Volume 1, Chapter 99 – Choosing Artifacts

Time flowed within the Myriad-Phenomena Tower. One day in the outside world was equal to ten days inside the tower.

While the disciples of the Immortal Palace shed sweat and cultivated diligently within the tower, time in the outside world was also quietly passing.

In the Southern Region, the sudden emergence of Yaochi Immortal Palace had sent undercurrents surging through the balance of power among the various factions.

Although news of the commotion Gu Han had caused in the Eastern Region had yet to reach the Southern Region, the strength Yaochi Immortal Palace had displayed was enough to make every faction adopt a subtle wait-and-see attitude.

The Liu family of Qingyang City had attained an entirely different status after Liu Ruyan became a true disciple of Yaochi Immortal Palace.

The Liu family had now become an existence on the borders of the Southern Region that no one dared provoke. Many even went out of their way to curry favor with them.

While Liu Beihai consolidated the family and absorbed the resources bestowed by the Immortal Palace, he also kept the clansmen under strict control. He reminded them to remember the Immortal Palace’s kindness and forbade them from behaving arrogantly or overbearingly.

As for the imperial family of the Great Yan Dynasty, Ninth Princess Xiao Ya had become the personal disciple of Elder Die Wu of Yaochi Immortal Palace, while Retired Emperor Xiao Minghai had personally witnessed part of the Immortal Palace’s foundation.

The entire dynasty’s attitude toward Yaochi Immortal Palace had gradually shifted from its initial dependence to almost devout loyalty and support.

Meanwhile, the Ye family of Tianfeng City in the Eastern Region had gradually learned to keep a low profile after experiencing that humiliating incident.

Patriarch Ye Lingyun publicly announced that he was entering seclusion, leaving clan affairs temporarily in the hands of Grand Elder Ye Mingyuan.

Every member of the Ye family was sternly warned never to discuss Ye Ling’er again and never to have any further involvement with her in the future.

Throughout the Ye family, the names “Gu Han” and “Yaochi Immortal Palace” had become taboo, and fear of them had taken deep root.

Within the Qingxuan Imperial Dynasty, rumors claimed that the empress, once as cold as ice and always unsmiling, had begun to smile after meeting the mysterious expert from the Southern Region.

Some said the two admired each other as worthy peers, while others said the empress had finally found a rival. No one dared seek confirmation, so speculation continued to spread.

Yet Yaochi Immortal Palace, the center of all these gathering storms, remained isolated from the world, completely immersed in an atmosphere of cultivation.

More than six years passed inside the tower, equivalent to over eight months in the outside world, in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

On this day, the heavy doors of the Myriad-Phenomena Tower slowly opened.

The first to step out were the elders who had led the disciples inside.

Their auras were steadier and more profound than before. Clearly, they too had gained something while accompanying the disciples in cultivation.

The disciples of the various peaks followed closely behind them.

Compared with when they entered eight months earlier, their transformations could only be described as complete rebirths!

Almost all their former immaturity and inexperience had faded, replaced by composure and a keen edge.

Even the disciple with the lowest cultivation had firmly reached the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refinement!

The more outstanding among them, including Li Zhiwei, Murong Xue, Zhao Ling’er, Wang Zhaojun, Xiao Ya, and over a dozen other exceptional disciples, had reached various stages from mid-stage to late-stage Foundation Establishment!

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Wang Teng, Liu Qingqing, Su Yurou, Liu Lie, Shi Lei, Yue Shan, Jiang Che, and the other personal disciples of the elders had also entered the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

More importantly, their foundations were solid, their spiritual power was pure, and their command of techniques was well-practiced. They were no longer clueless novices who had only just begun cultivating!

Eight years of arduous cultivation inside the tower, supported by immense quantities of resources and the elders’ attentive guidance, had produced terrifying results.

Gu Luoli and Ye Ling’er were the last to emerge. Liu Ruyan was nowhere to be seen, evidently because she remained in seclusion.

The golden radiance of Gu Luoli’s double pupils was restrained, and her aura was as calm and deep as an abyss. Her cultivation had firmly reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

Ye Ling’er’s progress was the most astonishing of all. After her Lunar Divine Body fully awakened, her cultivation of the Lunar Canon advanced at an incredible pace.

She had now overtaken the others and reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment!

All the disciples formed orderly ranks in the square before the tower. Without a word being spoken, an invisible aura as sharp as a sword had already gathered around them.

It was the confidence and edge naturally forged through long years of arduous cultivation and countless trials.

Outside the tower, Yun Yun had been waiting for them.

She looked at the youthful faces brimming with vitality and sensed the keen vigor surging from their bodies. She was extremely satisfied.

“Every disciple who has reached Foundation Establishment or above may go to the treasury today and select one yellow-rank supreme-grade artifact.”

As Yun Yun’s voice fell, an even brighter light immediately erupted in the eyes of the disciples who had just concluded their arduous cultivation.

They could choose artifacts!

For disciples who had only recently broken through to Foundation Establishment, a yellow-rank supreme-grade artifact could not only greatly increase their combat strength, but also served as recognition and a reward.

In the cultivation world, many itinerant cultivators and even disciples of smaller sects might not possess such an artifact even after reaching the Golden Core realm.

Yet they had only just entered Foundation Establishment, and they were already allowed to choose any supreme-grade artifact from the treasury!

This was the foundation of Yaochi Immortal Palace!

“Now, all disciples at Foundation Establishment or above, follow me.”

Seeing the excitement on their faces, Yun Yun smiled faintly and turned to lead the way.

More than eighty Foundation Establishment disciples suppressed their excitement, formed neat ranks, and followed Yun Yun toward the treasury deep within the Immortal Palace.

The treasury stood to the west of the main hall. From the outside, it appeared to be a simple and ancient building.

However, the complex formation patterns flowing across its doors and the faint aura emanating from within both revealed how extraordinary the place was.

Yun Yun took out a jade talisman engraved with cloud patterns and pressed it against the center of the doors.

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Buzz…

The formation patterns on the doors slowly circulated and separated. The heavy doors then slid inward without a sound.

A strange scent rushed toward them, blending the cold sharpness of metal with the refreshing fragrance of spiritual wood.

The disciples held their breaths and focused their minds as they followed Yun Yun into the hall.

The space before them suddenly opened up!

The interior of the hall was far more expansive than it appeared from outside.

Rows of red sandalwood shelves, each several dozen feet tall, stood neatly arranged according to category.

The shelves on the left displayed all kinds of weapons in orderly rows: longswords, short blades, sabers, spears, bows, and more.

Cold light gleamed from them, while spiritual power remained contained within.

The central area held defensive artifacts: shields, armor, cloaks, inner armor, jade pendants, and more.

They shimmered with radiant light, and runes appeared faintly across their surfaces.

On the right were support artifacts with various functions: miniature flying vessels, formation disks, compasses, medicinal cauldrons, alchemy furnaces, and other items.

Every artifact was enveloped in gentle spiritual light and hovered quietly in its assigned position.

Most eye-catching of all was an area deep within the treasury that was shrouded by a formation.

Within the formation, the outlines of several artifacts with even older and more profound auras could vaguely be seen.

They were clearly treasures that had surpassed the yellow rank and reached the profound rank!

However, Yun Yun did not lead them toward that area. Instead, she stopped before the section containing yellow-rank artifacts.

“This is the storage area for yellow-rank artifacts.”

Yun Yun turned to face the disciples and spoke gently.

“Foundation Establishment disciples may each choose one yellow-rank supreme-grade artifact here to use as a bonded artifact in daily life.”

“When choosing, sense it with your own spiritual power. Compatibility with your attributes must be your highest priority. Do not judge by appearance alone.”

“Remember, an artifact is an extension of your limbs and a tool that protects your path. It is not an object for showing off. Once you have chosen one, you must carefully nourish and refine it.”

“You have one two-hour period. Begin.”

“Yes! We will heed the Deputy Palace Master’s teachings!”

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The disciples answered in unison, then eagerly hurried toward the display shelves that interested them.

Li Zhiwei and Murong Xue exchanged a glance before walking toward the sword section on the left in perfect tacit understanding.

They were sword cultivators. To them, their swords were their second lives.

Longswords, short swords, heavy swords, flexible swords, and many others filled the racks in a dazzling array.

Every sword emitted its own distinctive sword intent and spiritual power fluctuations.

Murong Xue closed her eyes and used her own sword intent to sense them.

A moment later, she opened her eyes. Her gaze settled on a longsword in the corner. It was entirely silver-white, with a long, slender blade and an ice-blue crystal embedded in its guard.

“Flowing Frost…”

She softly read the two small ancient characters engraved on the hilt.

The instant she reached out and grasped it, a crisp, icy sword intent surged into her through her palm, resonating perfectly with her ice-attributed spiritual power.

The blade hummed softly, and the ice-blue crystal glowed faintly.

“You are the one.”

Joy appeared in Murong Xue’s eyes as she gripped it tightly.

Li Zhiwei chose a longsword named Wang Yu. Its blade was long, straight, and slender, as though it could sever all the troubles of the mortal world. It suited her exceptionally well.

Zhao Ling’er and Wang Zhaojun arrived at the support artifact section on the right.

Zhao Ling’er had a clear goal: a crimson medicinal cauldron with three legs and two handles.

It was a yellow-rank supreme-grade alchemy cauldron. For her, a cultivator with dual fire and wood spiritual roots who primarily followed the Alchemical Dao, it was undoubtedly the best choice.

Wang Zhaojun, however, did not head toward the alchemy cauldrons.

Her gaze was drawn to the Hundred Herbs Automaton placed in a corner. Its entire frame was emerald green, and it radiated a dense aura of life.

It was neither an offensive nor defensive artifact, but a support artifact designed specifically to cultivate and tend spiritual plants.

It could automatically regulate the temperature within a small area and gather wood-attributed spiritual energy.

To a young woman devoted to sensing and understanding plants, this object was more precious than any offensive artifact.

She chose it almost without hesitation.

Xiao Ya plunged straight into the section containing formation disks and rune-related artifacts.

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She did not spare the swords, sabers, or armor a single glance.

In the end, she selected a yellow-rank supreme-grade formation disk set called the Thousand Mechanisms Disk.

The set consisted of nine times nine, eighty-one jade pieces that could be freely combined. Each piece was engraved with a different basic formation pattern.

By arranging them in various combinations, the user could produce dozens of variations of basic formations. It placed exceptionally high demands on the formation master’s deduction and creativity.

It perfectly suited Xiao Ya’s love of research and innovation.

Wang Teng hesitated in the weapon section for a long time before finally selecting a pitch-black yellow-rank supreme-grade heavy sword named Heavenly Gate.

He followed both the path of body cultivation and the sword, and this heavy sword suited his style better.

Liu Qingqing chose the Green Vine Whip, Bai Zhi selected the Rejuvenation Mirror, Su Yurou picked a pair of Water-Splitting Spikes, Liu Lie chose the Blazing Flame Bow, and Shi Lei selected a pair of Earth-Splitting Gauntlets…

Every disciple carefully chose the artifact best suited to them according to the attributes of their spiritual roots, the characteristics of their cultivation techniques, and their combat styles.

For a time, waves of spiritual power rose and fell throughout the treasury, mingling with the disciples’ quiet cheers as they found the artifacts they desired.

Ye Ling’er walked among the dazzling array of artifacts, calmly sweeping her gaze across them.

She cultivated the Lunar Canon, and her spiritual power was of the utmost yin and cold.

Ordinary artifacts did not suit her. Only one with perfect compatibility could allow her to display her true strength.

Her gaze passed over a row of ice-blue flying swords and a blue artifact robe before finally settling on a pair of short blades hovering quietly in a corner. They were dark blue throughout and as thin as cicada wings.

The short blades were only a little over a foot long. They emitted neither dazzling light nor oppressive cold.

They possessed only an extremely restrained, eerie chill. The patterns across their blades flowed like moonlight, giving them a unique beauty.

“Nether Moon…”

Ye Ling’er reached out, but before her fingertips could touch them, the pair of short blades seemed to sense something.

They trembled slightly and released a clear, melodious hum.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Ling’er grasped the two blades.

They felt cold in her hands and were extremely light, yet they seemed connected to her by blood.

“From now on, you will be my partners…”

She murmured softly, delight rising in her eyes.

With this pair of Nether Moon blades, which perfectly matched her attributes, her combat strength would increase by at least thirty percent!