Chapter 140: Heavenly Treasure Hall
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
The following morning, a gentle wind blew and a marble white colour joined the sky and the earth.
Fang Zhengzhi who donned a blue robe stood within the Divine Constabulary and looked at the scene happening in front of him. His expression seemed to be in somewhat of a disbelief.
"This… is the Heavenly Treasure Hall?!"
"That's right, this is the Heavenly Treasure Hall! It was bestowed by the Heaven. When the emperor established the Great Xia Dynasty, he built this palace. My ancestor was wise and had great foresight, hence, the emperor assigned my ancestor to protect this palace. Thus, today's Divine Constabulary was established!" Chi Hou, who donned a purple official robe, pointed to a location beside him.
The location that Chi Hou pointed at...
Was a huge piece of black stone that was a metre tall. The stone was shaped like a pagoda, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top. It had a corrugated surface filled with circles and circles of grooves that formed a path, as if dividing the stone into levels.
If one took a closer look, one would realise that at the top of the stone, there was a very strange illustration.
It looked like a pagoda, but it wasn't a pagoda. It looked like a tower, but it wasn't a tower. In the middle of the illustration, there was a very clear word - "Treasure". Below it, there was a circle of mysterious symbols.
"The Heavenly Treasure Hall looks like this?" Fang Zhengzhi was truly shocked. He initially assumed that the stone was just a decorative stone.
After all, there were many similar stones in this courtyard. There was even an artificial mountain.
Of course…
That artificial mountain had been destroyed by Chi Hou, and likely had to be rebuilt.
However, he still remembered the pocket dimension rather clearly in the River of Trust Capital examination. In order to enter the pocket dimension, one had to pass through a stone door.
But, where was one supposed to enter this Heavenly Treasure Hall from?
This was the doubt in Fang Zhengzhi's heart. Then, he gazed at Yan Xiu who stood beside him in a brocade robe.
Yan Xiu's expression seemed very calm, without the slightest trace of worry.
Other than Yan Xiu, the other scholars that prepared to enter the Heavenly Treasure Hall were just as calm, as if they had already known about this. Nobody revealed any expression of shock.
"Alright… I indeed think too much!" Fang Zhengzhi dismissed his thought and continued to listen to Chi Hou.
Then, Chi Hou began to explain the origin of the Heavenly Treasure Hall. Ever since the dawn of history, this black stone had been placed here. Nobody was able to move it away.
Then, he explained about its discovery, as well as the rest of its history.
After his speech, Fang Zhengzhi had more or less understood one thing. This illustration on top of the stone wasn't drawn by man. Instead, it was inscribed by the Heaven Dao. The so-called Heavenly Treasure Hall actually wasn't a hall.
It was just a metaphor for this stone.
A metaphor that sabotaged people! Fang Zhengzhi really wanted to express his contempt for the person who thought of this metaphor. A stone was a stone, why must he give it the name of a hall.
But, he had also understood.
The pocket dimension was created by man, while the parallel dimension was created by Heaven. This should be the main differentiating factor between pocket dimensions and parallel dimensions. Then, what was so special about the Heaven-created parallel dimension?
When he thought of this, Fang Zhengzhi realised something else that was special.
Because, after Chi Hou had finished speaking, he fished out a black stone that was made up of the same material as the Heavenly Treasure Hall. Its shape looked just as if it had been separated from the Heavenly Treasure Hall.
Observing Chi Hou's movements, Fang Zhengzhi finally realised that there was a gap at the tip of the Heavenly Treasure Hall. The shape of this gap was exactly the same as the shape of the black stone in Chi Hou's hand.
"Boom!"
When Chi Hou placed the black stone in his hand onto the tip of the Heavenly Treasure Hall, a tremor shook through the entire space.
Immediately after, a crack appeared in front of them out of thin air.
That crack was like a black hole. Nobody could see what was inside, but, the twinkling starlight inside could be seen.
"Thank you lord for opening the Heavenly Treasure Hall for us!" When Lu Yusheng saw this black hole, he instantly bowed towards Chi Hou. Then, he took the lead and strode inside.
The other scholars also followed closely behind Lu Yusheng and entered.
Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yan Xiu, and realised that Yan Xiu was also looking at him. Then, they both nodded and walked shoulder-to-shoulder until they were beside Chi Hou.
Then, a hand blocked their path.
Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chi Hou, confused. He didn't understand why would Chi Hou block his path.
"Even though I don't really like you, but, there is something that I must remind you about!" Chi Hou's expression at this moment suddenly turned serious.
"Lord, please speak." Fang Zhengzhi thought for a while, but eventually nodded his head politely.
"The Heavenly Treasure Hall was created by Heaven Dao. If something happens to you inside, I wouldn't be able to help you!" Chi Hou looked at the people who had already entered the Heavenly Treasure Hall and reminded.
"Thank you Chi Hou for the reminder."
"Furthermore, within the Heavenly Treasure Hall, teamwork is the most important…"
Fang Zhengzhi didn't speak. But, he understood what Chi Hou meant. If they wished to work together as a team with him inside, that was indeed a little difficult.
"Finally…" When Chi Hou spoke, he seemed somewhat hesitant. But, the hesitation quickly vanished from his face. "Your luck isn't very good. Just last night, Lu Yusheng had a breakthrough!"
Fang Zhengzhi became silent once again. He naturally understood the meaning behind Lu Yusheng's breakthrough. This breakthrough definitely didn't mean imply attaining Divine Seal after accessing Dao, and also didn't imply attaining Star Conglomerate after attaining Divine Seal.
Instead…
Lu Yusheng had reached the Heavenly Reflection State!
At this point, Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why Chi Hou had blocked his path. But, he was similarly confused. Why would Chi Hou block his path?
These were two questions that were completely the same.
The former was understood, the latter was confused. But, there was no conflict between them.
"Looks like you seem somewhat confused. Actually, it is very easy to understand. If you fail to defeat Guyan within two years, there wouldn't be any harm to me. After all, it is better for Guyan to not make a choice compared to making a choice within these two years! Furthermore, if you defeat Guyan within two years… there would be no harm to be either. Although I feel that it is impossible!" Chi Hou looked at the expression on Fang Zhengzhi's face and explained with a gentle smile.
"Chi Guyan's tongue is indeed as glorious as the lotus flower. She changed lord's attitude in one night!" When Fang Zhengzhi heard this, he finally understood.
This time, it was Chi Hou's turn to be silent. Looking at Fang Zhengzhi, his lips parted slightly, but couldn't utter a single word.
Only until Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu vanished, shoulder-to-shoulder, into the crack did Chi Hou finally heave a heavy sigh. "What the heck, this kid actually saw through this so quickly?! What a failure, what a failure…"
…
Fang Zhengzhi felt that since the Heavenly Treasure Hall was given by Heaven, there naturally would be rules and tests of the Heaven Dao. For example, like that rockfall matrix in the River of Trust pocket dimension, as well as that cliff.
But, he never thought that it would actually be a beautiful, spring garden.
Stone bridges, ancient roads, flowing water...
And the flowers that blossomed throughout the gardens. Everywhere was the colour of spring, causing people to feel completely safe and calm. There was nothing except for the beautiful scenery of the blossoming flowers.
This was the Heavenly Treasure Hall?
"The time within the Heavenly Treasure Hall isn't the same as that of the outside world." Yan Xiu spoke.
"Faster?"
"No, slower! One day in the Heavenly Treasure Hall is like two hours in the outside world. Time here is one-twelfth of that in the outside world!"
"Then, wouldn't practising here enable one to progress twelve times faster compared to the outside world?" Fang Zhengzhi suddenly thought of a very serious problem. That was, what if Chi Guyan stayed in the Heavenly Treasure Hall for two years…
What was he going to do then?
"Yes. But, the parallel dimension can only be opened for a maximum of three days in a year!"
"So, that is six hours in the outside world?"
"Yes!"
Fang Zhengzhi nodded. There were rules within All Creations of the world. These rules could be very special, but, they couldn't destroy the equilibrium between All Creations.
…
Naturally, rain would be abundant in spring.
The sky drizzled. Raindrops landed within the blooming flowers, flashing with a crystal glow. Unfortunately, Fang Zhengzhi didn't bring an umbrella, thus could only allow the spring rain to flow down his face.
Of course, Fang Zhengzhi wasn't the only person within the Heavenly Treasure Hall.
Hence, there would definitely be somebody who brought an umbrella. That person was Yan Xiu.
Fang Zhengzhi didn't know that the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan in Yan Xiu's hand had this ability. But, at this moment, the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan indeed turned into an umbrella. The golden bone turned into the shaft of the umbrella, while the silver thread turned into the supporting branches. The mountain river illustration turned into a paper umbrella canopy.
"Aren't you afraid it would be soaked?"
"How can it be considered one of the Yan Five Treasures if it could be soaked?' Yan Xiu shifted the umbrella on top of Fang Zhengzhi's head. The spring rain was covered, leaving two youths standing under an umbrella.
"Are there any other abilities?"
"Yes."
"Can it turn into a sword?"
"Yes, it can." Yan Xiu seemed to be very cooperative. Lightly pulling the umbrella shaft, the blade of a sword that flashed with an icy glow appeared.
"How about a spear?"
"It can." Yan Xiu pushed the umbrella shaft forward. Then, the entire shaft passed through the umbrella canopy and turned into the tip of a spear. The canopy quickly folded together, turning into the shaft of a spear. On the shaft, many silver threads appeared, causing it to seem to glow with light.
"..." Fang Zhengzhi looked at this golden-tipped, silver-shafted spear in front of him very serious and sighed to himself. "It is indeed worthy of being one of the Yan Five Treasures!"
The Heaven and Earth Fan once again turned into a Heaven and Earth Umbrella. They continued to advance forward, walking across the stone bridge, passing through the flowing waters and walking among the flowers while admiring the beautiful scenery.
However, this beautiful scenery didn't last long.
After all, Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu weren't the only two people within the Heavenly Treasure Hall.
Hence, after they crossed the stone bridge, Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu stopped. They looked silently at the numerous youths that blocked in front of them. Fang Zhengzhi saw an ill-intention within their eyes.
"Don't you wish to admire the scenery first before fighting?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Lu Yusheng, who was leading the pack.
"What do you think?" Lu Yusheng asked back.
"A moment ago, Lord told me that we must work together as a team within the Heavenly Treasure Hall."
"Of course, I know this. But, does it matter if we lose two people?" Compared to the previous day, Lu Yusheng's expression was clearly different.
Now, his expression was filled with confidence. A sense of confidence that came from within his bones.
Because, he had attained Heavenly Reflection!