"Xiao Wu, come take a look at this bamboo slip too."
After reading the slip, Yu Yan passed it to Xiao Wu, hoping she could also grasp what was written inside.
"Mm."
Xiao Wu took the slip and studied it carefully, curious about what could have seized Yu Yan's attention so completely.
Once finished, Yu Yan turned to the other slips—knowledge about Spirit Beasts, Cultivation, royal secret medicine—and lost himself in them.
At the bottom of the chest he found another slip detailing Immortal Herbs.
It described three of them: the marvelous-thick heaven-reaching chrysanthemum, the water fairy jade bone, and the Cloud-Gathering Wind Lotus.
The first two added secrets never mentioned in the original story to what Yu Yan already knew.
The marvelous-thick heaven-reaching chrysanthemum channels Luck to the limbs and blood through the eight meridians, forging a Vajra-like indestructible body.
The water fairy jade bone strengthens a Spirit Master's bones and meridians, opening all seven principal and eight secondary channels.
Using the chrysanthemum as the core and the jade bone as support, refined and taken together, they can create an unequaled Physical Body and even trigger Spirit evolution.
Thinking of herb pairings, Yu Yan recalled the qiluo tulip and eight-petal immortal orchid—said in the original tale to be a lovers' set whose combined effect was mutually amplifying.
Tsk tsk tsk!
In this world, every herb meant for lovers complements the other—perfectly fitting the continent's romantic theme.
The Cloud-Gathering Wind Lotus, a peculiar lotus, can reforge the Origin of a Spirit. Legend says an early Heaven Dou emperor obtained one, turning a common swan Spirit into one strong enough to reach Titled Douluo.
"Quite an unexpected harvest."
Grinning, Yu Yan told Xiao Wu to stow the chest in her storage soul tool necklace, then opened the second box.
He prayed silently for another pleasant surprise.
Inside lay a deep-blue bone pulsing with spirit power—no ordinary object.
"A Spirit Bone?"
Staring at it, Yu Yan doubted his own eyes.
In this era any Spirit Bone was priceless; in the tomb-owner's day even rarer.
Knowing that, he could hardly believe someone would bury one.
Xiao Wu ran her fingers over it. "You're right—it's a Spirit Bone, only a few thousand years old."
"Quite the extravagance."
After confirming it himself, Yu Yan glanced at the coffin and sighed.
Closing the box, he had Xiao Wu store the bone, and they moved on.
At a clothes rack they spotted pristine noble robes that hadn't decayed—clearly extraordinary.
Yu Yan knew little of garments; to him they merely looked regal, gorgeous, and cool to the touch.
Xiao Wu knew even less.
He waved her to stow the robe, then noticed the golden scepter leaning nearby.
It radiated spirit power—clearly a spirit tool.
He gripped it, poured spirit power in, and a golden light flared, sending out a crushing pressure.
Standing beside it, Yu Yan felt the pressure grow with every bit of spirit power he fed it.
Amplifying the king's aura so subjects feel royal might—perfectly fitting a monarch.
Circulating his spirit power, he discovered a third ability: it could shrink or expand at will.
At maximum it stood nearly two meters tall.
At minimum it could shrink to the size of a pinky.
The former displayed royal authority; the latter made it easy to carry.
Inside the orb atop the scepter he also found a ten-meter-cube storage space.
A spirit tool with three abilities could fetch nearly ten million gold coins at auction.
"Xiao Wu, this spirit tool…"
He explained everything it could do.
"It has its own storage space—perfect for you."
She didn't hesitate; that had been her goal all along.
"Great, I need portable storage; the scepter's mine."
Equally in need of space, Yu Yan pocketed the miniaturized scepter without argument.
With robe and scepter secured, they examined the rack and confirmed it was merely gold, nothing more.
Now possessing ample storage, Yu Yan swept every nearby treasure into the scepter's orb.
With all that wealth, he doubted he'd ever worry about money again.
Near the coffin he found another slip. Curious, he unrolled it.
'Stranger, whoever you are, spare me. Take every treasure, only leave my coffin closed.'
'All jewels lie outside; inside is but my corpse and a toxic energy that preserves it. Break the seal and the poison will disperse. Beware.'
'I loved beauty in life and cannot bear to become dry bone. This ruse is my last resort; grant me this wish.'
The slip went on to detail every treasure's abilities.
"Yu Yan, should we…?"
After reading, Xiao Wu pointed at the coffin.
He closed the slip, set it atop the coffin, and replied, "Wise advice keeps one fed. Let's do as he asks."