NOVPUB
Chapter 70: The Divine Iron
"Hey, I think we’ve got some visitors on our side," Xin Haotian’s voice reached Aldrian.
"Who are they?" Aldrian asked.
"I’m not sure, but it looks like they’re not here to face us directly. They’ve surrounded this place, but judging from their cultivation levels, this isn’t just a simple recon mission. They must be here for another reason, not because of our jailbreak. What are you doing over there?" Xin Haotian questioned with some doubt.
"Nothing grand, just eliminating traitors to humanity," Aldrian replied casually.
"And who are these traitors?"
"The people from the City Lord’s manor."
"..."
"..."
"You really enjoy causing trouble, don’t you?"
"Can’t help it. Trouble always finds its way to me."
"The City Lord’s manor of Dual Peak Horns City has thousands of cultivators ranging from earls to marquesses. Some of them even reach the level of dukes. If I recall correctly, the City Lord himself is a low Grand Duke—at least that was the case a hundred years ago. You expect us to take on that kind of power directly? With that scale, the Piercing Heaven Sect will hear about it if anything happens."
"Is the mighty Xin Haotian worried about such things? You’re already at the Emperor stage."
"I’m being serious here!"
"We don’t have to face all of them. Just deal with the root of the problem in the City Lord’s manor, and we can leave once it’s resolved."
"Do you have a plan?"
"I predict they’re only keeping watch on you and the others for now. If things get out of hand, you’ll need to protect our group there. I’ll contact you after I finish what I’m doing here."
"Alright, but you realize it could turn into a bloodbath if they recklessly decide to make a move here."
"Do what you must. I’m out."
Aldrian then stored the communication artifact in his ring and turned his gaze to meet Yu Ruomei’s eyes.
"It seems the City Lord’s manor has already made their move. Let’s go check out your family’s treasure first. I want to see what makes it so special that they’d target your family over it."
Yu Ruomei nodded and led the way toward the secret vault. It was located in the deeper part of the manor complex, behind a large three-story building situated beyond the central hall, where the elders and patriarch of the family used to gather.
Inside the grand building was a massive hall, its floor scattered with framed names and pictures. At a glance, it was clear the place had been ransacked. Aldrian guessed the City Lord’s manor had turned everything upside down in their search for the treasure.
"This is the Hall of Honor of the Yu family," Yu Ruomei explained. "A place where the names of all the patriarchs are displayed, along with the family’s achievements across generations, meant to remind the next generation of our glorious past."
Aldrian took in the state of the hall. It was a mess, with some of the patriarchs’ pictures broken. The names engraved on white stone plaques, framed in red wood, had also been damaged.
Yu Ruomei could only sigh as she led the way to the end of the hall, where an altar stood on platform. The altar had four pillars on each of the cardinal points, with a symbol in the center. The symbol resembled light surrounded by an ambigram. When Aldrian looked at it, a strange familiarity stirred within him, as though he had known the symbol for a very long time.
The altar, surprisingly, was untouched and clean—an odd that made Aldrian wonder why.
"This is the Altar of the Heavenly Demon," Yu Ruomei said. "As you may know, demonic cultivators revere and even worship the Heavenly Demon. We hold this belief so deeply that orthodox cultivators call us a demonic cult. It seems the City Lord’s manor still regards the Heavenly Demon as their god. Hypocrites! They’ve already allied themselves with devils, yet they still claim to revere the Heavenly Demon."
Her face twisted in disgust as she spoke.
Aldrian gazed intently at the altar. His unconscious reaction to the symbol told him there was a deeper connection. Activating the laws of karma, he focused on the Heavenly Demon’s symbol, and soon, he confirmed there was indeed a link between him and the symbol.
Unaware of Aldrian’s thoughts, Yu Ruomei stepped forward, kneeling beside the altar. She pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the floor beneath it. Suddenly, a formation lit up, illuminating the area around the altar. The floor split open, revealing a narrow staircase leading underground, just wide enough for one person at a time.
"This underground chamber can only be opened by the blood of the Patriarch and his wife. Even if the City Lord’s manor discovered there was a secret passage here, they wouldn’t be able to open it. The fact that they haven’t found this passage and tried to destroy it, is a stroke of luck."
With Yu Ruomei leading the way, Aldrian followed her down the winding stairwell. The only light guiding them came from crystals embedded along the walls, glowing faintly as they descended deeper into the hidden passage. At the bottom, they entered a chamber, and on the opposite side stood massive double doors, engraved with intricate formations.
Yu Ruomei stepped up to the door and placed her hands upon it. Her right hand held firm while she channeled her energy and aura into the formations, and with her left hand, she performed a twisting motion in a clockwise direction. Slowly, the heavy doors creaked open, revealing a vast hall.
In the center of the hall stood a massive, rock like material, radiating a subtle yet profound presence. As Aldrian gazed at it, a memory stirred, he recalled seeing the very same material in one of the visions he had experienced.
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Divine Iron
Description: This iron originates from the Upper Heaven, a rare material capable of being crafted into anything and is the primary component in forging God armaments. It can alter its weight according to the wielder’s will.
The Divine Iron has a unique property—it can establish a bond with individuals who share compatibility, creating a resonance that enhances control and brings many additional benefits. Any armament crafted from Divine Iron doubles the power output of its wielder, can form impenetrable defensive artifacts, and even forge an indestructible body.
Level: God.
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Aldrian stood stunned. God level? Was this the first time he’d heard that level, or not? Confusion swirled in his mind for a moment but one thing was certain, this iron could greatly benefit his future. Maybe he could upgrade his own weapon using this material, and this strange energy that he sensed from the rock? His eyes widened slightly.
"This is our family’s legacy treasure, passed down through generations," Yu Ruomei explained. "Anyone who cultivates in the presence of this ’Heavenly Rock’ experiences immense comprehension, aiding their cultivation. If you’d like, young master, you can cultivate here."
She glanced at Aldrian, only to see him transfixed, staring at the rock.
"The energy in this iron, it’s compatible with me... it even resonates. It’s like when I try to establish my domain, but different. What is this?" Aldrian thought.
He stepped closer to the Divine Iron and touched its surface. Though it felt like ordinary rock, beneath the surface he sensed an amalgamation of countless laws and energies. It was the purest form of energy, almost like his golden energy, but shaped into iron. No wonder anyone cultivating here could increase their comprehension so drastically.
No wonder the City Lord’s manor wanted this iron. But something didn’t add up, why now? From the memories he had read, the City Lord was the source of this trouble. Why wait until recent years to act? If he desired this iron so much, he could have seized it long ago.
Aldrian remained by the Divine Iron, focusing on the connection forming between him and the material. At the same time, he extended his domain, encompassing the entire Yu family manor. Yu Ruomei watched, puzzled by Aldrian’s actions, though she chose not to interrupt him.
After a few moments, she suddenly felt the energy surrounding the rock flowing toward Aldrian. There was a pure, unfamiliar golden energy radiating from him, an energy she had never known existed. The power it exuded was incomprehensible to her, and what she witnessed next left her mind reeling.
The massive rock, which would normally require the power of tens of Emperor stage cultivators to lift, floated for several seconds before gently settling back down.
Yu Ruomei was speechless. Aldrian had just established a connection with the ’Heavenly Rock,’ something the Yu family had failed to do since their ancestors first discovered it.
The rock had always resisted any attempt to sense or penetrate it with energy, making it useful only as a site for comprehension. Still, that alone had been enough to elevate her family to one of the great houses in the region. Now, watching the rock establish a connection with this young man, Yu Ruomei realized the rock had found its destined place—and its rightful owner.
Considering that this very treasure had led to her family’s downfall, she felt no hesitation in giving it to Aldrian. He was far more worthy to possess it than to let it sit here, forgotten. She bowed to Aldrian, cupping her hands in respect.
"Congratulations, young master, for making the Heavenly Rock yours," she said.
"I had intended to discuss it, but I wish for you to take this treasure. In return, I ask only one thing, help me bring justice to the Yu family. I hope the Heavenly Rock serves you well in the future."
Aldrian nodded. "Yes, this will be incredibly useful to me. To be honest, I feel a bit guilty taking your family’s legacy treasure, which has been in your lineage for millions of years. But with this treasure in my hands, I’ll make sure to offer something in return."
Yu Ruomei tilted her head, confused. "You don’t have to—"
Before she could finish, Aldrian cut her off. "I will help you rebuild the Yu family."
"!"
