This thing is too dazzling, radiant as if dozens of suns were condensed together, forming a source of brilliance!
The three experts all went through an adaptation process, their eyes bleeding. Even beings as powerful as them took a long time to adjust before they could clearly see what it was.
Even the Heavenly Eye was scorched by its glare!
It was a chest!
The ancient hall had an altar at its center, not very tall—shorter than an adult—and upon it rested this object, enshrined and worshipped.
Is this the Origin Artifact?
Shi Hao was skeptical. Could the so-called origin be tied to a chest?
San Zang and Shen Ming were entranced, as if about to lose themselves in it. Bathed in that serene light, they felt their Undying bodies undergoing transformation—slowly, but undeniably progressing!
Soon, Shi Hao also experienced a strange sensation. The physical changes were secondary; what truly alarmed him was an inexplicable aura invading his skull.
It was the radiance emitted by the chest, attempting to infiltrate his primordial spirit!
He was instantly horrified. The soul’s dwelling place—how could he allow such an intrusion?
Shi Hao resisted, but found it futile. The force was too overwhelming, omnipresent, unstoppable. The light spread within his skull, seeking to merge with him.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, the sword embryo concealed within his body emitted a faint hum, repelling the radiance and forcing it out.
“What exactly is this thing?” Shi Hao muttered uneasily.
At that moment, the Immortal Tree also emerged. Having hidden within him earlier, it was now equally shocked by the sight.
“How terrifying! My Wheel of Eternal Years is being shaken, eroded!” It sounded frightened.
Immortal medicines were special—otherwise, the Undying wouldn’t have brought them here to seek fortune. For now, it could still endure.
“This feels incredible… I will become an Undying King!” Shen Ming murmured as if in a dream.
“I am the strongest!” San Zang roared.
The two seemed bewitched, utterly lost in a state incomprehensible to outsiders.
Shi Hao didn’t act rashly. Instead, he took a few steps back, observing carefully.
“Do you think these two realized my true identity?” Shi Hao asked the ancient medicine. Otherwise, why had they smiled so eerily earlier?
When the ancient hall had glowed, forming a vortex that swallowed him, he would have died if not for the Great Luo Sword Embryo.
It almost seemed as if they had deliberately schemed against him.
Shi Hao even considered striking first, subduing them to eliminate future threats.
But given their unfathomable strength and the artifacts bestowed upon them by Undying Kings, he refrained from reckless action.
“Another chest?” Shi Hao glanced at the artifact on the altar, then at the rotten wooden box in his hand.
Aesthetically, his box paled in comparison. The one on the altar blazed with divine light, radiating sacred splendor—clearly a supreme treasure!
His, on the other hand, was nearly decayed, a mere broken wooden crate.
Moreover, the chest on the altar was tied to the origin, wielding unimaginable power that drove all Undying to madness!
As for his wooden box, Shi Hao still had no idea what purpose it served.
Shi Hao scrutinized the chest. It stood about a foot tall, shimmering in nine colors, as if forged from nine different immortal metals.
Yet, it most closely resembled the legendary Seven-Colored Immortal Gold!
Upon closer inspection, however, Shi Hao felt it wasn’t metal at all—more like jade.
“It’s likely carved from the branches of an immortal tree,” the Immortal Tree offered its opinion.
Neither metal, nor stone, nor wood—its material was indescribably peculiar.
Finally, Shen Ming and San Zang snapped out of their trance, no longer entranced but gazing intently, exclaiming in awe and excitement.
Its surface bore intricate patterns, resembling life imprints—as if the object itself were alive!
“I don’t think it’s a chest. It’s solid—the Origin Artifact itself!” Shen Ming declared, dismissing the idea of it containing anything.
“I agree…” San Zang nodded.
Shi Hao’s mind stirred. Their reasoning made sense. Perhaps this was indeed the Origin Artifact in its entirety, with no seams or openings.
“Can we truly evolve into Undying Kings?” Shen Ming asked excitedly, reaching out to touch the artifact.
Boom!
The next instant, she was sent flying, coughing blood, her body nearly shattered.
And this was only because she bore the protective runes bestowed by an Undying King. Otherwise, she would have been annihilated.
Shi Hao stared in shock. This thing was terrifying—not to be trifled with.
“Let me try!” San Zang stepped forward, holding a decree in both hands. As he approached, resonant scriptures echoed, symbols leaping forth to envelop the artifact.
Boom!
He, too, was repelled. Flames erupted from the mighty decree, scorching a corner of it.
San Zang screamed, half his body charred, blood trickling from his lips as he was hurled back, unable to approach the Origin Artifact.
“This… We can’t even touch it. How are we supposed to evolve?” Shen Ming and San Zang were disheartened.
They had come so far, finally entering the ancient hall, only to be barred from the artifact.
“Know this—though the ancient cave exists, this artifact may not appear for millions of years. To miss it now is to lose it forever,” San Zang said bitterly.
“I’ll keep trying!” Shen Ming insisted.
Is it really that important? Shi Hao wondered. If it’s so powerful, why don’t the Undying Kings just take it themselves?
He voiced his doubts to the Immortal Tree.
“Do you even realize where you are? Your presence here is an immense stroke of luck. How many in history have set foot in this place?” the ancient medicine retorted.
“If even I can enter, an Undying King surely could. Why not just take it and empower their descendants?” Shi Hao argued.
“Anyone can come—except the Undying Kings themselves. Their presence would spell disaster!” the medicine refuted.
“Why?” Shi Hao was stunned.
“Legends say the emergence of Undying Kings is tied to this artifact!”
According to the medicine, the tales were bizarre and hard to believe.
Undying Kings could only behold the Origin Artifact once in their existence. A second encounter would bring catastrophe!
Some even claimed that after seeing it, everything about them would change.
In short, Undying Kings must never face it again.
Otherwise, they would undergo transformation.
“Ask Shen Ming and San Zang for their take. What I’ve told you are just rumors—truth unknown,” the medicine said.
“Won’t that expose me?” Shi Hao asked.
“No harm. Most Undying know nothing of this. Only among the Golden Undying are there whispers,” it assured.
“Can Undying Kings truly not act directly?” Shi Hao posed the question.
“If an Undying King came, something terrible would happen!” Shen Ming unexpectedly revealed.
“Do you recall the presence in the Sky Valley? That was an Undying King. After interacting here, he vanished!” she added.
“Yet, deep in the Undying Lands, another Undying King appeared—identical to him!” San Zang said.
“That’s what makes it terrifying. Though identical in form, their personalities were entirely different—as if they were two beings!” Shen Ming explained.
Shi Hao was shocked. The Origin Artifact was indeed extraordinary.
“Even objects related to it are treated with utmost reverence. The three Undying Kings of our domain jointly suppress one such artifact—none may approach,” San Zang said.
An artifact buried beneath a great tomb, sealed by three Undying Kings—utterly forbidden.
This deepened Shi Hao’s understanding of the artifact’s significance. It was no ordinary object.
Is the Undying Land truly this sinister? Shi Hao pondered.
“You claim it can evolve you into Undying Kings, but how? You can’t even get close,” Shi Hao pressed.
He couldn’t fathom it. Was the artifact on the altar truly so miraculous? Did it really hold such power?
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