CHAPTER 848: CHAPTER 510: THE TREASURE OF THE PREVIOUS DYNASTY (PART 2)

Zhao Douan’s heart stirred, recalling the other party’s mention of Yunfu, and he asked curiously, "Does the priest often travel south of Yunfu, in the southwestern and southeastern regions of the Southern Border?"

South of the Yu Country is generally referred to as the Southern Border.

Yunfu is adjacent to the "Great Southwest," and Lingnan is adjacent to the "Great Southeast."

All are places rarely visited by people.

Zhang Yan Yi and Eunuch Hai both mentioned that the further away from civilization one travels, the fewer people explore, and the further you go, the more the cultivators’ powers are weakened, even falling to the level of ordinary people.

Yu Xiu responded with an "En": "In the past two years, I’ve been active in the Liao Clan’s territory. It’s both to curb the infiltration of the ’Great La Ba’ Divine into the Yu Country and to suppress magicians such as those from the White Clothes Sect who worship the Sorrow God... Besides that, I’m also tracking the last traces of the former Qi Country."

This sentence carries enormous information; the "Great La Ba" is a foreign deity worshiped by the Liao Clan, which Zhao Douan knows.

Fearful of divine power and preventing deities not in the "court True God" sequence from entering the Yu Country, which could cause destruction.

The Yu Country has always guarded against foreign deities with stringent measures, echoing the sentiment of "No divine passage within the Great Yu borders."

As for the White Clothes Sect magicians... In Jianning Prefecture, Zhao Douan and the Empress had suffered curse killings from these magicians.

This account remains unsettled.

But what truly caught his attention was the last sentence.

"The last traces of the Qi Country?" Zhao Douan was momentarily stunned, leaning his body slightly forward, "Priest, care to elaborate?"

Before the establishment of the Yu Country, this land was ruled by a dynasty known as "Qi," with its final era being the Heavenly Hunting.

During the Heavenly Hunting years, countless heroes vied for supremacy, leading to Qi Country’s defeat and its subsequent burial under the dust of history—due to the era’s long passage, few discuss it.

Yu Xiu explained:

"Historical records note that when the Qi Country’s Capital City fell, only a remnant imperial guard retreated, pursued by various rebel forces, eventually fleeing south towards the Southern Border, hiding in the forests to wait for an opportunity after the Central Plains fell into chaos... They disappeared without a trace, presumably perishing in the miasma, leading to complete annihilation.

In the archives of my Heavenly Master Mansion, there is a clue that this fleeing imperial guard took some national treasures from the Qi Country Palace, including extremely precious town treasures, secret collections...

Over the past six hundred years, many have attempted to search for them, but due to the vast forests of the Great Southwest and Southeast, with poisonous insects, fierce beasts, and miasma stretching over hundreds of miles... it’s extremely difficult to find.

Though some have found corpses and scattered treasures, compared to what this imperial guard carried, it’s a drop in the ocean."

Amidst their defeat, carrying national treasures and retreating to remote areas, relying on "natural barriers" to hide, intending to strike back in the future... this plot sounds familiar... Zhao Douan’s heart raged with complaints, curiously asking:

"No one has found them? Could they have fallen into the hands of the Liao Clan?"

Yu Xiu replied calmly:

"It’s quite possible. The Liao Clan is the most likely force to have acquired those national treasures from the former dynasty, which is why I have repeatedly investigated over there in the past two years. Unfortunately, the Liao Clan hosts many masters, and I’ve yet to make any breakthroughs, but... it has not been completely fruitless."

"What did the priest uncover?" Zhao Douan’s heart skipped a beat, sensing impending trouble.

Yu Xiu’s serene brows gazing at him:

"Within the Liao Clan exists a town treasure, a ritual platform. By placing prey upon it, one can pray for and steal the powers of the La Ba god to fulfill wishes... I was lucky enough to infiltrate and attempted it; the revelation from that town treasure points to the Capital, meaning, if I wish to find the former dynasty’s national treasures, the key opportunity lies in the Capital. My return to the Central Plains this time is for this."

Zhao Douan’s head felt as heavy as a bucket, he replied speechlessly, "The priest jests, dare I ask if that revelation mentioned any details?"

"None," Yu Xiu spoke without circumlocution: "I dared not engage too deeply with the Great La Ba, so the answer I received was very vague."

Zhao Douan held his forehead: "Then why do you think it’s me?"

"Intuition," Yu Xiu replied matter-of-factly: "In the past two years, in the entire Capital, the most prominent person is you. Yes, there is also Your Majesty, but she is too mighty; I don’t have the capital to discuss this matter with her."

Girl, you speak too blatantly... don’t you play along at all... Zhao Douan said seriously: "Isn’t the priest afraid I’ll report this matter to Your Majesty?"

"Not afraid," Yu Xiu responded indifferently: "After all, she cannot leave the Yu Country, even if she is truly interested in those national treasures from the former dynasty, she’d most likely send you to find them."

"..."

Zhao Douan was left speechless, having no retort.

After a while, he rubbed his brow, spoke earnestly and sincerely: "Isn’t it possible that, given my current situation, I have neither the leisure nor mind to go to the Southern Border treasure hunting with you?"

He’s not crazy.

Yu Xiu, such a top-tier power in the Martial World, is sneaking about in the Liao Clan’s domain; he’s just had an upgrade and has no reason to engage in high-risk scenarios.

Even if one day he truly is to seek the treasures, it should be after eliminating the Yunfu Road rebel army of "Mu Prince."

Then leading a mighty army, pressing forward, ensuring the Liao Clan bends, would be prudent.

However, the ancient dynasty national treasures that even Yu Xiu painstakingly seeks must hold immense value, possibly strongly related to ascending to "Heavenly Human."

Zhao Douan will eventually face the challenge of breaking through to Heavenly Human; if he doesn’t wish to spend decades painstakingly cultivating.

He must seek methods akin to "Dual Cultivation" or "Sealing" for faster progress.

This Second Senior Sister has indeed provided a path.

"I do not expect your current cultivation to be able to travel alongside me," Yu Xiu had little surprise, speaking calmly.

The expression seemed to perceive him as a novice in the Martial World.

Feeling underestimated... Zhao Douan’s temper rose, experiencing dissatisfaction from being belittled, he retorted indignant: "Does the priest think I’m very weak?"

Yu Xiu was a straightforward woman.

Her lack of artful politeness wasn’t due to lacking emotional intelligence but rather disinterested in social niceties, unwilling to beat around the bush, neglecting others’ emotions.

She never endured mental exhaustion.

"With only Middle Grade, you’re just entering the world; indeed, quite weak," the female Taoist appraised.

Seeing Zhao Douan smiling without a word, Yu Xiu slightly raised her eyebrows: "You’re unconvinced?"

Soon after, she relaxed her brows, muttering to herself, "Indeed, advancing two realms within a year, dissatisfaction is natural. Since that’s the case, why not spar a little, and I’ll use the same mana, watch my sword."

Eh? What? I didn’t agree to spar...

Zhao Douan was shocked, his mind nearly blank, then saw Yu Xiu’s waist, where a loosely tied golden-yellow hemp rope housed a green jade short sword suddenly leaping up, circling around the female priest without any visible movement from her, then transformed into a streak of light, aiming at Zhao Douan’s robe sleeve.

Fast, precise, ruthless.

Yet the anticipated scene of the sleeve tearing did not happen.

Within Zhao Douan’s sleeve, the sleeping Golden Crow Flying Dagger awoke like a beast, roaring as it pierced through the air, fiercely striking the flying sword aside with a "ding."

"Oh?" Yu Xiu, seated without a twitch, gently exclaimed in surprise, the green jade flying sword flipped twice in mid-air, steadied itself, infused with mana, radiating a translucent green glow with Jadescent Nectar seemingly flowing within its blade.

"Whoosh!"

The green jade sword thrust again.

Zhao Douan, pursing his lips, remained silent, similarly seated, the Golden Crow Flying Dagger flashed a smear of golden light across its surface.

Then, emitting a low growl, like a ferocious tiger, tearing through the air, splintering turbulence, charging forward.

"Clink clank!"

For a moment, within the open inner hall, Zhao Douan and Yu Xiu faced each other, each seated on pear blossom wood chairs, motionless.

And within the room, the Golden Crow Flying Dagger and green jade sword were almost entwined, colliding through countless rounds.

The "clink clank" sound akin to a musical composition, surprisingly pleasant.

At times like the dense drumbeats of a battlefield, sometimes as chaotic as pouring rain, sometimes resonating like wind chime bel-ringing beneath the eaves.

After unknown turns, coupled with a fleeting silver flash in one of Zhao Douan’s pupils.

With a "bang."

The green jade flying sword was sent flying, directly out of the inner hall.

Yu Xiu paused briefly, her eyes revealing a surprised look.

At this moment, outside the inner hall, suddenly came the Empress’s voice.