Chapter 23: The Key to the Heavenly Kingdom's Treasure

The Eye of Gongyang!?

If Jiang Yan remembered correctly, when he had slain the Mountain Goddess earlier, the Taiping Army treasure it had revealed in order to survive had belonged to a great figure surnamed Gongyang.

Could it really be the same name?

Jiang Yan suppressed the shock in his heart and asked without changing his expression, "This was also extracted from a Plagueland? It has to be at least a Burst-Flood grade instance, right?"

"Not this time. This is a historical relic from the present world, connected to the ancient History Walkers. As a local of Jiangnan Province, you should have heard of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. This was left behind by one of its Old Register grade great figures after death.

Back then, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's reach covered Jiangnan Province, Gusu Province, and so on. It was actually lost for a period during the war, but luckily we recovered most of it.

It's just a pity that the Eye of Gongyang loses control far too often—especially since we only finished the ritual a few days ago, and today it went into another frenzy for no reason. It feels like it's about to become a high-risk historical relic."

Balie shook his head, looking a bit headache-ridden.

After all the trouble of getting their hands on an Old Register grade historical relic, it had turned into a ticking time bomb.

The key thing was, it was public property—otherwise they could have gone to the black market to swap it out.

Unlike now…

Useless to use, a pity to discard.

Yet hearing this, Jiang Yan's heart was already churning like a stormy sea.

It matched!

Every detail lined up with the treasure information the Mountain Goddess had spoken of!

Combined with the greyish-green airflow that had seeped from her soul earlier, and the fact that the Mountain Goddess had specifically fled to Pan'an County.

And the Eye of Gongyang had also erupted violently in quick succession.

Could all of this really just be coincidence?

Was Lord Gaoshan's failure to descend into the present world because his strength was insufficient?

Jiang Yan's mind was full of questions, but there was no more information to help him verify his guesses.

'Still, this is a treasure that even Old Register realm demons would covet—an inheritance from that fallen kingdom.'

Jiang Yan had to admit, he was tempted.

He had already given up searching, only for it to be delivered right to his door.

The Eye of Gongyang was very likely the key to finding the treasure.

Most importantly, even if he didn't go treasure-hunting, the Eye of Gongyang's ability to seek out the power of the earth's veins could still help him plant spirit rice.

But that wouldn't be quite right…

He hadn't even started his first day of work yet, and already he was eyeing public property.

"Alright, stop standing around. Come sign your employment contract first."

Balie kept the lesson of the Northern Branch in mind, fearing that delay would bring trouble. He wanted Jiang Yan officially on the payroll first, and said apologetically:

"It's too late today. I'll gather everyone tomorrow to celebrate with you."

"No rush."

Jiang Yan shook his head and followed Balie out, without asking to stay behind.

If he had spoken up, Balie would definitely have agreed.

But making such a request on his very first day would be too conspicuous and easily arouse suspicion about his motives.

Second, an Old Register grade historical relic like this, without enough strength to suppress it, would be very difficult to devour.

Third, and most importantly.

He didn't like owing people things.

Balie had treated him with such sincerity, yet all he could think about was stealing from him—that would be too despicable.

Balie couldn't use the Eye of Gongyang anyway. Better to wait until he was stronger, then trade other extraordinary materials for it, or borrow it for a while.

There was no need to go against his own heart.

With the Demon God Embryo within him, so-called treasures and Old Register grade artifacts meant little to him.

That was his pride.

"I was being shortsighted." Jiang Yan smiled with relief and turned to leave.

He did not notice that, deep within his consciousness, the flame of the Lamp of Ashes had quietly gained an extra wisp.

……

……

On the third floor of the Green History Building, in the Bureau Chief's office.

The one handling the employment contract was still Brother Ox-and-Horse.

He was in charge of the branch's finances and logistics. The signing was quick, but Jiang Yan's information had to be reported to headquarters before he could obtain the clearance to receive the Practice Method.

Having been woken up right after falling asleep, Brother Ox-and-Horse sat at the computer radiating a resentment thick enough to breed a Plagueland.

"I'll pay you double for the overtime, don't take it to heart!" Balie kept buttering him up, without a shred of a leader's airs.

Jiang Yan also felt a bit embarrassed. Just as he was about to speak, Brother Ox-and-Horse got there first:

"You're Jiang Yan, right? I'll get your file done and uploaded in a bit. Once headquarters approves it, you can pick up the Practice Method in a few days.

My name is Niu Tunan. From now on we're colleagues—no wait, you should count as my superior. I know a bit of tech, so if you need anything network- or dream-related, just say the word."

"More than 'a bit'—he's our ace hacker here, and his ability is tied to it too. He can gather intel on Plaguelands in real time and compile it into missions." Balie piled on the praise from the side.

Niu Tunan only rolled his eyes at that and quipped:

"Don't put me on a pedestal. Just let me do less work."

"Can't do that." Balie pulled off a Sichuan opera face-change.

"Damn it…"

Niu Tunan indicated he had many affectionate greetings to offer, but his mouth was covered by a feathered robe arm, his face flushing red with the strain.

"This child blushes and gets shy easily. Jiang Yan, I'll take you to the lounge to get through the night." Ba Lie said with a smile, then turned and left.

Director Ba, my colleague seems to be a bit dead.

Jiang Yan watched Niu Tunan's face gradually turn green, muttered internally, thanked him, and quickened his pace to follow.

As for Zhao Zhao Yinman, she had already disappeared for a while.

"Phew, almost suffocated to death!"

After a few seconds, the feathered-arm sleeves on Niu Tunan's body vanished. He began to breathe heavily, looked at their retreating backs, and complained: "Old Ba really forgets the old once he gets a new person."

He slumped into the office chair, turned on his phone, and saw a string of text on the lock screen.

【If I had even a shred of ability, I wouldn't be completely useless.】

【Rather than forcing myself, I might as well give myself a break.】

【No one supports my ambition to reach the clouds; I am merely mud that cannot climb the wall.】

【The strong never complain about their environment. But I am not strong. I not only complain about the environment, I also complain about the strong.】

"With a Class-A big shot added to the bureau, I've taken another step toward my goal of lying flat."

Niu Tunan nodded in satisfaction, stretched, closed his eyes, leaned his head back against the chair to catch up on sleep, showing no intention whatsoever of working.

Click-click-click!

However, after he fell asleep, the computer and keyboard before him operated automatically, beginning to tabulate, upload, and reply to the information just organized.

In his sleep, the corners of Niu Tunan's mouth turned up, as if having a rare pleasant dream. Yet his body gradually became translucent; faintly, one could see various different faces linked by threads, floating within...

Inside the elevator,

Ba Lie pressed the button for the ninth-floor lounge area and broke the silence first:

"Do you think I'm being excessive, a heartless boss who exploits employees?"

"No, Director Ba, your planning is far-sighted. You are the helmsman of the ship. Since you act this way, there must be your reasoning. All we need to do is follow." Jiang Yan said in a rigid, official tone.

Ba Lie laughed and scolded: "Don't speak like a bureaucrat. With your perception, you must have noticed, right?"

Jiang Yan chuckled. He had long discovered that although Niu Tunan looked very exhausted, his vitality within his body was exceptionally vigorous.

His life lamp was even more dreamlike and illusory, as if detached from the present world.

It was hard not to suspect that if he were not kept awake, he could ascend to heaven at any moment.

Ba Lie habitually took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth, but remembering that Jiang Yan did not smoke and that they were still in the elevator, he stuffed it back and said softly:

"I don't know what he experienced during his first illness domain, but he somehow obtained a Dream Dao inheritance rare not only throughout Jiangnan Province, no, even across the Tianxia Alliance."

"Even within the Dream Dao, it belongs to the most extreme type of Practice Method, named..."

"【True Scripture of Weaving Ten Thousand Ages of Reincarnated Illusions】!"

Author's Note: The base salary for the job in the previous chapter has been adjusted, from thirty thousand to fifty thousand. This is the base salary to support the person; subsequent promotions upon regularizing the position will increase it, and there are bonuses for every mission. Continuing to ask for monthly votes and continued reads.

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(End of this chapter)