It didn't take long for Lu Xuan to find the hidden anomaly. Deep beneath the earth, within the core of the Nine Dragons Devouring Heaven Array, an incredibly ancient vault lay concealed.
With a mere thought, he extended a massive hand, and boundless, terrifying power reached out toward the treasury. Countless dazzling defensive Great Emperor Formation Pattern Fragments instantly flared to life, the Emperor Realm Dao patterns desperately resisting Lu Xuan’s casual grasp.
Lu Xuan treated them as nothing. With a gentle squeeze, the endless array patterns collapsed and disintegrated like extinguished stars, scattering across the ground. He simply snatched the Heavenly Net General Hall Treasury, as easily as plucking a star from the sky.
Boom!
The impossibly massive vault slammed onto the earth, causing the ground to tremble violently.
The Ye Family members were stunned. “Peak Master Lu, this is?”
Lu Xuan answered flatly, “The Heavenly Net General Hall Treasury.”
Instantaneously, the Ye Family erupted in excitement! They knew that over the past few millennia, the Heavenly Net Hall had annihilated countless major powers and plundered an untold number of supreme treasures! Now, all those treasures belonged to them!
The vault itself was covered in shattered Dao Rhythms, emanating brilliant Divine Radiance, looking like a magnificent treasure that captivated the heart.
Lu Xuan punched through the remaining Dao pattern Restrictions with a laugh. “Let’s see what kind of foundation the Heavenly Net Hall truly possesses.”
In the next instant, the vault burst open.
The blinding Divine Radiance nearly scorched everyone’s eyes!
Several Eight-star Emperor Weapons radiated overwhelming power—a spiritual sword, a chain that could bind the heavens, and an ancient Array Plate. Though sealed, they could not suppress the profound Dao and Essence contained within the Emperor Weapons.
Beyond those, there were even more Emperor Weapons of lower grades, along with vast quantities of Healing Saint Medicine, Emperor-tier spirit herbs, Array Plates, Talismans, and countless jade slips containing plundered cultivation techniques:
“One Sword Decides Life and Death!”
“Fire Fury Buddha Lotus!”
“Flame Separation Wave Devouring Blade!”
“...”
In the deepest recesses of the treasury, two ancient bottles were sealed by multiple layers of Restrictions. Everyone was curious: What could these be?
Lu Xuan utilized his Insight Eye, casually shattering the seals. The two ancient bottles opened.
One contained Azure Nether Celestial Water!
The other contained All-Reach Profound Powder!
Ye Beichen gasped, utterly shocked. “That Dao Rhyme... could it be the legendary Heaven and Earth Wonders, the Azure Nether Celestial Water and the All-Reach Profound Powder?”
Ji Fuyao’s expression, however, dimmed slightly, showing a hint of disappointment. She had expected some heaven-defying artifact, not these two items! She knew that back on Azure Mystery Peak, there was a massive vat of Azure Nether Celestial Water and a huge basin of All-Reach Profound Powder, casually left around.
In comparison, she felt her Master’s foundation was truly terrifying! Her Master must be holding back countless other, even more incredible items. But she quickly rationalized that her Master was doing this for their own good. Some items were too heaven-defying, and cultivators at their current realm simply couldn't handle them.
Chen Changsheng, standing nearby, was also secretly astonished. The formidable Heavenly Net Hall had spent millennia plundering, yet they only managed to acquire this meager amount of Azure Nether Celestial Water and All-Reach Profound Powder, which they sealed away so meticulously. Meanwhile, in Lu Xuan’s humble hut, these Heaven and Earth Wonders were placed around casually.
Lu Xuan shook his head dismissively. “Is that all?”
He sent a mental message to Chen Changsheng, asking what he needed. Chen Changsheng immediately listed hundreds of supreme treasures: Array Plates, high-grade spirit herbs, several Evasion Arts techniques, and various hallucinogenic or highly poisonous powders.
Lu Xuan nodded, flicked his finger, and extracted the requested items, placing them in a Storage Ring which he secretly handed to Chen Changsheng. He then selected a few suitable treasures and spirit herbs for Ye Chen.
“Alright, Fuyao. The rest is yours to handle.”
Ji Fuyao was momentarily stunned. “Master, these are too valuable!”
Lu Xuan chuckled. “What’s so valuable about this? It’s all trash, really! Wait until I step into the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone and wipe out the Silent Destruction Sect—that is where the true foundation lies!”
Stars glittered in Ji Fuyao’s eyes; she was already looking forward to it.
With a wave of his hand, Lu Xuan summoned the power of creation, placing the entire massive vault into a single Storage Ring, which he handed to Ji Fuyao.
“Thank you, Master!” Ji Fuyao said.
Lu Xuan nodded.
Ji Fuyao then turned to the Ye Family members. “Once we return to the Blackflame Mountain Range, I will distribute these treasures among you!”
The Ye Family members were ecstatic. Their decision to pledge allegiance to Empress Fuyao again was proving to be the wisest choice they had ever made.
“Good,” Lu Xuan said lightly. “Let’s go up. Now that this business is concluded, and the remaining Heavenly Net Hall Emperor Realm Experts have been dealt with, it’s time for us to head back.”
At that moment, Chen Changsheng spoke up. “Master, please grant me a few hours. I wish to study this Nine Dragons Devouring Heaven Array.”
Lu Xuan agreed. “Very well.”
Chen Changsheng added, “I might cause some disturbance. I ask Master to conceal my aura.”
“No problem,” Lu Xuan replied.
Ji Fuyao also spoke, her voice filled with determination. “Master, I gained some profound insights from observing your previous actions. I wish to cultivate here for a while.”
As she finished speaking, a scorching aura surged from her body. Her fiery red dress became even more dazzling, and the power of the Path of Spirit Fire enveloped her. She was entering enlightenment.
“Excellent. You may enter enlightenment here. I shall seal this space for you,” Lu Xuan said.
With a flick of his sleeve, endless, brilliant Dao patterns surged, transforming into swirling constellations that instantly reinforced this small pocket of heaven and earth, making it impossible for the outside world to peer inside.
Lu Xuan checked the duration remaining on his experience card. Still several hours left. No need to rush.
He casually pulled a lounge chair from his Storage Ring, lay down, and began to rest.
Ji Fuyao sat cross-legged not far from Lu Xuan. Her beautiful figure, clad in the red dress, was enveloped by the surging power of the Heaven-Burning Art. The surrounding temperature instantly soared as an endless sea of fire began to expand outward from her body. She was deep in profound enlightenment.
Chen Changsheng had already moved dozens of miles away, observing the terrain and array patterns of the Nine Dragons Devouring Heaven Array. Although Lu Xuan had shattered its Stance, Chen Changsheng could still deduce the whole from a single part and reconstruct the array in his mind. He took out an Ancient Jade Slip and began meticulously inscribing the patterns.
Lu Xuan lay back leisurely.
The System’s voice continuously echoed in his mind.
“Ding! Host’s eldest disciple, Ji Fuyao, is comprehending the Path of Spirit Fire. Synchronizing comprehension now!”
“Ding! Host’s second disciple, Ye Chen, has improved his alchemy attainment. Synchronizing now!”
“Ding! Host’s third disciple, Chen Changsheng, has improved his array formation attainment. Synchronizing now!”
Instantly, profound and mysterious insights flooded Lu Xuan’s mind, transforming into dazzling streams of light.
***
Meanwhile, outside, the crowd remained fixed in the void, staring intently at the Heavenly Net Mountain Range.
Previously, the powerful experts couldn't peer into the underground world due to the shroud of sinister black mist and Silent Destruction Power. Now, Lu Xuan had sealed the area with transcendent Formation Patterns at Chen Changsheng’s request, making it even more impenetrable.
Numerous spirit boats floated in the sky, filled with cultivators whose expressions were complex and anxious.
Hidden in the void were several Alien Race Supreme Great Emperors and Demon Race Great Emperors. They sent their divine senses toward the underground world, but Lu Xuan’s seals blocked them completely. They had no idea what was happening beneath.
One Demon Race Great Emperor muttered, “The Nine Dragons Devouring Heaven Array consumed massive life force. Has it still not taken down this White Robe Great Emperor?”
Another Alien Race Nine-star Great Emperor replied, “In this battle, Duan Hunsheng activated his ultimate array. The final victor will likely be him. However, the White Robe Great Emperor’s strength is also immense. When two powerhouses clash, no matter who wins, it will be a miserable victory.”
A miserable victory!
Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the Great Emperors. There was an old human saying: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of The Oriole Behind the Mantis.
It didn't matter who was the cicada and who was the mantis between Duan Hunsheng and the White Robe Great Emperor. What mattered was that they were the orioles.
No matter who emerged from the underground world, they could strike them down, seize the spoils, and claim the ultimate victory!
Killing intent surged from the hidden Supreme Great Emperors, and sinister smiles spread across their faces. “The final winner, without a doubt, will be us.”