Orion's heart raced as a sudden thought struck him. He acted immediately.
In a flash, another space ring, as dark as the depths of the night, materialized in his hand. Unlike the previous rings, this one exuded an aura of mystery and power, far surpassing the others.
"A leader from Dongzhou Continent, with so many treasures in his possession," Orion muttered to himself. "I'm sure this envoy from the upper realm won't disappoint me."
That's right! The space ring now in Orion's hand was the very one he had just snatched from the black-robed figure moments ago. He hadn't even had time to inspect it properly, too focused on the system's reward for his luck value. But now, after going through Ancestor Chaoyang's space ring, Orion's curiosity was piqued.
What treasures could this upper realm figure have left behind?
Without wasting another second, Orion allowed his spiritual thoughts to delve into the dark ring. The instant he did, his expression froze.
"Holy... This space..."
His lips curled into an astonished grin. The space within the ring was vast—immeasurably so. It stretched out before him like an endless expanse, big enough to fit several blue stars within it, and then some. Orion couldn't help but feel the thrill. No other space ring on Dongzhou Continent could compare. The sheer size alone dwarfed everything he'd ever encountered.
But that wasn't all.
As Orion swept his consciousness across the space, treasures upon treasures appeared before him. Armor, elixirs, rare relics—everything imaginable was stored there, in abundance. Even the immortal combat techniques from the Upper Domain had their corresponding training manuals included.
"This isn't just a space ring," Orion murmured, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's a treasure trove."
Orion's heart raced even faster. The wealth of materials stored here—if converted into the system's luck value—could easily be worth tens of millions! The sheer affluence of this envoy from the upper realm was staggering.
But what truly caught his eye were the piles of spirit stones. They reminded him of the ones he had just found in Ancestor Chaoyang's ring, but something about them was different.
"These spirit stones... why do they feel so different?" Orion mused aloud. He could sense the energy from these stones was far purer, more potent than anything found on Dongzhou Continent. Then it hit him—the aura resembled the Immortal Stone he had seized from Zhou Huangye. In fact, it was exactly the same.
"Could these be the legendary Immortal Stones?" Orion's voice trembled with awe.
Immortal Stones—also known as Origin Immortal Stones—were the currency of cultivation in the Upper Realm, containing the very essence of immortal power. These stones were to immortals what spirit stones were to Dongzhou Continent's cultivators.
Orion's gaze sharpened, a newfound determination swelling in his chest. With so many Immortal Stones in his possession, he was already laying the foundation for his future ascension to the Upper Realm. And the other treasures? They were just as extraordinary, each one a testament to the higher quality of goods from the Upper Domain.
Orion grinned. His army would benefit greatly from these finds, too. The pills alone could become strategic resources, while the weapons and armor would vastly enhance their combat effectiveness.
He was still reveling in his discovery when a report came through: Gao Shun and Xie Xuan had arrived in Chang'an City with the Trap Camp and Beifu Army.
Orion chuckled at the timing.
"Gao Shun's just in time," he mused. "Too bad the battle's already over."
But Orion wasn't angry. The journey had been long, and the Trap Camp and Beifu Army were not cavalry. He couldn't fault them for arriving after the fact.
Soon enough, Gao Shun and Xie Xuan appeared before Orion, each leading their troops. Gao Shun immediately dropped to one knee, his face full of shame and frustration.
"Forgive me, my lord. I've arrived too late!" Gao Shun exclaimed.
Orion laughed, pulling him up. "No need to beat yourself up, Gao Shun! You arrived just as the battle ended. Perfect timing, I'd say."
He then turned to the space ring he had just claimed and pulled out some of the finest weapons and armor, along with a hefty supply of elixirs.
"Take these," Orion said, handing the items to Gao Shun. "Distribute them among the Trap Camp and Beifu Army. The equipment's far superior to what you've been using."
Gao Shun's eyes widened at the sight of the Upper Domain gear. This wasn't just any standard issue—it was high-quality equipment, equivalent to the enchanted armor of the Dragoon Army. If the Trap Camp and Beifu Army were equipped with these, their power would rise dramatically.
"And take these pills," Orion continued. "Share them with Xie Xuan. They'll help boost your cultivation—perhaps even push you straight to the Holy Realm."
Gao Shun was overwhelmed with gratitude. "My lord... I don't deserve this kindness."
Xie Xuan, who had just arrived, was equally moved by Orion's generosity. Both men dropped to their knees, vowing their undying loyalty.
"My lord, I swear, no matter the danger, I will follow you without hesitation!"
Orion grinned and helped them both up. "Enough of that! There will be plenty of chances to prove yourselves soon enough. Just make sure you're ready when the time comes."
Gao Shun and Xie Xuan nodded fervently, their spirits renewed. With the new equipment and elixirs, they were more determined than ever to serve Orion and rise to any challenge he set before them.
As they left, Orion couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The spoils of his victory were vast, and with loyal soldiers like Gao Shun and Xie Xuan by his side, the future was looking brighter than ever.