Anyone would assume that this piece of jade was a naturally-formed treasure - one of the best materials possible for crafting.
However, Li Qiye nonchalantly revealed that it was only someoneâs fingernail. This was enough to make anyone gasp in astonishment.
Others would immediately accuse him of lying but his group naturally trusted him. This froze them for a while.
âWhose fingernail is it?â Yang Ling was curious about the owner: âA dao lord?â
Li Qiye chuckled and shook his head: âItâs a broken fingernail, the essence and divinity inside are long gone. Itâs not the same as before or it would be far greater.â
He then glanced at her and concluded: âThe dao lords canât compare.â
â!!!â She took a deep breath again. How could this fingernail be even mightier than its current state?
âWhat was it like in its original state?â She murmured.
âIf undamaged and its essences are still there, it wonât just be a defensive jade. Itâll absolutely be sharp too.â Li Qiye smiled.
Ordinary people could have sharp fingernails, let alone a being of this level. The three started imagining one more.
âThere is always a higher peak and a better man.â The old man emotionally concluded.
In the past, he used to be prideful and haughty, thinking that he was above all. He thought that he could easily sweep through Eight Desolaces.
Later on, he eventually lost and understood the power of a dao lord or even greater beings. This changed his personality.
Nonetheless, he still reached what was considered the top of the cultivation world. But today, he realized that he was still so far away. His current achievements could only be considered the starting point. He had a long, long way to go before reaching the apex.
âCan it be⦠an immortal?â Fan Bai brought this up after a while.
A broken and damaged fingernail was already so strong. Its master had to be something greater than regular cultivators.
âImmortals donât exist in this world. This is just something beyond your station right now, that you canât reach yet.â Li Qiye shook his head.
âCould you elaborate?â Fan Bai inquired.
âNo rush, now is not the time. Knowing more is not necessarily a good thing for you. Once youâre strong enough, youâll be able to figure it out yourself.â Li Qiye smiled at her.
She nodded without getting the full gist. At the same time, Yang Ling became envious of Fan Bai.
She knew that Li Qiye had a higher expectation for Fan Bai. Fan Baiâs achievements would be greater and she would be able to go farther.
However, instead of letting it become jealousy, she felt excited for Fan Bai. There was something pure about this girl that she didnât have.
The old man smiled because he knew of Fan Baiâs unlimited potential. Perhaps in his lifetime, he would be able to see her soaring towards the apex that he couldnât reach.
He was aware that in order to go further, talent alone isnât enough. The most decisive factor was the dao heart. Fan Bai had a pure and firm dao heart, something he lacked.
âLetâs go take a look, Iâm sure itâs something good.â Li Qiye smiled and said.
âI canât wait to see this treasure, letâs hurry.â Yang Ling became excited after listening: âPlus, Young Master, that thing is as good as yours already.â
Li Qiye chuckled and led the way with the group right behind him.
***
Everyone naturally heard the news about the new earth-shattering treasureâs appearance. Numerous came running right away.
âWhy is everyone so anxious about this treasure? What is it?â A youth became curious.
âItâs Dark Abyss.â An expert who was on the move briefly answered before departing.
âDark Abyss?â The older masters nearby immediately dropped all of their tasks and followed the horde right away.
These big shots have been treasure-hunting the entire time. Black Tides had treasures everywhere and some have truly benefited.
However, the appearance of Dark Abyss was more interesting than anything else.
âSo what is this place?â A junior followed his senior while asking.
âI heard that itâs the place that made Eight Stallion Dao Lord.â The senior answered.
âWhat? The dao lord came from Black Tides?â His juniors became confused.
âNo.â The junior patiently responded: âIt has to do with the Grand Seer. During his youth, the dao lord came to the seer for guidance. Some believed that the Grand Seer performed a divination ceremony for him and showed him the way. Thus, the youth decided to enter Black Tides.â
âI see.â The juniors were surprised.
Everyone knew the story of how he came to help Buddha Supreme against the monsters of Black Tides. They didnât know that he had entered this area once during his early days.
He wasnât strong back then and should have died. However, this wasnât how it went down. Because of the Grand Seerâs guidance, he managed to find the abyss then returned safely.
âDark Abyss wasnât a thing back then, people had no idea what it was. The legend started with Eight Stallion Dao Lord.â The senior continued: âHis cultivation improved as fast as the wind. Some said that he changed completely. Thatâs why people believe that he had found something incredible in Dark Abyss, such as a top grand daoâ¦â
âSo thatâs the storyâ¦â The juniors enjoyed the tale.
âDark Abyss can create a dao lord.â This became the next piece of information to spread.
The geniuses wanted nothing more than to be there already. This might be their opportunity to become a dao lord.
âYoung Lord Biandu is the one who discovered it, the wild child has entered too.â Another news spread.
âThree Slashes is the one who found it first?â Some found this surprising; others didnât.
âNo wonder why the Biandu hasnât been doing anything. They kept it a secret.â One big shot said.
Someone who saw Three Slashesâ group on the first day realized it and told everyone else: âSo that was his destination from the start. Thatâs why their clan didnât participate in other events.â
âI think they have been desiring it all this time.â One ancestor had an insightful take: âTheir clan needs a dao lord.â