Chapter 22: The Treasure

The gate was twelve hundred feet high, entirely black, covered with intricate and profound silver divine runes that emitted faint ripples.

Ji Ning and the World God of Binding Chains stood before the gate.

"This is my first time at the Ten Thousand Gods Residence," the World God of Binding Chains sighed. "Seeing this gate, I know the legends about the Ten Thousand Gods Dao Lord must all be true! A single gate is already this profound. And this is just one of the treasure gates among ten thousand peaks."

"Let's go in," Ji Ning said with a smile.

"Mm," the World God of Binding Chains nodded.

The two walked side by side into a deep, winding cave passage.

Rumble~~~

Ji Ning glanced back; the half-open gate had already closed again. This was within his expectations.

According to the information he had purchased before coming, each of the ten thousand peaks held one treasure. After the treasure gate opened, if someone entered, the gate would temporarily close to prevent other cultivators from following. If Ji Ning and the World God of Binding Chains failed to take the treasure, the gate would reopen and let them leave.

If they succeeded in obtaining the treasure, the entire treasure space would collapse, opening another passage for them to leave safely.

"There's light ahead." Ji Ning quickened his pace slightly.

"It shouldn't have collapsed yet." The World God of Binding Chains was also full of anticipation.

Soon they reached the end of the passage. Before them was a vast space, over ten miles in extent, covered by a layer of hazy light.

"The treasure space," the World God of Binding Chains said with joy. "The treasure space hasn't collapsed, which means the treasure is still inside."

"The treasure is very hard to obtain. Out of ten thousand cultivators who try, not even one might succeed," Ji Ning remarked. Although it was difficult, the treasure gate had already opened. As time passed and cultivators kept coming, it would eventually be taken.

Whoosh, whoosh.

Ji Ning and the World God of Binding Chains stepped through the hazy light into the treasure space, becoming more cautious. This place was filled with restrictions left by the Ten Thousand Gods Dao Lord; if they triggered some taboo, even a Dao Lord would find it hard to survive.

"A corpse."

Ji Ning saw at the center of the treasure space a stone coffin, inside which a corpse was faintly visible. Above the coffin floated a ball of light.

According to intelligence, Ji Ning and the World God of Binding Chains knew that the treasure was hidden within that light ball. The ten thousand treasures of the Ten Thousand Peaks were all different—some were powerful artifacts like Eternal Divine Weapons, some were eight or ten Dao Weapons, some were powerful forbidden arts, some were formidable divine abilities, and some were special inheritances.

In short, anything was possible.

"Senior apprentice-brother Binding Chains, you try first," Ji Ning said.

"Alright, I'll give it a try." The World God of Binding Chains nodded and strode forward. When he reached a hundred zhang from the stone coffin, the light ball blazed brightly, instantly spreading to cover a hundred zhang around.

Within that hundred-zhang range, everything was hazy.

Ji Ning could no longer see the World God of Binding Chains inside.

"I wonder what the treasure is." Ji Ning waited aside. He let the World God of Binding Chains try first because he was stronger. Even if Ji Ning unleashed all his hidden power, he could at most escape with his life from the World God of Binding Chains. After all, the World God of Binding Chains was at the perfected World God level, and with his treasures, his strength was no less than that of Mistflow Star Lord, perhaps even greater.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea,

"Hoo." The World God of Binding Chains walked out of the hundred-zhang hazy space.

The hazy light quickly contracted back into the light ball.

"Alas," the World God of Binding Chains shook his head. "It's truly incredibly difficult. Too hard. Even if I cultivated for another chaos cycle, I wouldn't have hope of obtaining this treasure."

"What was the trial?" Ji Ning asked.

Each treasure had a trial left by the Ten Thousand Gods Dao Lord. Only by passing the trial could one take the treasure. Everyone had to follow the Ten Thousand Gods Dao Lord's rules. Perhaps some ancient Eternal Emperor-level experts could forcibly take the treasure, but such ancient experts would disdain to do so.

Moreover, even those Eternal-level experts held the Ten Thousand Gods Dao Lord's reputation in awe.

"It's some subtleties of the Fire Element." Fùlóng World God said, "Although I'm quite proficient in both Water and Fire, I'm still far from it."

"Fire Element?" Jìníng was dumbfounded.

Although he had some insights into the Fire Element, he was still far off—he hadn't even comprehended a single Heavenly Dao of Fire, making the trial of Lord Wànshén even more distant.

Although Lord Wànshén's trials for Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals differed from those for World Gods, he was clearly far behind. If the trial were about the Sword Dao, he could still give it a try.

"I'm also far behind in the Fire Element." Jìníng shook his head, "Let one of my followers give it a try."

"Oh, Yóujī?" Fùlóng World God laughed. The news that Jìníng had come to Wànshén Manor was spread by Fire Fairy Sū Yóujī within the Dàmò Court.

"Mm." Jìníng nodded. With a thought, whoosh, a stunningly beautiful fairy in fiery red robes, 'Fire Fairy' Sū Yóujī, appeared beside him.

"Master." Sū Yóujī revealed a smile, then seeing Fùlóng World God, she complained, "Senior Fùlóng, you and master came here, but you didn't let me come out together."

"Isn't there good news for you now?" Fùlóng World God laughed.

"Good news?" Sū Yóujī was puzzled.

"Yóujī." Jìníng pointed at the floating light orb above the stone coffin in the distance, "We are now inside the 'Treasure Space' of one of the peaks of the Ten Thousand Peaks in Wànshén Manor."

"Treasure? It's said that Lord Wànshén left behind ten thousand treasures." Sū Yóujī looked at the light orb, her gaze burning, then turned to Jìníng, "Master, you called me out?"

"Brother Fùlóng tried and failed. This treasure tests the subtleties of the Fire Element." Jìníng said, "You are very skilled in the Fire Element. Among Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals, you should be among the top, just one step away from the World God realm. Perhaps you have a chance to pass the trial."

Sū Yóujī grew a bit excited upon hearing this.

She had also heard...

Each treasure trial in Wànshén Manor is harder for World Gods and easier for Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals. However, the trials are of the same category. For example, a trial testing the Fire Element would be about the Fire Element for both World Gods and Ancestral Gods/Ancestral Immortals. A trial testing the Lightning Element would be about the Lightning Element for both.

"Then I'll go?" Sū Yóujī looked at Jìníng.

"Go ahead." Jìníng nodded.

Sū Yóujī walked over with anticipation and nervousness. When she reached a hundred zhang from the stone coffin, the light orb suddenly blazed brightly, turning the hundred-zhang area into a vast blur.

...

"Jìníng, do you think Yóujī can get the treasure?" Fùlóng World God asked.

"There should be a twenty to thirty percent chance." Jìníng said. After being guided by Lord Tiānyī, Sū Yóujī was only a hair's breadth away from the World God realm, and could break through at any moment. With such high achievement in the Fire Element, she should have a chance.

Time passed minute by minute.

"Longer than me." Fùlóng World God said expectantly.

"Mm." Jìníng nodded, also hoping. Regardless, it would be best if the treasure fell into the hands of their own people. If Sū Yóujī couldn't use the treasure, and he or Fùlóng World God could, they could trade.

"Whoosh." Fire Fairy Sū Yóujī walked out from the vast light.

The light suddenly contracted, shrinking back into the light orb.

"I failed." Sū Yóujī looked at Jìníng, a hint of helplessness in her eyes, "Just a little short, just that little bit... If my insights into the Fire Element were a bit deeper, I would have succeeded. But if I improve a bit more, I should become a World God."

"The Lord's trial probably tests another aspect." Fùlóng World God said.

"Mm, maybe. According to records, it's said that out of tens of thousands of cultivators, it's hard for even one to succeed. Probably one needs some special insights into the Fire Element to pass." Sū Yóujī nodded.

Jìníng also nodded: "You two have made me itchy. I'll give it a try too."

"Master, you want to try? In the Fire Element?" Sū Yóujī looked at Jìníng. She had been following Jìníng and knew he was very weak in the Fire Element.

"It doesn't hurt to try." Jìníng was also aware of his weakness in the Fire Element, but he had never encountered this treasure trial before. He might as well give it a shot; after all, he hadn't heard of anyone losing their life in a treasure trial.

Whoosh.

Jìníng also entered the hundred-zhang range of the stone coffin, and the light orb blazed brightly, completely enveloping the hundred-zhang area.