"Young Master, do you see anything you like?"
Vice Order Master Drake Wang bent slightly, asking ingratiatingly.
Meanwhile, Vice Order Master June Meng tactfully ran over to Wendy Lin, introducing the items on the first floor of the Treasure Vault and even recommending a few she could use.
Overall, the first floor of the Treasure Vault was filled with miscellaneous items of uncertain value—low-grade spirit medicines, magic tools, pills, and such.
After browsing around, Wendy Lin actually picked out a few things, then walked over to Ian Song and asked, "Brother Song, is it alright if I take these?"
"Of course you can!" Ian Song nodded.
"That's wonderful!"
Wendy Lin was delighted. She had picked out four items: a robe-style long dress, a third-grade flying sword, a bottle of pills, and a storage ring.
Although storage rings aren't considered rare, they're usually only affordable for Foundation Establishment cultivators; those at the Qi-Refining stage mostly use storage bags.
The storage ring Wendy chose was actually pretty good, with more than ten cubic meters of space. June Meng had recommended it to her—most ordinary storage rings only have two or three cubic meters.
Let's go straight to the third floor!
Ian Song had no interest whatsoever in the techniques and dao arts collected by the Dualis Order; he didn't even care for their so-called town-securing manuals, let alone their lower-level techniques.
The third floor of the Treasure Vault was much smaller, but everything inside was aged spirit medicines, rare pills, and similar high-grade items.
Young Master, please take a look!
Drake Wang opened three jade boxes, each containing a quietly resting, ancient-looking magic treasure.
A black flying sword, a Nascent Soul armor, and a silver bell.
Drake Wang pointed at the black flying sword and explained, "Young Master, this Dragonspine Sword was forged from the spine of a demonic black dragon. It's a third-grade spirit weapon, extremely sharp, and a relic of a Dualis Order senior."
Then he pointed at the Nascent Soul armor: "This Nascent Soul Armor was bought at great expense by Order Master Ross Luo, intended as the top prize for the next Grand Sect Tournament. Although it's only a first-grade spirit weapon, it's extremely rare. The last item, this bell, is called the Heartspell Bell—a fifth-grade spirit treasure." Drake's face showed a hint of regret. "Unfortunately, the Heartspell Bell requires a special incantation to activate, so it's lain unused in the Dualis Order for over two thousand years."
With a wave of his hand, the Dragonspine Sword landed in Ian Song's grasp. Though not an artifact-forging expert, he had read many forging books in the Library Pavilion and could distinguish quality. The sword's material was excellent, but its craftsmanship was crude; the forger barely succeeded in making a usable weapon. Even so, the flying sword was a genuine third-grade spirit weapon. With proper reforging, it might be elevated to fifth or even sixth-grade.
"I'll take this sword!" Ian Song said.
Hearing this, Drake Wang and June Meng both looked relieved. They were terrified that Ian Song might not want anything, which would put their lives in danger.
Ian Song also decided to take the Heartspell Bell. Although it required a special incantation to activate, the Library Pavilion contained countless books, so there might be a way to unlock it.
Ian then selected more than a dozen Spirit Medicines aged over a thousand years. With his Pill Condensation Technique, he could refine any pill he wanted as long as he had the Spirit Medicine, so he didn't touch any of the ready-made pills.
"Young Master, there are still many good things here. Would you like to look around some more?" Drake Wang said with a fawning smile.
"That's enough." Ian Song waved his hand.
"What about us?" The two looked at him pleadingly.
"Don't worry—I'll spare your lives."
"Thank you, Young Master! Thank you, Young Master!"
Both of them bent over excitedly and bowed.
A quarter of an hour later, in a refined little courtyard within the Dualis Order, Ian Song sat drinking tea while Drake Wang and June Meng stood nervously before him.
How much lifespan do you have left?
Drake Wang said, "I'm already 4,300 years old."
June Meng said, "I'm already over 3,900 years old."
Ian Song nodded, "Out-of-Body cultivators usually don't live more than five thousand years, right?"
Yes.
Drake Wang gave a bitter smile. "Those at late Out-of-Body can live five thousand years, but I'm only mid-stage, so I have less than two hundred years left."
June Meng sighed, "I'm only early Out-of-Body, so I have just two or three hundred years left!"
Ian Song took a sip of tea. "Do you want to live longer?"
Hearing this, the two exchanged glances, faintly guessing Ian's meaning. Drake Wang replied, "Even ants cling to life. We've suffered countless hardships and calamities to reach this realm, so of course we want to live longer."
"Very good." Ian Song nodded with a smile. "Now there's an opportunity—let's see if you can seize it."
Hearing Ian Song’s words, both Drake Wang and June Meng were overjoyed. They immediately knelt and pleaded, "Young Master, please have mercy! As long as you can extend our lifespans, we’re willing to be your slaves and servants!"
Ian Song smiled with satisfaction. As expected, these old monsters who had lived thousands of years were no fools—they understood immediately.
Who knew if the system would give him a world-domination quest, so he had to plan ahead. If he waited until the system gave the task to start arranging things, it would be too late.
Drake Wang and June Meng were both old monsters with lifespans nearly at their end. Their desire for life and fear of death were stronger than anyone’s, so if given a chance at longevity, they would seize it without hesitation.
Ian Song continued, "For you, obtaining techniques above the Out-of-Body stage is nearly impossible. But for me, it’s as easy as picking them up off the ground. As long as you pledge loyalty to me, I’ll teach you advanced arts!"
Both stared at Ian Song in disbelief—their old hearts, despite thousands of years of cultivation, couldn’t help but beat faster.
Thump, thump, thump!
Drake Wang kowtowed three times in excitement. "I swear on Heavenly Tribulation to serve Young Master forever!"
June Meng was just as quick, bowing three times. "I can swear on Heavenly Tribulation too!"
"That’s not enough!" Ian Song shook his head.
Then what do you mean, Young Master?
"I have a secret art. As long as you serve me forever, it won’t affect you at all!" Ian Song’s tone grew stern. "But if you ever think of betraying me, I can destroy your souls with a single thought!"
Hearing this, both hesitated for a moment.
"I’ll give you three days to decide. Once you’ve made up your minds, come find me." Ian Song waved his hand and picked up his teacup again.
Suddenly, Drake Wang’s face became resolute. "I’m willing to accept the secret art!"
Ian Song smiled and looked at June Meng. "Will you give me your answer in three days, or decide now?"
"I’m willing too!" June Meng said through gritted teeth.
"Excellent! Relax your minds—I’ll plant the secret art in your souls." Ian Song tapped two fingers, touching their foreheads.
Because neither resisted, it took only a breath for both to be enslaved by the Puppet Mastery Divine Art.
Drake Wang greets his master!
June Meng greets his master!
Ian Song tossed the prepared cultivation manuals to them. "Take them. With these techniques, as long as you’re not too dull, you’ll be able to break through your current realm!"
The manuals he gave them could be cultivated up to late Divine Soul stage—copied from the Library Pavilion.
As for why he didn’t give them the complete manuals: possessing valuable treasures invites trouble. If someone stronger learned the full techniques, it could be dangerous for them. So, he’d only give the final chapters once they reached late Divine Soul.
After a quick look through the manuals, both were overwhelmed with joy. With their experience, they could instantly tell that their master’s techniques were far superior to the Dualis Order’s Yin-Yang Harmonizing Art—and could even be cultivated to late Divine Soul.
Divine Soul-level techniques were so rare that even the entire Dualis Order combined couldn’t match them. This proved just how terrifying their master’s origins were.