Chapter 266 - 259: Artifact of Time

Chapter 266: Chapter 259: Artifact of Time

"Zhou the kid, I knew you wouldn’t die so easily!"

As soon as Jiang Zuo stepped into the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower, the Artifact Spirit, who had taken the form of a scholar’s attendant, immediately appeared beside him.

"Huh? No, that’s not right. Are you... a Divine Sense Puppet?"

"No, that’s not it either. A Divine Sense Puppet doesn’t look like this!"

However, the Scholar’s Artifact Spirit then stared at Jiang Zuo, his expression a mixture of shock and uncertainty.

After all, they were inside the Spirit Treasure Space of the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower. Although Jiang Zuo’s Puppet Body could deceive Cultivators like Luo Taidong, it couldn’t completely fool the Tower.

However, Jiang Zuo had no intention of explaining himself to the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower.

"Elder Jing Lun, that’s not important. I came this time to make a trade with you."

Jiang Zuo said with a smile.

"A trade? Excellent! Have you obtained more of that talismanic script?"

Upon hearing this, the Scholar’s Artifact Spirit’s eyes lit up, and he immediately forgot all about Jiang Zuo’s strange body.

"Not exactly, but I guarantee you’ll be interested in what I have."

As he spoke, Jiang Zuo took out the Divine Sense Jade Tube containing the legacy of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect.

"The legacy of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect? Good heavens, boy, to think you had such a fateful encounter!"

"Name your price. What do you want in exchange?"

The Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower had once entered the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect, so it recognized the legacy at a single glance.

The legacy of a major sect was an immense temptation for the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower.

"I know Elder Jing Lun has a collection of ancient artifacts. I want to trade this legacy for three ancient items from your collection that carry the aura of time."

Jiang Zuo stated.

The construction materials for the Time Cultivation Tower were three ancient items that possessed an "aura of time."

Finding such items was no easy task.

Previously, even within the Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm, Jiang Zuo hadn’t felt that any item met the criteria.

However, it didn’t take long for Jiang Zuo to think of the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower.

If there was any place that would most likely house such ancient items, the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower was undoubtedly the top choice.

"You really know how to pick ’em, kid."

"My old collection is actually very important to me. If it were anyone else, I really wouldn’t want to trade."

The Scholar’s Artifact Spirit said sullenly.

But with a wave of his hand, he nevertheless presented three items before Jiang Zuo.

A white paper fan, a shriveled gray fruit pit, and a small cyan cauldron.

The moment they appeared, Jiang Zuo felt a faint aura of time emanating from them.

Although they all looked like ordinary objects, they exuded an incredibly ancient and weathered feeling.

Gazing at them was like watching the world transform over ages, seas turning into mulberry fields right before his eyes.

"It’s not easy for an aura of time to form. An item must be bathed in the essence of the sun and moon, weathered by wind and rain for over ten thousand years, and even be touched by the breath of various Tribulation Thunders before it can gradually take shape."

"These little things sat on the roof of my tower for more than ten thousand years!"

The Scholar’s Artifact Spirit said, looking at them with a hint of reluctance.

Jiang Zuo nodded. ’No wonder I couldn’t find this kind of ancient item in the Daoist Talisman Holy Land, even though it’s existed for longer than the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower.’

Despite his reluctance, when Jiang Zuo handed over the entire legacy of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect, the Scholar’s Artifact Spirit was still overjoyed.

With this legacy, his cultivation would soar by a small margin.

"Elder Jing Lun, I was wondering, have you ever heard of the Mother Qi of All Things?"

After stowing away the three ancient items, Jiang Zuo asked another question.

The Time Cultivation Tower required ancient items with an aura of time, and the Bloodline Evolution Tower required a Bloodline Spirit.

Additionally, the Bloodline Breathing Tower needed either five Bloodline Breathing Techniques that could allow a Spirit Beast to cultivate to the fifth tier, or ten portions of Blood Essence from a Demon Emperor-level Demon Beast.

And finally, the Super Reproduction Tower required a portion of the Mother Qi of All Things.

"The Mother Qi of All Things? Of course I’ve heard of it."

"But if you’re looking for it, I’d advise you to give up now."

"The Mother Qi of All Things is the primordial energy that filled the heavens and earth when a Great World first formed and all things were born."

"As time went on, the Mother Qi was gradually consumed, eventually vanishing completely as it became the source of all life in this world."

"It’s not to say that the Mother Qi is completely extinct, but it can only possibly be found in ancient ruins buried extremely deep underground."

"Hmm, or perhaps traces of it can be found in the Forbidden Lands of the Cultivation Realm."

"But no matter where you look, it won’t be easy to find."

The Scholar’s Tower Spirit glanced at Jiang Zuo and explained.

"I see. In that case, Elder, have you heard of the Life Divine Stone?"

Jiang Zuo continued his inquiry.

"What’s that?"

The Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower wasn’t omniscient. This time, after hearing the name, it looked completely baffled.

Seeing that he wouldn’t get any more answers, Jiang Zuo took his leave.

"Zhou the kid, if you get more of that talismanic script, remember to come find me!"

The Scholar’s Tower Spirit shouted after him.

Jiang Zuo waved his hand and quietly departed.

News of Jiang Zuo’s return to the Black Tortoise Dao Sect did indeed spread quickly.

However, most people merely took note of it. Jiang Zuo’s return didn’t cause much of a stir.

After all, more than twenty years had passed, and Jiang Zuo’s cultivation was still at the mid-stage of the Divine Body Realm. The Daoist Shackles on him had, just as the rumors said, clearly sealed his path of cultivation.

Before long, Luo Taidong returned to find Jiang Zuo, bringing a Spirit Fire with him.

"There are no High Tier Spirit Fires in the sect for now. I had to ask an elder for this Profound Ice Spirit Fire."

"This Profound Ice Spirit Fire is a fourth-tier Spirit Fire. But aside from being used for cultivation, no one has found any other good uses for it, so I don’t know if it meets your needs."

Luo Taidong said to Jiang Zuo with a hint of resignation, taking out a peculiar flame.

The Profound Ice Spirit Fire, when it burned, emitted a ghostly white glow and gave off a sense of cold, looking somewhat similar to the Bone Spirit Cold Fire.

However, no other special uses for the Profound Ice Spirit Fire had been discovered. When it burned, it didn’t feel hot; on the contrary, it exuded a cold so intense it could even cause things to freeze.

This was precisely why Luo Taidong was able to obtain it from that elder.

Otherwise, getting one’s hands on a fourth-tier Spirit Fire would not have been easy.

A fourth-tier Spirit Fire was already considered a High Tier Spirit Fire. As for fifth-tier Spirit Fires, which were a level above, you could count the number of them in the Cultivation Realm on one hand.

As for sixth-tier Spirit Fires, it was rumored that only two or three people in the entire Cultivation Realm possessed one, making them truly legendary and rare items.

"This will do. Have the sect find the remaining Spirit Fire for me as soon as possible."

Jiang Zuo wasn’t picky. He accepted the Profound Ice Spirit Fire.

After placing the Profound Ice Spirit Fire and the three ancient items into a jade vial, Jiang Zuo activated his Divine Sense, and the items vanished from the Puppet Body’s hands.

「Far away.」

In a room somewhere, Jiang Zuo slowly opened his eyes.

He took out the Profound Ice Spirit Fire and the three ancient items.

He circulated his Cultivation Technique slightly, and the Profound Ice Spirit Fire was refined by the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique.

Then, after a great rumble from the Pet Beast Spirit Garden, two Miracle Buildings rose up one after the other.

The Time Cultivation Tower! And the Super Reproduction Tower!

Knowing that obtaining the Mother Qi of All Things was now virtually impossible, Jiang Zuo no longer hesitated and directly used his free construction opportunity.