There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 28 Passing Through a Treasure Trove

Yujing Street is paved with gold bricks, and the buildings on both sides have flying eaves and brackets, with carved beams and painted rafters.

The sixth prince walked with his hands behind his back, surrounded by purple-robed cultivators.

Chen Qing lagged half a step behind, glancing at the street scene out of the corner of his eye. He saw that the buildings were shrouded in mist, cranes circled around, and cultivators rode back and forth on their swords—a truly magnificent sight.

"What do you think of this Jade Capital, Minister Chen?" the Sixth Prince suddenly asked.

Chen Qing then said, "The grandeur of Yujing is something I have never seen before in my life."

Even the past life couldn't compare, after all, no building can fly.

The sixth prince laughed instead, "What is this? The real immortal realm is said to have thirty-three heavens, each of which is vast and boundless. The immortal palaces stretch for hundreds of millions of miles, and the spiritual springs flow like a galaxy." A trace of longing flashed in his eyes, "When Father Emperor attains enlightenment and ascends to immortality, he will be able to witness such a magnificent sight."

Chen Qing's heart skipped a beat: "The Immortal Emperor is about to ascend?"

"Of course." The sixth prince said with certainty, "Father's cultivation has reached the peak of Earth Immortal. He is only one step away from ascending. Once he ascends, he will be a Celestial Immortal and live as long as heaven and earth."

Recalling what he had seen at Xuandu Mountain, Chen Qing tentatively asked, "When I was at Xuandu Mountain, I heard that there were immortals living there. Why bother ascending to heaven?"

Upon hearing this, the Sixth Prince laughed loudly: "That's a wandering immortal! Having shed their physical body, they only cultivate their essence. They seem carefree, but in reality, their lives are incomplete, and they are constantly plagued by tribulations. Only by ascending to the Immortal Realm and attaining the Dao of a Celestial Immortal can one achieve true freedom and liberation!"

Chen Qing was captivated by the conversation, but he quickly became aware that he had only just broken through to the second realm in the mortal world. He should just listen to these high-level topics and not get carried away. If he became too ambitious because of them, he would lose his true self.

"Does Minister Chen know that your fifth brother and seventh sister are currently guests at my residence?" The Sixth Prince suddenly changed the subject.

Chen Qing remained calm and said, "My younger brother wrote to say that he is grateful for Your Highness's care."

"No need to be so polite." The Sixth Prince chuckled. "I am the eldest son of the Empress. In terms of the purity of bloodline, neither my eldest nor second elder brother can compare to me. My mother is a descendant of the ancient human race, and three true immortals were among our ancestors."

They're cultivating immortality, why are they still concerned about social status?
Chen Qing listened silently, analyzing the information in the words.

As the Sixth Prince walked, he said, “Once Father attains enlightenment and ascends to heaven, the throne of the Celestial Dynasty will be vacant, and someone will naturally need to succeed him. Minister Chen has already demonstrated great talent by offering advice on pacifying the people!” His tone was sincere. “If you are willing to assist me, you will surely have a bright future on the path to immortality. As for Xi Yao…”

He smiled meaningfully.

"She is ultimately of a different race. She may look human, but she is not of our kind. Putting aside other things, Xi Yao is nearly three hundred years old. All her supernatural powers and combat strength are in her physical body, but her cultivation level is only at the second realm. Without internal cultivation, she cannot obtain the true understanding of life and death. Once her bloodline is reversed and she forcibly lives on her physical body, with life cultivation as her main focus, then she is a demon! She must be suppressed!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a nine-story golden pagoda appeared in front of him, its spire reaching straight into the clouds, emanating a faint aura of power.

"We've arrived." The Sixth Prince gestured with his hand. "This is the Treasure Pavilion. There are seven treasure pavilions in Yujing. Apart from the one in the palace, this Senluo Treasure Pavilion located on Qinglong Avenue is the most comprehensive."

Chen Qing looked towards the golden pagoda and saw two golden-armored warriors standing at the pagoda gate, their auras so strong that they were unfathomable!

However, since he arrived in this Jade Capital, he has become somewhat accustomed to the fact that almost everyone he has met is unfathomable.

"Minister Chen," the Sixth Prince said, noticing his gaze, "With your cultivation level, getting involved in such matters is like an ant trying to shake a tree. However, what I value is not your cultivation level. A strategy to pacify the people and transform hostility into peace is the true skill."

Chen Qing replied calmly, "You flatter me."

"No need to be modest." The Sixth Prince raised his hand and made a gesture. A flash of light appeared, and a red jade token was formed out of thin air. He then tossed it to Chen Qing. "With this token, you can freely enter and leave my residence. I am very interested in your strategies and plans. As for cultivation... I will give you double what Xi Yao can give, and I can give you what she cannot give!"

Chen Qing accepted the token without bowing or refusing it, simply saying, "I will remember it."

The sixth prince raised his hand and waved, and the golden pagoda gate slowly opened.

The moment the door opened, countless precious lights poured out like a galaxy.

"This tower has nine levels. With your skill, you can choose one item from the first three levels. The first level contains ordinary magical artifacts, the second level contains high-grade spiritual items, and as for the third level..."

He paused, glanced at Chen Qing, and said, "Treasures have spirits and choose their masters. If there is an opportunity, you may gain something from them. Go."

Chen Qing bowed in thanks and stepped into the tower.

Just as the gate was closing, the Sixth Prince suddenly said, "You don't need to go back to Xi Yao for now. The Empress has issued an edict ordering her to enter the palace to study the 'Qingqiu Secret Manual' as a favor."

Chen Qing felt a chill run down his spine. When he turned around, the door was already closed.

"The Qingqiu Secret Manual? It sounds like a bloodline manual. Isn't the Empress wary of the Qingqiu bloodline? Why would she let the princess comprehend it? Is she trying to deliberately stimulate Xi Yao's bloodline?"

That being said, since he had entered the treasure vault and was now isolated from the outside world by the array within the building, he put it aside after a moment's thought.

Chen Qing took two steps forward, and his pupils contracted slightly.

Inside the main hall, hundreds of magical artifacts floated like stars, ancient bronze swords hummed in harmony, and purple-gold cauldrons exhaled spiritual mist. Swords, spears, halberds, bells, tripods, and seals were displayed in abundance, each radiating a faint spiritual light.

Although the Sixth Prince said these were all ordinary magical artifacts, Chen Qing had never seen so many magical artifacts together in his entire life!
"What a pity, magical artifacts cannot transmit feedback to the main body..."

Regrettably, he briefly inspected the area and then ascended the jade steps to the second floor.

The second floor was slightly smaller, but the quality of the treasures was significantly improved. Three spiritual objects floated in the center: a small earthen-yellow seal, a crimson short sword, and a jet-black iron plaque. Each of them exuded a unique aura and was clearly of superior quality.

When Chen Qing's gaze fell upon them, the three objects trembled slightly!

“Treasures possess spirits! Once they acquire sentience, magical artifacts will transform, eventually becoming magical treasures with their own primordial spirits! Unfortunately, they can only be used in dreams, and I wonder if there are any treasures that can be used in their physical form…”

Chen Qing didn't linger, and went straight up the steps leading to the third floor.

"Om-"

An invisible pressure suddenly descended! It felt like an immense burden was being placed on him, and his bones trembled with each step he took!

"There's definitely something strange about this. No wonder the third level was mentioned in so much detail..."

He channeled his inner energy, the starlight of his destiny talisman swirling around him, barely managing to offset some of the pressure as he struggled to climb step by step. By the time he reached the final step, his clothes were soaked with sweat, and he was still panting. But when he looked up, he was stunned—

The entire building was bathed in a soft, misty light, shimmering with a precious glow.

The moment he stepped inside, it was as if dozens of eyes were fixed on him—the treasures floating around this floor seemed to be alive!

On the jade table to the left, a bronze wine cup was being poured and drunk by itself. Amber wine gushed out, its aroma intoxicating. As Chen Qing looked over, two lines of golden seal script appeared on the cup: "He who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk shall have it."

On the right-hand screen, a traditional Chinese ink painting of mountains and rivers flows on its own, filled with the atmosphere of time. Suddenly, the woodcutter in the painting stops, turns his head and grins, and speaks in a voice like the clash of metal: "Having walked through the painting, I return still a youth."

There is also a jade flute that plays on its own, with a tricky melody that must be repeated within three breaths; there is a golden bell that gently shakes, creating a maze that requires one to walk straight for a hundred steps with eyes closed without veering off course; there is a seven-stringed zither that plays on its own, and one can obtain it by playing a tune that moves heaven and earth; there is a jade axe that hangs in the air and cleaves, and one who wishes to take it must split a mountain nine thousand ren high!
……

"All of them are magical treasures?!"

Chen Qing's heart skipped a beat.

In the modern world, even major sects consider magical treasures to be their most prized possessions, yet here there are dozens of them, each possessing its own spirit and choosing a master to serve!

He suppressed his excitement, his gaze sweeping across the scene, but he didn't stop walking.

Regardless of whether I can get it or not, let's just enjoy the view first!

He suddenly stopped in front of a jade lotus platform on the west side.

The lotus platform is completely translucent, suspended a few inches off the ground, and slowly rotates. In the center, it supports a withered red orchid with only three remaining leaves, the veins of which faintly show golden patterns.

Six characters, like branding with fire, appeared on the lotus seat—

"By keeping this orchid alive, one can obtain this treasure."

Chen Qing's pupils suddenly contracted!

The shape of this withered red orchid... is exactly the same as the "fire geese orchid" recorded in the "Record of Extinct Things"!
"The cramming before entering the dream was definitely worth it!" he thought to himself with delight.

According to the "Records of Extinct Things", the agave orchid grows beside volcanic lava, and its roots can only grow if they feed on the fire poison of the earth's veins; otherwise, it will wither.

"In other words, as long as one obtains the earth vein fire poison, this orchid can be revived. But this place is hidden deep within pavilions, where would one find earth vein fire poison?"

"Should we go out to prepare?" Chen Qing frowned slightly, then suddenly—

A flash of inspiration!

"I remember there was also a 'Fire Crystal Scorpion' in that book. This thing contains both fire and earth elements, similar to the 'fire poison' of the earth veins! I paid close attention to it because it could regulate the imbalance of yin and yang. Could it be..."

With this thought in mind, he held his breath and focused his mind, circulating his Qi of harmony.

To reach the second realm, one needs to refine the essence of the five elements and blend it with the primordial harmony energy. Now, he reversed his cultivation method, and the primordial harmony energy instantly split into the five elements—

In Chen Qing's mind, the secret to cultivating the five elements, which his master had spoken of before his death, resurfaced—

"The five elements of spiritual essence within the body need to be maintained in balance. If one element is allowed to dominate, the remaining four elements will be gradually devoured and transformed into resources, thus causing the five elements to become imbalanced..."

Going against this advice, Chen Qing urged the intertwined fire and earth energies, which, driven by the power of the mountains, gradually condensed into a wisp of dark red turbid energy!
This turbid air was extremely mixed and barely simulated some of the characteristics of the earth's fiery poison.

“Barely usable.”

Without hesitation, Chen Qing flicked his finger!
"laugh--"

The foul air seeps into the roots, and the withered orchid trembles violently!
Those three curled, withered leaves... disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye...

Slowly stretch out!

　I got home quite late today...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)