In the depths of the vast starry sky, a dazzling golden light appeared.
This golden light was not merely radiant; its divine aura instilled an instinctive sense of awe in those who beheld it.
However, the blinding golden light soon began to fade, and Chu Feng could see that the receding light had transformed into a grand gate.
This gate was the very one contained within the Lock Pearl, and now it was rapidly approaching Chu Feng.
As it drew nearer, Chu Feng could increasingly feel the gate’s majestic and imposing presence.
The gate was colossal, surpassing the combined land area of the Nine Provinces Continent.
Soon, the gate opened, and Chu Feng was drawn inside. The legendary Heavenly Court Sanctuary appeared before his eyes.
The main hall of the Heavenly Court Sanctuary towered higher than the heavens, constructed entirely from rare and precious materials, each piece invaluable.
With such exquisite materials, one could only imagine the immense resources expended to build a palace of this magnitude.
This wasn’t Chu Feng’s first visit to the Heavenly Court Sanctuary; he had been here before, back in the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm.
Yet, even now, having seen the grandeur of the Upper Realms, Chu Feng found the Heavenly Court Sanctuary to be the most awe-inspiring structure he had ever encountered.
In fact, in Chu Feng’s view, the palaces of the Upper Realms couldn’t even compare to the Heavenly Court Sanctuary.
They were simply not on the same level.
“Venerable Gate Opener, there are four items to choose from. You may select one.”
At that moment, a weathered voice suddenly rang out.
Though it was a single voice, it seemed to come from all directions, converging in Chu Feng’s ears.
Almost simultaneously with the voice, four gates appeared before Chu Feng.
These four gates were much smaller than the grand entrance to the Heavenly Court Sanctuary, standing only a hundred metres tall, yet they still exuded an imposing aura.
Above each gate was a plaque.
The inscriptions on the four plaques were not only elegant but also imbued with a sense of power.
The calligraphy on all four plaques was clearly the work of the same hand, yet each bore a different word:
– Technique
– Barrier
– Weapon
– Secret Treasure
“Compared to last time, there have been some changes,” Chu Feng remarked.
The last time he was here, he had opened the True Immortal Gate, which offered only three choices: Martial Cultivation, Barrier, and Weapon.
This time, however, things were different. Martial Cultivation was gone, replaced by Technique and Secret Treasure.
After some contemplation, Chu Feng chose Secret Treasure.
Upon making his choice, Chu Feng entered a grand hall.
This time, Chu Feng wasn’t as unfortunate as before; he didn’t encounter another person entering the same hall at the same time.
However, he couldn’t exactly call himself lucky either.
The Secret Treasure he received was a rusty piece of iron.
Chu Feng couldn’t discern anything special about the iron fragment—it seemed like nothing more than scrap.
Despite the disappointing haul, Chu Feng could only accept his fate.
After all, if every opening of the Sanctuary Pearl yielded priceless treasures, even the generous Tantai Celestial Clan wouldn’t have given Chu Feng so many pearls, would they?
“So, how was your haul?”
As Chu Feng emerged from the Heavenly Court Sanctuary, he found Li Yue’er looking at him with a beaming smile.
The girl had returned before him.
“Here.” Chu Feng handed her the so-called Secret Treasure he had obtained from the Heavenly Court Sanctuary.
“What’s this? It doesn’t look special at all,” Li Yue’er said, blinking her large eyes as she examined it closely, unable to discern anything noteworthy.
“It’s a Secret Treasure—of course you can’t tell,” Chu Feng said with a smile.
“I actually quite like it. How about we trade?” Li Yue’er suggested.
“Then let me see what you got first,” Chu Feng replied.
Li Yue’er didn’t respond with words. Instead, she reached into her Cosmos Sack and pulled out a stick.
The stick was one metre long, emerald green, and appeared to be made of jade, with a unique texture. However, beyond its distinct appearance, it didn’t seem to have any other remarkable qualities.
Yet, engraved on this stick were a few words:
**Cosmos Dragon-Subduing Staff!!!**
To anyone else, this unremarkable stick bearing such a grandiose name would seem absurdly presumptuous.
But Chu Feng immediately recognised its extraordinary nature—this was a **Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon**.
“Girl, your luck is incredible!”
Chu Feng was genuinely happy for Li Yue’er. After all, he knew how precious a Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon was.
In the entire Ancestral Martial Star Region, Venerable Realm experts were not uncommon, but those who possessed a Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon were exceedingly rare.
This was an invaluable treasure, coveted by countless Venerable Realm powerhouses.
For Li Yue’er to obtain such an item in the Heavenly Court Sanctuary—what incredible fortune!
“If you think it’s good, let’s trade,” Li Yue’er said, snatching the Secret Treasure from Chu Feng’s hand and offering her Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon in return.
“If you like this Secret Treasure, just take it. No need to trade,” Chu Feng said, waving his hand. Faced with what could only be described as an utterly foolish decision, he refused.
If Li Yue’er had obtained something equally useless, Chu Feng would’ve happily traded to indulge her.
But for her to offer such a precious Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon in exchange for his scrap iron? Chu Feng couldn’t allow that. He didn’t want his friend to suffer such a loss.
“If you won’t trade, I won’t take it,” Li Yue’er said, returning the Secret Treasure to Chu Feng.
“If you don’t want it, I’ll keep it,” Chu Feng said with a cheeky grin, tucking the Secret Treasure away.
He made it clear: *You do what you want, but I’m not trading.*
Faced with Chu Feng’s attitude, Li Yue’er pouted in frustration but didn’t give up. Holding up the Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon, she suddenly changed her tune: “This thing’s useless to me. I’ll lend it to you for now.”
“No need. I don’t need it,” Chu Feng said, shaking his head.
“I said I’m lending it to you, not giving it. You can return it later. If you don’t take it, I’ll throw it away,” Li Yue’er declared.
“Fine, fine, I’ll borrow it for now. Happy?”
Chu Feng knew Li Yue’er’s personality. If he kept refusing, she really would toss the Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon.
Though the weapon looked unimpressive, it was, after all, a Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon—an invaluable treasure.
Its power was not to be underestimated. While its quality likely didn’t match Linghu Hongfei’s Silver Radiance Heaven-Splitting Blade, having it in hand would undoubtedly boost Chu Feng’s combat strength, which was indeed useful for him now.
Afterwards, Chu Feng and Li Yue’er caught up, chatting briefly about what had happened since they last parted, before he took his leave.
However, after Chu Feng left, Lord Frog leapt down from the massive stone statue, landing beside Li Yue’er.
Though it still resembled a stone statue, it was clearly a living entity.
“Girl, you and that lad seem quite close. To think you’d so casually offer a treasure like a Semi-Complete Venerable Weapon,” Lord Frog said in a teasing tone.
“I only got it because of him. Besides, I don’t go out much—it’s useless to me,” Li Yue’er replied, her face showing no trace of reluctance, as if it was only natural.
“You’re quite open-minded, girl. But it’s not a loss, considering how much that lad has helped you,” Lord Frog said.
“Lord Frog, you said… Chu Feng helped me?” Li Yue’er asked, her eyes flashing with surprise.
“Helped? That’s an understatement. If it weren’t for that lad’s intervention, forget breaking through—you might not even be alive,” Lord Frog replied.
