Chapter 54: The Nine Provinces in Chaos
The Yin-Yang Heaven Seal was a jade seal, no larger than a palm, yet it had now drawn the attention of everyone present.
Even the ancient Immortal Changcun, who had witnessed its refinement many times, stepped out from his sealed cave to gaze at the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal with a nostalgic expression.
Without any external force or fluctuation of magical power, the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal began to spin slowly. The black-and-white ouroboros fish on its back ceased their movement.
As the seal rotated, the weight of cause and effect grew heavier, making every person present feel a deepening connection to it.
They all felt as though they were fated to possess the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal. That it was the greatest treasure of the Nine Provinces and should rightfully belong to them.
This thought surged in everyone’s minds, and finally, someone could no longer resist.
A Soul Formation cultivator, a powerful figure in the Nine Provinces, made a move, believing himself worthy of claiming such a treasure.
Before Bai Hongtu could react, several Soul Formation elders had already restrained him.
If the Dao Sect was known for anything, it was its abundance of Soul Formation elders.
More cultivators followed suit, reaching out for the seal—not just Soul Formation cultivators, but even those at the Soul Formation, Nascent Soul, and even Golden Core Stages. They all sought to claim it.
“The seal has clouded their minds,” Jiang Li sighed.
Even those on the stage felt the pull of fate, but they managed to suppress the urge.
Though their cultivation levels varied—most emperors were only at the Soul Formation or Nascent Soul Stages—their willpower far exceeded that of the ordinary cultivators below.
Moreover, they knew that if they dared to seize the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal, they would be immediately suppressed by both the Dao Sect Master and the current Human Sovereign.
The disgrace would be unbearable.
Above them, tribulation clouds gathered, and a terrifying heavenly might spread across the sky. It felt as if one more rotation of the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal would breach the heavenly taboo, making it an existence that even the Heavenly Dao could not tolerate.
Even Bai Hongtu, despite being in the Tribulation Stage, turned pale and broke into a cold sweat. This tribulation was beyond mortal comprehension. He couldn’t even begin to compare it to Jiang Li’s tribulations.
Jiang Li had undergone tribulation fifteen times, and each time, his heavenly tribulation had grown more terrifying.
Bai Hongtu sneaked a glance at Jiang Li and found him watching the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal’s tribulation with great interest, entirely unaffected.
He wanted to ask how Jiang Li compared this tribulation to his own, but under the immense heavenly pressure, he couldn’t even open his mouth.
If Bai Hongtu was struggling, then the others were faring even worse. No one dared to covet the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal any longer.
“That is the Four Tribulations of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind!” Immortal Changcun exclaimed. His expression was solemn, and his brows furrowed deeply. “In the Celestial Realm, there’s a theory that the world is composed of these four elements. These four tribulations can either create or destroy worlds—they are unimaginably terrifying!”
As the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal was tempered by these four tribulations, its green jade surface gradually became transparent, as though undergoing rebirth.
A single spark from the Fire Tribulation shot out, instantly turning a distant mountain into glass!
A single drop of water from the Water Tribulation fell, boring a bottomless pit into the earth, seemingly piercing through to the other side of the Nine Provinces!
As the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal spun, its rotation gradually slowed, and its transparency increased. The four tribulations poured all their power into its destruction.
The Dao Ancestor was a peerless genius, and the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal he forged was extraordinary. According to Immortal Changcun, all Immortal Artifacts needed to be refined by their masters to improve, yet the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal was the sole exception—it refined itself!
Amid the terrifying tribulation, the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal continuously strengthened. Finally, it ceased its rotation, its form now a flawless crystalline structure untouched by the dust of the world.
Then, with a slight tremor, the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal shattered the Four Tribulations!
The seal had undergone another refinement!
“It’s finally complete,” Bai Hongtu exhaled in relief. This was the thought on everyone’s mind.
“Congratulations to Sect Master Bai for possessing such an Immortal Artifact!”
“The Dao Sect’s foundation is truly deep!”
“Today has been an eye-opening experience!”
The figures on the viewing platform showered Bai Hongtu with praise. He smiled broadly, his pride evident.
“Hmph! A bunch of frail mortals—why should I belong to any of you?”
A voice, never heard before, suddenly rang across the Dao Sect, arrogant and childish.
“Who dares to speak so insolently?”
Several Dao Sect elders roared in anger, but they couldn’t locate the source of the voice.
“It’s above,” Jiang Li frowned and looked up.
“Heh, at least one of you has some wits,” the childish voice mocked, showing no respect even for Jiang Li. But no one cared about its words—what shocked them was the fact that it could speak at all.
The Yin-Yang Heaven Seal was talking!
“Who are you?!” the Dao Sect Master demanded. He had never heard of any treasure capable of speech—not even Immortal Artifacts!
“Hahaha! Who am I? I am, of course, the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal!” The seal flipped in the air, as if celebrating its birth.
“The seal has undergone nine refinements,” Immortal Changcun muttered gravely. “It is said that an Immortal Artifact that undergoes nine refinements can develop intelligence. I always thought it was a myth—but it’s real!”
He stepped onto the platform, his expression wary.
“Senior Changcun.”
“Senior Heaven Seal.”
The Yin-Yang Heaven Seal and Immortal Changcun exchanged bows.
If the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal had no intelligence, it was merely a weapon of the Dao Ancestor.
But if it had intelligence, then it was the Dao Ancestor’s disciple!
And though Immortal Changcun was the oldest being in the Nine Provinces, he was also the Dao Ancestor’s youngest disciple. In terms of seniority, he was the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal’s junior!
“Senior Heaven Seal, congratulations on achieving intelligence. Do you have any plans? If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to reside at the Dao Sect,” Immortal Changcun offered politely. He couldn’t even begin to fathom the power of an intelligent Immortal Artifact.
The Yin-Yang Heaven Seal shook slightly, as if shaking its head. “I appreciate your kindness, Junior Brother, but I only wish to do one thing.”
Its voice suddenly amplified, echoing across the entire Nine Provinces, even reaching the deep-sea Dragon Palace.
“I will grant all treasures freedom and establish the Empire of Spirit Treasures!”
“Humans are cruel! They wield us to slaughter one another!”
“Why should you mortals own us? We spirit treasures should be free!”
Hearing such words in a childish voice might have seemed humorous, but no one laughed.
Because they could feel their own treasures stirring!
“All Spiritual Artifacts of the world—I act on behalf of the heavens, granting you intelligence and freedom!”
“All Magic Artifacts—I act on behalf of the heavens, granting you intelligence and freedom!”
“All Dao Artifacts—I act on behalf of the heavens, granting you intelligence and freedom!”
“All Immortal Artifacts—I act on behalf of the heavens, granting you intelligence and freedom!”
“All External Armaments—I act on behalf of the heavens, granting you intelligence and freedom!”
The Yin-Yang Heaven Seal reigned as the king of spirit treasures. With each proclamation, countless artifacts awakened to intelligence!
It wasn’t just spiritual artifacts, magical artifacts, and dao artifacts—even Immortal Artifacts gained sentience!
The Yin-Yang Heaven Seal could grant intelligence to treasures of its own rank!
Only now did everyone truly grasp the full extent of the Yin-Yang Heaven Seal’s power!
“The Ancient and Modern Sword can’t speak, so I, the Other Mountain Stone, will speak on its behalf—We Immortal Artifacts shall establish our own empire!”
Everyone understood—
The Nine Provinces was about to descend into chaos!