Lu Yuan followed closely behind the Child of Immortality, utilizing the Nine Heavens Wind Concealment Art.

With the Vice-Lord of the Desolate Warmth Civilization vanished, only the Child of Immortality remained. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his voluminous sleeves billowing slightly, murmuring to himself, “The Lord of the Demon Civilization, the Artifact Civilization… Heh heh, the Ancient Desolation Civilization truly has laid a cunning scheme, a grand scheme indeed. If this grand plan of theirs succeeds, then the standing of our Immortal Ancient Civilization shall surely rise as well.”

Lu Yuan listened from the periphery, catching the Child of Immortality’s muttering. These were the second and third times he had heard the phrases “Lord of the Demon Civilization” and “Artifact Civilization,” alongside the “Ancient Desolation Civilization.” There seemed to be some underlying significance to these words. What sort of conspiracy was afoot? Lu Yuan was growing immensely frustrated by his ignorance.

The grand decisive battle of the Central Celestial Dynasty was already being prepared. As the center of all the myriad realms, Lu Yuan couldn't imagine that the powerful civilizations of the Lost Lands would remain idle once that great conflict erupted. If the Demon Civilization chose that moment to interfere, it wouldn’t be surprising, but Lu Yuan had no clue as to the nature of their plot.

The Child of Immortality continued his deep contemplation, hands still behind his back: “No matter how the Central Celestial Dynasty’s decisive battle unfolds, the two main players this time are the Lord of the Ancient Desolation Civilization and the Son of Desolation—not I, the Child of Immortality. To claim greater benefits, I need even stronger power. I must enhance my strength now.”

“And having already reached the magic power of one Epoch, I can now venture into the Earth Ancestor’s Treasury.”

Hearing the Child of Immortality speak, Lu Yuan, who had been preparing to strike, instantly held back. Back in the ancient times, Zhenyuanzi was famed as the Ancestor of Earth Immortals; this Earth Ancestor's treasure hoard must surely be his.

Lu Yuan knew absolutely nothing about the Earth Ancestor’s Treasury. He decided it was best to wait until the Child of Immortality had located the treasures within before making his move.

Lu Yuan had made up his mind.

Thereafter, Lu Yuan naturally continued shadowing the Child of Immortality using the Nine Heavens Wind Concealment Art.

Unaware he was being followed, the Child of Immortality headed off in search of the Earth Ancestor’s Treasury.

Lu Yuan maintained his surveillance for a long stretch. Suddenly, he spotted a World Realm Tenth Heaven monstrous beast charging toward the Child of Immortality. It had been previously noted that the realms of the Central Celestial Dynasty were exceptionally perilous, with only the main official roads offering relative safety. Beyond those roads lay terrible demonic beasts. Since the Child of Immortality was seeking the Earth Ancestor’s treasure, deviating from the main roads was inevitable. The beast attacking was a monstrous lion, yet it possessed nine heads. This was no ordinary lion; such creatures were called the Nine-Headed Lion. They were an anomaly born of heaven and earth, capable of devouring gods, swallowing immortals, and crushing Buddhas. The beast before them undoubtedly possessed this very power. It lunged at the Child of Immortality, its nine heads unleashing nine distinct attacks simultaneously: some spewed scorching Wind Annihilation Roars, others unleashed Fire God Burning Heaven, some tore through spatial fabric, some froze time and space, and one manifested the Immortal Art of the Fiftieth Great Earth.

What fierce attacks the Nine-Headed Lion unleashed! Yet, Lu Yuan doubted they could harm the Child of Immortality.

Whoosh!

The Child of Immortality was struck by the Nine-Headed Lion and instantly perished.

Wait, what was happening?

Lu Yuan watched as the Child of Immortality, seemingly slain by the beast, instantly dissolved into clumps of mud.

This wasn’t the true body of the Child of Immortality? It was merely a clone? When had the Child of Immortality swapped his real body for a clone? This presented a perplexing mystery. Moreover, why would the Child of Immortality engage in such an act? It was bizarre. Could he have detected Lu Yuan? No, that was impossible; even the Vice-Lord of the Desolate Warmth Civilization hadn't spotted him. And the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden had said that very few beings at the Vice-Lord level could detect Lu Yuan—one would need at least seven or eight Epochs of magic power.

So, what was the reason?

Lu Yuan sank into deep contemplation.

Then, a realization dawned. Having observed the Child of Immortality, Lu Yuan knew his nature was inherently suspicious and cunning beyond measure. Although the Child of Immortality sensed no follower, it was entirely plausible that as he neared the Earth Ancestor’s Treasury, he would deploy a decoy while his true self proceeded. While improbable for others, this fit the deeply deceptive character of the Child of Immortality perfectly. Lu Yuan’s guess was, in fact, very close to the truth; the Child of Immortality hadn't detected anyone, but he had mastered the Earth Ancestor Clone technique and was using it as a ruse.

Seeing the Nine-Headed Lion closing in to obliterate the decoy, Lu Yuan moved, stepping forward decisively. With a single sweep of his hand, he crushed the World Realm Tenth Heaven Nine-Headed Lion to death. Simultaneously, he began to examine the slain clone, which had turned to mud. He needed to understand this supreme skill of the Child of Immortality first. Otherwise, if the Child of Immortality could simply clone himself and vanish, Lu Yuan might never succeed in killing him—the frustration of escaping Lu Yuan’s grasp two or three times already was palpable.

To dismantle the Child of Immortality’s escape mechanism—the Earth Ancestor Clone—Lu Yuan dissected the remains. This examination revealed that the clone was likely created by transferring the body into an alternate dimension, then shifting his true self into that very same alternate space—a remarkably subtle transition. Lu Yuan mused that without this physical clone in hand, he might never have understood the mechanics. However, with the clone present, while he couldn't replicate the Earth Ancestor Clone himself, destroying it was certainly not difficult.

With the method to neutralize the Earth Ancestor Clone secured, the only remaining task was catching up to the Child of Immortality.

Lu Yuan's Wind Spirits could track any trace, but their effective range was limited. Still, the Child of Immortality couldn't be far. Lu Yuan vaguely estimated that the Earth Ancestor’s Treasury was located near this point. Lu Yuan began scanning the surroundings for the Child of Immortality’s aura. Once found, the Earth Ancestor’s Treasury would be his.

Lu Yuan swiftly traversed the void while his Wind Spirit, Gu Gu, maximized its tracking ability. Such intensive searching placed a heavy strain on Gu Gu, so Lu Yuan provided it with several Celestial Grade Spirit Stones. Refueled, Gu Gu chirped its distinctive calls and resumed the hunt.

As Lu Yuan flew onward, Gu Gu suddenly emitted a series of extremely rapid chirps. Lu Yuan paused, looking toward the spirit. Gu Gu nodded emphatically. Lu Yuan asked, “Did you find the Child of Immortality’s aura?”

Gu Gu nodded immediately.

“Excellent. You’ve earned a great merit.” Lu Yuan affectionately stroked Gu Gu and bestowed more Celestial Grade Spirit Stones, which the spirit happily consumed.

...

The exquisitely handsome Child of Immortality, clad in white robes, stood with his hands behind his back within a deep valley on a planet’s surface. He murmured to himself, “To think that the treasures left by Zhenyuanzi all those years ago coalesced into a treasury, which then formed this planet, surviving the calamity of the Epoch without perishing.”

“Open!” he roared. A yawning fissure instantly appeared in the earth. The Child of Immortality laughed heartily, “I am currently at the level of one Epoch, but by obtaining Zhenyuanzi’s hoard, I can surge toward the Second and Third Epochs. With the nurturing of the Immortal Ancient Civilization, I will then aspire to even higher Epochs! Hahahaha!”

“Lu Yuan, I vow you shall die! How dare you surpass me time and again!” A cold sneer touched the corner of the Child of Immortality’s lips. “And the Vice-Lord of the Martial Swallow Civilization—that damned wench! If it weren't for her, how could Lu Yuan have had the chance to challenge the Civilization Realm? She should have died by my hand long ago. That Martial Swallow Vice-Lord wench is quite beautiful, I admit. I have many women, but not a single one at the Civilization Realm. Once I leverage this treasure to reach the level of three Epochs, I will capture that Martial Swallow Vice-Lord wench, violate her a hundred, a thousand times, and then frame someone else. That is the fate for those who dare offend me!” Despite his handsome exterior, the Child of Immortality was inherently hypocritical and utterly tyrannical! He pondered whether to frame Lu Yuan, but quickly dismissed the idea; such an act didn't align with Lu Yuan’s known style. He would have to frame someone else, preferably someone who could sow discord between the Fa Ancient and Wu Ancient factions. The Child of Immortality calculated suitable candidates in his mind; he was incredibly sinister and malicious.

After some deliberation, the Child of Immortality stepped into the Earth Ancestor’s Treasury. As he entered, he failed—and utterly could not—notice that not far behind him, another figure was also slipping inside. That person was concealed too perfectly, their means too profound for the Child of Immortality to detect.

Upon entering the Earth Ancestor’s Treasury, the Child of Immortality was greeted by an immense manor house exuding a clear, distant, and faint fragrance. The manor was colossal. Inscribed above the entrance were the three characters: Wuzhuang Guan (Five Villages Temple), rendered with magnificent grandeur and a sweeping, powerful aura.

Inside the estate, the first sight to capture the eye were the four characters: Yu Shi Tong Jun (Equal to the Sovereign of the World). What magnificence! What spirit!

The Child of Immortality channeled his magic power, and with a resounding boom, the ground of the Wuzhuang Guan shattered, revealing a complete, vast, and aged landscape. This landscape seemed capable of bearing continents, sustaining civilizations, imbued with a sense of primordial essence and innate treasure quality. The middle-tier Innate Spirit Treasure, the Earth Scroll, resided here.

The Earth Scroll was no mere artifact. With it, defensive capabilities reached the absolute zenith, and one could manipulate the earth to cast Immortal Arts. With the Earth Scroll, one could wield the Two Hundred Great Earths, the Three Hundred Great Earths, or even a thousand Great Earths! The Child of Immortality, currently, could only manage one hundred and fifty Great Earths.

Furthermore, the Earth Scroll possessed the ability to instantly traverse vast distances by borrowing the power of the earth itself. Normal teleportation has limits, but the Earth Scroll’s transposition capabilities extended far, far beyond those limits.

The Earth Scroll integrated the four primary functions: attack, defense, escape, and pursuit—a mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

It was demonstrably superior to the Desolate War Chariot that Lu Yuan had encountered previously.

(First chapter delivered.) (To be continued)

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