Chapter 084: Three Dao Artifacts

  The stone tablet of the Artifact Sect suddenly erupted with a myriad of radiant lights. The towering monument, originally only a few meters high, expanded to a staggering thousand meters, standing tall in the void like a waking dragon. A vast surge of energy rippled out, shaking the heavens.

  The words "Artifact Sect" on the tablet vanished, replaced by a massive stone gate that swung open. An ancient, overwhelming aura burst forth, accompanied by astonishing phenomena in the sky.

  "The Artifact Sect has opened! Let's go!" Dozens of figures at the forefront dashed into the gate, their bodies enveloped by a strange black light as they disappeared from sight.

  As soon as the first group entered, the crowd behind them surged forward like a tidal wave. The thunderous sound of countless footsteps echoed, shaking the earth.

  "Let's head in too," Yang Tian said, leading his group of six into the gate. A dark light instantly enveloped them.

  For a moment, Yang Tian felt disoriented, his mind clouded. But when he regained clarity, he found himself in a completely different world—a vast, expansive space.

  "Whoosh! Whoosh!" Countless treasures flew through the air like a colorful tide, their dazzling lights illuminating the space. The sight made many onlookers swallow hard, their eyes filled with greed.

  "Remember, each person can only take one treasure. If you try to take more, the formations here will attack you," Qing Yuan warned. Over the years, many had died trying to greedily snatch extra treasures, only to be struck down by the sect's protective mechanisms.

  "Most of these are just spirit artifacts, but there are probably tens of thousands of them here—and this is just the outer area," Yang Tian muttered, his eyes wide with amazement.

  "Let's move deeper. The treasures here are too low-grade," Qing Yuan urged, recalling that his Thunder God Hammer replica had come from the inner areas.

  As they ventured further, Yang Tian heard occasional screams. Some unfortunate souls, unable to resist the temptation, had tried to take more than one treasure and were instantly killed by the formations.

  The deeper they went, the stronger the resistance became. It felt as though they were carrying a massive boulder on their backs. The number of people around them dwindled, as the pressure made it difficult for many to proceed.

  Suddenly, a sword glowing with a brilliant purple light caught Yang Tian's eye. It moved like a dragon weaving through the sea of treasures, its aura overwhelming. The blade was adorned with intricate purple patterns.

  "A semi-finished Dao artifact!" Yang Tian's eyes lit up. But just as he was about to make a move, a figure dashed past him, reaching for the sword's hilt.

  "Ah—!" Before Yang Tian could even react, the sword erupted with a blinding purple light, severing the man's hand in an instant. The sword then vanished from sight.

  "It can attack on its own?" Yang Tian was stunned. It seemed that even claiming a treasure here required strength and skill.

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  "Many have died trying to claim artifacts, especially Dao artifacts. This Thunder God Hammer almost electrocuted a prince from the Qing Yuan Empire," Qing Yuan added with a nod.

  "Arf! Arf!" Suddenly, Xiao Bai, the little white beast, leaped out from Yang Tian's shoulder. Its dark eyes were fixed on something ahead, and it let out a series of urgent barks, its tiny paws tapping excitedly on Yang Tian's shoulder.

  "Where did Yang Tian even get this strange beast?" Qing Yuan exclaimed, staring at Xiao Bai in disbelief. Even Meng Hao looked intrigued.

  "Xiao Bai," Yun'er cooed, her eyes sparkling as she reached out to pet the little creature.

  "Looks like there's something big ahead. Let's go," Yang Tian said, a smile spreading across his face. Xiao Bai's excitement suggested that whatever lay ahead was no ordinary treasure.

  The group pressed forward, but after about fifteen minutes, their pace slowed. The restrictions here prevented the use of artifacts, significantly weakening many of them.

  After what felt like an eternity, they finally stopped. Ahead stood an ancient, glowing gate, radiating an overwhelming sense of majesty.

  Seeing the gate, Qing Yuan's face lit up with excitement. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he grinned. "There must be Dao artifacts inside. This trip is already worth it."

  The Artifact Sect's treasury had been opened countless times over the ages, but the number of Dao artifacts inside had dwindled. Most were hidden behind such gates, and rumors spoke of even rarer Heavenly artifacts concealed within—though no one had ever claimed them.

  "Let's move," Yang Tian urged, noticing Xiao Bai's eagerness to charge forward. The group stepped through the gate.

  A flash of white light blinded them momentarily, and when their vision cleared, they were hit by a wave of scorching heat. The group instinctively recoiled.

  They found themselves in a fiery red palace. Every structure bore a flame emblem, exuding an ancient, unshakable majesty.

  "Arf! Arf!" Xiao Bai barked excitedly, its eyes gleaming as it leaped down and darted deeper into the palace.

  "Quick, follow it!" Yang Tian shouted, rushing after the little beast. The deeper they went, the more intense the heat became, rapidly draining their energy.

  At the far end of the hall stood a massive stone platform. Floating above it were three treasures. In the center was a purple-gold bell, suspended by a chain of the same material. Divine runes swirled around it, and it emitted a radiant glow.

  To the right was a crimson furnace, about three meters tall. It was adorned with carvings of a three-legged golden crow, and intricate patterns covered its surface. The lid was engraved with divine runes, and inside, a raging fire burned with terrifying heat.

  To the left was a purple-gold gourd, intricately carved with images of flowers, fish, and insects. It exuded a lifelike aura, with divine runes cascading down its surface.

  "Three Dao artifacts..." The group exchanged glances, their eyes filled with awe and desire. The central purple-gold bell, in particular, seemed to be the most powerful of the three, its grade impossible to discern.

  "What kind of luck do we have?" Qing Yuan muttered, wiping the sweat from his face. His chubby frame trembled with excitement. These artifacts were of extraordinary quality, far beyond ordinary treasures.

  "Look! That's a replica of the Sun God Furnace!" Dan Qu exclaimed, pointing at the crimson furnace. The carving of the three-legged crow confirmed its identity.

  "It really is a replica of the Sun God Furnace," Meng Hao added, his voice filled with admiration. "This furnace is on par with my Black Profound Sword."

  The Sun God Furnace was an ancient divine artifact, said to have been forged using the soul of a golden crow ancestor. It could summon the true flames of the sun, capable of incinerating the heavens and the earth.

  "Arf! Arf!" Xiao Bai suddenly barked again, its eyes fixed on the purple-gold bell. It bared its teeth and leaped toward the bell, its tiny claws reaching out.

  "Xiao Bai, no! Come back!" Yang Tian's face paled. The treasures here could attack on their own, and if Xiao Bai provoked one, the consequences would be dire.

  The others gasped, but Xiao Bai was too fast. Its claws were already inches away from the bell.

  "Whoosh!" The moment Xiao Bai's paw touched the bell, the artifact trembled violently. A blinding purple light erupted, and the divine runes around it began to swirl rapidly. The group instinctively shut their eyes against the dazzling radiance.