...
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Ning Fengzhi bowed slightly in greeting.
Xuan Hao also cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, though not perfectly, it was still a sign of respect: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Hahaha, Sect Master Ning, Your Excellency Sword Douluo, there's no need for such formalities."
Emperor Xueye laughed loudly and strode forward. His gaze immediately fell on Xuan Hao, his eyes filled with scrutiny and admiration.
He showed no trace of the rage he had shown in the imperial study yesterday, when he wished he could tear Xuan Hao to pieces.
"This... must be young friend Xuanhao, right?"
Emperor Xueye looked Xuanhao up and down, nodding in admiration, "Truly a hero emerges from among the young!
To have such cultivation and demeanor at such a young age, it's no wonder that even Qinghe speaks highly of you."
Emperor Xueye remained silent about the previous incidents of kneeling during the avalanche and Dugu Yan being tied up, as if they had never happened.
His composure and thick skin certainly make him fit to be an emperor.
"Your Majesty flatters me."
Xuan Hao smiled and agreed, "It's just good luck, a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse."
He's here to collect something, and one shouldn't hit a smiling face.
Since the old emperor is giving him face, he'll naturally play along.
"Young friend, you are too modest."
Emperor Xueye smiled and said no more. He turned and walked towards the huge stone door.
"Since I promised you, I will not go back on my word.
Apart from a few specific sacrificial items, you may choose three other treasures from the national treasury."
After speaking, Emperor Xueye walked alone to a recess beside the stone gate, took out a uniquely shaped dragon-shaped jade seal from his bosom, pressed it in, and then infused it with a rich soul power.
"Boom—!!"
A deep, thunderous roar echoed through the underground plaza.
The massive stone gate, ten meters high and ten meters wide, rose extremely slowly, driven by a mechanism.
"This is..."
The Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had been silent all along, had a glint of light in his eyes the moment he saw the boulder.
His lips moved slightly, and an extremely faint sound reached Ning Fengzhi's ears:
"This stone gate is no ordinary thing."
"This material is incredibly hard and has a strong insulating effect on soul power. My spiritual power is completely unable to penetrate it."
"If this door is lowered, it would be difficult to force it open from the outside, even if I used all my strength."
Ning Fengzhi was secretly alarmed upon hearing this.
As a Soul Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, his perception was more acute than Chen Xin's.
He could sense that the door itself was a priceless treasure!
As the massive dragon-slaying stone rose, the so-called royal treasury was finally revealed to everyone.
The first thing that catches the eye is a small, golden hill.
Countless gold soul coins, gold bricks, and various precious rare metals were piled up haphazardly at the entrance, reflecting a dazzling and mesmerizing light under the illumination of the ever-burning lamps.
"Wow…" Na'er exclaimed in surprise.
"Tch, so tacky."
However, as the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Rongrong scoffed at these worldly things.
She merely glanced at them before disdainfully taking Xuan Hao's hand.
"Brother Xuanhao, don't be fooled by these; they're just ordinary junk. The real treasures are definitely hidden inside!"
After saying that, she ignored the slight twitching of Emperor Xueye's lips and pulled Xuanhao and Na'er into the depths of the treasure vault.
Once you pass through the outer "golden zone," the scenery inside changes dramatically.
Instead of the nouveau riche style of opulent splendor, rows of display cases made of special crystal have been erected.
"That's more like it."
Ning Rongrong, like a little mistress entering her own backyard, pointed to the things inside the crystal covers and began to explain them to Xuan Hao in great detail:
"Look at this, that's a ginseng king that's been around for ten thousand years.
This stuff is incredibly nourishing.
As long as you're still breathing, just put one in your mouth and you can stay alive."
"And that one, bright red like a mushroom, that's blood lingzhi, it has a miraculous effect on enhancing qi and blood."
"That white one is a snow lotus that has existed for ten thousand years..."
As she spoke, she pointed to the crystal domes and explained to Xuan Hao:
"Brother Xuanhao, look at these covers. These aren't ordinary crystals; they're special soul tools that can lock in the medicinal properties and spiritual energy of herbs, preventing them from being lost.
Even if they're left for hundreds of years, the herbs inside will still be as fresh as if they were just picked.
We have a few in our family's treasure vault, but… not as many as here."
Although Xuan Hao didn't understand these things very well, seeing Ning Rongrong's professional demeanor, he nodded repeatedly and even gave Emperor Xue Ye a thumbs up:
"Your Majesty, you truly possess profound knowledge and experience."
Emperor Xueye wore a forced smile, but inside he was sweating profusely.
He really didn't expect that Ning Fengzhi would actually bring this "little witch" along!
Ning Fengzhi, as the sect leader, was an old fox. Even if he saw something good, he would keep quiet to save face.
But this little girl speaks without thinking, she doesn't watch her mouth, and she has a very sharp eye.
With her around, there's bound to be some bleeding today!
Just then, Ning Rongrong, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped.
She stood in an inconspicuous corner deep within the treasure vault, facing a seemingly ordinary wall, her large eyes gleaming with an unusual light.
"Brother Xuanhao! Over here!"
Ning Rongrong pointed to that corner, her voice trembling with excitement, "There's something there!
And... something extremely powerful!!"
"That corner felt a hundred times more precious to me than all the herbs in this room combined!"
Xuan Hao's heart stirred. He stepped forward, pretended to touch the wall, and turned to look at Emperor Xue Ye:
"Your Majesty, behind this wall... there seems to be a hidden world?"
Emperor Xueye's expression changed instantly.
He strode forward, stood in front of the wall, and forced a smile.
"Young friend, there is indeed a secret room behind this.
However, it contains the national treasure of my Heavenly Dou Empire, which not only symbolizes imperial power but also relates to the fate of the nation. It is really... inconvenient to show it to the public."
"Your Majesty, this is not very interesting."
Xuan Hao stepped forward, looking at Xue Ye with an innocent expression.
"You just said I could choose any three things, and I could take them with me.
What? Now that you've found out I've taken a liking to something nice, you're reluctant to part with it?"
"this..."
On the snowy night, the Great Emperor's forehead was covered in sweat, and he was inwardly groaning.
He had said he could choose freely, but he didn't expect these kids to have such sharp eyes!
Especially Ning Rongrong, she's practically a treasure-hunting rat!
"Young friend, you've misunderstood."
Emperor Xueye forced a smile and explained, "It's not that I'm stingy.
But this thing... it's not just a treasure, it represents the destiny and history of the Heavenly Dou royal family.
Indeed... it's inconvenient to spread."
Moreover, and most importantly, Ning Fengzhi was right behind him.
That thing was too mystical; even the royal family hadn't figured out its true purpose.
If the discerning Ning Fengzhi were to see it, there was no guarantee the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wouldn't harbor some wicked intentions.
Xuan Hao looked at Xue Ye's expression, which was as if she were guarding against a thief, and understood what was going on.
"I see..."
"I am not one to force others to do things against their will.
Since it is a national treasure, I certainly cannot take away what others cherish."
"How about this, Sect Master Ning and Senior Sword Douluo are waiting outside.
You can take the three of us kids in and let us broaden our horizons and see the world, is that alright?"
Emperor Xueye was stunned for a moment.
That's one way to do it.
If Ning Fengzhi doesn't go in, even if the three children see it, they might not recognize its value.
Besides, Xuan Hao has already made his point clear; if they refuse again, it would seem that the royal family is petty.
Ning Fengzhi, who was not far away, was an extremely shrewd person.
Seeing Xue Ye's reaction and Xuan Hao's eyes, he immediately understood.
"Since it is a royal secret, it is indeed inappropriate for me to pry into it."
Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly and tactfully pulled Chen Xin back a few steps. "Perfect timing.
I see some rather peculiar medicinal herbs over there. Uncle Jian and I will go over there to take a look.
I'll leave Rongrong in Your Majesty's care."
Seeing that Ning Fengzhi was so understanding and sensible, Emperor Xueye finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"In that case... alright then."
Emperor Xueye looked at the three little ones with expectant faces and shook his head helplessly, "I will make an exception and take you in for a look."
"But let's make it clear first: you can look, but you can't touch, and you definitely can't take."
"Don't worry, don't worry!"
Xuan Hao patted his chest and assured him, "I'm a very rule-abiding person!"
After Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin had walked away, Emperor Xueye turned around and walked to the wall.
He took out an ancient jade pendant that he had never shown to anyone before from his inner pocket and carefully placed it in a hidden compartment in the wall that was extremely difficult to find.
"Click".
With a soft sound, the wall slowly receded inward, revealing a small door that could only allow one person to pass through.
"Come in."
Emperor Xueye was the first to enter.
Xuan Hao, holding Na'er's hand and pulling Ning Rongrong along, followed closely behind.
This secret room is not large, only a few dozen square meters, and it lacks the luxurious decorations found outside, and there isn't even a lamp that stays on all the time.
However, the entire secret room was not dark.
Because on a stone platform in the very center of the secret chamber, there was something emitting a soft blue light.
It was an extremely strange object, its entire body a crystal-clear blue, in the shape of a three-dimensional triangle, and only the size of a palm.
At first glance, it looks like a work of art carved from the finest sapphires.
But upon closer inspection, within that crystalline blue light, a precious glow emanated, and a strange and vast energy fluctuation continuously emanated from it, as if it were not a stone, but a deep ocean.
On this blue triangular body, there are patterns that ripple like water.
These patterns don't look like rigid carvings; instead, they seem to be alive, flowing and pulsating slowly.
Rings of blue light spread outwards with the undulations of the patterns, casting a faint, ethereal glow over the entire secret chamber, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
"hiss--"
Ning Rongrong was stunned the moment she saw this thing.
She instinctively covered her mouth, her pupils contracted sharply, and pointed at the blue triangular object, her voice trembling as she said:
"Compared to...compared to this thing..."
"Everything outside... is garbage!!"
Seeing Ning Rongrong's shocked expression, Emperor Xueye revealed a proud look on his face.
He walked to the stone platform, looking at the object emitting a soft blue light, his tone becoming solemn and dignified:
"This item is called the Vast Ocean Universe Cover."
"It is the true national treasure of our Heavenly Dou royal family."
"A thousand years ago, my ancestors of the Heavenly Dou royal family were invincible on the battlefield, pacified the north, and finally established this vast Heavenly Dou Empire, all thanks to the protection of this treasure!"
"It can be said that without it, there would be no Heavenly Dou Royal Family as we know it today!"
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