Chapter 19: Named 'Hanming'

Inside the Treasure Hall, as always, powerful magic treasures and strange objects floated in the air, their emanations... if not for the prohibitions isolating them, if one were to actually come into contact, the ripples of those powerful treasures could easily annihilate Ji Ning! Ji Ning had no doubt about this...

The yellow-haired bear and Ji Ning were both in the Treasure Hall.

"Ji Ning, now you've begun selecting Earth-ranked treasures in the Treasure Hall," the yellow-haired bear said, looking at Ji Ning. "This requires more caution than when you selected Mortal-ranked treasures. The reason is that from the Zifu level to the Wanxiang level, you cultivated very quickly. But from the Wanxiang level to the Yuan Shen level, your cultivation will be much slower. And from the Yuan Shen level to the 'Return to Void Earth Immortal' level, it will certainly take even longer."

Ji Ning nodded.

Yes.

The further one goes, the longer one stays at each level.

"So the same applies to your selection of treasures," the yellow-haired bear said. "Mortal-ranked treasures are destined to be used for a short time, while Earth-ranked treasures will be used for much longer. The three Mortal-ranked treasures you selected before are probably of little use to you now."

Ji Ning smiled.

Of the three he had chosen, the Nether Dragon Locking Heaven Formation had been directly auctioned off at the Wuyou Cave in Anchan City!

The Nine Yang Sword Formation had been exchanged for a better Earth-ranked treasure, the 'North River Sword Formation', in the Yueshan Great Wasteland.

Only the Annihilation Demonbane Sword, which had the ability to ambush, was still kept by Ji Ning... but the Annihilation Demonbane Sword also had its flaws. It was best used for ambushes through the ground; otherwise, in a fight in midair like in the Yueshan Great Wasteland, once the Annihilation Demonbane Sword approached, the enemy could easily detect it, and the ambush effect would be lost.

"You've passed the third floor this time, and you'll pass the fourth floor soon. Also, your divine body training has reached the Wanxiang level... These three times will each allow you to obtain an Earth-ranked treasure or a strange object of equivalent value," the yellow-haired bear said, looking at Ji Ning. "You must choose carefully. Because some treasures and strange objects, even in this major world ruled by the Xia Dynasty, are only possessed by the most top-tier and powerful forces. They are ultimate treasures that are hard to exchange even with treasures."

Ji Ning nodded.

Mortal-ranked ultimate treasures were already rare, and Earth-ranked ultimate treasures were even rarer... hard to even see, let alone find the one most suitable for oneself. But here in the Treasure Hall of the Water Mansion, he could freely choose among many Earth-ranked ultimate treasures.

"You choose."

A golden book appeared in the yellow-haired bear's paw, with two divine rune characters on it: 'Treasure'.

"Why is this book exactly the same as when I chose Mortal-ranked treasures?" Ji Ning couldn't help asking.

"Whether you choose Earth-ranked, Heaven-ranked, Immortal-ranked, or even Pure Yang treasures, it's the same book, because I compiled it," the yellow-haired bear said, looking at Ji Ning. "This is your first time choosing Earth-ranked treasures and strange objects, so this book only records a part. When you choose for the second time, the book will record more. The third time, it will have everything, without omission."

Ji Ning quickly said, "Senior, do you know which one suits me best?"

With so many treasures dazzling the eyes, the yellow-haired bear was the one who knew which was best. Last time, the yellow-haired bear had let him choose the Nine Yang Sword Formation, and he had indeed chosen it the third time.

"There are many fine items, and many that suit you," the yellow-haired bear said. "I think you should take your time and choose."

Ji Ning had no choice but to open the book and start reading.

"This is really...!"

As he looked, Ji Ning's eyes grew hot.

He had been to the Tianbao Mountain and seen the Earth-ranked treasures displayed there, even some that were publicly exhibited but not for sale. Those exhibited but not sold were the mountain-guarding treasures of a Tianbao Mountain branch. Without a few mountain-guarding treasures, how could the formidable strength of Tianbao Mountain be shown?

"Any one of mine could serve as an Earth-ranked mountain-guarding treasure for Tianbao Mountain." Ji Ning's heartbeat quickened.

...

Black Tortoise Golden Scale Boat, Earth-ranked ultimate flying treasure. When flying, it could transform into a golden-scaled fish, capable of flying into the sky and diving into the ground. Its flying speed was extremely fast, and like a fish, it could change direction nimbly at high speed. Once it burrowed into the ground, it was even faster. Its flying speed was not inferior to many Heaven-ranked flying treasures.

And it was named 'Black Tortoise' because of its extreme sturdiness. Hiding inside the Black Tortoise Golden Scale Boat, even attacks from Yuan Shen Daoists could hardly harm it.

"Good heavens," Ji Ning murmured. "The non-sale item 'Ruyi Divine Travel Boat' I saw at Tianbao Mountain could only match it in speed, but was far inferior in defense... and that could be a non-sale item."

It was good.

But he was destined to have at most three chances to choose Earth-ranked treasures and strange objects. Ji Ning was unwilling to waste one of those chances on a flying treasure.

...

Earthfire Heart Lamp, strange object.

The Earthfire Heart Lamp was a peculiar rock naturally formed into the shape of a lamp, with a faint flame-like essence inside... This essence had an astonishing nurturing effect on 'Earthfire'. If one regularly placed their Earthfire inside it to absorb the essence for enhancement, within just ten years, the Earthfire could be elevated to the first grade!

If supplemented with other nurturing treasures, the time needed to raise Earthfire to the first grade would be even shorter.

"Earthfire Heart Lamp!" Ji Ning was truly tempted. The previous treasures had only made his heartbeat quicken, but this one gave him a strong desire to 'choose it'.

"Should I choose it or not?" Ji Ning pondered.

"If the Earthfire can be raised to the first grade, a first-grade Earthfire would be enough to threaten Yuan Shen Daoists. But it would take about ten years." Ji Ning thought it over and shook his head. "Ten years, my 'Crimson Bright Nine Charts' would probably have improved greatly, and my swordsmanship would have advanced much further. By then, a first-grade Earthfire wouldn't be that helpful."

It had only been four years since he entered the Black-White College!

He had already comprehended the third stance of 'Three-Foot Sword'!

Such progress in four years.

If he went back ten years... he was still fighting the Azure Serpent and had just set out from West Prefecture City to adventure in the East Mountain Swamp...

Ten years later, he could easily kill Wanxiang True Persons.

Although progress would certainly slow down later, Ji Ning believed he would still improve a lot in ten years.

"A fine item," Ji Ning thought. "But the Cold Fiend Earthfire is destined not to be my strongest attack method. Besides Earthfire, I also have Cold Fiend in my body. When I use 'Water and Fire Lotus', it's best if the Cold Fiend and Earthfire are of comparable power. Otherwise, if the Earthfire is too strong and the Cold Fiend too weak, it won't be good for the Water and Fire Lotus."

"Without treasures like the Earthfire Heart Lamp, I still have Ten Thousand Year Cold Ice and Fire Lotus Essence. Although nurturing is slower, probably only reaching the fifth or fourth grade in ten years, the advantage is that their powers are comparable." After convincing himself, Ji Ning continued reading.

...

One treasure after another.

When he chose Mortal-ranked treasures, Ji Ning hadn't truly ventured out. Now, as a disciple of the Black-White College, a Yinglong Guard, and having been to Tianbao Mountain... his horizons had broadened, and he understood even more the preciousness of the treasures in the 'Treasure Hall' and the rarity of the treasures left by San Zao Daoist.

Even the treasures within the Xia Dynasty might not be able to compare. Unfortunately, he could only choose at most three at each level.

Jin Yun Zhang... Earth-ranked protective ultimate treasure...

Hundred Poison Immortal Binding Formation... Earth-ranked treasure formation...

Cold Fiend Mirror... strange object that could raise Cold Fiend to the first grade in ten years...

...

One treasure after another.

Ji Ning's eyes turned red.

"Senior, the Cold Fiend Mirror and the Earthfire Heart Lamp should count as one treasure," Ji Ning said, looking up at the yellow-haired bear beside him. "If they count as one treasure, I would choose them."

"Count as one treasure?" The yellow-haired bear glared. "Do you know that many Earthfires and Cold Fiends can only be raised to the upper third or second grade? Although some Earthfires and Cold Fiends have the potential to rise to the first grade, that's just potential! How hard is it to actually reach the first grade? Once they reach the first grade, when they later ascend to Heavenly Fire, their power will be even greater and their potential higher. Do you know that? I don't believe you can find Earthfire Heart Lamps and Cold Fiend Mirrors for sale in the lands ruled by the Xia Dynasty!"

Ji Ning was speechless.

For sale? He had indeed not seen Earthfire Heart Lamps or Cold Fiend Mirrors for sale at Tianbao Mountain or Wuyou Cave.

What are strange objects? Strange objects are naturally formed, not refined treasures, so their numbers are inherently extremely limited and rare. Tianbao Mountain of the Xia Dynasty had a branch in every commandery, thousands of them! How could they publicly sell Earthfire Heart Lamps?

"For your first selection, I brought out the Earthfire Heart Lamp and Cold Fiend Mirror because I know you have Earthfire and Cold Fiend in your body," the yellow-haired bear said, looking at Ji Ning. "As a special favor, I made them available for your first selection. To tell you the truth, for this first selection, there are three items truly most suitable for you."

"The Earthfire Heart Lamp and Cold Fiend Mirror are two items. The third is on the third-to-last page."

As soon as the yellow-haired bear finished speaking,

Ji Ning quickly flipped to the third-to-last page and looked carefully.

Hanming Sword Formation.

The Hanming Sword Formation consisted of nine Earth-ranked ultimate flying swords, each forged from precious 'Hanming Yin Iron'...

"All Earth-ranked ultimate flying swords?" Ji Ning's eyes widened in shock.

The so-called Earth-ranked ultimate was not Tianbao Mountain's classification, but San Zao Daoist's!

This was completely different in significance. San Zao Daoist's classification of treasures was much stricter. The treasures he left behind, like the Nine Yang Sword Formation he had chosen before, consisted of nine Mortal-ranked upper-grade flying swords. But the so-called 'Mortal-ranked upper-grade' would be classified as Mortal-ranked ultimate at Tianbao Mountain!

"Why are all nine Earth-ranked ultimate?" Ji Ning asked the yellow-haired bear in surprise.

"I originally wanted to list them separately, with the treasure book only recording 'Hanming Sword, Earth-ranked ultimate flying sword'," the yellow-haired bear said, shaking his head. "But then I thought, if separated, these nine Hanming Swords might never be chosen by any owner, even after dozens or hundreds of owners. So I might as well combine them into this sword formation. Because it's a formation of nine Earth-ranked ultimate flying swords, it should only be shown to you on your third selection. But I don't want you to die early outside, so I decided to let you see it in advance."

"The Earthfire Heart Lamp, Cold Fiend Mirror, and Hanming Sword Formation are all excellent for you," the yellow-haired bear said, looking at Ji Ning. "Choose."