Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 1248: Chapter 1247: The Black Seal Is Extraordinary, Yet Hard to Fathom

The Original Restricted Zone, located within the Penglai’s Ancient Martial World, is probably the only remaining Original Wilderness on Earth. Here, it’s truly a place seldom ventured by martial artists, yet it continuously attracts courageous martial arts experts seeking adventure. This place is not simple; powerful demon beasts exist here, and even ancient alien races are said to be slumbering here. Who would dare provoke them?

Ye Tianchen had just entered the Original Restricted Zone, and although he narrowly escaped the pursuit of the Black Tiger Beast King by the skin of his teeth, he was truly shaken inside. He hadn’t expected Earth to have evolved into such a terrifying place, with the presence of a chilling Original Restricted Zone. This was merely the edge of the zone, and already he had stirred up an invincible Black Tiger Beast King. What kind of scene would be at the center? This place, compared to the ones Ye Tianchen has been to like the Sun Never Sets Mountain, Flame Valley, and Fire Dragon Pond, is far more perilous and harrowing. Those places, although treacherous, are merely due to environmental dangers and not teeming with so many fierce creatures as here.

The giant crocodile, the black tiger, and the group of silver snakes; which kind of creature among them is not exceptionally powerful and demands full attention? Ye Tianchen became increasingly cautious as the Original Restricted Zone truly was not a place to trespass lightly. No wonder during the time when the Taishi family controlled Linxian City, this powerful family, even possessing one of the strongest divine arts in the Martial Arts World, the Burning Sky Finger, dared not rashly enter the Original Restricted Zone. Moreover, they ordered their disciples absolutely not to enter it, evidently showing the Taishi family’s foresight. Without reaching a certain cultivation realm, without becoming a martial arts expert, entering this zone means walking straight into death, merely serving as food for these ferocious creatures!

The deep night brought silence, yet Ye Tianchen did not hasten to find the old fisherman and Xiao Ling. In such a night, finding them would be next to impossible. It eased his mind knowing that those powerful heritages entered the Original Restricted Zone, ultimately for the sake of alien treasures and Spiritual Medicine Divine Grass, not to truly hunt the old fisherman and Xiao Ling. In a way, they would be relatively safer, despite being ordinary secular people. But the old fisherman managed to live for seven thousand years, mastering many survival techniques. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have avoided crises for such a long time. This fact speaks to the old fisherman’s extraordinary nature, suggesting that together they could protect themselves and Xiao Ling, preventing them from being quickly devoured by these ferocious creatures.

”To think so many experts have come, not only from the forces of the martial artists killed in Linxian City but also other powerful heritages. Among them are forces from the Song Mountain Ancient Martial World and the Heavenly Mountain Ancient Martial World. They have used secret techniques to teleport their sect’s experts here. It seems the alien treasure Huo Xianer and others mentioned must indeed be extraordinary. If there’s a chance, I should check it out!” Ye Tianchen murmured to himself while handling the body of the silver snake.

At this moment, Ye Tianchen had found a massive cave that had long dried up and contained no trace of beast aura. It seemed to have been the dwelling of a powerful creature that had either traveled far or been killed by an even more formidable entity, leaving the cave vacant and just the place for Ye Tianchen to spend the night. However, this night was destined to be restless, and sleep was not an option.

”The silver snake’s skin is exceptionally tough, yet the meat is surprisingly tender, and so much essence is seeping out. I need to quickly clean it up and start stewing, then I can slowly deal with the big crocodile’s skin!” Ye Tianchen thought, tossing the crocodile skin aside and drawing out the Taie Sword. The silver snake’s skin was particularly resilient, resisting regular tools, but only the indestructible Taie Sword could open it.

The sword light flickered as Ye Tianchen swiftly peeled away the silver snake’s skin, placing the luscious, essence-filled snake meat aside. While traveling earlier, he had thoughtfully obtained some spring water, washed the meat, and prepared to find something to stew it with.

”Shoot, I don’t have any cooking utensils! How can I stew this silver snake meat?” Ye Tianchen suddenly recalled this bothersome issue. Water was easy to find, and so was wood, but what about a tool for stewing the silver snake meat? Other than the Taie Sword and the Holy Heaven Prison, he had no suitable utensils for cooking.

”I guess I can’t eat the silver snake meat after all. It’s a pity after putting in so much effort... Bang!”

Feeling down, Ye Tianchen muttered as he sat on a rock, producing a ”bang” sound immediately. Startled, he fished out the Black Seal from his pocket, the very treasure seal the Black Tiger Beast King used to suppress him. The Black Seal was inscribed with various complex runes, seemingly powerful, yet when the Black Tiger unleashed it, its mysterious strength didn’t manifest. Could it be that the Black Tiger had just acquired it and hadn’t refined it, merely launching it in a fit of rage during the chase?

As he pondered, Ye Tianchen examined the Black Seal, feeling an instinctual belief in its extraordinary nature. Why couldn’t the Black Tiger Beast King unleash its powerful effects, and why hadn’t he sensed anything strange? Was it that this Black Seal was so immensely powerful that refining and utilizing its effectiveness would be tremendously challenging?

”Hmm? Haha, I finally found the perfect utensil for snake soup. Isn’t this Black Seal the best tool for it?” Ye Tianchen suddenly said with a smile.

Examining the Black Seal, Ye Tianchen noticed that its back was hollow, resembling a drinking vessel when turned upside down. The Black Seal otherwise appeared unremarkable, featuring a tiger’s head carving at the top and being surrounded by various rune patterns. At that moment, Ye Tianchen couldn’t comprehend these profound designs.

”Never mind all that, better enjoy some snake soup first. Otherwise, it would be too regretful after barely escaping that forest, not to mention a waste of the essential energy contained in the silver snake meat.” Ye Tianchen reasoned, turning the Black Seal upside down. With a simple divine arts trick to adjust an object’s size, he enlarged the Black Seal to the size of a basin, placing all the silver snake meat inside along with the spring water he had carried. Crafting a simple stove from rocks, he positioned the Black Seal atop it, beginning to stew the silver snake meat.

The silver snake meat wasn’t something easy to stew. After setting up the firewood, Ye Tianchen turned to the giant crocodile skin nearby, uncertain what to do. This crocodile skin was indestructible, spanning several tens of meters and weighing a thousand catties, an unbelievable fact. This reinforced Ye Tianchen’s belief that it would surely become a powerful treasure clothes or treasure artifact. However, he had no experience in artifact refining, an unfamiliar field bringing him confusion and headaches.

”The Yijin Jing seems to have an Artifact Refining General Chapter. Perhaps I could follow its principles and refine this crocodile skin into a treasure artifact. Let me see!”

Recalling the Artifact Refining General Chapter recorded in the Yijin Jing, Ye Tianchen found that it wasn’t detailed step by step. However, it may hold insights between the lines. Given the large, heavy crocodile skin, he couldn’t carry it around constantly. Hiding it didn’t feel secure either, as it was a rare find. Losing it to other creatures or martial artists would be devastating. Having snatched it from beneath the Black Tiger Beast King’s nose, realizing its value was essential!

After contemplating, Ye Tianchen sat cross-legged and calmed his mind. In his memory, he found the Artifact Refining General Chapter from the Yijin Jing. Although the Chapter contained limited recorded information, every word was worthy of comprehension and analysis, such as the opening line: ”Among worldly treasure artifacts, those with divine mansions are the strongest!”

”This line should mean that any treasure artifact that can bear a spiritual sense and possess a divine mansion will become more powerful, reaching new heights! I can’t even imagine!” Ye Tianchen couldn’t help but murmur.

Martial artists know the fundamental rules of martial arts cultivation and the basic laws of treasure artifacts. Otherwise, how could they become martial artists? Throughout history, many powerful treasure artifacts have existed, yet those birthing a divine mansion are one in a thousand or even one in a hundred thousand. For a treasure artifact to give birth to a divine mansion, it needs immense strength, and its creator must be immensely powerful too. One must know that a powerful treasure artifact often accompanies a supreme martial artist, fighting throughout their life. It grows stronger with each battle, persisting even after the supreme martial artist falls and fades away. Such is the ”alternative eternal life” considered by martial artists. However, for a treasure artifact to nurture a spiritual sense, birthing a divine mansion, it demands a remarkable fortune and time, absorbing various essential forces. It’s not something achieved overnight. In Ye Tianchen’s view, except for an Emperor’s Artifact capable of suppressing all ages, other treasure artifacts find it incredibly difficult to birth a divine mansion without astounding fortune... (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian.com and cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motive. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)