Chapter 552: Could It Be That This Immortal Mansion Contains a Primordial Treasure

In the shifting of space and time, Fang Yu appeared in a grand hall.

This was an immensely vast hall, thousands of zhang tall, with countless enormous meditation cushions scattered above.

Beside Fang Yu, Ji Ning was also teleported in; his face showed no fear, only curiosity—as if he hadn't expected this elder to be teleported here too.

"It seems we've been teleported into an immortal's mansion."

Fang Yu spoke.

"Indeed."

In the void of the hall, a black ox appeared.

The black ox stood several zhang tall, its eyes lively and curious, carefully studying Fang Yu.

Fang Yu's gaze also studied the black ox—it was not a physical body, but a projection.

"Are you the spirit of this cave mansion?"

Fang Yu paused, then asked.

"You're impressive. Far sharper than the little brat beside you—right away, you recognized me as a spirit. But I am not the spirit of this mansion; I am the spirit of Ju Hua Immortal's personal magic treasure. Ju Hua Immortal—have you heard of him? He existed too long ago; perhaps you've heard his name, or perhaps he's been forgotten by the world."

The black ox sighed.

"Elder, Ju Hua Immortal was a cultivator who transcended the mortal realm, lived for millions of years, survived countless heavenly tribulations, and his power rivals that of a Celestial Immortal."

Ji Ning spoke up at this moment.

His words, alongside the black ox's, confirmed one thing: Ji Ning had entered this immortal mansion before.

In fact, Fang Yu knew Ji Ning had entered this mansion earlier than him, and one reason he sought Ji Ning was precisely this mansion.

Ji Ning possessed two major advantages: first, the Nüwa Map—the supreme contemplation image of the Three Realms, possessing it was akin to obtaining a painting of an immortal; second, this immortal mansion, which offered Fang Yu considerable aid.

Fang Yu had never expected the spirit of this mansion to notice him and teleport him here directly—he had planned to scheme carefully first.

"So you're the spirit of a magic treasure forged by a transcendental immortal."

Fang Yu nodded, his gaze still fixed on the old ox. "It seems the owner of this mansion is dead."

"Dead—all are dead. Over the long eons, countless divine beast and demonic body cultivators were teleported in here, but each one perished, unable to pass the mansion's trials. Only Ji Ning, though lacking divine power, succeeded through profound insight and soul strength, passing all three trials and becoming the new master of this mansion."

The black ox said. "As for why I teleported you in—it's because I found you extraordinary. Throughout history, I've seen many cultivators who stumbled here or were dragged in by me; some were geniuses at understanding the Dao, others had formidable bodies—but none surpassed you in every aspect. In short, you are the strongest, most perfect cultivator I've ever seen—even Ji Ning cannot match you."

The black ox seemed to guess what Fang Yu would ask next and answered preemptively.

"Strongest. Most perfect."

These words landed in Fang Yu's ears, yet he remained utterly unmoved—he already possessed a Jin Dan forged from ninety-nine divine arts, and in the Eternal Life Realm, the Xuan Huang Great World, even the Thousand Great Worlds, his Jin Dan's quality ranked among the highest, truly peerless among all Jin Dans.

His current body and divine arts, within the Manghuang Ji Realm, made him the undisputed number one, save for divine beasts and demons born with mastery over Heaven's Dao and Great Dao.

In this entire great world, he was number one.

He dared to speak this boast.

Who agrees? Who opposes?

Ji Ning, beside Fang Yu, strongly agreed—he could sense that Fang Yu, the Elder of the Black and White Academy, had reached a level of Dao comprehension beyond his wildest imagination; the profound subtleties of Dao surpassed his understanding, and even a single glance granted him new insights.

Thus, Ji Ning wholeheartedly agreed with the black ox's words: "strongest, most perfect."

"So it's because of this—what benefits can I gain? You teleported me here, surely not to steal Ji Ning's master status."

Fang Yu spoke.

"Ji Ning remains the master of this mansion, but his current realm is only Purple Mansion—he cannot yet refine it. Thus, before the mansion is fully refined, any treasures within it that you can obtain, you may claim."

The black ox said. "In truth, even as the mansion's master, you cannot claim all its benefits. This was the rule set by the former owner."

"Oh?"

Fang Yu looked at the black ox. "Who was the third master of this mansion?"

"He was the third."

The black ox's eyes held a trace of nostalgia as it spoke slowly: "In those days, Ju Hua Immortal's fame spread far and wide. Though he never reached the Celestial Immortal realm, as a transcendental immortal, surviving millions of years was already a miracle. But the Three Calamities and Nine Trials of transcendental immortals grow ever more terrifying after each survival—each trial stronger than the last. He lived too long; the trials reached a terrifying scale, even Celestial Immortals could not withstand them."

Fang Yu hummed, listening as the black ox recounted Ju Hua Immortal's tale.

It was somewhat strange—in this world, some transcendental immortals failed to achieve the Celestial Immortal realm at the critical moment, yet later surpassed ordinary Celestial Immortals.

Ju Hua Immortal was one; Bei Xing Immortal of the Black and White Academy was another. A transcendental immortal surviving a million years—was that even fair?

Surely, some world's Emperor would deem it unjust: you couldn't even reach the Celestial Immortal realm, yet lived a million years—how envious.

"After surviving countless heavenly tribulations, Ju Hua Immortal sensed his next trial might be his end, so he publicly announced he would take a disciple. Countless young cultivators perished, but eventually one named Lei Zhan passed the three trials within the corridor and became the mansion's fourth master. Yet Lei Zhan only reached the Ten Thousand Manifestations realm—and died, nowhere known. Until recently, Ji Ning became the mansion's fifth master."

The black ox recounted past tales, clearly still emotionally attached to its master, but indifferent toward the fourth master, Lei Zhan.

After all, its master had become a transcendental immortal after obtaining the mansion, while its master's disciple died at the Ten Thousand Manifestations True Person realm.

"Then who were the first and second masters of this mansion?"

Fang Yu asked.

"The age of this mansion is incalculable. But according to Ju Hua Immortal's speculation, it was originally a cave mansion set by some mighty divine beast or demon—hence the enormous meditation cushions, beds, and corridors, never designed for humans. But the divine beast era has passed; now is the age of humans."

The black ox revealed a touch of melancholy.

"I see."

Fang Yu hummed.

"Within this mansion, there are four great halls: Star Hall, Treasure Hall, Divine Art Hall, and War God Hall. I've received my elder brother's permission to teleport you in—you may enter these four halls and claim any rewards you find."

The black ox spoke again, then turned its head to the nearby void and licked its lips, saying, "Elder brother."

At his words, a figure materialized—a tall, upright bear, its entire body covered in yellow fur, its gaze fixed on Fang Yu, radiating an ancient, eternal aura—as if, no matter how time flowed, it would forever endure.

A sense of eternal, unchanging existence emanated from this bear.

"This is the spirit of this mansion—my elder brother!"

The moment the yellow bear appeared, the black ox became far more obsequious.

"Greetings, fellow cultivator."

Fang Yu's expression shifted slightly as he saw the large yellow bear.

The spirit of this bear is indeed of a much higher rank; though hard to compare within the Eternal Life Realm, it is at least the kind of entity found in a Supreme-grade Dao Treasure.

Whether it reaches the Immortal Treasure level is hard to say.

The yellow bear looked at Fang Yu: "Your physical strength is immense, and your comprehension of the Dao is unprecedented. This time, you are invited to challenge any of the Four Halls—but you must still follow the Master's rules."

"Please go on."

"Follow me."

The yellow bear led the way, with Fang Yu and Ji Ning behind, arriving at a vast hall where countless rare treasures floated in the air, each emitting an ancient and powerful aura.

"What is that magic treasure?"

Ji Ning spotted a great hammer surrounded by three-colored light; merely by looking at it, he felt as if his heart might explode.

He also saw four banners of differing colors; at a single glance, he felt as if he had been swallowed by the Endless Worlds, nearly losing himself.

Even without being activated, these magic treasures possessed such terrifying power—imagine their might once unleashed.

"This is the Treasures Hall. These are the treasures the Master collected over countless eons of cultivation—from strange mundane objects to artifacts that existed in the primordial chaos when Pangu cleaved heaven and earth. He has gathered them all. But to obtain any treasure, you must meet the Master's predetermined conditions."

"What?"

Ji Ning was startled.

Even Fang Yu showed signs of interest.

This Treasures Hall contained artifacts from the moment Pangu cleaved heaven and earth—could such items be at least the Immortal Treasure level of the Eternal Life Realm?

He felt even Dao Treasures could not describe the power of primordial chaos artifacts; though Dao Treasures in the Eternal Life Realm were indeed formidable—some Supreme-grade ones forged from countless stars and star domains—they still seemed inadequate compared to the artifacts born when Pangu opened heaven and earth.

In great worlds like the Honghuang World, artifacts appearing alongside the creation of heaven and earth are known as Primordial Supreme Treasures or Chaos Supreme Treasures, their power rivaling the mightiest Immortal Treasures of the Eternal Life Realm.

Yet if he were to obtain an Immortal Treasure now, Fang Yu could not even imagine it.