Checking in for 100,000 Years

After breaking the grand array formation of the Treasure Pavilion, Big Black Horse walked to the front of its grand door. The ancient door was covered with layers of seals, hundreds of them, all glowing with a divine golden radiance.

Big Black Horse stared at them for a few seconds. Noticing the seals hadn't been undone, he couldn't help but sigh. His Sky Exterminating Phantom Eye is still not strong enough, he thought. If Master were here, he could open it with just a glance. Since he had no other option, Big Black Horse was compelled to break the seals one by one by poking them with his fingers.

After pushing the door open and walking in, Big Black Cat followed closely behind. Upon entering the Treasure Pavilion, Big Black Cat's eyes widened with astonishment, almost blinded by the various heavenly materials and earthly treasures emitting sparkling radiance all around. This really is a major Sect! he marveled. So many precious items hidden in this pavilion!

Big Black Cat's eyes gleamed with desire, wishing he could take all the treasures in the pavilion at that very moment.

"Little Cat, don't act rashly," Big Black Horse warned cautiously. "These could be the belongings of a distant relative of our Dragon God Sect. We cannot touch anything."

"Don't worry, Uncle Ma, I know my limits," Big Black Cat grinned sheepishly, lowering his head in embarrassment.

The two slowly walked further in, observing their surroundings. Although there were many heavenly materials and earthly treasures, they weren't anything special in Big Black Horse's eyes. He was only interested in finding things related to the Dragon God Sect.

Along the way, he found a few precious Swords with a faint Divine Dragon's Breath on them. It appeared that some Divine Dragon Essence Blood had been used in their forging, giving them this characteristic breath. These Swords didn't prove much, and Big Black Horse didn't bother collecting them.

The two made their way to the depths of the Treasure Pavilion without finding any heavenly materials or earthly treasures particularly worth noting.

"Uncle Ma, it seems we haven't found anything of importance in this place?" Big Black Cat said, shaking his head.

What is that? Could it be a hidden mechanism? Big Black Horse's eyes lit up as he found a keyhole on the wall at the deepest part of the pavilion. From this keyhole, he sensed the subtle aura of a restrictive spell. He instantly became interested. Perhaps… there are even more precious treasures hidden here.

He walked to the keyhole, inserted his finger, and jiggled it a few times, but there was no response. His facial muscles twitched; then, with a sudden exertion, he poked forcefully. The wall creaked, and a secret door opened.

Could there be a secret door? Big Black Cat's eyes widened. He instantly thought there might be treasures hidden behind this secret door.

SWISH!

Big Black Cat quickly squeezed himself through the secret entrance.

Big Black Horse also walked in, unhurriedly, his steps steady.

Upon entering, instead of the expected heavenly materials and earthly treasures, all they saw was a stone desk with a small red bottle on top.

"What is this?" Big Black Cat curiously picked up the bottle. He shook it in front of his eyes and peered closely at it, but couldn't make out anything.

Big Black Horse snatched the bottle, opened the cork, and sniffed. A look of astonishment spread over his face. This is actually Divine Dragon Essence Blood! However, the vial didn't contain much—only about twenty or thirty drops.

"Uncle Ma, could this be the Essence Blood of a Divine Dragon?" Big Black Cat asked in surprise, his nose wrinkling as he sniffed the distinct scent.

Big Black Horse solemnly nodded and capped the bottle again. This Dragon God Sect is quite something, he thought. To actually have a small bottle of Divine Dragon Essence Blood hidden away. Nowadays, it's incredibly difficult to find any Divine Dragon Essence Blood on the Cangnan Continent.

I should take this to Master for his decision… Big Black Horse mused. After some consideration, he carefully pocketed the small bottle of Divine Dragon Essence Blood.

"Let's go," Big Black Horse said, turning to leave.

Suddenly, Big Black Cat called out from behind, "Uncle Ma, look! There's a painting hanging on the wall behind the table."

Big Black Horse turned around, his gaze falling upon the painting. It seemed quite old; the paper had yellowed, and it depicted the back of a young man. This young man was dressed in a black Robe and carried a Sword on his back. His Robe fluttered, giving him a rather ethereal air.

However, compared to the painting treasured by the Five-Colored Dragon Carp, this one was significantly inferior. The protagonist of the painting cherished by the Five-Colored Dragon Carp was none other than Master himself. That figure in white, standing on a cliff, showcased unparalleled charisma and an indomitable presence, exuding a supreme, invincible aura that seemed to dominate all ages and heavens.

Big Black Horse had noticed this painting when they entered, but he hadn't paid it much mind.

Big Black Cat's eyes darted around. He grinned and said, "Uncle Ma, since this painting was placed here, perhaps it has some collection value. Why don't we take it too?"

"What's so significant about a painting?" Big Black Horse shook his head dismissively. "If it were truly important, it would have been enshrined, not just hung on a wall."

"Uncle Ma," Big Black Cat suggested, "the figure in this painting might be an elder of the Dragon God Sect. It could have some reference value. Why don't we take it back?"

Big Black Horse thought for a moment and felt there was some truth to that. So, he reached out, rolled up the painting, and took it.

As the two left the Treasure Pavilion, Big Black Cat asked, "Uncle Ma, where are we going next?"

Big Black Horse glanced around, contemplated for a moment, then said, "Let's go check out the ancestral shrine…"

"The ancestral shrine?" Big Black Cat's eyes suddenly lit up. Ancestral shrines usually house the spirit plaques of past generations. That place might reveal the origins of this Dragon God Sect!

"We'll go to the ancestral shrine now and see if there's an Ancestral Spirit Plaque for Master…" Big Black Horse chuckled slyly, then grabbed Big Black Cat and departed.

The ancestral shrine of the Dragon God Sect was located in a valley. The place was protected by a large array formation. Outside the formation stood a thatched cottage where an old man resided. This old man was also an important figure in the Dragon God Sect, solely responsible for guarding the ancestral shrine.

A streak of black light descended from the sky, transforming into two youths in black robes. Big Black Horse glanced at the old man in the thatched cottage. The elder, who possessed a cultivation base at the Fourth Level of the Destiny Realm, immediately fainted.

Big Black Horse walked up to the array formation, breached it with a single poke, and swaggered inside. Big Black Cat followed, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism. When will I reach the Eternal Realm? he wondered. If I could cultivate to the Eternal Realm, I could be as imposing and direct as Uncle Ma, doing as I please, and no one could stop me…

Big Black Horse pushed open the grand doors of the ancestral shrine and walked in. The shrine was dimly lit, with rows of Spirit Plaques enshrined within.

Big Black Horse didn't recognize any of the Dragon God Sect's ancestors. All he cared about was Master. So, he began his search, starting with the foremost Ancestral Spirit Plaque.

When he reached the thirteenth Ancestral Spirit Plaque, his eyes instantly widened. "This…" His mind went momentarily blank.