Chapter 008: The Divine Relic

  Blood-colored light surged into the sky as divine patterns flowed across the dragon-shaped jade pendant. The surrounding essence of heaven and earth was drawn toward it like a mighty flood, forming a massive vortex that hovered above the pendant.

  "What is happening?" Yang Tian stared in disbelief at the spectacle before him. The dragon-shaped jade pendant was actually devouring the enormous vortex of essence.

  As the vortex grew larger, deafening sonic booms echoed continuously. The red glow around the pendant intensified, almost solidifying into a river of blood above it.

  The vacuum twisted, and within the blood river, every drop of liquid pulsed with boundless power. A phantom of countless galloping warhorses faintly emerged within, their thunderous momentum shaking the heavens—an awe-inspiring phenomenon.

  "A phenomenon appearing alongside it? Just what kind of treasure is this?" Yang Tian found it hard to believe. Any treasure capable of manifesting such a vision belonged among the most supreme artifacts, incomparable to ordinary trinkets.

  A draconic roar suddenly erupted!

  In that instant, the divine essence hidden within the jade pendant burst forth. A surge of unparalleled dominance soared into the sky as the pendant unleashed an overwhelming divine might. High above, thunderclouds began to rumble, and blinding divine rays shot up from the ground, their brilliance converging into a dazzling spectacle. Countless voids shattered spontaneously under the sheer intensity of the phenomenon.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The entire Ferocious Beast Mountain Range fell into an eerie silence. Countless savage beasts prostrated themselves, their bodies trembling violently under immense pressure, eyes filled with sheer terror.

  As the disturbance grew, Yang Tian's expression changed drastically. He shouted, "No! Stop! Stop now!"

  Yet, the dragon-shaped jade pendant ignored him. The essence of heaven and earth from a hundred-mile radius surged madly toward it, amplifying the spectacle even further. The sky turned pitch black as lightning roared across the heavens, as though the very world trembled before its might.

  At the Thundercloud Fortress, countless cultivators turned their gazes toward the sky. Above, lightning arcs danced wildly like a writhing mass of serpents. In the darkness, they shone with blinding intensity, leaping skyward, draining all color from the world.

  "What is that? Could it be the sign of a treasure's emergence?" A burly man asked in a trembling voice.

  "This... this treasure has actually triggered celestial phenomena! What kind of artifact is this?" An old man, on the verge of death, gasped in shock, his voice hoarse with excitement.

  The overwhelming pressure engulfed the entire fortress, leaving everyone in awe. Dozens of shadowy figures immediately sped toward the source of the anomaly with incredible speed, leaving the onlookers in shock.

  "Damn it! Stop!" Yang Tian's brow furrowed tightly. The commotion had already alerted the fortress. If a powerful figure discovered this divine relic, there was no way he could keep it.

  A sudden draconic roar!

  Out of nowhere, two blinding dragon-shaped shadows streaked through the void, seizing the divine jade pendant in an instant. In the blink of an eye, it vanished without a trace.

  "Where did the jade pendant go?" Staring at the dissipating essence, Yang Tian realized the pendant had completely disappeared. His eyes flickered, and in the next moment, his figure darted away at an even greater speed than before.

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  Not long after Yang Tian departed, a breathtaking figure appeared in the sky. Her ethereal presence radiated an otherworldly aura, her flowing white robes billowing gently in the wind, her jet-black hair dancing elegantly. Her flawless skin shimmered with a divine glow that sent chills down one's spine.

  Gazing at the lingering traces of the phenomenon in the air, she exhaled softly, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

  Suddenly, her luminous gaze erupted with divine brilliance. A mysterious vortex surged within her pupils, resembling lightning splitting through the void. Her terrifying gaze swept across the surroundings, as though piercing through the fabric of time itself.

  She was an extraordinarily beautiful woman, exuding an icy elegance. Her pristine figure radiated an aura of nobility beyond description, and her gaze alone seemed capable of illuminating eternity—a sight both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

  "Strange. Why would a divine relic appear in such a place?" Staring at the seemingly unremarkable land below, deep doubt surfaced in her heart. After lingering for a moment, her breathtaking silhouette vanished into the air like a ghostly apparition.

  Deep within the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range, a lithe figure darted through the dense jungle, evading obstacles like an agile spirit monkey. As time passed, Yang Tian's pace gradually slowed. He panted heavily, his vision blurring as he surveyed his surroundings.

  "I can't keep running. This place will have to do." Clenching his teeth, Yang Tian squeezed into a small cave. Using his last ounce of strength, he dragged a few massive boulders to seal the entrance completely. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the ground, barely breathing, his heartbeat nearly still.

  Tap… Tap…

  Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps echoed outside the cave. Dozens of figures swept across the area, their bodies exuding a ferocious aura. The presence of these warriors was so overpowering that not even a single beast dared to utter a sound within a thousand feet.

  The leader, a scar-faced man radiating overwhelming vitality, scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. His gaze lingered on the cave where Yang Tian hid for a brief moment before shifting away.

  "Strange. There was definitely someone here just now. Where did they go?" The scar-faced man frowned, his eyes sweeping over the area. The disturbance had alarmed the entire Thundercloud Fortress, and more people were pouring in by the moment.

  "Boss, was there really a treasure here? Something capable of gathering the essence of heaven and earth from a hundred miles away—such a phenomenon is unheard of!" A dark-faced man approached, eyes burning with excitement.

  Hearing this, the scar-faced man shook his head slightly. "I once saw the fortress lord wield a profound artifact, but this presence surpasses any profound artifact. It’s likely something far greater!"

  "Greater than a profound artifact… That would make it a Dao artifact!"

  A collective gasp echoed as the realization dawned upon them. Their eyes burned even hotter with greed. On the continent, artifacts were ranked: Blood Artifacts, Profound Artifacts, Dao Artifacts, and Heavenly Artifacts. Even the Thundercloud Fortress had only a handful of peak-tier Blood Artifacts, let alone Profound Artifacts, which were several times more powerful.

  As for Dao Artifacts, they were exceedingly rare. Legends claimed they possessed the power to destroy worlds, and even top-tier factions struggled to obtain one.

  "Enough! No one is to speak of this. The fortress lord will be here soon." The scar-faced man's expression darkened as he barked the order, eyeing the greedy faces around him.

  "Heh, we were just thinking out loud." The dark-faced man chuckled awkwardly.

  "Let's move." With a wave of his arm, the scar-faced leader led his men away swiftly.

  That night, countless cultivators stormed into the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. Rumors of an ancient divine relic emerging had spread like wildfire, drawing massive crowds to the fortress. Even some high-ranking figures from the Qingyang Empire arrived to investigate.

  Inside the cave, Yang Tian's eyelids twitched. Sensing the commotion outside had subsided, he opened his eyes and let out a bitter chuckle. Slowly, he sat cross-legged, focusing on recovering his strength.

  As his consciousness sank into his soul sea, his expression froze. The domineering dragon-shaped jade pendant was now being suppressed beneath the Ancestral Dragon Ring. Once majestic and unparalleled, it had returned to its original form.

  Strangely, the jade pendant seemed fearful of the 'War' character sealed within Yang Tian’s body. It shrank into a corner, avoiding it at all costs. This baffled Yang Tian—how could those mysterious characters intimidate such a powerful artifact?

  "What the hell is this thing? And why did it enter my body?" He exhaled sharply, scratching his head in frustration. Just yesterday, the jade pendant had nearly gotten him killed, yet now it lay obediently in his soul sea.

  "Could this be… a Dao Artifact?" His gaze traced the pendant's intricate engravings. The faint divine essence still lingered. An artifact capable of manifesting divine essence had already met the criteria for a Dao Artifact.

  Shaking his head, Yang Tian sighed. "I’ll figure it out later." With that, he activated his War Heaven Technique, focusing on restoring his vitality.