Chapter 893: Chapter 616: Miracle Treasure of Heaven and Earth
"Thunder is truly the most violent of the Five Elements energies in the Universe. The Nine Heavens Thunder Dragon Transformation combined with Thunder Dragon Nine Kills—this is a killing move that can shake the Eighth Realm."
Lu Chenzhou was in a good mood.
The 36 Transformations are very powerful, but there is a flaw—during transformations, he cannot use certain combat skills and divine skills created in his human form: [Nine Tribulation Lotus], [Hidden Element], [Butterfly Dream Circulation], [Mixed Cave Gate]... All these cannot be activated. To use them, he has to dispel the transformation first.
But these acquired [Dao Divine Powers] are unhindered. So long as the Ancient True Spirit he transforms into also masters the same Dao, he can use them.
The Nine Heavens Thunder Dragon is only inferior to the Thunder God among Thunder Dao creatures. When it executes [Thunder Dragon Nine Kills], it far surpasses Lei Wanliu, that half-baked Thunder Divine Son. After all, nowadays, after generations of Divine Race interbreeding, the bloodline is far too diluted.
During the Great Wilderness Period, before the Divine War, among the Eight Great Divine Clans, there were plenty of Demigod existences. But once the ancestors died, the bloodline became a rootless spring, and could only be refined and continued by the radiation of the clan’s sacred artifacts.
This is the disadvantage of the Bloodline Dao.
Living off the capital of the ancestors will eventually run dry.
Although Martial Arts also values root bone and talent, compared to the Bloodline Dao and to Qi Refiners and Ancient Cultivators who require a Spirit Root, it’s already the most egalitarian path.
After all, as long as you are a human being, you can train. In a population of tens of billions in Tianxia, if resources are sufficient, theoretically anyone could practice Martial Arts and produce Martial Arts Grandmasters numbering in the billions.
Next, a purple bead emerged in Lu Chenzhou’s palm, about the size of a human head, with layers and layers of mysterious thunder patterns on the surface, like blooming waves.
His eyes blazed with fervor.
"Luck is on my side today. This Thunder Treasure Land fused with Lei Wanliu’s body, then was attacked and refined by twelve Nine Tribulation Lotuses. By some miraculous chance, it actually birthed one of the legendary and extremely rare miracle treasures of Heaven and Earth."
During the Great Wilderness Period, the combat tools used by Qi Refiners were mainly divided into two kinds. One was artificially forged Spiritual Weapons, the most common; the other was Heaven-and-Earth-borne rare treasures, unsuitable for alchemy or direct ingestion, but inherently possessing enormous power. If refined, they could be used as weapons directly. Such treasures are called: Miracle Treasures.
Miracle Treasures are born by nature, marvels acquired by chance.
The birth of a Miracle Treasure is a vanishingly rare event of pure accident. All Miracle Treasures are one of a kind.
The ancient Demigod ancestor of the Divine Thunder Sect, his [Thunderstruck Dragon Saliva Staff] originated from a Divine Tree atop Zhong Mountain, which grew for a billion years and, at a moment of coincidence, was struck by Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, then by another stroke of luck, Candle Dragon God dripped saliva onto it, causing it to resonate with the Dao and form a top-level miracle treasure.
The residence of the Three Feet Dragon Emperor, that golden star of the Dragon Transformation Ancient Dragon, was created by the collision of two stars during the Dragon Emperor’s travels in the Mystic Sky Realm. It is the 8th-ranked defensive supreme treasure on the Spiritual Weapon List:
Undying Golden Star.
The Spirit Phoenix Clan’s supreme treasure [Myriad Feather Mountain] was formed after generations of Phoenix Clan ancestors and warriors were buried in a great tomb in the Wilderness, then, due to an accidental descent of heavenly fire, the tomb was set ablaze for three thousand years, only for the fire to unexpectedly quench, leaving behind a Divine Mountain forged of Phoenix feathers, ranked fifth on the Spiritual Weapon List.
There are many such cases.
In short, Miracle Treasures always arise by chance—planting willows unintentionally, yet shade forms. They cannot be copied, just as the birth of life is also a chance event.
According to what Lu Chenzhou knows, the quality of a Miracle Treasure is intimately tied to the World that nurtured it, so Great Wilderness Qi Refiners crudely divide them into low, intermediate, and high Third Class minor realm treasures, and First Class major realm treasures.
Even a low-class minor realm Miracle Treasure can display quasi-Spiritual Weapon power. Intermediate-class Miracle Treasures can rival quasi-Eighth Rank Spiritual Weapons; high-class ones, quasi-Ninth Rank Spiritual Weapons. And this unremarkable-looking bead in his hand is the top-level major realm Miracle Treasure.
It’s comparable to a Supreme Treasure!
However, the formation of a Miracle Treasure does not happen overnight. It has three forms: embryonic, growth, and complete form. At present, it’s still in the embryonic stage, roughly equivalent to an Eighth Rank Middle Grade Spiritual Weapon.
In the growth stage, it can evolve into an Eighth Rank High Grade or Top Grade Spiritual Weapon. If it overcomes tribulations, it becomes an Innate Treasure, guaranteed to rank top ten on the Spiritual Weapon List.
"This is truly a priceless treasure. All my spoils in Mystic Sky combined cannot compare to a hair on this purple bead. The thing is, I have no idea how to cultivate a Miracle Treasure, I’ll have to consult Senior Brother."
Miracle Treasures cannot be forged—doing so would destroy their natural structure, so they are as they are born.
During growth, like a cultivator, they will evolve and give rise to new, random Divine traits—no one can determine their path. Just treat it as a special, spiritually-intelligent lifeform.
"Let me take a look."
Lu Chenzhou sent his telekinesis into the Thunder Pearl. Inside, there was a wonderland. Looking around, a Thunder Sea hung above the heavens, purple mountains loomed on the earth, all sorts of sprite creatures, born out of the thunder, darted about, transforming into Thunder Peng, Thunder Dragon, Thunder Snake and myriad bizarre forms. Even the weakest emitted Four Realms auras, and the strongest was a giant tentacled monster, octopus-like, half-transparent, hiding in the clouds, emanating a dominance close to the Eighth Realm, with Sixfold Thunder Dao Essence roiling about it.
"It’s actually an extremely rare World-type Miracle Treasure, nurturing many primordial Thunder Element lifeforms. If it keeps evolving, there’s hope it will become a true World, independent from the Three Thousand Realms."
Lu Chenzhou was deeply shaken in body and mind.
Miracle Treasure or Spiritual Weapon—it doesn’t matter.
Grotto Heaven types are always the most valuable.
And Grotto Heaven Miracle Treasures are far above Spiritual Weapons.
Because a Grotto Heaven Spiritual Weapon does not grow, but a Miracle Treasure continually evolves, and may well become a Great World, manifesting a complete set of rules.
Lu Chenzhou wandered the Thunder World, soon drawing the notice of many primordial Thunder creatures.
By instinct, they resisted, unleashing terrifying thunder to drown the unprepared Lu Chenzhou.
"They actually attacked me?"
Lu Chenzhou withdrew his mind.
"That’s right. Although I personally brought about the birth of this Miracle Treasure, I haven’t refined it; this world, and its lifeforms, are all still rejecting me."
He put away the bead and left first.
Soon after, he arrived at the mine.
Within the Great Dream Realm, over thirty thousand Divine Race warriors now had only 360 Sixth Realm experts left standing numbly in the wilds, awaiting judgment from the giant face.
The wilderness was littered with corpses.
The giant face in the sky solidified. He opened his mouth and inhaled—the souls of the dead were swept into his mouth by a storm.
The proficiency with Five Elements and Wind and Thunder climbed ever so slowly, and even after all were refined, it would not increase by even a tenth.
"The quality is too poor, and numbers can’t make up for it anymore. I’ll have to hunt Realm Kings."
Lu Chenzhou was a little disappointed.
He stared at those numb faces.
"I’m not one who delights in slaughter. Since I’ve promised to spare your lives, I won’t break my word. From this day on, you will be exiled to Aurora Palace and serve as slaves for a thousand years. After a thousand years, I will free you. If you hold a grudge, you’re welcome to come take revenge at any time."
The Divine Race experts were all shaken.
"A thousand years?"
"That’s fine. We can outwait that."
The Divine Race are a quintessential long-life species, with an average lifespan far outstripping Qi Refiners—and absolutely crushing Martial Artists. Sixth Realm Divine Race typically live around three thousand years.
If there’s no method to extend lifespan,
even Seventh Realm Martial Artists can’t survive a thousand years.
This is the gap.
This is why many long-life species look down on Martial Artists, feeling they burn their life away for advancement.
Since ancient times, whether Qi Refiner or Transcendent Race, everyone’s cultivation is for longevity.
Martial Artists and longevity are completely unrelated.
Once a rapid ascension comes to a halt and bottlenecks appear, Martial Artists can only wait to die. Unlike the long-lived races—at least they live long enough before dying.
Moreover, the longer you live, the more opportunities you have.
You never know, you might make a comeback someday.
"Revenge?" A veteran Divine Race warrior shook his head. "With your talent, a thousand years from now, if you’re not already a Great Power, it will mean you’re dead already. How could we dare seek revenge? We only ask that you keep your word."
"We just want to survive."
"Frankly, the Divine Alliance may not last. I never thought a human could appear like this."
"Perhaps being reduced to black slaves isn’t so bad—at least it’s a place to stay alive."
The Divine Race warriors’ hearts were as dead ashes.
Lu Chenzhou took out the Aurora Palace.
The artifact spirit spoke excitedly:
[Who would have thought—one day, I could return to my peak condition! Thank you, master!]
Chains shot out, piercing the bodies of the 360 slumbering Divine Race warriors, planting the black slave mark. Unless these Divine Race advanced to the Seventh Realm, there was absolutely no escaping bondage.
But in the Aurora Palace, where one can only preserve vital signs and not die, how could black slaves possibly grow?
Black slave—born to be cattle and horses!
Cattle and horses shouldn’t worry about the future.
To be alive is already a gift from Heaven.
Rumble! The Aurora Palace shone brilliantly, with ancient arrays on its surface, long sealed, beginning to operate.
The other Divine Race who died in the dream, their bodies all self-immolated, turning to ashes and nurturing the land.
Below, countless mine slaves gathered together. As the Divine Race hierarchy perished, the collars around their necks shattered, restoring their freedom.
"We’re saved!"
"The Divine Alliance angered the Mystic Sky Lord!"
The mine slaves knelt on the ground.
"Thank you, my lord."
"Thank you, Senior!"
In the crowd, Luo Shan looked excited. Breathing hard, he knelt on the ground and roared skyward:
"Junior Luo Shan, twenty-nine years old, has broken through four shackles. I humbly ask Senior Lu to accept me as a disciple!"
Luo Shan’s voice startled the others.
"Where did this brat come from?"
"What nonsense—breaking four shackles?"
"This Senior seems to be an Eighth Realm powerhouse, standing atop the World. How could he fancy this snot-nosed kid?"
"Dream on! Even with my Sixth Realm cultivation, I wouldn’t dare ask Senior for apprenticeship." a burly man scoffed.
Luo Shan ignored them all.
He was throwing caution to the wind.
Even if it infuriated Senior and he was slapped to death, he wanted to risk seeking a Master. Otherwise, trapped in Mystic Sky forever, he’d never have a day to shine—let alone venture to the Flame Bright Great World and rescue his father.
Lu Chenzhou looked down from above.
The mine fell silent as death.
He stepped through the air, appearing before Luo Shan, as countless people held their breath.
Lu Chenzhou, immortal-like, gently stroked Luo Shan’s head, then tapped his forehead nine times, before, expressionless, returning above to the Aurora Palace in the heights.
Luo Shan paused, then was overjoyed.
"Enlightenment."
Countless streams of information flowed in his mind, condensing into a golden Bodhi Seed three inches in diameter.
Luo Shan knelt, kowtowing nine times.
He murmured inwardly:
"Thank you, Master!"