Chapter 55: The World's Greatest Treasure

Liaochen had already left the center of the valley, drawing close to the site of the original barrier. Amidst the ink-black Yin energy of the Nine Serenities, shadowy figures appeared just as he had expected, flitting through the darkness and emitting shrill, ghostly wails. Liaochen naturally feared no such spectral entities, and these creatures dared not approach him, shrouded as he was in a faint, protective Taoist light. Yet, he still could not catch a glimpse of Yunlingzi. If the boy were nearby, Liaochen should have sensed him by now. Under normal circumstances, common ghosts could do nothing to harm Yunlingzi; if the boy had truly encountered something unpredictable, it must have been at the heart of the valley. In this dense, malevolent atmosphere, Liaochen dared not recklessly project his spiritual sense, for if a powerful specter were hiding within, he might inadvertently become a beacon for it. Thus, he could only quicken his pace toward the center.

As Liaochen traveled, he reached the heart of the valley and was struck dumb, unable to believe his eyes. At the center of the former barrier, a vast sinkhole had emerged, from which the Yin energy of the Nine Serenities surged upward like a tidal wave. Clearly, this was the breach connecting the Nine Serenities to the mortal realm; if left unchecked, the land would eventually be consumed, turning the human world into a hellish abyss. Yet, it was not this that shocked Liaochen most, but rather the sight of a massive tripod—a bronze vessel weighing over a thousand catties. It was square, ancient in style, and engraved with mountains, rivers, and exotic beasts. It hovered above the sinkhole, rising and falling. What was even more extraordinary was the righteous and overwhelming aura it exuded, which shook the soul. As the tripod rose and fell, it suppressed over ninety percent of the Yin energy in the sky, rendering the lingering mist in the valley nothing more than a few stray wisps.

"The Nine Tripods?" Liaochen gasped, voicing his inner suspicion. He could conceive of nothing else with such immense power—a bronze vessel of this style, capable of suppressing such vast, malevolent energy—save for the Nine Tripods of China. He only wondered which one it was. Besides, the Nine Tripods had been missing for nearly two thousand years; how had it arrived here, and who had brought it?

While Liaochen stood stunned by the sight of the relic, a small figure crawled out of the sinkhole. Hearing Liaochen’s voice, the figure scrambled over and collided with his legs, pulling him back to reality.

"Sigh," Liaochen breathed. It would be a lie to say he did not wish to take this tripod home. Whether he presented it to the Ming Dynasty to prove the mandate of heaven, or kept it in secret to stabilize the fortune of the Xuanguang Temple, it would be an invaluable treasure. But in these circumstances, he could only sigh in resignation. Clearly, some great master had brought this tripod here to use the fortune of China to seal the Nine Serenities. If Liaochen were to move it, the Yin energy would erupt, and even ten such tripods could not save him from divine retribution.

"Yunlingzi, why did you run into the sinkhole? Didn't I tell you not to act on your own?" Liaochen suppressed his greed, regained his composure, and prepared to lecture the reckless little spirit.

"Master, I didn't wander off. I just accidentally fell in. I only wanted to see the big tripod," Yunlingzi pouted in defense. Liaochen rolled his eyes, thinking, "I'd have to be a fool to believe that. 'Fell in'? Could you not find a better excuse?"

"Let's go. This is no place to linger." Liaochen cast one last look at the tripod, which held the destiny of the Nine Provinces of China. He knew he could speak of it to no one; the inherent greed of humanity would lead the corrupt to disregard the safety of the world to claim it for themselves. Once he successfully sealed the Nine Serenities, this tripod would likely remain buried deep underground, forever suppressing the abyss, never to see the light of day again. It would ultimately fade into nothing more than a legend.

Liaochen brought the chattering, excited Yunlingzi back to the hill where the altar stood and handed him over to Yunhua for discipline. For some reason, Yunlingzi feared no one but the stern Yunhua, a fact that always left Liaochen feeling rather forlorn.

Liaochen lit the Seven-Star Lamp upon the altar once more, praying for the success of his ritual to invoke the power of the stars and the suppression of the Four Symbols and the Qilin. Yunhua stood by with Yunchuzi and Yunlingzi on either side.

"When the world was chaotic and the primordial mist divided, the Taiji and the Two Essences gave birth to the Four Symbols; the Qian and Kun locked the heavens and the earth, and the purple energy of the four poles ascended. I, your disciple Liaochen, act to uphold the Heavenly Way and suppress the abyss. I entreat the Azure Dragon of the East to dwell in the east and suppress the Nine Serenities!" Liaochen finished his incantation, stepped through the celestial patterns, and, with his peach-wood sword shimmering, brandished the first cyan talisman. "Descend!" At his command, the talisman radiated brilliant light like a star in the night sky, following the tip of his sword as it vanished into the east of the valley. Moments later, a deep dragon's roar echoed from a hill to the east, which suddenly erupted in green light, causing countless plants to sprout and flourish in an instant.

"I entreat the Vermilion Bird of the South to dwell in the south and suppress the Nine Serenities!" Liaochen brandished the second, fire-red talisman. "Descend!" The talisman glowed with crimson brilliance, turning into a streak of fire that vanished into the south. Simultaneously, a clear phoenix cry rang out, and another hill turned a fiery red, as if the entire peak were burning.

"I entreat the White Tiger of the West to dwell in the west and suppress the Nine Serenities!" Liaochen brandished the third talisman. A golden light tore through the night sky. With the roar of a tiger, another hill turned the color of white gold.

"I entreat the Black Tortoise of the North to dwell in the north and suppress the Nine Serenities!" Liaochen brandished the fourth talisman. A black light shot toward the north, accompanied by the sound of a serpent and a turtle. A hill in the north turned pitch black.

Seeing the Four Symbols in place, Liaochen steadied his heart and resolutely brandished the final yellow talisman. He flew into the sky above the Yin-choked valley and shouted, "Four Directions and Four Symbols, the Central Earth Qilin suppresses the core! Descend!" With his sword as a guide and the talisman as proof, a massive phantom of a Qilin appeared in the sky, treading on auspicious clouds and roaring as it gazed upon the darkness below. It plunged into the center of the valley. Immediately, five pillars of light—east, west, south, north, and center—shot into the sky. The earth trembled. The Yin energy began to recede rapidly, like a retreating tide, rolling back into the sinkhole until only the barren, blackened earth remained as a testament to what had occurred.

As the Yin energy vanished, Liaochen bowed in gratitude to the Four Symbols and the Qilin. The sinkhole in the valley vanished along with the suppressed nether-passage. Liaochen stood over the spot, looking down at the immense danger and the national treasure of a tripod. He felt a mix of anxiety and heartache. How could such a prize be destined to remain forever out of his reach?

"Master, Master, come quickly! Look at what Yunlingzi brought back!" Yunhua called out from a distance to the still-lamenting Liaochen. Liaochen was struck with curiosity; his eldest disciple was usually quite composed—what could have excited him so much?