At the moment Chu Xuan successfully completed Foundation Establishment, in the eastern region, outside a small village in the Yunshan area, amidst a desolate and silent graveyard.
Old and tattered black soul banners were erected here, all looking quite uniform except for their varying degrees of wear; some had rotted so much only the bamboo pole remained, while others were still largely intact.
But at this moment, one unnoticed, ragged black banner suddenly burst forth with brilliant light!
As bluish-green light flowed like water, the originally ragged banner immediately took on a renewed appearance.
This banner was triangular, with six tassels gently fluttering beneath it, and its surface glimmered with numerous mysterious tadpole-like script and ancient incantations, emanating an ancient and enigmatic aura, as though it had existed for countless years.
Then the surface of the banner rolled up, transforming into a ghastly green ray of light and soaring skyward at an unimaginable speed!
It pierced through the layer of tempestuous winds, shooting straight northward, initially producing a terrifying sonic boom, then accelerating continuously until it exceeded the speed of light, emitting no further sound as it vanished into the northern sky.
If not for its extremely high and distant trajectory, and its early acceleration concealed by the celestial gusts, this treasure would certainly have attracted countless cultivators' attention along the way, as though it were a heaven-bestowed treasure, sparking massive competition.
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"Perfect."
Chu Xuan opened his eyes, hearing Ji Mingyu's voice of admiration, which brought a hint of a smile to his face.
He rose to his feet, "After preparing for so long, if it's not perfect, I would feel ashamed to be my master's disciple."
Ming Yu looked at him with a playful smile, then handed him a mirror that reflected the anomaly from Chu Xuan's Foundation Establishment moments ago.
He was quite surprised, "Was the commotion really this big?"
"Ordinary cultivators won't experience such anomalies during Foundation Establishment; your physique is extraordinary, coupled with a unique cultivation technique and celestial energy entering your body, which resulted in this."
Ji Mingyu took his hand, "Come, today my secret treasury is open for you, choose freely what you fancy."
With his cultivation growing, the chance to select magical artifacts, and a beloved companion beside him, Chu Xuan's mood was naturally excellent.
Even the little ferret came over at this point, nestling into his embrace, and affectionately licking his cheek.
Chu Xuan smiled and patted its head, holding his master's hand as they headed toward the treasury of the cave mansion.
...
This grand treasury, Chu Xuan usually could enter freely, and take or use things at will; they were the accummulated wealth of Primordial Monarch Taixu over many years.
Even though she wasn't strongly attached to material things, over time, she still amassed plenty—magical artifacts, talismans, materials, pills, everything was available.
However, in the secret treasury inside, only Ji Mingyu could enter, as it housed some items even she considered quite precious.
She cast a spell into the secret treasury, and as the Taiji pattern on the wall began to crack, Ji Mingyu turned to look at Chu Xuan.
Her eyes bore a hint of endearment, and she caressed his face with her right hand, smiled lightly: "Xuan'er, over these years, you've grown even more handsome."
Chu Xuan blushed slightly, lowered his head and said, "Master, why did you suddenly mention this?"
Yet Ming Yu did not let go, she asked in a teasing tone: "Honestly, do you harbor some improper thoughts about your master?"
Chu Xuan's heart skipped a beat, feeling a bit anxious, he looked at his master and shook his head.
"Hmm? Really?"
Chu Xuan hesitated for a moment, nodded slightly then shook his head immediately.
Ming Yu chuckled lightly, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore, come and choose a magical artifact."
With that, she released her disciple's hand, and was the first to walk into the secret treasury.
Chu Xuan felt a subtle regret, if he had been braver just now, could they have had an even deeper opportunity?
Sighing to himself, he decided to temporarily put aside his internal conflicts; there is plenty of time in the future, many chances to confess later. The urgent task now is to swiftly enhance his cultivation, and become a man worthy of his master as soon as possible.
...
Ji Mingyu led her disciple to a sandalwood rack shimmering with diverse treasures.
On the rack were knives, spears, swords, halberds, huge axes, bronze bells, ancient cauldrons, flags, array plates—each magical artifact had remarkable functions and noteworthy origins.
Now it's time to mention the grade of magical artifacts, according to Celestial, Earth, Mystery, and Yellow tiers, with power ranging from high to low in four classes.
Within each tier, there are upper, middle, and lower grades, and only in extremely rare cases, does there appear a "supreme" classification.
Above magical artifacts are true Immortal Artifacts.
Below magical artifacts are all nonstandard and various peculiar little items, categorized as Magical Artifacts.
Although most magical artifacts are not powerful, their advantage is consuming very little, making them suitable for low-tier cultivators.
The lowest tier on this rack is Earth-tier magical artifacts, even some Celestial-tier treasures, to be honest, Chu Xuan as a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, would find it difficult to wield.
Yet a natal magical artifact is something that generally accompanies a cultivator for life; selecting it in advance has advantages.
It can be placed in the dantian for slow nurturing to establish a bond, later at Golden Core or Nascent Soul stages, it can gradually display its power, skipping the [Refinement] process, and making it easier to handle.
"How about it? Anything you fancy at first glance?" Ji Mingyu asked earnestly.
Chu Xuan cupped his chin, pondering deeply.
The little ferret looked at the rack of treasures, drooling somewhat, though these couldn't be eaten, it wasn't stupid, knowing each one was worth a fortune.
"Hmm..."
Chu Xuan slightly furrowed his brows, observing each item one by one, yet for some reason, there wasn't a single one that caught his fancy.
"Is it difficult to choose? Should I introduce them to you?" his master suggested.
Chu Xuan nodded, but for some reason, while listening to his master's introductions, he felt a bit distracted.
What's going on? This peculiar emotion, I'm supposed to be excited, why is there no ripple in my heart, even a slight aversion?
Chu Xuan raised his head, intending to say: Maybe let's skip this time, come back next time.
But before he could say it, he saw his master's expression change!
She swept her hand, taking Chu Xuan with incredible speed out of the cave mansion, then an astonishing scene appeared.
In the sky, the array of the secret realm seemed to be attacked by something, inexplicably inwardly caving in creating a large pit.
Before Ji Mingyu could personally manage the array, it was forcibly breached, as a gloomy green light shot directly towards Chu Xuan's direction!
That strange feeling in his heart resurfaced, not only wasn't Chu Xuan panicked or fearful, but his eyes brightened, feeling like "it came searching for me."
Sure enough, the gloomy green light didn't attack Chu Xuan; within a distance of about one meter from him, it stopped naturally, its light slowly dissipating, revealing the object within.
In front of him was a triangular black banner, slowly unfolding, with six tassels gently fluttering beneath it, its surface glimmering with numerous mysterious tadpole-like script and ancient incantations, emanating an ancient and enigmatic aura, seemingly existing for countless years.
Chu Xuan looked at this treasure with surprise, wondering if it was the legendary Divine Artifact choosing its master?
This thing looks quite presentable, and its power seems dreadful, managing to breach the array personally set up by his master in an instant.
Yet... it looks slightly like a demonic artifact, hopefully, his master won't mind?
Thinking of this, Chu Xuan turned to look at Ji Mingyu, intending to ask if she knew the origin of this heaven-sent treasure.
But what shocked him was his master's expression... showing a look he had never seen before...