Seeing that Gu Wanchang had said this much, Gu Changhuan could not refuse any longer and could only agree with a pleased smile.

"Then I'll gladly accept. I plan to stay a few days—to rest and see which herbs Grandfather can gather. That way I'll know what to look for in Heng Prefecture."

Gu Wanchang nodded. That would be good indeed. Heng Prefecture had been established nearly a thousand years earlier than Qingzhou and possessed a wider variety of spiritual medicines. The possibility of finding Foundation Establishment ingredients there remained quite high.

"Let us go. I will take you to see the Clan Treasury."

Gu Wanchang stood up and walked toward the door. Gu Changhuan quickly followed. Truth be told, he had never set foot in the Clan Treasury before and did not even know where it was located.

On the way, Gu Wanchang spoke of gunpowder. Mortal craftsmen had devised several unusual weapons and improved their power, enough to deal easily with first-tier middle-grade demon beasts. The clan had rewarded them with spiritual treasures mortals could safely use. Across almost all the Nine Perches Mountains, even among the Yu Clan's mortals, people had taken up the work.

Gu Wanchang meant nothing by the remark, but Gu Changhuan felt awkward. Still, anything that protected more mortals was a good thing. Unless the weapons became as precise and destructive as those in his previous life, they posed no threat to cultivators, who could fly, travel underground, and escape at tremendous speed.

Before long, the two arrived at the Gu Clan's Ancestral Hall.

Gu Changhuan felt a twinge of doubt. Had the Patriarch not said they were going to the Clan Treasury? Why had they come to the Ancestral Hall instead? Could the treasury actually be located beneath the ancestral hall?

Once inside, Gu Wanchang produced his Patriarch's Identity Jade Token and swept it across the wall of the ancestral hall. A downward-sloping passage immediately opened in the floor behind them.

They followed the well-lit passage around two bends and emerged into a broad chamber.

A pale-red Formation enveloped the entire subterranean chamber. Gu Wanchang raised his jade token high and poured True Essence into it, causing the token to emit a dazzling beam of light that struck the Formation barrier. The Formation slowly ground to a halt, finally revealing the treasures hidden within.

"This is the Clan Treasury!"

Gu Changhuan stared at the dazzling array of treasures before him, barely able to tear his eyes away. The underground vault contained seven or eight shelves. The most numerous items displayed were magical artifacts, followed by spiritual medicines; however, any medicinal herbs kept in the clan vault were at least Second-Tier High Grade, having long since lost their vitality with their seeds already harvested. These items were neatly arranged on shelves fashioned from Jade-Core Wood. Another shelf held a row of storage bags, beneath which sat several brocade boxes concealing unknown contents.

The most eye-catching display was a crimson shelf holding a spiritual sword, an incense burner, and a bronze mirror. The incense burner was unmistakably the Purple-Gold Incense Burner previously recovered from the Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode, while the remaining two items were evidently treasures left behind by the founding ancestor of the Gu Clan.

"Our founder left us many rare treasures," Gu Wanchang said, subdued. "We descendants have failed him. These two Dharma Treasures are all that remain of his legacy."

"The ancestor actually used Dharma Treasures?"

Gu Changhuan was surprised. Weapons of the third tier and below were normally called magical artifacts; those of the fourth tier and above were Dharma Treasures. Any lower-tier item granted that name must have some special quality.

"He could hold his own against four opponents at once. It's hardly surprising he had Dharma Treasures. But his prowess drew too much attention. The demon beasts surrounded him, and the injuries he suffered ended his chances of advancing." Gu Wanchang's voice faltered.

Yet if those injuries had not barred him from Golden Core, he might never have founded the Gu Clan. None of these descendants would have existed. Fate was difficult to fathom.

Was that why so many of the clan's defensive artifacts were mirrors? Were they modeled on the founder's treasure?

Gu Changhuan gazed longingly at the treasures, but knew better than to ask for them. Fine as they were, he could not use them yet. A suitable second-tier artifact would serve him better in a fight.

If only the Haotian Mirror were already a Second-Tier magical artifact.

"Patriarch, do we have any Second-Tier magical artifacts similar to the Haotian Mirror? Or perhaps some weapons that excel at catching people off guard?"

Gu Changhuan asked directly. Unfamiliar with the artifacts stored in the vault, he preferred to let the Patriarch guide him.

Gu Wanchang blinked, then laughed. "Nothing quite like it, but I can reforge your Haotian Mirror with some new materials and raise it to the second tier. It is one of my proudest creations; I'm confident I can manage it. As for something to take an enemy by surprise... I think we do have just the thing."

With that, he walked over to a shelf, picked up a brocade box, and handed it over.

Gu Changhuan opened the lid to reveal two bone-like rings resting quietly inside.

"These are the White Bone Twin Rings. The larger one appears to have been made from spider silk, silkworm silk, and demon beast bones. It releases invisible, razor-sharp threads. The smaller fires poisonous needles as fine as an ox's hair, allowing you to kill without being noticed."

They were truly vicious tools for an ambush.

Gu Changhuan accepted them with a broad smile. Since the Patriarch had already agreed to refine the Haotian Mirror and provided a lethal hidden weapon like the White Bone Twin Rings, the remaining choices mattered little. He casually picked out a small bell and a Second-Tier High Grade Formation disk to complete his selection.

Upon leaving the treasury, Gu Wanchang took the Haotian Mirror with him, instructing Gu Changhuan to collect it in five days. Gu Changhuan naturally had no objections.

Three days later, Gu Wanhao returned, dusty from his journey. He had brought Fire Velvet Mushroom, one of the principal ingredients, and eight supplementary herbs. Even four clans working together had not gathered everything. Making Foundation Establishment Pills was no easy matter.

Gu Wanhao and Gu Changhuan spent two days together. Once the Haotian Mirror was ready, Gu Changhuan prepared to resume his travels. Before leaving the Nine Perches Mountains, though, he wanted to visit his home in Jade Clear Town.

Looking for more free chapters? Visit www.skynovelvault.com to read over 5,000 free chapters and continue exploring more stories from SkyNovelVault.