The Threshold of the Spirit Treasury

The Baside ancient war spear, stained with divine blood, struck the green stone ground before Xiao Chen. Drops of god's blood fell, vanishing into crimson motes of light in the air. A sky-piercing murderous aura, ancient and savage, seeped from the weapon.

There was no doubt that a war spear that had once slain a god held unimaginable power. Yet the two brothers, Yulan and Mu, could never unleash its true might. Such a spear in their hands was a waste. Xiao Chen had reason to believe that this ancient weapon was beyond their control. Their master or elders must be in Heavenly Emperor City, and likely preparing some great action—why else would they carry a god-slaying relic here?

But Xiao Chen did not dwell on that now. He sat cross-legged in the courtyard, still and silent, slowly sinking into a profound and mysterious state.

Countless starbeams cascaded down. The myriad stars seemed to press closer. Before his eyes streaked blazing lights—falling meteors, dying lives, shattered dreams.

His spiritual perception soared as if riding the nine heavens. His divine consciousness pierced through space, entering the vast starry sky. It condensed, brightened, as if becoming one of the brilliant stars.

He felt as though he had ascended into the constellations—a strange sensation, as if each star corresponded to a living being. Were stars truly tied to life on earth? Surely not. Yet all things share causal bonds.

His divine consciousness tore through veils of mist in the starry void, rushing toward a treasure of blazing divine light.

Then he understood with a start. This was no starry sky—it was his sea of consciousness. He was approaching the sealed treasure!

Did the human sea of consciousness mirror the cosmos? Why did it resemble the heavens, the earth, the constellations? Was every person a small universe? It seemed so. The likeness was too great.

Did that mean every human was a world in themselves?

Countless thoughts surged through his mind as he swam through his sea of consciousness. He soared past the seven stars of the Dipper, leaped over the Purple Star of the Emperor, looked down upon the entire firmament, and gazed up at the vast sea of stars. Here, he felt his own insignificance.

Was this the deep sea of consciousness sealed within the body? It had to be sealed—it was too vast, too easy to lose oneself.

So it seemed human potential was truly infinite. The outer cosmos and the inner sea of consciousness could mirror each other in full.

As broad as the mind, as vast as the world. Heaven, earth, and the myriad things all within my heart. Xiao Chen gazed up at the stars, a quiet, inexplicable emotion stirring within him.

The gate to the treasure lay embedded in this starry sea. Facing such a majestic, immeasurable firmament, he no longer felt small—for all of it was encompassed, contained, and governed by his heart.

A palace stood in the starry sea. Xiao Chen rushed straight toward it and pushed open the gate…

Keke dozed listlessly, its fluffy head drooping to the ground now and then, clearly exhausted. The Little Defiant Dragon lay quietly in a flower bed, its eyes like two bright pearls shining in the darkness.

As for the small white-shelled turtle, it struck an absurd pose. Though it had a shell, its movements were surprisingly nimble. It lay on its back on the pavilion, crossing its legs! Its two long turtle legs bobbed lazily, as if at ease. One arm pillowed its head; the other claw clutched a stolen ganoderma, chewing it with relish. Occasionally it glanced around furtively, its black gem-like eyes swiveling slyly.

It looked nothing like a turtle. Furtive and cunning, it was no different from a wily human!

The moonlight was soft tonight. Starlight glittered.

A gentle breeze stirred, carrying the fragrance of flowers and grass.

A faint sound of something breaking the air came from outside the courtyard. Keke, half-asleep, snapped awake. Its big eyes flew wide open, fixed unblinkingly ahead.

Two soft rustles. Two figures leaped over the wall and landed in the yard.

The Little Defiant Dragon was about to move, but Xiao Chen acted first.

The blood-red spear stuck in the ground suddenly burst with dazzling bloodlight. A murderous aura shot skyward. With a metallic ring, the Baside war spear tore free from the green stone, transformed into a heaven-spanning rainbow, leaving a trail of blood-red light. With a wet thud, it pierced both intruders!

Blood sprayed. After impaling the two, the Baside spear turned into a blood rainbow and flew back, clanging as it plunged into the stone before Xiao Chen.

"S… sword control?!" The two showed looks of utter disbelief. Their eyes went wide as they died, trying to grasp something. Though they were Mortal-Shedding Fourth Heaven cultivators—far below Xiao Chen's Ninth Heaven—they had been killed in a single exchange! Just one exchange! They could not believe it.

Had Xiao Chen truly broken into the Spirit-Treasury realm? That was their last doubt before death.

Though Xiao Chen was opening the treasure within his body, he still perceived the outside world clearly. The technique that killed the two was inspired by Dugu Jianmo: if one's divine will was strong enough, all tangible matter nearby could become a weapon.

Such was the power of divine consciousness. His divine sense was drawing essence from his bodily treasure, growing sharper and stronger!

Xiao Chen knew that his mid-night battle with Ninth Heaven experts had already alarmed many. Some could guess he was trying to break through and would not let him advance into the Spirit-Treasury realm smoothly. If possible, they would destroy him at this critical moment!

A breeze stirred, masking the scent of blood with floral fragrance. Xiao Chen's heart remained perfectly calm. On the path of immortality, immortality is not assured; this was a terrible road of cultivation, and many would fall halfway.

His spiritual perception was sharper than ever. Entering the majestic palace within his sea of consciousness, he felt subtle changes occurring within him.

His blood flowed faster. In a trance, he heard a rumbling sound from his veins—the noise of blood surging, distinctly echoing in his mind.

And the pounding of his heart, the trembling of his organs… At this moment, he felt beams of divine light rushing from the treasure gate, flowing into his flesh. His five viscera and six bowels were baptized; even his bones were not spared, drowned in divine light.

This was transformation. This was sublimation. This was evolution!

It was a vivid process of breaking the body's shackles, surpassing the self, and entering a new realm.

Xiao Chen's perception grew ever keener. He saw a goldfish in the lotus pond flick its tail, stirring up fine grains of sand at the bottom. He saw a night-blooming orchid in the flower bed gently opening, its pollen falling in a rustling shower. He saw a night bird trace a graceful arc in the sky, catching a mosquito, a drop of blood clinging to the insect's leg.

Though far away and infinitesimal, everything around him was within his mind—so clear, so vivid. The minute world seemed right before his eyes.

Advancement!

The treasure's power was unlocking!

He was about to step into the threshold of the Spirit-Treasury!

Just then, a shadow appeared before the grape trellis in the courtyard. It seemed to materialize out of thin air, so sudden.

No life fluctuations, no aura emanated. If not for the dark silhouette, no one could tell a person stood there.

The Little Defiant Dragon edged forward. Keke tensed in alert. The two sacred beasts sensed danger.

Suddenly, two beams of brilliant divine light burst from beneath the grape trellis, shooting toward the rockery inside the courtyard. At the sight of the five-colored divine feather pinned to the strange stone, an old man's voice rang out: "A five-colored divine feather… the Phoenix Clan…"

An immense pressure fell like Mount Tai. The courtyard fell dead silent, as if frozen by an unfathomable force.

Then, after a few breaths, the mountain-like pressure vanished. The shadow beneath the trellis seemed never to have been there—it disappeared from the yard.

A fresh breeze flowed, carrying the fragrance of flowers and grass.

Swish, swish, swish.

Three figures vaulted into the courtyard, surrounding Xiao Chen from three directions.

Shiiing!

Divine light flashed. Keke struck. A seven-colored light screen surged forward like a whirlwind, enveloping all three newcomers. The Little Defiant Dragon shook its head and lashed its tail, charging like a bolt of silver light.

"Aah…"

Screams rang out. All three were torn apart by the Little Defiant Dragon.

They had come.

The dangerous moment had arrived!

Xiao Chen knew that those who had learned of his breakthrough would begin to strike from now on.

Blood mist drifted. Silently, a figure shrouded in shadow appeared on the white marble arched bridge in the courtyard. Beside him stood a Dragon King!

A cyan-colored, divine and extraordinary Azure Dragon King, its battle intent soaring, glaring fixedly at the Little Defiant Dragon.

Wasn't this Liu Mu's Azure Dragon King? How had it appeared here? The shadowy figure could not possibly be Liu Mu—their auras were completely different!

"Hahaha…"

A long laugh rang out. Another figure dashed into the courtyard. It was a middle-aged man, whose overwhelming pressure instantly shattered the nearby pavilion.

"Roar…" A low beast roar. A golden savage ape leaped into the courtyard from another direction. It was barely a meter tall but looked sturdy and ferocious, its golden fur shining brilliantly. Its icy eyes shot out cold light as it glared at Keke without blinking.

Silently, a black shadow appeared beside it, obscured by mist, its true face hidden.

Swish, swish, swish.

Several more figures vaulted into the yard.