23: The start is gold quality!

Never has a trip to the Burial Immortal Valley been as tense as this year.

The Sect Masters of the Eight Great Sects were all explaining the relevant matters of entering the Burial Immortal Valley to their Disciples with unprecedented seriousness.

Among them, the most serious was Wen Yuheng of the Profound Heaven Dao Sect.

“You all saw the Five Elements Sect’s provocation. You all understand, don’t you? This year, the Five Elements Sect is targeting us, the number one Sect in the world.”

“As Disciples of the Profound Heaven Dao Sect, are you willing to let the Profound Heaven Dao Sect’s reputation as the number one Sect in the world be lost in your hands?”

“Absolutely not!”

Everyone, including Su Yang, held their breath at this moment.

If the Profound Heaven Dao Sect’s reputation as the number one Sect in the world were lost in their hands, the resulting shame would accompany them for life. It was feared that everyone present today would develop a Heart Demon and have their immortal path obstructed.

Although cultivators cultivate a transcendent state of mind, unaffected by external things or personal sorrow, they were still human, and moreover, hot-blooded youths not yet twenty years old. How could they allow their opponents to provoke them and unseat them from their position as the number one Sect in the world?

“Very good!”

“What I want is this determination you have now!”

Wen Yuheng was very satisfied with their current spirit, but this year’s treasure hunt in the Burial Immortal Valley was different from previous years; just this spirit was not enough.

Wen Yuheng gestured for everyone to follow him to the cliff edge of Flat Top Peak.

He pointed to the enormous circular valley below, which stretched as far as the eye could see.

“Centered on the Spiritual Qi landing point from the Upper Realm, this giant crater, fifty li in circumference, is the Burial Immortal Valley.”

“Can you see the ancient Magical Artifacts glowing with various lights below the valley? These ancient Magical Artifacts emit different colors based on their quality. From low to high, the qualities are gray, cyan, purple, gold, and transparent rainbow light.”

Wen Yuheng slightly raised a finger, pointing to a certain spot near the Spiritual Qi landing point, “In the entire Burial Immortal Valley, there is only one highest-quality transparent rainbow light Magical Artifact. I imagine you’ve all heard about this from your Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. Today, I solemnly remind you that in the more than thirty thousand years since the end of the First Epoch, no one has ever been able to gain the recognition of that Magical Artifact. This includes the current Sect Masters of the Eight Sects, including myself, as well as the various Elders and even the Grand Elders of the Eight Sects. They all tried, and all ended in failure.”

“The reason I’m telling you this, besides telling you not to waste time, is more importantly to remind you that the Magical Artifact will absorb the true essence of anyone who touches it. If you try to pick up this Magical Artifact at the very beginning, your true essence will be instantly drained, and you won’t even be able to think about trying other ancient Magical Artifacts afterward.”

Wen Yuheng’s words immediately made everyone behind him abandon the idea of trying to grab the highest-quality ancient Magical Artifact.

Only Su Yang’s gaze remained fixed in the direction Wen Yuheng had pointed.

Although he couldn't see where the Magical Artifact was, Su Yang felt that deep within this Burial Immortal Valley, some inexplicable attraction was causing an unprecedented stir in his heart. His kidneys also became unusually active, and the true essence flowing through his Innate Kidney Body was exceptionally potent.

“Su Yang… are you spacing out? Did you hear what I just said?”

“I heard…”

Su Yang snapped back to attention and pulled his gaze away.

Wen Yuheng continued, “Listen, after you enter the Burial Immortal Valley, everyone, I mean everyone, should try their best to find those top-grade ancient Magical Artifacts that glow with golden light. If one Magical Artifact doesn’t work, don’t dwell on it; immediately give up and go find another one to try.”

“On the first day, everyone should focus their attention on golden Magical Artifacts.”

“If you don’t have any success on the first day, don’t dwell on it; immediately go find purple ancient Magical Artifacts.”

“If by the third day you still haven’t obtained your own ancient Magical Artifact, then go directly for those cyan Magical Artifacts. Remember this: even a cyan ancient Magical Artifact, if you can obtain it, is a top-grade Magical Artifact!”

Everyone nodded heavily, taking the Sect Master’s words to heart.

Wen Yuheng glanced at the other Seven Sects, his expression growing even more serious. He said, “Everyone wants to claim the title of the number one Sect in the world through this simplest treasure hunt. You may face obstacles or even killings from other Sects at any time. After entering the Burial Immortal Valley, remember to adapt to circumstances.”

“Yes!”

All the Disciples nodded, engraving it in their minds.

Everyone could see the hidden dangers in this year’s Burial Immortal Valley treasure hunt.

“Su Yang, come here.”

After giving all the necessary instructions, Wen Yuheng called Su Yang aside to speak privately: “You are the strongest among the Eight Sects this year. Whether the Profound Heaven Dao Sect can retain its title as the number one Sect in the world largely depends on you!”

“Therefore, while you are searching for your own ancient Magical Artifact over these three days, you must ensure your safety as much as possible. I’m worried that the Five Elements Sect might take action against you.”

“Sect Master, rest assured.”

Su Yang naturally understood his arrangements.

“As long as you can win the final battle of the Eight Sects leaders, even if you don’t obtain your own ancient Magical Artifact in the Burial Immortal Valley, the Profound Heaven Dao Sect’s best Magical Artifacts will be yours to choose from when you return!”

Wen Yuheng patted Su Yang’s shoulder.

“This Disciple will do his utmost!”

Since the Sect Master was willing to give him this promise, freeing him from worries, Su Yang naturally wouldn’t refuse.

“Sect Leader Wen, haven’t you finished giving instructions yet?”

“Only your Profound Heaven Dao Sect is left.”

Zhao Shengdao, not far away, called out to them.

Wen Yuheng patted Su Yang’s shoulder again and led his Sect Disciples to gather.

All the Disciples of the Eight Great Sects—Profound Heaven Dao Sect, Five Elements Sect, Yu Ling Sect, Sacred Sword Sect, Immortal Shadow Sect, Medicine King Valley, Tiangong Pavilion, and Heavenly Mystery Pavilion—stood together in eight formations.

Zhao Shengdao, acting as host, loudly declared, “Disciples of the Eight Sects, heed my command! The Burial Immortal Valley treasure hunt officially begins!”

Everyone immediately soared into the air, flying towards various parts of the Burial Immortal Valley.

The scene was magnificent.

The Sect Masters of the Eight Sects and their accompanying personnel all sat in a row, watching the performance of their Disciples in the Burial Immortal Valley.

Outwardly, each Sect Master appeared calm and collected, but inwardly, they were all more nervous than the Disciples participating… Su Yang landed in the Burial Immortal Valley.

As far as the eye could see in the entire Burial Immortal Valley, there were so-called ancient Magical Artifacts everywhere: swords, spears, sabers, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks—all kinds of weapons imaginable. Each Magical Artifact emitted a different light; gray was the most common, followed by cyan, purple was relatively rare, and gold was even rarer.

As for the sole Magical Artifact emitting transparent rainbow light, Su Yang did not see it, nor did he intend to look for it.

Before him was a sword deeply embedded in the ground, emitting a faint golden glow.

Although it had undergone tens of thousands of years of tempering, the true essence imprint within this sword had vanished without a trace, yet the sword itself looked brand new; tens of thousands of years of history had not left a single mark on its blade.

Su Yang took a deep breath, gripped the sword hilt, infused his true essence into the sword, and then forcefully pulled the sword from the ground.

“What the…!”

Su Yang stumbled backward, almost falling.

What was happening?

It was… it was pulled out so easily???

Su Yang looked at the golden-glowing ancient Magical Artifact in his hand with some disbelief; his confusion at this moment even surpassed the joy of obtaining a golden ancient Magical Artifact.

According to the Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers who had experienced the Burial Immortal Valley trip before, gaining the recognition of these ancient Magical Artifacts was extremely difficult, and even if one could pull them out, it would consume a large amount of true essence.

But why did he feel it was no more difficult than pulling a radish from a vegetable patch?

However, being able to obtain a golden-quality ancient Magical Artifact so quickly, a look of excited joy immediately appeared on Su Yang’s face. He instantly poured true essence into the Magical Artifact to complete the recognition process.

But… his true essence couldn’t flow into the sword.

This sword was resisting his true essence, even beginning to tremble violently because of it.

What the hell? The Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers never mentioned such a situation.

Just as Su Yang was looking puzzled, the Sect Masters of the Eight Sects on Flat Top Peak, seeing Su Yang pull out a golden-quality ancient Magical Artifact as soon as he entered the valley, all stood up from their seats in shock…