor of Yan State wants to see you," Bai Zhi's expression was grave, "Although the envoy didn't say it explicitly, he mentioned terms like 'national treasure' and 'mandate of heaven' in his words. Qin Ruoxue speculates that the royal family might already know the imperial seal is in your hands."

Lin Ye was not surprised. The imperial seal was the national treasure of the Yan State; the royal family must have some means of sensing it. The death of the Soul general and the change in ownership of the imperial seal were such big events that it was impossible for the royal family not to notice.

"What else did the envoy say?"

"He asked you to enter the palace for an audience as soon as your injuries heal," Bai Zhi said, "The attitude was quite polite, but... the royal family is the royal family after all. We, as commoner players, cannot afford to offend them."

Lin Ye finished the last mouthful of porridge and put down the bowl: "I understand. Tell Chen Hao and the others that I will go to the palace this afternoon."

"This afternoon? Your injuries..."

"They have almost recovered," Lin Ye stood up, "Some things get more troublesome the longer you drag them out."

Bai Zhi wanted to say something more, but seeing Lin Ye's firm gaze, she finally nodded: "Alright, I'll go notify them."

In the afternoon, Lin Ye changed into clean cloth clothes and, accompanied by Chen Hao and two Heavenly Court members, headed to the palace.

The Yan State palace was located in the very center of the capital city, covering a vast area. The palace walls were three zhang high and made entirely of bluestone, with complex defensive runes carved on the surface. The palace gates were guarded by imperial guards, each soldier being at least level 25, well-equipped and murderous.

Lin Ye reported his name, and soon a eunuch came out to guide him. The eunuch was an old Cultivator, level 30, with steady steps and restrained aura, clearly not an ordinary NPC.

Passing through three palace gates and walking along long corridors, they finally arrived in front of a side hall. A plaque hung above the hall door, with the three golden characters "Yangxin Hall" written on it.

"His Majesty is waiting for you inside," the eunuch stopped outside the hall door and made a gesture of invitation, "Others stay outside."

Chen Hao looked at Lin Ye with some worry. Lin Ye signaled him not to worry and pushed the door open to enter alone.

The hall was very empty, with simple furnishings. In the center was a rosewood desk, and a person sat behind it.

It was a middle-aged man around forty, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a jade crown. His face was dignified but carried a trace of exhaustion. He was holding a memorial in his hand, and upon hearing the sound of the door opening, he looked up at Lin Ye.

[Emperor Yan Zhao · Ji Hong (NPC)]

Level: ???

Identity: 72nd Emperor of Yan State

Status: Worried, exhausted

Description: Has been on the throne for twenty-three years, working diligently, but trapped by the decline of national destiny, he has never been able to restore the glory of the Yan State. Recently felt the anomaly in the national destiny, seemingly waiting for something.

Lin Ye stepped forward and bowed according to the etiquette of this era: "Commoner Lin Ye, pays respect to Your Majesty."

Ji Hong put down the memorial and examined Lin Ye carefully. His gaze was sharp, as if it could penetrate the surface to see the essence. For a long time, he spoke slowly: "No need for formalities. You are Lin Ye? The young man who established the 'Heavenly Court' and recently caused quite a stir in the Burial Dragon Valley?"

"It is indeed this commoner," Lin Ye was neither humble nor arrogant.

"Very good," Ji Hong stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to Lin Ye, "I will not beat around the bush. Two days ago, I sensed the aura of the imperial seal reappear in the world, and its location was near the capital. Subsequently, violent energy fluctuations came from the direction of the Burial Dragon Valley, and there was even the sound of a dragon roar. These, all have to do with you, right?"

Lin Ye was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."

"Is the imperial seal in your hands?"

"It is."

Ji Hong turned around abruptly, his eyes shooting out a sharp light: "Do you know that the imperial seal is the national treasure of the Great Yan, which cannot be held by anyone other than the royal Bloodline? Do you know that privately hiding the imperial seal is a capital crime that warrants the execution of nine generations?"

The air in the hall instantly became heavy. The sound of imperial guards moving could be heard faintly outside the door, clearly ready to rush in at any moment.

But Lin Ye's expression did not change: "Your Majesty, the imperial seal is indeed in my hands, but I am not 'privately hiding' it. The imperial seal was brought out of the Burial Dragon Valley by me after I severed its connection with the remnant Soul of the Yan Martial King, only then did it see the light of day again. If Your Majesty wishes to take it back, this commoner is willing to hand it over."

Ji Hong's anger clearly stalled. He stared at Lin Ye, seemingly wanting to see a flaw on this young face, but Lin Ye's eyes were open and calm.

For a long time, Ji Hong suddenly laughed: "Good courage. To be able to remain so calm in the face of my pressure, you are worthy of being someone recognized by the imperial seal. Sit."

He pointed to the chair opposite the desk.

Lin Ye sat down as instructed. He could feel that Ji Hong's attitude had changed from the initial questioning to some kind of probing.

"Tell me, how did you obtain the imperial seal?" Ji Hong sat back behind the desk, his fingers tapping gently on the table, "I need to know the whole process."

Lin Ye did not hide anything and briefly recounted the process of exploring the Ancient Tomb, encountering the Soul general, and finally seizing the imperial seal. Of course, he omitted some details, such as the Awakening of the bodhi seed, the Origin of the Sun Golden Core, and the secret of his own Rebirth.

Ji Hong listened very carefully. When he heard Lin Ye kill the Soul general, a flash of shock appeared in his eyes; when he heard the request of the imperial seal spirit, he showed an even more complex expression.

"So, the spirit of the imperial seal wants you to return the national destiny and inject it into the Yan State's dragon vein?" Ji Hong asked.

"Yes," Lin Ye nodded, "This is one of the conditions for the imperial seal to recognize its master."

Ji Hong was silent. He stood up and paced slowly in the hall, his brows furrowed, seemingly weighing something.

Lin Ye did not urge him, waiting quietly.

Finally, Ji Hong stopped and looked at Lin Ye: "Do you know that the Yan State's dragon vein has been exhausted for forty years?"

Lin Ye was stunned: "Exhausted?"

"Forty years ago, the last Dragon Master of the Yan State passed away. The dragon vein lost its guidance and gradually fell into silence," Ji Hong's voice carried bitterness, "Since then, the national destiny of the Yan State has been declining day by day, natural and man-made disasters have occurred frequently, and border wars have broken out frequently. I have been on the throne for twenty-three years, working diligently, but I have never been able to reverse the trend. It is not that I am incompetent, but that the national destiny has declined and the dragon vein is dead."

He walked to the side of the desk and took out a map from a hidden compartment and unfolded it. On the map, the mountains and rivers of the Yan State were marked, and several main mountain ranges were marked in gold, but most of those golden colors were dim, and only a few places still had faint light.

"Look, this is the distribution of the Yan State's dragon vein," Ji Hong pointed to the map, "The Golden Dragon Mountain Range, the Purple Cloud Mountain Range, and the Azure Underworld Mountain Range are the three main veins. Forty years ago, these three mountain ranges had steaming Dragon Qi, nourishing the entire Yan State. But now..."

His fingers traced over those dim golden colors: "The Golden Dragon Mountain Range is completely silent, the Purple Cloud Mountain Range only has 30% of its Dragon Qi left, and the Azure Underworld Mountain Range is slightly better, but it only has 50%. Without the nourishment of the dragon vein, how can the national destiny not decline? How can the people be at peace?"

Lin Ye looked at the map, shocked in his heart. In his previous life, although he knew that the national power of the Yan State was weak, he did not expect the root cause to be the exhaustion of the dragon vein.

"Does Your Majesty mean that even if I inject the national destiny from the imperial seal into the dragon vein, it may not be able to awaken the exhausted dragon vein?" he asked.

"Not may not, but definitely will not," Ji Hong shook his head, "The dragon vein has been silent for forty years, just like a dried-up river. No matter how much water you inject, it will immediately seep into the ground, unable to form a flood. Unless..."

He paused, a look of expectation flashing in his eyes: "Unless you can find the 'Source of the Dragon Vein' and reignite the core of the dragon vein. But the location of the Source of the Dragon Vein is the highest secret of the Yan State, known only to successive emperors and Dragon Masters. And before the last Dragon Master passed away, the secret was not passed down."

"So the Source of the Dragon Vein is lost?" Lin Ye frowned.

"No, it still exists," Ji Hong said, "Before the Dragon Master passed away, he sealed the location of the Source of the Dragon Vein in a token, and that token... is in the royal treasury."

Lin Ye understood. After a big circle, it finally came back to the royal treasury.

"What does Your Majesty need me to do?" he asked directly.

Ji Hong looked at him with appreciation: "A smart man. I do need your help, but before that, I need to confirm one thing—are you willing to hand over the imperial seal?"

This was a test. If Lin Ye refused, then the subsequent conversation would be unnecessary.

Lin Ye did not answer immediately. He weighed the pros and cons.

Handing over the imperial seal would mean losing the blessing of this national treasure, but he could gain the friendship of the royal family and the treasures in the treasury. Not handing it over, although he could keep the imperial seal, would make him an enemy of the royal family, and he would be unable to fulfill the request of the imperial seal spirit, and the master-recognition state might be lifted.

More importantly, the revival of the dragon vein was beneficial to all players in the Yan State—a strong national destiny meant more tasks, better resource output, and a safer cultivation environment. For the Heavenly Court that was currently developing, this was a long-term interest.

Thinking of this, Lin Ye made his decision.

He took out the imperial seal from his storage ring and offered it with both hands: "The imperial seal is originally a thing of the Yan State, this commoner is willing to hand it over."

A flash of excitement appeared in Ji Hong's eyes. He took the imperial seal, examined it carefully, his fingers gently stroking the nine jade dragons, and there were actually tears in his eyes.

"Fifty years... the imperial seal has finally returned..." he murmured to himself.

For a long time, he took a deep breath, placed the imperial seal solemnly on the desk, and then took a golden key from his bosom and handed it to Lin Ye.

"This is the key to the royal treasury," Ji Hong said, "With this key, you can enter the treasury once and choose any treasure as a reward. This is my promise to you, and also the reward from the royal family to the person who recovered the national treasure."

[System Prompt: You have completed the final stage of the hidden task "Secret History of Yan State · Seeking the Seal"!]

[Task Evaluation: Perfect (Successfully recovered the imperial seal and handed it over, triggering the royal hidden plot)]

[Rewards obtained: EXP +500000, Reputation +20000, Gold x 10000 taels, Yan State Royal Favorability +500]

[Extra Reward: Royal Treasury Key x 1]

[Favorability with the Yan State Imperial Family has reached "Respect." You receive a 10% discount on purchases within the Yan State and gain extra information prompts when accepting quests.]

[Imperial Treasury Key (Special)]

Type: Quest Item / Special Prop. Effect: Holding this key allows one entry into the Yan State Imperial Treasury to select and take away one treasure. The key is a one-time item and will disappear after use.

Usage Restrictions: Must enter the treasury accompanied by a member of the Imperial Family; cannot take more than one item; cannot damage the structure of the treasury.

Description: One of the highest rewards bestowed by the Yan State Imperial Family upon major contributors. The treasury houses rare treasures accumulated by the Yan State over five hundred years, but most are protected by Restrictions and require meeting specific conditions to be taken. Please choose carefully.

The experience points leveled Lin Ye up directly to level 34. Reputation and gold were tangible benefits, but the Imperial Family Favorability was an invaluable treasure—within the Yan State, it was equivalent to a pass, as many locations and quests that were originally closed to players would now open their doors to him.

But most importantly, it was the Treasury Key.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lin Ye took the key.

"No need to thank Me, this is what you deserve." Ji Huo waved his hand. "However, I must remind you that although there are many treasures in the treasury, most have Restrictions. Some require specific Bloodlines to take, some require special Cultivation Techniques to refine, and others... even I do not know what they are. You only have one chance, so be sure to choose carefully."

He paused, then added, "Additionally, regarding the matter of the Origin of the Dragon Vein, I still need to prepare some things. In three days, I will send someone to pick you up to go to the treasury together. By then, I hope you not only find the treasure you desire but also find clues about the Origin of the Dragon Vein—that token should also be in the treasury."

"This subject understands."

Emerging from the imperial palace, Chen Hao immediately came up to meet him: "Brother Ye, how did it go?"

"Everything went smoothly." Lin Ye showed him the Treasury Key, "In three days, we can enter the Imperial Treasury to select one treasure."

Chen Hao's eyes widened: "The Imperial Treasury? The legendary treasury that houses the accumulations of the Yan State over five hundred years? My god, Brother Ye, you've struck it rich!"

"It's 'we' who have struck it rich." Lin Ye corrected him, "This treasure will be used to enhance the overall strength of the Heavenly Court."

The two returned to the Heavenly Court headquarters. The news spread quickly, and all members were excited. The legend of the Imperial Treasury was widespread among players, but no one had truly entered it yet—Lin Ye was the first.

Qin Ruoxue brought more detailed intelligence: "According to the information I have collected, the Imperial Treasury is divided into three levels. The first level houses ordinary treasures, such as gold, silver, jade wares, antiques, and paintings; while valuable, they are of little help to Cultivation. The second level houses Cultivation Techniques, classics, weapons, and equipment, mostly of Profound Rank quality, with occasional Earth Rank items. The third level is the most mysterious and is said to store various strange items obtained since the founding of the Yan State, some of which even the Imperial Family cannot figure out the use for."

"Which level are we going into?" Qian Duoduo asked. He was the most sensitive to the value of treasures.

"The key doesn't state a level Restriction, so theoretically, we can enter all three levels." Lin Ye said, "But given our current status and strength, the Imperial Family will likely only allow us into the first level, or at most the second. The third level... I'm afraid that requires higher authorization."

"That's still good!" Zhang Meng rubbed his hands, "Earth Rank equipment, how many exist on the entire server right now? If we could get one, our Heavenly Court would truly become famous!"

Su Qingyue also came out. Her complexion was slightly better than before, but still pale. Bai Zhi said that her Spirit Body Origin had recovered about 40%, allowing her to move normally, but she could not use too much power.

"Lin Ye, what are your thoughts?" Su Qingyue asked, "There are so many things in the treasury, how should we choose?"

Lin Ye already had a plan: "The things we need are very clear—Heaven And Earth Treasures that can repair the Spirit Body Origin, Spirit Medicine that can repair Secret Realm cracks, or... Cultivation Techniques or equipment that can enhance our overall strength."

"But these things might not all be there." Qian Duoduo reminded, "Although the treasury is an Imperial collection, it might not be complete. And even if they are there, there might be Restrictions, and we might not be able to take them."

"That's why we need to prepare in advance." Lin Ye looked at Qin Ruoxue, "Ruoxue, can you find out what is roughly in the treasury? I don't need a specific list, just the categories."

Qin Ruoxue shook her head: "It's difficult. The security level of the Imperial Treasury is the highest; we can't even get close, let alone investigate the interior. However... I have an idea."

She paused and said: "We can start with historical records. Throughout the history of the Yan State, after every major event, the Imperial Family would deposit relevant items into the treasury. For example, the 'Northern Barbarian King Flag' captured after suppressing the Northern Frontier rebellion three hundred years ago; the 'Zhao Clan Jade Pendant' received from the marriage alliance with the Zhao State two hundred years ago; the 'Rain-Praying Jade Tablet' presented as tribute from various regions during the great drought one hundred years ago... These are all recorded. We can infer what might be in the treasury."

"That's a good approach." Lin Ye nodded, "Proceed with searching in this direction. Also, pay attention to finding items related to 'Dragon Vein,' 'National Destiny,' and 'Seal,' as those might be related to the token for the Origin of the Dragon Vein."

Over the next three days, the entire Heavenly Court became busy.

Qin Ruoxue led the intelligence team to browse through various ancient records, compiling a long list; although they couldn't confirm exactly what was in the treasury, they at least listed the potential categories of items that might exist.

Qian Duoduo used the Chamber of Commerce's funds and connections to purchase various auxiliary items that might come in handy—such as Restriction-Breaking Talismans, Treasure-Appraising Compasses, Storage Jade Boxes, etc. Although they might not be used, it was better to be prepared.

Chen Hao, Zhang Meng, and others strengthened the defense of the headquarters. The news that Lin Ye had obtained the Treasury Key had already spread, and it was inevitable that some people would be jealous and might even take risks.

Lin Ye himself was not idle either. He spent time nourishing the myriad mother qi cauldron and the bronze buddha lamp; although the repair progress was slow, it at least restored part of their spirituality. At the same time, he was also trying to perfect the technique of [Chaos Soul Nourishing] to help Su Qingyue recover from her injuries.

Under the nourishment of the Chaos Power, Su Qingyue's Spirit Body Origin recovery speed increased, and she recovered another 10% in three days, reaching about 50%. Although she was still far from a full recovery, she at least had the ability to protect herself.

On the morning of the third day, the messenger from the imperial palace arrived on time.

This time, it was not a eunuch who came, but an old man wearing civil official attire. The old man had white hair and beard, a kindly face, but his level was as high as 45, clearly not a simple character.

[Minister of Ceremonies · Zhou Wenyuan (NPC)] Level: 45 Identity: One of the Nine Ministers of the Yan State, in charge of ancestral temple rituals. Status: Calm, Examining. Description: An old official who has served three dynasties, loyal to the Imperial Family, and well-versed in the history and secrets of the Yan State and the treasury. This time, he is ordered to accompany Lin Ye into the treasury.

"Little Friend Lin, this old man is Zhou Wenyuan. By the order of His Majesty, I am to take you to the Imperial Treasury." The old man cupped his hands in a salute, his attitude polite.

"Thank you for your trouble, Minister Zhou." Lin Ye returned the salute.

The two rode in a carriage, passing through layers of palace guards, and finally arrived in front of a building deep within the imperial palace.

It was a three-story pavilion built entirely of black stone; the surface had no decorations and looked plain and unadorned. But Lin Ye could feel that there were at least three powerful Formations arranged around the pavilion, each capable of trapping and killing a Dao Palace Realm Cultivator. At the entrance of the pavilion stood four guards in golden armor, all above level 40, their eyes as sharp as hawks.

"This is the Imperial Treasury." Zhou Wenyuan introduced, "The treasury has three levels, each storing treasures of different Ranks. His Majesty has decreed that you are allowed to enter any of the three levels and select one treasure to take away. But I must remind you that most of the items in the treasury are protected by Restrictions; if the Restriction on the item you choose is too strong to be broken, you will have to return empty-handed."

He took out a token and waved it at the door of the pavilion. The token emitted a golden light, and the door slowly opened inward, revealing a pitch-black entrance.

"Please follow me."

The two walked into the pavilion. The door closed behind them, and the interior immediately lit up with a soft glow—it was the light emitted by Night Pearls embedded in the walls.

The space on the first level was very large, about the size of half a soccer field. Dozens of rows of wooden shelves were neatly arranged inside, filled with various items: vessels cast in gold, ornaments carved from jade, curtains made of strings of pearls, antique calligraphy and paintings... It was dazzling, filled with treasures that dazzled the eyes.

Any one of them taken out would be worth a thousand gold.

But Lin Ye only took one look before looking away. Although these worldly treasures were valuable, they were of no benefit to Cultivation and were not his goal.

"Go to the second level," he said.

A flash of appreciation crossed Zhou Wenyuan's eyes. To be able to not be bewitched by these gold and silver treasures showed good Heart-Nature.

The two went up the stairs to the second level.

The space on the second level was a bit smaller, but the display was more exquisite. It was no longer simple wooden shelves, but individual crystal display cases. Each case held an item, and the surface of the cabinet had a faint light screen, clearly a protective Restriction.

The items in the display cases were varied: there were long swords emitting cold air, armor engraved with runes, bottles of Medicinal Pills of various colors, Jade Slips recording Cultivation Techniques... Each piece emitted a significant energy fluctuation.

Lin Ye scanned across and quickly saw a few items he was interested in.

[Cold Ice Sword (Earth Rank Low Grade)] Stats: Attack +1200, Ice-type Damage +30%. Special Effect: Chance to freeze the target upon attack, 50% increased damage against Fire-type enemies. Restriction: Requires Ice-type Cultivation Technique to reach Minor Achievement to break.

[Xuanwu Heavy Armor (Earth Rank Low Grade)] Stats: Defense +1500, HP Limit +2000. Special Effect: Automatically generates a shield when attacked, absorbing 500 points of damage. Restriction: Requires Strength attribute to reach 500 points to break.

[Nine-Turn Golden Pill (Earth Rank Medium Grade)] Stats: Instantly restores all status upon consumption and permanently increases all attributes by 5% (limited to one per person). Restriction: Requires Alchemy to reach Great Master level to break.

[Void Step · Advanced Chapter (Earth Rank High Grade)] Stats: Records the subsequent cultivation method of Void Step; after cultivation, unlocks short-distance teleportation ability. Restriction: Requires having mastered the Basic Chapter of Void Step to break.

Earth Rank items! And the quality is not low! Lin Ye was shocked. Any one of these items taken out would cause players to fight crazily over it. Especially the Nine-Turn Golden Pill and the Void Step Advanced Chapter; the former can permanently increase attributes, and the latter is an upgrade to a rare movement technique, with immeasurable value.

But he didn't make a decision immediately. According to the agreement, he could still go to the third level.

"Minister Zhou, I would like to see the third level," Lin Ye said.

A flash of surprise crossed Zhou Wenyuan's eyes. The treasures on the second level were already tempting enough; few people could resist moving forward. This young man's focus was truly extraordinary.

"The third level is quite special," Zhou Wenyuan reminded, "Many items there, even the Imperial Family cannot figure out their use, and some might even be dangerous. You need to think clearly."

"I want to see it," Lin Ye insisted.

"Very well, follow me."

The entrance to the third level was not at the stairs, but in a hidden corner of the second level. Zhou Wenyuan used the token to open a secret door, and the two walked down a spiral staircase—yes, downward; the third level was actually underground.

The staircase was very long, and it took about three minutes to reach the bottom. This was a circular hall, about twenty zhang in diameter, with no windows, illuminated entirely by Night Pearls on the walls.

In the center of the hall was a stone platform, surrounded by twelve stone pillars. On top of each stone pillar was an item, protected by a faint light shield.

Besides that, there were some display shelves at the edge of the hall, on which various strange-looking items were placed: a stone that constantly changed colors, a branch covered in eyes, a book without words, a broken bronze mirror...

Most of these items had no obvious energy fluctuations and looked unremarkable, but to be collected here, they were clearly not simple.

Lin Ye first walked towards the central stone platform. Each of the twelve items on the stone platform radiated a powerful aura.

On the first stone pillar, there was a spear that was entirely crimson, with dragon patterns coiled around the shaft, and the tip of the spear was spitting flames.

[Flame Dragon Spear (Heaven Rank Low Grade)] Stats: Attack +3500, Fire-type Damage +80%. Special Effect: Summons a Flame Dragon Phantom when attacking, causing continuous burning damage to enemies in the area. Restriction: Requires Fire-type Cultivation Technique to reach Major Achievement and Strength attribute to reach 800 points to break. Status: Sealed (Requires killing a Fire-type Dragon Clan creature and using dragon blood to unseal).

Heaven Rank! And it's a weapon! Lin Ye's heart rate accelerated. Heaven Rank items were legendary existences in the first year of the game's launch. In his past life, it wasn't until half a year after the launch that the first Heaven Rank item appeared, causing a sensation across the entire server.

He suppressed his excitement and looked at the second stone pillar.

It was a set of deep blue battle armor; the armor plates were like scales, with water ripples flowing across the surface.

[Canghai Armor (Heaven Rank Low Grade)]

Attributes: Defense +4000, Water Element Resistance +90%

Special Effect: Automatically generates a water curtain shield when attacked, capable of blocking one fatal attack (Cooldown: 24 hours).

Restriction: Requires Water Element Cultivation Technique to reach Major Achievement, and Physique attribute to reach 800 points to unlock.

Status: Intact

The third stone pillar held a Medicinal Pill, deep purple throughout, with nine pill patterns on its surface, hovering in mid-air and slowly rotating.

[Purple Mansion Creation Pill (Heaven Rank Medium Grade)]

Attributes: After consumption, it can directly open the fifth layer of the Dao Palace Secret Realm (Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney all opened), and permanently increase all attributes by 10%.

Restriction: Requires cultivation level to reach the Peak of the Dao Palace Realm Fourth Layer to unlock.

Status: Potency Intact

The fourth stone pillar held a Jade Slip, with star patterns flowing across its surface.

[Star Observation Technique (Heaven Rank High Grade)]

Attributes: After cultivation, it can significantly increase Divine Sense strength and unlock star-type skills.

Restriction: Requires Divine Sense attribute to reach 500 points to unlock.

Status: Intact

The fifth, sixth, seventh...

Lin Ye looked at them one by one, his shock growing stronger and stronger. Twelve stone pillars, twelve Heaven Rank items! Weapons, armor, Medicinal Pills, Cultivation Techniques, Formation diagrams, Puppet cores... everything was there!

Any player, as long as they obtained one of them, would be enough to become a powerful figure in their own right.

But he soon discovered a problem—the Restrictions on these Heaven Rank items were all too strong.

Fire Element Cultivation Technique at Major Achievement, Strength 800 points, Water Element Cultivation Technique at Major Achievement, Physique 800 points, Dao Palace Fourth Layer Peak, Divine Sense 500 points... He couldn't meet any of these conditions right now.

In other words, even if he chose these Heaven Rank items, he couldn't take them away.

Lin Ye smiled bitterly. The Royal Family truly wouldn't make a losing business deal; they allowed him to enter the third level, but the treasures here all had strict Restrictions. With his current strength, he simply couldn't break the Restrictions.

He looked at Zhou Wenyuan; the old man's face carried a faint smile, clearly having anticipated this point long ago.

"Lord Zhou, the Restrictions on these Heaven Rank items..." Lin Ye asked tentatively.

"They were all set by our ancestors through the generations," Zhou Wenyuan said. "Treasures may be good, but they require corresponding strength to be controlled. If one lacks sufficient strength and tries to take them by force, not only will the treasures be damaged, but the one taking the treasure may also suffer a backlash. Therefore, the ancestors set these Restrictions; they are both a protection for the treasures and a test for those who take them."

He paused, then added, "However, young friend, do not be disheartened. Besides these twelve Heaven Rank supreme treasures, those items on the edge of the hall, although they look unremarkable, some might hide values no less than Heaven Rank. Moreover, their Restrictions are usually relatively simple, or... there are no Restrictions at all."

Lin Ye understood. The real choice of the third level was not those twelve supreme treasures that could be seen but not taken, but rather those "unknown" items.

Gamble, gamble that among those unknown items, there were buried treasures.

He walked toward the display racks on the edge of the hall.

On the first display rack was a stone the size of a fist, its surface constantly changing colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, cycling through seven colors.

[Seven-Colored Stone (Unknown)]

Type: Materials/Unknown

Effect: Unknown

Restriction: None

Description: Fell from outer space a hundred years ago and crashed into the territory of Yan State. The Royal Artifact Refiner studied it for many years but failed to determine its purpose, only knowing it contains energy of seven attributes, but it is extremely unstable and cannot be used for Artifact Refining. It is now stored in the treasury, waiting for someone with affinity.

Lin Ye reached out to touch it. The stone felt warm to the touch, and the energy inside was indeed very chaotic, with seven attributes conflicting with each other, ready to explode at any time. This kind of material indeed could not be used for conventional Artifact Refining.

He put down the Seven-Colored Stone and looked at the next item.

It was a three-foot-long tree branch, pitch black throughout, its surface covered with dense "eyes"—those eyes were all wooden textures, but they were lifelike, as if they were truly staring at you.

[Thousand-Eye Wood (Unknown)]

Type: Materials/Unknown

Effect: Unknown

Restriction: None

Description: Obtained fifty years ago from an ancient Secret Realm. This wood is indestructible, cannot be damaged by blades or swords, does not burn in fire, and does not rot when soaked in water. The eye patterns on the surface can cause hallucinations as the light changes, but its specific purpose is unknown.

Lin Ye tested it; the branch was indeed exceptionally hard, and it didn't budge even when he tried to bend it with force. But apart from that, he couldn't see anything special about it.

He continued to look.

A wordless heavenly book, a broken bronze mirror, a rusty compass, a withered lotus, a talking skull (it really could talk, constantly muttering "so hungry")...

Each item was very strange, and the purpose of each was unknown.

Lin Ye was not in a hurry. He looked at them one by one, carefully sensing the aura of each item, while recalling memories from his past life to see if there was any relevant information.

He had no impression of most of the items; after all, he hadn't entered the Royal Treasury in his past life either.

Until he walked to the last display rack.

This display rack was very unremarkable, placed in the furthest corner of the hall, and only one item was placed on it—a stone box.

The stone box was about one foot square, gray throughout, with no patterns on the surface, looking just like an ordinary stone. But since it was placed here, it was clearly not ordinary.

Lin Ye reached out to touch it. The stone box was ice-cold, rough to the touch, and had no energy fluctuations, just like a dead object.

But the moment his finger touched the stone box, the bodhi seed in his bosom suddenly vibrated gently.

Although the bodhi seed was still dormant, the vibration was very clear.

At the same time, the imperial seal in his storage ring (he had handed over the physical entity, but he had left a wisp of aura in the storage ring) also heated up slightly.

Also, the soul general core and the broken battle flag all produced a slight resonance.

This stone box... was not simple.

Lin Ye carefully checked the information on the stone box.

[Unknown Stone Box (Special)]

Type: Container/Unknown

Effect: Unknown

Restriction: Three Layers (Outer layer physical Seal, middle layer energy Seal, inner layer Soul Seal)

Description: Three hundred years ago, the Founding Emperor of Yan State obtained it from an ancient ruin. The material of the stone box itself is unknown and cannot be destroyed by any means. It is said that a treasure related to the destiny of Yan State is sealed inside the box, but successive royal families have tried various methods and have never been able to open it. It is now stored in the deepest part of the treasury, waiting for someone who can open it.

Three layers of Seals! And even the Royal Family couldn't open it!

Lin Ye's heart rate accelerated. He was almost certain that inside this stone box was the token of the Dragon Vein source!

Only a treasure related to the destiny of Yan State would be worth protecting with three layers of Seals, and worth such high regard from the Royal Family.

Moreover, the simultaneous resonance of the bodhi seed, the aura of the imperial seal, the soul general core, and the battle flag also indicated that this stone box was closely related to the national destiny of Yan State.

"Lord Zhou, this stone box..." Lin Ye asked.

Zhou Wenyuan walked over, and upon seeing the stone box, a complex expression flashed in his eyes: "You chose this?"

"I'm a bit interested," Lin Ye said. "Can you tell me about its Origin?"

Zhou Wenyuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The Origin of this box, I am not entirely clear about either. I only know it was left by the Founding Emperor, who once instructed his descendants that if someone could open this box, they would be the true destined ruler of Yan State. For three hundred years, successive emperors have tried, including His Majesty, but none have succeeded."

He looked at Lin Ye: "Young friend, I advise you to be cautious. The Seals on this box are extremely complex; forcibly opening it will only result in a backlash. Besides, even if you take it away, it's useless if you can't open it. It's better to choose a practical treasure, such as those Earth Rank items on the second level, which would be more helpful for your current cultivation."

This was a well-intentioned reminder. From a rational perspective, choosing an Earth Rank item was indeed more cost-effective.

But Lin Ye had already made his decision.

"I choose this stone box," he said.

Zhou Wenyuan looked at him deeply: "Are you sure?"

"I am sure."

"Very well." Zhou Wenyuan no longer tried to dissuade him and took out a token, waving it at the stone box. The three layers of light curtains on the surface of the stone box dissipated one by one, and the Restriction was unlocked.

Lin Ye picked up the stone box. It was heavy in his hands, at least a hundred catties, but for a Cultivator, that was nothing.

"Thank you, Lord Zhou." He cupped his hands and said.

"No need to thank me, this is your own choice." Zhou Wenyuan shook his head. "I just hope you won't regret it."

The two left the treasury. The door closed behind them, and the golden key in Lin Ye's hand turned into fly ash and disappeared.

Returning to the Heavenly Court headquarters, everyone crowded around.

"Brother Ye, what did you choose?"

"Is it a Heaven Rank weapon?"

"Hurry and let us see it!"

Lin Ye placed the stone box on the table. Everyone looked at this gray, unremarkable stone box and were all stunned.

"This... what is this?" Chen Hao asked.

"A treasure chosen from the Royal Treasury," Lin Ye said.

"A treasure?" Zhang Meng leaned in to look, "Isn't this just a rock? Brother Ye, did the Royal Family scam you?"

Qian Duoduo was quite calm: "Anything the Royal Family stores in the treasury must not be simple. Brother Ye, what is special about this box?"

Lin Ye recounted the Origin of the stone box and the three layers of Seals. After hearing this, everyone's expressions became serious.

"A treasure related to the destiny of Yan State..." Su Qingyue said softly, "Could it be..."

"The token of the Dragon Vein source." Lin Ye nodded, "Very likely."

"But we can't open it," Wang Iron Pillar scratched his head, "Even the Royal Family can't open it, what can we do?"

Lin Ye didn't answer. He reached out, placed his palm on the stone box, and began to try.

The first layer, physical Seal. He tried to use Chaos Power to penetrate it, but the material of the stone box was special, and the Chaos Power could not enter.

The second layer, energy Seal. He tried to use energy of various attributes to strike it, but the stone box had no reaction.

The third layer, Soul Seal. He concentrated his Divine Sense, attempting to communicate with the stone box, but his Divine Sense was like a clay ox entering the sea, with no response whatsoever.

It really couldn't be opened.

Everyone watched Lin Ye try various methods, but the stone box remained unmoved, and they were all a bit disappointed.

"It seems it cannot be opened for now," Chen Hao sighed.

"It doesn't matter, let's keep it for now," Lin Ye was quite calm, "Since the Royal Family said this box is related to the destiny of Yan State, the opportunity to open it might not be in the box itself, but in external conditions. When the time comes, it will naturally open."

He put the stone box into his storage ring. Although it was useless for the time being, he had a premonition—this stone box would play an important role at a critical moment.

At night, Lin Ye was alone in his room, taking out the stone box again to study it.

Moonlight spilled in through the window, shining on the stone box. The gray stone box seemed to have extremely faint patterns appear on its surface under the moonlight, but when looked at carefully, they disappeared again.

Lin Ye suddenly thought of something and took out the soul general core and the broken battle flag from his storage ring, placing them next to the stone box.

The three items placed together produced a more obvious resonance. The mist inside the soul general core accelerated its rotation, the battle flag moved without wind, and those faint patterns appeared on the surface of the stone box again—this time, the patterns were a bit clearer.

It was a pattern: a dragon coiling around a mountain.

Dragon Vein!

Lin Ye's spirit lifted. He continued to try, releasing the residual aura of the imperial seal as well.

The four items resonated simultaneously.

The patterns on the surface of the stone box became clearer and clearer, and finally appeared completely. It was indeed a pattern of a dragon coiling around a mountain, and below the pattern, there was a line of small characters:

"Dragon sleeps in the abyss, waiting for the sun to rise in the east; when the box opens, the national destiny will revive."

Dragon sleeps in the abyss... does it refer to the Dragon Vein being dormant?

Waiting for the sun to rise in the east... requires a certain specific time?

When the box opens, the national destiny will revive... opening the stone box can revive the national destiny?

Lin Ye was thoughtful. He put the four items away again, and the patterns on the surface of the stone box disappeared along with them.

It seems that to open the stone box, one needs to collect items related to the national destiny of Yan State and succeed at a specific time.

And this time...

He looked at the eastern sky outside the window. There, the morning star had already risen.

A new day was about to arrive.