Inside the Bronze Map

The crack spread several meters along the wall, causing gravel and dust to fly out and prompting panic among those below the city gate tower who were unaware of the circumstances.

“A guardian spirit item,” Tang Ying muttered, staring at the undamaged bronze mountain and river diagram beneath his fist. A glimmer of surprise crossed his face.

“Did those two enter the bronze mountain and river diagram?” Tang Ying murmured. Even for someone of his stature, such a treasure was merely hearsay.

Such a treasure that could construct a space and encase living beings surpassed the concept of a conventional weapon. To create such an item would require the craftsmanship of the world’s top treasured weapon master.

However, the cost to produce such an extraordinary treasure would be priceless, as the materials required were unparalleled in the world. One such treasure was the bronze sinkhole, but time had worn it down, transforming it into fragile ruins. Many of the bronze objects were reduced to dust and carried away by the wind.

A greedy glint appeared in Tang Ying’s eyes. He immediately reached down, attempting to pick up the bronze mountain and river diagram.

“Rise!” Tang Ying grunted, straining to lift the seemingly small object. But to his surprise, it didn’t budge. Despite his immense strength, he could not gauge how much force was needed to lift it.

“Rise!” Veins throbbed on his forehead, his muscles straining, turning his entire face red. Yet, the bronze mountain and river painting remained unmoved.

“Is this the power of a space-type treasure?” Tang Ying mused, not angered but amused. His resolve to acquire this supreme treasure intensified.

“I don’t believe that you can hide in this bronze map forever,” he declared, standing guard by the bronze landscape painting. He then commanded his troops, “Transfer all the surrounding city guards here. Seal off the entire city tower!” The generals promptly acknowledged the order and dispatched to carry it out.

…

Within the bronze mountain and river painting, General Cheng gazed at the world in bewilderment. Giant trees encircled the area, towering more than ten meters high. In the sky, ferocious beasts that were dozens of meters long roamed.

Sweating profusely, the city guard general recounted legends about guardian spirit items. These protectors were divided into three categories: those that use fiendish demons as their organs; those that use mystical items as their protective elements; and those that could open up a world of various forms, collectively referred to as ‘realm’-shaped guardian spirit items.

Ordinary fiendish demons were the most common and least risky, hence they were the preferred choice for breakthrough realm guardianship. Typically, martial artists who utilized these demons as their spiritual objects were less potent than their same-realm counterparts.

He murmured, “The second type is stronger, given those items are already remarkably powerful. When refined into guardian spirit items, their power becomes even more magical. As for the third category, each could be called the strongest. In their respective realms, they are akin to gods. Their power is amplified endlessly.”

“You’re right,” a booming voice echoed from all corners of the bronze realm.

The city guard general abruptly looked up to see a massive green palm dozens of meters wide descending from the sky. At the same time, countless ferocious beasts charged toward him.

“Bronze realm, green sky palm!”

The city guard general attempted to flee but was ensnared by the bone pattern realm fierce beasts. His punches were like thunder, cutting down the beasts with deadly precision.

Yet when he looked up, the enormous green palm hung over him, a looming symbol of his impending doom. “Eagle sword!” the city guard general roared, his wings forming sharp swords, emanating a razor-like aura as they clashed with the massive green palm.

However, his figure was insignificant against the giant palm, akin to an ant beneath a towering tree.

Boom!

With just one palm strike, the city guard general’s wings shattered, and his arms exploded in mid-air. He fell limply to the ground. This entire encounter unfolded in mere moments.

Qin Huai, floating in the sky, abruptly retracted his attack.

“Ding! You have collected a [Azure Sky Breath Technique Essence (Red)], [Azure Sky Breath Technique] experience points +666,666!”

“Ding! You have collected a [Swordfeather Black Eagle Demon Seed (Fragment) x1], [Swordfeather Black Eagle Demon Seed (1/3)]!”

…

Meanwhile, outside the bronze mountain and river diagram, Tang Ying’s eyes snapped open. He drove his palm into the diagram, causing the city tower to collapse, sending soldiers tumbling from the high structure.

However, the bronze mountain and river diagram had vanished.

Qin Huai, a few meters away, used the debris from the broken city gate tower to make his escape. The lifeless body of the city guard general plummeted from the city gate tower. The pair of inky-black wings evaporated into thin air, reduced to ashes.

This was a typical sign of death for humans — all strange powers had receded, returning to their original state.

“Where do you think you’re going!” Tang Ying bellowed at Qin Huai, cursing him silently.

The city guard general had only managed to delay Qin Huai for a few moments before his demise. These good-for-nothings that his big brother had raised would all pay with their lives eventually, he vowed.

But as Tang Ying chased, he sensed something was amiss.