149: Chapter 149 Dividing the Treasure, Returning Home with a Full Load!
The Thunder Emperor's Phantom Projection dissipated, leaving Zhou Heng alone in the stone chamber at last.
He carefully placed the three dao heart fruits into specialized jade boxes, stowing them in the deepest part of his spatial ring.
Each of these three fruits possessed incomparable value, enough to drive any martial artist mad.
“The Vajra seed strengthens the will, the Glazed seed brings clarity to the mind and nature, and the Chaos seed stabilizes the foundation... all of them are good things.”
Zhou Heng rubbed his chin, his eyes flickering. “However, there are only three dao heart fruits. The opportunity is precious and must be used where it counts most.”
He already had a plan in mind.
The Thunder Emperor specifically mentioned that the Chaos seed dao heart fruit could help him cultivate the Nine Heavens Responding to Origin Thunder Pattern Record and harmonize conflicts; he had to keep this fruit for himself.
The Vajra seed contained supreme will, which would be of great use for condensing an Invincible Spear Heart and resisting future inner demon tribulations, so he couldn't give that up either.
Only the Glazed seed, which focused on purifying the heart and clarifying one's nature, was more suitable for support types or martial artists in need of a pure Dao Heart.
“That kid Chen Ye has a personality that's too cold and solitary, with things weighing on his mind. This Glazed seed dao heart fruit might help him see his true heart and dissolve some of his hostility.”
Zhou Heng thought to himself, “But I can't give it to him now.
There are too many eyes and ears here. Once news of a top-quality dao heart fruit like this leaks out, there will be endless trouble. I'll find a chance to give it to him privately after we return.”
Having made up his mind, Zhou Heng did not leave immediately.
He scanned the surroundings of the stone chamber, activating his Omniscient Eye to its full extent, not missing a single detail.
It was impossible for the inheritance site left by the Thunder Emperor to contain only the dao heart fruits and a single manual.
Sure enough, in several inconspicuous stone niches in the corners of the chamber, he discovered more treasures sealed by restrictions!
Inside one niche lay three fist-sized, purple-gold crystals with what looked like liquid lightning flowing inside—Thunder Source Crystal Souls!
This item contained pure lightning origin and was a supreme treasure for cultivating lightning-attribute techniques, worth a fortune!
In another niche were several strange Ganoderma mushrooms growing on lightning-struck wood. Their surfaces bore natural thunder patterns and emitted vibrant life force—Thunder Pattern Spirit Nurturing Reishi!
This was a holy medicine for nourishing the divine soul and repairing soul injuries!
There was yet another niche containing several metallic ores of various colors, emitting powerful elemental fluctuations. They were clearly top-tier materials for forging divine weapons!
“Haha, there really was more stock! Senior Thunder Emperor is truly generous!” Zhou Heng beamed with joy and unceremoniously swept all these treasures away.
He carefully tallied his haul:
Three dao heart fruits (two for personal use, one reserved for Chen Ye).
One copy of the Nine Heavens Responding to Origin Thunder Pattern Record (the core inheritance).
Three Thunder Source Crystal Souls (top-tier lightning resources).
Five stalks of Thunder Pattern Spirit Nurturing Reishi (rare soul-type precious medicine).
Various top-tier elemental ores (blacksmithing materials).
“Keeping it all for myself isn't a good habit. Those guys outside are probably getting impatient.”
Zhou Heng chuckled and began calculating how to distribute these extra gains.
He couldn't touch the dao heart fruits or the core manual, but he could share some of the other resources. This would both consolidate relationships and improve the team's overall strength.
From the haul, he selected:
One stalk of Thunder Pattern Spirit Nurturing Reishi (for Bai Qianer; her illusions had extremely high requirements for mental strength).
A piece of White Tiger Sharp Gold Stone containing Geng-gold baleful energy (for Ji Cang, matching his White Tiger Saber Dao).
A piece of Azure Void Crystal containing Sky Sword Intent (for Lu Chenxin, to help his sword heart break through).
A piece of Myriad Year Profound Ice Iron with extreme cold attributes (for Chen Ye, to improve the quality of his ice soul saber).
Several pieces of Dragon Blood Precious Gold and Earth Marrow Mother suitable for body tempering (for Wang Zhan, Man Shan, Shi Potian, and the others).
Some general spirit herbs and energy crystals (to be shared among Li Chenyuan, Xiao Linger, etc.).
After finishing the distribution, Zhou Heng nodded in satisfaction.
This way, everyone would have gains and wouldn't return empty-handed, which would also silence any potential gossip.
As for himself? The greatest opportunities—the Nine Heavens Responding to Origin Thunder Pattern Record and the three dao heart fruits—were the true core!
Once prepared, Zhou Heng felt the stone chamber begin to vibrate slightly; the teleportation power was about to activate.
He took one last look at this place that had changed his fate, took a deep breath, and stepped into the appearing pillar of teleportation light.
In a flash of light, Zhou Heng's figure appeared outside the gates of the Court of Judgment.
“He's out!”
“Zhou Heng!”
Wang Zhan and the others, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately surrounded him, their eyes full of anticipation and inquiry.
Zhou Heng patted off non-existent dust from his clothes and grinned. “Everyone, sorry to keep you waiting!”
“How was it? What's the situation inside?” Wang Zhan asked impatiently.
Zhou Heng sighed and put on a 'lingering fear' expression:
“Don't even mention it. It was completely empty inside, just a few withered little trees with three shriveled little fruits on them that didn't even look ripe. There was also a tattered book next to them, the words were so blurry I couldn't even read them.”
Everyone was stunned, looking at each other. That was it?
Zhou Heng shifted his tone, a 'lucky' smile appearing on his face:
“But, I did manage to dig up some other good things from the corners and crevices. A share for everyone! You all worked hard this trip, you can't come away with nothing!”
With a wave of his hand, he brought out the ores, spirit herbs, and other treasures he had prepared, distributing them to everyone according to his plan.
“Qianer, this reishi is good for mental strength, it's yours.”
“Old Ji, this stone has heavy baleful energy, it's suitable for sharpening your blade.”
“Old Lu, this crystal has some sword intent, you can ponder over it.”
“Ye Zi, this piece of Profound Ice Iron, I'll help you reforge your saber later.”
“Old Wang, you body tempers, take these metals to hone your bodies...”
Everyone looked at the treasures in their hands, which emitted impressive energy fluctuations. Although they couldn't compare to the legendary dao heart fruits, they were definitely rare gems hard to find in the outside world!
The disappointment they had felt from being unable to enter the final hall immediately improved significantly.
“Zhou Heng, thanks!” Wang Zhan cupped his fists, his tone sincere.
He could see that the items Zhou Heng had brought out were of considerable value and not just perfunctory gifts.
“Brother Heng, you're a real one!” Lu Chenxin laughed.
Ji Cang, Chen Ye, and the others also nodded their thanks one after another.
Bai Qianer held the Thunder Pattern Spirit Nurturing Reishi, her small face flushed with excitement. “Thank you, Brother Zhou Heng!”
Zhou Heng waved his hand with a generous air:
“It's nothing, it's nothing. We're all brothers, we share the blessings! ”
“As for those three unripe fruits, I'll keep them for now. I'll research whether they can be used to make wine when we get back, haha!”
Everyone was amused by him and didn't think much of it.
After all, Zhou Heng was the only one who had passed all the trials; it was only right that he received the final reward.
Moreover, he had brought out so many treasures to share, which was already very honorable.
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With the spoils distributed, everyone was in high spirits.
This trip to the Court of Judgment, although the process was perilous,
The harvest was immense, and everyone's strength and foundations had made significant progress.
“The trials of the Court of Judgment have ended; it's time for us to leave the Nine Heavens Thunder Domain.”
Zhou Heng looked in the direction they had come from. “Counting the time, it's been almost two weeks.”
Everyone nodded, eager to return home.
They needed time to digest the gains from this trip and make final preparations for the upcoming World Youth Competition.
The ten of them didn't delay any longer and returned along their original path.
With the experience from their arrival and their improved strength, the return journey was much smoother.
They passed through the Myriad Blade Thunder Corridor, crossed the Silent Thunder Marsh, traversed the Thunder Dragon Forest...
Several days later, they finally arrived at the exit of the Nine Heavens Thunder Domain.
The familiar teleportation light lit up, enveloping the ten of them.
In the next moment, they reappeared on the central plaza of the National Training Camp.
The fresh air and familiar sights gave the ten people, who had undergone trials of life and death, a feeling as if a lifetime had passed.
On the plaza, Deputy Director Lu Mingyu and several instructors were already waiting.
Seeing the ten of them return safely, and with auras significantly stronger than before they entered,
Especially Zhou Heng, whose faintly radiating pressure of the peak 9-star Spirit Nurturing stage caused a flash of surprise and satisfaction in Lu Mingyu's eyes.
“Very good! You have successfully completed the final trial of Devil Week!”
Lu Mingyu's voice was loud and clear. “Now, I announce that this session's National Training Camp—Devil Week—is officially over!”