Free Web NovelChapter 440: Chapter 368: Thief’s House · Case Four (Part 2)
They knew that Yan Qing had once slapped Ying Le, but teasing Ying Le and robbing Ying Le were completely different concepts. The former they dared to try now, but the latter meant they had to defeat Ying Le head-on; only by forcing a Foundation Establishment Messenger to kneel could they possibly compel her to hand over her family’s treasured artifacts!
"My name is Ying Rushi, once a member of the Daqi Royal Family, granted the title of Prince of Lanling, but now I have defected from the Qi Kingdom. The reason I fled to the Demon Gathering Land was due to being hunted by Ying Le." Ying Rushi explained, facing their questioning looks, "The reason I am voluntarily revealing my identity is to verify the truth and source of what I am about to say. If I continue to hide it, it makes no sense; besides Ying Le, only I know the details of the Glazed Dream Bead in the Qi Kingdom, and a little investigation will show it’s me."
"Alright." Pharmacist’s Wish swiftly removed the Black Wolf Mask, "Pharmacist’s Wish."
"Duke Jin of Beizhou." Ying Rushi was not very surprised. He smiled and said, "Long have I heard of your great name, and I admire you greatly."
"Shang Xinlei," Shang Xinlei also removed her mask, "but you certainly don’t know me. I’m just the Fourth Miss of the Shang Family, with no official position or rank."
Ying Rushi shook his head, "That’s where you’re wrong. I know you. In Mansu Forest Land, you and Jiang Shi once set the highest score in history; at a young age, you ranked third on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. As a member of the Daqi Royal Family, how could I not pay attention to such a talent from the Liang Kingdom? In my mind, you’re a significant future threat to the Qi Kingdom."
Shang Xinlei, praised countless times throughout her life, was embarrassed by Ying Rushi’s compliment, her face flushed, "Now I’m second on the Hidden Dragon Ranking."
At this time, everyone looked at Yan Qing, and Yan Qing had to take off his mask as well, "Yan Qing."
"Say something we don’t know," Shang Xinlei pouted, mimicking in a muffled voice, "I, Yan Qing, will lead the Calamity Organization—"
"Keep talking about the Glazed Dream Bead," Yan Qing quickly steered the topic back.
"The Glazed Dream Bead is Emperor Divine Martial’s Tao Foundation Treasure, a treasure favored by the heaven’s luck, unattainable except by those destined, and held only by those of great fortune," Ying Rushi said, "But, because it is intrinsically linked to the Dao Foundation, such a treasure often has a characteristic: the acknowledgment of a master."
"This is why the Qi Royal Family has always held the Glazed Dream Bead, because aside from the deceased Emperor Divine Martial, no one can utilize it. As far as I know, the Dao Foundation Treasures of Zhou Taizu and Liang Taizu have also been passed down."
Pharmacist’s Wish nodded, "When I was young, I even touched Zhou Taizu’s Dao Foundation Treasure, which was a round fan painted with a black otter."
"I am not a member of any royal family," Shang Xinlei interjected, "Shao Taizu’s Dao Foundation Treasure seems to be a banner. There’s a replica in my home, bestowed by the Emperor, but where the original is, I don’t know."
"What I want to say next is an unknown secret," Ying Rushi looked around, "The Divine Martial Bloodline... has a way to drive the Glazed Dream Bead."
"What?"
The most surprised was not the others, but Yan Qing.
Among everyone here, even when it comes to all the Foundation Establishment True People or even the Golden Core Immortal Monarchs in the world, he dared say he was the most knowledgeable about Dao Foundation Treasures, bar none.
If tokens are like tradeable equipment, then treasures are exclusive, growable equipment for each player. Though they are difficult to obtain, upgrade, and start with a low initial threshold, they excel in easy customization and repair, ensuring Foundation Establishment players with time to game would cultivate such treasures.
But just as Ying Rushi said, all Dao Foundation Treasures are soul-bound, and in a game, could not be traded. The only way to remove them is to delete an account or refine a Spirit Treasure after ascending.
Passing down treasures in reality is understandable, but how could anyone else possibly drive them?
"This isn’t something anyone told me or I read in a book. It’s something I’ve experienced personally," Ying Rushi stated, "When I visited Ying Le, I could often sense the pulsating of the Glazed Dream Bead she held. I was acutely aware that I could potentially drive this treasure, but I’m currently too weak, without even the ability to pry it loose."
Pharmacist’s Wish suddenly thought of a possibility and tentatively asked, "Divine Martial Bloodline?"
"Duke Jin is indeed knowledgeable," Ying Rushi nodded slightly, "Yes, I have awakened the Divine Martial Bloodline and mastered Emperor Divine Martial’s Dao Foundation Divine Technique, ’Pillow of Red Dust.’ This is likely why I can sense the Glazed Dream Bead."
Divine Techniques!
To wield Divine Techniques as a mortal being!
Pharmacist’s Wish pressed her lips together, "When did you awaken it?"
"Before the last mission," Ying Rushi said, "Without ’Pillow of Red Dust,’ I would never have been able to kill Li Long so easily. Duke Jin, don’t belittle yourself. ’Pillow of Red Dust’ brings both advantages and disadvantages. Unless in a moment of crisis, I would never employ it, far less stable than your solid capabilities."
"Not as good as you is simply not as good as you. What’s the point of saying these things? We’re teammates, not opponents. The stronger you are, the happier I’ll be." Pharmacist’s Wish furrowed his brow, "After Foundation Establishment, I shall catch up with you."
"I’ll be watching."
"Wait a minute, does this mean we have Foundation Establishment Battle Power?" Shang Xinlei excitedly said, "Even if the enemy is Ying Le, it’s not without hope!"
"I revealed my awakening to the Divine Martial Bloodline not to show off," Ying Rushi smiled wryly, "Ying Le has also awakened the Divine Martial Bloodline and has been in Foundation Establishment for ten years. Even if she isn’t the Emperor Divine Martial as he once was, she has gone farther than any other in the Qi Royal Family."
"Even if she can’t integrate the Glazed Dream Bead as her own, she can likely already exhibit some of its wonders."
"No wonder you wanted to take off the mask," Pharmacist’s Wish said, looking at the sand table, "Without this personal account from a Divine Martial Royal Family member like you, we probably wouldn’t believe the next mission involves facing a Foundation Establishment True Person with a Sixth-Turn Magical Treasure!"
...
...
Nocturnal Heaven, Imperial Palace.
Half drunk, half asleep, Ying Le suddenly opened her eyes, with her long fingers slipped into her chest, rummaged through the deep ravine filled with wine, and pinched out a bead.
The bead was perfectly round and transparent, its myriad purple and red hues blended into one, akin to the splendid starry sky overhead or as pure as the morality within a person’s heart.
"Strange, I didn’t take it out, so what stirred it?" Ying Le rotated the bead, her gaze gradually shifting upward, staring at the ceiling’s design, "Could it be... such a coincidence?"
"When I want you, you stay away from me. When I don’t want you, you draw close instead?"
She sighed with a poetic tonality, "The Way of Heaven, reducing the excess to fill the deficiency, the way of humans, depleting the insufficient to serve the excessive..."
"Your Majesty."
Three silhouettes suddenly emerged in the hall. Ying Le squinted her eyes, "Coming together, are you here to intimidate me?"
"Do not dare." The white-haired old general on the far left said, "With successors to the Divine Martial Dao Lineage, how could this old minister not offer his life? Duan Xiaoxian is willing to brave fire and water for the Divine Martial Bloodline!"
"Hu Lvming is willing to brave fire and water for the Divine Martial Bloodline!"
"Marquis Gu Jing is willing to brave fire and water for the Divine Martial Bloodline!"
The voices of the three grand generals rumbled through the great hall, shaking even the Baibao Guards nearby to the point of falling. If the Qi Kingdom’s dignitaries witnessed this scene, they would be visibly shaken: these three veterans were the last remaining Foundation Establishment True Men from Emperor Divine Martial’s era!
Over the century, the Qi Royal Family experienced many shifts, yet they never interfered, focused solely on cultivation, ignoring worldly matters. Unexpectedly, they now bowed to Ying Le, whose age and strength were far beneath theirs!
"Go, within five days, I want every Baibao to have taken ten thousand heads," Ying Le pointed outward with her hand, changing the atmosphere in the great hall at once, with an infinite malice rushing out from the hall.
The elaborately crafted, vibrant varnish on her nails suddenly appeared sinister.
"Once my ’Thousand Blood Feather Flow Dao Foundation’ advances through blood sacrifice, I will fulfill the unfinished ambitions of the Emperor Divine Martial—"
"To dominate Central Plains, to seek golden ascension!"
