Chapter 218: Tomb of Yuanping Wang

Guo Ming didn’t hesitate at all—he chose to take it all.

Low quality wasn’t the issue; these items came from other worlds, and if Guo’s clan studied them to learn from their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses, they might gain even greater benefits.

Just like the blood scholar’s spellbook—even if only fine-grade—it could transform Guo’s clan entirely.

Even if the Taiping Lord’s Taiping Book lay right before them, under a choice of two, they’d still pick this fine-grade blood scholar’s spellbook.

As for the slight boost Chu Danqing was missing, it didn’t matter—there were better options anyway.

“Brother Chu, you really don’t need a weapon?” Guo Ming asked curiously. “The master armorer has already been recruited by the Guo clan as a retainer.”

“We have no shortage of materials—let me forge you something right away.”

Ever since the Guo clan acquired the Longevity Pill, they’d recruited countless retainers, and even Guo Ming’s father had assembled a dedicated team to serve Chu Danqing.

When Guo Ming’s father heard his son say the cultivation technique was too advanced for Chu Danqing to use, he panicked.

Lately, he’d been trying to simplify the Great Five Elements Auspicious Beasts Scripture.

Though unusual, the Guo clan had power and influence—once they put out the call, plenty were eager to take the job.

Not to mention they now controlled the Longevity Pill.

In no time, they might become the Taiping Lord’s new greatest threat.

“No need—I have something better.” Chu Danqing told Guo Ming about the Arena rewards.

Compared to ordinary gear, True Spirit gear was naturally superior, let alone gear strengthened to +12 with full True Spirit awakening—then upgrading it to excellent grade using True Spirit upgrade scrolls from the Arena shop? Even better.

Even the Moon Orchid Totem Pole at +5 had already satisfied Chu Danqing—let alone +12.

“Oh? Need my help?” Guo Ming asked immediately.

“Not right now—I should make it into the top 500 this time.”

“Probably not until the next trial,” Chu Danqing said—he’d fought five hundred matches just to reach the top thousand.

The lower your rank, the easier the climb; once you rise higher, rapid progress becomes impossible—you can only advance slowly.

“I see.” Guo Ming didn’t press—he knew such things couldn’t be rushed: “You’ve got the materials now—why not upgrade the Nine Cauldrons Map?”

“Upgrading takes time—the Paradise system requires one hour of safe environment. If I wait an hour, your Dragon Vein buff will be wasted.” Chu Danqing said, meanwhile feeling around for the entrance to Yuanping Wang’s tomb.

With his shallow knowledge, he found nothing.

Guo Ming stared, speechless. “So, Brother Chu—can you open the tomb gate within an hour?”

Chu Danqing sized it up, then said: “Not even in three days could I open it.”

“With my rudimentary feng shui knowledge, how could I possibly challenge the craftsmanship and ancestral bonds of the Nine Clans?” Chu Danqing had enough self-awareness.

He stepped back a few paces and placed Da Bao in front of him.

Seeing this, Guo Ming instantly understood Chu Danqing’s intent.

The Su Nu Spirit Blade lifted her sniper rifle and blasted the tomb gate.

It was nothing but a disguised sword-qi rocket launcher.

The entire gate shattered—dust and foul stench surged forward.

“I remember Zhong Ting’s uncle was blocked by the tomb guardian and dared not enter—where is it?” Chu Danqing peered inside but saw nothing.

He sent several Ghost Wailing Infants inside to scout.

“Could it be because I entered through the main gate?” Chu Danqing wasn’t sure.

Few tomb raiders enter like him—most dig tunnels.

“Wait for the Ghost Wailing Infants to return—we’ll rest for now.” Chu Danqing sat down and opened the fine-grade treasure chest dropped by the Corpse Jiao.

—

【You opened: Fine-grade Chest. Obtained: Corpse Jiao Jade Pearl, Skill Book (Corpse Jiao Transformation), Paradise Points ×2900×5】

—

【Corpse Jiao Jade Pearl】

【Type: Equipment · Jewel】

【Quality: Fine】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Attack: 40~60】

【Mana +1000】

【Corpse Jiao Breath (Passive): Ranged attacks shaped into Jiao form gain an additional 10% damage】

【Jade Spirit Jewel (Passive): Mana recovery +20】

【Rivers of Grievance (Passive): Effect of undead and death skills increased by 10%】

【Wind and Rain Jiao Movement (Passive): Equipment effect enhanced by 50% during rain】

【Equipment Requirement: Must possess Yin-attribute inherited skill, max mana 10,000, Spirit 20】

—

【Skill Book: Corpse Jiao Transformation】

【Type: Active Skill】

【Quality: Fine】

【Effect: Upon use, transform into a Corpse Jiao, gaining its attributes and skills. If possessing the Corpse Jiao Jade Pearl, also gain Corpse Jiao bloodline and talents】

【Learning Restrictions】

【1: Must possess Yin-attribute inherited skill】

【2: Must possess one basic skill related to death/undead/soul at MAX level】

—

Chu Danqing immediately realized this equipment and skill book were a matched set—and the Corpse Jiao Jade Pearl was almost certainly True Spirit gear, with future True Spirit awakening likely granting bonuses tied to Corpse Jiao Transformation.

“This trial world is truly powerful—it involves the Way of Transformation,” Guo Ming said after reading the skill book, his face showing surprise.

“Transformation? Is that impressive?” Chu Danqing felt little awe.

“In my trial world, yes,” Guo Ming said. “Transformation isn’t just physical—it includes changes in essence, energy, and spirit.”

“It’s said that if mastered, transformation can evade heavenly retribution.”

Hearing this, Chu Danqing handed both items over: “Then take them.”

But Guo Ming shook his head and refused: “The living cannot use the dead’s belongings.”

In truth, his refusal wasn’t because of that—he wanted to preserve Chu Danqing as a resource.

If he accepted them, he’d lose a source of income and incur extra costs.

The Guo clan didn’t need this gear or skill.

Chu Danqing was different—every output directly affected his growth and trial progress.

“Fair enough.” Chu Danqing didn’t insist—he tucked them away and said: “They’re not as miraculous as you think.”

“The Corpse Jiao isn’t a real dragon—it’s just a human corpse cultivated.”

Chu Danqing had seen the versatility of human corpses in this trial world: “Better to find some corpses and bring them back—you might uncover the root principle directly.”

“Think of it as souvenirs.”

This made Guo Ming smile wryly—who took corpses as souvenirs?

Besides, if these corpses were this extraordinary, what if someone back home cultivated them into an invincible demonic corpse?

Don’t underestimate this trial world just because it’s weaker than yours.

Xiong Zhigang was living proof.

“Wait until your mission is complete—then we can retrieve them,” Guo Ming politely declined Chu Danqing’s offer.

As he spoke, the Ghost Wailing Mother interrupted: “The children who went in—they’re all dead.”

“Already?” Chu Danqing was surprised—the Ghost Wailing Infants were weak before the Moonlit Cloud Robe.

Even with the Moonlit Cloud Robe’s +10 to all stats and Chu Danqing’s own buffs, their stats now exceeded the Ghost Wailing Mother’s base stats—how did they die so fast?

Though the Moonlit Cloud Robe had no percentage bonuses, for Chu Danqing’s current stage, fixed values far surpassed percentages.

This gear reached excellent grade solely because of the three powerful effects—Spirit Leap, Clear Sky, and Protection—the rest were just bonuses.

“Clearly, the interior is far harder than the exterior,” Guo Ming said immediately. “Shall I go in for you, Brother Chu?”

Chu Danqing shook his head and summoned the dead Ghost Wailing Infants again: “Go in—mission comes first.”

Letting Guo Ming enter was fine—but the mission couldn’t progress.

The trial task required him to enter the ancient tomb; his talent awakening task also required him to enter Yuanping Wang’s tomb.

Sitting outside would likely not count as completion in Paradise’s eyes.

The moment he stepped into the tomb, the trial task completed instantly.

—

【Task completed. Obtained: Paradise Points ×2000, Attribute Points +2】

—

【Trial Task: Within three months, obtain one fine or higher quality spirit item from the entered ancient tomb】

【Trial Difficulty: C-Rank (Adventure）】

【Trial Reward: Return eligibility, Paradise Points ×2000, Attribute Points +2】

【Trial Failure: Paradise Points -4000, forced return】

—

Since this was Chu Danqing’s first trial task after ascending to Rank 1, the difficulty was low.

It was already far better than the reserve level—back then, the first reserve task was directly E-Rank.

At least now it’s a D-rank start, indicating that the difficulty has already increased.

The task itself isn’t particularly hard—just find a piece of equipment, material, or item of Fine quality or higher inside the tomb.

As long as you retrieve it, you’ve completed it.

You don’t even need to turn it in; clearly, this is meant to help newly promoted Rank 1 Apostles upgrade their gear.

Fine rank is merely equivalent to Reserve-class Excellent rank at Rank 1.

But the trial’s difficulty is greater; if the Paradise doesn’t offer preferential treatment, Apostles may suffer unnecessary deaths.

By the time you’ve reached Rank 1, the sunk cost of death is too great.

Chu Danqing doesn’t know what other factions are like, but the Dimension Paradise is truly a paradise.

After stepping into the Tomb of Prince Yuanping, Chu Danqing pulled out a high-intensity flashlight; as soon as he turned it on, the dark tomb corridor lit up as bright as day.

The flashlight Chu Danqing bought wasn’t an ordinary one—it had a bulb the size of a human head.

The gloom was instantly swept away; before him stood two crouching tomb guardian beasts. Though carved from stone, Chu Danqing could plainly see the ferocious aura they radiated.

Clearly, these tomb guardian beasts, like the blind boy, incorporated living humans as components, turning them into impure entities.

After all, stone statues lack spirit; to awaken spirit, one must use humans—the lords of all living things—as material.

Before Chu Danqing could speak, the Su Nü Sword Spirit raised her sniper rifle and fired two shots at the two tomb guardian beasts.

(End of Chapter)