185: The upcoming Dragon Sky

"See? This thing is no longer usable."

"Don't I know what you're thinking?"

"You merely borrowed Emperor Taizong's power to learn its grade, and seeing me attached to this armor, you assumed it was some ultimate treasure."

"In truth, it hasn't been for a long time."

"If it didn't still hold Legacy significance, why would I possess it and maintain it constantly?"

"It's only because this is one of the Great Yu's most ancient relics that I have no choice but to manage it."

So you're a 24-hour artifact restorer here? Why didn't you say so earlier? You wasted so much of my time.

Why didn't you say so earlier? You wasted so much of my time.

Seeing Zhou Yan's displeased expression, Emperor Gaozong pointed in another direction.

"You are not forbidden from taking this item. For my Great Yu, it is more of a symbol and no longer has practical use, but I still hope you won't take it."

"As compensation, that area over there is considered the most valuable in this place."

"You will surely find many good things there. Take them and leave quickly; seeing you vexes me."

Guided by the Senior, Zhou Yan smiled again.

Before leaving, he casually asked,

"When did this armor become like this?"

Emperor Gaozong shook his head.

"I cannot elaborate, but I can tell you that it fell to this state because one of its components was taken."

"Alright, I understand."

Zhou Yan turned around, already having a plan.

This Emperor Gaozong was not simple either.

He could have simply said, "This item is ruined and cannot be taken," yet he waited for Zhou Yan to reach out before stopping him, even allowing him to personally investigate.

He remembered the 'national destiny as one' that the other party had displayed; it was hard to say how deeply he understood Zhou Yan.

This action might have a deeper meaning.

And the direction he pointed, there should indeed be good things, but was it a reward or compensation?

How troublesome.

These old monsters always loved making people guess their intentions. Why couldn't he encounter beginner monsters like vengeful spirits or zombies that could be resolved with a few punches and kicks?

Hopefully, he was overthinking it.

Emperor Gaozong watched Zhou Yan's departing back, then silently turned away.

Zhou Yan quickly arrived at the spot Emperor Gaozong had indicated.

At first glance, it appeared unremarkable, but after a quick search, he discovered many good items hidden beneath.

Before long, he found an even better fire-attribute spiritual item—the Yangsheng Pistil.

[Yangsheng Pistil (Tier 4)]

[Quality: Epic]

Zhou Yan picked up the Yangsheng Pistil, quietly glanced in Emperor Gaozong's direction, and seeing that he was still facing away, he quickly returned the previously taken Red Ganoderma to its original place and put away the Yangsheng Pistil.

Zhou Yan turned and continued searching.

There were far more treasures here than in other places; Zhou Yan saw several items of Epic quality alone.

Since he encountered them, he naturally couldn't miss out.

Zhou Yan rubbed his chin in thought for a moment, then opened his panel to check Yuan Chenling's updated mount attributes.

He hadn't thoroughly examined this module since the last update, and indeed, many new contents had been added, including Yuan Chenling's Late Stage cultivation direction and the development of his own Metal and Earth attributes.

Thinking that Yuan Chenling was not far from Core Formation since the last Dragon Egg Feast, Zhou Yan conveniently took an Epic-quality metal-attribute spiritual item, "Blue Geng Metal."

Compared to ordinary Geng Metal, this item had less sharpness and more profoundness. Although it didn't contain earth attributes, it possessed the properties of the Earth element.

The Yao Race doesn't require a Lifebound Treasure for Core Formation, so he only chose this one spiritual item that could increase the Breakthrough probability and enhance Yuan Chenling's strength after the Breakthrough.

He considered himself a dutiful leader, still thinking of benefits for his Junior Brother at this moment.

As for his brothers and Junior Sister and Junior Brother?

Let's put that aside for now.

With their Luck and talent, they wouldn't lack his meager offerings.

Moreover, with the remaining two slots, three people wouldn't be enough to share, so he shouldn't end up with a situation like 'two peaches kill three warriors'.

Finally, Zhou Yan selected a copy of "Imperial Dynasty Luck Cultivation Method" and an unidentified ancient book.

That ancient book looked extraordinary, older than most things here.

Since the main objective had been achieved, he might as well take a gamble; perhaps there would be an unexpected surprise.

Being stored here proved it was no ordinary item, and he also believed in the little emperor's Luck.

As for the Imperial Dynasty Cultivation Method, it could perfectly compensate for the shortcoming of his national destiny not being able to be monetized.

After choosing the last three items, Zhou Yan returned to Emperor Gaozong's side.

"Finished choosing?"

"Finished."

"Then I'll send you out."

Emperor Gaozong pointed a finger at Zhou Yan, but he tilted his head and dodged it.

Emperor Gaozong was a bit puzzled; what was he playing at?

"What is the meaning of this? You can't take any more!"

Seeing Emperor Gaozong's expression, Zhou Yan chuckled and explained.

"Senior misunderstood."

"I just wanted to ask, are these Spirit Stone mountains next to us... real?"

"Naturally, they are real."

"I'm not interested in Spirit Stones; I'm just curious why I fell into an illusion when I first arrived. Was it your doing, or was it influenced by these Spirit Stones?"

This question wasn't a secret; others had asked it before, but most asked it at the beginning, while he brought it up just before leaving.

Though he didn't know Zhou Yan's intentions, Emperor Gaozong still replied,

"There's no harm in telling you."

"Among these Spirit Stone mountains, only a portion are real."

"Originally, most were real, but several later emperors, due to financial shortages, successively took many, so later on, they were mostly filled with other materials."

"Now, out of a thousand Spirit Stone mountains, only dozens remain real; the others are merely covered with a layer of Spirit Stones on the outside, with spiritual stone materials or fillers inside."

"As for the scene you first saw, that was an ancient illusion technique. I don't know the specific principle; it was set up by my ancestors.

Because it's an ancient method, difficult to replicate, these outer shells were preserved, and the interior was filled with substitutes."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan rubbed his hands and chuckled.

"Senior Emperor Gaozong, I am not of the imperial family, and our meeting here is fated. May I take a Spirit Stone as a memento?"

"The illusion on it shouldn't fail due to the loss of a small Spirit Stone, right?"

"After all, the interior is already hollowed out, so one more won't make a difference."

"I'll take one as a souvenir, a token of our acquaintance. After all, we played chess all day; we're chess friends, aren't we...?"

Emperor Gaozong was originally calm, but upon hearing the words "chess friends," his face immediately twisted.

Fortunately, his soul body was colorless, otherwise, he would surely be flushed crimson at this moment.

"You dare to mention that!"

"Deserves a beating!"

He suddenly threw a punch. Zhou Yan was caught off guard, and his left eye socket took a hit.

"Ouch!"

Zhou Yan clutched his eye, crying out in pain.

At this moment, he was back by the dusty bookshelf. He hadn't even entered combat mode and had taken that punch head-on, and the aftereffect was so strong that he thought his eyeball would pop out.

Wait, there's something in my hand!

Did my eyeball really fall out?

He lowered his hand and looked at his palm with his good right eye. It was actually a Spirit Stone of excellent quality, carrying the unique aura of the outer layer of the Spirit Stone Mountain.

He lowered his hand and looked at his palm with his good right eye. It was actually a Spirit Stone of excellent quality, carrying the unique aura of the outer layer of the Spirit Stone Mountain.

Zhou Yan couldn't help but curl his lips.

"If you're going to give it, just give it! Why punch me!"

Qingxu Grotto-Heaven, Sect Main Hall.

"Disciple Long Tianxing greets Fourth Senior Martial Uncle."

The Fourth Elder was currently seated majestically on the Sect Master's jade throne, lazily responding,

"You're here, sit."

Long Tianxing looked around the empty hall.

"Where should I sit?"

"It's just a formality."

"If you really want to sit and chat with me, go get a chair from the side hall."

The Fourth Elder waved his hand, then got to the point.

"How are your injuries recovering?"

"Fully recovered."

"That's good."

"Oh, right, your previous application to cultivate in the Small World has been approved by the Sect."

"Since your injuries are healed, choose a day to go and make up for your missed cultivation."

He sent a jade token to Long Tianxing with his magic power, signaling him to take it and leave.

If he weren't the Sect Master, obligated to his True Disciple, he would truly be too lazy to inquire about such matters.

Recently, he felt increasingly exhausted, and he couldn't help but wonder again if his Second Brother and Master had conspired to set him up to settle accounts.

However, Long Tianxing did not leave.

"Is there something else?"

Long Tianxing bowed respectfully and pushed the jade token back with his magic power.

"Disciple wishes to go to the Great Yu."

The Fourth Elder suddenly sat up straight.

"You're going to the Great Yu? Weren't you unwilling to go before, even if it meant being struck by lightning?"

The Fourth Elder realized his slip of the tongue. He lightly coughed twice and said seriously,

"What important matter requires you to go now?"

Long Tianxing's sudden request, coupled with the current situation in the Great Yu, gave him an ominous premonition.