Chapter 49: News of the Spirit Artifact's Emergence

"Have you broken through?"

Lü Lan was about to say something, but after sensing a subtle change, she looked closely at Ye Liuyun with a surprised gaze.

Because of the recent breakthrough, residual internal energy still lingered around Ye Liuyun.

Given that Lü Lan herself was a martial artist at the middle stage of the Xiantian realm, she naturally could detect such anomalies.

Her eyes were filled with astonishment.

She remembered that when they first met, Ye Liuyun was merely a Houtian martial artist.

Yet, in such a short span of time, he had already caught up to her level.

Having served closely by Yan Shuzhu's side, Lü Lan had heard tales of various prodigies, but this was the first time she was witnessing one with her own eyes.

"Just sheer luck!"

Ye Liuyun did not show any excessive arrogance or complacency.

He merely smiled calmly. His ambitions went far beyond a mere middle Xiantian realm. If he were truly going to celebrate, it would be when he eventually broke through to the Grandmaster realm.

"..."

Hearing Ye Liuyun give such a reply, however, Lü Lan looked at him speechlessly. How could martial arts cultivation ever be attributed to luck?

Didn't everyone advance step by step through arduous effort?

"You've come to see me so late at night; is there something the matter?"

Seeing that Lü Lan still wanted to question him about his cultivation realm, Ye Liuyun decisively changed the subject.

If there weren't a pressing matter, Lü Lan would never have visited him at this hour.

"It's not about me; it's about Her Majesty!"

Realizing they were discussing official business, Lü Lan had to push other thoughts aside and looked at Ye Liuyun with a solemn expression.

"Her Majesty sent me to tell you that a spiritual artifact has manifested outside the imperial city. Many parties have their eyes on it, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard will soon organize a team to search for it. Her Majesty hopes you will participate to prevent this spiritual artifact from falling into the hands of other factions!"

"So that's how it is!"

Ye Liuyun nodded in understanding. No wonder she had sought him out at this hour.

It turned out there was indeed a serious matter at hand.

However...

"I have a question as well."

"What is it?"

"What is a spiritual artifact?"

"..."

She had anticipated many questions, but never expected Ye Liuyun to ask something like this.

Wasn't this common knowledge?

Seeing the pure innocence in Ye Liuyun's eyes, it was clear he was not joking around but was genuinely curious.

Forget it. Remembering that this person was highly valued by the Empress, Lü Lan patiently began to explain.

"Spiritual artifacts are forged from the condensation of heaven and earth spiritual energy, possessing numerous wondrous properties. Whenever a spiritual artifact is born, it is invariably accompanied by a manifestation of spiritual light."

"I see!"

Ye Liuyun nodded knowingly. Simply put, they were weapons with special abilities.

Seeing that Ye Liuyun truly knew nothing about spiritual artifacts, Lü Lan thought for a moment and reached for the bright silver longsword hanging at her waist.

"This Cold Jade Sword is a middle-grade spiritual artifact bestowed upon me by Her Majesty."

With that, Lü Lan drew the longsword from its scabbard. As she made the movement, Ye Liuyun could clearly feel the surrounding temperature drop significantly.

The blade of the Cold Jade Sword shimmered with a pale white light, looking exceptionally sharp under the illumination of the moonlight.

"So this is a spiritual artifact?"

It was indeed vastly different from ordinary weapons. When he had first noticed the sword at Lü Lan's waist, he thought it was merely an ornamental piece, never imagining it was actually a spiritual artifact.

Ye Liuyun raised his hand, intending to touch the blade of the Cold Jade Sword.

"Be careful!"

Seeing what he was about to do, Lü Lan wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.

The moment his finger brushed against the blade, a piercing chill surged into Ye Liuyun's arm. To the naked eye, his entire hand appeared as if it were being frozen into a solid block of ice.

"The Cold Jade Sword carries its own innate frost. Anyone ordinary who touches the blade will be frozen by this chill."

Hastily sheathing the Cold Jade Sword, Lü Lan prepared to channel her internal energy to help Ye Liuyun dispel the frost on his hand.

"There's no need to go to such trouble!"

Ye Liuyun wasn't reckless without reason; since he dared to touch it, he naturally had a way to resolve it.

Circulating his internal energy, his previously frozen palm began to turn faintly red and hot.

The biting cold that had enveloped his hand was evaporated by his internal energy, sending up wisps of white steam.

In the span of a few breaths, Ye Liuyun's palm had returned to normal.

"Is this the power of a spiritual artifact? Truly impressive!"

Having personally experienced the might of a spiritual artifact, he found it remarkably extraordinary.

However, when Ye Liuyun turned his gaze back to Lü Lan, he saw her staring blankly at his fully recovered palm, lost in thought.

"What's wrong?"

"The cultivation technique you practice is the Azure Sun Art... Do you possess the Extreme Yang Physique?"

As a personal guard to Yan Shuzhu, Lü Lan was privy to a great deal of information.

Naturally, she was familiar with the Azure Sun Art.

She simply hadn't expected that the technique Ye Liuyun practiced would be this one.

Furthermore, judging by the consummate proficiency with which Ye Liuyun manipulated his energy—an ordinary person's vital heat would struggle even to cross the threshold of the Azure Sun Art, let alone achieve such a high level without a special constitution—it was simply impossible.

"Is there a problem?"

Ye Liuyun did not deny it, though he found Lü Lan's reaction rather strange.

If he remembered correctly, Lü Lan herself possessed a trait known as the Extreme Yin Physique. There was no need for her to be so surprised by his Extreme Yang Physique; didn't they both possess special physiques?

"N-nothing at all!"

Lü Lan opened her mouth, desperately wanting to say something, but ultimately shook her head.

A piece of advice her master had once given her flashed through her mind.

She possessed the Extreme Yin Physique, meaning her cultivation speed would inevitably far exceed that of ordinary people, and breaking through to the Grandmaster realm was only a matter of time.

However, solitary yin cannot endure; her singular Extreme Yin Physique inherently limited her potential to ever break through to the Great Grandmaster realm. In the future, if she wished to reach the Great Grandmaster realm, her only path was to find someone possessing the Extreme Yang Physique. Through the union of yin and yang, all cultivation bottlenecks would vanish forever.

Special physiques were already exceedingly rare. Lü Lan truly never expected to find someone with the Extreme Yang Physique in such a manner.

Even so...

She wasn't even a Grandmaster yet, so talking about breaking through to the Great Grandmaster realm was far too distant.

Besides, as a woman, making herself voice such matters felt rather embarrassing.

"Right!"

Since Ye Liuyun could not read minds, he remained completely unaware of Lü Lan's inner thoughts.

Recalling another detail, he asked directly, "Whose property does the spiritual artifact become once it's found?"

Ye Liuyun had no intention of working for free, even if the employer happened to be the sovereign of the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Huh?"

Recovering her senses and realizing what Ye Liuyun was pondering, Lü Lan answered immediately, "You can rest assured on that score. Her Majesty simply does not want other factions to acquire this spiritual artifact. If you are the one who finds it, it belongs to you."

"That works!"

If that was the case, it sounded quite agreeable.

Nodding in satisfaction, Ye Liuyun agreed.

Lü Lan's original mission had simply been to convey the news to Ye Liuyun and then return.

However, hesitating for a moment, she added, "Based on the intensity of the spiritual light this time, many analysts believe this is very likely a upper-grade spiritual artifact."

Lü Lan's Cold Jade Sword was merely a middle-grade spiritual artifact; this upper-grade spiritual artifact was clearly a tier higher in quality.

"By then, there will undoubtedly be many contenders fighting for it. You should act within your capabilities, and remember that protecting yourself is of the utmost importance."