Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie climbed the stairs unhurriedly.
As guests, the two did not intend to overshadow the host.
Anyway, there was no way to reach the high platform.
The first dwarf rushed to the edge of the high platform, turned sideways, and crashed his shoulder against the golden light shield on the platform.
Bang…
The person was bounced back, falling onto the steps and rolling several times before stopping, cursing under his breath and causing everyone to laugh.
The other dwarves went forward one after another, some striking with full force, while others only reached out to touch, retreating when they couldn't enter.
Some presented various offerings in front of the high platform in a ceremony, but failed.
Others performed a battle dance first, inciting the dwarves to sing along, yet still failed.
The first eighteen dwarves, all failed.
"You go first," Zhou Leng said.
Zhang Xinglie did not stand on ceremony, stepped forward, gathered his True Qi, and pressed both hands on the golden light shield, exerting all strength to push.
The golden light shield stood tall like a mountain, unmoved.
Zhang Xinglie shook his head and slowly walked down.
Everyone let out a long sigh.
If the dwarves couldn't do it, then the Human Race was even less likely.
Even Zhang Xinglie, the strongest of the Human Race, couldn't do it, so Zhou Leng, who appeared even weaker, was also not likely.
Some dwarves began to descend, preparing to leave.
Most people just watched idly.
Zhou Leng had no interest in attempting a collision, raised his hand to touch the golden light shield before turning away, not even bothering with Qi manipulation.
At the moment his right hand touched the golden light shield, the entire Ancient King's Palace suddenly lit up, bursting with brilliance.
Everyone instinctively squinted, their vision filled with a white blur, unable to see anything clearly.
At the same time, a white light flew out from Zhou Leng's Magic Spirit Bag.
As the brightness passed, the crowd could once again see the Ancient King's Palace clearly.
The golden light shield, vanished.
The crowd stared dumbfoundedly at Zhou Leng and the high platform, Zhou Leng was also in a daze.
They saw the Holy Remains of the Mountain Melting Furnace emitting a faint golden light, with surging Martial Saint energy, imposing over the entire palace.
"Old Grandfather!"
Many dwarves shouted in unison, kneeling down.
Humans witnessing the scene, some half-kneeling, some standing, others merely bowed their heads in salute.
Two white translucent humanoid light shadows appeared before the Holy Remains.
A tall, long-haired female Beastman, and a short but strong male dwarf.
The female Beastman bent down, embracing the male dwarf in front of her.
The male dwarf extended both hands, cupping the face of the female Beastman.
"I came to find you," the female Beastman smiled brightly.
"I've always missed you," the male dwarf smiled at his former lover.
"Let's go, leave everything behind."
"Let's go…"
Eight hundred years later, the two were embracing together.
The two white light figures merged into one, transforming into specks of light, dispersing in the world.
The dwarves stared dumbfoundedly at this scene.
The palace was quiet.
The uninformed humans were clueless.
However, the dwarves had grown up listening to the Eight Trigrams of the Mountain Melting Furnace and Flower of High Earth, even addressing them as Old Grandfather and Old Grandmother.
Witnessing the outcome of the eight-hundred-year-old legend firsthand, their hearts were shaken.
Some female dwarves gently wiped the corners of their eyes, while some male dwarves' eyes also glistened with tears of relief.
"How wonderful."
"Yes, truly wonderful."
"This human opened Old Grandfather's treasure, so he is regarded as Old Grandfather's inheritor."
"Zhou Leng, go and take the Golden Treasure Box, leave the rest!" Molten Hammer shouted aloud.
"Yes, Zhou Leng, you go!"
"Go ahead!"
Though they were eager to personally open the Golden Treasure Box, the dwarves restrained their impulse, gladly allowing Zhou Leng to take it.
Zhou Leng nodded slightly to the dwarves below, climbed onto the high platform, and took the Golden Treasure Box with both hands.
All dwarves cheered loudly, some laughed, some shouted, while others sang ballads about the Mountain Furnace.
Molten Hammer said, "Open it and see if it's the Eye of the Ancient God left by Old Grandfather."
Everyone looked expectantly at the Golden Treasure Box.
Zhou Leng reached out and opened it.
From the box, the Eye of the Ancient God burst forth with light.
Endless blood-colored radiance instantly filled the entire underground palace.
The blood light split into countless light spots, merging into everyone's body present.
Zhou Leng, being closest to the Eye of the Ancient God, absorbed most of the Light of the Ancient Gods.
However, it was far less than what was absorbed last time.
Zhou Leng felt a tingling itch all over, sat down to meditate, and absorbed the energy.
The others did the same, either standing or sitting, closed eyes, absorbing the energy.
This time, Zhou Leng did not feel as if flying into space and seeing the vast cosmic body.
It was purely energy absorption.
The full-scale evolution of the body accelerated again.
After more than ten minutes, everyone gradually opened their eyes.
Everyone showed delight but held back from speaking, fearing disturbing others.
Gradually, everyone opened their eyes.
Inside the treasure box, a red olive-shaped crystal, surrounded by layers of black wave patterns.
"It should be the Eye of the Ancient God in there."
"The light just now is the blessing of the Ancient God. We are truly lucky."
"Indeed, with our status, it's impossible to receive the blessing of the Ancient God until death."
Zhou Leng closed the lid and picked up the Golden Treasure Box, speaking to the dwarves below: "Inside, it should be the Eye of the Ancient God, a great treasure of the Dwarf Race. According to the rules, it must either stay here or be taken out and handed over to the Mountain Furnace Tribe. Should we take it out?"
"I think it's fine to leave it here."
"Yes, having Old Grandfather guard it is okay too."
"Better to take it back and use it against the Beastmen."
"In a few years, the Ten Realms War will fully erupt, better to take it back."
"Are there descendants of the Mountain Melting Furnace here? You decide."
Ultimately, after consultation, the dwarves reached an agreement.
"Zhou Leng, you take it down, hand it to the Mountain Furnace Tribe," said Molten Hammer.
"Okay." Zhou Leng held the Golden Treasure Box with both hands and descended the high platform.
At the moment of leaving the high platform, the Golden Light Shield appeared again.
The crowd watched Zhou Leng walk down slowly, expressing their feelings.
Who would have thought that a treasure unattainable by the dwarves for eight hundred years would be obtained by an outsider of the Human Race.
It was also unexpected to receive the blessing of the Ancient God the moment the Eye of the Ancient God was opened.
All thanks to Zhou Leng.
The members of Lou Fei Qiong's team exchanged looks, their expressions complex.
Lou Fei Qiong laughed: "See, without him, we couldn't have gotten the blessing of the Ancient God. With the Ancient God's Blessing, everyone present has acquired at least Innate Talent."
"Really didn't expect…" Zhao Le and others sighed quietly.
Several members of the Lou Family exchanged glances and bowed their heads.
Over there, the Trup consortium's team members were indifferent, though some were deeply moved.
"Unexpectedly, we received such great help from the Dragon Country people."
"Judging by the dwarves' words, this Ancient God's Blessing seems extraordinary."
"Tsk…"
At this moment, the dwarves took out the wine from their Magic Spirit Bags and began drinking cheerfully.
Molten Hammer drank happily and loudly recounted Zhou Leng's feats on the Celestial Tier Battlefield, greatly praising Zhou Leng's prowess, some parts even exaggerated to the point that Zhou Leng shook his head.
The dwarves, presuming as such, believed without a doubt, and toasted Zhou Leng.
All treated Zhou Leng as the heir of the Mountain Melting Furnace.
Observing Molten Hammer has drunk too much, Zhou Leng covered his mouth with a hand, urging him to invent fewer tales.
After everyone had celebrated halfway, the ground trembled.
"Old Grandfather's treasure is closing…"
"We are returning shortly."
Molten Hammer, driven by the drink, yelled: "After leaving, no one is allowed to move! Total quarantine! Today's news cannot reach the Beastmen!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Who dares to leak even a word, kill them!"
"Kill!"
White light flashed, everyone fell to the ground, and some dwarves' stomachs churned, vomiting loudly.
At the foot of Old Grandfather Mountain, hundreds of dwarf soldiers scattered everywhere,
many Innate Dwarves were ready to greet their tribe's Trial Takers. They saw this scene and frowned.
Dwarves from other places grouped together, seeming quite normal.
Near Zhou Leng, over three hundred dwarves seemed conspicuous treasures, all drank heavily, even vomiting publicly.
The Innate Dwarves were furious.
Some dwarves with irritable tempers quickly approached, cursing as they walked: "You bunch raised by Beastmen dare to get drunk in Old Grandfather's treasure. Guards, what are you waiting for, arrest them all, beat them with a hundred military sticks each, hitting them to death!"
"Arrest them, even beating them to death wouldn't be too much!"
The Innate Dwarves were enraged, and the soldiers had no choice but to confront them.
Molten Hammer, however, put his hands on his hips and shouted: "Stop, we have an urgent military report! Begin full quarantine immediately, anyone delaying will face military law!"
"Uncle of the Tribe, conduct the quarantine immediately! If not done, it will be too late!" a red-faced dwarf from the Mountain Furnace Tribe shouted.
The Innate Dwarves rushed to the front; some trial-participating dwarves whispered a few words to them.
The Innate Dwarves' expressions changed dramatically and glanced at Zhou Leng.
"Full quarantine!"
An Innate Dwarf took out a roll of Witchcraft Skin, infused with Anger Blood, and threw it with force.
The Witchcraft Skin soared into the sky, transforming into a splendid display of fireworks, hanging in the bright sky, enduring endlessly.
Soon, the earth vibrated from afar, emitting a rumbling like an earthquake.
From every direction,
next, a distant uprising of high walls of dust rose into the sky.
At the forefront of the dust, elderly dwarves took steps spanning dozens of meters, shattering the ground, and speeding like the wind.
They seemed like humanoid fighter jets, surpassing the speed of sound, roaring endlessly.
Not far away, a flash of light appeared, a large group of dwarves teleported from the Magic Array, armored and resplendent.
Among them, some dwarves' aura was similar to those approaching from afar, with air swirling around them, seemingly forming a unique entity.
Several Grandmaster dwarves arrived.
Zhou Leng and others knew what was happening, but the other dwarves or humans who hadn't reached the Ancient King's Palace were all stunned and frightened.
Molten Hammer, dazed by alcohol, laughed: "If it weren't for the Grandmasters fighting for the mysterious treasure, more would have come. This is Old Grandfather's treasure."
"I too heard, the Grandmasters of the Ten Realms are fighting for it, even Martial Saints are involved, what is it specifically?"
"Unclear, currently referred to as Grandmaster's Treasure, but extremely precious."
Soon, the Grandmaster dwarves understood the situation and immediately arranged to completely isolate and protect Zhou Leng and over three hundred people, driving away others.
The Grandmasters, Innates, and dwarf guards escorted everyone to the nearest city, the Furnace of Flame.
Afterwards, the Mountain Furnace Tribe convened the major dwarf tribes to discuss crucial matters.
After Zhou Leng handed over the Golden Treasure Box and the Eye of the Ancient God of the Dwarf Race, he had nothing more to do, residing in the palace of the Mountain Furnace Tribe with Zhang Xinglie and other dwarves.
Everyone gathered, eating, drinking, sparring, having a delightful time.
Spending a day, still awaiting the news of departure, yet everyone wasn't anxious.
Early the next morning, most people woke up early to head to the palace's practice grounds to strengthen their bodies.
Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie were among them.
After breakfast, Tu Rong, accompanied by Mark and team leader Jax, came to Zhou Leng's residence.