Chapter 1040

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Xu Zhangqing followed the guidance of the golden light halo, passing through the faded plain.

The land beneath his feet gradually changed texture as he advanced, shifting from dry gray-white to moist dark brown; the bone-penetrating chill in the air also gradually faded, replaced by a warm, gentle warmth.

As that golden light halo grew brighter and brighter, when he crossed a certain invisible boundary, the scene before him suddenly opened up.

At this moment, Xu Zhangqing stood at the edge of a stone platform suspended in the void.

The stone platform was octagonal, no more than a hundred zhang in diameter, with no railings at its edges; one step outward was endless dark void.

In the void, countless light spots of varying sizes floated suspended.

Some were only fist-sized, while others were like entire mountain peaks hanging inverted in the sky dome.

Those light spots varied in color — crimson, azure, deep blue, brilliant gold, dark purple — as if drawn by some invisible force, they all circled the stone platform in unison.

In the center of the stone platform stood a pitch-black stone pillar.

About three zhang high, its surface engraved with dense, closely packed inscriptions.

The inscriptions were not characters of any single era, but symbols condensed from laws.

They seemed alive, roaming across the pillar body; with each fraction of movement, the surrounding light spots flashed once in response, as if breathing or resonating.

Atop the stone pillar floated a constantly shifting light cluster.

Within the light cluster, countless scenes could be faintly seen flashing.

Some practiced sword, some refined pills, some underwent tribulation, some wept, some laughed wildly, some knelt silently before tombstones.

Just as Xu Zhangqing approached within three zhang of the stone pillar, the inscriptions on it suddenly stilled, and the countless surrounding light spots also halted simultaneously.

Immediately after, the light cluster slowly descended, landing before him; its shifting form gradually solidified, transforming into an ancient, heavy wordless book.

Seeing this scene, Xu Zhangqing released his divine sense to make contact.

Instantly the pages turned, and several lines of text emerged on the blank pages.

"Xu Zhangqing, God Transformation Third Layer.

Passed the Karma Trial, obtained Nirvana Heart Fire.

Three remaining Karmic Objects, may choose one.

Cannot be greedy, cannot regret."

The characters dissipated, and three items appeared from the pages, floating before him.

First item: Earth Vein Heart Lamp

A palm-sized stone lamp, archaic in form, its body carved from some kind of gray-white rock, its surface covered in fine patterns.

The wick held nothing, yet emitted a soft yellow-brown light, faintly resonating with the Xuanhuang Power within Xu Zhangqing's body.

This lamp requires no fuel; its light source comes from the earth itself.

It automatically draws spiritual energy from the earth veins, transforming the soil quality and spiritual energy concentration within a thousand-li radius.

Although it cannot fight, cannot defend, it can turn a barren land into a top-grade Spirit Field in a short time.

Importantly, the Earth Vein Heart Lamp is bound to the holder's Earth Spirit Root.

It can passively amplify any earth-element technique of the holder, making defensive spells more solid, making earth qi control more effortless.

Second item: Karma Residual Mirror

A palm-sized silver mirror, its edges uneven, as if it were a fragment detached from a larger mirror surface.

The mirror surface reflects not the holder's reflection, but a mass of constantly flowing gray mist, of the same origin as the gray mist previously in the Mirror Image Eye.

Its ability is "Reflect Karma".

When the holder faces a person, the mirror briefly reflects a segment of that person's unresolved karma, presenting it in the form of images.

For example, facing Mo Sha, the mirror might flash scenes from his childhood.

Facing Qin Baili, it might flash a certain detail from the day the Dongting Immortal Sect exploded.

These images are incomplete, and provide no explanation.

But often, a single fragment is enough to become the fulcrum that moves the whole affair.

It cannot be used directly for combat, and requires three days to recover after each use.

Third item: Qingdi's Decree

A seemingly ordinary wood token, palm-sized, its front engraved with a simply sketched Spirit Rice Pattern, its back bearing only a single ancient character, "Life".

Unlike the previous ones, this token is itself a combination of a "key" and a "token".

Within the token is sealed a wisp of extremely faint Qingdi aura.

This wisp of aura has two functions.

First, when the holder approaches any ruins, secret realm, or inheritance related to Qingdi, the token emits a warm spiritual light as guidance.

This means Xu Zhangqing does not need to search blindly across the world; as long as the opportunity arrives, the token will naturally give him a prompt.

Second, this wisp of aura can be released once at a critical moment, forming an extremely pure wood-element protective shield around him, capable of blocking one fatal attack from a higher realm, and instantly restoring the holder's full mana.

This is a one-time life-saving trump card; once used, only the token's function remains.

Importantly, the token itself is the qualification certificate to enter Qingdi's Mansion.

Moreover, the longer the token is held, the deeper the holder's comprehension of wood-element laws becomes; the efficiency of cultivating wood-element methods and nurturing spiritual plants will steadily increase.

It is not a one-time opportunity, but a long-term, continuous aid.

Xu Zhangqing looked at the three things, silent for a good while.

The Earth Vein Heart Lamp is a good thing.

Dongyu is a hundred wastes awaiting revival, Xiyu's spirit veins are withered; after the Qingmu Sect's expansion, the area of its spirit fields has multiplied several times, and it urgently needs such a heavy weapon that can continuously improve the land.

With it, within ten years, Dongyu can become the most prosperous grain-producing land in the entire Tianyuan Realm.

The problem is that this lamp must be buried in a fixed position to exert its maximum effect, and in the coming days, he cannot stay in the sect all the time.

The great war is imminent; the Earth Vein Heart Lamp is a guardian artifact, not a game-changing artifact.

The Karma Residual Mirror is also a good thing.

It can peer into others' karma; used well, it is more terrifying than any weapon.

If used once on the Demon God Kong Fang, or shone upon interrogating outer realm foreign races, the value it brings is immeasurable.

However, this mirror's fragmentation method is too uncontrollable.

Every time it is used, there is a three-day cooldown.

As for Qingdi's Decree, Xu Zhangqing extended his right hand and directly held the token in his palm.

A warm sensation came from the token's surface, producing a resonance almost synchronized with his heartbeat with the wood spirit root within his body.

He has cultivated for two hundred years, starting as a spirit farmer and founding himself on spirit plants; the wood-element laws have always been the most fundamental foundation.

Without a doubt, the token of the Qing Emperor's Mansion is the best choice at present.

What matters is that this token is not an empty check.

It takes effect now; when holding it, Xu Zhangqing can clearly feel his comprehension of the wood-element laws continuously deepening in an extremely subtle way.

If one must describe it, it is as if some higher-dimensional existence is silently guiding him.

This benefit is inconspicuous, but with accumulation over time, it is enough to give Xu Zhangqing an extra measure of confidence when breaking through to the Void Refining stage!