The long, black object held captive in the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur’s massive claw was suddenly released, plummeting from the sky with a deafening roar that cracked the ground into a massive semicircular pit.

Ji Changkong, startled by the impact not far from where the thing landed, was unceremoniously splattered with dirt, looking utterly disheveled.

He genuinely had no idea what the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur had dropped. For something falling from a relatively low altitude to smash the earth into such a deep crater suggested the object possessed terrifying weight.

After casting the item down, the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur lingered not a moment longer, immediately turning back toward the Poison Dragon Pool as if its sole purpose had been delivery.

Watching the sovereign of the Misty Dream descend slowly back into the murky water, Ji Changkong first let out a breath of relief, then froze, his expression one of utter bewilderment, before finally letting out a short, dry laugh. "It couldn't possibly be returning the favor for my cooked meat, could it?"

Shaking his head with a strange look, Ji Changkong limped toward the newly formed crater, descending into the pit with some difficulty. The first thing that met his eyes was a long, black, amorphous mass.

Approaching the object, Ji Changkong peered closely and suddenly realized it was a long saber, still sheathed. Whether due to prolonged immersion in the Poison Dragon Pool, the scabbard and hilt were coated in a thick layer of black sludge, making the entire length look profoundly odd from a distance.

"Huh!"

With a sharp intake of breath, Ji Changkong, who stood calmly beside the long blade, suddenly sensed an intense fluctuation of life emanating from the sword within its sheath!

Thump-thump! Thump-thump!

A rhythmic sound echoed from the body of the sword encased within the scabbard, as if... a powerful heart were beating continuously inside!

His pupils wide with shock, Ji Changkong had never encountered anything so miraculous. He knew a little about the cultivation of Celestial Masters; reaching the Six Harmonies Heaven realm allowed one to temper a Divine Weapon of their own. Forged using one's essence, blood, spirit, and rare materials, such a weapon possessed self-awareness and could interact with its master at will, maximizing its potential.

However, based on his understanding of the Six Harmonies Heaven realm, a Divine Weapon with self-awareness, while possessing spirituality, would never feel like the saber before him. Even standing near it gave off a vibrant, vital aura, and the powerful, surging life pulsations emanating from the sheathed blade seemed utterly bizarre.

Taking a deep breath, Ji Changkong moved closer to the mud-caked long saber. He tore off a corner of his azure robe with a shhhrrr sound and used the scrap to begin wiping away the thick grime.

Instantly, a strange sensation flooded Ji Changkong's mind. The moment his hand rested on the saber's body, his own heartbeat began to pound violently—thump-thump! In that instant, the interval between his heartbeat and the saber's pulse synchronized; the two distinct sounds merged into one.

At that very moment, Ji Changkong experienced an incredibly marvelous illusion: it felt as though the saber and he had become one, and the heart within the blade was now his second heart!

A look of pure astonishment on his face, Ji Changkong quickly polished one side clean, gradually revealing the saber’s true form...

The blade itself was shaped like a dragon, and the scabbard was covered in intricate, dark-red dragon patterns that conveyed an impression of extreme complexity and wonder. The hilt was fashioned into a ferocious dragon's head, bearing a slight resemblance to the head of the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur seen earlier. The material of the scabbard and hilt was impossible to discern, yet it exuded an ancient solemnity.

On a corner of the hilt, two small characters were inscribed—Long Yao. The sword’s name was Long Yao.

This blade certainly held great age, Ji Changkong surmised internally, then felt an impulse to flip it over and clean the entire surface.

"Hoo..."

So heavy! Ji Changkong inhaled sharply, exerting all his strength, only to find he could not budge the long saber. Gripping the hilt, he strained again, but discovered he couldn't even draw the blade from the scabbard that had sealed it for countless years!

This dragon-shaped saber named Long Yao, forged from an unknown material, was impossibly heavy—so much so that even the enhanced Ji Changkong was utterly helpless—unable to lift it or draw the blade!

Defeated, he slumped onto the ground, staring wistfully at the saber he admired so deeply, his face a mask of frustration.

Splash!

Another sound of water churning came from the Poison Dragon Pool. The massive form of the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur swept over amidst the howling wind, its talons clutching a handful of sharply faceted, ink-black stones that shimmered with a dark luster. Upon arriving, it flung the stones down, and a dozen pieces clattered onto the ground.

It circled Ji Changkong once, perhaps sensing his inability to move the saber. After a moment, it suddenly drew near, nudging Ji Changkong aside with its vast fleshy wing. Its gigantic claw seized Long Yao, and the creature promptly flew back toward the Poison Dragon Pool.

Watching the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur reclaim Long Yao, Ji Changkong could only feel helpless. The fact that it had brought the blade in the first place suggested it hadn't intended to keep it from him; rather, his own strength was simply too insignificant to even carry it away.

Ah, well. I'll return for Long Yao when I am strong enough, Ji Changkong could only comfort himself. After sighing in disappointment for a while, he shifted his focus to the mysterious objects brought on the second visit.

...

Black Jade Origin Crystal?!

Ji Changkong’s eyelids jumped. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his legs, he lunged toward the pile in a bounding leap and snatched up the nearest ink-black stone.

The moment the stone was in his hand, Ji Changkong channeled his Origin Power, and instantly felt a dizzying sensation, as if some strange force was interfering with his mind.

As soon as he withdrew his Origin Power, the dizziness vanished without a trace. After several repeated trials, Ji Changkong began to dance with unrestrained joy in the pit, his body disregarding the stinging pains. He had discovered an incredible treasure!

Black Jade Origin Crystal—an extremely rare and precious Origin Stone, capable of enhancing the power of the Divine Soul. It was far rarer and more valuable than the Flame Origin Orb that Nie Yuanshan had gifted Ji Wanyun that day.

Ordinary Origin Stones could be used to temper Divine Weapons, and slightly better ones could directly absorb their sparse Origin Power to boost a Celestial Master's cultivation. Even more precious ones, like the Flame Origin Orb, possessed unique functions...

But among all Origin Stones, few could directly increase Divine Soul power!

Celestial Master cultivation, beginning with the Three Harmonies Heaven realm, demanded the cultivation of the Divine Soul as an indispensable, even critical, component of training! Only with a sufficiently strong Divine Soul could certain specialized Celestial Master secret techniques be perfected, could interaction with a Divine Weapon be truly seamless, and only then could one have a chance to break through to deeper realms...

In short, Divine Soul cultivation was paramount; every Celestial Master had to dedicate immense effort to this aspect, with no possibility of avoidance!

It was already a miracle for this world to spontaneously generate something as marvelous as an Origin Stone, but for one that could boost the Divine Soul—the Black Jade Origin Crystal—to exist was nothing short of a miracle!

As one of the most precious types of Origin Stones, the Black Jade Origin Crystal was undoubtedly one of the most coveted treasures among Celestial Masters throughout the realm!

His heart bursting with excitement, Ji Changkong carefully placed all fourteen Black Jade Origin Crystals of varying sizes into his satchel, tying the bundle tightly with hemp rope. Only then did he laugh aloud, feeling that his venture to the Poison Dragon Pool had been overwhelmingly profitable.

Exiting the pit, now assured of the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur's benign intentions, Ji Changkong was in no rush. He collected the peeled skin of the Thousand-Year Purple Gold Toad, a thumb-thick tendon from its spine, the pouch containing its venomous teeth, and its pair of eyeballs, placing them all into another small bundle.

Ji Changkong didn't yet know the exact uses of these items, but he was certain that a toad of a thousand years must be a treasure trove. Once he returned to the Ji family, he could consult his Third Grand-Uncle and his aunt, Ji Wanyun, to discover their specific functions.

He decided not to rush his departure from the Poison Dragon Pool immediately. Ji Changkong planned to let his leg wounds heal fully here, under the vigilance of the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur, before heading back to the Ji family. After all, the journey back would be fraught with danger, and only by ensuring his limbs were fully functional could he maximize his chances of survival.

Ji Changkong stayed near the Poison Dragon Pool for several days. During the twilight hours, the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur would emerge to hunt.

Soon after, it would return, carrying a blood-soaked fierce beast. The prey was always a massive creature, like a Saber-toothed Rhino or a Blood-Patterned Giant Crocodile, all thrown before Ji Changkong already dead.

Ji Changkong, already skilled in the routine, would skin them, carve the meat, build a fire, add aromatic spices for roasting, and feast alongside the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur. Naturally, he ate the smaller portions, while the Pterosaur consumed the bulk.

After eight days, Ji Changkong's leg injuries were completely healed. Nourished by the flesh of the fierce beasts of the Misty Dream Marsh, his somewhat gaunt frame had gained considerable robustness. Though he was still far from the broad-shouldered might of the other young men of the Ji family, he no longer appeared frail. Instead, he radiated an air of vigor and high spirits!

His body restored, Ji Changkong waited until the Sky-Yuan Pterosaur was resting at night. He silently slipped away, taking his spoils with him.

Along the way, he cautiously avoided the fierce beasts that, to the Pterosaur, were like ants, but to him, were like mountains. Though he encountered several perils, he was fortunate enough to pass through them all unharmed, finally emerging from the Misty Dream Marsh after more than twenty days.

Home at last! Ji Changkong let out a joyous howl to the heavens and cheerfully headed toward the nearby Green Rock Mountain, clutching tightly the small vial containing the Thousand-Year Purple Gold Toad's spittle.