Zhang Yuanqing could obtain the item properties of the Houtu Boots through Fu Qingyang. As a descendant of a senior elder from Taimei Sect, Zhao Chenghuang naturally also had access to the early information about the tournament prize. Thus, upon seeing the Sacrificial-to-the-Heaven Set, he immediately recognized its immense importance to Yuanshizhen. Sacrificial-to-the-Heaven Set? Zhang Yuanqing paused, then beamed with excitement. "Show me." He strode over to Zhao Chenghuang, taking the Jade Belt of Qingdi. It was a finely crafted belt composed of three parts: the qing (the soft, silken band, internally wrapped with a type of leather), the jia (square, jade components, intricately carved with patterns—similar to buckle fastenings), and the tia (a series of round, luminous jade pieces embedded along the belt, each carved with a different animal—tiger, bear, wolf, leopard, eagle, etc.), totaling ten pieces, symbolizing the ten wild beasts. Zhang Yuanqing held the jade belt, and soon the item's attributes appeared in his eyes: 【Name: Jade Belt of the Qing Emperor】 【Type: Wearable Accessory】 【Function: Beast King, Qing Emperor's Immortality Technique】 【Description: It is said that the Qing Emperor commanded ten divine beasts, each capable of moving mountains and filling seas. The combined power of these ten beasts was crystallized into jade, which the First Emperor then crafted into a belt, known as the Jade Belt of the Qing Emperor.】 【Note 1: It is one of the components of the celestial sacrifice robe. The remaining three pieces are: boots, crown, and robe. It is said that when all four pieces of the set are gathered, one can communicate with the Heavenly Sovereign.】 【Note 2: Wearing this belt allows the wearer to transform into one of the ten divine beasts. The strength of the beast depends on the physical condition of the wearer.】 【Note 3: As the saying goes, the wealthy rely on technology, while the poor rely on mutation—those who are poor must endure sufferings that ordinary people cannot bear.】 "...So the celestial sacrifice set was originally crafted by "Then, raising the Jade Belt of the Qing Di, I say to my team, 'My second priority is this item.'" Summer Hou Aotian and the others murmured a few "ahs," offering polite responses while their minds were fully occupied with the items in their hands. Zhang Yuanqing placed the Jade Belt of the Qing Di into the inventory, completed the bonding process, and then retrieved it again—immediately, the item's cost and functions came into clear view in his mind. Under normal circumstances, the self-healing ability of the Wood Spirit can treat injuries but cannot restore the body to its peak condition—physical stamina is inevitably depleted and can only be recovered through rest and recuperation. The Qing Di's Immortality Technique, however, nourishes the body, restoring both the user's and the target's physical strength back to peak levels. Each use requires a five-hour cooldown period. The cost: every time the user transforms into a beast form, they must endure the pain of genetic mutation afterward. The severity of this pain, however, Zhang Yuanqing has never experienced and thus lacks a clear sense of it. Then he turned his attention to another key point—the item descriptions of the Yin-Yang Robe and Hou Tu Boots mention that completing the Sacrificial Heaven set allows one to penetrate the secrets of immortality. Yet in the description of the Qing Di's Sash, it is stated that the set enables communication with Haotian. How can the same set have different descriptions? Upon reflecting on this, Zhang Yuanqing set aside the Qing Di's Sash, retrieved the Hou Tu Boots, and checked the item details, only to be astonished to find that the description of "being able to penetrate the secrets of immortality" had now changed What does it mean to communicate with the Heavenly Realm? Isn't the Heavenly Realm merely an abstract concept of ancient people? Doesn't "Heavenly Realm" refer to the very essence of heaven and earth themselves? The ritual attire for worshipping heaven seems to hold a deeper secret—I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what happens when all the pieces are assembled. Will the whispers of the Heavenly Realm overwhelm me and send me into a state of chaos? Also, I'm not sure how the set's effects perform yet—I should find a quiet spot and test the set's capabilities firsthand. Zhang Yuanqing gathered his thoughts and declared loudly, "Everyone, gather all the items. I still have my final choice." Upon hearing this, Sun Miao Miao and the others collected all the items that had been revealed from the boxes. Including the Imperial Swordmaster's cloak and the Azure Emperor's sash, the total number of items amounted to six: the Soul-Capturing Banner, the Rivers and Mountains Map, the Taotie Training Furnace, and the Ten-Thousand-Man Butcher. These correspond to the four professions—Night-Wanderer, Illusionist, Scholar, and Enchanting Spirit—each of which is of Sovereign quality. The finest was the court swordmaster's cloak, followed by the Qing Di jade belt... Zhang Yuanqing immediately folded the cloak and said, "My third preference is the cloak. The rest of you pick what remains—exactly one piece for each of you." "The First Emperor truly is wealthy; even a single artifact of Saint-tier quality is lacking." Xiahou Aotian, his hands trembling, carefully took up the Taotie military furnace, filled with excitement yet also regret. After all, the cost of artifacts at the Master level was beyond their means. Moreover, the Taoist scholars lacked the skill to craft such items, making the Taotie military furnace currently too advanced for their needs. They would have to sell it, yet they were reluctant to part with it. "Perhaps the Saint-tier artifacts simply aren't suited," Sun Miaomiao selected the Soul-Draining Banner. "I'll take the Ten-Thousand-Generals Sword," said Tianxia Guihuo. The Ten-Thousand-Generals Sword was a single-piece armor that combined defense and offensive power, a divine weapon for charging into battle. Zhao Chenghuang silently placed the final scroll into his inventory. While he truly desired Sun Miaomiao's Soul-Dr Moreover, Shanhe Tu is equally powerful—when the scroll is unfurled, it can draw enemies into its folds, and after seven days, they vanish entirely. A decisive weapon for trapping foes and securing survival. Seeing the distribution complete, Zhang Yuanqing said, "Here, the treasures are so abundant that our inventory space is overwhelmed. I have storage containers for such items, which I will keep safe. Once we leave Qin Feng Academy, we’ll choose a suitable location to divide them among ourselves." The others—Tianxia Guihuo and the rest—exchanged glances and nodded in unison. While others would never agree to have such priceless treasures entrusted to them, they still felt reassured by Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s word, despite lingering concerns. Thus, Zhang Yuanqing retrieved the little red hat, and took away the bookcases, shelves, and the large boxes filled with goods at the entrance. He then thought again and also collected the altar. The Nüwa Scroll is no less a piece of antiquity. The once-lavish treasure vault now appeared remarkably empty. "Strange," he mused, "I haven’t yet found the 'neural center' that controls the army of Xiahou Aotian stared at the empty treasure vault, scratching his head. "If we can't find anything, let's just move on—we've been here long enough. Better to leave now before things go wrong," Sun Miaomiao said. This was also the thought of Zhang Yuanqing and the others. After striking it rich, the best course of action was to pack up and secure their gains. Zhao Chenghuang said, "Give me the round mirror, and I'll extract it directly from the material." It was quite rare indeed to be able to perceive the tools used by night-wanderers, and even more so, practical. Sun Miaomiao also wanted it, but she had just taken the Soul-Capturing Banner earlier, and now speaking again would make her seem overly greedy, so she held back. After handing the bronze mirror to Zhao Chenghuang, Zhang Yuanqing led his teammates back to the water pool, submerged into the depths, and swiftly departed. A few minutes earlier, upon returning to the stone gate at full speed, the group found themselves in complete darkness beneath the water, with the sound of flowing currents humming steadily in their ears. Two merfolk lay quietly asleep upon the riverbed. Zhao Chenghuang vibrated his spiritual energy, transmitting a sound only audible to night-wanderers: "These two merfolk have been sleeping too long. When they wake up, they will surely notice something amiss. I have a hypnotic tool that can make them forget their entire period of unconsciousness." "That's a splendid solution," Zhang Yuanqing replied. "When we first planned this, why didn't you mention it "Zhao Chenghuang, just take a look: 'A plan is only a plan—it has nothing to do with the execution details.'" This is one aspect. On the other hand, once the treasures are secured, his mindset has already shifted—he is no longer thinking of it merely as "a one-time adventure" or "uncertain whether he'll reap any rewards." Now, his mindset is: "Anyone who dares to reveal tonight's actions will be killed on the spot." "Go now!" Zhang Yuanqing pushed Zhao Chenghuang gently. Sun Miaomiao stood gracefully by the door of the bathroom, taking the night-wandering supplies handed back by Tian Xia Gui Huo. Everyone was damp all over. Xiahou Aotian snatched Zhao Chenghuang's towel and vigorously rubbed his hair. Tian Xia Gui Huo's body temperature rose quickly, evaporating moisture from his clothes, skin, and hair, and the steam rose gently, colliding with the ceiling and spreading out swiftly. Zhang Yuanqing lowered her voice: "The room has good sound insulation, so if we keep our voices low, we shouldn't be overheard. Time was limited earlier, and we didn't clearly explain the material distribution. My suggestion is that the scrolls and spells are the shared property of all—everyone may borrow them, but no one may claim them as their own. Additionally, no one may share the contents of the scrolls without permission. The materials are also shared property; I'll have Xiahou Aotian conduct a detailed assessment so each person can select what they'd like. The handling of the scrolls is settled. "Panorama of the World furrowed his brow: "As for materials, at this point, we simply don't know what materials we'll need in the future. To finalize our decisions now would be premature. For instance, if he later requires Xisang, but chooses Chihuo Crystal Fragments now, that would be quite troublesome. In essence, your suggestion means we'll have to take everything, won't we?" After some thought, Zhang Yuanqing said, "That makes sense. Then, for materials that can be evenly distributed, we'll divide them equally. For those that cannot be evenly divided, we'll establish an oral agreement: should one party require a specific material in the future, they may exchange it for another material of equivalent value with the other party, and the latter shall not refuse. Should the receiving party have already used the material, however, that will be settled accordingly." This proposal proved beneficial to all parties and was unanimously approved. Zhang Yuanqing then produced the Little Red Hat and said, "I'll take you in." As soon as the words fell, Sun Miaomiao and the others felt a flash of light— the bright room vanished, replaced by a quiet, dense forest with a full moon hanging overhead. Out on the open meadow beyond the forest, the world was utterly still: no insect hum, no bird calls, no wind, no water sounds. Beside them stood rows of antique cabinets, bookshelves, and large boxes filled with belongings. "What profession is this item from?" Sun Miaomiao asked curiously. "I won't tell you." "Oh, please do!" Sun Miaomiao tugged at his sleeve. While they were talking, Tian Xianggui raised a large fire ball, about one meter in diameter, to illuminate Xiaohou Aotian. The latter began weighing and appraising each material, while Zhao Chenghuang silently recorded the prices. Zhang Yuanqing satisfied Sun Miaomiao's curiosity, observed Xiaohou Aotian for a while, and seeing that the process wouldn't conclude soon, cast the Star-Transcendence technique to move to a distant spot. He intended to test the set's effects. Removed the Yin-Yang ceremonial robe, shook it out with a rustle, and draped it over her shoulders. Then she donned the Hou-Tu boots, and finally drew out a sash, carefully fastening it around her waist. With all three items in place, just as she was about to unfold the robe and activate the Yin-Yang array, she suddenly found the array’s functions had vanished. Before she could react, the Yin-Yang robe emitted a sudden rush of flame, blazing into a vibrant, fiery mantle that fluttered dynamically behind her. Simultaneously, the element of water, symbolized by the robe, detached and enveloped her, solidifying into a cool, dark robe. The dark robe was embroidered with patterns of the mythical phoenix, exuding both grace and elegance. At her waist, a luminous, emerald sash shimmered softly, adding a gentle warmth that balanced the depth of the black robe and the assertive strength of the flaming mantle. On her feet, a finely woven silk boot pair radiated a solid, majestic presence, like that of a dignified and resolute sovereign. At a distance, Tianxia Guihuo felt a surge of unease, an indescribable fear as though under the pressure of a celestial adversary. The fire orb he was holding trembled, nearly extinguishing. He turned in astonishment to witness a scene that moved him deeply. Yuan Shǐ Tianzun wore a flaming robe over his shoulders, dressed in a deep indigo robe, his feet clad in majestic, imposing boots, and a soft, warm jade sash wrapped around his waist. His presence was powerful, balanced, commanding, and profound—like a heavenly deity descending to earth, far beyond the realm of mortal beings. Simply gazing upon him stirred in Tianxia Guihuo a deep sense of submission and obedience, leaving no room for resistance or determination. Sun Miao Miao, however, felt no such suppression; yet, as a woman, her innate sense of awe was stirred, and she murmured, "So handsome..." His ceremonial robe—was it indeed the divine attire used for the heavenly rites? Zhao Chenghuang was left stunned, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sense of pressure, with an urgent desire to elevate himself. Xiahou Aotian stared, dumbfounded, filled with admiration to the point of being unable to breathe. While he didn't particularly care about the equipment's attributes, he simply felt that the stunning visual presentation was exactly what he, as the protagonist, had always pursued. Zhang Yuanqing didn't notice his teammates' attention; instead, he carefully savoring the suite's capabilities. "After activating the suite's effects, all the auxiliary functions of the three pieces of equipment vanish, yet I gain all the skills from the extraordinary stages of Water Spirit, Earth Monster, Wood Spirit, and Fire Master. The skill power surpasses even that of the extraordinary stage, matching the power of the four primary classes' Saints—though lacking the abilities of the Saint stage. Additionally, I have an inherent advantage over the four classes, which weakens their skill effectiveness. The drawback is that the Yin-Yang Array has disappeared, meaning I've effectively lost my two puppet bodies and can no longer contain my opponents. However, my combat power has surged significantly—now, the four classes appear as mere juniors to me." "The set enhancement is still at the Saint level, probably comparable to early Level 6. Once I gather all the pieces, it should reach Master-tier quality—Fu Qingyang would surely be at a loss when he sees me. That sounds really satisfying. The final piece, the crown, should also be Master-tier. Since the Heavenly Sacrifice Set is the divine artifact of the First Emperor, the crown must be obtained within the Qin Dynasty's dungeon, and only when I ascend to Master-tier will I have the opportunity to find it. Additionally, this current state can only last for five minutes. After that, my physical body will begin to collapse—this is only two-thirds as long as the Yin-Yang Array's fifteen-minute duration. In fact, it was difficult for him to obtain materials from other professions within the副本. Sun Miaomiao and the others didn't take all the materials—they even only carried a small portion—because their inventory space was full. Unlike Zhang Yuanqing, who had access to the guild warehouse, they lacked that advantage. Moreover, each of them had taken several scrolls and was eagerly studying them, which also consumed inventory space. They were hesitant to leave them behind, either carrying them with them or storing them in their rooms. After agreeing to keep the night's actions completely confidential, the group quietly departed. Zhang Yuanqing chuckled happily. "Ah, you nasty rogue!" Sun Miaomiao pounded him with her fists. "Hmph!" Zhao Chenghuang cleared his throat and said coldly, "If you two want to flirt and chat, pay attention to the setting." He subtly implied that there were many people present, with people sitting across the table who might be listening, and that too much talk would surely lead to exposure. Indeed, Yuan Ting's ear twitched, he glanced at the two across from him, then at Zhao Chenghuang beside him, and after a moment of silence, said, "There's something wrong between the three of you." "Nothing's wrong!" The three spoke in unison. "It's just that there is something wrong," Yuan Ting remarked, with an astonishing sense of intuition in certain areas. "Is there something you're not telling me?" The three simply continued eating, ignoring him. "Indeed, there is something amiss," Yuan Ting groaned, clutching his head. "Just tell me—please—tell me!" Yet his request would remain unfulfilled. This morning's class was a combat session, held on the basalt island, dotted with hot springs. After lunch, the students gathered at the dock. Teacher Luo Le-sheng had been waiting there since early, scanning the casually relaxed group. Suddenly, he roared, "At attention!" His voice thundered, crashing into the students' ears like a bolt of lightning, sending ripples across the water beneath the ferry. The students were startled, instinctively forming a neat line, quieting their chatter. Seeing this, Luo quickly defended, "Don't be nervous—my personality is quite good. I'll never physically discipline any student. Please don't worry—don't worry—" At that moment, Hong Ji-guo shouted, "I don't believe it—how can a fiery teacher avoid hitting anyone?" As soon as he finished speaking, Luo launched a powerful punch straight into Hong Ji-guo's abdomen, roaring, "Then I'll prove it—when I speak, no one interrupts!" "Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!" Hong Ji-guo cried out, flying backward. The students: "……" Luo Le-sheng took a deep breath and explained, "That was just an accident. Don't worry— I'm a good teacher, truly. I won't hit students lightly. I absolutely won't break any students' bones. I've already changed... Ah, never mind. Class president, please count the numbers and get us on the boat right away." Nobody wanted to go on the boat. Xia Hou Ao-tian glanced at Hong Ji-ge, who had been lying on the ground for a while without rising, and cleared his throat, saying, "Reporting— counting the numbers..." After everyone had reported their numbers, Luo Le-sheng said, "Alright, everyone's here. Let's go." Xia Hou Ao-tian raised his hand weakly, "Excuse me, Teacher— one person is still missing." Luo Le-sheng was taken aback, "Missing one?" "Teacher, there are twenty-two students, but only twenty-one have reported. Surely you don't not know the total number of students, do you?" Zhang Yuan-qing said. "Of course I know," Luo Le-sheng replied. "I mean— who is the one He vaguely remembered her as a quite beautiful woman, well-groomed—good at makeup, dressed neatly—but rather reserved, as if she were a plague bearer. At first, Xue Ao Tian found her understated and mature, and so strikingly beautiful that he thought she would be an excellent fit for a secondary harem. Yet he never followed through. Xue Ao Tian believed that a harem was an essential trait of a leading protagonist. But every time he envisioned it, he would turn and forget the one he had already selected. After all, how compelling could women’s knowledge be? "As a swordsman with the ability of insight, he sees people most accurately." "Maybe my period has started," Red Chicken Brother jumped up, pointing at Luo Le Sheng and shouting, "Old rogue! You dare attack me? I'll fight you to the death!" "Though I am a gentle teacher, I never turn down a student's challenge," Luo Le Sheng pumped his fists and stepped forward, eager to engage. Seeing the two rough fire magi standing tense and ready to clash, the trainees quickly stepped in to intervene.