Chapter 434: The Three-Way Wager (Part 2)
A withered branch, bearing scorch marks at its charred tip. Its outward appearance seems exceedingly ordinary and crude. If it weren't for the fact that all three individuals present possess formidable cultivation and can sense the immense power concealed within this withered branch, one might truly mistake it for an ordinary piece of dried wood.
Although this withered branch indeed harbors considerable power, it cannot be said to match the grandeur of the Celestial Desolation Realm's prized possession, the Nine Cauldrons, let alone surpass the fusion of the Nine Cauldrons…
"Could this object… be related to Suirenshi?" Lu Heng exclaimed in astonishment.
Upon hearing this, Candle Dragon became even more surprised and remarked, "Oh? Friend Lu Heng, have you also heard of the renowned Suirenshi?"
"Uh… I've heard tales of him by chance," Lu Heng chuckled awkwardly. "But I've only heard his name and know little about his specific cultivation bases… Could Friend Candle Dragon shed some light on the stature of this individual known as Suirenshi?"
Lu Heng openly admitted his lack of knowledge regarding the specific legends, while Candle Dragon smirked and said, "Friend Lu Heng, you're always so modest."
Without considering Lu Heng's reaction, Candle Dragon turned to Jiu Mie and solemnly said, "Friend, this object originates from an esteemed ancient luminary of yore. Although he didn't reach the transcendent realm of the Emperor, his influence on the Celestial Desolation Realm has been profound."
"This object is the very foundation upon which he attained enlightenment. Though lacking in illustrious fame, it possesses an unfathomable and indescribable power beyond that of a supreme god."
"The information left by that luminary is scarce, but it is known that he was called Suirenshi. This object is the Dao artifact named the Celestial Ember, which he used to shatter the icy seal spanning billions of miles within the Celestial Desolation Realm, thereby restoring vitality to the heavens and the earth."
"According to ancient legends, without the presence of this ancient luminary, the Celestial Desolation Realm would forever be immersed in a cold, lifeless, and obscure darkness, devoid of any trace of vitality."
"And this Celestial Ember, which has been lost for many years, has been obtained by you, my dear friend. Surely, there is a predetermined fate in this matter. Perhaps your future cultivation bases will rely on this fiery branch."
Candle Dragon solemnly said, "Therefore, my dear Friend, it would be best to put away this item and not use it as a wager. Friend Lu Heng and I find it difficult to present an equivalent divine object as a bet."
Beside him, Lu Heng watched as the old wandering monk collected the withered branch once again, unable to resist peeking into the tattered bag, only to be met with pitch-black darkness.
Lu Heng chuckled and said, "Friend Jiu Mie, your bag truly is a treasure trove… You previously took out the Nine Cauldrons, and now you have brought forth the Celestial Ember of Suirenshi. Your fortune is so remarkable. I wonder if there are any other divine artifacts in the bag that could further marvel at us all?"
Jiu Mie gave a stern look to Lu Heng and said, "You sly fox, are you even planning to covet the only possession of me, this tattered bag? Besides the Nine Cauldrons and this withered branch, where would I have any treasures?"
In the end, the old ascetic cultivator pulled out a jade talisman inscribed with emerald patterns, and said, "This talisman, crafted by me over twenty years, can manifest a corporeal avatar for defense against enemies. It may not be of much use to the three of us, but it can be given to the younger generation for protection. Let me use this item as the wager."
The old ascetic cultivator pulled out the only treasure hidden at the bottom of the box, aside from that withered branch, leaving only Lu Heng remaining.
After some contemplation, Lu Heng waved his sleeve, and from within it emerged a two-foot-tall wooden sculpture.
This wooden sculpture lacked any spiritual aura or artistic charm, appearing rather ordinary. It depicted the image of a woman dressed in white, standing on a lotus flower. Astonishingly, it was the likeness of the White Robed Guanyin that Lu Heng had fortuitously obtained earlier in the South Sea.
After Lu Heng purchased this wooden sculpture, it has remained unremarkable, without revealing any extraordinary qualities. Now, Lu Heng has decided to bring it out.
He chuckled and said, "This object hails from the South Sea, devoid of any spiritual aura, and even I am unaware of its true origin. However, its form carries profound meaning. How about we use this item as a wager?"
After speaking, Lu Heng turned his gaze towards the Candle Dragon.
However, this time, even Candle Dragon failed to recognize the origin of this White Robed Guanyin statue. He expressed his astonishment, saying, "This wooden sculpture… does possess a certain degree of peculiarity."
After Jiu Mie received it, he carefully examined it for a while, shaking his head and saying, "This object may be somewhat related to the path of monks, but I have never seen such a divine image before… Our friend has indeed presented us with a puzzle. I cannot discern any remarkable qualities in this item."
With a mischievous grin, Lu Heng said, "Anyway, I'm wagering with this item, whether or not both of you can perceive its uniqueness is no concern of mine. In terms of value, I exchanged five grains of Heavenly Thunder Sand for it. It is priceless. Using it as a wager is a worthwhile decision."
After listening, the Candle Dragon exclaimed with admiration, "Friend Lu Heng is truly generous, buying a piece of junk with five grains of Heavenly Thunder Sand… Impressive!"
However, regardless of the circumstances, this wager has finally been set.
Lu Heng and the other two eagerly anticipated how the Dragon Emperor would act next, and wondered how the Dragon Amber, obtained through the ritual, would be used.
On the third day, the Dragon Emperor visited once again, bringing with her a cherished variety of spiritual tea for Lu Heng to savor.
Candle Dragon and Jiu Mie still departed, only returning after the departure of the Dragon Emperor.
However, Lu Heng still had not laid eyes upon the Dragon Amber.
On the fourth day, the Dragon Emperor paid a visit, bringing with her an ancient painting imbued with a powerful sword intent for Lu Heng to appreciate…
On the fifth day, she brought a scroll containing a ancient manuscript that had sealed the remnants of evil demons within human skin, for Lu Heng to examine…
On the sixth day, she brought a three-century-old vintage…
On the seventeenth day, she brought a precious Vermilion Phoenix tail feather…
On the thirtieth day…
On the thirty-seventh day…
In the blink of an eye, Lu Heng and his companions have already been on Dragon Island for nearly two months. The new list of dispatched dragon clan members destined for the mortal realm has been finalized, yet Lu Heng and his group still haven't obtained permission to freely maneuver on the island.
On the Moon Dragon Terrace, that group of elder dragons is still in a meeting, and they have yet to come up with a conclusion.
Moreover, during this period, every single day the Dragon Emperor would pay a visit, and each time she brought something different.
In the end, even the Candle Dragon became a little impatient, considering forcefully intruding if this group of dragon clan members continued to procrastinate.
And on the forty-ninth day, when the Dragon Emperor made her visit this time, she didn't bring any gifts.
She arrived empty-handed, standing outside the gate, waiting for Lu Heng to open it. Her expression seemed slightly more serious.
After Lu Heng welcomed her inside, and the customary pleasantries between them came to an end, the Dragon Emperor took a deep breath and said, "Brother Lu, I am about to embark on a journey to explore the ancient marvels of the Dragon Clan's secret realm. I wonder if you would be interested in joining me?"
"If there is any place on Sanxian Island where the River Map and the Luo Book could possibly be hidden, Xiu Ya believes that the Dragon Clan's secret realm, which has existed for countless ages, is the most suspicious location."
"Perhaps within this ancient Dragon Clan secret realm, which has remained sealed for many years, the River Map and the Luo Book that Brother Lu mentioned truly do exist."
On the terrace, a petite girl with a serious demeanor extended an invitation to Lu Heng.
Upon hearing this invitation, Lu Heng was immediately rendered speechless.
"This…," he looked at the serious little girl before him, who had no hint of malice on her face, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Inviting him alone to the so-called secret realm…
This… Could it be that it was truly envisaged by the ominous proclamations of those two troublemaking friends?
