Chapter 334: Chapter 321: 6th Order Magical Artifact
"Qianyang True Flame" incinerates all without exception; the outer layer of "Azure Dragon Cauldron" soon began to melt under its calcination.
As the material layer melted into droplets, the true visage of the artifact inside gradually emerged.
It turned out to be a four-legged cauldron!
This cauldron was purple-blue, with one side carved with a purple fanged beast face relief and the other side carved with a blue four-clawed flood dragon relief.
On the inner walls of the cauldron, someone had inscribed, in "Silver Talisman Text," a secret script Zhouyang couldn’t understand, consisting of a total of nine hundred and sixty-seven "Silver Talisman Text" characters, seemingly a cultivation technique or perhaps just a ceremonial text.
Aside from the beast face and flood dragon reliefs, the cauldron’s feet, ears, and walls were also adorned with various cloud and thunder patterns.
However, the main focus wasn’t these adornments; it was the aura emitted by the cauldron.
In Zhouyang’s perception, the cauldron’s aura was far stronger and more profound than that of the few Tier Five Top Grade artifacts he possessed, second only to the Tier Seven Spiritual Artifact "Qianyang Treasure Pearl."
"Tier Six Spiritual Artifact! This cauldron is definitely a Tier Six Spiritual Artifact!"
He exclaimed excitedly, his gaze towards the cauldron filled with fervor.
This wasn’t his first time seeing a Tier Six Spiritual Artifact, but it was the first one he obtained.
Though he couldn’t yet perform refinement on or wield the Tier Six Spiritual Artifact, it did not hinder his joy and excitement over the discovery.
After all, an artifact reaching Tier Six is entirely different from those below.
Especially as this artifact wasn’t one that a cultivator could upgrade alongside reaching the Nascent Soul by cultivation; it was a universally usable artifact.
This brought its value to immeasurable heights!
"How come this artifact is Tier Six, yet was concealed within a mere Tier Four High-grade Spiritual Artifact? Could its origins be too dark, a stolen item from a renowned major sect?"
Looking at the ancient aura-rich beast-faced dragon cauldron before him, a trace of suspicion flitted through Zhouyang’s eyes.
Tier Six Spiritual Artifacts in the cultivation realm are indeed rare, meticulously accounted for.
Take the Liuyun Continent for example, a Tier Six Spiritual Artifact used by a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator would have annotations on the "True Man List" alongside their profile.
Almost ninety percent of Tier Six Spiritual Artifacts are sect treasures, passed down through unknown generations.
In today’s Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, there are a few Tier Six Refiners, but each has produced less than a handful of Tier Six Spiritual Artifacts.
This beast-faced dragon cauldron artifact Zhouyang held could very well be an ancestral treasure lost from a major sect.
The cultivator who initially possessed this artifact may have known of its origins, fearing use of it before attaining Nascent Soul would lead to pursuit by a major sect, thus concealing it within a Tier Four High-grade Spiritual Artifact for later use.
"The [Azure Dragon Cauldron] was first used by Xiao Bufan. Looks like once I return to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, I must investigate where Xiao Bufan acquired this treasure."
"If he got it from the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm that’s fine; if from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, I must be careful to conceal it, lest the rightful owner discovers it and brings calamity upon myself!"
Reflecting on this, Zhouyang’s excitement gradually faded.
The minimum requirement to refine and use a Tier Six Spiritual Artifact was a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation, while he was still at Second-Layer of the Purple Mansion Cultivation.
This meant the Tier Six Spiritual Artifact would remain unusable in his possession for several hundred years.
Under such circumstances, if holding this Tier Six Spiritual Artifact leads to catastrophic disaster, it would be completely unjustifiable.
"Though I’m unable to use the artifact now, I can attempt to transcribe these [Silver Talisman Texts] from inside the cauldron, seeking to decipher their meaning—maybe they contain the artifact’s origins."
Zhouyang’s eyes gleamed as he swiftly devised a plan.
Yet, transcribing the "Silver Talisman Texts" would not be easy.
Both "Golden Seal Text" and "Silver Talisman Text" are Immortal Scripts imbued with the Power of Laws, ordinary spirit paper cannot endure their power.
After burning through several sheets of spirit paper and beast hide, Zhouyang eventually succeeded in transcribing the "Silver Talisman Texts" onto the hide from the former "Canglan Cloud Tiger."
Witnessing the power of "Silver Talisman Text," Zhouyang became more resolute in mastering such scripts.
Once he had finished transcribing the cauldron’s "Silver Talisman Texts," he waved his hand, placing the beast-faced dragon cauldron into his Storage Ring, deciding not to bring it out till he reached Golden Core Stage Cultivation.
Having secured the Tier Six Spiritual Artifact, Zhouyang no longer stayed longer on this nameless island. After tidying up a bit, he flew directly out of "Cloud Mist Marsh."
Two days later, Zhouyang finally flew out of the "Cloud Mist Marsh" area, seeing the sun again.
However, he barely enjoyed the sunlight when a powerful Divine Sense suddenly enveloped him.
This Divine Sense is so powerful, definitely at the Golden Core Stage level, and it cannot be at the Early Stage of the Golden Core.
Zhouyang was suddenly locked onto by it, and saying he wasn’t nervous would be a lie.
However, he knew that panicking would be of no use now. The other’s Divine Sense had already locked onto him, and if he made any reckless moves now, he would likely be struck by a thunderous attack in the next moment.
He steadied himself, stopped his flight with a serious expression, and cupped his hands towards the four directions, saying, "Junior Huang Yi from Longchuan Country, may I know which senior is suddenly joking with this junior?"
"I, the old man, want to ask you a few questions, and you must answer truthfully. If you dare to hide anything, don’t blame me for being merciless!"
A cold and sinister old man’s voice floated into Zhouyang’s mind, causing his heart to be lifted at once.
His mind raced with thoughts, but his mouth was not slow at all as he immediately said loudly, "Please ask, senior. The junior will definitely speak without reservation."
"How long have you been in the Cloud Mist Marsh this time?"
"Did you encounter a white-robed young man carrying a sword and a middle-aged man in blue robes together?"
"Did you sense any fluctuations of magical combat between Purple Mansion Stage cultivators?"
The cold voice of the old man asked three questions in a row, and after asking, the Divine Sense power enveloping Zhouyang began to monitor his entire body closely.
Under such comprehensive surveillance, any abnormal movements on Zhouyang’s part could not escape the old man’s eyes.
When Zhouyang heard these questions, a look of confusion flashed across his face, and then his body slightly tensed, showing a look of tension as he loudly said:
"Senior, let me be frank. This junior has been in the Cloud Mist Marsh for about a month this time. During this period, I have not seen the cultivator combination mentioned by the senior. As for the fluctuations of magical combat between Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, I have sensed them twice. However, due to my low cultivation, I avoided them from afar and did not dare to check the situation."
After he finished speaking, as if fearing the old man’s cold voice would be unsatisfactory, he quickly cupped his hands in salute again, saying, "Every word of the junior is the truth. Please, senior, discern wisely!"
"Describe in detail the times you sensed the magical combat of a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator."
The old man’s cold voice resounded in Zhouyang’s mind again. Upon hearing this, he quickly stated two approximate dates.
These two approximate dates certainly differed from the dates of death of Zhu Wuya and Tuoba Gui.
So after he spoke, it wasn’t long before the old man’s cold voice transmitted again, saying, "Alright, you can leave now."
"Thank you, senior, for your kindness. The junior will take his leave first."
Zhouyang showed a joyous expression and hurriedly cupped his hands in a salute, then hurriedly activated the Illusory Cloud Ship to fly away from the spot.
However, just as he had flown over a dozen miles, the old man’s cold voice suddenly resounded in his mind again.
"The taste of my Taibai Geng Metal Sword Qi isn’t pleasant, is it?"
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang immediately stopped his flying ship, and with a face full of suspicion, he raised his head and asked loudly, "What Taibai Geng Metal Sword Qi? Senior, what do you mean by this?"
"Nothing, it seems you really are not the person I’m looking for. You can go now!"
A slightly disappointed voice sounded in Zhouyang’s mind, and the Divine Sense that had shrouded him finally withdrew completely.
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang’s mouth moved slightly, seemingly wanting to say something, but he quickly held back and swiftly left the place.
After flying continuously for two days and one night until he was completely out of the boundaries of Yunxia Country, Zhouyang’s tense body finally relaxed.
"Phew, that was really close!"
"It’s a good thing I refined those sword qi before coming out, otherwise, I would really have been doomed this time!"
"That old guy was truly cunning; he intentionally let me leave and then suddenly tried to catch me off guard. If I had been frightened and ran away directly or panicked, I fear I wouldn’t have escaped this catastrophe!"
On the flying ship, Zhouyang looked back in the direction of the Cloud Mist Marsh with a look of lingering fear, his eyes full of relief.
The conversation from two days ago, although less than a quarter of an hour in length, was truly a life-or-death confrontation in terms of wisdom.
It is conceivable that if he had shown any abnormalities at that time, causing the Golden Core Stage cultivator who was presumably Tuoba Gui’s master to become suspicious, he would not have been able to ride the wind and wield the sword here now.
"Fortunately, that old guy seems to have no idea that I killed Zhu Ziyu, nor did he see the Beast Taming Sect’s bounty order. Otherwise, even if he didn’t know I was the one who killed his disciple, he might have captured me to claim the reward!"
Zhouyang muttered to himself with a face full of gratitude, having precisely guessed the facts.
The fact was, Tuoba Gui’s master had been in closed-door training for years, with no contact with the outside world.
This time, it was only upon learning of the death of his most valued disciple that he angrily left seclusion and rushed to the Cloud Mist Marsh, hoping to try to find the culprit who killed his disciple.
Because he had gone directly to the Cloud Mist Marsh to focus on finding the murderer after leaving seclusion, he naturally had no time or interest to pay attention to matters unrelated to the White Cloud Sword Sect.