Chapter 605: Seeking the Dao
The members of the Jade Heaven Royal Clan were the first to step into the palace. At this moment, in a certain place within the palace, the young experts of the Jade Heaven Royal Clan all stopped in their tracks, their gazes fixed on their leader, Huang Feng, at the forefront.
"How could this be?" Huang Feng looked at the scene before him, his expression unpleasant. In his hand, he held a golden map that emitted a brilliant golden light. It was made of some unknown material, yet it exuded an ancient aura, even a trace of an emperor's might.
"In the past, our ancestor was pursued by the Demon Emperor, with no path to heaven and no door to earth. Helpless, he left behind bloodline descendants and sealed this map onto the body of the Jade Heaven Royal Clan's founder, imprinting a segment of memory into his mind. Among it was the supreme divine ability, the 'Jade Emperor Scripture.' Unfortunately, the founder's cultivation was insufficient at the time to withstand that memory, leaving only a fragment of the Jade Emperor Scripture. With this half-fragment of the scripture, the founder cultivated heaven-reaching methods, dominated a region, and established the Jade Heaven Royal Clan. He commanded generations to search for this Jade Emperor Tomb, determined to obtain the complete Jade Emperor Scripture, truly restoring the clan's ancient prestige and achieving a grand celestial ambition."
A surge of memories flooded Huang Feng's mind, his heart churning with turbulent emotions.
"Now, a thousand years have passed, and even the founder of the Jade Heaven Royal Clan has long since passed away. Yet every generation of the clan has strived for the Jade Emperor Scripture. Finally, today, the tomb of our ancestor, the Jade Emperor, has appeared. I have led all the young bloodline members of the clan inside, with our sights set on the Jade Emperor Scripture. However, time has changed everything. In the past, the Demon Emperor pursued him here. Who knows how vast and powerful a battle unfolded? The palace is no longer what the map marked."
Because everything before him was completely different from the map, causing Huang Feng to stop in his tracks, countless thoughts surging in his mind. Needless to say, Huang Feng understood that the Demon Emperor must have chased into the palace and fought the Jade Emperor, leading to the palace's complete transformation, with ruins everywhere.
"What do we do?" Duan Wudao, who also knew some of the secrets, looked at the scene and asked Huang Feng in a low voice.
Huang Feng pondered for a moment, then said, "Everyone, split into five groups and act separately. Remember, our only goal is the Jade Emperor Palace. All other treasures can be abandoned. We must find the Jade Emperor Palace." Huang Feng emphasized his words. The Jade Emperor Palace was the true resting place of the Jade Emperor within the palace, also his former bedchamber. There, they would surely obtain the Jade Emperor's inheritance, and also, the Jade Emperor Scripture!
On the Nine Heavens Continent, those who could attain the seat of an emperor were all great beings capable of splitting heaven and earth. Only techniques created by an emperor could bear the suffix "scripture." The Carefree Ancient Scripture was like this, and the Jade Emperor Scripture was the same—both were created by emperor-level experts, reaching heaven and earth. If the Jade Heaven Royal Clan could obtain the Jade Emperor Scripture, they would surely dominate the Qian Domain, enter the Holy City Central Continent, and restore the former glory of their ancestor, the Jade Emperor.
How could the members of the Jade Heaven Royal Clan not be stirred with excitement? At this moment, they were all filled with boundless fighting spirit. For a thousand years, they were the first to truly step into the tomb of their ancestor, the Jade Emperor.
...
After Lin Feng and the others stepped into the palace, they scanned their surroundings. Instead of the vast majesty they had imagined, there was only a field of ruins. This scene stunned the crowd that had entered. They had thought an emperor's palace would be dazzling and magnificent, but the contrast upon entering was immense, with decay everywhere.
"There was once a shocking battle here." The crowd's hearts trembled. Only Lin Feng and his group knew what had happened, as they were aware that this emperor had once been pursued by the Demon Emperor with no escape. Seeing the scene before them, they didn't need further explanation.
"Heavens! Essence Crystals! They're all Essence Crystals!" At that moment, a shocking cry rang out. A person was looking at a broken heavenly stone pillar, its surface gleaming with brilliance, embedded with dazzling crystals. A terrifying force was released from them, extremely powerful, and of various different types. These dazzling crystals were all Essence Crystals, used to adorn the palace's stone pillars.
The reason that person dared to shout was that he wasn't worried about others snatching them—there were too many. The broken stone pillars and walls were covered with them, and anyone could easily collect a large number.
This shout awakened the crowd, and everyone began to frantically gather them. Essence Crystals—if they obtained these, when they later stepped into the Heavenly Martial Realm and comprehended the power of will, it would save them a great deal of effort. Moreover, even if they used them to trade with others, they could gain tremendous benefits. For martial artists at the Heavenly Martial Realm and below, Essence Crystals were treasures. But to a lofty emperor, they were just ordinary stones, only good for decoration.
"You all go ahead." Lin Feng saw the gazes of the Heavenly Lake crowd around him fixed on him and said to them, silently noting them in his heart. These were people of loyalty. If he ever took charge of Heavenly Lake in the future, they could be of great use. As for the others, who had no sense of sect loyalty and were only focused on seizing treasures, Lin Feng also kept them in mind.
"Alright." Those people nodded and went to collect Essence Crystals. Taking these Essence Crystals out would make them treasures, enough to make those at the Heavenly Martial Realm envious. Even the most powerful forces in the Qian Domain couldn't casually produce such treasures as Essence Crystals; only the most talented experts could occasionally obtain some for cultivation.
"Great Pest, how are you feeling?" Lin Feng and Tang Youyou had both given some healing medicine to Huangfu Long to take. However, Huangfu Long's injuries this time were indeed severe, and he hadn't recovered even after taking many healing pills.
"It's nothing serious. Go get some Essence Crystals, and grab some for me too." Huangfu Long grinned, appearing quite carefree.
"No rush. This is an emperor's palace. Essence Crystals are precious to us, but to a true emperor, they're no different from ordinary stones. Since this palace belongs to an emperor, there must be treasures far more valuable than Essence Crystals. Essence Crystals might be found throughout the entire palace."
Since they had entered an emperor's palace, how could they lack Essence Crystals? They were likely the lowest level of treasure.
"Heh, that's true. But it's free, so why not take it? I've never used such good stuff before. Even if I don't need it, I can sell it later." Huangfu Long said with a simple smile, then strode forward, enduring his injuries to collect Essence Crystals.
"This guy..." Lin Feng shook his head with a smile, but he kept this bond of friendship in his heart. Huangfu Long had knelt there to wait for them, holding up the Dragon Vein Path with both hands. The bond of brotherhood needed no words; it was all in the heart.
Lin Feng and the others also began to collect Essence Crystals. As Great Pest said, why not take what was free? To an emperor, Essence Crystals meant nothing, but to them, they were treasures.
At this moment, the crowd set aside everything else, all busy collecting treasures. After the Essence Crystals in this area were completely stripped away, their figures flickered again, moving to other parts of the palace. What other heavy treasures awaited them in this emperor's palace?
Lin Feng and the others also began to truly step into the palace, searching for treasures everywhere. Essence Crystals were indeed the lowest level of treasure. Some among them found Arcane Fragments imbued with the power of laws, which were urgently needed by their sect elders. With Arcane Fragments, they could enhance the strength of venerable ones. To them, these could be described as heaven-reaching treasures.
Besides Essence Crystals and Arcane Fragments, many people picked up extremely powerful materials and even formidable artifacts. Others saw numerous paintings, as well as secret patterns and inscriptions carved on the walls. Even though a thousand years had passed, everything was still very well preserved.
At this moment, Lin Feng and his group found a great hall. The door of the hall was extremely ancient and weathered, and above it were carved two large characters: "Seeking the Dao!"
These two characters were vigorous and powerful, seeming to contain the trajectory of the Dao. A single glance could make one unable to look away, sinking into contemplation of the Dao.
"Seeking the Dao, seeking the Dao. This is the place where an emperor sought the Dao. What kind of place is this?" Lin Feng slowly pushed open the ancient door. A creaking sound rang out. Inside the old hall were several stone walls and a few lifelike statues!