Free Web NovelChapter 304: Chapter 298: Soul Concentration Mirror
Feng Shanshan’s eyes were filled with excitement. About the same age as Mu Chen, this was also her first time seeing this place. The only difference was that her family possessed a spiritual image of this scene. She had secretly viewed it countless times when no one was looking. It was there that she had seen the entire family’s secret, the family’s ultimate treasure that formed the very foundation of their spirit, and the place where that treasure was kept... the Senluo Tomb.
The two walked forward at a leisurely pace. Without the Blood Python Family chasing them, their steps became much lighter. Mu Chen looked around at the irregularly stacked, prismatic crystal formations, clicking his tongue in amazement. "To think such a magical place would eventually become a tomb. Where would the gravestones and the ancestors’ remains be kept? Also, I heard you mention the Ninghun Family’s ultimate treasure earlier. I know it involves a family secret, but I can’t help but ask out of curiosity."
Feng Shanshan shook her head and said with a sigh, "It’s not really a secret. Every established Noble Family has some ultimate treasure to protect them. It might be a weapon, a pill, or even Medicinal Herbs. But without exception, these things are all first-class treasures, treasures capable of saving the family in times of crisis."
"However, that’s just their practical function. Over time, these items leave an indelible mark on the hearts of everyone in the family—a family imprint. So, it becomes the spiritual anchor, the spiritual pillar of an established Noble Family! For example, in the Central State, there were four great families that once produced Martial Emperors. Each family possessed an Emperor’s Weapon. This Emperor’s Weapon not only had world-destroying power, but it was also the spiritual pillar that allowed their family to stand tall. If the weapon exists, the family exists; if the weapon is lost, the family is lost! Therefore, in their families, absolutely no harm is allowed to come to the Emperor’s Weapon. Once a family loses its Emperor’s Weapon, it means they are not far from extinction."
At this point, Feng Shanshan paused, glanced at the exceptionally majestic Crystal Mountain Body in the distance, and sighed. "Our Ninghun Family was once one of the great families on this continent. When the Senluo Ancestor was still alive, we even successfully ranked among the families of the Central State. But ever since the Senluo Ancestor passed away, our Ninghun Family has never regained its former glory. We quietly withdrew from the Central State and became the number one Noble Family of the Blood Soul Empire. The mirror that the Senluo Ancestor used became our family’s ultimate treasure. If the mirror exists, the family exists; if the mirror is destroyed, the family is destroyed."
"To prevent the ultimate treasure from being destroyed, the second Patriarch placed the mirror inside the Senluo Tomb. After all, the Senluo Ruins are essentially the Ninghun Family’s private domain. It could be retrieved to save the family when needed. This tradition continued for tens of thousands of years until ten thousand years ago, when the Blood Python Family’s conspiracy suddenly erupted. We didn’t even have time to retrieve our ultimate treasure, which led to our current situation. Now that I think about it, perhaps even having the ultimate treasure wouldn’t have saved us from that disaster."
As her voice fell, Feng Shanshan’s expression turned desolate, but she then forced a smile. "But I suppose this is something to be thankful for. You should know, the rumor spreading across the continent that ’the Blood Python Family has been searching for the Forest of Myriad Manifestations for ten thousand years’ isn’t entirely true. Or rather, it completely misdirects from their main objective."
Mu Chen was taken aback. "They have another objective?"
Feng Shanshan nodded. "Of course. Spreading the information that the Forest of Myriad Manifestations is deep within the Senluo Ruins was just a smokescreen. Their true goal is the Ninghun Family’s ultimate treasure—the Soul Concentration Mirror."
"So that’s what the mirror is called, the Soul Concentration Mirror." Mu Chen nodded. "But what do they want with that mirror? Spending ten thousand years experimenting with the sequence for a single artifact... it’s just incomprehensible."
Feng Shanshan sighed. "Mu Chen, can I trust you?"
The sudden question left Mu Chen a bit stunned. Feng Shanshan sighed again. "Actually, it’s fine if I tell you. Plenty of people in the Blood Python Family already know this secret anyway. I’ve already said that the ultimate treasure is the family imprint for all its members, but the Soul Concentration Mirror is not that simple. I’ll just get straight to the stakes. If an outsider obtains the Soul Concentration Mirror, they become the current Patriarch of our Ninghun Family. No questions asked, all members of the Ninghun Family must submit. To do otherwise is to be a traitor to the family. And as it happens, after tens of thousands of years, our members’ faith in this tradition hasn’t faded. In fact, it’s only grown stronger. Now do you understand why the Blood Python Family wants to get their hands on it?"
Mu Chen fell silent. The Mu Family could not compare to a family with such a legacy. ’But I guess that makes sense. The Mu Family is just a family from an ordinary town in a remote, Low-class Empire. How could we possibly have an ancestral treasure to protect us?’ But this terrifying sense of family devotion wasn’t baseless. If the Mu Family were to face a great disaster, Mu Chen thought, no one would ever betray them. They would survive together or perish together. This was the family devotion of the Extreme Martial Continent.
"So, you’re saying the Forest of Myriad Manifestations is just a rumor?" Mu Chen sounded a little disappointed. ’Looks like I’m going to leave empty-handed this time.’
"Of course it’s not a rumor. It’s just different from the legends. The rumors say the Forest of Myriad Manifestations is hidden inside the Senluo Tomb, but in reality, the Forest of Myriad Manifestations isn’t in the Senluo Ruins at all." Feng Shanshan looked at Mu Chen apologetically. "Mu Chen, I’m sorry. Even though I said all that, I still deceived you."
Mu Chen rubbed his nose. "How can that be considered deception? To be honest, I never really believed the Forest of Myriad Manifestations still existed in this world. After all, it’s a Spiritual Technique that’s been extinct for hundreds of thousands of years."
"That’s not it." Feng Shanshan said, her voice hurried. "Actually... actually, the Forest of Myriad Manifestations has been in our family’s possession all along. It was never lost to the outside world. I didn’t tell you the truth back then because I was afraid you wouldn’t be willing to help me enter the Senluo Tomb if you knew..."
Mu Chen’s expression didn’t change; he knew Feng Shanshan hadn’t finished speaking. Seeing his lack of reaction, Feng Shanshan thought he was furious. "But, I didn’t really mean to deceive you! I had already made a decision before we came in. Although the Forest of Myriad Manifestations cannot be passed down to outsiders, I will still make a copy for you. This can be my way of making it up to you..."
Seeing Feng Shanshan’s anxious expression, Mu Chen couldn’t help but smile. "I don’t blame you. While it’s infuriating to not be trusted, you did the right thing. Besides, along the way, you’ve told me things you absolutely shouldn’t tell an outsider, which already shows that you’ve trusted me in your heart for a while now. Besides, human nature is difficult to understand. Maybe if you had told me the truth back then, I really wouldn’t have been willing to risk my life fighting the Blood Python Family, and you would have never been able to enter the Senluo Tomb alone. But since we’ve made it in safely, let’s just forget about our initial disagreements. After all, just because we’re in here doesn’t mean we’re safe, unless we plan to stay here for the rest of our lives."
Hearing this, Feng Shanshan’s heart warmed. "Thank you for still being willing to help me. Regardless of whether we succeed, I, Feng Shanshan, swear I will deliver the Forest of Myriad Manifestations to you with my own two hands." ƒreewebɳovel.com
Mu Chen smiled slightly and didn’t refuse. In any case, he had already made an enemy of the Blood Python Family. It was only right to receive some compensation. He was kind, but not foolish. "We should hurry and get the Soul Concentration Mirror. With it, our chances of survival after we get out will be much higher. The Soul Concentration Mirror is a weapon, right? What Grade is it?"
Feng Shanshan nodded. "It’s a Sacred Artifact. With it, we can definitely get out safely, because the effects of the Soul Concentration Mirror are a headache even for Saints."
"Oh? What kind of effects?"
Feng Shanshan blinked. "The Soul Concentration Mirror, as its name suggests, unleashes a very powerful Spiritual Attack. Once struck by the Spiritual Power released from the mirror, a person will temporarily lose consciousness. As for how long, it depends on the difference in Spiritual Power between the user and the target. The greater the gap, the longer they’ll be unconscious; the smaller the gap, the shorter the duration. If the user’s Spiritual Power is weaker than the target’s, the consequence is a backlash, and the user will be the one to lose consciousness instead."
"It makes people lose consciousness..." Mu Chen was aghast. "There’s such a heaven-defying treasure? With that, couldn’t you dominate the entire continent?"
Feng Shanshan chuckled. "You wish. I remember it being recorded in our family’s history that when the Senluo Ancestor was a Saint, the Soul Concentration Mirror at its full power could only make someone two Great Realms weaker in Spirit lose consciousness for two seconds. And aside from the Senluo Ancestor, all other family members can only use less than ten percent of the mirror’s power. Unless a member reaches the Saint realm, they will never be able to truly wield this Sacred Weapon."
Mu Chen gave a wry smile and rubbed his nose. "In that case, can you estimate how long you could make those four from the Blood Python Family lose consciousness for?"
Feng Shanshan made a guess and said awkwardly, "Probably about a tenth of a second. Although my Spiritual Realm reached the Early Stage of the Kun Realm because I practice the Forest of Myriad Manifestations, my Martial Artist Realm is too low. I’m only a Nine-Ring Martial Spirit. It’s already a huge strain to activate the Soul Concentration Mirror at all."
Mu Chen nodded. "That makes sense. It is a Sacred Weapon, after all. A tenth of a second is just the blink of an eye. But if we use it strategically, it might have an unexpected effect. Let’s get going. You can test it on me later to see how long it really lasts."
Actually, Mu Chen knew that in a battle between Saints, let alone two seconds, even a mistake that takes the blink of an eye could get one turned to dust. This Soul Concentration Mirror was definitely a heaven-defying object. He just wondered if any other similar Spiritual Attack weapons existed in this world.
Feng Shanshan said, "Right. Once we’re inside the Senluo Tomb, things won’t be so troublesome. The Soul Concentration Mirror and the place where the Senluo Ancestor passed away are inside that mountain ahead."
Mu Chen nodded and quickened his pace, following Feng Shanshan toward the mountain ahead...
