Tap, tap, tap…
In a hollow, silent space, crisp footsteps rang out. On the walls, rare fluorites glowed with a gentle white light, illuminating what was said to be the Heavenly Dou Imperial Family's final and greatest treasury.
Chen Yi wandered the room, glancing at the neat display shelves on either side—each stacked with treasure after treasure, their colors sparkling enchantingly under the stones' radiance.
"So many rare treasures," he remarked, a hint of surprise in his eyes, followed by a faint smile.
On the left, instead of usual gold and silver, exotic jade artifacts and crystal-sealed herbs were arranged in order—herbs at least a thousand years old, giving off ripples of alluring energy.
On the right, dozens of ancient soul tools were displayed—all exquisite in workmanship.
Going deeper, thanks to his powerful spiritual perception, Chen Yi could vaguely sense swings of soul bones, though the quality seemed average.
"This is the treasury the Heavenly Dou Imperial Family has built over centuries, even millennia. Without such wealth, how could they stake their claim as an empire? If word ever got out, they'd be laughed at by all."
Qian Renxue walked beside Chen Yi, now in her true form: golden hair flowing down her back, face breathtakingly beautiful, a natural aura of divinity about her.
Her tone was calm, betraying a note of pride as half its owner.
They walked together, Qian Renxue leading, smiling with golden eyes at Chen Yi.
"If anything catches your eye, just say the word. This young miss—no, this 'crown prince'—is in a good mood and you may have whatever you wish."
Chen Yi merely smiled, not answering the offer. Instead, he looked around the empty corridor and asked quietly:
"Are you really not worried about disguises? Is this truly safe?"
Qian Renxue giggled, her laugh clear and resonant in the silent vault.
"Young Master Chen, you overthink it. For years I have infiltrated almost the entire Heavenly Dou Palace, controlling everything inside and out. Anyone with access to the core vault has long since been replaced by my own men."
"I was never much interested in dead things, but since you wanted to see, I simply swapped out the guards beforehand. Now, this place is perfectly clean."
Chen Yi nodded, seemingly satisfied. He asked no more. The two quickly passed through the outer area into the secret vault's depths.
They soon arrived at a solitary pedestal of white jade, softly glowing with warmth, itself a rare treasure.
In its center sat a square jade box, masterfully carved from ancient cold jade, faintly chilling and shining with a pure blue light. Even the box alone was a treasure.
"Look." Qian Renxue pointed with her delicate hand at the cold jade box.
"This is the Heavenly Dou Empire's national treasure you sought: the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."
On their way, Chen Yi had told her he wished to see the legendary Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud of the Heaven Dou royal house—an item crucially linked to the Sea God's legacy. Chen Yi naturally intended to keep it under his control, especially considering the risk of future conflict with the Sea God.
Stepping forward, Chen Yi opened the box's lid with a finger.
Inside was no padding, only a single, regular-shaped, dark blue transparent triangle.
It lay quietly in the cold jade, surface smooth as a mirror, as if currents of seawater flowed within—one could almost hear the distant crashing of waves.
Qian Renxue added at just the right moment:
"The royal secret records say nothing certain of where it came from—only that it suddenly appeared in a small, isolated tribe on the northeast coast, who worshipped it as sacred."
Later, its special effects and the known defects of the royal martial soul made it coveted by the emperor. After failed negotiations, the tribe was suppressed with military force and the 'Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud' seized.
Chen Yi nodded, having expected as much. The Swan martial soul itself was powerful, yet even with advanced cultivation, its combat force remained weak—the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, usable with only soul and spiritual power, was a perfect match.
After some thought, Chen Yi reached out and picked up the blue triangle.
It felt cool, but not icily so—more like the constant chill of the deep sea's waters.
At his touch, vast, pure water energy and a faintly supreme aura radiated from the item into his palm.
Sensing this aura, Chen Yi's gaze deepened.
The next instant, his spirit power erupted without warning—
Six soul rings—two purple, three black, one red—rose from beneath his feet, pulsing with energy.
"Chen Yi?" Qian Renxue, startled, golden eyes wide with surprise.
Why would he suddenly unleash all his soul rings and martial soul here? Was there something strange about the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?
As this thought flashed through her mind, Chen Yi's fourth soul ring flickered, casting a purplish-gold halo.
Simultaneously, deep within his body, the position of the Thunder God was activated, lightly trembling.
A slender strand of purplish-gold god power quietly drew from Chen Yi's divine seat, flowed down his arm and into the palm holding the Cosmic Shroud.
This power was so faint as to be almost unnoticeable—even Qian Renxue, so close and so keen, would only barely sense it.
Bzzz—!
Yet at the moment this trace of Thunder God's divine power touched the surface of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud...
A blazing, peerless blue godlight exploded from it, a surging oceanic aura raging forth like a mad dragon, eager to attack the invading foreign god power at its core.
Simultaneously, a challenge was issued to Chen Yi's internal divinity—waves of infinite light burst out.
Chen Yi was ready. Exhaling, he wrapped the surging god power tightly with his spirit and pushed hard against the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
Under his precise control, Thunder God's power transformed into countless intricate thunder runes, piercing directly into the deep blue divine light.
"Ahhh—!"
At that instant, the dormant will within the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, asleep for countless ages, was rudely awakened by the invading god-force.
"Who dares… desecrate a god?!"
It became a blurry blue phantom, reflexively drawing on the Sea God's power bound in the artifact to resist and drive out the 'impure' power invading it.
Yet, upon recognizing the challenger, the phantom trembled with terror.
"What… what is this?! This essence—how is this possible?! Who are you?!"
Sensing the essence and overwhelming might of Thunder God's divine power, the remnant consciousness was instantly flooded with dread.
In desperation, it struggled to draw forth all the Sea God's power sealed within the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud—runes glimmered with his brilliance, the phantom ready to break free and war against the invading force.
But it was only a trace of will within a family heirloom—its power was limited, far from that of a real god.
Chen Yi's injected god power had the backing of a God-King—an absolute difference in rank that decided the outcome in an instant.
"NO—!"
The blue phantasm screamed, shuddering violently, as if trying to break the seal and transmit news of this shock to the Sea God himself in the distant divine realm.
But the God-King's might blanketed all. The godlight soared upward—only to strike an invisible barrier, fading after a weak ripple and ultimately being forced back deep into the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
Only the echo of a furious, aggrieved howl remained deep within the sealed core…
Outside, Qian Renxue faintly heard the dignified shout, but silence quickly returned.
At this moment, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud's blue glow faded completely, now no more than an exceptionally deep blue crystal, albeit one of extraordinary quality.
All hints of the vast ocean and subtle god force vanished.
Chen Yi withdrew his hand, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud quietly resting in his palm.
He turned to meet Qian Renxue's shocked and fearful gaze.
In a low voice, he said,
"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud? The name fits, but properly, it's 'Posseidon's Heart'—the Sea God's Heart."
"Poseidon's Heart?"
Qian Renxue repeated, her golden eyes instantly frosted with killing intent.
Her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, had told her that the fall of the Divine Ancestor most likely had to do with the Sea God.
"Exactly," Chen Yi affirmed. "This is the core of Poseidon's Trident and the symbol he will use to choose a successor in this world."
"Hmph… so it's Poseidon…" Qian Renxue's tone was frigid, as if squeezing words from between clenched teeth.
To disregard the countless sea soul masters and throw the key to inheritance onto the continent—how despicable their intent!
Chen Yi stored the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in his soul guide, his mind resolute. This god-level relic's core was too important—no matter how temporarily sealed, best to keep it by his side.
Hand it to Qian Renxue?
The Angel God's divinity was already riddled with holes. Giving her this was like throwing a lamb to the slaughter, inviting unpredictable risk.
"Let's go."
Without another word, Chen Yi turned and walked out of the vault.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, forcing down her killing intent and hatred swelling in her chest. Her final cold glance swept the now-empty jade box—then she, too, turned and followed.
..
Bonus chapter at 100 PS