No one responded inside the cave.
Scattered across the ground were crimson-gold scales and two broken dragon horns—the most intact remnants left by the Ancestral Crocodile. The rest of its body had shattered into blood and bone.
This Dragon-Blooded Ancestral Crocodile was incredibly powerful, far surpassing the Golden-Winged Roc, ranking among the top experts Shi Hao had slain within the Immortal Ancient.
Shi Hao was certain they had reached a crucial location. This ferocious crocodile, a descendant of the Immortal Palace’s guardian beast, was naturally loyal to the inheritor of the Immortal Palace. Its presence here suggested something profound.
The isolated island was split apart, vegetation half-destroyed, yet the stone mountain remained unharmed. The ancient cave emitted radiant mist, intertwined with wisps of chaos.
This was a divine cave, protected by formations, which had survived the earlier battle.
Shi Hao carefully sensed his surroundings and sighed in disappointment—his enemy was not here.
“An altar,” Qing Yi said, having discovered a pale-gold altar within the ancient cave, weathered and ancient, leading to an unknown realm.
“He’s inherently suspicious, not even trusting the Ancestral Crocodile. He stays alone elsewhere, receiving reports through it,” Shi Hao remarked.
The golden altar was identical to the one found in the swamp—another “relay station,” not the Immortal Palace inheritor’s secluded cultivation site, but closer to him.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, they would encounter him in the next secret realm.
“We’re rich! A divine fortune!” The Divine Striking Stone screeched as it dismantled the formation and unlocked a treasure vault. Instantly, radiant light surged forth like a tidal wave.
Inside, divine materials were piled into small mountains, all glowing—rare treasures of heaven and earth.
“The Ancestral Crocodile was collecting treasures for him, stockpiling them here. This is truly a divine fortune,” Qing Yi murmured, her beautiful eyes shimmering with excitement.
The treasures here were astonishing—rare divine materials of various kinds, suitable for formations, weapon forging, and more.
Beyond that, there were numerous saint medicines sealed in jade jars, along with over a dozen semi-divine herbs, dazzling and fragrant.
Shi Hao laughed heartily. This raid on the Immortal Palace inheritor’s hidden stash had yielded immense rewards—recent tributes from various outposts were all stored here.
“He hasn’t had time to retrieve them yet,” Qing Yi noted.
The Divine Striking Stone, spotting rare ores, immediately began gnawing, crunching loudly. Many of the stones here were top-tier materials.
Shi Hao and Qing Yi cataloged the treasures, both awestruck by the sheer abundance. Taking these out of the Immortal Ancient would fetch an astronomical sum at auction.
“What kind of stone is this?” After sorting through the divine materials, they came across a pile of unremarkable, dull-looking ore.
“Mine, mine!” The Divine Striking Stone rushed over, biting off a large chunk, only to spit it out moments later, cursing.
“What kind of cursed rock is this? Tastes awful!” It complained, finding no trace of divine essence.
“Wait, this stone is labeled—’Gallstone Ore,'” Qing Yi exclaimed, recalling something, her heart trembling with excitement.
“Gallstone Ore? Never heard of it,” Shi Hao mused.
“This is sacred ancient material!” Qing Yi said, her serene face alight with excitement.
“What’s special about it?” Shi Hao asked.
“This stone may contain a ‘Gallstone,’ also called an ‘Immortal’s Gall,’ capable of cleansing the eyes and awakening the Heavenly Eye,” Qing Yi explained, her voice trembling slightly.
“What?” Shi Hao was stunned. Such a miraculous stone was undoubtedly a heaven-defying treasure.
Legends said it was formed during the Immortal Ancient Era—some believed the Gallstone was the essence of an immortal’s gallbladder sealed within stone, while others claimed it was a natural wonder born from the convergence of heaven and earth.
“Fantastic! Where’s the Immortal’s Gall? I don’t see it,” Shi Hao searched but couldn’t discern which stone contained it.
“Ordinary divine vision can’t penetrate this ore,” Qing Yi said.
Shi Hao retrieved his dual-pupils, illuminating the pile. Qing Yi leaned in, her graceful figure like a divine lotus in bloom, exuding a delicate fragrance.
“There really is a Gallstone!” Shi Hao rejoiced.
Among the pile, one stone emitted golden light visible to his dual-pupils—a golden gallbladder nestled within.
“Wonderful!” Qing Yi cheered, her usual saintly demeanor momentarily forgotten.
Carefully, they extracted the golden “Immortal’s Gall.”
“How do we use it?” Shi Hao frowned.
“Simply drip it into the eyes. It’s a sacred substance—it can restore sight to the blind and accelerate the formation of the Heavenly Eye,” Qing Yi explained.
The Divine Striking Stone eagerly volunteered, claiming it could benefit too, but the two shooed it away.
“Let’s both try it,” Shi Hao suggested. His Heavenly Eye was already nascent, with mystic symbols forming in his pupils—this would complete the process.
“You first. I’ll guard you. Your Heavenly Eye is nearly formed—the effect should be excellent,” Qing Yi said.
Shi Hao sat cross-legged, carefully piercing the golden gallbladder. Golden liquid oozed out, filling the cave with an intoxicating fragrance.
He dripped it into his eyes, feeling a cool sensation followed by a sting. Symbols proliferated, vitality surged, and his eyes shot forth two beams of lightning.
Clearly, complex symbols were consolidating—his Heavenly Eye was awakening.
“It truly works—speeding up the process,” Qing Yi marveled.
The process was slow. Shi Hao patiently waited until the discomfort faded before applying more liquid.
After half an hour, the Gallstone had no further effect.
Shi Hao closed his eyes, meditating deeply. When he reopened them, two beams of runic light erupted, piercing through the cave, dazzlingly bright.
Instantly, the world seemed more vivid, colors sharper, and clarity unparalleled.
He could see through stone walls, perceive the essence of all things—every blade of grass, every mountain pulsed with life, their spirits visible.
His gaze stretched endlessly, piercing illusions. Creatures in the distance moved as if in slow motion—eagles in the sky, snakes in the desert, rodents underground—all their movements decipherable.
This was the Heavenly Eye—its initial awakening already bestowed miraculous abilities.
Perceiving slowed motion granted unimaginable combat advantages—no enemy’s intricate maneuvers could escape his sight.
Yet, this was just the beginning. The true Martial Heavenly Eye held even greater wonders, to be unlocked as his cultivation deepened.
“How is it?” Qing Yi asked.
“Excellent!” Shi Hao handed her the Gallstone, only a third consumed. His nascent Heavenly Eye had hastened its formation.
Qing Yi sealed it in a jade vial, saving it for when her mind was clearer or her pupil techniques advanced.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Qing Yi noticed Shi Hao’s gaze—his eyes had turned into symbols, golden beams scanning her.
“Uh, nothing… Just admiring your natural Dao rhythm. You’ll achieve greatness,” Shi Hao deflected, eyes gleaming.
“You—!” Qing Yi flushed, realizing his newly awakened Heavenly Eye could see through her. She swiftly shielded herself, blocking the runic gaze.
Shi Hao had glimpsed a flawless figure—ivory skin, graceful curves, a peerless form.
“Close your eyes! Dispel the Heavenly Eye!” Qing Yi scolded, smacking him.
Shi Hao feigned solemnity. “My Heavenly Eye consumes divine power to inspect your soul for cultivation flaws.”
Qing Yi scoffed. A newly awakened Heavenly Eye couldn’t penetrate souls—only flesh. She hurled a runic strike.
Simultaneously, her Green Moon emitted a halo, shrouding her form.
“Hey, why can’t I see anymore?” Shi Hao blurted, then chuckled awkwardly. “I mean, why can’t I see your soul?”
“Go to hell!” Qing Yi unleashed azure flames, nearly scorching him as he dodged.
Shi Hao retracted his runic gaze, muttering, “It’s not like I haven’t seen before.”
“What did you say?!” Qing Yi’s flawless face burned crimson, her serene aura shattered.
“Nothing.” Shi Hao turned, busying himself with the remaining treasures.
They emptied the cave, leaving nothing behind.
One could imagine the Immortal Palace inheritor’s fury upon discovering his treasures plundered.
“Using his Gallstone to awaken our Heavenly Eyes—how furious would he be?” Shi Hao mused.
“If we barge in and tell him mid-cultivation, might he qi-deviate?” The Divine Striking Stone snickered, examining the golden altar for traversal.
Shi Hao meditated, refining his peak state. His newly awakened Martial Heavenly Eye sharpened his divine senses further.
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