Mingyue leaned against Ji Shiyou's tombstone, reminiscing about the ancient past in the moonlight, and slowly fell asleep.
For the past few days, she had been tirelessly investigating the disappearance of Zhao Wumian and the Azure Dragon Base, exhausting herself.
In her sleep, a smile appeared on Mingyue's face. Perhaps she was dreaming of Ji Shiyou, or perhaps she was confiding in her old friends from the ancient era.
She didn't notice the moonlight pouring onto Ji Shiyou's grave like liquid silver, seeping into the ground.
When she woke up, the sky was bright, and people from the base were already working in the fields at the foot of the mountain.
She went to the mess hall, appeased her rumbling stomach, and gathered the team members.
Ji Shiyou was gone, but the living had to carry on, and the base had to continue its normal operations.
She divided Ji Shiyou's original responsibilities among everyone, with each person taking on a portion.
Everyone then realized how much Ji Shiyou had handled daily when he was alive.
Next, Mingyue recounted the disappearances of Zhao Wumian, the Azure Dragon Base, and the Vermilion Bird Base to everyone.
After hearing her story, they all started discussing, but since Mingyue hadn't found any clues, they had no constructive suggestions.
The final conclusion was to wait.
The Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird bases, with a combined population of over a hundred thousand, were not a small number.
They needed to live and couldn't hide forever. In time, their presence would inevitably be revealed.
Although this was a last resort, it was the current situation, and there was nothing else they could do.
"Next, the most important thing we need to do is to improve your ability levels."
Mingyue looked at everyone with a serious expression. The reason Ji Shiyou had an accident this time was ultimately due to their low ability levels.
When they encountered top-tier experts like Zhao Wumian, they had no room to resist.
She didn't want any more team members to get hurt, so the priority was to enhance everyone's strength.
"But the Water of Life no longer works for our level advancement.
I've been cultivating diligently these days, but my level hasn't improved at all."
Jin Xi said with some worry. They knew that ability levels were the guarantee for survival in the apocalypse.
They had also worked hard, had no shortage of crystal cores, and even had the assistance of the Water of Life.
Yet, their ability levels showed no change, not even a hint of loosening.
"The Floating Light Palace is a dual-attribute artifact of fire and metal. Like the Emerald Mist, it can help ability users advance their levels.
In a moment, you and Ba Jiu will enter the Floating Light Palace. Baby, you will control the solar power within the Floating Light Palace to help them both advance."
Jin Xi was overjoyed to hear that she could advance.
Tian Shang and Gong Que had both advanced to level ten thanks to the lotus seeds and petals of the Emerald Mist, which made her envious. Today, it was finally her turn.
"Also, Bu Zhi and Shi Henian, I can help you advance quickly as well.
However, for Wen Qingtian, I haven't found a way to change your level yet."
Mingyue glanced at Wen Qingtian, fearing he might feel uncomfortable if everyone else advanced and he was left behind.
"Mingyue, don't worry about me. We are like family.
I am happier than anyone when everyone can advance and become stronger.
Such matters depend on opportunity; I understand that.
Everyone needs to advance, and someone has to manage the base's affairs, so I'll take on more responsibility."
Wen Qingtian smiled and said to Mingyue, not wanting her to feel burdened because of him.
"Sister Mingyue, can we advance too? How do we advance?"
Bu Zhi, who had been secretly delighted upon hearing that he could advance, had suppressed his excitement out of consideration for Wen Qingtian.
Now, hearing Wen Qingtian's words, he couldn't hold back and asked eagerly.
Although Shi Henian remained silent, he also stared intently at Mingyue, wanting to know the method.
"Use this!"
Mingyue extended her right hand, palm facing upwards, and a clear, cold radiance appeared in her palm.
"This radiance is very special. Why does it look like moonlight?"
Shi Henian leaned closer, examining the radiance in Mingyue's palm uncertainly.
"Sister, this is the moonlight you used to resist the solar power in the Floating Light Palace, isn't it? Why is it so powerful?
Also, you seem to know a lot about the Floating Light Palace and Zhao Wumian's feather."
Shi Henian was unsure, but Ba Jiu had seen Mingyue, enveloped in moonlight, rush onto the high platform in the Floating Light Palace to save Baby, so she recognized it instantly.
Then Mingyue had even called out the name of the feather, calling it Fuyao, and mentioning it was a magical artifact.
It was clear she was very familiar with both artifacts. Ba Jiu had wanted to ask Mingyue about it for a long time but had never found an opportunity.
Now that Mingyue had brought out the moonlight again, Ba Jiu poured out all her doubts.
"It's called Wangshu. The Floating Light Palace is actually called Floating Light. Like Zhao Wumian's Fuyao and Yin Qing's Emerald Mist, they are all ritual artifacts used by the ancient Wu clan for sacrifices.
Wangshu contains the dual attributes of water and spirit. When fused, it transforms into Taiyin power, which can perfectly counter the solar power of the Floating Light Palace.
With its protection, the solar power retreated three steps when I was rescuing Baby."
"Sister, you know so much, even about the Wu clan's ritual artifacts.
How did you obtain Wangshu? It looks like it has already recognized you as its master. Why haven't I seen you use it before?"
Anyone else would not have pressed Mingyue, as it would be impolite and involve personal privacy.
However, Baby had no such reservations. Having grown up in a laboratory, no one had taught her these things.
Furthermore, she considered Mingyue her family and had no reason to hold back.
"All of this is recorded in the ancient texts within the jade pendant space. They clearly describe the ritual artifacts of the Wu clan.
I also found Wangshu in the space. It has just recognized me as its master, so you haven't seen it before."
Mingyue didn't tell the truth, pushing everything onto the space, as Baby couldn't read anyway.
She lied not because she didn't trust them, but to avoid trouble.
If she revealed that she had transmigrated and been reborn, there would be many more explanations required.
So, she concocted a lie to brush them off. Wangshu was not something she found in the space at all.
Instead, it had accompanied her all the way from the ancient era.
The Wu clan had seven ritual artifacts, named Emerald Mist, Floating Light, Wangshu, Azure Wave, Fuyao, Delicate Ning, and Startling Sand.
These seven artifacts were the treasures of the Wu clan, just like the Twelve Ancestral Witches and herself.
They were all transformed from the body of Great God Pangu, not only serving to suppress the Wu clan's destiny but also as powerful magical treasures.
When the Twelve Ancestral Witches appeared, the seven treasures descended to the Wu clan with them. A voice echoed through heaven and earth,
chanting:
"Delicate Ning and Emerald Mist reach the peak, Floating Light enters Azure Wave.
Fuyao and Startling Sand rise, Mountain plays with distant Wangshu.
The Seven Treasures recognize their masters, the Wu clan shall endure forever."
The first two lines contained the names of the seven treasures, but the last two lines were incomprehensible to all the Wu clan members.
For although the seven treasures were powerful, everyone had tried, and none could make the treasures recognize them as their master, including the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
Would the Wu clan be destroyed? Everyone was uneasy until Mingyue was born, which finally brought them some relief.