The Earth-Ranked Choice

Within the Treasure Palace, as always, a stream of mighty treasures and strange curios floated high in the air. The ripples they emitted… if not for the isolating formations, if one were to actually touch them, the mere fluctuations of those treasures could easily annihilate Ji Ning! Ji Ning had no doubt about this.

The Yellow-Haired Bear and Ji Ning were both within the Treasure Palace.

“Ji Ning, you are now beginning to choose Earth-ranked treasures in the Treasure Palace.” The Yellow-Haired Bear looked at Ji Ning. “You are far more careful and meticulous than when you chose Human-ranked treasures… because your cultivation speed from Zifu to Wanxiang was very fast. But advancing from the Wanxiang stage to the Primal Daoist stage will likely take much more time. And advancing from the Primal stage to the ‘Reversion to the Void, Earth Immortal’ stage will take even longer.”

Ji Ning nodded.

Indeed, the higher the realm, the longer one lingered at each stage.

“So you must choose your treasures accordingly.” The Yellow-Haired Bear continued, “Human-ranked treasures are meant to be used for a short period. The three you chose earlier are probably of little use to you by now.”

Ji Ning smiled.

Of the three items he had chosen, the Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation had been directly auctioned off at the Wuyou Caverns in Anchan City!

The Nine Yang Sword Formation had been replaced by a superior Earth-ranked treasure, the ‘North River Sword Formation’, in the Mount Yujue Wasteland.

Only the Silent Destruction Demon-Slaying Sword, which had the ability to launch sneak attacks, was still kept on hand by Ji Ning… However, the Silent Destruction Demon-Slaying Sword had its limitations. It was best used for sneaking attacks from underground. Otherwise, in a battle amidst the skies like in the Mount Yujue Wasteland, once the Silent Destruction Demon-Slaying Sword drew near, an enemy could easily detect it, and the element of surprise would be lost.

“You have passed the third floor, and will soon pass the fourth as well. And your Fiendgod Body Refining has reached the Wanxiang stage… These three achievements each grant you the right to select one Earth-ranked treasure or a curio of equivalent value.” The Yellow-Haired Bear looked at Ji Ning. “You must choose carefully. Because some of these treasures and curios are so rare that even within this major world ruled by the Grand Xia Dynasty, only the most elite and powerful factions possess such supreme-grade Earth-ranked items. You may not be able to trade for them even with treasures of your own.”

Ji Ning nodded.

Supreme-grade Human-ranked items were already rare. Supreme-grade Earth-ranked ones were incomparably rarer… Rare enough that one could barely even get a glimpse of one, let alone find the perfect fit. But here in the aquatic manor’s Treasure Palace, he could freely pick from a multitude of supreme-grade Earth-ranked treasures.

“Choose.”

The Yellow-Haired Bear’s paw produced a golden tome. On the cover were two Fiendgod characters: ‘Treasure’.

“Why is this tome exactly the same as the one for Human-ranked treasures?” Ji Ning couldn’t help but ask.

“Not just for Earth-ranked treasures; even for Heaven-ranked, Immortal-ranked, and even Pure Yang treasures, the tome is the same. Because I wrote it.” The Yellow-Haired Bear looked at Ji Ning. “This is your first time choosing Earth-ranked treasures and curios, so this tome only records a portion of them. The next time you choose, it will have even more. The third time you choose, everything will be there, without a single omission.”

Ji Ning quickly asked, “Senior, do you know which one is best for me?”

There were so many treasures that his eyes were dazzled. The Yellow-Haired Bear was the one who knew them best. Last time, the Bear had recommended the Nine Yang Sword Formation, and he had indeed chosen it in the end.

“There are many fine items, and many suitable for you.” The Yellow-Haired Bear said, “I think you’d better browse slowly yourself.”

Helpless, Ji Ning could only open the tome and begin to read.

“This… this is!”

As soon as he looked, Ji Ning’s eyes grew hot.

He had been to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain before. He had seen the Earth-ranked treasures on display there, some of which were publicly exhibited but not for sale. Those were the ‘mountain-protecting treasures’ of each Heavenly Treasures Mountain branch. If not for a few such treasures, how could the Heavenly Treasures Mountain demonstrate its depth and strength?

“Any single one of these could be a mountain-protecting treasure at the Heavenly Treasures Mountain.” Ji Ning’s heartbeat involuntarily quickened.

Black Tortoise Golden Scale Boat. A supreme-grade Earth-ranked flying treasure. When flying, it could transform into a golden-scaled fish. It could fly in the sky and burrow into the earth. Its flight speed was extremely fast, and like a fish, it could change direction with incredible agility even at high speeds. Once it drilled into the ground, it was exceptionally swift. In terms of pure flight speed alone, it was comparable to many Heaven-ranked flying treasures.

And because it bore the name ‘Black Tortoise’, this was due to its extreme toughness. Hiding within the Black Tortoise Golden Scale Boat, even attacks from a Primal Daoist would find it difficult to harm the vessel.

“Good heavens.” Ji Ning murmured, “The non-sale item I saw at Heavenly Treasures Mountain, the ‘As You Will Spirit Travel Boat’, could only match it in speed, but was far inferior in defense… And that was considered a non-sale item.”

It was good.

But he was destined to have only three chances to choose Earth-ranked treasures and curios. Ji Ning was unwilling to waste even one chance on a flying treasure.

Earthfire Heart Lamp. A curio.

The Earthfire Heart Lamp was a peculiar rock naturally formed into the shape of a lamp. Within the lamp, there was a faint, flame-like quintessence… This quintessence had an astonishing nurturing effect on ‘Earthfire’. If one regularly placed their Earthfire within it to absorb this quintessence, it could raise their Earthfire to the first grade in just ten years!

If combined with other nurturing treasures, the time required to raise Earthfire to the first grade would be even shorter.

“The Earthfire Heart Lamp!” Ji Ning was truly tempted. The previous treasures had only made his heartbeat faster, but this one stirred a powerful urge within him: Choose it!

“Should I choose it?” Ji Ning pondered.

“If my Earthfire could rise to the first grade, a first-grade Earthfire would be enough to threaten Primal Daoists. But it would take about ten years.” Ji Ning mused, then shook his head. “Ten years. By then, my Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens will probably have improved vastly, and my sword arts will be far more advanced. A first-grade Earthfire wouldn’t be of that much help to me.”

After all, only four years had passed since he had joined the Black-White College!

In that time, he had already comprehended the third stance of the Three-Foot Sword!

He had progressed this much in four years.

If he pushed ten years back… He had still been fighting the Skygreen Serpent, just setting off from the West Prefecture City to the Eastmarsh Swamp for adventure.

Ten years later, he was already able to easily slay Wanxiang Adepts.

Although progress would certainly slow down the further one went, Ji Ning believed he would still improve a great deal in ten years.

“A fine treasure, no doubt.” Ji Ning thought to himself, “But Hellfire Earthfire was never destined to be my strongest attack. Besides, I have not only Earthfire but also Coldsnow within me. To execute my ‘Water-Fire Lotus’, it’s best if the power of the Coldsnow and Earthfire are evenly matched. If the Earthfire becomes too strong while the Coldsnow remains too weak, it will be hard to use the Water-Fire Lotus effectively.”

“Even without the Earthfire Heart Lamp as this kind of treasure, I still have the Ten Thousand Year Cold Ice and Fire Lotus Marrow. Although nurturing them will take longer, and they might only reach the fifth or fourth grade in ten years, the advantage is that their power will remain balanced.” Having reasoned with himself, Ji Ning continued to read.

Treasure after treasure.

He had been tempted by Earth-ranked treasures before, but back then, he had never truly ventured out into the world. Now, as a disciple of the Black-White College, a member of the Yinglong Guard, and a visitor to Heavenly Treasures Mountain, he had a much broader perspective. Only now did he truly understand the preciousness of the treasures within the Treasure Palace – the rarity of the treasures left behind by Daoist Threelives.

He suspected that even the treasures of the Grand Xia Dynasty’s imperial storehouse might not be able to compete. Unfortunately, in each cultivation tier, he could only choose three items at most.

Brocade Cloud Miasma… A supreme-grade Earth-ranked protective treasure. …

Hundred Poison Immortal Binding Formation… An Earth-ranked treasure formation. …

Coldsnow Mirror… A curio, capable of raising Coldsnow to the first grade in ten years. …

One treasure after another.

Ji Ning watched with covetous eyes.

“Senior, the Coldsnow Mirror and the Earthfire Heart Lamp should count as a single treasure.” Ji Ning looked up at the Yellow-Haired Bear beside him. “If they counted as one, I would choose them.”

“Count as one?” The Yellow-Haired Bear glared. “Do you know that many Earthfires and Coldsnows can only be raised to the upper third grade or second grade? Although some Earthfires and Coldsnows have the potential to reach the first grade, that’s just potential! Actually reaching the first grade is incredibly difficult. Once it becomes first grade, upon being elevated to Heavenly Fire, its power and potential will be even stronger. Do you understand that? I don’t believe you can find a single Earthfire Heart Lamp or Coldsnow Mirror for sale in the territories ruled by your Grand Xia Dynasty!”

Ji Ning was speechless.

For sale? In Heavenly Treasures Mountain and the Wuyou Caverns, he had indeed never seen an Earthfire Heart Lamp or Coldsnow Mirror on the open market.

What were curios? Curios were items formed naturally, not treasures that could be forged. Therefore, their numbers were bound to be extremely limited and rare. The Grand Xia Dynasty’s Heavenly Treasures Mountain had branches in every commandery city – thousands of them! How could they possibly offer Earthfire Heart Lamps for open sale?

“For your first selection, I brought out the Earthfire Heart Lamp and Coldsnow Mirror.” The Yellow-Haired Bear looked at Ji Ning. “I did it especially for you, seeing that you have Earthfire and Coldsnow inside you. Because of that special care, I made them available for you to choose from on your first time. To tell you the truth, there are really only three items most suitable for you on this first selection.”

“The Earthfire Heart Lamp and the Coldsnow Mirror are two of them.”

“The third is on the third-to-last page.”

As the Yellow-Haired Bear finished speaking.

Ji Ning immediately flipped through the pages, quickly reaching the third-to-last page. He looked carefully.

Cold Abyss Sword Formation.

The Cold Abyss Sword Formation was composed of nine supreme-grade Earth-ranked flying swords. Each flying sword was forged from precious ‘Cold Abyss Nether Iron’…

“All nine are supreme-grade Earth-ranked?” Ji Ning widened his eyes in shock.

What was called ‘supreme-grade Earth-ranked’ wasn’t the classification of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain; it was that of Daoist Threelives! This was a completely different standard. Daoist Threelives was far more stringent in his classification of treasures. The treasures he left behind – like the Nine Yang Sword Formation he had chosen earlier, which was made of nine Human-ranked top-grade flying swords – that so-called ‘Human-ranked top-grade’ would be classified as ‘Human-ranked supreme-grade’ at the Heavenly Treasures Mountain!

“Why are all nine of them supreme-grade Earth-ranked?” Ji Ning looked at the Yellow-Haired Bear in surprise.

“I had intended to split them up, and have the Treasure tome only record ‘Cold Abyss Sword, supreme-grade Earth-ranked flying sword’.” The Yellow-Haired Bear shook his head. “But then I thought, if they were separated, these nine Cold Abyss Swords would likely never be chosen by anyone, even after dozens or hundreds of owners. So I just left them connected as this one sword formation. Because it is a sword formation composed of nine supreme-grade Earth-ranked flying swords… logically, it would only be shown to you on your third selection. But I didn’t want you, kid, to die out there too early, so I decided to show it to you in advance.”

“The Earthfire Heart Lamp, the Coldsnow Mirror, and the Cold Abyss Sword Formation. All three are extremely good for you.” The Yellow-Haired Bear looked at Ji Ning. “Choose.”