Just as Zhang Yuanqing could obtain the item attributes of the Houtu Boots through Fu Qingyang, Zhao Chenghuang, as the scion of a Taiyi Sect elder, naturally possessed the means to acquire intelligence on the arena tournament's grand prizes in advance.
Thus, the moment he saw the Heaven-Worship Set, he knew this item was of paramount importance to Yuanshi Tianzun.
The Heaven-Worship Set?!
Zhang Yuanqing froze for a heartbeat before sheer ecstasy washed over his face.
"Let me see."
Striding up to Zhao Chenghuang, he accepted the Azure Emperor Jade Belt.
It was an exquisitely crafted girdle consisting of a strap, buckle-plaque, and decorative jade mounts. The strap was fashioned from soft azure silk wrapped over some manner of leather.
The buckle-plaque was square and carved from fine jade, engraved with intricate whorls.
—Much like a modern belt buckle.
The decorative mounts along the tail of the belt were gleaming discs of luminous white jade set into the fabric, each carved with a different beast: tiger, bear, wolf, leopard, eagle, and more.
There were ten in total, symbolizing ten beasts.
As Zhang Yuanqing gripped the jade belt, its item attributes soon surfaced before his eyes:
[Name: Azure Emperor Jade Belt]
[Type: Apparel / Accessory]
[Functions: Beast King, Azure Emperor Longevity Technique]
[Description: Legend has it that the Azure Emperor commanded ten beasts, each possessing the might to move mountains and fill seas. The power of these ten beasts condensed into jade, which was then fashioned into a girdle by the First Emperor, named the Azure Emperor Jade Belt.]
[Remark 1: This is one component of the Heaven-Worship Attire. The remaining three pieces are: Boots, Crown, and Robe. It is said that assembling all four pieces of the set allows one to communicate with Haotian.]
[Remark 2: Wearing this belt allows the user to transform into the ten divine beasts. The strength of these beasts depends on the user's physical constitution.]
[Remark 3: As the saying goes, the rich rely on technology while the poor rely on mutation; the poor must endure agony ordinary men cannot bear.]
"...So the Heaven-Worship Set belonged to the First Emperor. No wonder. No wonder the drawback of the Yin-Yang Robe is a yearning for longevity—that was the First Emperor's greatest lifelong desire." Realization dawned on Zhang Yuanqing.
He looked toward Zhao Chenghuang and said, "Thank you."
Then, holding up the Azure Emperor Jade Belt, he addressed the team: "My second priority pick will be this item."
Xiahou Aotian and the others mumbled absentminded assents, their attention entirely consumed by the treasures in their own hands.
Zhang Yuanqing stored the Azure Emperor Jade Belt in his inventory to complete the soul-binding, then retrieved it once more. The item's specific drawbacks and functions immediately blossomed in his mind.
Function 1: Beast King.
The Azure Emperor Jade Belt allowed the wielder to transform into ten species of beasts, granting peerless combat prowess. The exact strength depended on the user's physical constitution, and it could remain viable all the way up to the Dominator stage.
Indeed, this was a Dominator-tier item.
Moreover, once in beast form, even if the beast body perished in battle, the user's true body would remain unharmed.
Function 2: Azure Emperor Longevity Technique.
This technique cured illnesses and healed injuries, serving as an exceptionally potent self-healing ability. At the same time, it possessed a capability unmatched by ordinary regenerative skills—nourishment.
Under normal circumstances, while a Wood Demon's regenerative power could heal wounds, it could never restore the body to its absolute peak; stamina depletion was irreversible and could only recover through rest and recuperation.
Yet the Azure Emperor Longevity Technique could nourish the constitution, restoring the stamina of oneself or a designated target back to full peak.
Each activation required a five-hour cooldown.
Drawback: Every time one took beast form, one had to endure the excruciating agony of genetic mutation afterward.
As for how intense the pain was, Zhang Yuanqing had never experienced it and could not say for sure.
Next, he noticed another crucial detail. In the item attributes of the Yin-Yang Robe and the Houtu Boots, it had stated that gathering the full Heaven-Worship Set would allow one to fathom the secrets of longevity.
Yet in the Azure Emperor Jade Belt's description, that line had changed to "allows one to communicate with Haotian."
Why would the information change for parts of the exact same set?
With this thought, Zhang Yuanqing put away the Azure Emperor Jade Belt, pulled out the Houtu Boots, and inspected their item details. To his astonishment, the line "fathom the secrets of longevity" had likewise changed to "allows one to communicate with Haotian."
What did communicating with Haotian even mean? Wasn't Haotian just an ancient conceptualization of heaven and earth, representing the cosmos itself? The Heaven-Worship Set seems to harbor an even greater secret. I'm actually eager to see what happens when the full set is assembled...
Communicating with Haotian... could Haotian's ravings drive me to madness?
Besides, I wonder what the set bonuses are like. I'll have to find a secluded spot later to test its abilities...
Reining in his wandering thoughts, Zhang Yuanqing called out in a clear voice:
"Everyone, gather the items together. I still have one last priority pick."
Hearing this, Sun Miaomiao and the others brought over the items they had retrieved from the chests.
Counting the Imperial Swordsman Cloak and the Azure Emperor Jade Belt, a total of six items had been drawn: the Soul-Attracting Banner, the Mountains and Rivers Painting, the Taotie Army-Refining Furnace, and the Ten-Thousand Slaughterer.
They corresponded to four classes: Night Walker, Illusionist, Scholar, and Bewitching Demon.
All of them were Dominator-grade items.
The highest-grade among them was the Imperial Swordsman Cloak, followed by the Azure Emperor Jade Belt... Zhang Yuanqing stowed the cloak without hesitation and said:
"My third priority pick is the cloak. You guys can choose from the rest—one piece each, perfectly divided."
"The First Emperor was filthy rich! He didn't even leave behind a single Saint-grade item!" Xiahou Aotian's hands trembled as he stowed the Taotie Army-Refining Furnace. Alongside his exhilaration lingered a tinge of regret.
After all, the drawbacks of Dominator-grade items were far beyond what they could bear. Furthermore, an Alchemist lacked item-refining abilities; at his current stage, the Taotie Army-Refining Furnace was far too advanced to be of practical use. Yet selling it was out of the question.
"Saint-grade items probably weren't worthy of his vault," Sun Miaomiao remarked, selecting the Soul-Attracting Banner.
"I choose the Ten-Thousand Slaughterer," Tianxia Guihuo said.
The Ten-Thousand Slaughterer was a single-piece chestplate combining defense and lethal offensive force—a supreme divine weapon built for wading into slaughter on the battlefield.
Zhao Chenghuang silently placed the remaining scroll into his inventory. In truth, he had favored Sun Miaomiao's Soul-Attracting Banner, but it would have been unseemly to compete with a lady.
Besides, the Mountains and Rivers Painting was equally formidable. Unfurling the scroll allowed one to draw enemies inside, dissolving them into nothingness after seven days.
A lethal trump card for trapping foes and preserving one's life.
Seeing that the spoils were divided, Zhang Yuanqing said:
"There's too much secular treasure here for our inventories to hold. I have a dimensional item that can store them. I'll take charge of keeping these things for now, and once we leave Qinfeng Academy, we'll pick a spot to divide them up."
Tianxia Guihuo and the others exchanged glances and nodded in unison.
Had anyone else offered to safeguard these priceless treasures, they would never have agreed. But coming from Yuanshi Tianzun—though a trace of anxiety remained—they believed he was far more trustworthy and honorable than anyone else.
With that, Zhang Yuanqing produced Little Red Riding Hood, sweeping all the curio stands, bookshelves, and large chests brimming with valuables by the entrance into its space.
After a moment's contemplation, he stored the shrine as well.
The painting of Empress Wa qualified as an antique, too.
The treasure vault, previously overflowing with dazzling wonders, was emptied in the blink of an eye.
"Strange, I haven't found the 'nerve center' that controls the terracotta army," Xiahou Aotian muttered, scratching his head as he stared at the bare chamber.
"Forget it if you can't find it. We've stayed down here long enough. Let's leave immediately—the longer we delay, the greater the chance of complications," Sun Miaomiao urged.
That matched the sentiments of Zhang Yuanqing and the rest. Having acquired an earth-shattering fortune, leaving swiftly to secure their gains was the wisest course.
The party sprinted out of the Palace of Longevity. Zhang Yuanqing gave Xiahou Aotian three minutes to dismantle the cannon while he took down the bronze round mirror hanging on the archway. "This mirror, along with the small sword from the corridor—whoever wants them can compensate the others in cash. If nobody wants them, we'll auction them outside and split the money."
As he spoke, he read through the item attributes of both pieces.
Xiahou Aotian promptly raised his hand. "I don't need the mirror, but give me the small sword! I happen to need a self-defense item. Uh... I don't have any money, though."
Most Spirit Realm walkers kept little spare cash on hand, let alone someone saddled with massive debt.
"Simple enough. We'll deduct it from your share of the materials," Zhang Yuanqing replied.
Zhao Chenghuang then said, "Give the round mirror to me. Deduct it from my materials as well."
An item capable of seeing through Night Walk was remarkably rare and undeniably practical.
Sun Miaomiao wanted it as well, but having already snatched the Soul-Attracting Banner earlier, speaking up now would seem greedy, so she held back.
After tossing the bronze mirror to Zhao Chenghuang, Zhang Yuanqing led the team back to the pool, plunged into the water, and swiftly swam away.
A few minutes earlier, the group—swimming at full speed—had returned to the stone gate. The depths were pitch-black, the roaring undercurrents buzzing in their ears.
The two Jiaoren lay sound asleep on the riverbed.
Zhao Chenghuang vibrated his spiritual energy, transmitting a voice audible only to Night Walkers:
"These two Jiaoren have slept for too long. When they wake, they will definitely sense something amiss. I possess a hypnosis item that can make them forget the entire episode of falling asleep."
"Great idea. That way, nothing can go wrong," Zhang Yuanqing answered. "Why didn't you mention that when we were making the plan?"
Zhao Chenghuang glanced at him. "A plan is just a framework; it doesn't account for every minor execution detail."
That was part of the reason, but the other part was that after getting his hands on the treasures, his mindset had completely shifted. It was no longer a case of 'treat it as an adventure' or 'who knows if we'll even find anything.'
His current mindset was: if anyone dared leak word of tonight's expedition, he would silence them permanently.
"Hurry up then!"
Zhang Yuanqing gave Zhao Chenghuang a nudge.
***
Men's Dormitory, Room 404.
Three beams of dreamlike starlight rose in succession, condensing into Zhang Yuanqing, Sun Miaomiao, and Zhao Chenghuang.
Without a word, Sun Miaomiao trotted into the bathroom, rummaged out Yuanshi Tianzun's towel and bath sheet to wipe down the water on her body.
Out of the goodness of her heart, she tossed a cloth to Zhao Chenghuang as well.
Zhang Yuanqing gently twisted the doorknob, allowing the invisible Xiahou Aotian, Commandery Princess Yinyao, and Tianxia Guihuo to slip inside.
"All of a sudden, this dorm feels so incredibly cozy and safe," Sun Miaomiao remarked, standing prettily at the bathroom door as she took back the Night Walk item Tianxia Guihuo handed to her.
Everyone was soaked. Xiahou Aotian snatched the towel from Zhao Chenghuang and scrubbed his hair vigorously.
Tianxia Guihuo's surface temperature spiked rapidly, evaporating the moisture from his clothes, skin, and hair. Clouds of vapor wafted lazily upward, meeting the ceiling and rapidly billowing out.
Zhang Yuanqing kept his voice low:
"The dorm rooms have decent soundproofing, but keep your voices down so we don't get overheard. We were pressed for time earlier and didn't settle how to divide the materials.
"My suggestion is that the ancient manuals and spell scrolls are shared property. Everyone can borrow and read them, but no one can claim exclusive ownership. Furthermore, without collective consent, the contents inside cannot be taught to outsiders.
"The materials are also communal property. Later, we'll have Xiahou Aotian conduct a thorough appraisal, and each person can pick what they need."
"No objections to how the manuals are handled," Tianxia Guihuo said, knitting his brows. "But regarding the materials, as things stand, none of us know what materials we will need in the future. Drawing final conclusions right now feels somewhat inappropriate."
For instance, if he needed Living Soil later on but picked Scarlet Fire Crystal Sand now, he would be stuck in a frustrating bind.
In plain words, you just want everything for now... Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a moment before replying:
"That does make sense. How about this: materials that can be divided evenly will be split equally. For those that cannot, we'll make a verbal pact. In the future, if one party needs a specific material, they can exchange for it using materials of equivalent value from another party, and the other party cannot refuse.
"Of course, if that material has already been consumed, then that's that."
This arrangement benefited everyone and passed unanimously.
Zhang Yuanqing brought out Little Red Riding Hood and said, "I'll take you inside."
As the words fell, Sun Miaomiao and the others felt their vision blur. The brightly lit dorm room vanished, replaced by a tranquil, shadowy forest under a full moon hanging overhead.
They stood in the open field just beyond the woods. The world around them was utterly desolate—no chirping insects, no birdsong, no sound of wind or water.
Beside them stood rows of curio stands, bookshelves, and large wooden chests packed with wealth.
"What class does this item belong to?" Sun Miaomiao asked curiously.
"Not telling you."
"Aww, come on, tell me!" Sun Miaomiao tugged at the hem of his shirt.
While the two bantered, Tianxia Guihuo summoned a massive fireball a meter in diameter, providing illumination for Xiahou Aotian.
The latter set to work weighing and appraising each material while Zhao Chenghuang silently recorded the values by his side.
Having satisfied Sun Miaomiao's curiosity, Zhang Yuanqing watched Xiahou Aotian for a short while. Realizing the appraisal would not conclude anytime soon, he cast Star Escape and vanished into the distance.
He intended to test out the set effect.
Retrieving the Yin-Yang Robe, he shook it out with a crisp snap and draped it over his shoulders. Next, he slipped into the Houtu Boots. Finally, he brought out the Azure Emperor Jade Belt and fastened it snugly around his waist.
With all three artifacts equipped, just as he was about to swirl his robe and deploy the Yin-Yang Formation, he suddenly realized that the formation's function had completely disappeared.
Before he could even react, the Yin-Yang Robe burst into blazing flames with a loud whoosh, morphing into a billowing cloak of pure fire that fluttered proudly behind his back.
Meanwhile, the power symbolizing the water attribute detached from the garment and washed over his body, congealing into a cool black robe.
The black robe was embroidered with Xuanbird patterns, radiating understated nobility.
At his waist gleamed a radiant emerald belt, warm and gentle, harmonizing the abyssal depth of the black robe with the domineering ferocity of the flame cloak.
On his feet were exquisitely woven silk boots, exuding a heavy, majestic presence reminiscent of a sovereign standing upright in solemn dignity.
In the distance, Tianxia Guihuo's heart jolted with an indescribable dread, as though suppressed by a natural predator. The hovering fireball in his grasp trembled violently, nearly extinguishing.
He whipped his head around in shock, greeted by a breathtaking sight.
Yuanshi Tianzun bore a cloak of fire, wore a flowing black robe, stepped upon imposing boots, and wore a soft, lustrous jade belt.
His aura was majestic, righteous, tyrannical, and profound, like a celestial descending to the mortal world—an existence entirely beyond the human realm.
Merely gazing upon him stirred an impulse in Tianxia Guihuo's heart to yield and submit, entirely draining him of any will to resist or fight.
Sun Miaomiao was not suppressed, but her feminine instincts suffered a profound impact. She murmured under her breath:
"So handsome..."
That robe of his belongs to the Heaven-Worship Set as well? Zhao Chenghuang was stunned, suddenly feeling immense pressure and an urgent yearning to grow stronger.
Xiahou Aotian watched with his jaw slack, envious to the point of breathlessness. He cared little for equipment stats, but such breathtaking, eye-catching visual flair was precisely what he, the protagonist, had always dreamed of.
Zhang Yuanqing took no notice of his companions' stares, meticulously savoring the power bestowed by the set.
"Once the set bonus activates, all secondary abilities of the three individual items vanish, but I gain access to all the Transcendent-stage skills of the Water Ghost, Earth Monster, Wood Demon, and Fire Master classes.
"Moreover, the skill potency far surpasses the Transcendent stage; it's not a shred weaker than a Saint of those four classes, albeit lacking their Saint-stage capabilities. In addition, I hold innate suppression over those four paths, which weakens their skill intensity.
"The downside is that the Yin-Yang Formation is gone. That effectively strips me of my two puppet forms and removes my crowd-control trap. However, my direct combat prowess has skyrocketed—those four classes are practically little brothers before me now.
"The set's stat boost currently remains at the Saint stage, roughly comparable to an early Level 6. Once the entire set is assembled, it should remain viable all the way into the Dominator stage. Even Fu Qingyang might feel his knees go weak when he sees me... Just thinking about it feels incredible.
"The final piece, the headpiece, should also be of Dominator quality. Since the Heaven-Worship Set belonged to the First Emperor, the crown is likely hidden in a Qin dynasty dungeon. I'll only have a chance to seek it out once I advance to Dominator in the future.
"Furthermore, this state can only be maintained for five minutes. Past five minutes, my physical body will collapse. That's a full two-thirds shorter than the Yin-Yang Formation's fifteen-minute duration."
The allocation of Dominator-grade materials was concluded swiftly. Zhang Yuanqing received six varieties of Dominator-grade materials covering the Musician, Fire Master, Water Ghost, Scout, Bewitching Demon, and Illusionist classes.
He did not ask for Day Wanderer materials because he had no immediate need for them; if he ever ran short, he could simply request them from the old crone.
Residing in a dungeon as she did, securing a few Dominator materials of her own class would hardly pose a challenge for her.
Conversely, materials belonging to other paths would be exceptionally difficult for him to acquire in dungeons.
Sun Miaomiao and the others did not take all the materials with them—in fact, they carried only a small fraction. Their inventory space was simply too limited, and unlike Zhang Yuanqing, they did not possess a faction warehouse.
On top of that, each of them had taken several ancient manuals to pore over voraciously. Those manuals also consumed inventory slots, and keeping them on their persons or storing them in dorm rooms felt far from secure.
After returning to the dormitory room and making a solemn pact never to disclose tonight's operation to anyone, the group dispersed quietly into the night.
***
The following morning, Zhang Yuanqing woke feeling refreshed and headed to the cafeteria for breakfast.
He ordered three bowls of fresh-cooked congee and a steamer of meat buns, carried his tray over, and took a seat beside Sun Miaomiao.
Sun Miaomiao and Zhao Chenghuang ate calmly, acting as though nothing had transpired.
"Smells great," Zhang Yuanqing remarked, turning to look at Sun Miaomiao's charming profile.
"Fragrant, isn't it? Peony Fairy made the perfume using flowers from the academy," Sun Miaomiao said with a hint of pride.
"I meant the scent on the bath towel," Zhang Yuanqing chuckled.
"Aah, you shameless rogue!" Sun Miaomiao gave him a playful swat with her fist.
"Ahem!" Zhao Chenghuang cleared his throat and said coldly, "If the two of you want to flirt, mind the occasion."
He was implicitly warning them that there were too many people around, walls had ears, and loose lips sank ships.
Sure enough, Yuan Ting's ears twitched. He swept a glance across the two sitting opposite him, then glanced at Zhao Chenghuang beside him. After a long pause, he remarked:
"There's something suspicious about the three of you."
"Nothing's suspicious!" the three answered in unison.
"There definitely is." Yuan Ting possessed an astonishing intuition for certain matters. "Are you hiding something from me?"
The trio lowered their heads and ate their food, completely ignoring him.
"I knew it!" Yuan Ting clutched his head in agony. "Tell me! Hurry up and tell me!"
Yet his plea was destined to go unanswered.
***
This morning's schedule featured Combat Class, held on Lava Island—an island dotted with hot springs.
After finishing breakfast, the students assembled at the pier. The combat instructor, Luo Lesheng, had been waiting there early. Sweeping his gaze across the relaxed, disorganized crowd, he abruptly roared:
"Attention!"
His voice exploded like a clap of thunder in everyone's ears, setting their heads buzzing and causing ripples to spread across the water beneath the ferry.
Startled, the students instinctively snapped to attention and fell into formation, cutting off their chatter.
Seeing this, Luo Lesheng hastily offered an excuse:
"Don't be nervous, everyone. I have a very gentle temperament. I would never raise a hand against my students. No need to be nervous, none at all..."
From within the crowd, Brother Red Chicken declared loudly:
"I don't buy it. Show me a Fire Master who doesn't hit people!"
Before the words had even faded, Luo Lesheng slammed a cannon fist right into Brother Red Chicken's gut, bellowing:
"Then let me indulge you! Do not interrupt while the teacher is speaking!!"
"Aaaagh—!" Brother Red Chicken screamed as he flew backward through the air.
The students: "..."
Taking a deep breath, Luo Lesheng explained:
"That was just an accident, don't be afraid. I'm a good teacher, I really don't hit students without cause. I definitely won't break any student's bones; I've already turned over a new... ah, no, forget it. Class monitor, take roll call and board the boat immediately."
No one wanted to board the boat anymore.
Xiahou Aotian glanced at Brother Red Chicken, who was sprawled on the ground unable to get up, and swallowed hard. "C-count off..."
Once the roll call was completed, Luo Lesheng nodded. "Alright, everyone's here. Let's go."
Xiahou Aotian raised a timid hand. "T-Teacher, we're missing one person."
Luo Lesheng paused. "Missing one?"
"Teacher, there are twenty-two students in total, but only twenty-one just called out. Don't tell me you don't even know the class size?" Zhang Yuanqing chimed in.
"Of course I know! I'm asking who is missing!" Luo Lesheng snapped back.
"Xia Chaoxue," the protagonist Aotian replied.
He vaguely recalled that she was quite an attractive young woman who loved dressing up; her makeup and wardrobe were always on point, though she kept a rather low profile. She seemed to belong to the Plague God class.
At first, Xiahou Aotian had thought her composed maturity and beauty made her prime material for his harem.
Yet he had forgotten to pursue it... Xiahou Aotian's desire for a harem stemmed from the belief that a harem was an indispensable attribute of any protagonist.
Still, the notion usually stayed in his head; the moment he turned around, he would forget all about his designated harem candidates.
After all, how could women ever be as alluring as knowledge?
Just then, a female student remarked, "I don't recall seeing Xia Chaoxue in the cafeteria earlier."
Luo Lesheng said in a deep voice:
"Even if she's a girl, being late will still incur my wrath. Who's willing to go check the women's dormitory?"
The lively and energetic Niulanshan Little Fairy raised her hand:
"I'll go."
With Luo Lesheng's nod of approval, she bolted away from the pier and dashed toward the campus.
While the crowd waited at the dock, Ren Junzi furrowed his brows and said:
"Strange. Why would she be absent? Xia Chaoxue is usually very disciplined."
As a Swordsman possessing the Insight skill, his assessment of people was rarely off the mark.
"Maybe it's her time of the month," Brother Red Chicken mumbled as he crawled back to his feet. He pointed at Luo Lesheng and roared, "Old villain, you dared hit me! I'm going to duel you to the death!"
"Though I am a gentle teacher, I never decline a student's challenge." Luo Lesheng rubbed his fists together, enthusiastically gearing up for combat.
Seeing the two crude fire fiends at each other's throats, the surrounding students scrambled to hold them back.
Right at that moment, Niulanshan Little Fairy came sprinting back at top speed. Her face was ashen, and before she even reached the dock, her frantic cry carried across the air:
"S-Something terrible happened! Xia Chaoxue is dead!"
Chapter 434