Chapter 134: …To Look at the Symbol
Inside the treasure vault, rows of artifacts were on display, each one protected by a glass case. Aldrian knew that if anyone somehow managed to slip inside and break the glass to steal an artifact, the traps would be instantly activated. All of the artifacts on display were of at least Low Heaven grade, and their numbers reached into the thousands. These artifacts spanned the long history of the Forgeheart Kingdom, each possessing unique qualities that made them worthy of being stored here.
For example, there was a shield created by the 15th king of the Forgeheart Kingdom. This shield was forged when he was at the Low King stage, using rare material from a dragon’s scale. In the past, when the dragon race still roamed the continent, their scales were renowned for being nearly impenetrable by physical attacks. With the disappearance of dragons from the Barisan continent, this shield had become an incredibly valuable item, sought after by many.
Another notable artifact was a sword made from Obsidian Poison Iron, a rare material found in the Poison Canyon within the demon territory. This is one of the most toxic materials on the continent, capable of poisoning even a Low Emperor stage cultivator. Without special precautions during its forging, the blacksmith would have been poisoned to death.
Aldrian was amazed by all of these artifacts and made a mental note of how much he still had to learn. Blacksmithing was clearly a field of vast knowledge, filled with countless things worth studying and mastering.
King Douwin felt proud, seeing the amazement on Aldrian and his group’s faces as they admired the artifacts. They continued walking until they reached another door, identical to the one at the entrance of the treasure vault. King Douwin repeated the same process to open it, and as the door fully swung open, an aura even more terrifying surged out, with the energy of heaven and earth swirling beyond.
It was as if the long-trapped energy of heaven and earth inside the room was finally released. Aldrian and the others trembled when they looked inside, for all the artifacts on display here were of Divine grade. There were only a few dozen, a much smaller number compared to the Heaven-grade section, but the aura and energy were far more intense and intimidating.
The artifacts were arranged in a circle along the walls of the circular room. As they continued walking through it, King Douwin came to a stop in the center. He placed his hand on the floor, pressing several stone tiles before channeling his energy into them. Suddenly, the ground trembled, and a secret underground passage opened before them. Without a word, King Douwin stepped inside, and the others followed closely behind.
After walking for two minutes, they arrived at a vast underground hall. But their attention quickly shifted to the sword displayed in the center of the hall.
The sword was set on a platform atop a beautifully crafted wooden long box. When they focused their senses on it, they felt something strange. Although the sword’s aura was weak, its presence demanded attention. The power radiating from it sent chills down their spines. Aldrian, seeing the sword, instantly guessed that this must be the one Duke Valiard had told him about—the top-secret weapon of the Forgeheart Kingdom.